Book 5-4.2
“Are you okay?”
Yulian asked with concern seeing the expression on Violet’s face.
“I’m sorry for showing you such a sight. But you do not need to slow down for me.”
Seeing Violet clench her teeth as she responded, Yulian shook his head internally.
She really was stubborn like Grace and would not change her mind about something she was determined to do. She was also a woman with strong abilities that people could only admire.
After moving along a while longer, Yulian ordered everyone to rest as he got off the pirma and headed over to her.
“I told you you could stay back and slowly return. Is there a reason for you to burden yourself like this?”
Yulian had fully realized after seeing her abilities during this war that she was an even more amazing woman than he had thought her to be, but in the end, her stamina was lacking compared to the trained warriors.
In addition, she had not been able to get any rest after giving birth. She was his wife whom he needed to protect. That was why Yulian continued to worry about her.
Violet staggered once she got off the pirma.
Yulian quickly approached her and supported her up as he started to speak while massaging her arms and legs.
“Look at this. Your body is already screaming in pain. If you want to go out on a campaign with us next time, let’s get you some practice riding a pirma.”
“I’m sorry. We did not have much pirma riding in the Shire.”
“I’m sure. Tsk. Your muscles are too tight and you even have a big bruise. Can you go with us? Just listen to me. Even now, I can stick one of the Red Storm warriors with you to take you back.”
She shook her head at Yulian’s concern.
“I am just not used to physical pain. Once I get used to it, I will not show a sight like this.”
“So stubborn…..it will not take just a day or two to get used to riding a pirma. You need to ride for multiple years to get used to it.”
Violet caressed the face of her worried husband before responding.
“I’m okay. I can take it. Looking at the signs in the heavens, something does not feel right. I feel like something is going to happen. I am more confident about it after seeing Runa-nim ask you to urgently return. I know that I must go back. You already know right? I have the strength to save hundreds of warriors.”
Since he had no reason to doubt her abilities even a little bit, Yulian could not say anything else. As long as she was the wife of the Glow and had the responsibilities that came with the role, maybe sacrifice was just a natural part of it.
“Then do as you like. From here on, I will carry you. You have so many bruises on your thighs that if you just continue riding a pirma, your skin will start to rip.”
“No. We are not by ourselves. It will cause a dent in your majestic air as Glow.”
“The Red Storm and I already know everything about each other. Their lips are heavy as well. It really won’t matter if it gets out either. We are husband and wife.”
Both of Violet’s cheeks turned red at Yulian’s words and she nodded her head. To be honest, it was already very difficult for her to even stand up; her butt, thigh, and even arms were hurting so much.
Yulian continued to massage her arm and legs for the ten minutes they rested, sending warm energy into her body.
“Just hold on a little more. We will be able to arrive at the ship by night time. Make sure you get plenty of rest on the ship.”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go.”
Yulian ordered the group to start moving once more and they restarted their journey toward where the Desert Runner will be waiting for them.
They continued to ride the pirma without stopping, filling their stomachs with dried rations while continuing to ride. By the time the moon was decently up in the sky, Yulian and the Red Storm were able to arrive at the Desert Runner.
And Yulian received surprising news as soon as he got on board.
“Even the second oasis was taken over.”
Yulian became extremely shocked and asked the messenger warrior.
“And now?”
“By now, I presume they will be doing a defensive battle at the Thick Bushed oasis.”
Bang.
Yulian stomped so hard that it might have even damaged the deck.
“What is the number of remaining warriors?”
“The reserve warriors are meeting up with them, but they should have less than 5,000 warriors. Commanding Warrior Runa took 15,000 warriors with him to head to the northern Shuarei territory.”
“What about the Shuarei’s numbers?”
“I do not know the exact number, but it should be about the same.”
“My lord.”
Yulian felt a significant shock in his head.
‘Who is left in Pareia to defend against him? I am not there, Runa is not there, and even Pareia’s third generation Greatest Warriors are not there.’
Yulian was thinking that Pere alone was not enough to defend against Venersis.
There were other Greatest Warriors with him, but they were lacking in strategy and skills compared to Vibli or Egane.
At that time, the warrior who was taking the role of captain on the ship interjected.
“Greatest Warrior Thriger said he needed to protect the port and headed back right away as well. The enemy’s main forces might not show up, but he mentioned something about defending against their special teams.”
Yulian nodded his head. It was a wise decision.
“Let’s hurry up and head out.”
Once they received Yulian’s command, the warrior ordered the ship to depart.
‘Younger brother, hold on just a little bit longer.’
Yulian was desperately pleading for Pere’s safety.
***
The situation was pretty bleak.
Both sides were in a situation where they might end up being pincered, so the question at hand was who can take the oasis in front of them.
Grace had also sent an envoy to the Rivolde to pressure Venersis as well, but the Rivolde’s Glow Dejaine was not able to immediately move the Rivolde due to old age.
Runa took over the empty oasis and chased behind Venersis, while the Shuarei’s Glow took on the risk to send another 15,000 warrior to chase behind Runa and pressure him. The moment Runa finally took over the oasis right behind Venersis, Venersis was getting ready to attack the Thick Bushed oasis one more time.
“All units, forward march!”
The warriors started to slowly move forward at Venersis’s command.
The warriors in the front kept a good amount of distance with each other as they slowly moved forward with a large wooden shield in front of them, searching for traps and defending against arrows flying their way.
As the sky in front of them became filled with numerous numbers of arrows, the Shuarei warriors in the front started to fall down, as the warriors behind them started to fill in those gaps.
In a battle for an oasis, the attacking side was always at an advantage. The question was more about how they could minimize the damage they received.
The warriors in the front were settled with the thought that they were going to die. They only pushed forward thinking that their death could help bring victory for their tribe.
Over 2,000 warriors must have been sacrificed for this. But thanks to them, the majority of the traps, ropes, and wooden fences were able to be cleared. Their sacrifice had created a path for the Shuarei to safely charge through.
“All units, charge!”
Venersis finally gave the order to charge forward, and the Shuarei warriors rushed forward as if they were crazy. There were some that fell for the traps that the vanguard warriors did not find, but that was only a small group of them.
Finally, Pareia’s warriors who were ready started to fight with the Shuarei warriors.
“Slash them! Slash them for the glory of the Shuarei!”
The lead warriors were pushing their subordinate warriors forward until they lost their voice, while Pareia’s warriors were fighting back with everything they had, knowing that it was the end if they were pushed back from this oasis.
“Hold on. Our Glow is on his way. We will not greet our Glow with our death!”
Pareia’s lead warriors were also shouting to raise the morale of the warriors, and it was the truth as well. They would not have anything to worry about once Yulian arrived either today or tomorrow.
If the Shuarei had Venersis, the War God of the Western Desert, they had their Glow, the War God of the Eastern Desert.
The war was brutal.
Blood splattered between people trying to push forward and the people trying to hold them back. Some of them were fighting without even realizing that a part of their body had been cut off.
The shamans on both sides were mumbling something nonstop toward each other, chanting curses and blessings and asking for victory in this battle.
Neither side had any thoughts about retreating. They were all ready to die here. They would not be giving this oasis to the enemy. It was to the point that even the Greatest Warriors who had been involved in many wars were getting intoxicated by the smell of blood.
The clash that had been even was slowly starting to change as time went on...