Chapter 28: Mareona
"Stay away from that boy!" A woman's voice shouted.
A large blade slashed at the man's chest, making him roar in pain, and took a few steps back. A group of female warriors in squire armor stood in front of him.
One of them turned around. She had a petite build and a cute face. "Are you okay, boy?"
Aldred nodded. "I am fine, Thank you."
She helped him stand up. "My name is Mareona, I am the knight of Red Rose Platoon I. How did a little boy like you end up on this battlefield?"
Aldred was about to answer before, Mareona interrupted him.
"Oh, I know. You must be here to hit on me. Hehe. You're cute, so I will take care of you." She kissed his left cheek. "Now stay behind me, boy. I will take care of this man for you."
The enemy soldier gnashed his teeth as he stared at the Red Rose Platoon. A huge gash of wound streamed out blood from the left shoulder to his right waist. It was a wonder how he still stand on both feet with that wound.
"Women?" The man said. "The Ceraisian Empire is a true heretic, letting women go to the battlefield. What are they thinking?"
"What's wrong with having women on the battlefield?" Mareona glared at the man. Her gaze was that of a fierce predator.
The man snorted. "You are soft and kind creatures. Your place is at home with the children while we men go to the battlefield and die for your peace. That is how it is supposed to be."
"And who you think you are to decide how I live my life?" Mareona stepped forward. The sword on her right hand sheened with sharpness. "I am not a doll you can tie to a string and move around. I am a person. I can do whatever the fuck I want."
'Wow, she's so fierce,' Aldred thought. At one moment she was a kind, lovely, beautiful big sister, now she was a lioness out for prey.
"It is not me who decides this, but Zalous the God of Hope. When your husband went to the battlefield, it is your job as a wife to pray and hope for his safe return. But here you are. Fighting and risking your life on the battlefield, leaving your child to tend for themselves."
"If that is the case then you can fuck your own god!"
A sword stabbed through the man's chest, and out from the back. The man opened his eyes wide. Blood came out of his mouth. Mareona pulled her sword and spun along with her blade.
The head fell to the ground.
Mareona walked back to him. "There. I killed him for you. Now give me a kiss." She grabbed his face and kissed both of his cheeks."
Aldred was overwhelmed by the barrage of kisses. It was to the point that he couldn't breathe.
Mareona giggled. "You're in Pressure Platoon II right?"
Aldred nodded.
"We're actually a new platoon here, so will you show me around later?"
"You guys are new here?" Aldred asked. They seemed so used in battle.
Mareona stabbed another man that came from the side. "Yep. So go on a date with me," She said as she slashed a man's arm.
"Ohh… Okay."
"Great!" She looked at him. Her sword went through a throat. "So later after the battle?"
Aldred nodded. "Sure."
"Perfect!" She kissed him on the lips and then rushed towards the enemy line. "Red Rose! Spill blood for me! I am having a date later!"
Aldred scratched his cheek. An undead ogre looked at him. He shrugged. "I can't say no, can't I?"
Bartrem was fighting through the enemy line. Aldred approached with his undead. He ordered them to assist his comrades.
"Let me help," Aldred said. He fired a few fire bullets at a man's face. The man fell to the ground.
[EXP +385]
"Good job, Aldred!" Bartrem shouted.
Aldred smiled. Then he felt the lack of sleep strike his eyes. He felt weak, the excitement in his blood disappeared. The other soldier felt that too. They still had dark bags under their eyes. The weakness slowed their advancement, and it made the enemy push them back.
"Fuck! This is why I told you to get some sleep! Retreat!" Bartrem shouted.
Suddenly, their stomach growled, and it felt like something squeezed it.
The pain distracted them from the enemy which they took the chance to attack.
Bartrem frowned. He felt his stomach rumbled abnormally. Why all of a sudden? Then he widened his eyes in realization. "It was the food! Those fucker! I know it was too good to be true."
Aldred felt pain in his stomach too. He shot a fire arrow at the enemy as he held the pain. Their retreat became rather slow and painful because of that.
"Get out of the way!" Simond grinned as he and his men knocked onto Pressure Platoon, making them fall to the ground as he charged forward.
"Fuck! Watch where you are going!" Bartrem shouted.
Simond did not reply and kept going forward.
"Cih!" Bartrem was about to save his comrades until he saw Aldred and his undead came to their aid. Joseph and Jeffery also struck the enemy with better technique than before.
Joseph's movement was that of a graceful soldier. And every attack was like a vicious snake, with each swing taking a man's life. On the other hand, Jeffery used his body to create powerful momentum. If his attack failed to cut the armor, it'd knocked the enemy so hard they spat out blood.
Aldred blasted all the soldiers nearby, protecting his comrades.
[EXP +385]
[EXP +420]
[EXP +350]
[EXP +490]
They stood up and retreated to safety. Bartrem came to them and nodded. "Good job, You three."
They retreated to the archer formation and sat on the ground. They groaned and held their stomach in pain.
"They put something in the food," Bartrem said, grimacing.
"Those fucker!" One of the soldiers said. "How are we going to eat from now on. We cannot eat in the cafeteria anymore after this."
Bartrem let out a breath. "It's fine. We shall hunt for our own food. The Champs river is filled with fish. It's just food, don't think too much about it."
Aldred nodded then looked at the floating, transparent screen.
[You have level up]
[Level 19 -> 20]
[Aldred]
Health Points: 55/55
Level: 20
Titles: Tough Boy
Power:
-Fireball: Lv. 2
-Flame Jet: Lv. 1
Attributes:
-Strength: 9
-Vitality: 11
-Intelligence: 36
-Dexterity: 4
Stat points: 2
Skill points: 34