Red Storm

Book 5-3.3

“They are resisting pretty well.”

Seeing that he was unable to take the oasis again today, Venersis nodded his head and made a gesture that showed that he was approving of his opponent’s strength.

“However, it does not seem to be as calculated as the last battle. It just feels like they are supplementing that lack of tactics with strength.”

Venersis’s Assistant Warrior Buchord cautiously gave his observation.

“You are right. That well-coordinated system seems to be at a much lower level. Should I call it more brutal? The past battles seemed like they would throw away what they needed to throw away and take what they can.”

Seeing his commander agreeing with his opinion, Buchord started to speak again.

“Which is easier to fight against?”

“You’re asking some interesting questions.”

Venersis smiled at this easy question from Buchord who has been following him for many years.

“I’ve served Venersis-nim for many years, but I am embarrassed that I still cannot even anticipate any of Venersis-nim’s moves.”

“What is there to be embarrassed about? Even I do not know how I will move each time so how could you know? However, if I was to answer your question, a battle like today is more beneficial for me. The ones where they fight back with strength.”

Venersis looked toward the oasis that he failed to conquer and continued to speak.

“I’m certain it was not the Commanding Warrior named Runa. He is, in negative terms, a calculator, and in positive terms, an extremely cold-hearted warrior. He gives the exact feeling like ‘I’ll give you this so just eat this and leave.’

After barely managing to figure out the meaning behind Venersis’s words, Buchord nodded his head. He also realized that Venersis has accepted Runa as one of his enemies.

“Then the chance will come?”

The important thing was that Runa, someone that even Venersis was considering to be difficult, was not the Commanding Warrior.

“No. We should not think that a chance will come. We should be thinking about two different situations. First, the enemy’s Commanding Warrior is even smarter than that warrior called Runa. If not, that warrior called Runa has moved elsewhere to launch a counterattack.”

‘Wow.’ Buchord had a look of admiration in his eye as Venersis continued on.

“Strengthen our back and increase the number of patrol warriors.”

“Yes sir.”

As Buchord started to run to deliver Venersis’s command, Venersis turned his gaze back to Pareia as he started to mumble to himself.

“It does not matter whether it is the former or the latter. We will not easily fall as long as we are not surrounded.”

Venersis was a warrior who knew about his own strength and limitations.

A few days later, Venersis got some good news as he was about to attack Pareia one more time. Pareia had come to challenge them first. In addition, it was in the middle of the desert that they had been avoiding this whole time.

“Just what are they doing? Did that young Glow return? Or is that warrior named Runa plotting something else?”

Venersis’s subordinates were having that type of discussion. Venersis sat there listening to everything before just saying one sentence to determine their actions.

“We will know once we fight them.”

It could seem like a stupid answer, but it was the answer from someone that had everyone’s full loyalty. He was also multiple times better than all of the other warriors. Seeing someone like that give that answer, the other warriors all started to run to their posts to prepare. The fact that it was a stupid answer never even crossed their minds.

“Buchord!”

While everybody was moving to prepare, Venersis called Buchord over to give him a command. Buchord had a surprised expression as he looked toward Venersis before nodding his head and starting to run once more.

“It must be hard.”

“Greatest Warrior Thriger is probably having it harder continuing to move back and forth on the quicksand river like this these days.”

“Hahaha. A ship person is most comfortable on a ship. To be honest with you, I probably spend more time stepping on this wooden floor than the real ground.”

Thriger started to laugh although he was still looking at Runa with concern. Runa seemed to be very worn out.

‘I’m sure he has a lot to worry about since he is the Commanding Warrior for everybody left in Pareia.’

Seeing Thriger continuing to stare at him, Runa started to ask with a smiling expression.

“Why do you keep looking at me like that?”

“I was just curious to know where in that small build all of your energy comes from.”

“Hahaha, thank you for the compliment.”

Runa started to laugh as he looked back out into the horizon.

“How much further is it?”

“We should arrive by the time two suns are up in the sky. Around two or three hours more?”

“This is something that just came to my mind, but is there no way to effectively use the small boats we took from the united tribe?”

“I’m not sure. Other than using them to land … well I don’t even think that would be very useful.”

Runa thought for a moment before asking again.

“Is there a way to safely move across the quicksand river using the small boats?”

“It should be possible in the areas where the current is not terrible and monsters do not appear often.”

“I am asking if there is an available route.”

Thriger tilted his head as he asked.

“If we wanted to find one, I’m sure there would be at least one or two. But why do you ask?”

“We need to communicate with the Glow and Pere-nim, but I don’t think it is the most efficient use to move this large ship for that.”

“Ah! Unfortunately, we cannot have the messenger warriors use the small boats.”

This time, it was Runa who tilted his head in confusion and asked.

“Why not?”

“It is the difference in speed. On the battlefield, every minute and every second is important. If we use the small boats because it is more efficient, wouldn’t the message be delayed?”

“Is there that much difference?”

“A significant difference. If we gain speed properly, the small boats would never be able to catch up to the Desert Runner even if they were five times faster than they are now. It is because the sails are different, the amount of wind that it can get.”

Runa nodded his head and started to speak.

“It’s disappointing to just let the small boats sit there to rot.”

“When did someone whose mind is full of war-related issues have time to even think about that?”

“It is my job.”

Thriger shook his head internally at Runa’s answer.

“You do not need to worry about it now. Once our Pareia unifies the entire desert, we can use them to cross between the east and the west. We won’t need a special route for it.”

“Ah! That’s true.”

Runa nodded his head once more at Thriger’s words and turned his gaze.

‘He really is an amazing person.’

Seeing Runa fall into another thought, Thriger could only be in awe.

Around the time the first sun arrived at the middle of the sky, a new sun started to rise. This was the time that it started to really heat up, and once the third sun goes up in the sky as well, well, that was the time the murderous heat would rain down.

This was a thought Thriger often had, but he was really thankful for his boat life. He watched the other Greatest Warriors training warriors under this intense heat and shuddered.

Thriger took out his map and ruler to start determining their location before ordering the ship to stop nearby.

“It should be around here. There shouldn’t be that much of an error, so you do not have to worry.”

Runa nodded his head at Thriger’s words and ordered the warriors to land.