Before Elder Fang could respond, Zeke raised his hand, stopping him mid-motion. Zeke's voice dropped low, cutting through the tension like a blade. "Before you answer, let me be clear. If you refuse my help, I will take my people and leave."
The gathered Elders erupted into a chorus of angry mutters, incredulous at his brazen declaration. Several jaws tightened, eyes blazing with fury. Frost clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as his remaining pride warred with the stark truth of their situation. If Ash and Gravitas left, they would likely not last the hour. The tribe's strategy was heavily reliant on their assistance.
Elder Claw stepped forward, his voice cutting through the clamor like a winter wind. "You would resort to threats? After we've allowed you into our midst?"
Zeke's expression remained impassive, his gaze calm and unyielding. "I don't make threats. I'm offering you a choice."
Frost's voice joined the fray, less fiery but no less firm. "What is it that you want us to do, exactly?"
Zeke wetted his lips, knowing full well that his demand would not be well received. "I will need you to relinquish command over all forces to me."
Frost let out an involuntary hiss. "You can't expect me to just hand over leadership. This concerns the lives of my people."
"Expect?" Zeke's eyes locked on the commander's. "I expect nothing. I offer my assistance."
The elders' protests grew louder, but Zeke remained unshaken. The heated discussion went back and forth as the Elders tried to push back against his request. Frost's voice, though quieter, still carried weight as he reminded Zeke of the implications of what he was asking. But Zeke didn't waver, and neither did the Elders.
"Even if we agreed, there is no way the men would just accept a human as their leader," a young Elder said, folding his arms over his chest.
"I don't have time for this." Zeke's words cut through the discord. "Either you trust me, or you don't."
He stepped forward, his hand moving to the amulet hanging around his neck. Frost narrowed his eyes, sensing the change in Zeke's demeanor. The air around him grew heavy, and the Elders quieted, unsure of what was about to happen.
Zeke unclasped the amulet hanging around his neck and let it drop to the ground.
A pulse of raw, oppressive power erupted from him. His draconic aura surged through the space, crashing over everyone like a tidal wave. The Elders staggered back, their eyes wide with shock. Even Frost's knees nearly buckled under the weight of the aura, though he managed to stay upright, gritting his teeth as the overwhelming presence blanketed the area.
The elders gasped for air, their defiance shattered in an instant.
Zeke's eyes burned with a primal intensity. His voice was calm, yet it carried the weight of command, unmistakable and absolute. "I promised your Progenitor that I would keep his daughter safe. I can either do this by protecting the entire tribe or by leaving with her. However, if I stay, I will be the commander, with full authority over this battle. You can either trust me, or die clinging to your false pride."
The oppressive aura kept the area in a frozen silence. Even the most defiant among the elders could not summon the strength to challenge him now. For a moment, no one moved, no one spoke—until the deafening sound of the war gong reverberated through the cave.
Dong.
The gong's vibration echoed the final toll, marking the end of negotiations. The enemy was advancing.
Panic flashed through the space, and Frost's eyes darted to the sanctum's entrance. His face tightened as he turned to Zeke, the weight of his decision visible in his clenched jaw. "Damn it… Fine." He spit out the word. "The command is yours."
The elders exchanged hesitant glances, but as Frost gave his assent, they could do nothing but follow. Elder Fang, looking visibly aged and weary despite the earlier rejuvenation, finally nodded in reluctant agreement.
"You'll have your command, human," Elder Fang rasped, his voice barely audible over the fading echo of the gong. "But if you fail us…"
Zeke's eyes hardened, and his draconic aura flickered momentarily as he gave one final promise. "I won't."
With that, he turned toward their enemies, where the muffled sounds of marching could already be heard. He spoke over his shoulder to Frost and the others, his voice filled with cold certainty. "Follow me. We don't have much time."
As Zeke strode out, the Elders followed, knowing they had no choice but to trust this outsider who now held their fate in his hands.
Zeke stepped onto the raised platform from which their ranged attackers had launched their assault. It was the perfect spot to oversee the battlefield while staying relatively secure. All eyes turned to him as he stood there, flanked by Frost, the Elders, Gravitas, and Ash.
For a brief moment, he closed his eyes, allowing his sphere of awareness to capture the full scope of the battlefield. In this tight space, his extended range reached from one side of the cave to the other, encompassing every warrior. A smile crept across his face as his eyes opened.
He met the confused gazes of hundreds of tribesmen. "I am Ezekiel," he declared, his voice booming across the cave. "From now on, I will be your new commander."
Shock and disbelief rippled through the crowd, with many warriors visibly ready to protest. But Zeke couldn't let their discontent grow.
"SILENCE!" he bellowed, unleashing his full draconic aura. The entire cave fell into stunned stillness, eyes wide with fear. "Winter himself has asked me to take this role, and I will defend this position until he recovers. There will be no debate. You either fall in line, or you leave."
No one moved as Zeke's golden eyes swept over the gathered men. It was hard to tell if they truly accepted his command or were just too stunned to react. Either way, Zeke took their silence as agreement. He nodded, a satisfied look crossing his face.
"Good. Take your positions. Elder Fang will lead the frontlines for now, but stay ready for further orders."
The men hesitated. But when Elder Fang moved to obey the order, the others quickly followed. This was why Zeke needed to win over the Elders first—once they complied, the rest would fall in line. Now, all that remained was to deliver results.
"Are you sure you can do this?"
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: rgba(236, 240, 241, 1)"> [Answer] </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: rgba(236, 240, 241, 1)">Under the given parameters, I have absolute confidence in producing a satisfying outcome.</span></p>
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Zeke smirked. The spirit rarely spoke with such certainty, and her confidence now meant she was sure of victory. Even he was eager to see what would happen with someone like her in full control of a Chimeroi army.
"I'll leave you to it, then," he sent, satisfied to let the battle play out. He had done his part—now it was Akasha's turn to coordinate the troops.
Just as Zeke gave his permission, he spotted the advancing enemies. The Chimeroi, with their snake-like lower bodies, moved with a grace that might have intrigued him if not for the dire situation. His attention shifted to their weapons, noting the faint blue glow of poison on each tip.
With the calm of a bystander, he watched the attack unfold. First came a volley of spears, quickly followed by a full-on charge. The frontline soon descended into a chaotic melee, and even at a glance, it was clear the Icefang warriors were struggling.
Just then, Zeke felt a slight pull on his Core as Akasha began drawing Mana. She was either enhancing her own abilities or casting a spell—or both. Zeke waited with eager anticipation. The reaction was immediate—several warriors turned to him, shock written across their faces. He recognized that look. It was the expression of someone receiving a telepathic order for the first time. He nodded calmly, confirming that whatever command they'd received had come from him.
The changes became visible quickly. The Icefang warriors started forming clusters of three, each member guarding the others' backs as they advanced and retreated together. In these small groups, each had a specific role: one attacked, another defended, and the third flanked.
At first, it looked like their battle line had descended into chaos, with warriors seemingly abandoning their positions on a whim and moving without any clear objective. But soon, Zeke noticed a pattern emerging from the apparent disorder. Their defense was not a hard front, but a fluid pattern that would give way at times, only to entrap and defeat those who tried to take advantage of the apparent weakness.
A low whistle escaped his lips as he saw the sheer effectiveness of Akasha's directives. From one instant to the next, the casualties on their sides had more than halved, while the opposite was true for their enemies.
"How are you doing this?" he asked when he couldn't hold back his curiosity anymore.
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: rgba(236, 240, 241, 1)">I'm giving each soldier real-time instructions, keeping them updated on their objectives and the overall state of the battle. My current objective is to minimize their exposure to the enemy's poison while conserving their strength.</span></p>
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Zeke nodded slowly, attempting to keep track of the troop movements. However, he soon had to concede defeat. Despite sharing his senses with Akasha, it was impossible for his mind to process everything happening at once. This was simply beyond what a human could manage.
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: rgba(236, 240, 241, 1)">Am I allowed to include Host in the list of available resources?</span></p>
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Zeke was momentarily surprised by the question but nodded after a brief pause. If Akasha needed him to take action, he would gladly do his part. "Just command me like you would anyone else."
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: rgba(236, 240, 241, 1)">Understood. Please remain where you are, Host.</span></p>
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Zeke frowned. Didn't she need him to fight? However, it soon became clear what Akasha had meant by utilizing him as a resource. Completely seamlessly, certain groups split off from the front, only to be replaced by different teams of three that were already on standby.
Zeke watched as these men approached him in an orderly line. They seemed to be the worst off of the warriors, many sporting grizzly wounds, both old and new. It didn't take long for the first to reach his location.
"I am here, sir," the first woman reported, a look of reverence in her eyes.
Zeke nodded casually, not letting on that he wasn't fully aware of the reason they had come to him.
"Cleanse them of their poison, commander," he heard a voice in his mind. Wait a second… wasn't that his own voice? It seemed Akasha had taken his instruction to command him like anyone else quite literally, even adopting the same authoritative tone.
After a moment of reflection, he had to agree with her choice. No matter how much stronger he had become, he would make a greater impact by cleansing the warriors than by fighting. Unfortunately, he wasn't yet at a level where he could match that kind of manpower.
Zeke began his task. He no longer had time to focus on the battle as he attended to the endless line of wounded soldiers. Akasha had ordered one of the men to bring over a barrel, which was now quickly filling up with Frostscale poison. It didn't take long for a second barrel to be brought over and then a third.
Zeke's eyes widened in disbelief. How were these men and women able to move with so much poison coursing through their bodies? His respect for the Icefang warriors deepened with each dose he extracted. 'Hardy' was a vast understatement for the perseverance the wolfkin showed by simply remaining upright.
His disappointment in the role he was forced to play faded quickly as he saw the expressions of relief on the faces of his patients. The poison not only physically impaired its victims but also caused immense pain as it built up in their bodies. Zeke, having experienced many sessions of exposure therapy, understood that suffering all too well.
Time lost all meaning as one face blurred into the next, and Zeke became a whirlwind of activity, sometimes working on multiple patients at once. What had once been a delicate and strenuous task posed little challenge for him now, and he moved through the waiting tribesmen with wild abandon, leaving no trace of poison in their bodies.
Suddenly, his gaze refocused as a familiar face emerged in his sight. "Frost?" he asked, taken aback. "Did they get you too?"
The former commander stared at him with a look of utter shock. "The enemy," he said after a moment of silence. "They… they've retreated."