Chapter 4.26 - Tiger Trap

Atta was pleased with this mission. Markus had sent him out several times in the past to eradicate upstart villages. Although Markus had tried to find and eliminate the Foundation chapter, a book capable of letting a guild form a sovereign nation, more copies always seemed to find their way into circulation.

So when the grand general heard rumors of an upstart nation, or if one was dumb enough to go through the announcement rites, he had it eradicated. Atta could appreciate the logic. One more neighboring country meant one more person to war with.

That was why he liked these details. His company, the Desert Sons, not affiliated with any specific nation, were a loophole in the protection provided by the Divines. And the Northern Kingdoms was not the only nation to take advantage of it.

So now he was presently surprised when his caravan of mercenaries, disguised as a trade caravan, came to an open gate guarded by an old Soldier with a sword on hip and a cane in his hand.

The old man waived down Atta, a signal to halt the caravan, and Atta obliged. The guard began to speak, "Halt! What brings you here to these woods?"

Atta smiled, "I am just a humble merchant. This caravan brings spices and we have heard that you sell honey. We come from the Northern Kingdoms."

The guard relaxed a bit, "Alright. Please bring the carts in and park. When you are all inside, I will open the inner gate to let you into town. Gotta make sure not to let anything dangerous through so we have a 2 gate system after an issue with kobolds."

Atta smiled, "Of course! That is smart." Atta was smiling because as soon as the inner gate was opened, Atta would give the signal and they would attack the city en masse.

The caravan came through and Atta was impressed. The inner gate was just as strong, and even though he was far away he could tell it was manned. He looked around and saw that between the outer and inner gate there were designations on the ground for carts to park. The ground and surrounding wall was bricked off in stone, creating a nice box. Atta thought it was peculiar that merchants were kept waiting in this holding area. 'Was it some sort of security measure?' he mused. He then looked and saw that the inner gate was not one or two people manning the gate, but dozens hidden behind the palisades of the top of the wall. And they were armed with rifles. Atta felt a cold sweat, as he looked behind and saw that behind on the outer wall there were another few dozen rifles pointed at him. Then Atta watched as his last wagon in the caravan came through. The old guard smiled, winked, and closed the outer gate.

Atta then realized he had made a terrible error. A voice called to him from atop the inner gate.

"Greetings, Atta, leader of the Desert Sons, Conqueror of defenseless villages, and upstart nations."

At that moment Atta snarled, "You think we haven't faced off against a few riflerounds? Your defenses won't save you. Everyone out! Form Defensive circles!"

Atta watched as his people exploded out of the caravans, shields out, and created a dome of shields. Atta knew there wasn't a rifle he had seen that could penetrate the enchantment on their armor.

So to his surprise, he heard a whirring sound, and a single rifle began to discharge rounds. In a matter of a few seconds, it had cut the nearest shield dome to ribbons, wounding or killing all of the team inside.

Atta knew he had severely miscalculated.

The voice called out again, "Now that I have your attention, I want you to know that everyone inside this kill box is charged with entering the country under false pretenses and with malicious and violent intent. If you wish, you may lay down your arms and face a trial, or we will open fire."

Atta smiled. He didn't think that a fool such as this would be willing to give up such an advantage, but Atta thought he might be able to get out of it. "We are willing to agree. What did you suggest?"

A square of faery fire, harmless illusory flames, appeared in a far corner near the inner gate, "By the law of this land, should any person win 5 unarmed combats, they will be given the right to choose exile as their punishment."

Atta was excited beyond words. His company was known for their combat prowess, and even their weakest member was highly proficient in unarmed fighting. "We agree if it is to the death."

The voice replied, "Of course. However at this point should any member flee, we are within our rights to execute your entire company for violating the agreement."

Atta wasn't afraid. Making such a law was very foolish for this leader, as after Atta and each member of his company won 5 bouts, their entire town would be dead. And a town violating its own decree would be charged with violating the divines. Atta knew that doing that would force announcement rites, and give every other nation an advantage in attacking them. Their leader must have been very confident in their fighting skill.

Atta watched as a stone wall was erected between his caravan, the voice spoke again. "This wall is to hide the results of each match and for the protection of our fighters from your weapons. Should there be someone who wins the 5 bouts, they will be escorted out a side gate, and await delivery of their arms and equipment. We are ready for your first fighter."

Atta watched as a small cloaked figure jumped down from the inner gate and ran past the wall. Atta surmised this person was light and quick. Atta motioned to his second in command, Dawkins, and the grizzled veteran walked over smartly, taking off his weapons and armor, revealing crisscrossing scars of numerous battles. Dawkins walked behind the gate.

Atta could not see what was happening, only hear.

The voice spoke, "Are both opponents ready? Fight!" Atta heard a few punches being thrown. Quiet. A few snarls of Dawkins getting frustrated. Then a snap. At first Atta smiled, as he was sure this was of the small fighter. Then he heard Dawkins call out in pain. Then there was another loud crunch sound. Dawkins was whaling in pain. There was a final snap followed by silence.

Atta grew pale. The voice called "Atta of the Desert sons, next fighter please."

At this point The group knew that they would only survive if they were lucky and got paired with weaker fighters.

Atta watched as the previous hooded figure ran up and jumped up to the inner gate, and another fighter replaced them.

***

Soon only Atta remained. Atta realized that just as the voice could not violate the agreement, neither could he. So he marched over, disarming himself and taking off armor, arriving at the red box. On the other side of the makeshift arena were the neatly arranged bodies of his entire company. Each one had a tear in their chest cavity, and it looked like they had their heart torn out.

In front of him was a young smiling girl. Atta called out to the wall, "if no magic is allowed, what about abilities that use stamina. Will those be permitted?" The voice commented, "If both parties agree."

Across he saw the small girl with a predaceous smile nod. Atta also smiled. His Dexterity was over 100, and he moved faster than most humans.

"Are both opponents ready? Fight!" With that Atta used Dash and moved at blinding speed towards his opponent. She hadn't moved, which meant she didn't use Dash. He would be able to get close and wrap up around her, either choking her out or breaking her neck.

Atta got within a meter of his target when he felt something pierce his chest. The girl's arms had turned into scythes. Atta had never seen such a thing. "We said no mana!" He coughed out blood. The voice replied, "An Aberrant Mage's ability is derived from their Stamina. No violation was done here."

Atta did not know of these things. But he did know that he was dying. One of the girl's scythes turned back into an arm and she used it to reach into his now exposed chest cavity and pull out his still beating heart. Atta fell as his legs gave out in shock. He was as an inhuman creature pulled back its hood, and feasted on his heart. Blood covered her pale face and even though her eyes were black as night, they still shined with excitement.

And in a moment, The Desert Sons, the best mercenary company on the continent, had been extinguished.

***