Book 7: Chapter 45


    We were basically foot soldiers now. Our horses were wobbling and struggling to move forward when faced with the sandstorm they had never encountered before. Even though they were battle steeds, their instincts encouraged them to flee. We abandoned our steeds after defeating the enemy team ahead and walked on foot to meet up with tribe inside. It was just as I initially thought. Other than us, our other two teams didnt make it to the destination.


    I dont know what those two teams encountered. Before my eyes was nothing but sand. The sandstorm was now darker than night time. All I could see was waves of sand. It was as if we were surrounded by metres of pale yellow sand. We couldnt see each others faces despite being tied together and holding hands.


    The elder of the tribe said something in a hasty voice. However, Tarak isnt here, so I couldnt understand a word. Lorana expressed that she was willing, but unable to help. She could only understand the fundamentalnguage of the desert. These tribesmen spoke anguage she had never heard before. I had no clue what he was saying nor did I have any interest in listening to him any further. I focused on locating our camp from memory.


    <em>We must return to our camp.</em>


    Our camp is one of the ces nearby where we can take shelter from the storm. I think the two teams will return to the camp when they enter and find nobody. Maybe theyve already gone back. Its fine either way. I just want to see them at our camp. In my opinion, I dont think theres any way the enemy can harm them. If my soldiers die in the desert, they mustve died to the sandstorm, not in the hands of those punching bags.


    I have faith in my men. Theyre formidable fighters. Natural disasters, however, arent something that they can win against. Of course, I believe that they can definitely win against this sandstorm, or at least, return to the camp.


    I have no spare time to be worrying about them right now, though, because I need to lead this group of weak elderly back to our camp. Right now Im facing a monstrous fire and sand I cant even see. It was as if God ripped the area apart with his hands, ripping these man-made toys apart and then tossing them around everywhere.


    I finally understood why there were only tiny areas left in these ruins. Humanitys man-made toys just appear insignificant in this sort of sandstorm. These human ruins were destroyed by the wind. The only area still standing was the one that was on the lee side. But looking at it now, the area still standing cant provide shelter from the wind.


    Your Majesty! Be careful!!


    Someone grabbed me around my waist and tossed me onto the ground. Before I realised it, I felt something burnt in front of my forehead. A burning piece of timber zipped straight past my face. It immediately burnt my hood and even my hair. I spat out a mouthful of sand. Lorana stood up from behind me and looked at the flying objects in front of us. In a concerned voice sheloudly shouted, Your Majesty, we have no idea where we should be heading toward. Weve lost our direction!


    I rubbed my hair in front of me and then shouted back, Yes, but we must continue forth. We need to get out, no matter where we go! We must get out! Are we going to just die here aftering all the way here?! We must get out!!


    Whhoooaaa!!!


    As soon as I finished, a group of foot soldiers rushed out from my side. They wore the standard attire in the desert with thick cloth covering their mouths and a rectangle-shaped hat. They rushed toward me with curved sabres. As I previously said, if you can see your enemy in a sandstorm, then that must mean theyre right in front of you. I desperately stepped back. My loyal guard behind me loyally charged forward to intercept the enemies. But I still felt a chill in my bones when the violent soldier swung his sword at me.


    I looked down and saw that my shirt had beenpletely cut open, leaving just my undershirt underneath. If I didnt have the Earth Dragon Undershirt, my chest would probably resemble my shirt right now. My guards fought the enemies in the storm. Everyone was staggering around. As a matter of fact, the fight looked a littleical. Not much blood sprayed into the air when wounds were cut open, as they were instantly filled with sand.


    It took more effort than usual to kill the enemies before us. However, before we could catch our breath, another group rushed over from our right hand side. The tribesmen behind me hopelessly cried out one after another. My guards rushed over to intercept the enemies again. Lorana didnt hold back at all. There were no survivors wherever she passed.


    Big sis?


    Tch. I feel a little rusty after not using my skills in so long. The group of enemies were in by us, too. My guards seemed to have lost all their fighting strength and struggled to even stand straight in the wind. Blood was dripping from Loranas abdomen, but it shouldnt be a severe wound. Lorana used a length of cloth to wrap the wound, as a means of stopping the bleeding. She then clenched her teeth and said, Dont stay here any longer, Your Majesty. We have no strength left to fight.


    All right. Lets head in one direction. Lets head that way. I remember that this is the ce I saw from the dune. Well be able to return to our camp if we follow this route.


    I looked at the pir in front of me. This pir was the tallest pir I saw from above back then. If we go in this direction, well be able to return to our camp. Judging from the position of the pir, we should be about several hundred metres away from our camp above. However, these few hundred metres were as hard as climbing to heaven from my perspective.


    That dune is on the lee side. Well be safe behind it. We just need to reach that side.


    Your Majesty!! Another group of people areing at us from behind! I think we will soone into contact! I think the sounds we made attracted their attention! Its a group of cavalry!


    What are we going to do, Your Majesty? Were on foot now and we have the tribesmen behind us. If we dont abandon them, theres no way well get away.


    How can I abandon them? If I abandon them then everything Ive done up until now will be for nothing! It wasnt easy to get to this stage. I cant abandon them! Guards!!


    After I shouted, my guards behind me came up to stand around me and looked at me. Despite being in the middle of a sandstorm, their eyes were full of determination as before. Despite us being surrounded, in peril, out of ammunition and out of provisions, they didnt show fear.


    Ill have to ask you guys to hold them back. Once we get out, you can orderly retreat.


    I looked at my soldiers with my teeth clenched tightly as I gave the order I was most reluctant to give. Telling them to stay behind in this situation is the same as killing them. No ammunition, no provisions and no horses. Thats the highway to death.


    But thats the only way we can get out. The only way we can leave safely is if we have people stall them.


    Understood.


    My guards didnt question me, though. There was no change in their gaze. They drew their long swords. Though they were staggering, they rushed toward the cavalry unit with nothing but determination.


    The cavalry in pursuit must be a unit familiar with the desert, since they could still charge at us on their horses in the desert. They must be elites.


    My foot soldiers arent locals. They dont have guns. All theyve got are their long swords and worn out bodies. However, they rushed toward the cavalry unit without any hesitation.


    I must leave.


    Lets hurry and get out of here.


    I looked at Lorana next to me. I choked. I didnt want to look back. I didnt want to look back. If I did, I wouldnt be able to take another step away.


    <em>Sorry, my warriors.</em>


    <em>I will never forget you.</em>