New Weapon Achievements (2)
“If we just get past that camp, we can live like kings for a whole month!”
“Thanks for always providing such delicious feasts! Dig in!”
The barbarians crossed the border as usual, heading out to plunder the villages outside the fortress. The empire's soldiers would try to stop them, but it didn't matter. If they broke through, they'd raid the villages straightaway. If the defense held firm, they'd probe and harass before pulling back. Then they'd scout for weaker spots and concentrate their attacks there. This tactic had allowed the barbarians to plunder successfully without major issues up to now.
But things were a little different this time. The camp seemed to have far more soldiers garrisoned than usual.
“This spot looks tough. Let's rattle them a bit and fall back!”
No problem. They'd skirmish lightly, retreat, regroup with the other bands, identify weak points, and strike. The barbarians charged ahead, buzzing with excitement at the thought of hauling back their spoils.
“Charge!”
“Brace for arrows! Shields up!”
They pounded the earth with renewed fury. At that moment, something flashed from the camp's side. Soon after, an unfamiliar roar echoed through the air.
-Brat-tat-tat!
“?”
Dozens of barbarians in the front ranks crumpled to the ground. The rest faltered, slowing their advance in confusion.
“What the hell was that?”
“Some kind of shaman?”
Before they could figure it out, another flash lit up the line.
-Boom! Boom-boom!
More in the vanguard dropped.
“It's sorcery!”
“Why the hell are there shamans now?”
“Block it! Shields forward!”
-Boom! Boom-boom!
The barbarians thrust their shields ahead in defense, but the wooden barriers shattered like kindling. Chaos gripped them amid the sudden onslaught. Still, they quickly grasped the situation.
“Gah, retreat!”
“We have to report to the Great Chieftain! The empire's brought shamans!”
The barbarians wheeled around and fled at full speed.
-Brat-tat! Boom!
The soldiers kept firing until the enemy vanished from sight.
“Cease fire! Stand by and prepare for the next assault!”
The commander who issued the order scanned the field in awe.
Overwhelming...
The troops felt the same.
“What... what was that?”
“Ah, that? It's called a matchlock...”
The support troops marveled at the matchlock's power, while the garrison brimmed with hope that they could now repel barbarian raids.
It was the matchlock unit's first real combat. Their training had been brief. Yet, excluding a few jammed rifles, 167 matchlocks had repelled the assault without a single casualty.
The moment the matchlock's might was proven.
After the failed raid, the barbarians returned to their rally point.
“Hm? Some groups beat us back.”
“...”
One barbarian spoke up upon seeing the early arrivals, but got no response. They looked rough. He grabbed one and demanded answers.
“You're short-handed. What happened?”
The man, who had been staring at the ground, looked up. Terror twisted his face as he forced out words.
“...Sorcery. We got hit by it.”
“Sorcery?”
“A huge boom and a flash of light. Our brothers up front dropped like flies! Had to be a shaman!”
“This is bad...”
“What happened?”
Other barbarians trickled in just then.
“They say the empire's brought shamans.”
“Damn.”
The group huddled, pondering gravely.
“Shamans...”
“Might not be able to raid anymore.”
“Then we'll starve! Where do we get food?”
“We'll be vulnerable to monster attacks again! Back to the hard times!”
Their worries mounted. Finally, one proposed a solution.
“Report to the Great Chieftain first.”
“Smart thinking.”
“He even beat knights. He'll have an answer for this too!”
“Head back.”
Hoping the Great Chieftain would provide guidance, they set off for the village.
“Grrrr...”
A mountain of a magic beast growled low.
“Great Chieftain, it's too big!”
“No way we can take it alone! Let's all jump it!”
The surrounding barbarians gripped their clubs and shouted.
“No. I'll handle it solo.”
The Great Chieftain unwrapped the wolf pelt from his neck, revealing his massive frame.
“Stay clear—don't get caught in it.”
He handed the pelt to a nearby warrior, crouched low with a huge axe in both hands.
“Raaargh!”
The beast reared back and roared. The Great Chieftain exploded forward, closing the gap in an instant. The magic beast swiped with a forepaw, but he twisted aside effortlessly. Gripping his axe tight, he gathered his power.
Aura bloomed from his hands, racing along the blade.
“Hup!”
He swung. The beast's thick leg sheared clean off. It bellowed in agony, toppling off-balance.
-Thud.
The Great Chieftain leaped atop its head, slamming down with aura-charged steel into its skull.
“Kyaaagh!”
“Whoa.”
“Keng!”
“Brutal as ever.”
“...”
“...Dead?”
“Seems like it.”
After slaying the beast, the Great Chieftain wiped the gore from his face. The creature's fluids, laced with demonic energy, burned on contact—but he brushed it off indifferently.
“Great Chieftain! Incredible as always!”
“I brought rags! Let me clean you...”
“No need. Handle the beast.”
Leaving it would corrupt the nearby land. It had to be dealt with quickly, so he tasked the others.
If only we could eat it...
He glanced at the carcass, then turned away.
“Great Chieftain! Big trouble!”
Another barbarian rushed up.
“What is it?”
“Empire shamans! Raiding for food's gonna be tough now!”
“Shamans? Explain.”
“A massive boom and fire flash! Dozens of our kin dropped at once!”
“Hmm...”
The Great Chieftain pondered the report.
“Back to the village first. I'll meet this shaman and talk.”
“...I see.”
The shaman muttered.
“Ever heard of sorcery like this?”
“No.”
“How should we counter it?”
“Don't know that either.”
“...How much food's left?”
He asked a nearby warrior.
“Not long at this rate. A week tops. Starvation hits soon.”
“...Understood.”
Worst-case scenario.
Too many crammed in too small a space.
They'd gathered to escape magic beast threats. More people meant safer from monsters. But it bred new problems: limited space, dwindling resources. Village food sources vanished fast.
Their new solution? Plunder empire villages. It had worked fine—until now.
Abandon raids, and masses would starve. Disband the village, and they'd face beasts again.
After a moment's thought, the Great Chieftain spoke.
“Prepare to migrate. And gather all the village warriors.”
He planned a preemptive strike before retaliation, then one last big haul and relocation.
Three days passed without raids after repelling the first. Some hoped the barbarians had given up, but war didn't bend to wishes.
“Barbarian assault imminent.”
“Numbers?”
“Around 3,000 estimated.”
“Hmm...”
The commander mulled the scout's report. Time was short. Evacuating villagers and supplies to the fortress for a siege wasn't feasible.
“Siege is out. Dig in here and defend.”
He tapped a spot on the map.
“Heard the Great Chieftain wields aura. Knights, you handle him. Mages, cover the rear against shaman attacks.”
Commanders led their units to positions as ordered.
“Shaman, huh.”
The mage murmured.
Basic spells—igniting fire in the air or levitating light objects—were common. But true offensive or defensive magic, or large-scale casting? Rare, reserved for the innately gifted. She herself was a 4th-circle mage. What piqued her was the shaman intel.
Wonder how good they are.
The knights discussed the Great Chieftain.
“One of our knights got killed by him before.”
“Hmph. Savage scum.”
“Rumor says he solos high-grade magic beasts. He's no pushover.”
Meanwhile, soldiers chatted while waiting.
“Should be fine, right?”
“We've got knights and mages. What could go wrong?”
“Ah, they still don't know about matchlocks.”
“Watch closely. Witness the matchlock's power.”
“What's that?”
“Wait—something's coming!”
The barbarians appeared in the distance.
“Battle stations!”
With the commander's shout, war between barbarians and empire erupted.