Chapitre 8: The first triumph of the Ionian Resistance.
Shun Ti's group was welcomed amidst smiles and cheers, as everyone could see that no one returned heavily injured or placed in white clothes.
And what's more, behind them was a line of various supplies entering through the village gates.
The food was more than welcomed, and what's even better is that there were various kind of military and medical supplies among them.
Supplies that were in dire need currently as each day great amounts of them were used to parch up the soldiers and injured civilians that reached this place.
Shun Ti, ordered the group to head towards the warehouse of the village while he and Kirae headed towards the building that was being used as the command post of the Brotherhood of Navori in this region.
Quickly saluting at the people inside, they gave some papers and other bags that they obtained from both the Noxian battalion and supply team.
Shun Ti then added "This time we were able to destroy the whole battalion, the addition that Kae recruited for us proved to be extremely useful during the battle, it was due to this that I've choose to engage the enemy head on instead of just simply sabotaging them, at such you can all delete one less battalion from the equation." saying this words, he moved the cloth that was carrying on his back, removing the blanket, the officials and acolytes were able to see the runic sword that belonged to the Noxus captain.
"I offer this sword as the prove of subjugation. If more proves are needed I expect to head deeper with my team in a few hours, we would pass nearby and someone could come with us if it's needed." With his words finished, he glanced around and saw the surprised and excited expression on the people in the room.
Kae who was in front of him alongside three other figures, glanced at the runic sword with awe, then, the two other figures that belonged to the Kinkou Order moved their gaze towards the table on further on the room, where a map and various pieces could be seen, and in front of it was a tall white haired man, looking at the map and the display with a deadpan expression.
"There's no need to further prove, there's no way the Noxians would let a runic sword reach our hands, less the captain of an entire battalion. You did a good job." The icy voice of the young man reached everyone ears as he praised Shun Ti, while doing this he removed a piece from the map.
"Continue with your idea, lead your team to the closest battalion on the north west and see if you can replicate such outcome, there's no need to put your lives in danger, if you can't see things clear you can retreat with the information." As he finishing ordering Shun Ti, he looked over Kae while Shun Ti answered with a simple "Understood." and keep on his position.
"Seeing the recruitment starting to lay it's fruits, try to increase the patrols around the near areas, we can't let these talented people perish out there. We need everyone's help in such times, now that we liberated the Hirana Monastery and Lady Karma started supporting our efforts, we can only keep impulsing our momentum." Saying this, everyone nodded.
"Continue with the previous plans, I'll be leaving this night with a few brothers. We need to keep an eye on the Noxian general and his troops, and see if we can stall time until we can reinforce the Placidum." When his words fell, he quickly walked out of the room, leaving the officials in charge with solemn expression.
Kae glanced again at Shun Ti as he smiled at him "You heard him, go and make the preparations for your next attack, you did a good job for Ionia." Putting a hand on his shoulder he then glanced around the room as he said loudly.
"Everyone's did a good job! Now we just need to keep focusing our efforts, make sure to spread the words about the destroyed battalion, now more than ever everyone need to lift up their spirits!" when he finished his words, everyone cheered with him as Shun Ti and Kirae walked away.
---
After finishing letting the people in charge of the warehouse take care of the supplies, the team quickly gathered in their tents and started to chat among themselves with heavy spirits and joyful atmosphere, a few were joking among them while mocking at those who were injured.
Even the gloomy Zan was infected by the atmosphere.
However, Karya couldn't enjoy their victory, as since they departed with the supplies, she saw how Renzo seemed to be shocked from the battlefield.
She didn't said any words to him as she knew how much someone would be affected after taking place of such massacre and actions.
He needed his time to reflect on himself and find his courage to keep moving forward.
Renzo, just keep staring at the air, lost in his thoughts.
It wasn't the first time he killed today, just after appearing in this world he was forced to kill someone. However, in that situation he was forced to.
And the recent events didn't let him have the time and respite to think carefully of his actions and situation.
It was now that everything started to really have place in his head, that his mind stopped coping and lying itself. Accepting his reality.
He was not in a videogame, nor those people where random characters. Just like the guys around him, they were people with feelings and stories behind them. Just like him.
Death, something that many of us in earth though of something distant and foreign to us. Used to peaceful lives that could only be interrupted sometimes by a few violent events.
Now however, he marched towards a group of people and planed alongside others to murder them all.
He knew it was a war, but it was his war?
He wasn't from Ionia, he didn't shared any kind of resemblance or familiarity with them. They just happened to be the people that took care of him. That lend a hand to him.
He was just repaying the favour, but does he wanted to keep killing other people mindlessly in such regards?
He didn't knew it, when he saw Shun Ti and Kirae executing people like those cartels videos he saw back on earth, he questioned himself.
It's not easy, at least for him, to see your hands and clothes filled with blood and pieces of meats from living beings. He could rationalize that they were his enemies, but the action itself felt so wrong to him.
He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
He can't really tell what to do, still, he decided to keep going forward with his situation. Right now, it wasn't a good moment to decide such things, he knew that these kinds of decisions were better judged with a cold head and time.
Two things that he didn't have for the time being, on his back was the flame of war, threatening not only him but everything around him.
Glancing around and seeing Karya smiling at him, he thanked her.
For what? Just for be there.
Smiling at her he said "How about we pray to our lord and savior Janna, who blessed us with this victory?" Hearing his words and seeing him smiling, Karya was at loss and awkwardly smiled at him while nodding to his words.
Falling on his knees and reaching both his hands, he started saying while urging Karya to follow his actions.
"Lady Janna that are in the skies, I wholeheartedly thank you for the winds aiding me in this victory. With your blessing and watch, I raised victorious against them." He said while closing his eyes, Karya following his suit while saying the same thing, only this time in Ionian instead of Piltovian.
The others around them, seeing the MVP of the attack praying once again, watched amused as he forced Karya to follow his suit.
Ymir just looked at them respectfully while touching the same carved stone on her hair.
When Shun Ti and Kirae reached the group place, he was about to raised his words until he saw Renzo and Karya praying.
Raising his eyebrow at Karya, he looked around in search for questions, only to receive shrugged shoulders and laughs.
Not minding it, he waited for them to finish, as he didn't mind respecting the beliefs of Renzo and Karya.
However he was quickly caught surprised when Kirae copied the pose with hands that Renzo used while praying and starting thanking Janna.
"Thank you Lady Janna for blessing us, for our next battle please keeping an eye at us."
Hearing her words he couldn't help but ask with a great amount of surprise at her "Have you been converted by Renzo beliefs too?"
Facing his question with closed eyes she just muttered "We saw her actions, in his time of need she answered to his praying. How could I doubt about it?" Then she opened her eyes and looked at the two figures.
"I believe in Ionia, however it doesn't mean that I would not appreciate at those who could help me in these trying times." With that said, she went towards her tent and start cleaning her armor and changing clothes, leaving behind a thoughtful Shun Ti.
"...And spread your greatness to this land, amen." Finished Renzo, followed by Karya who couldn't help but ask.
"What does 'amen' means?" Seeing her puzzled expression, he quickly looked for a bullshit.
"It's just a way to end the praying after thanking, don't take it too serious." At his words Karya just nodded at both raised on their feet.
But when they saw everyone around looking at them with teasing expressions and smiles, they couldn't help but feel a little bit embarrassed.
Renzo thought just keep a straight face as he said to his head 'Just look straight, this is nothing comparing when I shit my pants in fourth grade.' Reassuring himself with a more embarrassing situation he started to smile towards the other while trying to look after a cup of something to drink.
Luckily for him Hyuna reached him a cup with a drink as she smiled at him "To the preacher and our helper, drink this cup with us, Anar." She said to this him with soft and warm tone as the other members from the group smiled at him and raised their cups while saying "For our new Anar"
Renzo smiling nervously accepted the drink and gulped down. A warmth and nice feeling spreading his throat as he drank the now recognized alcoholic drink made of some fruits.
Seeing his group accepting and welcoming Renzo, Shun Ti just smiled and let them enjoy for a few bit before ordering them.
Karya took a moment a reach over to Renzo, as she started to explain to him "Anar means brother, we used this term to refer to our family and people close to us, that is why everyone is happy for you."
Renzo opened his eyes in understanding and he quickly thanked her for explaining to him.
"So, how should I call you all now?" He asked her in curiosity.
"Well, just like you did before, there no need to change things, is just that you are now one of us. Although you're not from here, just like Ymir, you are a fellow brother from Ionia." Hearing her words and seeing her smile alongside the other ones, a warm feeling spread over Renzo as he just simply said ",Um" with a gentle tone.
They keep drinking and celebrate until Shun Ti thought that was enough.
Seeing their captain with a serious expression, everyone respectfully keep silent as they waited for his words.
"We achieve victory and brought with us honor and hope for our people, I congratulate all of you for your hard work. But now, we need to keep moving forward, we achieve a great hit, but outside there are still in our lands hundreds of such battalion killing our people and destroying our land while we're celebrating. I say that we left such joyful occasion and celebration once we kick them off of our lands, don't you agree!?" Shouting with great fervor, Shun Ti not only ignited the flame on his men ranks, but also those around them that were watching and hearing him.
"Yeah! Let's kick these bastards out!"
"Let's thrown them in the sea!"
"I will send them to The Kindred!"
Hearing his men taunts, Shun Ti nodded at them.
"Very well, luckily for us we received orders to hunt down another battalion, in thirty minutes I want all lf you ready for another battle." With his words everyone cheered while Shun Ti glanced over Renzo while saying to him.
"And to our new brother, we shall rely on you once again to achieve another victory to this land!" Nodding to him, Renzo just raided his cup while smiling.
With nothing else to say, Shun Ti headed towards his tent and started preparing and cleaning his equipment.
The whole team moved afterwards and prepared for another march and consequent battle. With the morale on the roof, they were eager for another battle.
Many others Ionian around started also to prepared their weapons in high spirits, although they weren't going towards those man battlefield, they would undoubtedly give everything for their home.
The word also started to spread in the village, were many heard that an entire battalion of Noxus was wiped out, the soldiers were having beaming smiles as it seemed that Ionia started to slowly fight back at the enemy.
The higher ups seeing the morale raising, decided to launch a few skirmishes towards the enemy, their objective was to stall a few battalions near and wait for the news regarding the next attack from Shun Ti team. If they happened to be successful, they would be deployed in the next days towards these other battalions while also receiving help from the other teams.
The tremendous power that Renzo had would be used as the tip of the lance in the Ionian counteroffensive.
Soon, squadrons after squadrons and groups could be seen exiting from every gate around the village.
One of those were the squad belonging to Shun Ti, as they quickly made their way towards the north west.
Along the path, Renzo asked for Karya to look after him while walking, as he asked Ye for a dagger and started cutting a piece of wood, with intentions of carving with his terrible skills a figure of Janna.
He knew it well that nothing crazy would be the result of his work, but he wanted to at least give a figure to Janna for the people on his team.
When Hyuna asked him what was he doing and he told her, many started questioning thinga about Janna.
Although the vast majority of them were just curious and wanted something to talk about along the path, the like of Karya and Kirae were interested on it.
He then started bullshiting and saying what he remembered from her lore. Although he haven't heard anything from her since she blessed him, he didn't doubt that she was paying attention to him.
As to why? It was obvious that both knew the importance of believers for her. They were the ones that gives her power and authority over the lands.
The reason why she was just a speck of light, at least in Renzo opinion, was thay he was far away from her supposed land.
Although Janna was a really ancient deity that held temples around Runeterra, the epicenter of her power was around the land currently know as Piltover and Shaun.
Now, a long time since many forgot about her existence, Renzo brought again her name in Ionia, where no one outside him knew about.
And even back in Piltover, it was a deity that was known by few.
"...So you need to believe and ask for something reasonable. She won't fight your battles and wars, but would look after a stray arrow, or the wind during a fire." When Renzo finished explaining how to ask and pray to her, not only Karya but many others were more interested.
When they asked him about how to reach her or what to give he simply said "Just talk to others about her and offer a sincere preach, just like I'm doing now." Finishing with a cocky smile, a few laughed at him while shaking their heads.
The lad just used them to gain favour to his goddess.
Renzo then took a look at the silhouette of a female on his head, the carving was rough but at least it was taking form slowly. He would be working on it on his free time until the splash art in his head took form in the piece of wood.
A few minutes later they stopped in a stream while started drinking some water, Shun Ti informed them that there was at least forty minutes of march until they reached the enemy position, and it was here that Kirae moved forward.
During the travel she stayed behind, leaving the other two belonging to her squad to scout ahead, however now that they were near the enemy she would take the lead in scouting and taking care of any sentry that the enemy may have.
"We'll be using the same tactic, Renzo, Zan and Kaaz would head over first, then we kill everyone left and gather whatever we can salvage. Also this time let me and Hyuna take care of the Captain." Shun started to give orders beforehand while everyone was resting.
"What if there's survivors?" Hyuna asked.
When everyone head this, a somber look could be seen glooming on their faces.
Seeing survivors among the soldiers only mean one thing...
They were traitors that submitted to Noxus.
Everyone knew it, because all of the heard their words when the Noxians reached their village.
"Submit to Noxus, or die."
And it was a dilemma that not many wanted to face, killing their previous fellow brothers.
"If all of you can't do it, I'll take the burden for all of you. I won't force any of you to kill who were once our brothers. But I cannot let such people alone. Not when thousands have spilled their blood in resistance and to keep up with our traditions and beliefs." Shun made it clear for everyone.
He then looked at Renzo, who was probably the one who'll have to kill the most when launching his attack.
"Don't blame yourself nor think about it, leave it to us. The war is cruel and you're still too young to carry such burden."
Renzo just nodded.
Still, he thought in his head. 'Why don't just liberate them? If they submitted it's not due because their wanted, many would have like their families and fellow to keep living instead of dying there, without a grave.'
But he decided to keep it to himself. He wasn't in position to critize their actions. He knew what happen to their villages.
They lost everything and this was the only thing keeping them ahead.
Just like him, he killed people that didn't did anything to him, he could have walked towards a Noxus campment if he wanted and join their ranks.
If he's not wrong, in Noxus talented people were appreciated, and everyone could rank up if they fight for it. It was their belief, the motor that keep them moving as a whole.
Although Renzo wasn't personally a talented individual, the devil fruit was a unique ability that would surely make him gain points there.
But now, here he was, planning to murder another battalion alongside the Ionians and for what?
Gratitude towards those who lent him a hand.
It was his current reality, and he has to seek the best for him if he wanted to survive and get out of this predicament.
Soon after they resumed their march, now with more cautiousness, Renzo have long ago pack the Janna figure on his bag alongside the other devil fruits.
Thinking about the devil fruits, he wondered if they have something to do with this world? Or if it was a phenomena that happened due to his apparition.
There were seven of them, well six in reality but he still counted the parts of the seventh. And added with his, they were eight in total.
He didn't knew if it was something special or a mere and unique coincidence, but once he's prepared and free enough, he plan to go again toward that place and take a look around.
Minutes passed by, until Kirae figure could be seen approaching them.
This time again, there wasn't survivors either.
Renzo heard many sigh's of relief, making his blood froze.
His teammates would rather have Ionians dead than fight against them It seems.
' Cultural shock I guess.' He thought to himself.
This time there wasn't any hill to cover them, just the forest at their left and that's all.
The battlefield this time was at the side of a stream, in a valley between to hills that were shielding the place from the left and right side.
The right side was a little bit barren from trees, at the ground mas mostly rocky terrain with treacherous paths.
The left side luckily was covered in lush and dense forest. The trees in this world were massive the vast majority. While only certain species have more normal heights that Renzo was accustomed to.
The plan was getting the nearest as possible until their position was spotted and Renzo had to launch the initial, and hopefully only attack.
Then, they would follow the same strategy, two teams on Renzo's flanks and Kaaz protecting him.
Although Renzo could fight head on in the battle, Shun Ti wanted him in a fixed position to cover the whole battlefield if something happened to go dire. Renzo understood that he was the team artillery.
After a quick pray alongside Karya and surprisingly, Hyuna they moved again. They did their best to make the least sound possible, as they weren't able to see the village, but Kirae keep guiding Shun Ti towards their wished position.
However, they couldn't reach the place as it seemed that someone spotted one of the sentry's bodies and raised the alarm.
Without waiting much time, Renzo, Zan and Kaaz quickly made their way towards the location of the village.
A barrage of arrow, knifes, axes, bullets and even magic attacks made way towards his position.
Facing such powerful amount of fire power Renzo didn't doubt any second and stood on his place and did three consecutive punches towards his front.
*BRRRRNNN*
The air shattered in front of him, Zan and Kaaz that were by his side quickly fell to the ground as the ground in front of Renzo was torn apart.
There wasn't any crack, after the initial punch, the terrain was shattered apart by the violent energy of the following punches.
The attacks, even the magic ones where quickly torn apart, the violence behind the punches was such that the knifes and axes deformed themselves as if they were clay.
However the nightmare just begun for the soldiers of Noxus. They weren't able to see how their attacks failed when the first punch reached them.
Different from the previous battle, Renzo wasn't near the enemy, he was at least five hundred meters far.
However the shockwaves carried with them at terrible force that torn apart the organs and tissue inside the Noxus soldiers.
And for those who were able to withstand it, they faced two other shockwaves followed by the missiles created by the shattered ground.
The debris acted as high speed shrapnel that passed through the Noxians reinforced armoured as if nothing.
Those who could withstand both the shockwaves and debris could only watch dumbfoundly the destruction and massacre that befall upon them.
When the battalion captain retreated the shield provided by his rune sword, he watched with a fuming anger and helplessness the result.
His entire battalion, composed by four hundred soldiers was shred apart, leaving behind only two of the battle mages, and a handful of officers.
Seeing this, he grabbed his sword and started running towards his enemies.
"Die!" He screamed as by now, Shun Ti and the rest run the distance between them.
Seeing the captain charge, Shun Ti wasn't fool enough to take it head on. We were talking about a big guy that was not only heavy armored, but also have the best fighting skills on the battalion.
Quickly making way for him while also preparing to slash his back alongside Hyuna, the Noxian passed through them while making using of his rune sword.
*BOOOM*
An Explosion ocurred and a few runes flew towards Shun Ti and Hyuna that were caught off and could only defend their vital parts to prevent fatal wounds.
Seeing this, Zan quickly casted his spell towards both of them while controlling the shield with each of his hands.
*CLANG* *CRACK*
The runes were blocked by Hyuna sword and Zan shield. Shun Ti gritted his teeth and bear the pain running through his body as he slashed towards the captain.
Between the three, they went to each other's throats. While Zan doing the job of taking care of sudden attacks.
When the Captain noticed him, he tried to sneak attack on him only to be prevented by Shun Ti and Hyuna.
Under their merciless attack, and then the added fire power of other members, the captain fell when Karya thrown at him a spell, that passed through his chest. And with a swift motion of her hands, the scythe appeared behind him alongside a chain that was pulled by her with great strength.
With his chest wide open by the spell and large cut through his back with his vertebrae destroyed, the captain gritted his teeth and glared at them with a last and aggrieved look before dying on his knees. Still on his position.
Breathing loudly, everyone cheered after seeing the powerful enemy dying.
Falling on their knees a few, quickly tried to regain their breath while the rest started to cover the wounds of the injured.
Zan did his part as he used his shield to try unite the flesh around a nasty cut in Shun Ti shoulder.
Kirae quickly took any important document and information around the camp, while the others took any kind of valuable weapons or thing.
Renzo just keep on his place alongside Kaaz, who started to tell him stories of previous tasks and patrols under his point of view.
After nearing a hour, the rest of the team finished grabbing what they needed and wanted and head back to the village.
This time the walk back was filled with a more relaxed atmosphere, as everyone had an smile on their faces, except from Shun Ti and Kirae.
"There's seems to be a limit in what can we do, we need to seek a way to maximize Renzo's strength and ours for the next task, as I can tell that we're going to start doing this everyday." Said Shun Ti grimly at Kirae.
"There's a brief moment after Renzo's initial attack that an assassin could use to get near to him or others and swiftly kill them. Let's not mention what a capable general would do with such advantage." She added her to his analysis.
Shun Ti nodded as he keep racking his brain in simulations regarding what to do.
Halfway towards the village, they encounter an entire team of acolytes from the Kinkou Order bathed in blood, it seemed they just finished also a mission and we're now heading to the camp.
When Shun Ti inquire the team leader, he heard them mentioning various battalion starting to regroup. It seemed that Noxus would start marching with more strength towards the Placidum.
Hearing this, Shun Ti expression ashen a bit.
They were making advances, but the enemy was simply too numerous to be dealt a hard hit.
"Other teams would be start trying to slow their advance to prevent these battalions join the main army, but is hard to tell how much we could keep up with such task." The acolyte shook his head while saying, a lot of blood has been spilling from their side to keep with this task.
"Where exactly you've seen this large group again?" Asked Shun Ti to the acolyte.
Kirae glared at him with open eyes, but keep her mouth shut.
"North east, there's at least five battalions, we just cut half the numbers in one that was trying to reach them before we got forced to retreat."
Shun Ti breathed loudly as he thanked the acolytes, then he ordered the group to stop.
He didn't talk to them as both Kirae and Shun Ti were debating whether or not doing this.
"There's to many of them, the sentry's, scouts, everything would be much more complicated for just three of us, and there's various wounded among the guys, I said we first retreat, grab some reinforcements that could help me, and then we could hit them hard." Kirae argued her point.
Shun Ti agreed with her words, however he couldn't help but say to her "And by tomorrow's who knows how many of them would be? They're five battalions now, tomorrow they could be seven, eight, ten! We have to be decisive here."
Kirae knew that he had a point, and there was also the thing that each day, such battalions were destroying villages and getting closer and closer to the Placidum, leaving them not only longer times to move between their targets and current location, but also in danger of receiving surprise attack while moving to their destination.
"Want to let them decide?" Kirae finally said to him.
Shun Ti just sighed deeply, knowing quite well the answer.
"It it's really a decision when we both know what they'll would decide?" Kirae just chuckled at his words .
Clearing his throat, Shun Ti finally glanced over his men's. Taking a moment to appreciate each one of their faces, he breathed air and asked loudly.
"My fellow brothers and sisters, we've just received news regarding five different battalions regrouping and moving towards the enemy main army. We now have the chance to go directly to hit them with our current forces and the dangers that it means, or we could regroup, have your injures heal, get reinforcements and march by today's night or at the first hours of tomorrow." Hearing his words, various expression passed through many faces.
Seeing this, Shun Ti finally asked them.
"So, what do you want to do guys?"
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Xerstoren
Xerstoren Another 5k chapter, holy shit.
Don't get accustomed since the normal length would be 3-3.k each chapter.
Later tonight I will release another chapter after seeing the new Arcane episode's. I wasn't able to watch them since I've been writing non-stop.
Tomorrow I'll probably release the next one and that would probably be all, since there's local elections around and I need to go and all that.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed my crap!
Also, I would like to know what would be your decision too!
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone