Chapter 313 - The Duty of a Combat Commander
The chaotic battle with tungsten spears and spheres had just ended, and the pirate ships had formed a tight encirclement around us. Our ship was completely surrounded, and escape was impossible. In any normal situation, this would be a desperate and hopeless scenario, where even the best of luck wouldn't save us.
But the Kikyo Society, with our emblem of the Kikyo flower, saw things differently. We simply thought, 'Good, the pests have gathered nicely.'
For the pirates, it was a sudden and unexpected confrontation with a mysterious cargo ship. A single, suspicious vessel with no cargo on deck, it had launched a light spell into the sky and raised a skull flag with a blooming flower, a sight that would surely be unsettling.
But being awakened in the middle of the night and provoked into a fight, no one could remain calm. Blood was boiling, and if I were in their shoes, I’d ignore the details and charge forward to knock them down.
Even as the pirates gathered, they continued to rain down long-range attacks, which our defense team effortlessly deflected. Their attacks, though powerful, were no match for our ironclad defenses.
We had stopped provoking the pirates, so objectively, it seemed like we were taking a beating. Holding a defensive stance was stressful, but the time for endurance was almost over.
Just as the tension was about to explode, Mary gave the command with confidence.
"—Begin the attack."
Amid the excitement, the group dressed in black and white cloaks leaped onto the nearby pirate ships with a carefree enthusiasm. They were the Bloody Mary-led Second Combat Unit, after all.
The pirates, eager to fight, were preparing to board us, but we took the initiative and boarded them first.
"Will this be the end of the pirates in the small nation cluster tonight?"
I could hear Siegrune’s muttering over the howling wind and rain. I moved closer to hear more.
"We’re not killing everyone, but probably half will survive. Still, whether they continue as pirates is questionable. After all, once they’ve had a taste of pain, they won’t easily go back to their old ways."
"Indeed. Those who survive and band together can still sail the ships. They might even form a new pirate crew."
"Or they might see this as a reduction in rivals and consider it a blessing. Whatever happens, it won’t concern us anymore."
From the bridge, I watched the battlefield where the Second Combat Unit was silently and methodically executing their mission.
They walked confidently across the chaotic decks of the pirate ships, delivering precise and deadly strikes. So far, I hadn’t seen any of them use flashy or over-the-top techniques. Some preferred to punch and kick, while others preferred to stab or slash. Both styles required a deep understanding of the human body.
This knowledge was essential, even for apprentices. Even the older members who had been around since the beginning had learned it.
Without this understanding, it was impossible to control the force of an attack. The power and target of each strike, the strength of the opponent's defense—all had to be considered. When stabbing or slashing, the depth and location were crucial.
A simple rule: Avoid attacking the central nervous system, and you won’t kill immediately. Targeting vital organs like the head, neck, heart, liver, and kidneys, or major arteries in the shoulders and thighs, would result in death within seconds to a few minutes.
Controlling the force meant avoiding these critical areas and ensuring the damage wasn’t fatal.
"...A kick that shattered the hip bone, followed by a blow to the neck. The first strike avoided the vital points, and the second was the finishing blow."
"Yes, one of them deeply cut the back of the knee before stabbing the liver. The first strike inflicted serious injury, and the second was the fatal blow. It’s a clear and controlled method."
That meant the first strike, if it had been fatal, would have been a miscalculation. My order was to control the force while delivering the finishing blow. They were doing an excellent job.
The dark, sticky liquid flowed from the wounds, pooling and mixing with the rain and waves.
The blood flowed, a lot of it. From the wounds inflicted by blades, from the bodies that had been crushed, the blood flowed warmly, carried away by the rain and waves.
The rain, wind, and waves, once troublesome, were now merely background elements as the carnage intensified.
Everyone was soaked, but their movements were unaffected. The women in black and white cloaks and black berets moved like reapers, reaping lives.
On the narrow decks, there was no escape once targeted. If they had taken refuge in the ship’s hold, they might have survived.
Necks were slit, arteries in the collarbones and abdomens were severed, and arteries in the groin were torn. Skulls were shattered, hearts and ribs crushed, and livers and kidneys ruptured.
The deadly strikes were minimal and efficient. In the chaotic battlefield, flashy moves were unnecessary.
The thirty or so members of the attack team were turning the nearby ships into graveyards.
The dense ships, the surging waves, and the stormy weather, along with the tall masts and tangled ropes, obscured the pirates’ view, making it difficult for them to realize the massacre happening.
"Commander, the pirate encirclement is complete. They’re hesitant to engage due to the congestion."
"They lack initiative. We’ll have to board them first—this is Mary. Units 1 to 4, move to the outermost perimeter of the pirate formation. Begin suppressing from the edges and work your way inward."
"Got it!"
The members, responding to the command, nimbly climbed the ropes and leaped from ship to ship, reclaiming the pirates’ territory in the storm.
Mary’s decision was sound. Taking down the outer ships would immobilize them, making it impossible for the inner ships to escape.
We had no intention of letting the pirates flee. We were in for a fight to the bitter end.
"Units 2 and 3, maintain a steady pace. Unit 5, focus on defense and ensure no collateral damage to the ships. And—"
The members didn’t act on their own but followed the commander’s lead. With many ships and poor weather conditions, clear instructions were crucial to avoid chaos. Even in a chaotic melee, it would have been exciting, but that’s another story.
The pirates were in disarray, while our team moved with precision. The contrast was striking.
"Detailed but perfect orders."
"Yes, despite her inexperience, she’s doing well. At this rate, I won’t need to offer any advice."
Siegrune and I surveyed the battlefield, assessing the situation. The fight, though bloody, was proceeding smoothly.
Ah, someone in a white cloak seemed to have fallen into the sea. But then Violante, without hesitation, cast a wind spell to lower a rope to the fallen member. Despite the dense ships, the member managed to climb back up and gave a thumbs-up from a considerable distance. Violante’s quick and precise support was impressive.
Mary, the commander, and Violante, the sergeant, led the Second Combat Unit, a team of formidable fighters. The Kikyo Society, especially the combat unit, was a collection of strong individuals, most of whom didn’t blindly follow orders. To command such a group, certain conditions were necessary.
First and foremost, strength. Absolutely essential.
Without recognized strength, it was impossible to command such a group of strong and independent fighters.
Strength earned respect, and without respect, discipline couldn’t be maintained.
Everything was interconnected.
Our members, especially the combat unit, were strong and individualistic. Therefore, the leaders had to be exceptionally strong.
Character and leadership were secondary.
Even the most brilliant strategist would be helpless against a violent brute.
Ultimately, when it came to a face-to-face confrontation, physical strength was decisive.
While we understood that strength wasn’t everything, the Kikyo Society valued it above all else.
The leader had to be someone who could protect everyone and lead from the front.
Trust was earned by those who could stand tall in the midst of battle. Following such a leader was a matter of confidence.
Physical strength was simple and clear, understandable even to the simplest minds. That simplicity was its strength.
Those skilled in other areas could support the leader. That was their role.
Leadership naturally fostered a sense of responsibility and care for the team. From the start, we emphasized both academic learning and teamwork, ensuring that strength alone didn’t define our members.
Even if Mary wasn’t the best commander, she was the strongest in the Second Combat Unit and thus the leader. It was that simple. No one would argue with that.
If Mary felt unsure about commanding, she could delegate to someone more skilled. The order would be to follow that person’s lead. It was a practical approach.
In small-scale battles, the leader often took the front line, which was the norm in our organization. If it weren’t for this special situation, Mary would have been the first to charge the pirates.
Every organization has its own standards and roles. Ours were based on physical strength. We didn’t claim that this was the only way; it was simply our local rule.
On the decks of the encircling pirate ships, the reapers continued their deadly work, unaffected by the storm. The sea, black and stormy, was turning red with blood. In daylight, it would have been a crimson sight.
"Hmm? Yukari-dono, do you sense any unusual movements in the northeast? My wide-area magic perception is a bit blurry at this distance."
"Wait. Northeast…"
I had been so absorbed in the Second Combat Unit’s performance that I had let my guard down.
I expanded my perception and scanned the area, but the darkness and rain obscured my vision. The anomaly was in the sea.
"There are quite a few large magic signatures... It seems to be a group of large aquatic beasts moving slowly."
"Do you think they’re heading this way?"
They weren’t on a direct course, but they were in the general direction.
"Wait. They’re numerous. Most are at a depth of about twenty meters... Damn, they’re moving in smaller groups, making it hard to detect. There are roughly two hundred of them."
"Each one is quite large, equivalent to a large beast. Ah, they’re veering east?"
A large number of sea beasts. They resembled giant sharks or orcas. If attacked, the immobilized ships would be in serious trouble.
In these waters, large beasts were rare, perhaps a few times a year. If that were true, they shouldn’t have come this far.
Encountering them would be a major hassle. I hoped they would go away on their own.
"They seem to be following the lead group eastward... Maybe they’re changing direction?"
"That’s unusual. They might be following something... Could they be riding the currents?"
Reading the ocean currents was beyond my expertise.
Even so, large beasts typically wouldn’t venture into areas with many islands. There had to be a reason, and if we could identify it, we could prevent them from coming.
Even without intervention, there was a chance they’d go their own way... But—"
"Siegrune, talk to the captain. Mary! Large groups of aquatic beasts are approaching, though still at a distance. Keep it in mind."
"Understood. Do you think we’ll encounter them?"
"I’m not certain, but we can’t ignore it. Siegrune and I will talk to the captain. Keep things under control here. Violante, be on alert for the beasts to the northeast!"
"If this happens, we should act decisively to finish quickly," Mary muttered, eyeing the pirate ships. The invasion was proceeding smoothly, but this unexpected interference was troublesome.
Mary and Violante tightened their focus, preparing to expedite the process, but Siegrune called a halt.
"This is an unforeseen situation. It’s best to have everyone retreat to the main ship."
"...Understood. Still, I have a bad feeling."
I completely agreed. The bad feeling was all too familiar and often proved accurate.