Before Xers woke, a tense conversation unfolded between Sabre and the royal family:
"Uh… Sabre, what do you have to say about this? We've lost all three fronts?"
"I know. I know. But there's nothing we can do right now."
"What do you mean 'nothing'?! Are you just going to stand and watch while our clan collapses?"
"What can I possibly do, Princess? I spend every day trying to rebuild the palace walls, trying to save Xers—constantly working on something."
"Then give up on Xers. You touted him as some 'hidden potential' and all he's brought us is trouble. The boy burns with vengeance for his village. You tried to manipulate him and failed. You're just strengthening our enemy out in the open."
"You're right — I haven't been able to harness him properly. But I'm terrified of him becoming another Thend Yi. If someone like Yi returned, Shadowia wouldn't have clans or authority left.""Then eliminate him!"
"You can't just say that. Urhuma is his strongest protector right now. Even if he doesn't endanger us directly, he could put the rest of the palace at great risk. I'm thinking of sending Xers back to the front. Most of his friends are already dead—when he doesn't see them, he'll want to return, and we can trick him into the frontline. If he dies there, we're rid of him and can continue the war.""How do you plan to do that?"
"It's not difficult. We'll capture either Ahez or Hanken. We'll kill one of them publicly. Xers will try to rescue them—so we'll leave him in the middle of the front and pull back. He'll be stranded.""Alright. I'll leave everything to you. But what about Urhuma? He's wise and strong.""He's a fool. He's already lost an arm. I can handle him. We'll have to separate them. I'll assign Urhuma a special mission."
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When Xers woke:
Xers opened his eyes. He looked to his right and couldn't believe what he saw—Urhuma lying there with only one arm. He tried to sit up immediately, but a doctor stopped him.
"Thend Xers, please don't stand. Your wounds are still sensitive."
"I'm fine. I just want to know what happened.''
"Unfortunately, Urhuma lost his arm. We made him a prosthetic. It won't be the same as his original limb, but it will help him hold and swing his sword in battle.""So that's why… Sensei lost his arm because of me."
Sabre entered the room.
"No, no — not because of you. You did the right thing, Xers. If you hadn't distracted the giant, it might have attacked our village."
Xers smiled and laid his head back on the pillow.
"So I was useful after all. I didn't expect that."
"Listen, Xers. Do you want to do something meaningful for humanity?""What do you mean?"
"I want you to return to the front. Not as before—this time as a commander who leads the battle. We're losing the fronts. I know your clan is winning, but your friends are dying. Will you at least try to save them?"
"—My friends?" (He thought) Hanken, Ahez, the others… I feel like I left you halfway, but I promised I would return.
"So, what will you do, Xers?"
"I accept. But how can I be a commander?"
"Here—your commander uniform. Wear this and pin this badge on, and you'll command the troops. You have the power, Xers. But you must hurry. The fronts are collapsing fast. You might not have time before Urhuma wakes. Start preparing—I'll arrange your supplies."
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Xers went to his room, changed into the uniform, readied his sword, finished his final dressing, and prepared to leave. Before departing, he left a note on the table beside Urhuma's bed. It read:
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"Hey Sensei—Or should I say Urhuma? I don't know which you prefer. My time to leave has come. Seeing your condition, I didn't wake you; that would be bad for your health. I heard you lost your arm—my condolences. As for the real reason, I'm returning to the front at Commander Sabre's request to rescue my friends, to be useful. Forgive me for causing you to lose your arm. We had good times—don't worry too much when you read this.
Sincerely,Xers"
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Xers set out for the army. He thought about his life along the way: plucked from his village into the army, then lifted into the palace life of Shadowia's elite, learning spells and fighting monsters he never could have imagined. He had pushed his limits. Now, he was going to save his friends. Feeling mentally whole, he moved forward without fear.
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When Xers reached the front, sword in hand, he searched the camp for the missing faces. He asked one of the sorcerers nearby:
"Where is the assembly force?"
"Commander, they're positioned just before the San Maero plains, but they're preparing to abandon the front—we're beginning to withdraw."
"How can you get me there the fastest?"
"C-commander, it's very dangerous now. Heavy bombardment."
"I asked how to get me there fastest."
"As you command, sir—we'll prepare a carriage at once."
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With a carriage arranged by the sorcerer, Xers reached the front. Some friends recognized him at once.
"AAA! Xers! C-COMMANDER?!""I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!"
"Yes—I'm a commander, but only temporarily for this front. I don't have much battle experience; I'll command and help manage the fight. What happened to the others?"
"P-please save us, Xers! Half the camp died in the bombardment five days ago."
"W-what? They died?"
"Yes, Xers. Unfortunately, they're all dead. We fear we're next. Two of our people were just captured."
"W-who were they?"
"Hanken and Ahez."
"W-WHAT?! THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN PRISONER? HOW?!"
"We don't know. People wearing Ranshi uniforms came with axes and dragged them away. When we asked why, they beat us. Please—save us from here, Xers!"
"R-Ranshi sorcerers?! Are you sure they're real?!"
"Yes, we're certain. They've been shedding blood for the Ranshi for weeks. Something's happening, but we don't know what."
"Something's going on… I see. Where did they take them?"
"They were taken behind San Maero—probably to another camp, but we don't know which."
"Then return immediately. Gather the entire army—the whole army! Now!"
A nearby sorcerer said, "C-commander, how can we return? We're still under bombardment.""I DON'T CARE! MY FRIENDS' LIVES ARE MORE IMPORTANT!"
At Xers' order, the entire army pulled back at once. The retreat wore them down, but they eventually returned.
"EVERYONE—NO MATTER THE COST—SEARCH EVERY CAMP UNTIL YOU FIND HANKEN AND AHEZ!"
"AS YOU COMMAND!"
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The whole army dropped everything and began scouring the camps. But word of Xers' orders reached Sabre.
"WHAT IS THAT FOOL DOING?! If this continues, the whole clan will fall! Tell the other commanders to dismiss Xers at once. This will only make things worse!"
Urhuma had heard Sabre's words. He read Xers' note with a heavy heart and answered Sabre:
"And who's going to suffer worse in the end?"
Sabre froze. When he turned, he found Urhuma looking at him with blazing fury.