CEO in a Fantasy World 4 Page 18

  He planned to give Renee the magic accessory, but he figured that could wait for a more appropriate time. Until then, he would keep it safe inside of his storage ring. He proceeded to head towards the training grounds, as to let the two women talk to each other longer.

  If he was perfectly honest, he dreaded the fact that he was sending such an innocent woman to a place where she was more than likely to end up dead. And the more he remained in her presence, the more he regretted his actions. Thus, he left as quickly as possible.

  "I'll be surely going to hell, for this one," Caesar whispered to himself as he walked… his tall back looked extra desolate at this moment.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  With quick steps, Caesar soon made it to the extensive training grounds. Most of the props that were for the tournament had already been seized and were nowhere to be seen. As such, the training grounds looked especially desolate.

  Caesar had ordered the clan heads to meet at the training grounds tomorrow. Thus, there would be no one present for quite a while. Fortunately, this didn't bother Caesar in the slightest, as he wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet.

  He had been through quite a lot as of late, whether or not it was because of fighting or strategizing, he was exhausted. If it were before, He never would've thought that he would be in such a predicament, fighting for others, fighting for survival, it was something he had never done before.

  Back in Rahvin kingdom, Caesar was quite confident of victory. As such, there was never a time where he thought that it was possible he could've perished. This time, however, if his plans went awry, death would be inevitable.

  He felt as though he made another promise every new day, some harder to keep than others. He missed his father and Elizabeth, hell, he even longed to see Rahvin kingdom's lustrous grass, or perhaps, that was his original body's sentiments.

  Caesar, by no means, feared death. However, he did fear the aftermath of his fall. He didn't want to see Renee's tears or his father's grief. He dreaded the fact that both Rahvin kingdom and the fox-kin relied on him for survival. He had never felt this way before, living for others, or being needed.

  It felt funny to him, he, who was a man feared by the entire world in his past life. Nobody wanted him to live. They just wanted his money, his success. He was quite used to how people treated him because it was what he had deserved in the past. He believed that If you wanted to be a cruel and successful man, you must first shed most of your earthly desires.

  Unfortunately for Caesar, unbeknownst to him, the man who he once was, is gone. He didn't know when he had changed, but the fact that he was helping people without merit, or still residing in the fox-kin stronghold, even though he had a high possibility of death, proved to him that he changed. The past him would've never done these things.

  Perhaps it was his vampiric bloodline that changed him, or maybe it was the people that surrounded him. However, one thing was for certain. The change wasn't all that bad. He felt loved, needed, but also conflicted because he knew better than anyone, what was necessary.

  Caesar was painfully aware that he needed to revert to his old self, for the time being. The man who regarded life as superficial, the man who would do anything to achieve victory. That was the man he needed to change into if he wanted to win this cruel war.

  A cold wind suddenly fluttered Caesar's long hair, revealing his expression that was previously hidden. His mouth was slightly open, and his radiant eyes were gazing at the large moon in the sky. If one looked closely, the indiscernible pattern in his eyes gradually became more vibrant, until finally, similar to a snake, a small slit formed in the middle of his eyes.

  In response to this change that even Caesar himself wasn't quite aware of yet, a strange and familiar robotic voice rang out inside of his head. It was a voice that he was used to hearing in the past, but it rarely talked nowadays.

  [Vampiric physique evolution progress: 30%]

  Caesar's breathing momentarily stopped as he stared incredulously at the moon; it appeared as though it had gotten closer. It took him a while to recollect himself, but once he did, he couldn't help but stroke his chin in contemplation.

  The only times he had evolved prior were due to either absorbing mana, fighting, or training. However, he had just jumped 8% while staring at the moon. He was not only confused, but also amazed. Caesar couldn't feel much of a physical difference, but his vision felt much more precise. As if the only thing that evolved or upgraded were his pair of eyes.

  Caesar didn't just stand there and do nothing; he pulled out the daggers from his belt and immediately started testing his new limits. He threw them at very distant targets with pinpoint accuracy, but that wasn't all, he also gazed upon his own body, to see if his 'special' power had any changes.

  The vibrant red dots and lines that streaked across his body were more apparent than ever, not to mention the increasing number. Every line was a problem with his stance or technique, while every dot was a problem within his body.

  Caesar stared blankly at his own body for a few moments before walking towards the trees where he threw his daggers. He soon arrived and couldn't help but admire the deeply embedded blades… only the hilts were visible.

  As Caesar ripped the daggers out of the tree, he noticed a vague red dot at the base of the tree, Curious, he bent down and looked at it more closely. There was a large hole, presumably created by some sort of animal; however, what shocked Caesar, was the fact that it was technically a 'weakness' within the tree.

  He then surveyed his surroundings and determined his new ability. A simple glance will detect his opponent's or obstacle's nature, strengths, and weaknesses. Nearly making him a perfect field strategist.

  Caesar stood there in silence before nearly laughing out loud. It was a perfect ability for his current situation. Unfortunately, he would need a sparring partner to test its full capabilities.

  With this in mind, Caesar placed his daggers back on his belt and walked towards the middle of the training grounds. He then proceeded to do basic exercises… running, push-ups, sit-ups, and, of course, training with his scythe.

  Although it was fundamental for Caesar, his training routine would probably kill any normal fox-kin or human. After he was done exercising, his black shirt was drenched with sweat, and even his hair was dripping with perspiration.

  After Caesar got rid of his unnecessary and muddled thoughts, he looked in the direction of the fox-kin gates. He figured it was about time that Andrea should be leaving. Thus, he wiped his sweat with a towel from his storage ring and headed in that direction.

  Sending her off was the least he could, after all.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  Caesar, who had resolved himself, finally made it to the main fox-kin stronghold gate where the sound of sobbing entered into his ears. He could see Symphony and Seraph wailing loudly as they held on to their mother's hands.

  They, however, were not the only ones crying. Andrea and even Renee were silently weeping at the devastating sight. Not many people were capable of leaving their children, not to mention those that were as cute as the two currently hugging Andrea. Their dark blue hair, coupled with their yellow eyes, made them appear quite adorable.

  Fortunately, or maybe, unfortunately, Caesar wasn't a very sentimental person. As such, Caesar's facial expression didn't contort in the slight while gazing upon the saddening scene. In fact, he would prefer if they quickened the process because he knew the longer she stayed, the more she would regret it.

  It was due to this reason that Caesar decided to finally show himself. He was still somewhat drenched in sweat, and his tight black shirt stuck to his abdomen. His unique white hair was slicked behind his ears, and he walked with steady steps, garnering the attention of everyone present.

  Seeing him, Andrea quickly wiped her tears and patted both Symphony and Seraph on the head. She then proceeded to walk towards Caesar with a self-deprecating smile. Once she was a close distance, she opened her thin lips, "Renee h
ad told me that you formulated this plan after 'rescuing' us from the troll encampment…" her words paused as Caesar nodded his head in agreement.

  "Did you rescue us with your twisted plan in mind, or was it, at first, merely a gesture of good faith?" she abruptly asked, perhaps this was her way of testing him. Unfortunately for her, Caesar was not someone who liked to lie about himself unless necessary.

  "When I had first seen the two children, I wanted to simply save them from a life of slavery, as they reminded me of someone. Nonetheless, when you awoke and insisted on leaving, that was when I created this stratagem," Caesar replied honestly.

  Andrea wanted to retort, but not sensing any dishonesty in his tone, she just shook her head and walked towards the carriage, "please take good care of them…" She said quietly so that only Caesar and Renee could hear her words.

  After speaking, she soon boarded the carriage with the help of Renee holding back the two children. She then whipped the horses, and they soon moved along, leaving Caesar's line of sight.

  Soon, only the sound of weeping rang in Caesar's ear. However, he didn't pay it much mind and walked towards Renee. As he walked, a beautiful silver earring with a ruby embedded into it suddenly appeared in his hands.

  Once he reached her, he pulled her into his embrace and gently placed the earring on her ear. "She was a great a woman, and we won't allow her to be sacrificed in vain; as such, I have decided that you, along with the citizens, will evacuate with both Symphony and Seraph," he said softly, to which Renee's eyes opened wide in surprise.

  "I won't allow it! I want to fight with you, with my clan, with my grandfather! I don't need to be sheltered and protected." she retorted angrily.

  Unfortunately for her, although Caesar typically catered to her demands, this was something that he had already decided upon, "I can't allow you to join this battle. It is not because you need to be sheltered, but because I love you," Caesar replied calmly as he gazed into her eyes.

  "If you truly loved me, then you would be honest with me, what is the real reason you won't let me join the war?" Renee breathed out a deep sigh and calmed herself before staring at Caesar challengingly.

  "The true reason? Very well, it is because you are weak…" Caesar said straightforwardly to which Renee wanted to retort; however, his words continued before she could speak, "Similarly with Andrea, you told her the truth, not thinking about the consequences. Sure, you may have saved her two children, however, now we have more people who we can't afford to protect, not to mention the fact that her words would've been much more believable if she wanted to save her children."

  Caesar paused for a moment, "you are a warm-hearted woman, which is one of your best qualities but is not a quality that belongs in a war. Thus, if you refuse to listen to me, then as the current general of the fox-kin, I order you to evacuate with the other citizens, I will not take no for an answer" Caesar spoke seriously and turned away from still flabbergasted Renee.

  The two children, who were now done crying, jumped into her arms, as they and Renee had formed a bond last night. This distracted her for a few moments, resulting in her not being able to argue with Caesar. Thus, she could only grind her teeth in anger.

  And Caesar, the man who was currently being cursed by quite a few women, was steadily walking towards the training grounds. He had a plethora of reasons for not allowing Renee in the battle. However, the main reason was Musashi. His old age, coupled with his determination, made it quite likely that he was going to fall. Unfortunately, he knew that Renee would do anything in her power to prevent such a thing.

  As such, she would be more of a liability than anything. He already had enough people who he needed to protect. He could use a few less. With this in mind, he soon arrived at the training grounds where quite a few soldiers had already formed.

  His appearance was soon noticed, and the small number of soldiers saluted with the utmost respect. He had, after all, beaten every clan head at the same time, solidifying his position within the clan. They were a race that respected strength.

  Seeing their respectful gesture, Caesar nodded his head and got a strange idea, "move into a wedge formation," he abruptly ordered… to which the fox-kin tilted their heads in confusion.

  Annoyed, Caesar quickly explained what a wedge formation was, and the small number of troops finally abided by his orders, looking similar to the tip of a triangle. After they were in the proper structure, albeit sloppily, Caesar's eyes radiated a deeper shade of crimson.

  He could somewhat see the weaknesses and fix them accordingly. He ordered them to move tighter and swapped a few soldiers' positions until finally, the wedge looked perfect.

  Seeing that his theory was correct, Caesar smiled widely. His new 'power' was perfect for commanding soldiers. He then dismissed the troops and inwardly decided that he would teach the entire fox-kin a surplus of formations that would inadvertently raise their chances of victory.

  He would teach them the Shield wall, deep columns, the crown, and even the phalanx. As he thought about these sharp formations, the smile on his face deepened, and the nearby fox-kin shivered uncontrollably.

  As he was deep in thought, more and more soldiers staring congregating at the training grounds, and soon, even Musashi and the 13 clan heads made their appearance.

  "And so, it begins…" Caesar whispered, seeing the massive number of warriors.

  CHAPTER FOURTY

  As more and more soldiers flooded into the training grounds, there wasn't much room left to hold all of them. Therefore, the fox-kin gradually lined up and formed a well-disciplined square, in which the higher ranked troops were stationed further up.

  The 13 clan heads stood in front, and their respective clans stood in a single-file line behind them. At the forefront of the vast army, was a decently large podium where only Caesar and Musashi sat. They were currently gazing at the huge mass of men below them, waiting patiently until everyone arrived.

  Within the time it took to brew a cup of coffee, the rest of the soldiers finally arrived. The ordinarily barren training grounds were densely packed, and it wasn't even possible to see the ground.

  As such, many fox-kin were quite uncomfortable. However, they still held raised their hands and saluted towards Musashi and Caesar. To them, it didn't matter how bad they felt. They were more concerned about being respectful to the top two leaders of their clan.

  Thankfully, their loyalty was not disregarded by Musashi. He raised his hand high in the air, signifying that they could be at ease. He then took a few steps forward and used a large amount of mana to make his aura appear much more extraordinary.

  "My family…" he roared at the top of his lungs and paused for a moment, to let his words sink in with the massive number of warriors in front of him. "Our once mighty and influential clan has been reduced to a tragic state… our children are starving, our men dying, and our women are forced to work. We cannot even sleep peacefully, as the trolls are constantly using underhanded means to attack us!" Musashi shouted emotionally; his deep and raspy voice entered into the souls of all those present.

  His words were returned with utter silence. The many soldiers merely looked down in shame; all of them felt as though victory was impossible. They not only let down their clan leader but also their friends and families. None of them could even look Musashi straight in the eye. Some even started to weep silently.

  In this long ongoing war, they had fought many battles with the trolls. However, they lost every single one of them. They watched as their friends fell, and the trolls relished in rewards. They watched as their female warriors were ravaged in front of their eyes.

  The mood in the training ground turned extremely sour. Still, Musashi's speech was not over yet, "even though this true, even though we have lost much, we have not fallen yet. We have fought skirmishes in the past, but never a full-fledged battle, we must stake EVERYTHING on the line, if we want to win!" Musashi roared, and the many soldiers lifted their heads up in shock.

 
"WE WILL NOT JUST SURVIVE, NO, THE ENTIRE WORLD WILL SEE US THRIVE. NO ONE CAN WRITE OUR HISTORY…" Musashi thundered with his fist raised in the air, striking morale in the many soldiers below. The fire in their hearts rekindled, and they roared back in unison.

  Their deafening shout shook the ground, and even the animals in the nearby forest fidgeted in fear. This, however, only lasted momentarily, until finally, Musashi raised his hand once again, effectively silencing the crowd.

  "Unfortunately, I am an old and decrepit man. I can no longer lead you young and promising soldiers into battle. Because of this, I have decided to relinquish my title to my granddaughter's husband, the strongest warrior in our clan, and my very own grandson. He has proven himself worthy time and time again, and now, I shall give him what he deserves" As Musashi spook to here, a silver crown suddenly appeared in his hands from god knows where.