Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 147: March to the Forest

CH147 March to the Forest

***

Alex’s infantry platoon moved out and quietly left the territory of the City of Ashes.

Everyone in the unit advanced on foot. According to Lieutenant Cross, High Command hadn’t made any provisions for horses for this mission. Resources were stretched thin. The looming Wildkin threat and growing tensions with the Killerman fief meant the army had no spare mounts for a unit that would, in the end, have to leave the horses outside the Dankrot Forest anyway.

As a noble scion of the Fury Family, Alex could have easily arranged a horse for himself. But he chose not to.

Partly, it was to endear himself to the troops — to show solidarity. But more importantly, it was to test his own stamina and endurance ahead of what awaited them. Once inside the forest, he wouldn’t be able to ride a horse regardless, and he had no intention of burdening Fen. The wolf would likely play a pivotal role during the mission, one he needed to be at full strength for.

Despite the mission’s urgency, Alex deliberately slowed their advance, increasing what would have been a five-day journey from Ashen Castle to the Dankrot Forest into a seven-day trek.

This gave him time — time to observe, adapt, and work with the platoon.

He spent the extra days running formation drills, gauging the soldiers’ discipline and default tactics. It was quickly apparent that he wouldn’t be able to introduce new strategies in such a short window, but he could at least learn their current structure and prepare to adapt it in real-time when battle came.

Much of his effort focused on getting the soldiers used to his command rhythm — not an easy task, but not an unfamiliar one either.

This wasn’t his first time leading a unit of strangers. It did it numerous times over a number of projects as a Lead engineer and project team leader in his past life.

If they couldn’t adapt to him swiftly, then he would adapt to them. From that position, he would gradually steer them towards a hybrid structure that suited both their instincts and his command style.

Aside from that, another concern weighed on his mind throughout the journey.

The Nest Queen.

Alex had continued issuing instruction packets to her during breaks in their march.

Her development was being stalled by the limited access to food back at the back mountain lodging. Between his busy training schedule and the need for secrecy surrounding the Nest Queen’s existence, he couldn’t deliver regular carcasses to fuel her growth.

That would change once they entered the forest.

Assuming things went according to plan, the platoon would soon find themselves with an excess of carcasses — beasts killed during the mission that could be channelled to the Nest Queen as biological fuel.

The problem, however, lay not just in providing food... but in optimising how she made use of it.

The instruction packets he was building now didn’t just tell her to consume. They guided her on how to consume, what to prioritise, and how to channel her gains towards efficient development.

Chief among his goals was increasing her size.

From his observations, there was a clear correlation between the Nest Queen’s size and the maximum growth size of her drones. And Alex had no intention of commanding an army of palm-sized drones — not if he could help it.

But scaling her size up, and rapidly at that, would demand immense energy resources. It wasn’t just about getting her food for growth, but also about controlling the time and efficiency of food digestion.

Alex felt need to direct her evolution manually — intelligently — instead of relying on its own slow, aimless trial-and-error path of natural selection.

Mother Nature’s work was brilliant once complete... but it took far too long to manifest.

These considerations occupied him all through the monotonous march to Dankrot Forest. Long hours of walking were filled with planning, calculation, and strategy, rather than idle thought.

Eventually, by the seventh day, they arrived at their staging ground — the Fury Family’s Fort outpost, not far from the western entrance to the Dankrot Forest.

Alex immediately called for a full-day rest at the fort.

The Fort Commander, thankfully informed ahead of time, had made preparations for their arrival. The platoon was welcomed with warm beds, fresh water, and hot meals.

Alex made sure to thank the man sincerely. Whatever lay ahead in the forest, this might well be the last proper meal and bath his men would enjoy for the duration of the mission.

The rest day vanished in a flash.

Before anyone was ready for it, the day of the forest incursion arrived.

The platoon gathered their issued supplies and lined up at the edge of the forest path, just beyond the fort’s perimeter. Thick, ancient trees loomed ahead, dark and foreboding, as the early morning mist slithered through the undergrowth like creeping ghosts.

Alex stood near the front of the unit, flanked by Fen and Laura.

With a silent nod from Alex, Lieutenant Cross stepped forward.

The old soldier’s back straightened. His face was carved into the hardened mask of experience — not the kind earned in drills or skirmishes, but on real battlefields.

He stepped before the assembled formation and took in a long breath.

-

Then he barked his order.

”Platoon, attention!”

The thirty-six soldiers snapped into formation, the clinking of armour and the shuffle of boots quickly fading into disciplined silence. Their bodies straightened, their eyes locked forward — ready.

Lieutenant Cross kept his expression flat and composed, radiating the presence of a man who had led men through fire more times than he could count.

With a clear, commanding voice, he addressed them.

”By directive of Fury House High Command, this platoon has been assigned an operation into the Dankrot Forest’s northwestern corridor. Our route will begin at the western edge and continue up along the forest’s outer perimeter, moving north toward the farthest reaches near the border.”

Alex stood behind the Lieutenant, flanked by Fen — his cold-eyed wolf cub companion — and Laura Fury, his recently appointed adjutant.

Laura’s body was poised, her stance sharp and guarded. She said nothing, nor did her face betray her thoughts. But she watched the troops with the quiet vigilance of someone used to walking the line between predator and prey.

Lieutenant Cross continued, his voice steady and firm.

”Our official objective is reconnaissance. You are to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary sound or movement. Keep the formation tight, no exceptions. Our task is to survey the terrain and document any signs of unusual magical beast activity.”

Murmurs stirred among the men. A spearman toward the centre shifted his grip on his weapon. An archer narrowed his eyes, his brows drawing together in silent understanding. Tension flickered — but discipline held them in check.

”We are not here to provoke anything,” Cross added, voice cool but resolute. ”But if provoked, we will respond with overwhelming force. Only after we have cleared the area and confirmed the conditions are safe, can anyone move to secure the remains for recovery.”

”I’ll say this once more — and I want it branded in your minds — no matter how small or weak a beast seems, never engage alone. Even the weakest Class 0 can kill you if you’re careless. Fall back. Alert your team leader, or even your unit leaders if need be.

”Always maintain cohesion.”

Then, he turned and saluted sharply to Alex.

”Commander.”

Alex stepped forward.

Fen padded along at his heel with silent menace. Though still in his cub form, the wolf’s unnatural presence weighed heavily on the surrounding air — more psychological than physical, but no less intimidating.

Alex surveyed the soldiers. Their eyes met his — some wide with anticipation, others narrowed in focus, and a few uncertain. All waiting.

”What the Lieutenant said is mostly accurate...” Alex began, his voice measured, but firm.

”...there is just one detail I’d like to clarify.”

A subtle stillness swept through the platoon. Even the forest’s distant breeze seemed to still.

”This is not a simple recon mission. This is a Reconnaissance in Force.”

His words dropped like iron.

”We’re not just walking into the forest to take notes and return,” he said, gaze sweeping slowly across the ranks. ”We are here to test the forest. To prod the shadows and see what slithers out.

”If something in there is pushing beasts out of their usual hunting zones, disturbing the region’s natural balance... we will find it.

”And when we find it... we will neutralise it.”

Silence hung, thick and sharp. The tension in the air was now shaped into something steel-like. Focused.

”This will be dangerous. I expect you all already know that. You made your choice when you signed on to become Fury soldiers. So I hope you came prepared.”

He raised his chin slightly, expression steady and cold.

”Do not forget the three rules I gave you back at the start of this march. One — obey my orders without question. Two — protect your life and that of the soldier beside you. And three — if anything bares fangs or claws at you... you kill it.”

”Fight and live by those rules. Or die for ignoring them.”

Then, he let the silence stretch again.

”If you survive... if you endure what lies ahead, you won’t just walk away alive. You’ll walk away with glory and honour.”

He clenched his fist and raised it high.

”Ex Furore Victoria. Sanguine Honorem. Virture Furore.”

”Ex Furore Victoria! Sanguine Honorem! Virture Furore!!” the troops chorused in unison, voices thunderous, echoing across the threshold of the forest.

Alex gave a nod and stepped back.

”Lieutenant Cross. Marching order. We move out in five.”

”Yes, Commander!” Cross saluted crisply, then turned to the formation. ”You heard the Young Lord! Final gear check! Five minutes! Get to it!”

The tension fractured as soldiers moved — checking armour, tightening boots, adjusting their gear with quiet purpose. Fear still lingered beneath the surface, but so did resolve.

Alex remained still, watching with a sharp eye. Then he turned briefly to Laura.

”I’ll be relying on you to scout ahead once we’re inside,” he said plainly. ”My rules apply to you as well. Don’t do anything stupid when you are at it. Always ensure your safety first before any information.”

She didn’t respond verbally. Just a slight nod and the briefest hardening of her eyes.

She accepted the assignment.

Fen gave a low growl, as if sensing the looming danger ahead.

The forest waited.

And now, they were going in.

***