Brutal Journey Of An Unfortunate Female Heroine 26 Zai's Plan

"Did the captain really say that?"

"Yes, she told me to tell you after this battle but, I guess it can't be helped. You seemed like you needed some motivation." Blair turned away from his eager gaze. "Anyways, Lieutenant Zai, what should we do about the blood wolf situation?" The lieutenant stood up and pulled out a small pouch, about the size of his hand and pulled out a map of the forest. He laid the detailed map on the table and reached back into his pouch to grab a hair tie. He grabbed his tangled hair and tied it in a messy man-bun on top of his head. A smile appeared on his face. His dark eyebags seeming less intense in the light.

"Well, obviously we must crush them. These animals don't know who they're fighting." Seemingly becoming a different person Zai began working on a plan, eyes burning with a pa.s.sion. He tapped the map and thought for a few seconds before clearly reaching a conclusion. He smiled and drew a couple of more lines on the map. Nodding in satisfaction at his work.

"What? Why the creepy smile?" Blair was feeling uncomfortable as she had seen it all happen. The moment Zai had taken out the map he scribbled a few lines on it and began smiling weirdly.

"The greatest offense is defense. Seems the captain was right to send me as the commander but, I do hope next time it's more challenging." Zai called for the soldier who had not left yet. The soldier nearby had been sent out to send a message to the other members. Everyone was called except for a few scouts who remained on watch. In total there were about forty soldiers there, including Blair and Zai.

"I have a plan to defeat the Blood Wolves but it'll take a lot of work and no screw ups! Seeing as we have less than thirty minuets left, I've sent the plan to each of your devices, complete your mission without fail!"

""Yes sir!"" The soldiers saluted and left in different directions. Some dug holes, other's sharpened thick branches, a few used slyphir to make mounds of dirt while others rolled logs in stacks. Zai had also ordered all the surrounding lights to be focused in the open clearing. Within twenty minuets, Zai's plan was almost complete. Suddenly a loud whistle cracked through the silence followed by a series of howls that seemed to come closer. Zai touched and clicked a small device next to his left ear.

"All soldiers, equip your helmets. Kill all lights and get in positions." A few minutes pa.s.sed and Blair could hear the rapid footsteps of the Blood Wolves. Soon the wolves burst through the shadowed forest into a clearing. In the dark of night it was hard to see properly but their fur simmered slightly, making it easier to spot groups of wolves. With the added night vision provided by the helmets Zai sent a direct message to the soldiers waiting.

"Wait…" Zai observed the wolves some more and found that this group only consisted to about thirty wolves. He released his hand from his left ear and toughed the one on his right. "Scouts, what's the situation?" A slight pause before the scout leader finally clicked in.

"S-1 reporting in. It seems that the pack leader and the rest have positioned themselves a couple of miles away and have sent in the younger wolves first. They number around thirty and should've met you already."

"Yeah, they're here but why aren't the rest coming?" Another pause before the scout captain responded.

"I got word from one of my scouts who specializes in monster behavior and he seems to think that the pack leader sent the youngest here to either prove themselves to the pack or to weaken us before the main force arrives."

"Interesting. Good work, keep on monitoring them and report any movements immediately."

"Yes sir." The comms clicked and went dead. Zai released his hand and clicked the left side of his helmet.

"All units, what's your opinion on the most humiliating thing a wolf can experience?" There were a few questionable grumbles and some sighs but a soft voice broke the silence.

"W-well… what if the wolves pride themselves on their fur like most furred animals, maybe we could cut or burn it off?" Zai registered the voice belonging to a new recruit who had only been with them for a few months and laughed quietly. Was his devilish thinking already infecting the new recruits? The other voices of the soldiers gave out groans and disgruntled mumbles.

"Here we go with a sudden, 'Zai changes the plan,' plan." The gruff voice belonged to one of the more veteran members and though he sounded a bit mad there was some excitement hidden in it as well.

"Well, it can't be helped with the lieutenant…" This statement got a lot of 'yeahs' and agreement from the other soldiers in the comms.

"U-uh, did I do something wrong?" The soft voice sounded like she was panicking.

"No, you just submitted a wonderful idea." Lieutenant Zai's voice was giddy, like he was laughing but not at the same time. "Listen well soldiers, don't kill any of the current wolves. Just get as close as you can and take off as much fur as possible. Conduits I need you to light them on fire as well."

"Lieutenant, our fires will only last within our range. Once they leave the fire will dissipate as well." The voice sounded a bit concerned.

"That's perfect." Zai's voice was full of confidence, like his plan was already in play and working.

""Yes sir!""

"Then, on my signal…" By this time the wolves were already all in the clearing. Sniffing and occasionally digging a small hole in some places before moving on. "NOW!" All at once the lights surrounding the area, which were pointed inwards towards the clearing, turned on at full brightness and for a while blinded the wolves.

The wolves didn't have time to react. Soldiers burst from the ground and sliced off layers and clumps of fur, their black armor fading in and out of sight. The conduits wasted no time and began lighting the wolves on fire.The smell of burnt fur filled the air along with frantic yelping. The wolves began running in different directions, causing the fire to spread further as the wolves b.u.mped against each other. High pitched howls followed by random yipping filled the silence. The soldiers swiftly maneuvered around and between the wolves, cutting off their fur and being careful to not slice into the wolves themselves. After a few minuets of scarred howling the wolves adjusted their eyes and instantly dashed away. The first to flee was soon followed by the rest. In a burning line, the wolves disappeared into the dark forest. The forest lit up with burning wolves before the fire disappeared due to the wolves leaving the range of the conduits. Some completely bare and burnt others with a few tuffs of red fur left. Most had lost all their fur and looked like hideous, sagging skinned, hairless dogs. Zai watched as the wolves whimpered away and whistled. The lights turned off, faint embers from piles of wolf fur burned slightly. Blair appeared next to Zai, her helmet slightly tinged with ash.

"Sooo, Zai. What's the point in that?" Zai stared into the night and put one hand one Blair's helmet. Just as she was about to retaliate Zai touched the left communicator on his helmet.

"All preparations in area B are completed." Zai smiled under his helmet and clicked a different b.u.t.ton on the left side of his helmet, connecting with the other soldiers in the clearing.

"All units, move to area B with haste!"

""Yes sir!"" The soldiers dashed in the darkness and disappeared into the forest. Blair turned to face Zai but he was already rus.h.i.+ng to the next area.

"Z"

"Hurry up vice lieutenant Blair, otherwise you'll miss all the fun!" And with that his figure disappeared into the darkness, Blair racing after him.

Back in the forest the thirty young wolves returned and were almost ma.s.sacred due to their different looks. The other wolves only stopped then the pack leader howled and sniffed the air a bit and realized that the furless abominations were actually their own. The furless wolves lowered their heads and had their tail between their tails. None of them dared to lift their head. Seeing as not only were they furless none had died nor received a blow, meaning that the enemy had time to just 'play' with the wolves and didn't even take them seriously. Even more so that the wolves were not covered in a single drop of blood that wasn't theirs.

The pack leader howled angrily. He had sent out the youngest as a trial to prove their strength but it seemed like this batch of young ones were all weak. Still, the pack leader was frustrated at another thing. Mere humans dare make fun of his tribe? He who had united three separate packs into one and still remained an indomitable leader?! The pack leader lashed out and tore the throat out of a nearby naked wolf. The wolf struggled for a bit before falling to the floor, it's body twitching and it's throat gurgling blood bubbles as it breathed it's last. The other wolves soon followed suit. Even if they were the children of the pack, weaklings were not needed. The furless wolves, upon seeing their pack's cruelty, instantly tried to flee but the experienced and older members of the pack knew better and cut off any route to escape. It was once again a one-sided ma.s.sacre.

Whimpers and yips filled the night as each furless wolf died. Their blood adding a new coat and s.h.i.+ne to the ones who didn't attack the humans. The pack leader howled and the rest followed suit. Even though they were weak they were still once proud members of the pack. The pack leader grunted and another wave of wolves went out to attack the humans. This time not because they wanted to kill for fun but for vengeance.