( Yuuki's POV )
For the important mission of retaking the Ladzaa fortress and returning Cougar to his world, we moved north of the Mislato River, we could already see the fortress un the distance and were stationed there awaiting the grand strategy of the first empress, but it seems that rivalry with the other empresses spilled over into her way of making strategies.
Lady Shaira wanted us and the Blades of the Night to march first, and once the enemy's defenses were thoroughly softened, the main forces of the Magedome would march bravely through the easily cleared pass and they would take the glory.
Cougar: It seems we got the short end of the stick in the deal; they want us to do all the work and they would take all the glory.
Seig: I don't care about glory, the faster we finish off the enemy the faster we can bring you back home.
Cougar: Seig... Thanks, man.
Yuuki: That's very kind of you, but you shouldn't forget what happened today. Who knows what strategy they might come up with next?
Seig: I'll keep that in mind.
The battle began and we started clearing out the order's forces without much trouble, Chrodechild and her people were also wiping out the enemy; in truth, those most lacking in skill were the forces of the Magedome, despite how great they claimed to be, their training was not the best; if they are enemies leading the charge against the order, it must only be because of their numbers.
Chrodechild's people fight with more ferocity, and that makes me wonder how Astrasia could have fallen before Janam—a mystery for another time.
???: Mr. Yuuki! I have news from Lady Chrodechild.
After we cleared the way and the forces of the Magedome took the lead, we awaited news of victory, But when a young member of the Blades appeared, hurry in his steps, that told me that wasn't going to be the case.
Seig: Oh, you're that guy from before, Alberto, right?
???: It's Roberto! Ugh, I don't have time to waste with you. Listen, there's a situation on the bridge that connects to the fortress, you need to go there now.
Seig: Thanks, but why are you telling us that? I thought you didn't like us.
Roberto: I am following the princess's orders; she must think Mr. Yuuki is the only one who can handle the situation.
There was a clear difference in the way Roberto treated us; I suppose that was a result of the sparring I had at the Blades base, I had earned his respect.
When Roberto withdrew, we moved to the enemy front and there we observed the situation that Roberto mentioned.
The main forces of the Magedome were being easily pushed back, but this time I wasn't going to take jabs at the Magedome's training, they were facing a formidable opponent.
Blocking the entrance to the bridge was a group of soldiers who were not human; They were twice as tall as a normal human, had a broad, muscular build, dark skin, and also a distinctive horn on their foreheads.
Among those soldiers, two stood out as the strongest: a man with white hair and a woman with blue hair tied in a wild ponytail.
Cougar: wow that guy is big.
With a single swing of his axe, the man was able to knock down a group of soldiers from the Magedome like rag dolls.
Yuuki: haha I was expecting weak soldiers from the order but this is a pleasant surprise.
I walked forward, but after taking a few steps, Seig stopped me with his voice.
Seig: Yuuki, wait!
Yuuki: uh What's wrong? You want the honor of fighting.
Seig: That's not it, I know that guy, he helped us escape from the order's capital before, I know he's an enemy now but you know.
Yuuki: I understand, I will be gentle.
I kept walking and the enemy focused his attention on me, but the first one to confront me was not one of the strongest.
An enemy stood towering in front of me; he must have thought I was no different from the soldiers who came before me, without looking up, I threw a punch that released a shockwave that hit him in the chin.
The giant fell like a sack of potatoes, the battlefield fell silent for a few seconds, and that silence was then broken by war cries.
Three more giants rushed towards me, weapons at the ready and no longer questioning my skill; a soldier swung his giant sword at me, I jumped over that attack and kicked the soldier in the head, sending him flying to where his comrades were, while on was in the air, I grabbed the heads of the other soldiers, I spun around in the air and then threw those two soldiers crashing into the fortress with all my might.
???: Back off, men! You're not a match for this one.
Oh That was wise, despite their build these were not brutes on the battlefield.
I picked up an enemy sword and casually rested it on my shoulder, the two I determined to be the strongest stepped forward, but the battle did not begin immediately, It was time for some pleasantries.
???: haha I didn't think the Magedome had a soldier of your caliber in its ranks; I've never seen a human move like that.
Yuuki: I am not from the Magedome, and I am not human to be exact.
???: uh? My mistake, what are you then?
Yuuki: I am what is called a Sekirei, not very different from humans physically, but we can only fight at our maximum after finding our partners in life, unfortunately, my girls can't be with me right now.
???: haha How curious, we Auster folk have the habit of fighting alongside our partners too.
Yuuki: hahaha As they say, great minds think alike.
There was a rare moment of understanding on the battlefield, but when the laughter ended, none of us hesitated to raise our weapons.
Yuuki: My name is Yuuki, I hope we have a good fight.
???: I have no doubt in my mind that it will be, my name is Vaslof and this is my wife Resno.
For this fight I decided to use only my base power and not use one of my Blades, because the objective of this mission was to recover the Ladzaa fortress and me at my maximum I would surely destroy this bridge.
Silence fell again in the place and when a great wave crashed beneath us it was like a bell to start the fight, the three of us moved to the front and our weapons collided in the middle, creating a small shockwave.
The two of them together couldn't overwhelm me, but far from being discouraged, they seemed excited, these could be among the most powerful individuals in this world; how lucky I am.