First Death (part 5)

Night 5
I was in my master's room discussing matters, both official and personal. I was still unwilling to become the next leader, and I finally had a chance to directly voice out my objections.

"I'm only good at fighting battles, but when it comes down to strategy and administration, I believe a lot more people are better qualified than I am. Master, I request that you withdraw your decision."
"I picked you for a very good reason, [name] (I can't remember the names from my dreams if you haven't noticed yet). A reason which I believe you should find out yourself. I have taught you everything you could possibly learn from me, so I guess it's time you started learning things yourself."
"No, you haven't! If you really want me to succeed you, you should at least teach me some useful tactics for war."
"Haha! I have appointed talented and loyal men for those jobs. You just have to follow what you think is right and do it. At least, that's how I've done it so far..."
"That isn't very helpful..."
"I guess, but it is the truth. Now, enough about this. I will be leaving for a conference with the other leaders tomorrow. I will be gone for about a week. During that time, you're in charge. Depending on how you do, I'll decide whether you're fit or not as my successor."
"But...!"
"Upupup (I guess that's how it's spelled)! Not another word about it. I have made up my mind. Besides, that girl is also going to succeed her father. Wouldn't it be better if both of you were equal in status?"

I couldn't disagree, so I went with it. The next day, he departed. Deeply, I had wanted to stop him, but if I did, history would change so much that I would no longer be able to predict what would happen next.

As much as I prayed, events didn't change. 3 days later, I received the news. Although the meeting was kept a secret from almost everyone, mutant and humans, somebody found out and the place where they held the meeting was attacked by a mutant army.

I immediately led a rescue team. When we got there, not a single person had survived the assault. My master was also among the dead. The news spread to the other human armies. The successors had already been chosen for just a situation like this, so there was little panic. However, the mutant armies would definitely take this oppurtunity to strike while our morale was down, which they did.

Before that happened, I had already requested a rendezvous with the other armies, so we would face the mutant army as a united force.

After that were more scenes of war. By the way, those war scenes allowed me to experience different kinds of pain. It didn't really matter to me in the dream world, but when I woke up, I shudder to think of the pain I suffered.

In the middle of that battle, we devised a plan to infiltrate and assassinate the mutant leaders. After so many battles, we had already known that it would take a pretty good fighter to beat even one of them. There were 3 here against us. So, we were to pick 6 people for the mission. I volunteered as one of them.

"You can't! You're our leader! What would happen if you..." Some of my subordinates obviously disagreed.
"I won't fail! I have no confidence when it comes to brainstorming, but when it comes to fighting, there's no chance I'll lose!"
"Then, I'll go as well." Guess who? Yep, it's her.
"No, you will not!" I objected instinctively.
"I can fight my way through a thousand mutants and wrestle their bosses just as well as you can! So, you don't have to worry about a thing."
"That still doesn't mean I'll let you go."

A very, very long argument ensued. I swear that the other people around us were either grinning or rolling their eyes. Finally...

"Here and now, I am a commander of this army just like you. We stand on equal ground and you have no authority to decide what I should or shouldn't do!" She said.

I couldn't rebuke that statement. I knew forcing her to stay was impossible now, so I complied, with a condition.

"We'll be split into 3 teams of 2, right? So, you'll be in the same team as me, alright?"
"I have no problems with that."

The operation commenced. We snuck past the guards and easily got into the target's office. The guy was most certainly shocked to see us. But before he could react, two swords had already pierced through him. I then ushered her to leave before someone notices.

Just as we left the enemy's camp, we suddenly heard a siren going off. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that one of the teams had failed. The logical action would be to quickly head back to our camp, but hell knows why, we turned back to try and save the other teams.

We found one of the teams and they managed to convince us to leave. But, we were trapped. We dodged as many mutants as we could, but we knew we couldn't keep it up forever. We needed a plan, and I knew what she was planning. As expected, her fist came flying towards me in an attempt to knock me out. The previous time, I failed to dodge, but this time, I was prepared. I blocked her punch. What I didn't expect was the other two guys had also been ordered to do the same. Their punches came and I was knocked out cold.

When I came to, I was already back at our camp. The two guys immediately knelt down and apologised.

"We're very sorry we did that. But she gave us strict orders to knock you unconscious should she fail to do so."
"When?!"
"She signalled us when we were running."
"Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!"

I knew this was going to happen. I was prepared for it. I already had another escape plan ready long before this day. And I still failed. Her plan was to let someone be the decoy. Hell knows why she picked herself. She knew I would object, so the first thing she had to do was knock me unconscious. But I didn't know that the other two had also been informed of the plan. I thought I would have known everything, but I guess I was wrong.

The two guys comforted me and assured me that she would be safe, but I knew they were wrong. She never came back.

In my anger, I immediately led an army to attack the mutant army. Since they had lost 2 leaders (the two guys succeded), their morale was at an all-time low. The human army instantly crushed them. But that was not enough for me. I pressed on the attack until not one mutant remained... just like I did the last time.

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After that was wakey-wakey for me.