Kashi charged through the battlefield with staggering impudence, easily blasting all monsters out of his path until he reached the side of the next Longma tribe member. Similar to his previous encounter, Kashi wordlessly took out a sword from his inner world and tossed it to the warrior before galloping onward. The centaur, for his part, did not bother acknowledging the daeben's presence before slicing the surrounding monsters to shreds.

Kashi pierced through the battlefield in this vein, either handing or throwing swords over to the centaurs, then letting them wreak havoc on the monster army without any significant assistance. This proved to be the best course of action, as, by the time Kashi handed out the last, one-thousandth sword, there were barely any monsters left.

This allowed Kashi, Shadow, Larsial, Darian, and the Longma tribesmen to swiftly round up and eliminate, any and all traces of the monster army. Usually, the monsters would have run away following such massive losses, but it seemed whoever controlled them had ordered them to fight to their last breath. An order most likely issued to ensure the centaurs suffered the greatest loss possible.

No one would have expected that it would backfire in this manner. The armed Longma tribe were like tigers that had grown wings. Their ferociousness absolutely decimated the monster army, and they only suffered minor losses.

Kashi released a sigh of relief as he watched a Longma tribesman tear the last direwolf in half with his bare hands. Finally, phase one of the plan had been completed. The particulars of phase two would largely depend on the upcoming negotiations.

Kashi's expression remained neutral as he approached the Longsma tribesman who tossed the torn carcass to the ground and glared at the daeben. "I assume you speak the common tongue?" Kashi questioned, his tone even and strong.

The Longma tribesman remained silent.

Kashi paused for a moment to consider his options. There were two classic approaches to a situation like this for every gamer. The first, and Kashi's personal favorite, was to prove your strength to the opposite party. Kashi knew he could bring a good portion of the Longma centaurs to their knees through his aura alone. The second option was to engage in a calm and rational discussion to try and bring the Longma tribe over to his cause.

The downside to the second option was that for warring clans like the Longma tribe, an envoy who used words to try and convince them to do something would be looked down upon as weak and timid.

If Kashi viewed the Longma tribe only as a capable fighting force, he would have proceeded to crush their wills and bend them to his cause. Fortunately, ever since the daeben embarked on the path of 'Uniting the Continent,' – and even more so in recent times – he had promised himself he would not treat any intelligent race differently from the rest.

A conqueror's attitude was everything. If a conqueror went around treating some races better than others, that attitude would spill over to the common people when the war finally ended. At that point, it would only be a matter of time before the oppressed race broke out in civil war.

With all these in mind, Kashi finally came to a decision.

Boom!

The Longma tribe paled as a brutal force burst out from the daeben. The centaurs trembled as they gazed upon what seemed to be a pair of daunting eyes glaring at them from within Kashi as if daring the centaurs to question its authority. However, before the centaurs could even begin to process their fear, the pressure vanished as quickly as it came.

The Longma centaurs regarded Kashi with equal parts trepidation and respect. Only a true warrior steeped in years of bloodshed and chaos could unleash such a powerful aura.

"I'm glad I finally have your attention," Kashi said as he regarded the Longma tribesmen. "Now, may I have an audience with your chief?"

"I am he," announced a massive centaur as he walked out of the crowd. The centaur was excessively huge, towering at over 10ft tall. His voice was deep and powerful, akin to the sound of thunder. Indeed, this much should have been expected of the chief of a warring clan. The chief judged Kashi and Drixlia through narrowed eyes then continued, "Who are you?"

"My name's Kashi, Guild Leader of the Hopeful Maggots," Kashi replied with a stiff smile. Ah, although he'd indeed had some cool moments with the guild name, it still sounded off whenever he had to introduce the guild.

Contrary to Kashi's expectations, however, the chief only nodded and held out his arm, "Agamios Longma, chief of the Longma clan. What brings you to our lands, Kashi?"

Kashi smiled, instantly impressed by the chief's attitude. It took a special kind of mettle to look beyond the stupid sounding name. "I've been tasked with clearing out the source of the Blight. In return, the priests of each tribe will help my horse, Drixlia to improve its bloodline through some ritual."

Agamios looked at Drixlia and nodded. "Indeed, I sense a powerful bloodline within your mount. We, the Longma tribe are not without grace. We shall send our priest when the time comes. You may leave us now. We must prepare for the enemy's retaliation."

Kashi shook his head. "That is not good enough. What am I to do if you end up dying from the assault? I assure you, the enemy's retaliation will be ten times worse just to prove a point."

Agamios' gaze hardened. He knew his to be true. The centaur village that was wiped out, Aethon had suffered their fate one day after wiping out the blights in a battle. His scouts had reported that the army that burned the village to the ground had stretched as far as their eyes could see. Agamios knew that the number they had successfully defeated today did not amount to a third of the scout's reported figures.

However, despite the reality, Agamios was unwilling to work with the daeben. "Maybe so," Agamios admitted. "But I would rather perish alongside my brethren than be used by those who despise, fear and hate us. I do not want the last thing my tribesmen sees to be relief on the face of their allies. I will not allow it."

"I understand how you feel Chief Agamios, but this is not the time to uphold grudges," Darian remarked as he trotted up to Kashi's side. He regarded the chief with apology in his eyes. "I know we have wronged your tribe on several occasions. However, this is a fight for our survival. Let us work together to overcome this foe so we can work toward healing old wounds."

Agamios looked at Darian. "You must be Darian. My scouts reported you've run alongside them in the past."

"It was my honor," Darian replied with his right arm across his chest. "Akol and Vasates saved my life on numerous occasions."

"And you theirs," Agamios replied with a grunt. "However, you are one centaur. You cannot speak for the rest."

Darian opened his mouth to speak but closed it soon after. He knew Agamios' words were true. Most centaurs saw the Longma tribe as something foreign, and thus feared and despised them.

"Aren't you overthinking it?" Kashi questioned, interrupting the centaurs' discourse. "Why do you assume you are going to die? I already said I'm going to end the Blight. All you have to do is survive for two to three days alongside each other." Kashi looked to the side as Casetes, Anatolia and Balasius joined the group. "Surely you can manage that much?"

Agamios frowned. "You sound confident. What guarantee do we have that you'll defeat the Blight?"

"My Word," Kashi stated with an authority that did not brook any judgment. "The word of the Guild Leader of the Hopeful Maggots. Since I have given my word, it shall be so."

Agamios' heart shook as he stared at the daeben's majestic presence. In his entire life, he had never met someone smaller than him who could invoke the level of respect that was blooming in his heart. Some part of the chief's heart had begun to awaken, reflected in the quickening of his heartbeat. Suddenly, he was very intrigued. He wanted to see just how far this daeben would go. He wanted to see what he would accomplish! "Let's say I agree to your proposal to work together. What is your plan?"

Casetes, Anatolia, Balasius, and Darian paid close attention to Kashi's following words. Until now, no one had asked for the specifics of Kashi's plan following the unification of the villages because the negotiations had all been between Kashi and the chiefs. They too wanted to know what his intentions were.

Kashi looked at the expectant generals and chuckled. "The plan is simple. The centaur will create a fortress out of the Lymar tribe to protect themselves from the Blight's retaliation. When the perpetrator of this Blight learns of your new formation, they'll be forced to send the bulk of their forces to Lymar if they want to have any shot at eradicating you. Using that opening, a small strike force comprising my team and Darian will infiltrate the headquarters, deal with the source, and save the last priest."

Agamios's eyelids twitched. "That's it? That's the extent of your plan? Four people charge into the enemy headquarters and save the day?"

Kashi chuckled. "Don't sound so surprised. Taking out high-value targets is what I do best. These war-like battles are usually handled by others in my guild."

"I watched him defeat a Marilith," Darian said to assuage the generals' doubts.

This revelation shook the generals' hearts! Who did not know the Marilith? That monster was greatly feared by every tribe. The few Mariliths in Kirkcour Woods lived at the top of the food chain. Anyone who was stupid enough to cross one of those monsters suffered a terrible end. Yet, this daeben had killed one?

"That's impossible!" Casetes was the first to voice his doubts. "Mariliths aren't something that can be killed so easily!"

"Have you ever injured the Marilith? Seen it bleed?" Kashi questioned.

"Of course I have seen a Marlith bleed!" Casetes muttered. "But that doesn't mean—"

"If it can bleed, it can be killed," Kashi interrupted with a chuckle. "I just made it bleed more than you did."

Casetes opened his mouth to object, but Anatolia cut him off, "Assuming what you say is true. You expect us to put all our lives at risk on the off chance you succeed? What do we do if you fail?"

"Die," Kashi replied with a hard glare. His harsh reply caused Anatolia and Casetes to turn white. Both centaurs looked like they were about to explode in rage, but Kashi did not give them the satisfaction. "I do not know what impression you're under. I have put my life on the line continuously to save your tribes. Ask yourselves what would become of you if I did not come along when I did? Now, all I ask is that you put your lives on the line, same as I am. I do not think that to be an unreasonable request."

Anatolia bit her lip then nodded. "You have a point."

Balasius folded his arms and nodded. "Plan or no plan, the best course of action for the centaur race as a whole is to band together. Otherwise, the enemy can pick us off one by one." He turned to look at Agamios. "Our tribes may have their differences, but at the end of the day, we're all centaurs. We must stand together now so our children may run freely in the future."

Agamios let out a sigh and nodded. "We will do as you have suggested for this fight." He said, then looked at Kashi. "However, I hope you take 100 hundred of my men with you."

Kashi shook his head. "The purpose of a strikeforce is to remain incognito until we reach the target. One hundred centaurs will stand out too much."

"If, as you've claimed, the mastermind sends out all his forces to attack the Lymar tribe, then he'll only have bareboned defenses remaining," Agamios brilliantly analyzed. "We can serve as a distraction to draw out the remaining forces."

Kashi eye's sparked with interest as a plan began to formulate in his mind. "True. If we smear blood and dirt on your bodies, you can pass off as a force driven by grief and hatred. This mastermind has never met me, so he should have no reason to suspect it's a trap. But, isn't a hundred warriors small? Will they be alright?"

"The Longma tribe is without equal on the battlefield," Agamios proudly stated. "We can quite easily handle this much."

Kashi nodded his assent. "In that case, please choose those who will carry out the strike mission and have the rest travel to Lymar with the rest of the centaur army." The daeben looked at Darian and grinned. "From here on out, it's the real deal. Hope you're prepared."

Darian's fingers gripped his spear with conviction. "I was born ready."

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