Isekai Rohan

Blooming Sorrow.

Night time

The Elves had given up sending scouts and attempting night raids. Robin and Asai's tenacity in hunting them before they even got anywhere remotely close to their camp site was terrifying. There were no volunteers, and no one willing to usher in towards the darkness of the night. Because of this growing fear. The Elves decided to bunker up and defend the castle from within. Within their forces, they only had the Elven equivalent of nobles, vassals, knights and knight-trainees. Their entire force of levies had been exhausted from Asai's pursuit for power.

Honestly, they were dumbfounded. Blooming Sorrow woodlands, and Gray Dawn Tower were hardly and significance in the grand schemes of things. The Elves never would've guessed the humans would send such a strong powerhouse in their direction. The crystal Quarry was literally located in the far end of the lands. And because of that, the majority of the more powerful noble houses were positioned elsewhere.

Gray Dawn Tower stood within the middle of the castle walls. In preparation for the war effort, the place had been filled with provisions that would last for months. Asai, knowing he was yet again racing against time. Couldn't afford to play the long game. The stratagem the famous Julius Caesar had one used upon his enemies. As much as he wanted to copy the Battle of Alesia, which would result in fewer casualties amongst the humans. He would have to wait yet another day.

Asai and Robin were both within [Hide] and [Disappear] Eyes imbued with mana, they watched as the Elves stood atop the mighty stone walls. Their equipment this time, long bows, and with the amount of arrows they sported in their quivers. Asai wasn't happy about his chances. With the stone walls, and vantage point advantage, his own archers, the levies would definitely be massacred if pit against them. The mercernaries he had hired also bought along their own engineers. Thus, this at least gave Asai the ability to craft ladders to scale the wall. 

He tried to imagine it play out within his mind. The human archers becoming pin-cushions. The humans climbing the ladders as they are constantly pelted with projectiles. And that ridiculously high stone wall. The Elves truly had an over abundance of resources here. No wonder the human's wanted to annex the lands so badly.

He shook his head in disapproval.

"Robin, can you jump high enough to sneak in?"

She looked at him like he was stupid. A frown clearly upon her face.

He imagined himself carrying one of the ladders over whilst still in [Hide] "Would it appear like a ghost is haunting them?"

"A-alright then. How about the gate? It's wooden, do you think you can break it down with [All in One]?"

"Maybe, I can try."

"What if, we both time our skills together?" She thought about it for a bit. Before nodding.

"Wait here, I'm going to test something real quick. Stay in stealth though."

Asai slowly encorached the castle gate. Pausing when a few of the Elves on guard were staring directly at him. With bated breath he waited. His heart pounding, the elves who were now frowning in confusion, as they were unable to see anyone. Decided to ignore their gut feeling.

Now within range, he summoned his weapons.

[ANNIHILATION] !

The entire castle gate rumbled and shook. The sudden impact caused the Elves above to lose their balance temporarily. The bells immediately ringing. There would be no good-sleep for them tonight.

The instant they recovered, they threw their upper bodies over the stone to check the surroundings. Only to find no one.

...

Asai was already back next to Robin. He took another glance over his shoulder. The gate seemed perfectly fine.

"I can do it Asai."

"You can?" "But, I couldn't even leave a scratch?"

"Yes. Trust in me. I can't explain it but, when your skill landed. I saw the way it nullified your attack. It has increased bonuses to melee attacks."

"Mmm. That would make the battering rams useless. Okay. Robin, I'll leave it to you. However, I've just gotten an idea, lets head back. I need to tell the engineers to modify the rams. We'll attack tomorrow."

...

Later that night, Asai would personally visit again. Dropping another [ANNIHILATE]. Once again causing the Elves within to wake up and rush into position. Only to once again find nothing.

They were half-tempted to rush out into the fray, but their previous fear of the darkness and the hunter that hid within it made them decide otherwise.

The gate was completely unscratched. So everything is fine right? They thought.

kophzi