A total of 32 trained military personal and 10 trained field medics are what makes up an entire platoon. Multiply that by two with an addition of two platoon leaders and you'll get a total of 88 soldiers marching silently towards Cujo Village.
At least as silent as they can be. Percy looked at the digital pad he was holding. It's a tracker made by Pollux Faction, it shows possible landmines and traps that were set up by the government beforehand. And so far, it has worked, if Percy judges the red dots blinking in the digital pad.
"That doesn't look good"
Lynette muttered as she stared at the red dots. Lynette came with them as a field medic, she insisted that one of the leaders of the Procyon Faction should be here to instruct the field medics. Percy didn't argue with it. Even if he did Lyn would have her way especially with how she can easily manipulate situations to favor her. A skill Percy wished he had.
"They're anticipating us"
Lancelot noted as he sat at the makeshift chair in their makeshift tent. There were still at least 25 kilometers between them and Cujo Village and yet the paths toward it are covered with traps and landmines.
Percy gritted his teeth and looked at his second, Via, Iavan's older sister. She was sitting in a makeshift chair with her legs and arms crossed right in front of her. Via didn't look anything like Iavan, even the shade of their eyes and hair are completely different. The only indication that they were siblings was their personality. And the impatience that was evident with how fast she taps her right foot on the ground.
Via became Percy's second in command solely because she had managed to infiltrate Cujo Village a few days prior without dying. They met up with her here and reconvened what she had gathered.
And so far, she has brought no good news.
"I told you it'll be hard, and I didn't even have that digital pad."
She stated directly towards Percy who put the digital pad down and started pacing inside the makeshift tent. He needed to come up with a plan, a solid plan that won't get them killed or trapped. But with how things were going, they'll die a good kilometer from where they were camped.
"Kuya, it'll be night time soon. I think it's best if we let the others sleep and get some rest. That way we can come up with something by morning"
Percy stopped pacing and stared at his brother. Lancelot was Lyn's second in command although originally he was in the Polaris Faction, he personally asked to be Lyn's second in command for this mission.
Percy never felt upset about it but it did worry him sometimes how Lance had become too dependent towards Lyn. He looked at the three figures gathered around him and gave his nod of approval. Each one then stood up and went outside his tent. He flopped down on the bedroll tossed on the ground and stared at the digital pad before taking out his own map.
His eyes trailed the small villages under the lamp. They camped right outside the borders of Azura Village, directly located at the southwestern part of Cujo Village. Azura Village is known for its crystal waters and hot springs which were preserved only to satisfy the government officials. Strictly speaking they'll find themselves at death's door if they go through the village. Its streets are always clad with soldiers and government officials who presumably are on vacation.
Percy trailed down his fingers on the map. On the river stretching long between Azura Village and Cujo Village.
"Lithuinia"
He muttered softly and felt like the words were a foreign force in his body. Because Lithuinia was the place where he once had lost Maia, the previous arena. It had become more barren since it had been blown up making it inhabitable for humans.
Possibly making it the only place where there will be no sentries and traps. Percy quickly stood up and stared at the map then to the digital pad. Lithuinia is situated a good 10 kilometers to the west of Cujo Village, a few hours of walk and a trek to the mountain separating the two and they'll be able to have eyes on the hills of Cujo Village. And half a day from where they were camped out to reach it.
From there, the plan started forming in Percy's head. A plan with too many loopholes, a plan full of flaws. But that's why he has Via, Lyn and Lancelot. That's the reason why there are seconds and another commander.
He flipped open his tent and on the first soldier he saw right outside, he gave his order.
"Fetch Via, Lyn and Lance for me. Say it's urgent"
"This is crazy"
Lyn muttered as they crouched down near the river. Their plan was to cross the villages using the river as a guide. They walked near the riverbank to avoid any traps that were set up in the area. It was indeed crazy and yet it was working for the most part.
Their crazy and reckless plan was making them move, allowing them to avoid any soldiers and traps that the digital pad was registering.
When Percy had told them the initial plan they mutually agreed that they overlooked Lithuinia only because the city was a wiped out one. It did exist on the map but the place was no more than ruins and overgrown forests. Making it possibly the best path for them to reach Cujo Village.
They walked as silent as they could be, occasionally sending people to search the area ahead for possible soldiers. And yet they couldn't tell if they were relieved or anxious that this reckless plan had been smooth sailing so far.
There's that dread that kept on lingering behind Percy's head. Like a calm before the storm.
"Halt"
Lancelot who was walking ahead of them had raised an arm and quietly ordered. Percy quickly walked to his side and took a look at what made him stop. He crouched down and touched the dirt with his two fingers. Ashes.
"Someone was here"
Via quietly muttered as she ordered the soldiers to scan the surroundings for any possible sign of life. The space they tumbled upon was full of large leaves and scattered wood piles. The ground was wet and so were some pieces of wood like a firewood doused out too quickly.
"It's impossible for anyone to survive here doesn't it?"
Lyn asked no one in particular and yet Percy shook his head. Anyone could have survived here. Although it has been reduced to ruins, one can survive with the clear water river running and trees that are seemingly abundant with fruits and berries. Percy searched for tracks but couldn't find anything besides what seemed like trunks being dragged to cover footprints.
He followed them and saw that it stopped just on the edge of the forest. He searched and finally saw what looked like small tree trunks on one corner.
"Whoever they are, they have already retreated to the woods."
"What do you want to do?"
Lancelot asked but Percy only shook his head. They wasted too much time already, they can't afford to dawdle any further.
"Have four pairs search the forest and meet us by the river, they don't need to search the whole forest just enough of a perimeter so we'll know if someone is planning on a surprise attack on us or not"
Lancelot and Via nodded before carrying out the orders.They were prepared for anything that was about to happen and yet Percy can't shake the feeling that something was incredibly wrong. Percy looked at Lyn and finally said.
"I hope this bad feeling is just a bad feeling Lyn"
Lyn nodded sympathetically. They can't afford to lose this chance here. If they do then the payment will be all of their lives.
"You and me both"
Meanwhile a few hours earlier, another group was running throughout the forests. Small footsteps crumple in the grass and dirt as they make their way to the other end of Lithuinia, right where Maia would have been.