Dungeon of Niflheim

Colonel Casper, leader of the left wing of the cavalry corps explained the mission.

"We'll mount up in five minutes and leave through the catacombs." Casper moved the figurines on the war table next to a mountain that protected Icethorne's western edge.

"Exits four, five and six will be used and then sealed upon our return, the rest will remain closed so don't knock on the wrong door."

"Hehehehe" Casper's words earned a round of laughter from the officers, Frost however was puzzled. This was the first time he was hearing of the 'catacombs.'

"You'll understand it when you see it Frost, don't worry too much." Casper smiled his way, soothing his confusion.

"Upon our exit we should be right in line with the mid and rear forces. The vanguard and ranger corps will draw their focus and deal with their frontline allowing us to get the drop on them. Speed will be key."

Shock cavalry relied primarily on their substantial weight and charging momentum to be lethal and because of this they are rather inflexible. They struggle to stop and redirect their charge once they get going thus a surprise attack, one in which the enemy lacks the time to reorientate their forces makes a world of difference.

Casper picked up the figurines representing the left wing and placed them outside of the Northern wall, within 800 metres of Alliance's forces. "Upon our exit which will be synced with the right wing we'll enter the arrow formation and begin our charge. Contact with the enemy should take roughly 30 seconds." Several officers did some internal calculations, some nodded confidently while others frowned. 30 seconds was cutting it close.

800 metres give or take, in 30 seconds, that's roughly 27 metres per second. Their war bears and ursas were certainly capable of such speed but that brief 30 seconds also included their acceleration.

"I know what some of you are thinking but trust me it's doable, difficult yes but doable. Trust in your battle mounts and we'll make it." Casper quickly dispelled the anxiety building among some of the less confident officers.

"5 seconds before contact we'll erect the [Golden bear] and with our added momentum we'll blow apart their fragile lines and dig deep into the heart of their forces."

At the mention of the [Golden bear] many eyes lit up. The [Golden bear] was the cavalry corps' infamous battle formation, a formation as well renowned as the [Icethorne bulwark] perhaps even more so given that its primary focus was destruction rather than protection. Find adventures on empire

"Once we're in we'll split into smaller diamond formations and carve up the enemy. Kill as many as you can and do your best to retain your momentum. The moment you slow down is the moment you die!" Casper exclaimed, stressing the seriousness of his last point. A stationary or even slow cavalryman was easy pickings, even easier to kill than a foot soldier.

"Variables?" A senior Major queried.

"There are a few." Casper retrieved a couple figurines that represented the enemy forces." First the mammoths and the other heavy monsters, avoid them at all costs as they'll only impede our advance and waste our limited timeframe." The mentioned heavy monsters were durable, tenacious and not worth the time it takes to kill them.

"Second and most obvious the Generals and upper officers, our job is to quickly mow down as many enemies as possible and weaken their morale. Though the death of an Upper officers would certainly spread fear amongst their ranks they are too dangerous and potentially lethal to our own soldiers regardless of our speed thus they should be avoided if possible. The Generals even more so, keep a very wide berth."

The enemy Generals such as Vash were the biggest cause of concern for Colonel Casper and the cavalry corps. Numbers and momentum meant nothing in the face of overwhelming power after all.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Generals Jared and Danielle would be enlisted to keep some of them occupied but by this point the likelihood of one or two of the Generals throwing out the rule book was quite substantial.

"The third variable is the unknown. What we see and hear may not be everything. Keep your wits about you and your eyes peeled for anything suspicious. Those with the rank of Major should use their experience to determine the best course of action in such situations, Captain and those lower should follow their orders to the letter and if needed…I'll call for a full retreat." Though he was reluctant to do so if the threat to his men was great enough he was willing to fail in their mission as long as it preserved their lives. The Generals and War Marshall were of the same mind. Attacks on the enemy could fail but their lives couldn't be sacrificed in vain, not when they were the ones so vastly outnumbered.

"Questions? Misgivings?"

"…."

"None here."

"All good Colonel."

"Major Frost?" Casper looked at Frost the only officer present without any experience.

"….If all I have to do is follow in your wake and kill as directed then I've got no issues Colonel." Frost replied with a confident nod.

If he was in a position of command then he'd want to know more but since that wasn't the case there was no problem.

Clap! Casper loudly clapped his hands and smiled from ear to ear. "Our mission is set, our parameters agreed upon and our confidence unwavering. Men, Women return to your squads and gear up, we leave in five minutes."

""Sir yes Sir"" All the officers and Frost loudly replied with their arms across their chests in salute.

Roughly 5 minutes later, Colonel Casper stood next to his oversized War Ursa as he addressed the Cavalry corps' left wing, a contingent of 8000 men and women strong.

"All soldiers mount up! It's time to ride!"

""Urah!!"" All 8000 soldiers roared so loud that their lungs threatened to burst. A moment later all 8000 men and women ascended upon the backs of their battle mounts. 8000 soldiers and 8000 bear species battle mounts, quite an intimidating sight.

"Move out!" Casper bellowed as he led the charge with his trusted partner Alaran.

The entire left wing moved seamlessly through the cities war time highways. Wide, flat highways clear of obstructions and traffic allowed the left wing to smoothly arrive before the catacombs in just a few minutes.

Here at the base of the massive western mountain several soldiers could be seen guarding….nothing? there was no door or gateway or even clear path up the mountain. Frost couldn't help but be intrigued.

"Cavan inform the catacombs detail of our mission requirements."

"Yes Colonel." A youngish Captain, one with a bright future charged ahead on his War bear to meet with the soldiers in charge of guarding the supposed catacombs.

A moment after he left Casper leaned over to speak to Frost. "You have your own territory in the southlands right?"

"Yes, it's near the southern entrance to the Glacial mountains, about a day's walk from Furano." It was always good to advertise his new territory, especially amongst people who could very well be important future clients.

"If its near a set of mountains then you'll likely appreciate this little mechanism of ours." Casper smiled in a mischievous manner. Frost wanted to hear more about this 'mechanism' but Cavan was already on the way back.

"We're good to go Colonel."

"Splendid Cavan, men move out!" The large procession of soldiers was once again on the move and this time they were heading directly into the face of the mountain. Not a single soldier had any hesitation as their mounts built up speed and charged headfirst into the wall.

Frost wanted to shut his eyes in horror as he imagined these men and woman turning into meat paste the moment they made contact with the rock hard surface.

Kiba was no less disturbed by the situation, he wanted to stop but the wave of battle mounts behind him pushed him forward, there was no way out.

"Ah!!!" A captain who was at the head of the march screamed in a mad fashion just before he made contact, sending a chill down Frost's spine.

'What the actual fuck?'

In the next moment however the man and monster seemed to vanish, their bodies didn't smash into the rock wall but rather mysteriously passed through it.

"Hahahahaha." A loud chorus of laughter erupted amongst the soldiers after seeing Frost's face turn pale. The screaming captain was just yanking the newbie's chain.

"Hmph!" Casper didn't approve of such behaviour. He loudly hmphed, skilfully attaching his aura as he did, bringing a quick end to the ruckus.

"An illusion?" Frost ignored their laughter, personally he might have done the same if he was in their shoes.

"Yes and no." Casper replied before both he and Frost charged through the rock wall.

The moment he passed through Frost felt a familiar twisting in his stomach.

'Spatial transposition' Whenever he teleported throughout the Dungeon or entered the private space his body would be encumbered with a strange pull in multiple directions.

The scene before his eyes blurred, stretched and twisted before reorganising into something completely different. They were now within a large tunnel embedded in the mountain, tall enough to hold both Casper and Alaran and wide enough to sustain four cavalry soldiers and their mounts standing side by side.

A major construction.