Chapter 22

 Transcendence 

Chapter 22: A Battle on Two Fronts

Burning Steppes, the Pillar of Ash.

The sun was beginning to set on the charred valley that was the Burning Steppes, only a few hours of daylight remained, the sky began to take on a light shade of blood red. But even so the heat was still intense, pits of molten magma and rivers of lava dominated the area, pillars of fire and molten rock were everywhere. Blasting up volatile cocktails of superheated rocks and releasing deadly gases that could kill you as easily as the fires that spewed them.

Trudging through this dangerous landscape were six people, warriors who had just completed their mission to destroy the resolve of the Firegut Ogres and prevent them from aiding in the defense of the Pillar of Ash. Four warriors in plated armor of varying colors and carrying various weapons marched behind the commanding presence and dominating force that was Joana Lightlance.

She had led them through the mines successfully; and through her leadership and their own determination as a whole, had crippled the mine and utterly decimated the Ogres resolve and stability and left them running. But not all were in high spirits as they were, only one carried a sullen tone with his strides, the one who walked behind them all, close but farthest from the in terms of comradeship, for he was no longer as such in spirit.

He wasn't like them, going to extreme lengths to ensure victory was in their grasp; he would fight and no matter what happened made sure he won. But this was much more different than he knew, they had used terror tactics to win, they had used the severed head of the Ogre leader as a tool to show them who not to mess with. He had done so before, instilling fear into his enemies and showing them they are not all that, but what he had done was nothing compared to the sheer evil that Joana had committed.

"You are a fool who doesn't know how the world works, as expected of a child, whose views of innocence have clouded him to what is really in front of him. You have no purpose in this world if you do not know where you stand, either as a soldier on the field of battle or as a cowering child who cannot stomach the real world."

Those words hit him hard; she had told him the cold hard truth of what he was getting himself into, a world that is full of death and war. As much as there was peace in some places, this was a chaotic and mad world compared to Earth, it was either kill or be killed. She had shown him that, be it through killing the enemy with the sword or killing them in spirit with fear, which was the way this place was.

He didn't know if he could stay in a place like this, there was so much death going on all around him, even while simply going to Theramore he got involved in a small war inside Dire Maul and the massacre at Shady Rest. All that happened in a span of two weeks, how was he supposed to live here for years when everywhere he goes there is death that he must either ignore, which he knew he couldn't do, or take part it. Either choice was a hard one, to let people die or to kill them, he had been doing it so much and yet only now has the blood on his hands truly started to show itself.

'Do I actually belong here?' Ichigo thought, looking at his maroon gauntlet and wondering if he could let more blood stain them in the long run. 'What do I do?'

The Pillars of Ash were actually not much considering, it was like any other place in the Steppes, a flat ash ridden hell with a few mounds and rocks about, but nothing you could consider looking like a pillar. But the place took its name from a single large watchtower that stood on a small mound and overlooked the entire area from the mountains separating the Steppes from Redridge all the way to the entrance of Blackrock Mountain.

Far off beyond it was the only fortress that existed in the fiery landscape, a Blackrock Orc stronghold, a large round stone wall building with four large towers surrounding it and offering some form of protection. On the grey wooden roof was another tier above that gave a panoramic view of the area around the fortress, a perfect place for a command post from which a general could command.

Around the fortress was nothing, a completely barren patch aside from several key things, the bodies of dozens of Orcs, maybe a hundred or more. And the grey ground tainted with red, not of lava or molten rock, but with blood. Stepping through this field were many soldiers who were sifting through the dead and looking for the living, to either save or to kill if it be an ally or enemy. Passing through this field was Joana and behind her was her squad; the warriors who searched the bodies of the dead took only a moment to glance at them.

Seeing the triumphant and bloodied warriors return from their mission in success from the way their heads were held high and their strides were long, obviously their mission had to be a success. But only one face was shrouded in sorrow, the young orange haired youth did not have his head held high along with the rest, and he was not following in equal strides with the other warriors. Obviously something had transpired that had left the boy in such a mood; some had different theories on it. Some thought he had done something stupid and was chided for it, others thought he had failed to do something and was angry because he didn't prove himself like any brash young boy should.

But a select few could see that the boy had seen something or had been dealt something that shook him to the core, which had made him doubt himself and his reason to fight. They knew what that was like, to be brought low and have no idea why they should raise their sword, and it was always the young who experience this when they go into battle and see the slaughter firsthand. They shook their heads for the poor boy, he had been through a grinder, and the pain and regret he felt now was only the beginning.

<p class="MsoNormal">Joana passed into the fortress, and into a large open hall where many other Knights and adventurers were resting after likely a very arduous battle, and turned to the assembled warriors behind her.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Get some food and drink, you've earned your rest," Joana said, before turning off and departing to go speak with Tyresa about the success of her mission.

<p class="MsoNormal">The warriors all moved off to their places, all besides Ichigo who looked through the crowd for Adelina and Caren, he hoped to find them and at least be in the presence of friends. But before he could find them he felt a hand on his shoulder, looking he saw Arden standing there with a small smile on his face.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I want to thank you for saving me," the warrior said, before looking Ichigo in the eye. "Don't let her words discourage you, she may be hard as nails but she means well, a person who can't fight shouldn't be picking up a sword."

<p class="MsoNormal">"I can fight," Ichigo stated, not liking being reminded of that little fact about him having doubts about actually fighting and killing.

<p class="MsoNormal">"But can you kill?" Arden asked, to which Ichigo didn't respond. "Don't become something you are not boy, it will only make your life harder in the long run." With that the warrior walked off, leaving the substitute to wonder to himself, how could he fight without killing.

<p class="MsoNormal">That was something that had no place in a world like this, simply cutting a person down and leaving them there, no, fighting and killing came hand in hand. Ichigo needed to figure this out, he needed to find out if he was really ready to take up the sword and use it to kill.

<p class="MsoNormal">Looking he saw Adelina speaking with Caren, without wasting another moment he went over to speak with them, he had a lot on his mind and hoped that they could at least give him some wisdom. If either of them had any that is.

<p class="MsoNormal">Joana climbed the flight of stairs and found a large open room with a panoramic view of the Steppes, several riflemen manned the windows and around were several Knights acting as sentries and keeping order. Standing near a small table were three people, Marshal Reginald Windsor, Militia Commander Morgan and her Paladin Superior Tyresa Moran.

<p class="MsoNormal">Joana moved forward and stood before the table and waited to be addressed by her commander, who looked up and smiled at her apprentice's return. Tyresa nodded to Morgan and Windsor before leaving the conversation to speak with her about the success of the mission.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Joana, I take it the mission was a success?" Tyresa asked, she knew it was but wanted to ensure that nothing went horribly wrong.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Yes, the Ogres have disbanded and are in disarray, they will not be a threat to us now," Joana reported, to which Tyresa smiled and was thankful that their gambit had played off.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Where there any casualties?" Tyresa asked, she knew that there would likely be one or two men dead, or possibly all of them, but she had hopes they all made it.

<p class="MsoNormal">"None, all the men are accounted for," Joana replied, to which Tyresa let out a very content breath and smiled broadly, the news had pleased her greatly. They had infiltrated the mines and dismantled the Ogre army and taken no casualties, a perfect result for a mission that borderlined on suicidal.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Good, I am glad there were no complications," Tyresa said. It was rare that a mission such as the one Joana performed went off without a major hitch, it was good sometimes to get things done with no problems.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Aside from that boy acting like a fool there was no incident," Joana said, with some heat in her voice. Tyresa looked at her apprentice and wondered what she meant, did she mean that orange haired boy Ichigo.

<p class="MsoNormal">"What happened?" Tyresa inquired, interested in what happened, the boy had promise if what she was told by the former prisoners of Stonewatch was right.

<p class="MsoNormal">"The boy questioned the mission when it was completed, questioning how we were any different from the Orcs when we displayed the head of the Ogres chieftain to his warriors," Joana said, to which Tyresa then realized, she had not taken into account the boys psychological standpoint on matters such as these when she selected him, she purely chose him for his skill and fighting prowess.

<p class="MsoNormal">"He did not take it well I suppose," Tyresa said, letting out a sigh. She knew that the report was too good to be true; there was always a complication to these things.

<p class="MsoNormal">"No, he actually was naïve enough to ask what the difference is between us and those we fight," Joana said, actual anger in her voice as she recounted the argument. "He is a child, not fit for the battlefield, and now he is moping on the floor like a new born babe."

<p class="MsoNormal">"He has some skill, that I saw myself," Tyresa replied.

<p class="MsoNormal">"But not the will to use it, I could see it in his eyes, he was actually regretting killing those Ogres," Joana said, actual disbelief in her voice as she made that statement. "How could he care for the lives of such low creatures?"

<p class="MsoNormal">"Not all are destined for the battlefield," Tyresa said, remembering the first time she took a life.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Just as I said to him, he may have been a great aid to the mission, but he isn't any longer, he should be sent home with the wounded and dead," Joana suggested. To which Tyresa paused and thought about it. The boy had promise but was held back, she could see it in his eyes that there was something that prevented him from moving ahead, and with Joana's recent revelations, it was killing the enemy.

<p class="MsoNormal">He had skill and the instincts that would make him a great warrior, but he was held back by one vice, his own fear of becoming a murderer, that was usually that stopped many from fighting. Even the most skilled of warriors always suffered from this, being trained to fight and the will take a life are two difficult things to do, especially when they need to come hand in hand. Tyresa had seen many warriors lose the will to fight after one battle, covered in blood yet not having a scratch on them.

<p class="MsoNormal">'Maybe I should let him go home,' Tyresa thought, he was young and wasn't really meant for the battlefield, that was true, but there was a feeling he had already seen battle many times in the past.

<p class="MsoNormal">Although it sounded ludicrous at first, but the way he fought showed no honed skill, just instinct and personal training, as if he had learned to use the blade on his own time. But even that didn't account for the fact he was able to easily counter enemy attacks and actually land devastating blows against them, he had fought before and he knew how to fight well.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I will speak with him, see if I can pull him out of his despair and bring him to form," Tyresa said. Joana didn't look very convinced about her masters idea, but did not question it; it was her decision.

<p class="MsoNormal">'I hope your worth it kid, I really do,' Tyresa thought, before walking back to the meeting, there were some details they had yet to go over.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ichigo was sitting next to Adelina and Caren, who had recounted their exploits against the Orcs at the now currently occupied fortress. It would seem that they had caught the Orcs here by surprise as their forces were actually smaller than expected. it would seem most of them were off somewhere fighting, but where they didn't know.

<p class="MsoNormal">"So she stuck his head on a stick and scared them off?" Adelina questioned. There was obviously a bit of disgust at the idea of doing such a thing; it would be almost what an Orc would do.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Well that would do the trick, just like scaring off a bunch of rabbits," Caren said, obviously not fazed by the brutal act that was performed to dissuade the Ogres from fighting.

<p class="MsoNormal">"How can you be so unfeeling to something like that?" Ichigo asked. Looking at Caren with critical eyes, wondering how something like that could be condoned without so much as a twitch of the brow to show that it went against your moral code.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Unfeeling? How many of those bastards killed innocent woman and children and put their heads on spikes, why shouldn't we show them what it's like?" Caren said, obviously not understanding where the hell Ichigo was coming from. It was like he was a baby who had just been brought into the world and had no idea what was going on around him.

<p class="MsoNormal">"But what makes us different from them is we only act like them, what makes us better if we sink to their level?" Ichigo replied. How could they say they were better if they did the same kind of things their enemies did, how could they condone it simply because the Ogres did it.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Different? Are you a simpleton? We are different because we do not do it out of spite or for fun; we do it to show them if they want to play hard we can do the same thing" Caren bit back, clearly annoyed by Ichigo's lack of knowledge on the subject. How could he be so thick to think that they could be all honorable and just when fighting the enemy?

<p class="MsoNormal">Adelina looked between the two, she knew Ichigo wasn't one who liked killing, and she had seen it in Dire Maul, both when their allies as well as enemies were killed. He may be able to perform the act, but living with it was another thing entirely. She knew that sometimes extreme measures need to be taken, but Ichigo wasn't from here. He didn't know about what lengths they had to go to in order to win, the sacrifices and the loss, he had never seen a real battlefield before he came here, and he never had taken a life.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Caren I don't think…" Adelina started, but the young mage interrupted her before should finish.

<p class="MsoNormal">"No, he needs to hear this," Caren shouted, drawing the attention of some nearby people. "You think that if we act all noble and nice the Ogres and Orcs will leave us alone? Grow up. It is either kill or be killed, how else do you expect to survive in this world?"

<p class="MsoNormal">Ichigo didn't respond, he knew that you had to kill to survive, especially here, but to go to the extent of displaying the bodies of the dead in such a manner rocked him to the core.

<p class="MsoNormal">"No answer? That is because there isn't one!" Caren yelled, many watching as the young mage berated the young warrior. "What makes us different? I'll tell you, we are different because unlike them we don't do it for fun and a laugh; we do it to make them know that we won't allow them to do what they want without getting a reprisal."

<p class="MsoNormal">Ichigo sat there in silence, digesting her words, and he felt sick as he did. What she was suggesting was not simply good people doing back; it was people becoming the monsters they were fighting simply to win. Wolves in sheep's clothing, as he looked around he could see the glares and mocking stares from the other warriors, laughing at him silently at both his childishness and being schooled on war by a girl no more older than he was.

<p class="MsoNormal">"We kill because if we don't they will kill us," Caren said, calmer but none the less fierce. "And those who can do the deed are always on the battlefield, while everyone else should stay behind and not get in the way."

<p class="MsoNormal">Ichigo remained silent as he listened, she was right in some regards, hell she was right in nearly all of it, but that did not answer the question that had plagued him. Was he meant to be here? Was he actually strong enough to actually fight on the field and be a defender of the weak, to strike down evil and be a hero? That was a fairy tale, a lie made up to make the career as a warrior more exiting, this was simply hiring out people to kill the enemy, nothing more, nothing less.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Enough," Everyone turned to see Commander Tyresa Moran standing near the stairwell, looking over the scene with a neutral expression, she walked forward and started giving orders. "I want everyone on their feet; we got another target that needs to be destroyed."

<p class="MsoNormal">The warriors quickly got to their feet and moved off to the exit, some looking excited for another battle while other groaning as they barely have had a break since they signed up. Tyresa watched them file out; she had about forty men under her command for this op, which would be enough to take down any resistance that may pop up at the ruins they were going to be investigating.

<p class="MsoNormal">Turning she saw the boy Ichigo and his two companions, one was trying to comfort him into getting ready while the other did the polar opposite demanding him to his feet. Had it been anyone else she would have not batted an eye and simply left him there, a warrior that had no spirit shouldn't be fighting, but this boy was different. She had seen it when he went to stop the Orcs at Stonewatch, he didn't do it because it was a smart plan; he did it to save lives. When he went to stop that rogue magi, he did it to stop him from using his Gnoll army on either the people of Lakeshire or them.

<p class="MsoNormal">He wasn't a fighter as she knew of it, no, he wasn't a person who killed because he was told to, he was a person who protected the innocent and those he considered allies. She did not know if there was some personal motive behind it, if it was simply in his nature, or if there was a deep need for him to protect others; but she could see that he took the lives of others seriously.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Get up, we are moving out," Tyresa said, the two young girls looked at her and did so, although the Night Elf was slightly apprehensive about leaving Ichigo behind. "You as well, boy."

<p class="MsoNormal">"Why? I don't have a purpose here," Ichigo replied. He knew she had been standing near the stairs for some time and likely heard enough to know what was going on. "I shouldn't be here."

<p class="MsoNormal">"Yet you are," Tyresa replied, moving forward and standing over him, her presence commanding and demanding his immediate attention regardless of circumstance. "As such you are at my disposal and therefore under my care."

<p class="MsoNormal">"I'm not a kid to be protected," Ichigo responded with some anger, he didn't like that; he could take care of himself.

<p class="MsoNormal">"You don't want to be treated like a kid, then act like a man and I might show you the respect of one," Tyresa bit back, glaring down at the boy and seeing if she could bring him out of that shell of his. This was the point where she could either mold him into what he could be, or leave him as he was, on the floor and without purpose.

<p class="MsoNormal">To her satisfaction he rose, getting to his feet, and staring right into her eyes, defiant and not willing to be looked down upon by anyone, despite their standing and authority. Tyresa would have smirked and laughed at the display, but she knew that it was not the time and she was not done, she had brought him out of the grief, but his doubts still lingered and would need to be purged.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Fall in line, we depart in ten minutes," Tyresa ordered, turning and walking off, but halting just for a moment to say one last thing. "Make sure that blade is sharp, it will be needed when the time comes."

<p class="MsoNormal">As expected she saw his eye flash a little, not in bloodlust or anxiety over the fight, but the fact that he would be killing once more. She was right; he needed to be molded further in order to make him a warrior, and the battle to come will determine if he could become as such.

<p class="MsoNormal">One hour later

<p class="MsoNormal">Ruins of Thaurissan

<p class="MsoNormal">Tyresa lead her warriors to the now ruined remains of a city that was named after the ancient Dark Iron ruling dynasty, Thaurissan, the grey ashen walls of this once great Dwarven city were all that remained. Along with the occupants who were unfortunate enough to not escape the fiery arrival of Ragnoros when he was summoned, their bodies littering the streets and hollowed out interior houses.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Move up, stay in formation and do not stray," Tyresa ordered, and soon the forty warriors behind her did as commanded.

<p class="MsoNormal">She had been told that the Orcs had left the fortress they had assaulted at the Pillars of Ash to combat a mutual enemy within the ruins, although not stated, it was obvious it was the Dark Iron Dwarves. The Dark Iron seemed to be interfering with their supply line to Dreadmaul Rock and the Orcs wanted to deal with it before their supply was hindered further, luckily that problem had been dealt with as the mines were no longer under their control.

<p class="MsoNormal">But even so, she could not allow the Orcs to take the city and use it as a fortress as it would be impossible to dislodge them if they were successful. She had hoped that the Dwarves would drive them out, but if not she would do so, and when they were forced away they would have no choice but to return to Blackrock Mountain and remain within and unable to attack their borders any longer.

<p class="MsoNormal">But first she would need to locate them, and that was the problem. According to the report, over two hundred had been sent this way; although vastly outnumbering them all, they would likely be tired and severely weakened after their fight with the Dwarves. If that was the case then they would likely be less than half strength and either scattered around the ruins or even completely decimated by the Dark Iron. In either case they had little to worry about, if the Dark Iron came they would retreat immediately, they were not here to fight them, just the Orcs.

<p class="MsoNormal">Soon they arrived at a large open plaza leading around the city, many roads and paths were open to them, and despite being a ruin the city was still massive. They were also on the clock and didn't have time to go sightseeing, the sun was setting and they had maybe an hour or two before this entire area was nothing but pitch black. She had to hurry and the best way to do that was to split her forces, which was something she didn't want to do; but there was more risk to them all fighting in the dark rather than fighting in small groups.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Alright, everyone split up, parties of ten," Tyresa ordered. And soon enough she saw everyone had gotten into their own little groups, some usually going with friends or comrades, as expected. She could also see some senior officers within the different groups, which was good; it will make it easier to put someone in command as they were likely trusted by the rest of the group.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Lieutenant Fermion, you're in command," Tyresa said, gesturing to one group who was mainly composed of Alliance Knights. "Uren, Merck you two are in charge of your parties."

<p class="MsoNormal">Tyresa looked at her group and saw that her group was a diverse mix; she also noticed the orange haired Ichigo and his two companions Adelina and Caren. She motioned the group forward and then the others, and gave them their orders, to search the city in different patrol routes and to find any signs of the Orcs and to report back. They would report back in half an hour, by then they should have covered enough of the city to determine if it was occupied by Orcs or Dwarves.

<p class="MsoNormal">Tyresa led them to the northern part of the city, it was likely the most dangerous as it was the closest to Blackrock Mountain and was likely where the enemy would have their warriors stationed. Hopefully they wouldn't come to blows with the Dwarves or Orcs before they regrouped with the others, and if they did, she would need to make sure her men, and a single young man who had not regained the will to fight, were prepared.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ichigo looked around at the ruins of the city of Thaurissan, both looking out for a possible attack and also admiring the city ruins, kind of reminded him of his history lessons on Pompeii back home. He had wanted to go see that place, now he was on another world in another counterpart to that once great roman settlement.

<p class="MsoNormal">But as much as he tried to remain focused and stay alert to a possible attack, he was dreading it, the thought of fighting and killing again did not sit well with him. How could he kill someone now, he had done so previously before and though he regretted it, he thought he was doing it for the people around him, to keep them safe and to fight for the warrior beside you. But they were not doing it for their sake, this wasn't a mission to protect the borders, it was a message to the Orcs that they shouldn't attack them again.

<p class="MsoNormal">Kill them all and then display the heads of their leaders to anyone who is left standing, that was something he knew he couldn't be a part of. He didn't do that to his enemies, he fights and beats them, and he doesn't kill or show off his achievement like some battle crazed animal who seeks only glory and praise for his deeds.

<p class="MsoNormal">"You okay Ichigo, you look anxious," Adelina whispered, not wanting anyone to hear her and Ichigo.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Just thinking," Ichigo replied in an equally hushed tone, but not quietly enough.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Thinking about what?" Caren asked, looking at Ichigo with a bored expression. "Don't tell me you're still mopping about that crap."

<p class="MsoNormal">"Caren leave him alone, unlike you he actually has a soul," Adelina said. She was obviously not happy with the way she was treating him, he was from a completely different world than this one and by the sounds of it, his home was much more peaceful.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Hah! Yet not the spirit to fight," A nearby warrior said, earning some chuckles from the different warriors. "Fear not young man we are here to make up for your lack of will."

<p class="MsoNormal">"I don't think you have enough skill to say you are better than him, none of you," Adelina said as she walked next to Ichigo, who was ignoring them completely and had his eyes focused solely ahead of him.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Haha! This girl is a funny one, you're a lucky one to have one so loyal," the same warrior said, laughing at the embarrassed and angry face of Adelina, some others chuckled at his joke, but stopped when the boy turned and glared at the warrior.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I would prefer her loyalty to any of yours, who only give it to the person who offers the most gold, just like a prostitute to a client," Ichigo said, angry at the fact he was speaking to him about loyalty when he was nothing more than a man for hire who only did what he did because money was involved.

<p class="MsoNormal">Caren looked at Ichigo surprised by his statement before smirking at the comeback; it was a good one, while Adelina was a little surprised by his comeback, although she didn't exactly know what a prostitute was. But the other members of the party were now laughing at the warrior, who looked none too pleased to be called no better than a whore, he advanced on the boy, intent on showing him how little he was in comparison to him.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Listen here you little son of a wh…" The warrior started, his hand on Ichigo's shoulder; then before he could even notice he felt motionless as his center of gravity was completely thrown off, and then he felt pain as he hit the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal">Looking up he saw Ichigo standing over him, and then he noticed the blade in his grip and raised high, the black and silver blade descended and pierced the ground right beside his head. Ichigo was not in the mood for dealing with this idiot, and if he had to he was going to show him that through force, he wouldn't hurt him, but show him not to take him lightly.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I am not some kid you can push around, and my moral compass is not fucked up enough that I take pleasure in the deaths of others," Ichigo seethed, glaring down at the shocked and slightly anxious warrior who was now at Ichigo's mercy.

<p class="MsoNormal">"That much is for sure, then why the hell did you come here?" The warrior asked, glancing at the blade beside his head and seeing his reflection in the pristine and unblemished blade.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Because I have people I want to protect, my friends, my family, my town," Ichigo said, remembering all the people he cared about, his sisters, his father, his school friends, his Shinigami allies. "I fight to protect them and everyone else, I don't care if it's a complete stranger, I will not stand by and let them get hurt while I can do something about it."

<p class="MsoNormal">"What's in it for you, why do all of that if you can't even kill someone," the warrior stated, Ichigo looked down at him and deep down he knew the answer all along.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Because I'm not a killer, I am a protector, and as long as I draw breath I will never stop protecting everyone I care about," Ichigo glared down at the warrior, and there was a tense silence that descended onto the group.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Boy," Looking up Ichigo could see Tyresa's stern gaze on him. "Front and center, now."

<p class="MsoNormal">Ichigo pulled his blade from the ground and placed it over his back, the cloth coiling around Zangetsu, and then walked over to the Paladin who continued walking. Everyone else closed behind as both Tyresa and Ichigo walked ahead of them in complete silence, not speaking with one another as they patrolled the area ahead.

<p class="MsoNormal">"You went a little far," Tyresa said, Ichigo glanced at her for a moment but didn't respond. "You could have easily said your piece without provoking him."

<p class="MsoNormal">"He got the point didn't he?" Ichigo replied, his tone neutral, yet he still had the scowl firmly etched into his face. "Any other way and he wouldn't have remembered it."

<p class="MsoNormal">"Maybe so, but try to keep composed when dealing with the other men, I don't want any infighting," Tyresa ordered. Her tone left nothing else to be said in counter to her words, they were the law and he had no choice but to obey them.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ichigo nodded to her command and both he and the Paladin walked side by side for another long while, no words were spoken and their eyes always on the road ahead and the building around them. Tyresa then spoke up, asking Ichigo a question.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Was what you said true?" Ichigo looked at the middle aged Paladin and saw her staring at him from the corner of his eye. "Your reason to fight?"

<p class="MsoNormal">"Yes," Ichigo replied, returning his gaze to the road and thinking hard, he had been looking for the answers to the question as to why he should remain here and fight and why he should keep fighting. "There are people I want to protect, friends, family, hell even the idiots that make fun of me because I'm a kid to them."

<p class="MsoNormal">Tyresa had the faintest ghost of a smile on her face when he said that, despite him not liking the people around him he would still protect them; he was noble and righteous to a fault.

<p class="MsoNormal">"A noble sentiment," Tyresa said, and she meant it.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Not really, when I was younger I wanted to get strong to protect my two sisters, I wanted to learn how to fight," Ichigo said, smirking at his time when he was nine and training at the Dojo with Tatsuki. "Got my ass handed to me every time by a girl."

<p class="MsoNormal">Tyresa let the smile on her face actually appear as she listened.

<p class="MsoNormal">"But despite it all I kept going back, I wanted to protect them," Ichigo said, his scowl gone and a smile replacing it completely. "But I wanted to do more, not only protect my family, my friends, my town, and everyone in it. I wanted to actually be able to help anyone I could."

<p class="MsoNormal">"Your family must be proud," Tyresa said, but noticed a flicker of pain over his features; she had obviously hit a very serious nerve.

<p class="MsoNormal">"My mother died when I tried to save a girl from falling into the river, she died saving me from falling with her," Ichigo said, to which Tyresa stared at him for a moment, watching as his eyes dulled to an almost lifeless state. "It was my fault."

<p class="MsoNormal">She was beginning to understand the person Ichigo was now, he was someone who believed he could protect anyone who was around him, and when he couldn't, it was his own fault. That was his mindset, he thought that his inaction and inability to save a person was his own failings, but it wasn't.

<p class="MsoNormal">"It wasn't your fault, a mother should always protect their child, always," Tyresa said, looking at Ichigo with a calm expression, but one that showed that she understood his pain. "Sometimes your actions may not be good enough, but let me tell you, you can never doubt your actions when you try to do what is right."

<p class="MsoNormal">"Even when it costs you the life of someone you care about?" Ichigo asked, and Tyresa froze for a second, she knew that no matter what good you do the loss of a loved one was not something one can easily brush away and say that it was unfortunate.

<p class="MsoNormal">"No, but I know that you cannot give up," Tyresa said, regaining her composure and speaking with Ichigo sincerely. "Your sisters, your friends, you still have them all who you wish to protect, so if you need a reason to fight, let them be it."

<p class="MsoNormal">Ichigo lowered his head for a moment. Thinking on her words, he found she was right, he had found the will to continue to fight and protect everyone else despite losing his mother. He fought against gangs that threatened him and his friends, Hollows that threatened his family, and Arrancar which wanted to murder him and everyone in Karakura town.

<p class="MsoNormal">Yet every time that happened he had a reason to fight, a will to never stop until they were safe and no one was in danger again, but what was there for him to fight for here? Ichigo unconsciously looked back to see Adelina staring back at him, he could see the worry on her face, she was someone he would protect, she was his friend.

<p class="MsoNormal">He remembered all the different people he had met here, he would consider them all friends, and he would protect them all from harm no matter what the circumstance. But not just them, he saw all those innocent people that were going about their everyday lives, not affected by war and fighting, completely at peace. Just like everyone in his home town, he would defend them all because that was who he was, he was a protector and no matter who it was, he would ensure that no harm came to them.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ichigo looked at Tyresa and with a determined frown on his face he gave her thanks for giving him back the will to fight once more.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Thank you Tyresa-san," Ichigo said, nodding his head in her direction, missing her slightly confused expression on the honorific when he said it.

<p class="MsoNormal">"No problem Ichigo," Tyresa replied, both turning back to the path ahead and both of them frowned and their postures when rigid.

<p class="MsoNormal">Without a single warning both drew their swords and struck, much to the surprise of everyone behind them, the sound of flesh being torn surprised them even further.

<p class="MsoNormal">"What are you doing?!" Caren yelled out, shocked by what she was seeing at the completely unprovoked attack.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ichigo and Tyresa had attacked two ashen figures standing nearby, their swords going right through them with ease, but neither the Paladin nor the Shinigami replied. Instead Ichigo pulled Zangetsu free and then kicked the husk and to the surprise of everyone it was not hollow, coming out from within it was a Dwarf with completely night black skin and red eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal">"They were hiding in the husks," Ichigo said. Tyresa pulled her own sword free and pushed the husk back and watched as it crashed to reveal another Dwarf body.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Dark Iron Dwarves, guess the Orcs didn't drive them out," Tyresa said in all seriousness, turning and looking down the road, she could see several more husks down the path, some were oddly close together and also still in good condition despite being over three hundred years old.

<p class="MsoNormal">"How did you know?" Someone inquired.

<p class="MsoNormal">"The husks were in too good of a condition to actually be real, and they didn't have a thick layer over their bodies like the other husks," Ichigo said, recalling what he learned from history class when they learned of Pompeii and the bodies that were preserved within. "Also they had holes for the eyes and the noses so they could see and breathe."

<p class="MsoNormal">"Also the fact they have pristine weapons in their hands kind of made it obvious," Tyresa said, looking down and also noting that there was some movement from the husks, it looked like they had just avoided an ambush.

<p class="MsoNormal">Soon the Dwarves shattered their cooled ashen prisons and let out a cry for blood, swinging their weapons up and around ready to deliver them into the backs of the bastards that invaded their home. There were thirty of them charging towards the group of ten, with the former appearing to be in a blood haze, while the latter were not in the slightest liking their odds.

<p class="MsoNormal">"We appear to be outnumbered," Tyresa stated, pulling her iron shield from her back and readying herself for combat, while Ichigo did the same.

<p class="MsoNormal">"You sound worried, it isn't like we haven't been outnumbered before," Ichigo stated, his eyes focused on the Dwarves ahead of him.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Too true. Well then, let's see about teaching these traitorous curs what a skilled warrior can do with a real weapon," Tyresa said in a challenging tone, one that Ichigo quickly picked up on, he smirked a little as both he and the Paladin charged forward.

<p class="MsoNormal">The others were shocked at their brave or stupid charge right into the enemy's lines, but even more so when the young Night Elf moved forward to help, and then shortly after the young mage. Seeing as they had no choice but to attack, they followed the two young teenager's leads and met the enemy in melee.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ichigo leaned to the right and avoided a spear for his heart, before knocking the spear aside with his bracer and then swinging Zangetsu right at the Dwarf who could only take the attack right over his chest. As the first Dwarf fell Ichigo struck the second, slashing to the right and halting the maul and then punching the Dark Iron Dwarf right in the face with his arcane infused gauntlets. The Dwarf lost consciousness and most of its teeth, and then the third attacked, sending its axe right for Ichigo's face. Grasping the shaft of the weapon and halting it mere inches from contact, surprising the Dwarf twice, the second being the sharp pain through his gut and chest as Ichigo buried Zangetsu through him.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Adelina duck!" Ichigo said, turning towards his friend and swinging Zangetsu, she did as commanded and crouched low and right under the lethal edge of the soul cutter.

<p class="MsoNormal">While the blade missed her, the dwarf behind her had lost his head and his raised arms. As Adelina stood back up she sent a blast of Moonfire towards another Dwarf, and sent a smile towards Ichigo.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Thank you Ichigo," Adelina beamed, to which Ichigo smirked back before getting to work again.

<p class="MsoNormal">Tyresa batted aside the axe of one Dwarf with her shield and then blocked the sword of another, which she quickly knocked away with another bash of her shield before following it up with a third to the Dwarfs face. The battle was going in their favor, they had enough skill to outmatch them, and where the dwarfs relied on sheer numbers to win, and the warriors in her party fought together and defeated them.

<p class="MsoNormal">Even those two young teenage girls were doing well, fighting from a distance and keeping the Dwarves from overwhelming the rest of them. They could win this fight with little to no injuries, they had already decimated half of the Dwarves forces and suffered no injuries of their own, and she had raked up six kills, but noticed that Ichigo had seven. He was good, and would be a very skilled warrior in the many years to come. But the fact that the kid was beating her irked a bit, she wasn't going to let the kid win, not that easily anyway.

<p class="MsoNormal">Moving forward Tyresa charged into the midst of three enemies, knocking away the first Dwarves axe with her shield before slicing into the side of his neck, letting him try in a futile attempt to save himself. She then watched as the remaining Dwarves charged in from her left and right; moving to the one on the right first she struck. Knocking away his spear with her sword and then slamming her shield right into the Dwarf's forehead, knocking him to the floor, continuing her rotation she turned and intercepted the sword aimed for her back with her own and then slammed her shield right into the last Dwarf's neck.

<p class="MsoNormal">The sound of bones cracking was heard, as she broke the Dwarf's neck and watched as he slumped to the side, and with honed instinct from years of combat she turned just in time to block a spear tip with her shield. Tyresa stepped forward and then buried her sword in the chest of the grounded Dwarf, pulling her sword free she looked back to see that the Dwarves were in full retreat, having only half a dozen of their warriors left.

<p class="MsoNormal">Looking at her party she saw that no one was hurt, albeit a few bruises and scrapes here and there, perfectly fine. And those were being dealt with by their local medic Adelina. They had done well and suffered no casualties; she then took note of Ichigo and saw him staring at the bodies. Her smile fell as she expected his sullen mood to return, but she saw him take a deep breath and straighten up before looking towards her. His face showed nothing but determination, he was ready and waiting to continue, despite his distaste for killing he would steel himself for more to come, he was coming along nicely.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Form up, we are regrouping with the others, we have reached our deadline," Tyresa called out. Soon enough they were in a battle formation and moving back the way they came.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Orcs had not been found, but the Dark Iron Dwarves had been, it was enough to tell her that they had likely been destroyed when they attempted to take the city, and without reinforcements from the fortress they would have been defeated easily. This was later confirmed when they arrived back with the other parties, according to Fermion and Merck the Orcs had attacked the Eastern side of the city in an attempt to cut the Dwarves off from the mountain and reinforcements.

<p class="MsoNormal">But the battle turned against them as the Orcs were lured into the city and quickly overwhelmed by both Dwarves and Rock Golems. Tyresa was now completely satisfied that the Orcs had been dealt with and this entire region had been made void of any Blackrock Clan forces, aside from the disorganized and scattered Firegut Ogres. With that she ordered the men to return back to the fortress, their mission was done. Now they could begin the long march back to Lakeshire and then finally get some rest for the long day they all had.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ichigo, along with Caren and Adelina, walked beside one another; with the trip back to the fortress being an uneventful one, they simply marched together as the sun set and darkness began to creep in over the Steppes. But even so there was some tension between the three, Ichigo was still in thought over his place on the field, he understood where he had to stand on it and what he had to do in order to protect everyone, but could he do it.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Ichigo, are you okay?" Adelina asked, looking at her only friend with concern, he was very quiet and she could see he was deep in thought. As much as she wanted to give him some wisdom on the need to fight, but to kill was something she never had any knowledge on or how to justify why the enemy should die.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Yeah, just thinking," Ichigo replied back, no trace of worry or sorrow in his voice, just plain and without any real emotion.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Thinking about what? I told you a hundred times already, stop whining about it," Caren said, very annoyed that she had to keep telling Ichigo what he had to do and yet he kept forgetting.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I can yet," Ichigo replied, no anxiety, just a simple factual statement to show he agreed with her and that he was thinking. Not on the thoughts of killing, but on the subject of if he should be killing.

<p class="MsoNormal">"What do you mean?" Adelina asked, curious as to how he removed himself from his sorrow so quickly.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I know that in order to fight and defend the people I care about I need to be prepared to kill," Ichigo replied, thinking hard on the subject, and remembering what his instructors had taught him. "To strike to kill, I was taught that, but to strike them down, that is something else."

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">Both Caren and Adelina looked at him confused, to attack with killer intent and not to deliver the finishing blow sounded foreign to them, but only Adelina understood it as she knew of his origins.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I know that in order to do what I have to I need to resort to killing my enemy, but I cannot say that I will not take pleasure in it," Ichigo said. This would be his sacrifice, to survive to continue on fighting so that when he could return he would be ready and alive. "If I have to kill my enemy in order to save someone, I will, but as long as I breathe I will not be a man who revels in murder."

<p class="MsoNormal">Adelina smiled at that, he was growing; he would accept that he would need to stain his hands, but he would not allow that blood to stain his honor or allow himself to become what he was not. Ichigo was a person who valued life, and if he needed to take it to protect another he would. Ichigo wouldn't like it, but he would steel himself and be prepared to make that sacrifice. Not for himself, but for the many innocents that he would protect. For a shield does not allow those who it protects to take a blow, and despite the wear and tear it will continue to do so until its body is shattered or that which is protects is safe.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I think I can actually say that I am ready to fight and protect the people of this world without any regrets," Ichigo said. He felt as if he had passed through a very pivotal moment, and wondered if it was good or bad; he didn't know. But he was sure that when the time was right, he would find out if he was right to make this choice or not.