But when the group arrived at the wall, their hearts sank. Soldiers from America United had taken control of the exit, charging five coins per person just to leave.
A huge mob of angry adventurers was gathered there, their protests growing louder by the minute. The frustration in the air was palpable.
“That’s 25 coins,” Nicole muttered, her dream of the sandwich shop crumbling before her eyes.
“Screw that!” Heath growled, gripping his oversized club. Without a second thought, he charged at the soldiers, yelling, “Leroy Jenkins!” His massive club swung wide, slamming into a soldier’s gut.
“Oof!” the soldier gasped, dropping to the ground, clutching his stomach. The soldiers hadn’t expected this attack, but reacted quickly.
“Crossbows!” the sergeant barked.
TWHIP
TWHIP
TWHIP
The sound of bolts cutting through the air followed, and one struck Heath in the knee.
“Ah! My knee! I’m never going to adventure again!” Heath wailed dramatically, crumpling to the ground in exaggerated agony.
Jeff, desperate to calm the situation, shouted, “Just calm down! We’ve got the money!” But it was too late.
The crowd of adventurers, emboldened by Heath’s attack and their own frustrations, surged forward. Hundreds of them, once scattered along the wall, now united in their rage, charged at the soldiers.
Some swung for nonlethal hits, hoping just to break free, but others—fueled by anger and desperation—weren’t holding back. They wanted out, and nothing would stop them.
The sergeant, seeing his soldiers being overwhelmed, called for a retreat. "Fall back! Retreat!" But as they withdrew, they fired red flares into the sky—bright bursts that sent a message far worse than anything the adventurers could have anticipated.
Within moments, the rumble of feet marching and the rising dust cloud signaled what was coming: America United’s main army was on its way.
The army had been patrolling the area for signs of the skeleton horde. But when they saw the red flares, they assumed the wall was under attack by the undead. They charged toward the wall with terrifying speed.
The ground trembled as the army rushed forward, and what had started as a scuffle between adventurers and soldiers erupted into a full-scale battle. The adventurers fought with everything they had, desperate to escape, while the soldiers, confused and overwhelmed, struggled to regroup under the approaching cavalry.
Jeff, eyes wide as the chaos erupted around him, muttered, "This is bad. Real bad."
The clash of swords, the twang of bowstrings, and the cries of battle filled the air as Jeff ducked low, grabbing Annie’s arm and pulling her behind a fallen cart. “Stay low!” he shouted, the din of battle swallowing his words.
Dust swirled around them, kicked up by the heavy boots of the army, as adventurers scrambled in all directions. Some fought with desperation, while others darted toward the wall, hoping to escape the battlefield.
Nicole crouched beside them, her face pale, eyes wide with fear. “We need to get out of here,” she said, her voice trembling. “There’s no way we can take on an army.”
Heath, clutching his wounded knee, dragged himself toward the group. “I don’t think running’s gonna help now,” he grunted, his face twisted in pain. “We’re stuck in the middle of a warzone.”
Abu, his grip tight on his nunchucks, peered over the edge of their hiding spot. “The wall! If we can make it past the guards, we can still escape,” he said, eyes scanning the battlefield for an opening.
Jeff gritted his teeth, heart pounding. “We need to move. Now. If we wait any longer, we’ll be trapped.”
Annie, catching her breath, nodded. “We stick together, fight our way out. Ready?”
They exchanged glances—nervous, determined. It was their only chance. With a deep breath, Jeff led the way, weaving through the melee, dodging strikes and trying to avoid stumbling over fallen bodies.
Nicole stayed close, her heart hammering in her chest. ‘Just keep moving. Don’t stop.‘ She clutched her pack tightly, feeling the last of their coins weighing her down. “Almost there!” she called out as they neared the gate.
But just as they thought they were in the clear, a group of American soldiers blocked their path. “Halt!” one of them shouted, levelling his spear.
Jeff raised his sword, ready to fight, but Abu was quicker. He sprang forward, his nunchucks spinning through the air.
CRACK!
The soldier reeled back, dazed.
“Go friends! Go!” Abu yelled, clearing the path.
They sprinted through the opening, bursting towards the wall. Reaching the gate, they saw it was closed.
Panting, bruised, and shaken, they collapsed to the ground, hearts still racing from the madness behind them.
“The gate, it’s closed…..,” Nicole gasped, glancing back at the battlefield. The roar of combat still echoed in the distance, the battle showing no signs of slowing.
Jeff wiped the sweat from his brow, his voice tight. “We need to get back into the Fort Bone Empire. Now.”
‘‘‘
The battle raged on behind them. Adventurers clashed with soldiers, and soldiers fought to maintain control. Blood sprayed, steel clashed, and bodies fell. This wasn’t a fight against mindless undead or skeleton slimes—this was man against man, flesh steel, with lives hanging in the balance.
Adventurers were fighting soldiers. Soldiers were retaliating relentlessly. Both sides refusing to back down. This was the largest battle that most of them had ever participated in. This wasn't a fight against unthinking undead or bouncing slimes. This was a fight of man versus man, sword and steel flashing through the air, blood flying, guts falling out.
‘‘‘
On the walls of the empire, one soldier looked nervously at the other, the battle below stretching out before them. "What should we do? Should we help?" His voice wavered, a mixture of uncertainty and guilt gnawing at him.
"I don't know," said the other soldier, frowning deeply. "We’ve got orders not to attack the American soldiers, but those are our adventurers down there. Some of them are good people. Hell, I know a couple of them." He shifted uncomfortably, the weight of inaction heavy on his shoulders.
‘‘‘
Meanwhile, Jeff’s group pounded desperately at the gate, their fists echoing in rhythm with their growing panic.
BANG
BANG
BANG
“LET US THROUGH”
Looking down on the adventurers, "Should we open the gate?" One soldier asked, his voice strained with frustration. He was sick of the arrogance of the American United troops, but the strict orders to not provoke them had been heavily emphasized
Jeff’s eyes darted hopefully, from the vicious melee behind them to the gate that stood between them and safety.
The soldiers had orders not to recklessly engage, but that didn’t mean they weren’t able to assist in other ways.
"Yeah, open the gate, it’s our responsibility," another Empire soldier said after a beat of hesitation.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
With a heavy creak, the gate swung open, and relief washed over Jeff’s group as they hurried through—only for their hope to crash when the soldiers of America United bellowed, “Hell no!” charging toward the gate with reckless fury.
“Stay back! This is Fort Bone territory!” the Empire soldiers shouted, crossbows raised, their voices hard as steel. The cold tension rippled through the air as they aimed at the advancing soldiers.
But the soldiers of America United weren’t about to back down. “USA! USA! USA!” they roared, charging in with unstoppable momentum, swords gleaming in the sunlight. The soldiers of Fort Bone, battle-hardened from their wars with the skeleton hordes, weren’t intimidated. They knew the drill. Guided by the tales of Atlas and his Portal Crushers, they had become warriors who took no prisoners.
“Stay back! This is Fort Bone territory.”
The American soldiers ignored their warning.
Seeing the American soldiers advancing with no signs of slowing, the Fort Bone soldiers steadied their aim, crossbows at the ready.
“Final chance! Stay back or we WILL fire!”
The American soldiers continued rushing forward, angry at the fleeing adventurers.
The Fort Bone soldiers seeing this, agreed that this was now a clear case of self defence, and they fired.
The twang of crossbow strings echoed, followed by a wave of bodies hitting the dirt.
THWIP
THWIP
THWIP
Not only was this the sound of crossbows firing, it was the sound of the beginning of a war between two empires.
The American soldiers, undeterred, kept rushing. "We can make it!" one yelled, determination blazing in his eyes. And they did. They stormed into range, shield help high, attacking wildly as they returned fire at the Fort Bone forces.
The Fort Bone soldiers were amused, they had a huge advantage of the walls, and height. Only the soldiers who were manning the gate had to fight hand to hand.
The ringing of alarm bells jolted the battlefield, flares shooting into the sky, beacons of war. Massive groups of quick-response soldiers began teleporting in, materializing in flashes of light. Now, the battlefield had become a chaotic three-way brawl—adventurers and Fort Bone soldiers against America United's main army.
The sounds of battle raged on, steel meeting steel, bodies colliding, grunts of effort mingling with cries of pain. The sky darkened with the shadows of incoming soldiers, but after a grueling struggle, it became clear—Fort Bone was going to win.
“They’re pulling back!” someone yelled from the Fort Bone lines.
The American soldiers, though beaten and bloodied, weren’t cowards. Their sergeants called for a steady retreat, regrouping with precision despite the loss.
"Should we chase them?" one of the Fort Bone sergeants asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"No," came the reply, firm and without hesitation. "Let them go. This wasn't a fight we wanted to start. No need to pursue."
The soldiers of Fort Bone stood down, watching as the American United soldiers retreated into the distance.
This fight to,let the adventurers back in, had sparked something though.
What had once been a cold war, a battle of economies and territory, had now erupted into something far more dangerous. There was no going back. War was coming.
‘‘‘
POV : AMERICA UNITED
The bedraggled army of America United retreated slowly, their heads held high despite the physical toll. They were bruised and beaten, but their spirits remained intact. “We won’t forget this,” muttered their sergeant, eyes dark with determination. The retreat was orderly, disciplined, as they marched back to their settlement.
As soon as they reached the main base, they reported to Jed Lawson. His face twisted into a mask of fury upon hearing the news. “How dare they attack us?” he bellowed, slamming his fist onto the table. “That’s it. I was going to be lenient, just ban their citizens. Now? Let’s truly punish them. Unless they’re registered American citizens, raise the tax—ten coins per person! No leniency. Anybody gives you any lip, take them down.”
“Yes, sir,” the soldier replied, his tone cold and hard. Before, there had been room for mercy, for understanding. But after what they saw as an unjust attack by Fort Bone, mercy was no longer in their vocabulary.
Jed turned to his war council, anger still boiling in his veins. "What should we do? It’s obvious, isn’t it? Atlas planned all of this. He’s going to push us out, take over our territory."
The council murmured in agreement, faces grim. "Yes," one said, "it’s clear. First, they attacked us with those skeletons. Now, they flood us with adventurers. What’s next?"
Jed scowled, pacing back and forth. "It’s obvious what’s next. When we’re weak, they’ll attack with their main army. So, what do we do?"
“I say we take down that wall,” one council member suggested, voice filled with resolve.
Jed paused, considering it. “That’ll be hard. Those walls are level two,” he muttered, scratching his chin.
His economic advisor stepped forward confidently. “We can afford enough siege gear from the vending machines. And if we keep the taxes high, we’ll have no problem funding the war.”
A small smile crept across Jed’s face.“Let’s do it,” he said, spitting into the dirt for emphasis. “I’m sick of being pushed around by Atlas and those fake goodie-goodies over in Fort Bone.”
‘‘‘
POV: CELESTIAL WAGER
The aliens were excited again. They didn’t care why the war had started, but bets flew and mana coins were tossed onto tables, slotted in machines, and outcomes paid for. The odds were heavily in favor of the Fort Bone Empire, so safe bettors placed their coins on Atlas while others, seeking a higher return, wagered on America United.
Other bets included how many men would fall on the wall, how many crossbow bolts would be used, how many people would be killed, what time the first death would occur each day, and the number of women or men killed per side. If there was a bet, there were odds on it. The Celestial Wager didn't care about anything besides the action.
Lurox, from the Glytharni species, buzzed about with excitement, wings fluttering as they called out new odds to eager gamblers. Gorvax, a stone-skinned giant, sat confidently at a betting table, his small red eyes gleaming as he placed a high-stakes bet on America United, because of the high odds. Kroxar watched from a distance, tentacles twitching with amusement as the action of bets and wars collided.
Virelia floated gracefully between the tables, serving drinks, her lavender skin glowing under the dim casino lights. She smiled sweetly, though inwardly she knew the outcome of these wars mattered little. The Celestial Wager would always win in the end.
‘‘‘
POV: FORT BONE
Olivia summoned the War Council, her voice carrying the weight of the moment as she addressed the growing tension at the Empire's walls. The conflict had already been dubbed the Sandwich War, a name that felt more absurd than the threat looming over them.
“I think we still have a chance to stop this war. It was obviously a misunderstanding between the adventurers and America United,” she said, her tone hopeful, but her eyes betrayed uncertainty.
Atlas leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, his face hard. “I think you're underestimating the power of greed. They don't know what we're planning, but I do know we’re both fighting for the same thing: those 100 return tokens." He paused, his gaze shifting to John. "There is something I should bring up to you guys, though. John, you've heard about this.”
John raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. “What?”
“Do you remember when we got those sky patrols?”
John nodded. “Yeah.”
“Well, those were made by the Red Fairy. And when we summoned them, the Red Fairy appeared. I want to take a chance right now.”
The council went silent. The low murmur of whispered discussions faded, replaced by a stunned stillness. All eyes locked onto Atlas.
“There’s a piece of information I got when we rescued those actresses from the bandit camp, when we took out Clark. I want to confirm if it’s true.”
“Oh, what’s that?” Olivia asked, her voice a touch softer, almost hesitant.
“I want to know if it’s possible to take everyone home and save the whole wasteland, not just 100 people. Clark said it was possible, but he never gave any explanations. If the Red Fairy will give us an answer, maybe we can come up with a solution that will work for everybody,” Atlas explained, his voice low but firm.
John frowned, worry creasing his features. “It’s risky, Atlas. All the Red Fairy has to do is be in a bad mood, and that’s the end of you. I don’t think your time-traveling powers would work to bring you back in time to before you made the dumbest decision you’ve ever made.”
Atlas thought for a moment, scanning the faces around the table. ‘Is it worth the risk?‘ “What do you guys think?”
Isabella didn’t hesitate. She shook her head firmly. “No, don’t do it. Every time that Red Fairy comes, it’s like a trip to the dentist. You know it’s going to hurt, but you don’t know how much it’s going to cost.”
Alexander chimed in, his voice full of conviction. “Heck no, boss. If we lose you, we lose the whole soul of our empire. If you really want to do it, let me do it.”
Hank cut in quickly. “No, you can’t do it, Alexander. You run the army. Let me do it.”
Atlas’s chest swelled with a mix of pride. ‘It’s this pure loyalty that made me choose these two guys in the first place. I wouldn’t want anyone to sacrifice more than themselves for me, but it’s always amazing for me to see that amongst all the betrayal and garbage people out there, there are good people, and they constantly surprise you, especially when you’ve gotten so used to the worst of humanity.‘
Before Atlas could speak, John’s voice rose above the tension in the room. “Atlas, you are not going to summon the Red Fairy.” John’s tone was resolute, taking control of the meeting. “Let’s have a quick vote. Everyone in favor of Atlas not summoning the Red Fairy?” All the hands shot up—except Atlas’s.
Atlas tried to protest. “But I’m—”
“Ah, no, you’re not,” John interrupted, cutting him off sharply. “You made me the boss of all settlement matters. And I realize you don’t want anyone else to risk their lives, but we can’t lose you, Atlas. Not just because of your time-traveling powers or the knowledge you’ve gotten from them, but because, without you, we lose our symbol, our heart.”
Atlas was at a loss for words, his mouth opening and closing, but no sound came out. He felt the weight of his council’s trust pressing on him.
John wasn’t finished. “All right, now let’s have our second vote. Do we… Do we actually call for the Red Fairy? Those who are voting in favor, raise your hand.”
Half the people in the room raised their hands, the other half hesitated, keeping their arms at their sides.
“It looks like we’ve got a pretty split room,” John said with a sigh. “There’s no need to actually count. We’re not a democracy. But at no point have we ever been a dictatorship either,” he added with a soft laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
Atlas, feeling the decision slip away from him, shrugged. “Fine.”
John nodded and took charge again. “Since we’re not unanimous, and this move is so dangerous and risky, I say we don’t do it. We can weather this war out. And Atlas, you said the Red Fairy told Clark this information at the end of the year anyway. We can assume it’s true, even though Clark was always known for being a liar. At that moment, when his life was on the line, he gave you that information. He had nothing to gain by it.”
“That’s true,” Atlas admitted. “So, you’re saying we wait? We keep going on the assumption that we can only have 100 tokens?”
John nodded slowly. “Yeah, that’s what we should do. Because, right or wrong, if we catch the Red Fairy in a bad mood AND she decides to not only wipe out the messenger, she could also decide to destroy our entire town—or fry all of us. And for what? Information that would be given at the end of the year anyway? If she gave it to Clark, she’ll give it to you. We are going to win those 100 tokens.”
Atlas sighed deeply, the weight of leadership pressing down hard. “Fine.”
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/107432/luck-the-luckless-hero
