Summoner in One Piece

The Dakan Plains, once a maelstrom of steel and screams, now lay silent, save for the distant sounds of Qin soldiers cheering and the mournful cries of the dying. Go Kei, the brilliant Wei strategist, lay bisected on the ground, his duel with Duke Hyou concluded in a brutal, decisive victory for Qin. The Wei army was in full rout, shattered and fleeing, pursued by the remaining Qin forces. General Haku Ki Sai had wisely ordered his own retreat, unwilling to face the victorious Qin. The Battle of Dakan Plains was decisively won.

Alex, amidst the exhaustion and grim satisfaction of victory, observed the vast, blood-soaked battlefield. His 'Basic Unit Coordination' skill, which had seamlessly integrated his forces into Duke Hyou's main attack, now shifted to managing the aftermath. He immediately gathered Erza, Akane, and Kaelen.

"The battle is ours!" Alex commanded, his voice hoarse but firm. "But the work is not over. Kaelen, ensure our remaining Imperial Sentinels secure the immediate area around Go Kei's fallen command. Set up clear perimeters. Erza, coordinate with the Shou brothers to manage the initial collection of prisoners and ensure no pockets of resistance remain. Akane, pursue the routing Wei forces, but only to break any attempts at regrouping; do not overextend."

His commanders moved with practiced efficiency. The 350 Imperial Sentinels (including the 100 who had held the hill, now reinforced and descended) systematically swept through the immediate vicinity, their grim discipline a stark contrast to the panicked Wei rout. Kaelen's poleaxe continued its work, dispatching any stubborn remnants. Erza, her shield still bearing fresh dents, worked with the 400 Shou Brothers' Trained Soldiers, their combined efforts quickly overwhelming the demoralized Wei, securing prisoners, and collecting discarded weapons. Akane, with her 210 Xuanjia Heavy Cavalry, became a swift, decisive hammer, pursuing the fleeing Wei forces just enough to ensure they scattered beyond regrouping, a phantom of dread on their heels. Even Shin's small, battered unit, now reduced to perhaps 5-10 weary but exhilarated men, joined the post-battle sweep, their newfound experience making them invaluable.

As the immediate chaos subsided, Alex led his core forces towards the central Qin encampment, now swelling with victorious but exhausted soldiers. The camp buzzed with activity: medics tending to horrific wounds, quartermasters organizing captured supplies, and soldiers sharing tales of the battle, their voices hoarse with exertion and triumph. News of Go Kei's defeat and Duke Hyou's victory had spread like wildfire, igniting a wave of relief and celebration.

Alex, with Erza, Akane, Kaelen, and the Shou brothers at his side, rode through the encampment, their armor still stained with battle, their faces grim but resolute. They were met with cheers and respectful nods from other Qin soldiers, a testament to their decisive role in turning the tide. The 炎 standard, bearing the Blaze Family's emblem, fluttered proudly, now a symbol of undeniable contribution. The 17 original Warriors, still imposing despite their sustained combat, moved with silent precision, their unique presence drawing curious, appreciative glances but no open challenge to their origin, their rigorous training evident in their unflinching bearing.

It wasn't long before Alex received word to present himself to Duke Hyou. He found the Great General in a makeshift command tent, a temporary structure already bustling with officers. Duke Hyou, his formidable figure slightly hunched, bore a fresh wound on his arm, a grim reminder of his duel with Go Kei. Yet, his eyes, as primal as ever, burned with an unyielding fire.

"Count Blaze," Duke Hyou grunted, his voice a low rumble, a rare hint of approval in his tone. He looked at Alex, then at Erza, Akane, and Kaelen. "Your intervention was... decisive. Breaking their formation around Go Kei, the way you pushed through... it sealed his fate. A good eye for the killing blow." Duke Hyou offered a brief, almost imperceptible nod. For the instinctual general, this was high praise indeed, a clear acknowledgment of Alex's strategic acumen and the effectiveness of his forces. There was no need for lengthy speeches; the battlefield itself had spoken.

As Alex left Duke Hyou's tent, he encountered General Ou Ki, who was observing the camp from a slight rise, Tou beside him. Ou Ki's gaze, like a predator's, seemed to pierce through the layers of the battlefield, assessing every detail. When his eyes met Alex's, a faint, knowing smile played on his lips.

"Young Count Blaze," Ou Ki's booming voice carried a philosophical undertone. "A truly remarkable display on the Dakan Plains. The fall of Go Kei was inevitable once his formations crumbled. Your forces... they possess a rather unique discipline, don't they? A distinct flavor of power." He paused, his eyes lingering on Alex's core commanders. "You have achieved much in this short campaign. It seems the Qin's ranks are indeed... cultivating new talents." He made no direct challenge to Alex's "Blaze Family" or his Warriors, but his words subtly acknowledged that he perceived something beyond the ordinary. The implication was clear: Ou Ki saw Alex's potential and perhaps, a glimpse of his secrets.

Later, as the sun began to set on the victorious Dakan Plains, orders were disseminated throughout the Qin army. The campaign on this front was effectively concluded. While the strategic city of Keiyou itself remained, Wei's main field army was shattered, and their commander-in-chief, Go Kei, was dead. Consolidating the victory and preparing for the next phase would take time.

Alex received specific directives: his contingent, a proven and now significantly recognized force, was to march back to a designated staging area, a major logistical hub several days' travel from the Dakan Plains. But before they began their journey, Alex had a private, grim task to oversee.

"Kaelen," Alex stated, turning to his steadfast commander, his voice low and firm. "Before we proceed to the main staging area, there's one final, crucial task to complete. We must properly dispose of the fallen. I need you to gather all available conscripted soldiers and any unengaged Qin infantry again. We will systematically collect all fallen Wei soldiers into specific, designated spots. This is vital for sanitation and to prevent any future disease outbreaks on these plains." This was the acceptable reason. His true intent, however, lay in the raw energy ready to be harvested from the dead.

Kaelen, though exhausted, nodded, understanding the necessity of such a grim undertaking after a major battle. He immediately began organizing working parties. "As a reward for their gruesome work," Alex added, ensuring eager participation, "allow the conscripted soldiers to take any gear they can carry from the fallen Wei soldiers. Any weapons, armor, or supplies they can salvage for themselves." This incentive, a chance for the less fortunate troops to arm and equip themselves, ensured their rapid and thorough compliance.

Under the cover of deepening twilight and into the early hours of the next day, the vast Dakan Plains were systematically scoured. Tens of thousands of Wei soldiers lay dead across the field. The bodies of the four Wei generals (Kou Ri Gen, Kyuu Gen, Ma Ki, and Shu Ki) and the massive form of the Wei Great General Go Kei, along with his approximately twenty elite guards, were collected into a specific, separate pile as per Alex's strict instructions, their potent essence reserved for another purpose. The countless common Wei soldiers, however, were gathered into colossal, designated piles, their life force still clinging to their forms, ready for Alex's unique abilities.

Once the monumental task of clearing the battlefield was complete and the bodies meticulously arranged, Alex turned to Kaelen. "Kaelen, take the main body of our forces – the Imperial Sentinels, the Shou brothers' Trained Soldiers, and the Xuanjia Heavy Cavalry – and proceed immediately to the designated staging area. Ensure our wounded are tended to, and the spoils of war are properly secured. I will follow shortly with Erza, Akane, and my personal guard."

Kaelen, though a flicker of curiosity crossed his face regarding the "personal guard" remaining behind, nodded and snapped a salute. He led the approximately 350 Imperial Sentinels, the 400 Shou Brothers' Trained Soldiers, and the 210 Xuanjia Heavy Cavalry away from the blood-soaked plains, a long, weary but triumphant column. Even the few surviving remnants of Shin's unit, now numbering around 5-10 men, marched with Kaelen, having been officially attached to Alex's command as a temporary measure due to their valor.

This left only Alex, Erza, Akane, and his 17 original Warriors at the summoning site, surrounded by the colossal piles of common Wei dead. The silence of the plains, now broken only by the distant sounds of the retreating Qin army, was profound. The stench of death hung heavy in the pre-dawn air, but to Alex, it was the raw, potent scent of potential, a grim harvest for his growing power.

"Prepare yourselves," Alex said, his voice low but filled with a profound sense of purpose, a flicker of ancient energy in his eyes. He performed the necessary incantations, the ancient words vibrating with an otherworldly energy. The sheer scale of death around him, drawing on the immense life force released by the fallen common soldiers, fueled his ritual.

The air around the colossal piles of Wei dead began to shimmer, a pale, ethereal light rising from the countless corpses. The essence of the fallen flowed towards Alex, drawn by his will, coalescing into swirling vortexes of dark energy. As the essence gathered and intensified, the ground beneath them began to churn. Formations of strong human warriors, clad in dark, functional armor, began to coalesce from the very earth, their forms solidifying with each passing moment. They were taller, more robust than ordinary soldiers, their eyes burning with a silent, fierce loyalty, a new legion of battle-hardened men rising from the fallen.

From the concentrated essence of these common fallen Wei soldiers, Alex successfully summoned 300 new Warriors. These were powerful, elite-tier summoned units, each comparable to a seasoned veteran or even a hundred-man commander in their individual strength and combat prowess. Their creation solidified Alex's personal fighting force into a truly formidable legion, unmatched in its discipline and ferocity.