>>5747749>>5747782>>5747816>>5748029"Let's stay here and wait for reinforcements. The Vandimions promised me some, and I'll be damned if they don't deliver their end of their bargain." Randel's men could arrive at any moment, and provided you do reach Falconia early, there is no benefit in raiding it now, given the blood moon is still several weeks away. For now, it's best to establish a few bases and some safety lines in case you're the one that needs to retreat.
Surprisingly, neither of your men reported on Guts for the following days where you transported your newly found troops to three separate locations across Midland. All they managed to inform you was that Griffith purposefully did not send many Falconians against you due to the infestation of hostile creatures from the interstice being released back into the physical world, letting you fight the terrain itself while he calmly awaits for your apostle army to grow at the cost of nothing.
Thankfully, Gaiseric promised to clear the path you tread by fighting them in advance, getting rid of all major monsters that would prove to be too much against the average human. Though it took him a few days to return to you, you were sure that a giant chicken would not be the enemy that would bring him down.
Unsuspectingly, Zodd was the one to report to you after a few days of laying low on your camps.
"Ah, there you are. I did not think a pipsqueak like you would find a way to travel through the country at a faster rate than mine."
"What do you want, apostle?" You spare him the pleasantries.
"I have seen your old majesty fighting a giant Jotuun army. Apparently, these colossal entities were the main cause of mayhem around Falconia after Ganishka was defeated, but since Griffith found someone else to do the deed for him, he is merely waiting for your men to die to take the credit for it."
"I have noticed that already, do you have anything of worth to tell me?"
"Yes, in fact. I have fought Gaiseric myself, and I know he is holding back against the Jotuun army. That is because your little struggler friend found the giants first and is fighting amidst them."
"Guts is there?" You try to read Zodd's intent, making sure he is not attempting to deceive you.
"Yes, though it appears the beast within him has finally taken hold of him. He is fighting with the raw instincts of a wild boar, yet his human body is faulting him already."
"That can't be... Puck should be treating his wounds!"
"And you think that tiny little elf would be able to stand in the way between that greatsword! I'm sure he has already abandoned him. The only reason the skull knight has not slain him yet is likely due to him hopefully wishing he bleeds out before he has to put him out of his misery."
Zodd has given you useful advice, though he likely just wants to go there to get a chance at fighting Guts himself. Point being, you have enough time to make a detour to bring Guts back again into the arms of Ilos.
