--------------------3rd person POV-------------------

In the plains a few minutes away from the base camp of the dwarves, the army students are overlooking the horde of bandits that have assembled in the distance.

The scouts are stationed in every direction around the basecamps while the two army leaders, and all the combat healers are discussing the course of action.

"Should we start the retreat?"
"This early? Without doing anything? Are you mad? If we just ran without doing anything, the teachers would count that as a demerit."
"Then what do you suggest? We can't exactly do anything substantial against the enemy. Look at their numbers! We would die if we took them head on, and even if we fought wisely, we wouldn't do anything to shift the flow of the overall battle. If we do anything poorly, we would even lose some of our troops. Do you actually have a plan to ensure everyone's safety?"
"Ugghhh, The only choice is to minimize the possibility as much as we can. Combat healer leaders, We are counting on you to provide support. Make sure you stick with the front lines, can we count on you?"
"We will act in accordance with your plans."
"We will ensure that the troops survive. Only that, we can guarantee."

The two combat leaders were arguing on their plan as they seeked help from the two combat healer leaders. They agree that it would be a good experience to strengthen their juniors but they also don't want to take the risk.

The two combat healer leaders looked at each other before they answered. Their words are supportive but their faces give no expression to their true thoughts. Like a couple of dolls passively looking on as the children play in front of them, giving no qualms as they jumped about.

"Good, since we have good support, we can at least prevent deaths."
"If you two are that confident about it, I can't back down now. Let's plan it out."

*nod*

As the two combat leaders continue making plans about the coming battle, the two combat healer leader's glanced at each other and gave a silent nod to each other, without the two combat leaders knowing.

"What if we separate all the first years. We form four groups of ten to ensure the safety of the recruits. Each group would be supervised by two senior students and two army course graduates. They would guard the four directions while I support the group near the hills and you support the group near the road, where the most amount of bandits are grouped."
"I'm not sure that would be good. If we group them up that much, I don't think everyone will get experience. On the contrary, there would be more confusion which would increase the chances of casualties appearing. We can't fight them with numbers. The best way to handle this is to form small mobile groups that can quickly attack and escape enemies."
"That would leave them open to mobbing. If they get caught, they won't be able to do anything against the tide of bandits. We don't need to use the full amount of recruits to attack. They can rotate the attackers while those behind can be backup. They keep an eye out on the enemies so the attackers won't get dragged into the mire."
"That's true, very well, we will go with your idea. Combat healer leaders, please divide your group accordingly. Let's set a limit and retreat when that time comes. You see those rocks around there? Those are the earliest points where the bandits can reach flat ground. We don't want them to rush at this side while the other sides are busy defending their direction. When the enemies reach around there, we will signal the retreat. The scouts on my side will fire three whistling arrows in the other three directions. This would provide us time to orderly retreat while the enemies are slowed down by those rocks."
"Agreed! Graduates, choose your group but be sure to team yourself with the graduates from the other caravan group. Keep in mind the distance and don't get swallowed up. Choose the direction you want yourselves, we have the same set of weapons so it won't make a difference in this situation."
"Yes sir!!" xAll

With a yell, the army students quickly assembled themselves into four neatly arranged groups. The first and quickest of the group are the army graduates followed by the senior students, with the freshmen trailing behind, while looking unaccustomed to the fast-faced formation.

After the two army course graduates confirm that their team is formed, they quickly lead them to the four directions surrounding the dwarve's basecamp. The two combat leaders then followed behind and joined the groups that would experience the heaviest traffic of enemies.

Meanwhile, the two combat healer leaders stayed behind and gathered the other combat healers to do their own discussions.

"Two combat healers per group while us leaders reinforce the direction where their leaders went."
"If things get heated, throw those overcome by bloodlust or those who got weak knees towards the camp. Our mission isn't to win the battle but to keep everyone alive."

The combat healer leaders each talked in turns. They barraged their fellow combat healers with one sentence after another, rousing their interest, waking their blood and strengthening their resolve, not only for the coming battle but for everything that may come in their line of work.

"The chain of command is with us. Don't let the other army graduates order you around. Use your own judgement."
"Our main priority isn't the strongest group but the weakest one."
"A single fighter doesn't win the war. Not to mention we can't win this even if we heal them non-stop."
"Ideally, the army students should have set up some obstacles to delay the tide from the campsite but if they don't do it, don't mention it. Our job isn't to help them strategize."
"If they wanted our help in the first place, they would have asked for our opinion."
"These kinds of things happen in the field, since we usually attach ourselves to the fighting force and are smaller than them, they usually treat us as subordinates."

Information after information from the experience of the graduates trickled down to the first years. They knew their rights, their limits, and the liberties of being a combat healer. This talk was mainly targeting the newcomers who are faltering in the face of the great battle but it also strengthened the resolve of the seniors.

"In truth, we are a separate entity. We are our own force and organization."
"A combat healer leader is on the same level as the highest person of authority present with the limit of just below the general, so for this case we will provide support our way. I'm sure the seniors here know that we are mainly support but our contribution is one of the major reasons our armies win the battle."
"Those who are new to this course, be proud, be calm and be professional. We can't choose who we work with but remember that you yourselves can choose how you work with them."
"As long as they don't interfere with our main job, we can let it slide."
"Don't worry though, even if our main job is support, we still have special powers that we can use in case we get grouped with suicidal idiots."
"Us combat healers have the right to remove the commander of their duties if we judge that the situation is too dangerous to continue."
"You juniors can't do it yet since you haven't finished the required course for battlefield judgement yet. Leave the judgement to the seniors."
"The army escort with us planned their retreat based on the terrain but ours are based on the situation."
"It won't matter to us the strategic choice they made, we will retreat when the danger level reaches a certain point."
"Listen for your senior's signal. When it's time, we will retreat and when you do, signal the other groups in the other directions."
"If things remain alright throughout the fight, then we will retreat according to the army leaders' plan."
"Any questions?"
"None? Then move!!"
"Yes ma'am!!!" xAll

As the combat healer leader's briefing ended, the groups moved swiftly to catch the army students rushing to their guard points.

Seeing the scene of the combat healers faces oozing with morale satisfied the two combat healer leaders as they too eagerly rushed towards their own posts.

The grounds shook as groups of the dwarf caravan security team moved to the direction they needed to defend. All the other students in the campsite felt it and so did the teachers, as they too spring into action.

"They’re guarding the four directions. Move the wagons and create the opening on that side."

The head teacher sophie shouted as she pointed to the direction where the enemy could reach flat ground the fastest, the direction where the army group was tasked to signal the others for retreat.

*Rattle* *Rattle* *Rattle* *Rattle* *Rattle* *Rattle*

Six wagons, with three in a reinforced version, moved into a cup-like formation with the opening on one side that is wide enough to let iron rhino's charge in.

As soon as the wagons were moved into their spot in the formation, the teachers unfastened the iron rhinos and moved them in the inner circle. After that, they went back to their own wagon as they observed the huge amount of bandits in the surrounding.

Meanwhile, the bandits noticed the commotion happening at their target's side. Thinking that they were trying to make a run for it, they also told their own forces to start the attack.

"Attack!!!"

*Rumble* *Rumble* *Rumble*

The earth rumbled as the horde of bandits charged to the dwarve's campsite. Pebbles bounced around as if they had life, and thunderous roaring reverberated in the plains.

The sounds they hear, the quake they feel, shook the students and the army students. While the senior students can still steel themselves, the impact of a group of bloodthirsty enemies surrounding them from all sides is a little much for the new recruits.

However, they have still expected something similar when they enrolled in the army course. For the regular students though, some are frozen still, some are breathing heavily, some inched closer to the teacher, while a small few looked on passively. It could be because they don't have any way to make a difference when the fight reaches this scale or they have full trust in the teachers, either way they know that the upcoming battle would be one of the biggest one they have faced in their entire lives.

One minute...three minutes..........half an hour.

The time flew by slowly as the bandits advanced to the dwarve's campsite. What started as a mad dash slowly slowed down to a slow walk. The bandit leaders saw some of their members trip and get stepped on. They incurred casualties and injuries before the fight began so they quickly pacified them.

The wait didn't last forever, the bandits soon arrived close enough for their arrows to reach the defensive positions of the dwarf army students. As soon as the bandit archers reached their position, they assembled themselves into a small formation to make it easy for other bandits to pass them. Afterwards, they let loose their arrows, showering the defensive positions of the dwarf army students.

*Clang* *Clang* *Clang*

The army students stood there and let the rain of arrows pelt them while avoiding those that would hit their vital organs. Some arrows grazed them but they were healed by their [Holy armour]. Even though their attacks don't seem to work, the archers still won't let up the arrow rain.

"Everyone, brace yourselves!! We will start the battle soon!! Don't get engulfed!! Don't chase!! Don't die!!"
"ooohhh!!!" xAll
"Scouts!! Don't fire any arrows, it won't matter too much on a scale this large. Use at most three arrows to attack the coordinators or cause collateral damages!!"
"Aiming!!"

The scouts immediately surveyed the area for anyone who seems to be giving orders.

"Everyone who can use Earth magic, follow my lead to disrupt the enemy when they charge later. Don't use too much and save them all for defence."
"Yes!!!!" xAll
"Remember! Attack as we retreat!! Don't get swallowed by the crowd, those behind shall support those in front!! Those in front will switch with those at the back on my signal!!"
"Yes, sir!!" xAll

Tensions rise as arrows rained from the sky non-stop and as the tide of bandits come closer and closer.

Once the bandits reached a small distance away from the dwarve's defensive position, they picked up the pace and charged at them.

"Everybody on my cast!! Layer them a bandit line apart!! Scatter them!! First years, keep the size enough to trap them up to their shins!! [Trench]!!"
"[Trench]!!" xAll

At their shouting, the ground near the bandits charging path suddenly sunk.

"Raaa--owaaahhh!! Sto-.....don-...It hur--....uughh--"
"Gaahh!! Ugh, agh, uuuuhhh!!"

One after another, bandits got surprised by the sudden disappearance of the ground they were stepping on. One by one, the bandits fell and got trampled by those near them. The accident caused another accident as it grew larger and disrupted the charge of a large portion of their enemies.

"Stop!! Stop!! Stop the charge!! Change to a walk!! Magicians sta---"

*Pierce*

The disturbance caught the attention of the leaders, so they immediately sent signals to the supervisors for the vanguard. They stepped forth and calmed down the confusion caused by their forefront getting caught in the trap by the dwarves, but no sooner than they gave their orders, the scouts of the dwarven army let loose their arrows and started to snipe those who try to pacify the crowd. As a result the charge was prematurely stopped and caused not only damages but deaths that deterred the bandit group.

"What are you waiting for!?!? Charge!!"

The bandit leaders in this direction couldn't contain themselves anymore and impatiently charged to the frontlines upon seeing the pathetic state of their force just because of a group of dwarves.

"Uuooohhh!!"

Seeing their leader charging to the frontlines revitalized the bandits' spirit, so they stepped over their fallen comrades and continued to charge.

"Magicians, launch everything you've got!!"
"[Fireball]"
"[Earth Arrow]"
"[Wind Cannon]"

Just before the frontlines met, the bandit leader ordered their magician group to use every spell they have, so they did. Spells from different elements in all levels of mastery bombarded the dwarven group. Some miss, some hit but it still hasn't delivered enough damage to cause them enough damage to immobilize them. Most of them have similar spells with the Earth and Fire magic being the most prominent, as those are the only elements with a boosted strength in this continent.

"Fall back, keep your eye on the enemy and your footing steady."
"Yes, Sir!!"

Seeing that their group is taking too much damage, the senior army course student ordered for them to start their slow retreat.

"You, you and you. Come to the back."
"Switch!!"

As they steadily back away, those who received too much damage from the magical bombardment are switched to the back to be healed, by the order of the combat healers. This action is supported by the senior army course student as he ordered the switch because he saw confusion among the first year students who weren't sure if they needed to stick to their orders or follow the combat healers.

A couple of minutes later the frontlines finally met. The magical bombardment disappeared to avoid friendly fire while the melee started.

"Haah!"

*Twhack*

"Die!!"

*Slam*

"Grrrrraaaahh!!"

*Bang*

"Ugh.."
"Watch out!"

*Grab*
*Punch*
*Slam*

"Switch!!"

The fight was chaotic. Most of the time, the dwarves would swing their weapons and the enemy would be sent flying to the other bandits. Their quality weapon, armour and teachings they received at the academy gave them a hefty advantage against the enemy bandits. Some of the army students lack battle experience against the bandits but thanks to their equipment, they could tank some hits without it doing much damage to them.

However, this advantage didn't last long. While they are slowly backing away, their enemy is rushing to completely encircle their formation. To prevent this, the leader hurried the retreat but thanks to this, their steady fighting switched to a messy brawl.

Some of the army course students aren't used to this and got caught by the enemy, completely breaking his leg. Luckily for him, the combat healers were fast to react and quickly pulled him out while pummeling the attacker with her fist, sending him flying to the nearby bandits. This created enough time for the senior army course student to switch the frontlines fighters as they continued to retreat.

"This is getting tricky. Everyone retreat faster!!"

Looking at the damages caused by the enemy, the senior army course student hurried the other students to retreat.

*Trip* *Bash* *Crack*

"aaahh!!!"
"Woaah"
"Shi-- Help!!"

As they hurried back to the camps, one of the army students tripped and caused a small accident that affected a couple of their own teammates.

*Bash* *Bash* *Bash*

"Full retreat!!"
"Wai--wha-- I'm in char-"

*Punch*

After taking care of the enemies near those who fell down, while the other combat healers helped them up, the senior combat healer ordered the full retreat. Judging that the situation was getting dangerous, she ordered the full retreat. The senior army course student was confused about what was happening and tried to argue back but the senior combat healer punched him down from his mount since there wasn't any time for hesitation in their current situation.

"I'm taking over!! Everyone retreat!!! Don't worry about anything, I'm taking full responsibility from now on!!"

Momentary confusion appeared on the faces of the army course students but they know that the situation is one where they can't afford to be stunned for too long. They woke up and started to retreat with all they have.

"Those who still have magic!! Scatter trenches on the surrounding!! Those in the back, create one behind you!!"
"Yes ma'am!!"

Since they are fully escaping, they have their back towards the enemy while holding up some shields or weapons to protect them against enemy attack. Those in front scattered trenches around to the side which protected them from being engulfed by the wave of enemies, while those at the back made trenches behind them to prevent the bandits from catching up.

"Signal the other directions!!"
"Yes ma'am!!"

*Shoot* *Whistle!!!!!* *Boooomm!!*

The dwarven defence team on this side created some distance from the enemy and taking the chance while they had a little breather, the senior combat healer ordered the scout to release the signal for the other defence team in the other directions to retreat too.

"Looks like we have to rely on the teachers so soon."
"Good job, now hurry inside the wagon circle and we will take it from here."
"Wha-"
"Yes teacher!"

Surprised by the sudden voice, the senior combat healer raised her weapon but seeing that it was one of the teachers, she calmed down and felt relieved, thinking that they are safe now.