Note: This work is entirely fictional and belongs to the Alternate History genre, using historical characters and events in a fictional context. All content is a product of imagination and does not reflect reality or any political or military stance.

The story contains sensitive elements such as violence, large-scale warfare, tense political conflicts, and alternative historical depictions. It is not suitable for readers under 16 years of age or those who may be psychologically affected.
Continuing to read implies acceptance of all controversial elements within the work.

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After talking with Edstarphil, the whole team left the guild and stood in front of the door. Rompev wondered, "So what do we do now?"

"First, I will inform Ivanov," Vorosimorsk replied vaguely, piquing Rompev's curiosity. He asked further, "Inform him of what?"

"Just the situation report. I will also encourage them to remain combat-ready at all times."

That was a given. In a foreign land, nothing was safe. As Spetsnaz, they had to always keep that in mind. The 7th Armored Brigade were also professional soldiers and would certainly not allow their country's image to be tarnished. Vorosimorsk felt proud of this.

"Alright, first we will scout this town. It's big, it should be interesting," Petrov said as he raised his weapon.

"Exactly, I also want to see what my kids like here," Kamarov added, his hands clenched tightly. He seemed like a good father.

Rompev nodded, not opposing anything. However, the captain said otherwise: "First, let's find a place to rest until tomorrow. As for the Brigade... that's their business."

The captain patted Rompev on the shoulder and walked ahead with the other two. Rompev didn't think much and followed right behind.

...

On the way, the place was indeed bustling. There were many shops and a crowd of people passing by. The residents here dressed uniquely, allowing the team to somewhat avoid attracting attention.

Kamarov kept looking around, always showing interest in everything. "This place is amazing, like a cultural fair. If my family were here, they would have a great time," he said excitedly.

Contrary to his initial serious demeanor, Kamarov now seemed very cheerful. Rompev quietly observed his surroundings. Since this was a market, there wasn't much that caught his attention.

The team continued walking until they entered a damp area. The path was not clean, so it didn't make much difference. When they reached a place with many cages covered by cloth, Vorosimorsk glanced over and quickened his pace. Rompev guessed that those cages contained something unpleasant.

Just as they passed by, a shout rang out from behind: "You all, release those poor slaves! I am a level B adventurer, and I command you to set them free immediately!"

The whole team stopped and turned to look at Vorosimorsk. Rompev saw a group of young people, probably just over eighteen, loudly confronting the slave cages. Now he understood, this was a slave trading spot. It was quite absurd that slave trading still existed here without any intervention, as if returning to the ancient Roman era with its disgusting slave system. He turned to the captain and asked, "Captain, do you want to...?"

Before he could finish, he received an answer: "We will not intervene. But I will not let this farce go unpunished."

To Rompev's astonishment, Vorosimorsk replied calmly. He remembered the team's principle, so he silently turned back to observe with the others. The young man leading the group was loudly criticizing the slave shop: "You are truly cruel! These people are innocent and have been turned into slaves."

The cat-eared girl standing behind added, "Don't you feel ashamed to openly sell slaves like this?"

Kamarov could hardly contain his laughter. Watching a bunch of kids demanding human rights for slaves was quite amusing... At least it wasn't about racial discrimination. Another girl, dressed like a witch with a staff, quickly joined in demanding justice for the slaves.

"You are truly cruel. Has your conscience rotted away to such an extent?"

Petrov looked the girl up and down and commented, "Is that a priestess? Quite a nice figure. A virgin, perhaps?"

Their lineup was quite pathetic: two swordsmen, a male and a female cat-eared, a wizard, and a priestess. Still, her words were quite noteworthy.

"I speak in the name of the Rubrum Stella Church. You must release them."

Rompev was focused on observing when he heard Kamarov say, "Did she just mention the Red Star?" He asked back curiously, "What's that? Does it mean something?"

Kamarov raised his hand and then lowered it. He explained, "Rubrum Stella is Latin for 'red star.' It seems that not only Russian is present here."

"Oh really? That's interesting."

While the team was still talking, a well-dressed man stepped out from the shop and began shouting at the adventurers: "Who do you think you are to speak so loudly here? Moreover, I have a license; you have no legal right to interfere with my slave trade."

The young man did not back down, responding fiercely: "That's not the issue! Slave trading may not be illegal, but it is certainly not right. What do those papers stop? There are no guards here, so... prepare to face the consequences!"

The young man's words made Vorosimorsk chuckle.

Realizing his life was at risk, the man panicked and looked around for help. Although many people were present, they were all just ordinary folks. Wait, ordinary folks? An idea suddenly flashed in his mind. He abruptly shouted:

"I will pay four hundred Solidus to anyone who defeats these insolent brats!"

One of the opposing youths sneered, "Do you think anyone would come to the aid of a slave trader like you?"

But the Spetsnaz team thought differently. Hearing the offer, Petrov immediately turned to his captain, asking with interest:

"Vorosimorsk. Shall we? That's 400 gold coins."

Rompev was startled and immediately protested:

"Are you really going to condone slave trading?"

Instantly, Kamarov slapped Rompev on the head, explaining:

"Do you think saving one or two people can abolish the slave system? That will be handled by our country when they establish a puppet government here. Whether we save them or not won't make a difference. But money is something we can't refuse. We need to maintain our living standards, right?"

Vorosimorsk nodded in agreement:

"Kamarov is right. Abolishing the slave system is not our job. And those two wizards and the priestess will need your skills, Kamarov, Petrov."

Hearing this, Kamarov eagerly raised his hand:

"We will!!"

Immediately, everyone's attention turned to them. The slave trader looked pleased, a satisfied smile on his face, while the group of youths frowned in displeasure. One of them stepped forward, coldly asking:

"So, if we just beat these kids, each of us will receive four hundred gold coins?"

Before the slave trader could respond, Petrov interjected:

"Just a hundred each."

The man sighed in relief, while the group of youths angrily criticized:

"How can you condone this crime? We thought this town was a good place, but who knew..."

"I pray that you will receive grace from the gods." Another young man spoke sarcastically.

Kamarov laughed:

"Come on, you kids are talking too much. How about this, let's have a fair one-on-one match, shall we?"

Kamarov's suggestion sounded reasonable, but in reality, it was a trap. All Spetsnaz members had undergone rigorous one-on-one combat training and had rich combat experience. The idealistic youths, however, agreed, believing they would win.

The first match between Petrov and a cat-eared girl began. The girl drew two curved short swords, confidently introducing herself:

"Nice to meet you. My name is Kara. And you?"

Petrov smirked, pulling out his tonfa and twirling it in front of him:

"Petrov Pavlovich Chekhov. Just call me Chekhov, kid."

Kara raised an eyebrow, surprised by her opponent's disdainful attitude, but before she could say anything, Petrov interrupted:

"Don't ask too much. Three words don't reveal much about one's identity."

Kara laughed, but it was a mocking laugh.

"Nice block! You managed to block that so quickly. But you seem old, even if you hide it under that fabric and ridiculous outfit. Your country must be as ridiculous as you are."

That remark struck at Petrov's pride. Insulting one's country in front of a Spetsnaz was an unforgivable act. Though he didn't lose his cool, his gaze turned icy. Kamarov, standing outside, also noticed this and quietly remarked:

"That girl is as good as dead. Insulting the homeland in front of Petrov is a big mistake."

Rompev didn't believe it:

"Really? He's not the type to get angry easily."

Kamarov smirked:

"When it comes to national honor, he gets very heated. That girl Kara will learn what it means to provoke a Spetsnaz."

Petrov was not in a hurry. He raised his hand in provocation, making Kara furious. She gritted her teeth and charged at him with her two swords, swinging a horizontal slash. But Petrov was ready. He crouched to dodge the attack and immediately swung his tonfa hard into Kara's chin. She cried out in pain, clutching her face and forgetting her weapons. Seizing the opportunity, Petrov kicked the two swords away and rushed in, landing blow after blow on her.

Kara cried out in pain:

"Stop, stop! It hurts too much!"

Her cries made the surrounding crowd uncomfortable. One of the youths in the group angrily turned to Kamarov, who was cheering, and shouted:

"Your teammate is beating my teammate mercilessly! Tell him to stop!"

Kamarov chuckled, replying:

"Hey kid. When you fight, you have to know the rules. That kid just needs to admit defeat. You hear that, kid? Just give up!"

But just as Kamarov finished speaking, Petrov grabbed Kara's shirt, lifting her up...

At this point, Kara was scared enough to whimper:

"I give up."

Hearing that, Kamarov immediately told Petrov in a stern voice:

"Stop. It's someone else's turn!"

Petrov, upon hearing this, released Kara, leaving her to clutch her chin and slump down. He returned to his position without saying anything more. Rompev, impressed by Petrov's close combat skills, complimented him:

"You fought really well."

Petrov shrugged:

"I was just angry at the moment. I didn't intend to use that much force. Anyway..."

He glanced at Kara, who was now being helped by others. The wizard girl in the group began to use magic, which genuinely intrigued Rompev's team. This was the first time they had witnessed something so strange.

After the healing process ended, Kara looked at Petrov with a cold gaze. The others in the group did the same. Vorosimorsk realized the situation was not good, but still focused on the task at hand:

"Who's next?"

Hearing Vorosimorsk's voice, the opposing group discussed briefly. After reaching a consensus, they chose the wizard girl. Rompev was curious about what a wizard would do in this match.

Vorosimorsk looked at the opposing group and decided:

"Let me handle this."

Rompev was surprised:

"Huh? Are you sure? She doesn't look easy to deal with."

Vorosimorsk chuckled softly, replying:

"I didn't stay in Spetsnaz at this age for nothing."

Rompev watched his captain step forward, filled with questions. How could a close-combat warrior defeat a wizard? Could a wizard even fight in close quarters?

Vorosimorsk stepped into position, surveying the surroundings. The audience had dwindled significantly, leaving only a few people behind. The wizard girl glanced at Vorosimorsk and spoke:

"A commoner like you dares to ignore me? You should be paying attention to me."

Vorosimorsk replied in a flat tone:

"So what? Should I act like a pervert who likes children? That's funny."

Hearing Vorosimorsk's words, the wizard girl looked very displeased but still introduced herself:

"My name is Karellia. And you?"

"Just call me Solomon. Don't be long-winded, kid, go ahead."

Karellia smirked, creating a magic circle. Vorosimorsk was unsure what it was, so he remained cautious. Karellia said:

"You don't know anything about magic? What a pity."

Immediately, something shot out from the magic circle. Reflexively, Vorosimorsk threw his pistol in front of him and dodged to the side. When he looked back, the gun had been frozen solid. He understood the situation and began to think of a countermeasure.

Karellia was surprised to see Vorosimorsk, just like Petrov, able to dodge the attack. But this time, Vorosimorsk was more proactive. He charged forward while Karellia continued to use freezing magic. He threw a square ammo box, which also froze as he dodged to another spot.

However, Vorosimorsk did not give Karellia a chance to attack further. He kicked her arm holding the staff, stunning her. Taking advantage of the moment, he locked her arm from behind, causing her staff to fall to the ground. Then, he turned and pinned Karellia to the ground, saying:

"You've lost, kid. Without it, you can't do anything. And this position is just like the implication you had at the start."

He increased the pressure, forcing Karellia to surrender:

"I give up! Let me go! It hurts!"

Vorosimorsk released her and went to retrieve the frozen items. Karellia watched him, muttering:

"How annoying. Why..."

Returning to his position, Vorosimorsk said to Rompev:

"That's how adaptability works. But these things need to be thawed first."

Kamarov pointed at his captain, saying:

"The captain always does that, taking down the whole group."

Just then, a voice rang out from behind, catching Kamarov's attention:

"It's my turn now!"

This time it was the priestess. She spoke with enthusiasm:

"It's my turn, I like this."

Kamarov, who was not fond of religion, faced a priestess. This couldn't be more fitting. He stepped forward, introducing himself:

"Hello, miss. My full name is Kamarov Ilyich Korolyov."

The priestess smiled gently:

"May God always be with you. I am Liliana. Now we will fight. Before that, do you have anything to say?"

Kamarov immediately pulled out his knife, getting into a ready stance:

"May hell be ready to build another level when I fight you. Your trash religion."

Hearing that, Vorosimorsk and Petrov shook their heads, while Rompev was astonished by Kamarov's boldness. Liliana, upon hearing this, glared at Kamarov, furious, but no one could guess his expression as he still wore glasses.

Liliana was so angry that she created a white magic circle, similar to Karellia's. But Kamarov did not hesitate, charging straight at her with his knife in hand. However, he was blocked by an invisible shield.

He suddenly stepped back, analyzing the situation, but had no time to do anything else. Liliana demonstrated her power by using a white chain that tightly wrapped around Kamarov's legs. He struggled to escape, but the more he thrashed, the tighter the chain became. Liliana then explained:

"Don't struggle anymore. This chain will bind those who refuse the grace of God. If you don't want to suffer more, quickly apologize for your previous insult!"

Kamarov scratched his head, looking conflicted, but then he nodded in agreement. "Alright, I apologize. But first, I need to say one thing, you don't mind, do you?"

Liliana innocently approached Kamarov, asking in a mocking tone: "Say it quickly. I don't have time for people like you."

Kamarov smirked. "Oh, I mean... when you have the advantage, don't listen to the enemy. You fool!"

With that, he quickly pressed a button on the knife hidden in his coat. The blade sprang out, flying straight into Liliana's shoulder, causing her to lose focus. The magical white chain immediately vanished. In a flash, Kamarov lunged at her, gripping her throat, lifting her up, and then throwing her hard to the ground. Liliana cried out in pain, her back aching, unable to continue fighting.

Kamarov stood tall, dusting off his hands, saying proudly: "How was that? This move I learned from WWE. It's called a Chokeslam. Although I don't really like their shows, I have to admit, it's useful." He pulled the knife out of Liliana's shoulder and walked away, leaving her on the ground in pain. Karellia hurried to Liliana's side, using magic to staunch the bleeding. Kara helped her up, while the young man stood nearby, his eyes filled with anger, glaring at Vorosimorsk's group.

Just as Kamarov returned, Petrov threw a punch at him. "Who gave you permission to do that?!"

"Come on, it was fun," Kamarov laughed. "But anyway, forget about that. Rompev, just do your job well, like I do."

"No one needs to be like you," Petrov retorted. "Rompev, just fight with your skills." He gave a thumbs up. Vorosimorsk added encouragement: "Just stay calm. Apply what you learned in training."

Rompev smiled awkwardly, "Thanks for the... not very helpful advice. I'm off." He stepped up to the position where the young man was tending to Liliana. "I'm here. You get ready."

The young man turned around, his eyes full of determination. "It's me and you, a fair fight."

Rompev accepted the challenge. He removed all his weapons and handed them to Petrov. "Armor is enough. Cover for me." Kamarov patted him on the back, encouraging, "You can do it. I'm sure of it."

Rompev nodded, then returned to position, rolling up his sleeves to reveal his muscular arms. The young man complimented: "I'm Simon. Nice muscles. But you'll lose!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Simon charged in, throwing a series of punches at Rompev. He felt each blow, but they were all weak and lacked technique. Rompev didn't want to prolong the match. He dodged to the side, causing Simon to lose his balance and fall. Not missing the opportunity, Rompev tightened his grip around Simon's neck, leaving him dazed.

Continuously, Rompev landed punches on Simon's face, leaving him unable to react. When he felt it was enough, Rompev delivered a punch to Simon's stomach and then an uppercut, knocking Simon down. But Rompev didn't stop there. He continued to pin Simon down and hit him relentlessly.

Vorosimorsk, seeing this, felt it was not right, but since Simon had not surrendered, he did not intervene. But Simon was in too much pain to endure, signaling Rompev to stop, but it was useless. Finally, he shouted for help. Petrov immediately rushed in to pull Rompev off Simon. The three girls ran over to help Simon up.

Vorosimorsk stepped forward, coldly declaring: "We have won. You all have lost. It's best to leave."

"Why?!"

Lieutenant Colonel focused on Simon. The young man shouted: "Why should I lose?!"

"Ah, let me explain."

Their group looked at Vorosimorsk, listening to him speak: "You all lack experience in hand-to-hand combat. Especially you; if you can't fight well, don't challenge. We... were soldiers with systematic training and rich experience, that's why we won. In general, everyone has potential. But which potential you have, you must realize and train yourself."

Simon, upon hearing this, felt enlightened. He stood up and bowed to Vorosimorsk: "You are right. I will train more to be like your group!"

"Alright, you all can go. Don't cling to that ideal anymore."

"Why? Isn't that the right thing?" Liliana spoke up, expressing her dissatisfaction.

Vorosimorsk did not intend to say anything, but leaving things as they were was not good either. He quietly said: "When the war ends, everything will be done according to your ideals. Rowlia will collapse, and so will the slave system. I assure you."

"Really?" Karellia asked, her eyes filled with hope.

"Really. But it will take a few months. But it's better than the meaningless things you kids are doing."

They were still confused, but Vorosimorsk's tone did not sound like he was lying, so they decided to trust him and left. He watched them go, feeling pleased. Then he turned back to the slave shop owner and said: "400 gold coins. Quickly."

"Yes... Yes, thank you, sir. Here is the money."

He received four large bags containing 100 gold coins each. The whole team happily left as the sun began to set, also bidding farewell to the shop owner. They had wasted enough time and needed to find an inn as soon as possible.

They walked a bit further, and it was completely dark. They asked a passerby for directions and finally arrived at a modest inn. The night was pitch black, and they needed a meal before resting. Upon entering, a voice welcomed them: "Hello. Would you like to rent a room or have a meal?"

"Both," Vorosimorsk replied, his voice showing fatigue but cheerfulness. Having not eaten all day and going through a small fight in the afternoon was indeed exhausting. The young server replied: "It will be 50 coins for a room and food for four."

This price was very cheap compared to the money they had just earned. Vorosimorsk pulled out a gold coin, receiving 10 coins in change, and the server led them to their room.

At Vorosimorsk's request, they were taken to a room with four beds. Inside was quite dark, but there was enough light to see the furnishings. They removed their gear and organized their things. Vorosimorsk began discussing strategy with the group.

They were discussing for a while when there was a knock at the door, announcing that dinner was ready. They quickly moved downstairs. When they saw the dining table set up, the mood of the group improved significantly. They sat down at the table, but upon closer inspection, the food was nothing special, quite bland and lacking seasoning. However, the food was not terrible and provided enough nutrition, so they didn't mind much.

While eating, they chatted a bit, and the atmosphere became relaxed and cozy. Suddenly, a girl walked in. Kamarov saw her and recognized her as the cat-eared girl they met during the test. She approached their table, pulled out four metal tags with straps, and said: "Here are your tags. Remember to use them well."

"How did you find us?" Rompev asked, looking surprised. The girl laughed, replying:

"Finding a group of four oddly dressed people like this isn't hard."

"Ah, right..." Rompev felt a bit embarrassed, lowering his head.

The girl left right after. But the whole room had changed; everyone began to look at them with surprised expressions. Kamarov observed around, noticing the continuous gazes directed at them, and couldn't help but speak up: "Do you all have a problem? Or do you want a problem to find you?"

The others quickly turned their heads away, whispering to each other. This made the atmosphere even more uncomfortable, but at least it added some excitement to this bland meal. Although the food had meat, it lacked seasoning, making it feel like a meal for someone on a diet. Nevertheless, they finished eating and returned to their room.

Rompev lay down on the bed, complaining: "This place is even worse than the barracks."

"What do you think? I find times like this perfect for recovery and... more reflection," Petrov said, holding a book and sitting on the bed.

"I'm not so sure. But the daily drills in the barracks keep me from worrying about the future after I retire."

"You should be more cheerful. No need to think too much. Like the captain, he remains cheerful even though he doesn't say much."

"Exactly. You should live your way, have your own personality. Like Petrov is calm and serious, the captain is affectionate but cold. As for me..."

"Playful and stubborn," Petrov suddenly interrupted Kamarov, making him unable to hold back and retort: "You're no different from me. I'm complimenting you!"

"You don't need my compliments. Rompev, just keep your views on what makes a good soldier. With us..., that's clearly being shown here." Petrov replied, calmly and coldly.

Rompev looked at Petrov, the gentle smile and sincere advice were enough for him to realize that Petrov could become a spiritual officer. He nodded, smiling back at Petrov. Vorosimorsk witnessed this scene, and his mood seemed to lighten. He took out the prepared books, handing them to each member of the group to relax before the quiet evening unfolded.

...

Outside, as the Russian army experienced a peaceful evening, a few local residents were still quietly observing them from afar. No one noticed this. The simple dinner took place amidst the lively chatter of the soldiers.

Lieutenant Colonel Ivanov sat at a makeshift table, surrounded by communication equipment. He was reporting on the situation and new findings. Although this place brought many strange and unique things, he still felt a sense of unease about some matters. Sitting in a chair with a few others, he sensed the silence of the evening.

The meal went normally, nothing special. In his heart, the question about the Spetsnaz group that had entered the town kept surfacing: what would they find in their exploration? Suddenly, a soldier who was maintaining his helmet and night vision goggles looked up, his voice anxious: "What the hell is that?"

The lieutenant colonel and the others immediately paid attention. The soldier pointed towards the edge of the forest, just as a loud roar echoed, making everyone alert. Sensing something was wrong, Lieutenant Colonel Ivanov shouted: "Everyone prepare for battle!"

As soon as the order was given, gunfire began to erupt from a distance. Without needing further explanation, Vorosimorsk quickly ordered: "Gear up immediately!"

The whole team quickly donned their gear and rushed out of the inn, blending into the frantic crowd. Kamarov ran alongside a soldier and asked urgently:

"What's going on?!"

"A beast horde is attacking; it's said to be a large group." The soldier replied hurriedly.

Not fully understanding the situation, but the Spetsnaz group quickly moved to the hot spot. Upon arrival, they looked through their night vision goggles and saw a large group of strange humanoid creatures, accompanied by dangerous beasts. Although their origins were unclear, the fact that the Russian army had opened fire indicated hostility.

Edstarphil, the local commander, appeared in their sight. He shouted orders to the warriors, and when he saw the Spetsnaz group, he approached them:

"You all are quick on your feet. Now use the weapons you have and follow behind."

"We will stay close behind you. These creatures seem dangerous." Vorosimorsk replied confidently.

The sounds of battle grew fiercer, leaving Edstarphil no time to debate. He quickly ran ahead, while the Spetsnaz group immediately joined the fight, firing at the strange creatures. Gunfire echoed through the night, mingling with the clashing of metal and the fireballs launched from afar.

Petrov, while focused on fighting, suddenly spotted a familiar face: Simon, the one they had clashed with earlier. Simon was knocked down, his weapon falling from his hand, and he was being threatened by a monster. Without hesitation, Petrov rushed in, blocking the attack with his tonfa and quickly shooting the enemy down.

"Fancy meeting you again," Petrov smiled at Simon.

Simon was surprised. "You're the guy from earlier!"

Petrov handed Simon back his sword before continuing to fight. The battle raged fiercely until the Russian army gained the upper hand and forced the monsters to retreat.

...

As dawn broke, the battle came to an end. The Spetsnaz group was exhausted after a long night. Now they knew clearly what the enemy was: orcs—humanoid creatures with deformed bodies and low intelligence, along with dangerous beasts. Additionally, there were uruks, superior to regular orcs.

The whole team was cleaning up the battlefield when Vorosimorsk noticed Edstarphil talking to Lieutenant Colonel Ivanov. After a brief exchange, Ivanov nodded, signaling that they needed to continue marching to Chora. The Spetsnaz group climbed onto a T-72B, ready for the new journey.

Before leaving, Rompev glanced back at the town, muttering. "It feels like I've just been enlightened."

Petrov heard this and chuckled. "If you learned something, that's good, but your face looks like it's been petrified."

That remark made Kamarov laugh as well. After all, they still had a long fight ahead. Kamarov worried about the Russian economy, wondering if oil and gas exports could save the situation. But then, he quickly buried his worries deep inside and continued the journey.