Chapter 191

Chapter 191 - War of Wrath (8)

"The Eastern army's doing quite well."

A situation facing Kruger's army with one space of horizon between them. Rex pulled the reins of his warhorse sniffing at the pitch-black burned grains.

"At this level, it's a textbook of scorched earth tactics. We haven't seen a single intact wheat field while marching up to here."

"If the crops were intact, we would probably be preparing for a siege by now."

True to a bellicose Dark Elf nomad, Rex only acknowledged direct combat ability.

However, after forming a tie with Eugene and going through numerous battles, he came to value strategic thinking as well.

Even while routed and hiding, the Eastern lords passed on intelligence information through various methods.

As a result, they confirmed that Kruger's army's food was in trouble just surviving the winter.

On the other hand, the Southern army had no problem even until spring, and if push comes to shove, they could even mobilize the food stockpiled in the Moving Castle's refrigerator and freezer.

"One thing I'm worried about is their secret art."

"Are you talking about that berserker thing?"

"Fighting to the death howling like beasts not knowing pain. At this level, they could ably drag down and kill knights even with a group of regular soldiers."

The reason a knight is threatening is not entirely because of their overwhelming combat power. The sense of fear saying 'If you face them, the guys in the front row will definitely die.' is also important.

If they are warriors who overcome that, it means half of the power a knight possesses disappears.

"There's probably exaggeration mixed in. If it's according to the stories I heard, it's half in the realm of magic. I don't think such a thing is possible for uncivilized barbarians."

"I don't fully believe it either. But you must be wary of things that are unpredictable."

"Even if there really is such a secret art, it's fine."

Rex's sturdy fingers tapped his bow.

"Let's see how close they can approach."

If Eugene's army was centered on infantry and shock cavalry, they would have widened the distance further and then unfolded delaying tactics.

However, the world's strongest ranged unit is together with him.

Even while fighting various enemies regardless of humans, monsters, and demons, it's the secret to suffering damages few enough to be close to a miracle.

'Even if they don't feel fear or pain, they'll die if arrows are lodged in their hearts or heads.'

Considering swords and spears sacred and treating bows and crossbows as cowardly weapons is the thinking of knights.

However, Eugene had the exact opposite thought. He always set ranged attacks as a core element of the operation and organized the rest in a form that supplemented weaknesses.

When a few more days had passed marching slowly. The horizon between the two armies disappeared.

"!!!"

"I see those bastards."

"Alarm! Sound the alarm!"

Dozens of flags fluttering in the wind and the black army under them entered each other's eyes.

It became time to see the end of the civil war that was making a mess of the entirety of Britannia.

* * *

"I heard the military momentum of the new Southern Count is amazing, but this is..."

The vassals of the Kruger family were intimidated by the majesty of the army lined up on the opposite side.

"I think it would be better to tell the King even now and retreat to a castle."

"If you go and say it, everyone will cheer for you."

"Ha cham. Look at the shape of his words."

If one offered such admonishment right now, it wouldn't end with just whipping.

- I am the King of Britannia. To say to retreat when another royal family exists over there? If I did that, what would happen to my dignity?

Eugene and Valda proclaimed themselves a Count family and were treated with the courtesy of a Count even in official settings.

However, the Britannians always saw the shadow of the royal family in them.

And the value of a royal family stems from history. In front of the name Philiamor, a name like Kruger is merely an upstart with no roots.

King Kruger also knew very well that everyone from nobles to serfs whispered about that behind his back.

- By defeating them fairly and squarely from the front, I will proclaim to the whole world that I am the true King.

Therefore, Eugene didn't exactly need to be thankful to the Eastern army. Because regardless of whether their food was abundant or little, both armies would have competed for supremacy here.

"Dwarves and Dark Elves? Standing the two side by side?"

However, no matter how much King Kruger had conviction in his path of supremacy, he was bewildered.

"Isn't it the first time since the 1st Era? For those mortal enemies to..."

The vassals were also stunned.

The Dark Elf archer unit behind the Hammer Brotherhood which formed a steel barrier. The center of the Southern army was literally like an impregnable fortress.

Fairies and Dwarves fight over every little thing, but ironically, their compatibility on the battlefield is top-tier. It's just that there was no one who pulled it off since the 1st Era.

* * *

"The right wing is commanded by Baron Lester and the march lords so I'm relieved, but the left wing is the problem."

"Since you deployed them thicker than usual, they will hold out sufficiently."

Hind comforted Eugene.

Eugene, who worried about the left wing's low combat power, distributed many good shields and pikes.

Even if there are many new recruits, spears pointing forward densely like a hedgehog will by no means collapse easily.

"Apart from their skill, it's because it's doubtful how well they would follow commands. Because there are no bastards as dangerous as allies who don't listen."

An allied wing being pushed in a power struggle and ruining an operation is the better case. Cases of things turning into a mess due to the standout behavior of a noble coveting merit were also common.

"Commanding summoned vassals is originally like that, you see."

"I don't want to pass it over saying it's originally like that."

If casualties occur in his direct army swept up in the chaos of allies, even Eugene would find it hard to endure.

"Tell them to constantly rotate ranks since there are many numbers, and tune the soldiers' fatigue and fear."

"Yes! Excellency!"

The messenger who received the order left for the left wing. The right wing would be commanded well by Lester, so they exchanged greetings by giving a thumbs up once.

The horse archer unit led by Rex is preparing to disrupt the enemy's rear at a place slightly away from the main unit.

"Didn't you already tell them countless times during the briefing?"

"I'm going to send it again 5 minutes later though?"

"...You really have quite the lack of trust."

"If they're that thick, even if the battle line collapses they will be blocked amongst themselves so there would be time they hold out."

The left wing, not knowing Eugene and Hind were exchanging such a conversation, glanced at their commander.

Just as Might was so large that Eugene could survey the camp at a glance, the Southern army could also confirm their great lord from anywhere.

"Well, he is damn reassuring."

"If it's disadvantageous while fighting, His Excellency would come over, right?"

"Didn't you see that monster-like warhorse running? Even if he's hundreds of meters away, he'd arrive in the blink of an eye."

A situation where Britannia's strongest knight is the commander. Eugene's existence itself warmed the army's morale and courage hotly.

Even after 1 hour passed in the standoff situation, both armies didn't move. Hind licked his dry lips out of tension.

"Will those bastards come first?"

"Probably. This side has many Dark Elves possessing dark vision. They would want to fight while it's bright as much as possible."

There was no knightly duel prior to the battle. Eugene suspected what kind of sinister plot King Kruger would employ, and King Kruger judged that if Eugene stepped forward, it would only drop allied morale anyway.

"The enemies are approaching!"

At the vanguard of the Central army, heavy infantry holding large square shields began advancing. There are no flimsy shields that the mercenaries or conscripts they dealt with so far would likely use.

Knowing that Eugene possessed tremendous archer forces, King Kruger also prepared thoroughly.

As Eugene atop Might raised his arm, the Dark Elf longbowmen passed the Dwarves and stood at the front.

"Archers!"

"Arch-ers!"

"Ar! chers!"

The vassals of the left wing reciprocated the command in their respective tones and sent out the archers holding yew longbows. After planting their arrows in the ground, they watched the front with tense faces.

'Can we pierce them?'

Since they weren't all greenhorns, they knew well that the defense of the approaching enemies was solid right now.

When arrows were loaded into all bows, Eugene struck down Blackout which he held pointing towards the sky.

Vwooooong!

A shout of 'Fire!' was unnecessary. Because the hell spirit, whose communion had deepened repeating battles, responded to Eugene.

The giant axe blade cleaved the air and loaded magical vibration. The archers recognized Eugene's command not only with hearing but with the sensation touching their skin.

Pipipipiping!

Arrows shot simultaneously covered the sky.

Hweeeeeeeeeeee-.

As the bloody tearing sound of wind rang the battlefield, the knights of the Central army also shouted.

"Turtle formation! Turtle formation!"

Large shields gathered densely and protected the soldiers from the pouring arrows.

A strange light dwelled in the eyes of the Dark Elf archers. Because in the battles up to now, they had never effectively withstood arrows to this extent.

"Half-release!"

"Advance!"

The Central army's shield wall was loosely released and their movement speed increased.

"Keep shooting."

Whether they did or not, Eugene struck down Blackout again.

Although the general commander didn't necessarily need to give shooting commands, showing this giant axe itself was meaningful. Both to allies and enemies.

Pipipipiping!

Arrows cleaved the sky, and this time too the Central army countered with the turtle formation.

They repeated releasing and establishing the formation for quick approach and perfect defense, but there are no openings. It's a precision that disallows comparison with miscellaneous soldiers.

However, there was a variable this time.

Puck!

"Keuak!"

Bleeding between the shield wall, soldiers collapsed.

"It pierced through?!"

As if dumbfounded, a central knight looked at a soldier whose arm was skewered. It was the work of designated marksmen possessing hydra bows.

"Keuak!"

"Kak!"

Shieldbearers collapsed additionally here and there, but that number is not many. Partly because hydra bows themselves are few, and because the shield wall was so sturdy.

"Ka Mate!"

At that time, shamans came out from the Central army camp and shouted. Completely naked, they had tattoos engraved all over their bodies.

'That's... Ophelia's?'

Eugene recalled the Dark Elf lady who hypnotized the small people in Samur.

The shamans' tattoos had a different shape from what was on Ophelia's body. However, Eugene, who inherited the blood of a witch, intuited that the two tattoos originated from the same root.

"Drink! Approach the arms of the Gods!"

At the shaman's shout, the bulky warriors gulped down the liquid contained in gourds at once.

A secret medicine that grows ferocity and breaks down the barriers of the heart to conform to hypnosis. Tears of Fanaticism.

What the Vikings originally used was crude and often caused side effects like heart attacks.

However, the Vikings who assimilated into the Center of Britannia are different. They succeeded in improving the drug receiving help from the medicine, alchemy, and magicians of the settled people.

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

Large drums vibrated the battlefield with a constant rhythm. The shamans let out sounds reminiscent of an opera singer's bass.

As the drum sounds riding a unique rhythm and nearly 20 people resonated the bass, a bizarre atmosphere was created.

"Auwooo!"

As if responding, the warriors who drank the Tears of Fanaticism began to let out beast cries.

Like the talons of a bird of prey about to pounce on prey, the warriors' grips distorted. Some even clawed the empty air wildly or scratched their own cheeks self-harming.

Kwang!

A warrior who couldn't control his excitement swung his axe towards an ally's shield.

Naturally, it wasn't mutual killing or going crazy. It was stimulating their souls in their respective ways to reach self-hypnosis (Trance).

The Tears of Fanaticism they consumed were granting the faith of a devout fanatic even to the most rational cynic.

"Woo!"

"Ha!"

"Woo!"

"Ha!"

The central lords shouted in time to the beat. The shamans swung both their arms bizarrely and amplified the hypnotic effect.

"Keuaaaa!"

"Kyaaaaaaaa!"

Before long, the beast cries the warriors were letting out had turned into the roars of something. It was a bizarre scream that couldn't be seen as belonging to creatures of this world.

"Just what is that?"

"Mr. Copson. A-Are those guys human?"

The voices of the conscripted southern longbowmen trembled. Because the sounds made by the berserkers who fell into a trance state weren't simple shouts.

It contained vaguely the mystery of a beast inside it. The southern soldiers got the feeling that hundreds of bears were roaring aiming for them.

"Wuwooooooo!"

"Kyaaaaa!"

Berserkers with demon-like faces come running letting out bizarre screams. All of them are wearing full body armor and holding large two-handed axes.

The enemy heavy infantry at the vanguard was approaching, withstanding up to the 4th volley without major damage.

"What do you mean what is it."

The wrinkled-faced Copson spoke cynically. He is an experienced hunter who retired after working as a mercenary.

"We're fucked."

* * *

Even while the left wing's agitation grew, the center and right wing remained calm. Because the battlefields they had made way through until now were too amazing to be panicked to this extent.

"They've come in sufficiently. Deliver a firestorm upon them."

Homi, who was beside Eugene, stepped on Sandy's back and stood up straight.

Flap! Flap!

Swinging a large flag, she sent a signal to the waiting troops. Her sense of balance and physical strength allowed the use of a flag of length and size that the entire army could see.

Cassandra's female warriors armed with staff slings rotated their bodies 270 degrees.

"Huaaa!"

"Haat!"

Adding centrifugal force to their whole body's muscle strength and swinging the staffs, specially manufactured pots set on fire flew out.

"What the fuck?"

"M-Maintain the formation!"

The Central army knows plainly what result will be brought about if hit by that. However, according to orders, they had to maintain the dense formation.

Crash!

The pots that flew with considerable accuracy collided with the shields and refreshingly shattered into pieces.

"Kkeuaaaak!"

However, the flames that spread in an instant were not refreshing at all.

Flaming oil is impossible to block with even the most solid shield wall. The square formation broke immediately, and soldiers scattered in all directions like cockroaches.

No matter how well-trained elite soldiers they were, they couldn't adhere to orders in front of the burning pain and the smell of their comrades' burning flesh.

"Shoot!"

A rain of arrows poured upon them. Since the square formation had collapsed, it worked properly this time.

Flesh tearing sounds rang out loudly, and the corpses of the central army collapsed from all directions. However, since the surging momentum and numbers were great, they eventually succeeded in narrowing the distance.

"Archer unit, step back. Hammer Brotherhood, to the front!"

According to the drills they trained numerous times, the Dark Elves stepped back. That spot was filled by the Dwarf warriors glaring with their eyes.

"Finally the time has come!"

"It's a contest whether the Viking axe is stronger or the Dwarf hammer is stronger!"

Eugene trusted the Hammer Brotherhood, but still, the opponents are the descendants of the renowned Vikings. That's why he was prepared for damage. But the result was unexpected.

"Uwaaak!"

The center of Kruger's army was being unilaterally smashed.

Crunch!

Crackle!

"M-My foot!"

"My kneee!"

From all directions, Kruger's army collapsed grasping their broken lower bodies.

The ones who hate sailing as much as nomads who fear the sea calling it the 'River of Death' are Dwarves.

Therefore, Britannian warriors had no experience fighting Dwarf heavy infantry.

They were close to a blank slate on how to face Dwarf warriors whose center of gravity and strike points are low while their strength is enormous.

"Eit!"

A central warrior aimed for an opening and kicked a Dwarf's chest, but that was a mistake. Like kicking a boulder, the Dwarf didn't budge at all, and rather the one who kicked lost his balance.

"Insolent human bastard! Daring to kick an elder?"

A military pick that flew in like immediate punishment put a hole in his thigh and blood spurted out.

"Kkeuaaaaa... heup"

The warrior who sat down screaming was immediately quieted as a hole was put in his forehead too.

"Damn it! Guys like midgets, what kind of strength is this..."

Dwarves born receiving the power of the earth are unmatched among intelligent species when it comes to physical strength.

The heavy infantry of Kruger's army who took them lightly for short heights had to pay the price dearly.

Of course, since it's a war, dangerous situations frequently occurred for the Dwarf warriors as well.

"Globin! No!"

Struggling against a central knight, a Dwarf decurion got hit by an axe in the gap of his armor and collapsed. However, the finishing blow didn't come flying.

Thwack!

The central knight who was about to strike down his axe collapsed looking at the arrow lodged in his neck as if in disbelief.

"Keoheok!"

"Aak!"

The arrows that flew over the Hammer Brotherhood's helmets swept through the Central army in the front line.

Small Dwarves and uniformly tall Dark Elves. In front of the combination of the two, the Kruger army's center was forced into a cowardly fight.

"Hold out! Time is on our side, so we win just by holding out!"

Conversely, the Southern army's left wing was already shaking despite the range and numerical superiority of the pikemen.

Spear shafts snapped in half in front of bloody axe swings, and there were also many pikes dropped on the ground, let go out of fear and shock.

- Sir Einse is clamoring to give him reinforcements right now.

- They already departed!

- Baron Lance is requesting to swap with the rear rank!

- Denied! It hasn't even been 10 minutes since they swapped! Tell them to hold out!

- Sir Gosbek was killed in action in a one-on-one duel with an enemy knight! His son Sir Sven has avenged him and is leading the unit instead!

- ...

Baron Foster of the left wing was on the verge of going crazy at the situation where only requests for support or sad news flew in. There was almost no place sending news of victory.

Due to Eugene's consideration, the number of the left wing was 1.5 times that of the opponent, so they could somehow hold out with quick rotations.

However, even that reached its limit.

"Keuwooooo!"

The berserkers letting out strange screams arrived at the front line.

The Southern army soldiers trembled seeing that the both arms of the howling enemy army were as thick as their own thighs.

Crack!

Crunch!

As the shields broke apart at the merciless axe swings, screams full of fear burst out.

The pikemen thrust their spears crying and wailing, but those too all broke in front of the axe swings and couldn't pierce the thick armor.

Thwump!

A spear pierced the abdomen of a certain berserker by luck, and hope dwelled on the face of that pikeman.

"..."

However, the berserker glared at the pikeman expressionlessly with the blood-dripping spear still lodged in his abdomen.

From the mouth of the madman, only anger flowed, and not a speck of groan of pain was contained.

"Hiiiik!"

Overwhelmed by that momentum, the pikeman couldn't even properly resist and was cleaved by an axe swing.

From all directions, berserkers covered in blood were haphazardly collapsing the front line. Even though they suffered spear wounds on their abdomens and chests or had several arrows lodged in them, none of them blinked an eye.

Rather, only roars full of anger grew stronger. Painful groans belonged solely to the Southern army soldiers.

* * *

"Grrrrr."

"Disgusting bastards! Did you forget human language too?"

Baron Lester, who had sliced 2 berserkers and was fighting the 3rd, ground his teeth.

Defending against a zweihander with a longsword, he caught the opponent's thrusting posture.

'Now!'

Striking down the thrusting sword blade, Baron Lester swung his fist at the berserker's face. A fist holding the sword handle.

Thwack!

The longsword's crossguard dug out the berserker's left eye.

Even if they don't know pain because they are in a frenzy state, if they suddenly lose one eye, their sense of balance collapses.

Dodging the haphazardly swung axe, the tip of Baron Lester's sword pierced the berserker's neck.

"Kkeureureuk!"

However, the baptism of fanaticism incited him to continue the fight even though his windpipe was cut.

Baron Lester kicked his shin with the foot wearing a steel boot and tripped the berserker.

Holding the sword blade and striking down like a hammer, the crossguard crushed the berserker's temple.

Thud.

As the corpse finally collapsed, Baron Lester contorted his face as if it was disgusting.

Even the right wing where elites were deployed is this difficult, the left wing must be being smashed by now.

"His Excellency's central army probably needs to support the left wing."

Looking worriedly towards the lord's direction, Baron Lester's mouth fell open.

A slaughterhouse was unfolding there. Among the Central army standing on two legs, there were only those running away.

* * *

Eugene drove Might immediately when the madmen howling like beasts reached the center.

"Follow me!"

The raised giant axe sparkled receiving the sunlight, and the Wendigo's cloak fluttered dazzlingly. Behind him, knights kissed their swords and followed.

Wearing thick armor and immune to pain and fear, the berserkers didn't budge even with several arrows, spears, and swords lodged in their bodies.

Slice!

However, it had no meaning in front of an axe blade that cleaved the body itself into two halves.

"The Count is over there!"

"Kill him! If we just kill that bastard, it's our victory!"

All nearby Central army soldiers rushed towards Eugene, and all of them were swept away like harvested straw.

"Descendants of fanaticism! There is the one who blasphemes your Gods!"

A shaman riding a horse shouted in a unique bass tone. Every berserker in the vicinity turned their bloodshot eyes to Eugene.

"Kill that man! Kill him and offer him to the Hall of the Gods..."

The shaman's heart was pierced by Eugene's javelin, and he flew about 10m and rolled on the ground.

"Rank 2 of the Hammer Brotherhood rotate with rank 3! Wounded break away from the engagement zone!"

Eugene constantly grasped the timing for rotations while surveying the battle lines throughout the fight. At the same time, he also caught the timing for himself to strike forward.

'Is that guy the frontline commander?'

The mustache-wearing middle-aged man wearing superb armor freaked out as the giant warhorse rushed in crushing the soldiers.

Its charge was so swift and fierce that there was no time to evade.

Kwang!

A berserker in its path was hit by Might's front paw and flew past the mustache commander's side.

'To think of a bloody tearing sound of wind created by a human body!'

Goosebumps rose on the commander's skin. A situation where Eugene had already reached right in front of him.

"This bastard! If you want to harm His Excellency, you'll have to strike me down!"

A central knight of nearly 2m build swung a halberd and blocked him, but couldn't withstand two exchanges.

With one blow he kneeled down on one knee, and on the second blow, the knight was cleaved in two along with the halberd he held up over his head.

The soul of a great warrior was big enough to get caught in the teeth of a hell spirit.

[Kiyaaaaaaa-!]

The scream of the soul being chewed into pieces echoed across the battlefield. Terrible fear that couldn't be heard in the present world was contained within it.

The echo of pain ringing only in the abyss of the other world humans cannot reach.

It was much heavier and more intense than the foolish anger that swallowed the souls of the berserkers.

"...!"

"!!!"

The light of reason returned to the eyes of the berserkers who had gone crazy with anger fighting. The frenzy that made them invincible was washed away by the scream of the soul.

"Have you come to your senses now?"

Eugene's eyes, penetrating mysteries, detected that the trance state was forcibly released.

He could see the beast's mystery clinging to the berserkers' souls being driven out. And in its place, fiercely welling up fear.

"Eoheueu."

Trembling gazes numbering Blackout, which would make even their own two-handed axes look like toys, gathered.

"Cry like humans at least when you die."

Eugene's cold voice overawed them.

"Keuaaak!"

When the only central knights who were rushing in burning with fighting spirit were split in half, the vanguard of the Kruger army began to rout.

"R-Run away!"

Captured by fear and running in reverse, they were no longer berserkers crazy with anger.