Chapter 285

Chapter 285 - Time of the Decisive Battle (3)

"Must you really go into that place?"

Valda had a worried face. Her stance was different from Rex's, who passed it off as 'If this guy says he's going to fight, he'll figure it out.'

Although she wasn't lacking in battlefield experience, this was her first time seeing such a large-scale pitched battle where they battered each other.

Twitch, twitch.

There were so many people that the outcries of the grass seeds trampled by countless shoes and hooves tickled her ears.

"The allied fOrces are fighting well enough. Even if we focus solely on support from here, the situation won't get worse."

"Are you worried about me?"

"Always."

It was surprising for her, who usually hardly interfered with Eugene's sorties.

"What kind of wife would feel at ease when her husband goes out to the battlefield? I know well that you are stronger than anyone. But that place is truly a vortex of chaos. Even a great hero..."

"A single blade is enough to meet a sudden, violent death. You've said it like a habit, so I know well. But you know I'm not going out blinded by a desire for fame, right?"

"Yes."

Valda, who communicated with him as a wife, friend, and advisor while sharing flesh every day, knew well. The Eugene seen by outsiders was the knight of knights, but his true nature was different in many ways.

Eugene preferred pondering what trade goods to load onto the Moving Castle or what menu to add to the Food Court for business over establishing merits on the battlefield.

Despite achieving success while wandering the battlefields, he took the lead in blessing subordinates who wanted to leave the battlefield. If necessary, he didn't hesitate to bribe corrupt individuals or join hands with dirty factions.

Knights would willingly become tiger moths and charge into tOrches to grasp glory, but not Eugene.

"In a battle of this scale, even an elite unit gets swept away like a water drop falling into a lake. Because I hated my subordinates dying and getting hurt, I was avoiding the deployment of infantry as much as possible."

"Is that why you're being conscious of the allied nobles?"

"Of course. Since they are shitting blood like that over there. I can feel them glaring at me all the way from here. Although we agreed from the start to focus on providing logistics and a resting place..."

Human hearts aren't that logical. When one is struggling and their subordinates are dying, resentment naturally arises. Valda also knew that part well.

"So you are stepping forward to make up for it."

"It's also efficient. The battlefield, less than a tenth of the size where tens of thousands of soldiers are tangled and fighting, will be more influenced by me."

"You speak so easily of entering a place where knights are running wild."

Might purred in dissatisfaction. If she had blocked others from heading to the battlefield, he would have gotten angry long ago, but in front of Valda, even he softened.

It was partly because she was his master's spouse, but the fact that she exuded his master's scent more intensely than anyone else made Might weak.

Smooch!

Valda, cupping Might's head with both hands, kissed his cheek with floral-scented lips. Although she stood entirely on her tiptoes since she couldn't reach his height, he didn't waver at all.

"Protect him, as always."

Grrr-!

Exuding a scent similar to his master's while offering an expression of affection his master never gave. Might couldn't be angry.

"Seeing you like this, maybe I worried for nothing."

Valda smiled bitterly at the sight of her husband holding Blackout while mounted on Might. He overflowed with a majesty that seemed like he would cleave everything and escape no matter how rough a place he was dropped into.

"Sortie preparations are complete."

Hind reported as the representative of the assembled knights.

"Your Excellency! You wouldn't possibly leave us behind, would you?"

Rampage looked at Eugene with a desperate face. Because he eagerly desired to etch their names as the first Dwarf cavalry in a battle that would go down in history.

"For what reason did I spend a fortune to complete the Armored Cavalry? In that dogfight arena, there are few as dependable as you guys."

"Leave it to us! We will shake off all the gnats trying to cling to Your Excellency!"

"That role belongs to the knights."

The young knights bravely beat their chests as if they couldn't lose. The Dwarves laughing with satisfaction, and the knights kissing the goddess's necklaces followed behind Eugene.

* * *

The battle situation changed even more dynamically. First, the allied left wing composed of foreign mercenaries raised their momentum and began pushing back their opponents. At their forefront were the Gord mercenaries.

"Is this all those famous gladiators amount to? Huh?!"

A bald warrior nearly 2m tall holding a great mace roared. In front of him, champion gladiators with crushed skulls were collapsed.

In a terrain with several protruding rocks, dead warhorses had created a makeshift fortress of stones and flesh, and unluckily, it was located at a strategic point ruining the Imperial army's formation.

"Break through! I said break through!"

"Because of that bastard, the reinfOrcements can't come!"

The mercenary captain and noble roared, but everyone was scared and didn't step forward. It was understandable since 15 men had already had their heads or shoulders crushed trying to break through that monster-like Gord warrior.

"I will give 7 silver coins to the one who kills that man!"

Even though the noble declared it, no one stepped forward, only gauging each other.

"Fine! I'll give 10! I will hang 10 silver coins on that bastard's neck!"

"...!"

A mercenary tempted by money rushed over holding a poleaxe.

Crunch!

And a moment later, he rolled back with all his ribs crushed. At the sight of the mercenary dying while gasping, the allied fOrces cheered, and a heavy silence fell over the Imperial army.

While the allied left wing pushed back the enemies and advanced, the center was continuously being pushed back. This was because the exhausted legion vanguard retreated and the assault fOrce stepped forward.

The vanguard fought defensively, armed with spears and shields to drain the enemy's stamina. On the other hand, the assault fOrce, veteran legionaries, were armed with gladii and stepped forward aggressively.

Allied mercenaries with split bellies and severed limbs wailed from all directions. As if the shower had turned into a hail of blades, the center fell into great confusion.

Organically swapping units with completely different combat styles to drastically change the battle rhythm. This disruption tactic was the Shadow Legion's specialty.

"Your Highness the Duke. You must fall back."

"Shut up! If I retreat, this army is doomed! Everyone will try to flee, and the left wing will be completely surrounded!"

As 2 mercenary groups evaporated instantly before the assault fOrce's blade storm, the path towards Duke Leray, the supreme commander, opened up.

"Capture the Duke! I will award half his ransom to whoever captures the Duke! This is a promise personally made by His Majesty the Emperor!"

The Shadow Legion doesn't hang this kind of bounty due to discipline issues, but now was an exception. If they just dealt with Duke Leray, the center would collapse, and both wings would inevitably have to retreat.

"Did you think guts alone were enough?"

"Revenge is something only those with power do!"

The allied right wing, which had pushed hard in the beginning, had also reached an equilibrium. The Southern Army had numbers and were full of combat intent, but that couldn't compensate for equipment and combat skills.

As the Imperial faction mercenaries and knights responded calmly, more allied soldiers began to fall. General Magnus's adjunct nodded with a confident face.

"General. At this rate, Duke Leray's center will soon collapse. The protruding enemy left wing will be semi-surrounded. We can win."

"No."

Magnus briefly denied his subordinate's words.

"Follow me."

"Will you step forward yourself?"

"We cannot win like this. The enemies who can truly create variables are still just observing."

Everyone knew the target Magnus spoke of was Count Mayer's army.

They had only done two things: the duel and ranged support. Despite not directly engaging in the battlefield, they had dealt serious blows to the Imperial army's morale and tactics.

"I don't know why such a strong army is crouching like that."

"Could it be internal discord? As the two great lords, Leray and Robert probably wanted to suppress the growing influence of a foreign noble."

It was a plausible story. However, General Magnus had seen Duke Leray at a banquet in the past.

"Duke Leray is a pragmatic man. He is not the type to ruin the greater cause because of pride."

"Even if he is, there are more than one or two nobles following under him. In a situation where they already brought in a bunch of foreign mercenaries, there must be many nobles dissatisfied with foreign intervention."

"Hmm."

"The Count's prestige is tremendous due to the majesty he showed in the duel. In addition, he even formed a marriage alliance with the Sage of the Emerald Forest. With that authority, he could claim partial ownership of the southern territories. The nobles under Robert, who once had their territories taken, must be anxious."

This was also possible. Although Valda had nothing but her body, her bloodline itself established a marriage alliance.

"That's enough of the reasons. It is clear that now, while the Count is not stepping forward, is the opportunity. We break through the enemy knights with a concentrated attack, and riding that momentum, we tear into the flank of the right wing."

The right wing had a high proportion of conscripts with poor armor. If attacked on both sides by knights, they would collapse immediately.

* * *

The battle of the knights, which had been tightly contested, was overturned as General Magnus joined leading his praetorian guards.

Their name was Praetorian Knights. A title given to the most outstanding knights in the Shadow Legion.

General Magnus, holding the AAAether Sword, led the Praetorians. The ancient sword that overwhelmed the audience at every Imperial ceremonial event. There was no legionary who didn't recognize its dignity.

"The General has arrived!"

"Winning Knight! Winning Knight!"

With shouts, the morale of the Black Knights began to skyrocket.

"Die! Profane traitor bastards!"

"We will end the civil war today!"

The Praetorians were skilled, but they also rode the ones with the thickest blood among the Mightybred Chargers. Even while covering their entire bodies in iron barding, these warhorses were as fast as racehorses and didn't tire.

-What?! What the hell are those guys?

-Catching up to us dressed like that!

To the northeastern pillaging nomads, they were notorious as devil's warhorses. Because the chunks of iron that deflected all arrows caught up to light cavalry and slaughtered them.

As Magnus and the Praetorians charged into the stagnated area, the allied knights were utterly crushed.

"Magnus! Hand over your ne... Keok!"

"I am Bill of House Zanetti..."

Slash!

Crack!

The allied knights who rushed at the General out of desire for glory had their swords chopped into pieces and their heads dropped.

"Fire!"

"Aim for the horses!"

The allied cavalry frantically fired mounted crossbows, but they too didn't work at all.

"Th-They are coming this way!"

They were soon covered in blood or trampled to death by hooves before the retaliatory charge.

"Team 1 and Team 3 continue advancing!"

The knights fighting chaotically were immediately reassembled at the General's command.

"Team 2 fall back and regroup! Team 5 and Team 6 turn around and attack Count Mayer's archers!"

General Magnus additionally killed 2 knights while giving orders.

"Team 4 follow me! We maneuver diagonally and tear into the enemy right wing's flank! Break through the knights blocking us!"

"Understood!"

In a chaotic battlefield, excitement, anger, and pride cloud the knights' reason.

Taking control of them and commanding them in perfect order requires a lot. Vision and tactical capabilities were basic, and overwhelming authority was needed.

Imagine a knight who lost an eye to the enemy right in front of him, fOrced to live as a cyclops. Making him, burning with a desire for revenge, follow an order like 'Cease combat and support our allies' is not something anyone can do.

"Winning Knight! Winning Knight! Winning Knight!"

And the invincible general, whom the Black Knights chanted for in unison, had that power. As the allied knights were pushed back by Magnus's participation, the path to the Dark Elf archers, who were a thorn in their side, opened up.

"Trample those dog-like barbarian bastards!"

"Kill them all!"

The Black Knights advanced towards that place, but they had to stop before going far.

"That's a problem."

Ssukkeong!

The creepy sound of iron armor being sliced off in a single stroke.

Jureureureuk.

The upper body of the vanguard Black Knight fell diagonally, pouring blood profusely.

"C-Count Mayer?"

"The Count has appeared!"

A knight holding a giant axe dyed in blood revealed himself from the allied fOrces' camp.

Grrrr-!

A true ancient devil only seen through old books and statues. At that majesty, the Mightybred Chargers were frightened and hesitated, stepping back.

"Whoa, whoa!"

"Stay still. Are you going to disgrace your master?"

The Black Knights tried to calm the horses, but it wasn't easy. The Mightybred Chargers knew instinctively. The blood that remained merely a few percent in their own veins, that terrifying warhorse was filled with 100%.

It would have been better if they were ordinary warhorses. The Mightybred Chargers' bodies stiffened at the sensation of receiving the king whose seat had been empty for a long time.

"Do not scold the horses. Even if beasts can suppress their appetite, they cannot suppress what their blood commands."

"If you are a knight, speak with your sword, not your mouth!"

The Black Knights burned with fighting spirit and fOrcefully spurred their horses to charge. But Eugene was not alone. Behind him, the Armored Cavalry was waiting.

Even heavily armed knights couldn't withstand the bolts shot by siege crossbows. Since they were taking aim from a stationary position, they accurately pierced the vulnerable points of the armor.

"What?"

As their comrades suddenly fell in droves, the black axe fell upon those who panicked. Holding it in reverse grip and striking with the mace attached to the axe handle sent the Black Knights flying like pinwheels.

"Uuuugh..."

"Dodge!"

The Black Knights who had fallen and were grabbing the bolts recoiled in terror at the charge of Might and the Vertigos. Those who viciously gritted their teeth and tried to fight back bounced off with Thump! Thump! sounds.

* * *

"The ones to end this war are the knights of our Shadow Legion! A chance to leave shining names in history! Do not miss it under any circumstances!"

The Black Knight captain encouraged his subordinates and advanced. As the allied knights were driven into a corner, the end of the war began to show.

"Victory awaits us!"

"Uwaaaaaa!"

The Black Knights raised their respective weapons and shouted. Those at the forefront suddenly hesitated.

"What is it?"

"What's happening over there?"

Because their comrades who had gone to crush the Dark Elf archers were hastily fleeing back.

"...Huh?"

A Shadow Legion squire who had just cut down an allied squire looked in one direction in bewilderment.

"Ooh."

A Black Knight who had thrust a spear into the chest of a cavalryman begging for mercy after falling from his horse also froze.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

An open area where the Team 5 and Team 6 Black Knights had fled from. A giant warhorse entirely covered in viper patterns was leisurely walking out from there.

"We're saved!"

"Now is the time! Everyone get out!"

The allied cavalry, who had been unilaterally battered, took refuge behind Eugene like ducklings hiding in their mother's embrace. Thanks to this, a temporary lull arrived in the knights' battles taking place here and there.

All that remained was a silence unsuited for a fierce battlefield. Another Winning Knight had joined the battlefield.

Gulp.

A giant axe that looked like it would decapitate even a dragon in a single strike. A warhorse that seemed molded by God solely out of ferocity. Everyone swallowed their saliva in front of it.

"G-Giant."

Might's size and Blackout gave the effect of making Eugene look much larger than his actual height.

The Black Knights in front of Eugene unwittingly shrank their heads and raised their shields higher. Their warhorses also retreated half a step backward, led by their survival instincts.

The blade of hell fell upon them.

Kwajijik!

A knight and horse were bisected vertically, spilling their contents.

Chwaaaaaak!

With a single horizontal slash, 4 shields split apart, and knights and squires fell from their horses.

"Keuaaaaaak!"

"Aaaargh!"

Those with severed arms or slashed chests screamed and tumbled.

Thud.

Unluckily, 2 Mightybred Chargers in the path of the axe blade also collapsed, spilling their brains.

Chwaaaak!

As the horizontal slash struck again, the torn shields and Black Knights bounced off. The warhorses spewing blood like fountains seemed about to mask even the stench of the battlefield.

"Opening!"

Aiming for the moment right after the slash ended, brave Black Knights charged at his flank. However, the handle of the axe dug into their sides. It wasn't like he could only beat enemies with the axe blade.

"Keoheok!"

Along with the sound of breaking bones, knights, weapons, shields, and helmets flew chaotically into the sky.

Keureureureung-!

Twitch.

The Mightybred Chargers that lost their riders hesitated while trying to return to their masters.

Keureureureu-!

Tw-twitch.

Between loyalty to their masters and obedience commanded by their blood, they ultimately chose the latter.

"Oh dear!"

"Where are you going? Come here!"

Other Black Knights shouted at the horses, but it was useless. The Mightybred Chargers bowed their heads and headed behind Might with trembling steps.

'It's over at this rate!'

The Black Knight captain charged to instill fighting spirit in his subordinates, but he too met his end in a single bout.

Kwang!

Struck in the chest by the mace part of Blackout, he flew nearly 20m. He rolled miserably on the ground and then died.

"Captain!"

"Sir Kurtz!"

"You bastard! How can you, when your master died?!"

Kurtz's warhorse also looked at its master's corpse with a sad face and then headed behind Might.

"Winning Knight! Winning Knight! Winning Knight!"

The allied knights, who had become a house of mourning, had their morale pierce the sky. They all repeatedly raised their spears and swords to the sky, praising their vanguard commander.

There was no Black Knight willing to fill the empty space Eugene swept away. A battlefield where everyone fought fiercely. Paradoxically, the strongest ones stopped fighting and gauged each other.

"General!"

"General Magnus!"

Their commander appeared among the Black Knights. Magnus alternately looked at his crushed subordinates and Eugene, then opened his mouth.

"A true winter is arriving upon the world."

"You couldn't possibly be talking about the season... Hearing there are many summoners around Gaius, it seems you know a thing or two?"

"It has nothing to do with the summoner bastards. The commander of the Shadow Legion is educated on that duty by the previous commander generation after generation."

Eugene made a surprised face.

"Then you should know well that this is not the time to be fighting this kind of civil war?"

"To block the impending wave of disaster, the warriors of the whole world must unite under a single banner. It is impossible with the current system of gathering and scattering."

"And that is Gaius?"

"That is correct. He is a tyrannical king, but without that tyranny, breaking the system is also impossible. The rest is up to the vassals to strive."

"It seems you don't call him Emperor when he isn't around."

"I am a soldier, but also a politician. Sometimes one must compromise with reality. To get what I want, I must also yield what the opponent wants."

Eugene lowered Blackout.

"You might not believe it, but..."

"...?"

"I don't really like fighting. Couldn't we resolve this through conversation? You seem more reasonable than I thought."

"..."

Magnus pointed his sword with an expression that said he had heard a terrible joke.

'Can't be helped.'

Actually, Eugene didn't have high expectations either. Because they were already bound by too many interests between each other.

With the strongest knights of both armies facing a one-on-one duel, the knights clenched their fists. They stood glued to the spot, exploring their opponent.

While Magnus was contemplating how to strike down the monster in front of him, Eugene had a completely different thought.

'What weapon should I use?'

Eugene smelled a thick scent of mystery exuding from Magnus's entire body. True to the Emperor's closest aide and field commander, he would be draped in various magical artifacts. Since his skills as a knight were also immense, he was an opponent Eugene couldn't let his guard down against.

'Should I use the AAAether Sword alike to suppress poison with poison? Or a surprise thrust with the lance? With that sword, the lance might get sliced. Should I face him with this axe after all? Or maybe...'

Before they knew it, not only the knights but also the allied right wing and Imperial left wing had stopped fighting. Countless people were watching the confrontation between the two Winning Knights that would decide the direction of this battle.