Chapter 287

Chapter 287 - Time of the Decisive Battle (5)

Arson in a surprise attack situation requires more skill than one might think. Immediate field judgments must be made regarding hard-to-extinguish locations, places where fire spreads easily, wind direction, and vigilance against intercepting fOrces.

Especially when using fire arrows from a distance like now, the difficulty increases further. Horse archery is already difficult, but they have to aim at targets with fire arrows whose trajectories are unstable.

The only ones who can do this perfectly are nomads. The equestrian tribes who mount horses before learning to walk and start babbling while nursing on horseback.

"Everyone hold your positions! Combatants grab your shields and spears and block the paths, servants and slaves deliver helmets and armor!"

"Cut the guy ropes of the tents in the middle! If you collapse the tents, the fire won't spread to both sides even when facing the wind!"

Usually in such situations, people would run around in confusion and scatter, but this was the Emperor's camp. True to the elites protecting the highest VIP, they handled the surprise attack calmly.

They minimized damage by doing things like individuals extinguishing fires, wearing armor, and rotating with personnel in the front lines.

"The barbarian bastards have grown bold!"

"You bastards! Where do you think this is... Keok!"

Those who mounted their horses and went out to counterattack were concentrated with arrows and fell.

Hihihing-!

Even fully armored knights couldn't help but fall from their horses when showered with nearly 10 arrows.

Not all of the raiding party had loaded fire arrows. Mounted bows have a shorter range than infantry bows, so they have to approach that much closer. Since this made them vulnerable to interception, escort shooters were mixed in here and there.

"Everyone defend your positions! Chasing those bastards will only increase allied corpses anyway!"

"But they are the bastards who shot arrows in the presence of His Majesty the Emperor! Are you saying we should just watch?"

"I understand your loyalty, Sir, but all of them are wearing leather armor and haven't even barded their horses. It will be hard for our charging horses to catch up to nomadic racehorses. Those barbarians consider it no shame to show their backs to the enemies."

Cool-headed knights stopped the excited knights.

"But having run this distance, they must surely be exhausted, so if we pursue them persistently..."

"Look at the river over there."

"Ah!"

Far away, an equally numerous number of spare horses were drinking river water. The warhorses currently attacking seemed to have run here without carrying anyone and swapped just before the attack.

"Since they have no heavy cavalry, they can't deal a decisive blow either. For now, our priority is to defend solidly and ensure the main fOrce across the river doesn't break formation."

As the defense solidified to some extent, soldiers raised Imperial flags high everywhere.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

"Beat every drum you have! We are announcing that we are standing strong!"

Perhaps the calm response was effective, the main fOrce across the river was also finding stability.

"The bastards are reacting quicker than expected? Should we hit them more?"

"The Lord strictly instructed us to only keep them in check and fall back."

"But Captain. Returning like this is too..."

"Mmm."

The Dark Elves were also perplexed. Eugene clearly emphasized that low-risk, low-return was sufficient.

However, at this rate, it would end up looking like the Emperor brilliantly defended against a confident surprise attack. It could paradoxically end up only raising the morale of the Imperial army.

Right then, a variable no one expected activated in a corner of the battlefield.

Dudududu!

Every time hooves struck the ground, clods of dirt several times taller than a person shot up.

"Wh-What is that?!"

Eugene and Might, having gone around the outskirts of the confronting armies, were charging towards the earthen fortress single-handedly.

* * *

There are 3 things Might likes very much.

Showing off his bravery by running wild on the battlefield or hunting grounds.

Enjoying a heavenly grooming session while going back and forth through a dedicated brush tunnel dense with 20 brushes.

The last is simply running at full speed with Eugene on his back.

However, Eugene didn't do the 3rd one often. Because if ridden normally, the riding recoil at tremendous speed would launch Eugene into the sky. He had to take his feet out of the stirrups, make an O shape with both legs, and tightly grip Might's belly. That was bothersome even for Eugene.

The wind pressure of running at maximum speed.

The master's embrace solidly wrapping around his back and belly.

"Chase him! I don't know what he's trying to do, but we can't just let him be!"

"How are we supposed to catch up to that?!"

Even the gazes of everyone looking on in astonishment, regardless of friend or foe, due to the overwhelming speed.

Grrrrr-!

For Might, it was the best feast.

Kkadeuk! Kkadeuk! Kkadeuk! Kkadeuk!

Every piece of ground the 4 hooves struck was gouged out as if smashed by an ogre's club. The dirt columns erupting explosively half a beat later were several times taller than a grown man.

"My goodness! With leg muscles like that, he could smash a castle gate in one hit."

"Can you believe there were dozens of such warhorses during the ancient kingdom era? How grand the military parades must have been when they ruled the whole world."

The allied nobles marveled uniformly. Because of the pride of being the first successor to the ancient kingdom, Roman nobles possess a deeper sense of elitism than nobles of other countries.

The sight of an ancient warhorse, buried in the back alleys of history, running right before their eyes. That went beyond reassurance for a powerful ally and raised the pride flowing in their respective veins.

This was especially severe for the knight order of the Shadow Legion. Not to mention the Black Knights riding Mightybred Chargers, but even the squires riding ordinary warhorses looked at Might with eyes immersed in fantasy. Because it was the cavalry they idealized materialized.

"Is this the time to just watch?!"

The knights and nobles of the Imperial left wing clamored to pursue, but the Black Knights shook their heads.

"It is impossible for any feet to catch up to that ancient devil. If the Count has made up his mind to do something, it is already out of our hands."

In fact, Eugene, galloping along the river, was almost approaching the earthen fortress.

"No matter if he's the Count, what can he do there alone? I heard Count Mayer enjoys using deception tactics to confuse the enemies."

"This is an opportunity rather. Let's push the enemies back and route them while the Count is absent."

It was a cold judgment, but for the earthen fortress defenders, it was infuriating.

"Fire!"

The earthen wall archers and slingers tried to attack, but it wasn't easy. Since he was approaching hugging the riverside, most couldn't get a shooting angle and had to just watch.

"He's not even flinching!"

The one or two arrows that hit among the mostly missing ones didn't work at all. Might, having turned around the left side of the earthen fortress like that, stepped onto the earthen wall.

Kwang!

"Aaargh!"

"Waak!"

The soldiers gathered to stop him bounced off in all directions. The remaining ones were swept away cleanly when Eugene swung the axe side to side once each.

"Has the battle stopped?"

Eugene confirmed that both armies had entered a lull and were all looking this way. With commotions happening sequentially in the rear, it wasn't a strange occurrence.

"Good timing."

Eugene wanted to use this opportunity more frugally.

Grrr-!

As if responding to his master's thought, Might ran along the earthen wall.

"He's coming this way!"

"Dodge!"

The soldiers on the wall screamed and jumped off the earthen fortress. Since they were all stuck to the wall for defense, there was no other way to avoid him.

"Everyone move unless you want to get smashed!"

Kyarrrrr-!

There were a few brave ones who stepped forward. However, they were cleaned up cleanly in front of the handle of Blackout held in reverse grip and Might's body slam.

"Fire! Fire! Just shoot everything you can!"

Even if they managed to shoot crossbows somehow, it was impossible to pierce the barding and armor made of Hydra leather. Even then, Eugene extended the giant axe blade sideways to protect Might's eyes.

"Hiiik!"

Soldiers who met the eyes of their superiors flying flutteringly with lost focus scrambled to jump down. Of course, they couldn't be fine either.

"Aaaaaargh!"

"Ouch!"

Everyone basically had full-body contusions and wailed while grabbing their legs.

Thump!

Crack!

Ppudeuk!

As company-sized soldiers fell sequentially, the sound of breaking bones could be heard all the way to where the Imperial and allied fOrces were. Both armies blankly watched that bizarre sight.

"Th-Th-Th-That!!!"

"Even if a Minotaur charged, it wouldn't be to that extent..."

The Imperial army looked dumbfounded.

"Wahahahaha!"

"That guy fell headfirst!"

"How refreshing!"

The allied fOrces cheered excitedly.

Receiving contrasting reactions, the wandering duo, having swept the earthen wall clean, finally stood in front of the central watchtower. Befitting a command tower, it was built large with care, but naturally, it was supported by wooden pillars, not stone.

As the giant axe blade flashed a few times, the pillars were neatly severed. With a loud noise, the watchtower collapsed, and the various flags fluttering from the roof were also smashed to the ground and broken.

'Is this enough?'

Looking at the allied fOrces turned into a sea of laughter and the Imperial army fallen into silence, it seemed he had done everything he could.

Eugene turned the horse's head and charged towards the Rein River. Maximizing his speed, Might jumped from the edge of the makeshift pier.

The flat-bottomed boats had their chains unfastened for repairs after completing the river crossing operation. They were drifting here and there like stepping stones up to the middle of the river.

Thump!

As soon as Might landed on a burning flat-bottomed boat, he jumped again.

Ujikkeun!

Receiving 2 impacts while weakened by the fire, the boat sank immediately.

Thump! Thump!

Every time he jumped and crossed two or three times, the burning boats scattered in all directions from the recoil. And finally.

Kwaang!

Might, flying with maximum fOrce, splashed into the river leaving about 30% of it.

"A-Alright?"

Some in the Imperial army held hope at that sight, but it didn't last long. Suddenly, small ripples formed a V shape on the surface, and then they grew fiercely violent.

Chwaaak!

With a massive splash, Might soared from beyond the estuary. Cooling his heated body with the river water seemed refreshing.

"Did you hunt in the meantime?"

Might was holding a large snakehead fish. Eugene's middle and index fingers, formed into a circle, approached the head of the snakehead struggling to escape.

Ttaak!

The snakehead, its skull cracked by a nuclear finger flick, went limp.

Grrr-!

Might expressed his gratitude and swallowed it whole.

"Cease attack!"

"Serve the Lord!"

Eugene headed towards the Dark Elf cavalry running towards him with a baffled face.

"Sh-Shouldn't we chase him even now?"

"How? Can your warhorse also fly around hopping like just now?"

The Imperial faction nobles also realized something was terribly wrong, but now there was truly nothing they could do.

* * *

"From now on, I will take command."

"Please give the order to charge."

"We will trample them all!"

The tribal horse archers were flustered but quickly adapted. Rather, they blew away their previous worries and raised their weapons imposingly.

Because they didn't have heavy cavalry, they stomped their feet in front of the solidly defending camp, but it's a different story when Eugene is with them.

Lynxes cannot attack a turtle protected by a hard shell. But once an elephant steps on it, a joyful feast is possible.

Naturally, the Emperor's camp was also on high alert.

Kwajijik!

"The right wooden palisade has been destroyed!"

Along with the messenger's report, horse archers poured in with shouts. Eugene was at their forefront.

"Protect His Majesty!"

"Block them!"

Loyal royal guards tried to block the path, but they couldn't buy even 1 second. As the black axe blade danced, they were ground up like sausages in a grinder.

"Burn everything!"

The horse archers threw makeshift tOrches made by bundling all prepared oil cloths and tying them to 2 arrows.

They pierced every visible enemy soldier with high-angle shots from outside the camp and direct shots from the infiltrated personnel.

"Damn it! Release the cows, pack horses, and camels!"

The Chief of Staff, receiving treatment for leprosy skin worsened by the fOrced march, rushed out and shouted.

"These are eastern camels cherished by His Majesty..."

"Then it will be even more effective! I'll take responsibility, so release them if I tell you to!"

Servants set off camels draped in the finest silk out of the camp with trembling hands. Everywhere, they simultaneously opened the pens and whipped the rumps of cows and pack horses to drive them out.

Hihihing-!

Eummee-.

The livestock became excited and scattered in all directions. Although this act incurred great cost loss, it was a very effective tactic against nomads. All armies in this era love looting, but nomads are particularly severe.

Nomads are those where even the lord-vassal relationship operates on the concept of loyalty/obligation rather than fealty. If a large amount of loot appeared right before their eyes, even a warlord found it difficult to control his crazed subordinates.

And here, there were plenty of high-grade livestock for the Emperor and central nobles.

"...What are those guys."

"Chief of Staff? They're not reacting?"

However, the tribal warriors didn't even spare a glance at the fleeing livestock. No matter how elite they were, they were a nomadic tribe. When camels and horses draped in golden silk ran by, it would be normal for everyone to be distracted chasing them.

"Do these city bumpkins see us as total pushovers?"

"Do they think we're beggars?"

The Dark Elves yelled as if it was ridiculous.

They were imbued with Eugene's military law and lump-sum distribution after the battle ended. Furthermore, enjoying excellent facilities, culture, and diet, their identity as bourgeoisie was firmly established.

It might have been different 4 years ago, but no one would be swayed by such a tactic now. Of course, it was a waste for the fleeing livestock, so everyone smacked their lips, though.

Bbeeeeee-!

Homi's whistle was heard from the riverbank where she had landed at some point. The livestock scattering outside the Emperor's camp stopped as if struck by lightning and began flocking in one direction.

"You have nothing to regret now, right?"

Eugene charged, leading his subordinates who responded with shouts.

"Do you know the location of the Emperor bastard?"

"Probably."

Since the Emperor's camp gathered all sorts of summoners, magicians, and the catalysts and tools they used, the scent of mystery was that thick.

-I heard the Emperor frequently holds rituals even when he comes outside.

It was a common occurrence for a monarch driven into a corner to rely on mystical powers, starting with prophecies.

Eugene sprinted towards the place where the lingering scent of magic was concentrated. In an emergency situation, either the Emperor calls the magicians or the magicians run to the Emperor; one of the two would definitely happen.

Soon after, he spotted a middle-aged man leading royal guard knights out.

"..."

"...!"

The middle-aged man also spotted Eugene and stopped. Although it was his first time seeing him in person, Eugene intuited that he was Gaius.

Because there would be no one else wearing a golden crown and glaring at him with such hatred-filled eyes.

"How do you do?"

The Emperor lost his reason at Eugene smiling affably and waving his left hand.

"This lowly mercenary captain bastard dares..."

Eugene pulled back his waving left hand and threw the pilum hidden in his right hand.

Swoooosh!

"Your Majesty!"

Royal guard knights, greatly alarmed by the surprise attack, hastily jumped out and blocked the front.

Crunch!

Eugene marveled at the sight of a knight dying as he was pierced through his armor.

'This pilum is quite something?'

Weight, balance, length, grip, and a structure minimizing air resistance.

True to a weapon perfected from the 2nd to the 3rd Age, there was a definite difference from the javelins Eugene had used so far.

The Emperor didn't even glance at the knight who sacrificed himself loyally and fixed his gaze on Eugene.

"A thief who stole my treasure, the treasure of Roman, crawled in on his own two feet! You evaded me well all this time?!"

"You were chasing me? I didn't know because I rarely marched thanks to the Moving Castle."

The Emperor's face flushed bright red.

"I also wanted to visit you sooner to cause you trouble, but throwing a spear at the king's face required various preparations, you see."

"May there be a curse on that lowly bloodline!"

"Will you be able to say the same to the baby my wife will bear?"

The Emperor felt his blood rush backwards at Eugene not losing a single word. Unlike the rumors of a noble knight, his glibness was second to none to a mercenary captain.

"Your Majesty! Please calm yourself!"

"You must step back!"

The royal guard knights desperately tried to stop him. The cavalry that infiltrated with Eugene right now was only about 20% of the entire raiding party. The rest approached more boldly and attacked as Eugene caused a rampage inside.

This was not the time to leisurely chat like this, but a time to deploy commanders here and there to settle the confusion.

"Lord! We think this guy is that rumored Chief of Staff!"

At that moment, a tribal warrior dragged a scrawny young man over. Having been beaten a few times while resisting in an already weakened state, he was half dead.

"Your... Majesty... Abandon me and fall ba..."

The miserable sight of his most favored vassal. Seeing that, the Emperor's thread of reason snapped completely.