"The Northern Army has blocked the advance of the 4th Corps of the Delphine Army!"
Maurice's face lit up with delight at the good news delivered by the messenger.
"Really? What happened? Did they fight and win?"
"No, they separately attacked the supply unit and successfully cut off their supply route!"
"Oh! Is there someone in the Northern Army capable of doing that besides my nephew?"
Ghislain nodded beside him.
It was the same strategy Amelia had used to hold back the Delphine Army in the East. The Northern Army, slower in its advance, seemed to have moved separate units to buy time, likely under Claude's direction.
The Delphine Army, unprepared for the Northern Army's swift action, must have been caught off guard.
"That's fortunate. It seems we'll be able to arrive before the two sides clash."
Unlike the Royalist faction's defensive line, which continued to receive supplies from the capital and the North, the Delphine Army's supply lines were growing increasingly stretched. Now, with their supply route severed, they would be in significant trouble.
This opening would also allow the Northern Army's vanguard to join the defensive line.
Of course, the favorable situation didn't mean they could afford to let their guard down. The enemy might come up with a surprise maneuver.
Ghislain spoke to Maurice.
"The saintess and I will lead the Fenris troops and move out first."
"What? Then what about me?"
"Follow slowly behind us. If the situation changes, you might have to redirect the troops elsewhere."
They might need to shift directions to defend the capital or block the southern front.
"Hmm... this is stressful. I wonder if this will go smoothly…"
Maurice glanced nervously at the rear. While they had converted the prisoners, the sheer number of them made him uneasy.
However, chasing after Ghislain quickly was also out of the question.
The remaining royal army, the allied forces, and the prisoners formed a mishmash of a military unit. Such a motley crew wasn't going to move quickly.
As Maurice kept glancing back nervously, Ghislain narrowed her eyes and spoke.
"What, the commander-in-chief of the royal army can't handle even this? Lost your nerve after one major defeat?"
"That's not true! I'm just being cautious, okay?"
When Ghislain reprimanded someone, everyone turned childish. Maurice, shedding the dignity of a commander-in-chief, snapped back, veins bulging, as the others shook their heads.
After some back-and-forth bickering, Maurice and Ghislain ultimately agreed that Parniel would leave behind the priesthood.
Since the priesthood followed the saintess, it was expected that the prisoners would be extra cautious around them.
As the matter seemed settled, Hubert, who had been quiet until now, chimed in.
"Do you need a mage? Should I come along?"
Hubert also didn't want to stay here. The combination of Ghislain and Parniel was unbearable. Being near them was undoubtedly the safest place in the world.
Ghislain firmly declined.
"No, it's fine. The mage forces need to remain here."
"Ugh, I wanted to go, too."
Hubert grumbled but asked subtly.
"How's Alpoi doing?"
Initially intending to oust him from the heir's position, Hubert had been impressed by his performance at the recent Magic Tower exchange meeting and decided to hold off.
Ghislain nodded.
"He's doing very well."
Truthfully, Ghislain wasn't sure if Alpoi was doing well, but he had definitely adapted. Hadn't he even advanced a circle?
Hubert looked slightly regretful.
"Well, as long as he's doing fine…"
After several abandonments, their master-disciple relationship had grown awkward. It seemed the relationship needed some improvement.
Seeing the sullen expressions of Maurice and Hubert, Ghislain shook his head.
They were usually composed but became overly reliant whenever he appeared. Grown men acting so clingy—it was exasperating.
This was probably a side effect of his accomplishments.
"Tsk, I'll head out first. Come on, let's go! We need to help our allies!"
Clicking his tongue, Ghislain set off with the mobile army. Parniel mounted the largest remaining horse and followed.
Watching them disappear into the distance, Maurice muttered.
"If only the old fortune-teller were here… I would've asked her. What a shame."
Even now, Maurice couldn't let go of his lingering attachment to the fortune-teller.
***
Count Falgau, commander of the 4th Corps of the advancing Delphine Army, was deep in thought.
"Hmm, the situation isn't favorable."
The supply unit trailing behind had been ambushed and annihilated. Given the strength of the supply unit, its destruction meant the enemy was formidable.
In addition to this, more bad news kept coming in.
"The 2nd Corps has been defeated, and the Northern Army is on the move! The Northern Army has hidden superhumans among them!"
"The 5th Corps has halted their advance due to the Rayfold Army!"
Count Falgau questioned his strategists.
"What about the 3rd Corps?"
"The regular communication from the 3rd Corps has not yet arrived."
"Hmm… are they engaged in battle as well?"
The 3rd Corps had been annihilated by Ghislain, but they hadn't received that news yet. Ghislain had ensured that not even a messenger escaped.
Having rapidly destroyed the southern front and advanced northward, Count Falgau clenched his teeth at the looming crisis.
"The question is whether to secure the supply route again or push forward."
They could push forward if they wanted. The forces defending the line ahead were minimal. Once that line was broken, the capital was within reach.
However, even if they surrounded the capital, problems would arise.
"Without siege weapons, Cardenia won't fall easily. Dragging this out will leave us short on supplies… and the Northern Army will surround us."
If they ended up surrounded, not even the presence of superhumans on their side would guarantee victory. Count Fenris, renowned as the North's strongest, was among the enemies. Moreover, reports suggested another superhuman was aiding the North.
After two days of deliberation, Count Falgau made his decision and addressed his strategists.
"We won't head to the capital."
"What? Then what will we do?"
"We will join the 5th Corps in the East."
"You mean…"
"The forces opposing the 5th Corps are more numerous than ours. That area was the first to receive reinforcements from the allied armies. Even now, the 5th Corps's supply line is under threat."
Pointing to various places on the map, Count Falgau continued.
"So, we'll join the 5th Corps, breach the defensive line, and secure the supply route. Even a fraction of our forces should suffice to protect the supply route."
"And what about this area?"
"If we move immediately, the Northern Army will follow us. So we'll pretend to continue advancing toward the capital."
"Pretend to advance, sir?"
"Yes. We'll keep moving north to destroy the defensive line. That will prompt the Northern Army to rush to defend the capital. In the meantime, we'll slip eastward."
The strategists nodded. Given the increasingly unfavorable situation, this was the best course of action.
Joining the 5th Corps would bring their total force to a staggering 100,000. This would be enough to secure the supply line, destroy the defensive line, and surround the capital.
Though the defeat of the 2nd Corps, which had boasted three superhumans and 100,000 soldiers, at the hands of the Northern Army was unsettling, they believed regaining their supply route and besieging the capital would bring reinforcements from the duchy.
Eyes gleaming, Count Falgau declared.
"We'll abandon this supply route. The Northern Army attacked it only to buy time. If they were ready to engage us, they wouldn't have bothered with the supply route."
Thus, Count Falgau resolved to abandon the supply line and march relentlessly onward.
His prediction proved correct. The forces stationed at the fortress ahead numbered only 10,000—a mix of the remaining 5,000 defenders and 5,000 reinforcements hurriedly sent by Claude.
"A small fortress. We'll take it quickly. Attack!"
In their haste, the Delphine Army launched an immediate assault.
Fwoooosh!
The Delphine Army's mages unleashed large-scale magic at the fortress.
Unfortunately, the royal army had no mages on their side, which reassured Count Falgau as he ordered the magic bombardment.
The fortress defenders quailed in fear as the magic rained down. At that moment, an elf stepped forward.
"O flowing current, shield this place with your purity."
Swoooosh!
A massive surge of water erupted, forming the shape of a woman composed of azure waves.
It was Endairon, a high-level water spirit.
Endairon's body spread wide, enveloping the fortress. The magic hurled by the Delphine Army struck the blue curtain.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The curtain wavered precariously but held firm.
The fortress soldiers stared in awe at the elf.
The elf was Erenes, who had arrived here earlier with Gillian.
Her lips moved again.
"O murmuring earth, manifest your steadfast will upon this place."
Rumble!
Suddenly, the ground beneath the Delphine Army's formation collapsed, and rocks jutted out in all directions.
The high-ranking earth spirit, Noeanen, had taken action.
"Ahhh! What's happening?!"
"It's a spirit! Stop it!"
Caught off guard, the Delphine Army's formation crumbled.
Half of their 100 mages scrambled to suppress Noeanen.
The other half continued their relentless magic assault on the fortress.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Erenes, who was continuously pouring energy into the spirit, asked Gillian.
"Is there no catapult here?"
"Not a single one."
"How long do we need to hold out?"
"About two days should be enough."
"That cunning man, didn't he predict this?"
"It's thanks to the attack on the supply unit that they've been delayed even this much."
After the annihilation of the supply unit, the Delphine Army hesitated for two days, deliberating their next move. This delay allowed the vanguard to barely make it to this location in time.
Erenes nodded.
"Indeed, this will be a grueling battle."
"Just block the magic attacks. I'll manage the rest somehow," Gillian said resolutely.
They had to depart in haste, arriving with only himself and Erenes, but with the Fenris cavalry accompanying them, they could hold back an enemy force several times their size.
Although the enemy had superhumans and many knights, approaching would not be easy.
As Erenes continued channeling energy into the spirits, she spoke.
"This won't be easy. I'm tied up dealing with the enemy mages and can't help you."
Even just holding back so many mages was a monumental task. Though she could fight while supporting the spirits, she needed to reserve her strength for confronting a superhuman. She couldn't afford to disperse her energy further.
Gillian had to take care of the rest of the knights and soldiers alone.
"It's fine. I'm used to this kind of thing," Gillian replied with an arrogant smile.
Protecting something had become second nature to him by now.
Kaor and Belinda, who had attacked the supply unit, would be racing over with the assault corps. All they had to do was hold out until they arrived.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The water curtain trembled incessantly. The soldiers within the fortress gripped their weapons tightly, filled with tension.
Watching how well the fortress endured the magic onslaught, Count Falgau raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"What is this? How can they withstand the attacks of so many mages? Is it really spirits?"
A mage beside him nodded and answered.
"Yes, it's spirit energy, not magic. At this level, it's safe to say the spirit summoner has reached superhuman-level."
"Hah… where do such individuals keep coming from?"
For the 4th Corps, still unaware of Erenes' presence, this was an unwelcome and unexpected development.
Frustrated by this unforeseen resistance, Count Falgau deliberated briefly before speaking.
"Mages, keep attacking without pause. Keep that spirit summoner tied up while the rest of the forces attack the fortress."
It was disappointing not to use the full magic force, but having the superhuman tied down was sufficient.
There didn't seem to be any other variables. At this rate, if the army advanced in full force, the fortress would fall quickly.
"Attack!"
"Waaaah!"
With the command to attack, 50,000 soldiers began to move all at once.
Watching the Delphine Army surge toward the small fortress like a tidal wave, the remaining defeated soldiers were all struck with fear.
Only the forces from Fenris burned with fighting spirit.
"Prepare yourselves," Gillian commanded, raising his hand.
Led by Lumina, all the Fenris archers drew their bows.
They watched the approaching enemies with tense anticipation. Time seemed to flow agonizingly slowly, as though it had stopped.
"Waaaah!"
The Delphine Army threw themselves forward, seemingly determined to capture the fortress in one swift blow.
As they entered the range of their arrows, Gillian shouted loudly.
"Fire!"
Whoosh!
The arrows shot by 5,000 Fenris archers rained down on the enemy lines.
However, the damage was minimal. As seasoned elite soldiers, even the infantry used small shields to block the arrows as they advanced.
"Don't stop, keep firing!" Gillian shouted again.
The Fenris archers' bows were folding bows designed for portability.
But that wasn't their only advantage. Equipped with pulley-like mechanical devices at both ends, they required little effort to draw, allowing for rapid-fire shots.
Whoosh!
Before the soldiers could even take a proper breath, another volley of arrows poured down.
"Argh!"
"What's this? Why is it so fast?"
"Block the arrows carefully!"
The second volley caught the Delphine Army off guard, causing greater casualties. The arrows had come mid-advance after the soldiers had already begun running again.
As a result, the Delphine Army's advance slowed. Taking advantage of this, the Fenris archers unleashed volley after volley without rest.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Finally, ladders were propped against the fortress walls. Enraged by the heavy losses inflicted by the arrows, the Delphine Army was determined to climb the walls at any cost.
They gritted their teeth and began scaling the walls. With their overwhelming numbers, they believed capturing the fortress would be easy if they could just get onto the walls.
"Brace yourselves!"
Clank! Clank! Clank!
The royal army soldiers nervously positioned themselves along the walls. For the archers to continue firing, these soldiers had to hold the line.
Whirr–!
The 200 Fenris knights who had accompanied Gillian all activated the magic in their armor.
The time had come to fight fiercely.
"Climb up quickly!"
The 5,000 archers couldn't stop all 50,000 enemy soldiers. Some Delphine knights succeeded in breaking through the wall of shields and climbing onto the fortress walls.
"Kill them all!"
One of the Delphine knights boldly stepped forward, channeling mana.
Thwack!
Only to have his head split open by Gillian's axe as soon as he did.
"Hold the line! We can keep them at bay!" Gillian shouted, raising his axe high.
Enemies were crawling up through gaps all over the fortress walls. There were simply too many of them.
However, Gillian and the Fenris knights dashed from place to place, taking down every enemy that climbed up.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Having absorbed the dragon heart and reached the peak of his power, Gillian's strength was nothing short of astounding.
Soldiers were cut down as soon as they climbed up, and even knights couldn't last long against him.
They were holding out better than expected. The arrows continued raining down, thinning the ranks of soldiers at the base of the fortress.
Watching this, Count Falgau pointed at the top of the fortress and spoke.
"It seems you'll need to step in now."
"Very well. That must be Gillian, the so-called White Lion."
"Indeed. He's one of the individuals we must eliminate."
"Good. I'll take care of him this time."
The Arbiter of the Salvation Church, clad in a black robe, stepped forward. He was a superhuman who had greatly contributed to breaching the southern front as part of the 4th Corps.
At that moment, unnoticed by anyone on the battlefield, a new presence quietly appeared.
— Wow, everyone's so busy.
Above the battlefield, a raven began circling silently in the sky.
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]