Gallop, gallop, gallop.
The Black King advanced at a leisurely pace. The expression on Ghislain's face, as he sat atop the horse, was equally composed.
It was no wonder. Though the enemy outnumbered them two-to-one, the Fenris forces were more than capable of handling the difference.
Accompanying Ghislain were formidable individuals.
Erenes, Parniel, Belinda, and Gillian had all reached the level of superhumans, while Kaor was a high-level knight.
Including Ghislain, there were five superhuman fighters in this army. With such forces, there was no fear of the tired and demoralized Fifth Corps.
Only Kaor seemed a bit sullen upon learning that Gillian had recently become a superhuman.
'Damn it... I wanted to surpass that old man before breaking through.'
The path had been blocked for what felt like forever. Perhaps risking his life in battle would have been the better choice.
Snort.
The Black King snorted roughly, as if anticipating the upcoming action.
"Hmm, I guess there's no need for strategy today."
Ghislain chuckled and rested his spear on his shoulder. The overwhelming firepower made tactics almost unnecessary.
Meanwhile, Count Kandore had not yet completely given up.
"Get yourselves together! We have twice their numbers! No matter how strong Count Fenris may be, don't we have a superhuman on our side?"
At these words, the officers and advisors snapped out of their daze.
The fear induced by the Count Fenris's fearsome reputation and unnatural speed began to wane.
On reflection, their forces were not as inferior as they had felt.
Though tired, these were elite soldiers, veterans of successive victories against the Kingdom and the allied forces.
Their individual strength might be weaker than the notorious Fenris soldiers, but their numbers doubled that of the enemy.
The advisors nodded.
"If the priest of Salvation Church can keep the Count Fenris occupied... our soldiers, with their numerical superiority, should be able to handle the rest."
"Indeed. There's no point in cowering; we have no choice but to fight."
"Luckily, Count Fenris opted for a frontal assault rather than another of his infamous surprise attacks."
This renewed sense of purpose spread through the ranks.
While retreating would have been ideal, it was no longer an option. They had to fight to survive.
Commanders throughout the Delphine army relayed the message, striving to boost morale.
"Come on! Count Fenris's just a man, right?"
"He bleeds like anyone else when pierced by a spear."
"We've never lost before, have we?"
"No point in panicking before we've even faced them!"
Gradually, the determination of the Delphine troops began to rise. These were, after all, elite soldiers.
Count Kandore, observing this resurgence in spirit, reignited his own determination.
"Count Fenris, you arrogant whelp. You've won a few battles, and now your nose is in the air, isn't it? To think you dare challenge me head-on, and with only part of your forces instead of the full Northern Army?"
The more he thought about it, the more his pride grew. Kandore had been a lord and military commander since before Ghislain was born.
Even if it meant heavy losses, this was an opportunity to crush Ghislain completely.
It wasn't out of fear of the Northern Army's overall strength that Kandore had opted to avoid battle; it was a calculated decision.
He repeated this to himself, steeling his resolve.
"If you can hold Count Fenris at bay, I'll take care of the rest, priest."
"Understood. Do not worry. I will deflate that one's arrogance completely."
The boastful response came from the Salvation Church's Arbiter, Gribail.
He had always dismissed Ghislain as insignificant. The Northern Count had only defeated figures like Ravier, who was more a theologian than a warrior.
Gribail was different. From a young age, he had honed his combat skills, even aspiring to become an Enforcer like Idun.
Though his exceptional holy power had led him to the role of Arbiter instead, his confidence remained.
"Honestly, retreating because of that one was distasteful. I'm glad we can fight him head-on."
Gribail's arrogant words made Count Kandore frown.
The Northern Army numbered 80,000. Additionally, 25,000 troops under Commander-in-chief Maurice were advancing toward them.
Ahead of them lay the Kingdom's 20,000-strong defensive line, and behind them, the Rayfold forces threatened their supply routes.
They were encircled. To say such things now was to display a complete lack of strategic insight.
"Well... it's not just that. The numerical advantage is considerable."
Despite his displeasure, Count Kandore chose not to argue. With a crucial battle ahead, infighting would serve no purpose.
By the time the Fifth Corps completed its preparations, the Fenris forces had drawn near.
Count Kandore shouted with resolve.
"They're coming! Get ready!"
Clank! Clank! Clank!
The Delphine forces gritted their teeth, raising their shields and spears in preparation.
The Fenris cavalry's formidable charge was well-known. Holding the line against their initial assault would require every ounce of their strength.
Ghislain, steadily advancing, observed the scene with a faint smile.
"Hmm... that's the spirit."
It wasn't his style to kill demoralized foes who had already given up. Facing opponents burning with resolve set his own heart ablaze as well.
"Let's go. Taking them out should give us some respite for a while."
Gallop, gallop, gallop!
The Black King gradually picked up speed, transitioning from a steady trot to a thunderous gallop.
Simultaneously, Ghislain's close aides and the Fenris cavalry accelerated as one.
Gallop, gallop, gallop!
The ferocious advance of the Fenris forces met the braced ranks of the Delphine army head-on, both sides steeling themselves for the impact.
The Delphine mages began gathering their magical energies, preparing for a devastating counterattack at optimal range.
At the forefront, Gribail dashed forward to meet Ghislain.
Boom!
He propelled himself at incredible speed, bellowing.
"You and I shall settle this, Count Fenris!"
Gribail unleashed his energy, swinging a hand to sever the neck of Ghislain's mount.
Whoosh!
"Huh?"
His strike cut through empty air. The Black King had leapt high, vaulting over Gribail's attack.
"What an amusing fellow."
Ghislain left those words behind as he charged ahead, not even sparing a backward glance.
Gribail, incensed, roared in fury.
"Stop running, you coward!"
Yet Ghislain offered no reply, his focus fixed on the enemy lines ahead.
Gribail's face turned red with rage. How dare he be treated with such disdain!
Just as Gribail prepared to unleash more energy in pursuit—
Thrum!
Vines erupted from the ground, ensnaring his ankles.
Gliding past him, Erenes wore an expression of detached indifference.
"What is this?"
As Gribail struggled to sever the vines binding him—
Swish!
A circle of daggers appeared around him, suspended in midair.
"What in the...?"
Each dagger was imbued with a razor-sharp aura blade. Momentarily stunned by the sight, Gribail had no time to react before they struck.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Argh!"
The daggers moved like lightning, tearing into Gribail's body.
Surrounded on all sides by the lethal projectiles, he could only muster his energy to endure the onslaught.
As Gribail battled the storm of daggers, Belinda passed by without even glancing his way.
Boom!
"Arrgh! Damn you all!"
Wounded and bleeding, Gribail channeled his energy to scatter the daggers and staunch his injuries.
Black energy swirled around him, mending his broken flesh. His regenerative power was formidable—a hallmark of his kind.
But the attacks didn't end there.
As he tried to gather his wits, a massive mace appeared before his eyes.
"Guh!"
Boom!
He barely managed to raise his arms in defense, but he realized too late how grave the situation was.
Crunch!
The impact shattered the bones in his arms, and the force buckled his legs beneath him.
Unable to resist the overwhelming strength, Gribail collapsed to the ground.
Glancing at him briefly, Parniel also charged past without a second thought.
"Grrr... What is this? What are these people?"
Gribail had been utterly ignored by Ghislain and left helpless by those who followed.
How many superhumans could the Fenris army possibly field?
"You... you bastards... you'll regret this."
Gribail, usually confident in his combat abilities, now felt a deep sense of humiliation.
Grinding his teeth, he prepared to rise and exact his vengeance.
Gallop, gallop, gallop!
A white-haired middle-aged man rode toward him on horseback.
Gribail didn't recognize the others, but this man was unmistakable thanks to his distinctive appearance.
"White hair? Gillian?"
Contrary to the reports labeling him a high-level knight, the massive axe he wielded shimmered with a vivid aura blade.
Gribail, startled, channeled his energy into his legs to stand up. However, his wounds did not heal as quickly as he had anticipated.
"H-Holy power?"
Parniel's holy power lingered within his body, obstructing his regeneration.
"You bastards dare!"
Gribail roared, forcing his energy to surge and engulf the holy power. With this newfound energy, he enveloped his broken limbs, attempting to regain movement.
But Gillian was faster.
Leaning low on his horse, Gillian swung his axe with lightning speed.
Craaaaack!
"Ugh…"
A harsh sound, like metal being crushed, echoed across the battlefield. Gribail's neck, unable to withstand the force of Gillian's swing, was ultimately severed.
Though it was true Gribail's combat skills surpassed those of other priests, this only seemed impressive because the others were so woefully unskilled.
To seasoned veterans, Gribail was nothing more than a brash novice with raw strength.
Gribail met his end due to his inability to objectively assess himself, succumbing ignominiously to a flurry of blows.
Having severed Gribail's neck, Gillian wasted no further thought on him and continued pressing forward.
Following behind him, Kaor found himself with little to do.
"Tch."
As he passed by, he simply spat on Gribail's fallen body. To Kaor, neither the Delphine army nor Gribail held any significance at this moment.
"…."
Kaor's expression darkened as he stared at Gillian's back.
'If it weren't for that old man… I'd be number one… or not.'
Even without Gillian, he wouldn't be the best.
It infuriated him. Both Belinda and Gillian had reached new heights far sooner than he had anticipated.
The thought of falling behind left him anxious once again. It seemed his nature was unchangeable.
'Damn it, just you wait. I'll surpass you all someday!'
Kaor clenched his teeth and galloped ahead, determined to channel his frustration into crushing the Delphine forces.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Behind him, the Fenris cavalry rode with smiles on their faces.
All it had taken was a few passing strikes, and the dreaded priest of the Salvation Church had perished.
Was there ever a force this formidable in the kingdom's history? Not on the surface, at least.
Surely, they were now the kingdom's strongest army.
The enemy drew nearer. Leading the Fenris cavalry from the front, Lucas shouted loudly.
"Spears ready!"
Clank! Clank! Clank!
At his command, the knights and cavalry soldiers braced their spears tightly under their arms.
Then Paladin Gordon bellowed with a thunderous roar.
"Charge!"
"Waaaaaaaah!"
The Fenris cavalry echoed his cry, their voices reverberating across the battlefield.
The sound was immense, a roar that seemed capable of obliterating any opponent. It was a howl that could bring even the bravest enemies to their knees.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Seeing Ghislain and the Fenris cavalry bearing down on them, the Delphine soldiers turned pale.
They had begun with confidence, convinced they had a chance.
But that had been nothing more than a delusion.
A superhuman priest of the Salvation Church had been killed without even putting up a proper fight.
The soldiers weren't fools—they understood what that meant.
Everyone who had attacked Gribail on their way through was a superhuman.
Well, except for the man who had spat.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
As the Fenris cavalry drew closer, the Delphine soldiers' lips trembled.
"This… this is the North's strongest army…"
"How are we supposed to win against that?"
"We can't win. We're all going to die."
Before the armies even clashed, the Delphine soldiers were paralyzed with fear.
The ferocity radiating from their enemies was palpable, a raw force that seemed poised to sweep everything away.
And it was at that moment they realized, with newfound dread, who had built this unstoppable force.
"Ghislain Perdium."
Though spoken softly at first, the name spread like a contagion.
That name rang in their ears.
The man who single-handedly decimated four corps of Delphine Duchy, who had triumphed repeatedly against the Kingdom's armies.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
At the head of that ferocious army, his red eyes gleaming, his savage smile widening, he charged toward them.
Even as they maintained their defensive formation, the Delphine soldiers already knew the outcome.
They had no chance against him.
And then.
Neighhhhh!
With the piercing cry of a warhorse.
At last, he stormed into their midst.
BOOOOOOM!
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]