Chapter 141 : Chapter 141
Chapter 141. Once Again (3)
The Imperial cavalry was riding Holsteiners.
On the other hand, the Main Battalion wasn't entirely riding Holsteiners.
Some were still riding ordinary warhorses.
Because of that, the scenario where the Imperial cavalry strikes the flank of the Infantry Company, and only then do the Cavalry Company and Cavalry Platoon arrive late.
It seemed like such a scenario would unfold.
The enemy commander was surely convinced that such a scenario would unfold.
‘So, if we break through the flank one step faster at a single point, there is a chance of victory.’
It was a slim possibility, but practically the last chance to win this battle.
However,
Dudududu!
Dudududu!
The Cavalry Company and Cavalry Platoon led by Roden ran at almost the same speed as the Imperial cavalry.
No, their speed was faster than the Imperial cavalry.
The proof was that they encountered the Cavalry Company and Cavalry Platoon before the Imperial cavalry could strike the flank of the Infantry Company.
“Why on earth!”
The enemy commander raised a questioning voice like a scream, and at that moment, the units of both sides collided.
“Use the defensive crystal orbs!”
The commander of the Imperial cavalry shouted.
And the Cavalry Company and Cavalry Platoon also shouted simultaneously.
“Defend!”
The clashing magical spears.
Kuwung!
Both sides instinctively felt a shock as if hitting something harder than a shield.
“Keuk.”
It was the result of both sides using defensive magic.
However, not everyone succeeded in blocking the attack with defensive magic.
“Keo-eok!”
The commander of the Imperial cavalry collapsed while making such a sound.
Defensive magic that could block 4-star aura at best.
It was the end of the one who dared to clash with Roden believing in that.
Roden shouted as he threw the magical spear to the ground.
“Raise your swords! Clean up the Imperial cavalry!”
The Cavalry Company and Cavalry Platoon began to attack the Imperial cavalry with swords raised, following Roden's command.
And it was the Main Battalion's side that held the overwhelming advantage in this fight.
Because the number of knights who could handle aura itself was overwhelmingly higher on this side.
In the first place, all members of the Cavalry Platoon were knights of 1-star or higher.
Even,
“Defend!”
On this side, the magic artifacts were not disposable.
Once charged, defensive magic could be used up to five times.
In addition to this, the movement of the horses, which greatly influences victory in mounted combat, was much better for the Main Battalion.
This was true even when riding the ordinary warhorse Gallia.
The reason was thanks to the horse armor the warhorses were wearing.
Roden had enchanted Speed Increase magic on this horse armor.
In the first place, the fact that Gallia started one step late yet reached the destination faster than the Holsteiner was something that made no sense.
Unless it was magic.
Like that, even the Imperial cavalry, which was the only hope, was pushed back by the Cavalry Company and Cavalry Platoon.
Furthermore, they weren't just being pushed back.
Because Roden scoured through the Imperial cavalry, their numbers decreased rapidly.
When the sword was swung once, strong wind pressure devastated the surroundings (Dust Wind Strike),
When the sword was swung twice, vibration waves shattered the enemies in a straight line (Vacuum Wave),
When the sword was swung three times, aura vibrations pulled the enemies to the ground (Earthen Pulling Formation).
As a result, the Imperial cavalry was bound to face a crisis of annihilation in an instant.
It was even more so because Michael was fighting alongside Roden.
Eventually, they struggled for the last time by throwing explosive crystal orbs wildly, but even this was useless.
Rather, the explosive crystal orbs bounced off by the defensive magic only accumulated damage on the Imperial cavalry.
A situation where even the cavalry was defeated and the Imperial Army was helpless and being pushed back in every aspect.
The enemy commander felt a sense of crisis.
At the same time, he realized that now was the time to desperately hope for survival, not victory.
‘What do I do?’
The thought was short, and the decision was fast.
The enemy commander shouted immediately.
“Retreat! Retreat!”
And the enemy commander turned his horse's head first and ran towards the rear.
He looked like he was only focused on fleeing, as if telling an orderly retreat to go to hell.
Because of that, the Imperial soldiers who were holding their positions were flustered.
‘Retreat? Just like this?’
Eventually, the battle line of the Imperial Army, which was barely holding on, had no choice but to collapse.
It was natural since even the commander was bound to be confused.
Thanks to that, speed was added to the Main Battalion's battle.
It was at a level where Imperial soldiers died every time a sword was swung and an arrow was released.
“Giddy up!”
And amidst this atmosphere, Roden ran forward.
It was a movement to pursue the enemy commander.
Like that, the famous horse granted by Alexis shone.
Here, as the Speed Increase magic of the Kaliaje horse armor received from Tobias was activated, Roden's famous horse sprang out at tremendous speed.
“Hang in there just a little more, Pierremant.”
Roden encouraged it by calling the name of the horse he had personally named.
As a result, he was able to narrow the distance with the enemy commander significantly.
Roden swung his sword without hesitation.
Pashuuuuuk!
Like that, Roden fired a half-moon shaped sword energy from his sword.
The enemy commander felt a huge energy covering him belatedly.
It was the last energy he felt just before his body was split in half.
***
“Crazy.”
Michael muttered, forgetting to wipe off the blood he was completely covered in from cutting down enemies.
That’s how overwhelming the appearance shown by the Main Battalion against the battalion-level troops today was.
It felt stronger than when conducting the siege at Elmorim, or when fighting against the March of the Other Shore at Gulahan.
‘As expected, the secret technique that can grant effects to objects. Was this secret technique decisive?’
Certainly, the Main Battalion overwhelmed the Imperial Army using magic artifacts through the utilization of secret techniques.
When the Imperial Army used a defensive artifact once.
Since the shield exerted its effect continuously, they couldn't be an opponent.
Even increasing the range of arrows and increasing the loading speed.
Making Gallia faster and more agile than the Holsteiner also played a big role in the victory or defeat of the war.
However, Michael paid attention to the Main Battalion's coordination rather than these things.
The Main Battalion's coordination had become incomparably better than before.
It felt like they cooperated and filled the gaps without speaking to each other.
So, it looked like a squad that had matched their coordination for a long time, not a battalion where several companies were gathered.
The feeling was even stronger because they shared and used the secret techniques passed down from Roden.
Serpent Sword, Phantom Sword, Throwing Sword, Linked Sword, Drawing Sword, Heavy Sword, Swift Sword, Sharp Sword, Flash Sword, Electric Shock, Armor Break.
These were the secret techniques mainly used by the 1~3 star knights of the Main Battalion.
‘The atmosphere was unusual, but he really succeeded in bringing the Main Battalion under his command.’
Michael didn't know how such a thing was possible even though there was a head of a family or a noble who was a successor.
But through this battle, he could be sure by feeling that the entire Main Battalion had completely entered under Roden's command.
‘If it's this scale, even Leon or Malena won't be able to touch him lightly now. Has he grown this much already?’
He thought that someday Roden might confront Leon or Malena.
But he didn't know that time would approach this fast.
That's how great the armed force of the group Roden secured this time was.
‘Then I must also make a choice quickly.’
In fact, Michael was convinced that he had been pushed out of the succession war early on.
Because he couldn't produce proper results while fighting the war with the Imperial Army.
Of course, it wasn't that he didn't produce big or small results at all.
He even succeeded in smoothing over one big mistake well thanks to Roden.
But even so, the fact that the situation wasn't good remained unchanged.
Because he couldn't produce results that could overturn this in a situation where Leon and Malena were close to being the next family head.
So, there were practically only two choices left for Michael.
Protect his pride until the end and die at the hands of his siblings.
Or go under one of his siblings and somehow prolong his life.
And Michael was considering the latter.
Originally, he intended to put forward his pride and choose the former, but he changed his mind.
Roden's appearance of surviving by any means and climbing up to his current position brought a change to Michael's mindset.
‘I must survive. To do that, I have to choose. Choose Leon and Malena who were originally outstanding. Or choose Ernst who has started to chase closely behind them anew.’
Michael continued his thoughts while looking towards Roden who was organizing the battlefield.
‘That side would be the best, right? That’s why I followed him this time too.’
***
After organizing the battlefield, Roden moved towards Duren to meet Paul again.
Fortunately, thanks to activating detection magic this time, he didn't encounter the Imperial Army again.
No matter how successful the Main Battalion was in defeating the Imperial Army once without suffering heavy damage, it was unreasonable to fight two battles in a row.
Perhaps if they fought once more, the Main Battalion's damage, which was only 6 dead and 21 injured, would have multiplied several times.
Like that, after a while.
The Main Battalion finally arrived at Duren.
Duren was originally a small village at the entrance of the Yugum Mountains, but now it was fortified by the Vanguard Battalion led by Paul.
The cliffs surrounding the back of the village explained why the Vanguard Battalion settled here.
“He built a fortress in a perverted place just like himself.”
Michael muttered next to Roden, and in the meantime, someone shouted from above the wooden fence.
“Who are you!”
The voice asking this was somewhat mixed with fluster.
It was understandable because the Main Battalion arrived at Duren by breaking through all of the Vanguard Battalion's reconnaissance.
Unfortunately, detection magic didn't have the ability to distinguish between friend and foe.
“We are the 1st Corps Main Battalion dispatched to the 2nd Corps. I am the Main Battalion Commander Ernst Glockner.”
“G, Glockner?”
Hearing Roden's answer, the soldier on the wooden fence was flustered once more.
And he disappeared quickly without an answer.
Kkiiik! Deureureuk!
Fortunately, they didn't wait long, but the door of the wooden fence opened.
And a person who appeared to be the person in charge stood in front of the door.
“I heard the news in advance. I am Infantry Company Commander Lisandro Loggia, who is on day duty today. The Battalion Commander is waiting. Let’s go inside.”
At the reaction that was more favorable than Laura's, Roden's gaze naturally turned to Michael.
Michael shrugged his shoulders as if he also didn't know the reason why they were acting like this.
Like that, Roden and Michael moved following Lisandro and were able to meet Paul.
Paul opened his mouth with a smile all over his face.
“You have finally come! I am glad to meet the two of you on the battlefield like this!”
For being glad, the appearance of Paul approaching with his hand on his sword hilt was unusual.
Michael also looked nervous, as if he had the same thought.
However,
“Huh? Why can't I read the flow of aura?”
Paul's gaze turned to Roden and asked this as if surprised.