Chapter 627

While Ka`har’s catapults were diligently pounding the barrier, Landenburg’s catapults were not idle either.

“Fire!”

As the commander standing next to the catapult raised his sword to point at the target, a massive boulder was launched toward the slowly approaching siege tower.

Though it was difficult to precisely aim at the relatively narrow siege tower compared to the city wall, most of the projectiles flew on trajectories that were clearly off-target. However, a few boulders were accurately aimed at the upper and middle sections of the siege tower.

“They’re targeting the siege tower! Increase the speed!” shouted one of the warriors, his tone noticeably urgent.

Indeed, though it looked sturdy as a siege engine, it was still just a wooden tower. If hit directly by a catapult’s projectile, it would inevitably sustain damage. Accumulated damage would eventually cause it to collapse.

Of course, the enemy was well aware of this.

“Not a chance!” came a familiar shout as a middle-aged man leaped into the air, kicking off the void and launching himself toward the boulder. Clad in hastily assembled armor and wielding two massive slaughter swords.

“Kaaah!”

Or-han, spinning mid-air, kicked the catapult’s projectile like a soccer ball. The boulder shattered into pieces with a deafening explosion upon contact with his foot.

“What the hell is that…”

“Are we supposed to fight ‘that thing’…?”

The Imperial soldiers gaped in disbelief at the sight of someone deflecting a catapult shot with a kick.

“Don’t worry. You won’t be the ones fighting that,” I said, walking over to the stunned soldier and patting his shoulder with a reassuring grin.

“H-Hiiik! Sorry, sorry! I’ll correct myself!”

…He didn’t seem particularly reassured, though.

Perhaps it was the realization that he had just uttered demoralizing words in front of a high-ranking noble with a status equal to the army’s supreme commander. If I were a strict or violent person, such words could have warranted immediate execution.

In any case, Or-han thoroughly defended the siege tower against the catapults’ attacks. After several volleys, the catapult commander, realizing it was futile to target the siege tower, reluctantly changed his target.

Instead of the siege tower, they aimed at the enemy’s catapults and soldiers, keeping a safe distance from Or-han.

With each release of the catapult’s projectile, a thunderous roar echoed as the boulders embedded themselves into the ground, sending up sprays of mud mixed with blood and flesh.

Ka`har soldiers, who had been advancing with shields raised to protect against arrow fire, were sent screaming back to the dirt of the grasslands.

Not a single projectile missed.

The tens of thousands of infantrymen were already a mass comparable to the size of a city wall, and hitting such a mass with boulders required no precise aiming.

– Kwaaaang!

The deafening explosions continued for a while.

At this distance, arrows couldn’t reach yet. Only dozens of boulders relentlessly tore through the air, spreading destruction.

Ka`har’s catapults targeted the barrier itself or the watchtowers and platforms where archers were stationed, occasionally hitting their mark and sending unlucky archers tumbling down the walls.

The Empire’s catapults, as if retaliating for the deaths of the archers, were literally smashing Ka`har’s infantry to pieces.

While oil barrels set ablaze would have been more effective against infantry, unfortunately, we didn’t have enough oil to waste on catapult warfare.

Soon.

“Now! Ballistae, fire at will!”

After what felt like over thirty minutes but was actually less than ten, the bombardment ended as the enemy finally came within range of our other weapons.

The ballistae mounted on the walls fired volleys of arrows more akin to javelins. The massive arrows rained down on the charging infantry, piercing through shields and armor alike.

Though not as powerful as catapults, the attacks were several times faster and sharper. Soldiers with giant arrows embedded in their abdomens writhed like insects on pins before collapsing.

“Counterattack! Begin firing the large crossbows!”

As if to say they wouldn’t just take hits, Ka`har also began firing their ballistae at the walls. Unlike the Empire’s fixed emplacements, theirs were mounted on wheeled carts.

Though not numerous, likely due to most of their wood being used for siege towers, they were powerful enough to skewer soldiers on the walls like kebabs.

“Kuhk!”

“Gaaaah! My arm! My arm!”

Soldiers pierced through the chest by the large crossbow’s arrows fell back with deflated screams. Heads flew off, spines ripped out, and soldiers with severed arms screamed in agony as they collapsed.

Unlike the catapult projectiles, which could at least be seen and avoided, the large crossbow’s arrows embedded themselves in the soldiers’ bodies before they could react, tearing through bone and flesh.

“Duck down!”

“Take cover!”

The soldiers hurriedly crouched, hiding behind the battlements of the wall. It was a timely order. Even the large crossbow’s arrows, which could pierce through several soldiers, struggled to penetrate the thick city walls.

The ballistae operators couldn’t take cover like the others, but the large shields mounted on the front of the ballistae provided some protection. Not that it mattered much when—

– Kwaaaang!

Ah, well. Yeah. The shields might stop arrows, but they’re no match for boulders.

One of the ballistae was struck by a catapult projectile, instantly reduced to splinters mixed with flesh.

Soldiers covered in their comrades’ entrails screamed and trembled, while others with wooden shards piercing their faces writhed on the ground in agony.

“Ugh…”

“Elpinel, Elpinel, please save me…!”

The soldiers trembled, muttering desperate prayers. I clicked my tongue, resting my hand on the hilt of my sword as I surveyed the 2nd Legion’s troops.

As expected of inexperienced recruits, their morale was plummeting even before the real siege began. By the time we engaged Ka`har in close combat, they’d probably be begging for their lives.

…This is more of a ragtag bunch than I thought. Should I do something?

“Sir Median! It’s dangerous!”

While I was pondering whether to give a morale-boosting speech, a knight who had taken cover from the large crossbow shouted urgently at me.

He must have spotted an incoming arrow. Though, given it was just one, it didn’t seem specifically aimed at me.

“Dangerous? For me?”

I smiled confidently, catching the steel arrow aimed at my chest with an ice blade. The arrow, too slow for me, was no threat.

“Still think so?”

“…No! My apologies!”

The knight who had warned me replied with a mix of disbelief and trust. Given that he thought I’d be hit by such an arrow, he must be a rookie who’d never seen me fight.

“Wasn’t asking for an apology.”

I threw the arrow back like a javelin, and the flash of light pierced through the large crossbow, shattering it into pieces.

I hadn’t infused it with Life Force Technique, as it wasn’t yet time to reveal my full strength, but that alone was enough to destroy the crossbow.

“Whoa…”

The soldiers were speechless at the sight of a man catching and throwing back a large crossbow’s arrow. Their trembling had stopped, perhaps because their shock had overcome their fear.

Good. No need for a grand speech. A few words of encouragement should suffice.

“Listen up.”

I spoke to the soldiers in a calm tone.

“I won’t promise you that you won’t die or that you’ll survive. Your lives are in the hands of fate, not mine.”

Amid the cacophony of war, the soldiers silently stared at me, except for the ballistae operators who were busy firing.

“There’s only one thing I can promise. When this battle ends, it will be our victory drums that sound. I will not be defeated, and as long as I am not defeated, the Empire will not fall. So hold on. Until I achieve victory. Until the Empire achieves victory. All you need to do is endure. Understood?”

“Yes, Marquis Median!”

The knights and soldiers of the 3rd Legion, who had experienced the Ainfeld battle, shouted in unison. The rookies of the 2nd Legion, swept up in the momentum, joined in. I grinned at them.

“Besides, think about it. We’re fighting from atop a wall dozens of meters high. Do you really think Ka`har, dismounted and climbing, can push us back? Right?”

“That’s right!!”

The soldiers, wiping away cold sweat, responded boldly. I raised the corners of my mouth further and shrugged lightly, as if to ease their worries.

“Good. So stop trembling like cowards and pour arrows on those idiots trying to climb dozens of meters. Before you know it, it’ll all be over. With our victory.”

The soldiers’ cheers continued.