Chapter 216

The arrows pouring down from the barrier and the charge of the Empire’s medium cavalry were gradually increasing the losses on both flanks, but Havar’s focus had already shifted away from cavalry tactics.

He knew well that ordering the White Flag Troops to dodge the rain of arrows and engage in a shooting battle was an unreasonable command, something that might be expected of the Red or Blue Flag Troops, but not the White Flag Troops.

Even though the White Armies’ cavalry numbered two thousand on both flanks, their purpose from the start was to buy time. Deploying all five thousand troops might have been a different story, but with three thousand, this was the best they could do.

*”Third Thousand Unit! Raise your shields and charge! We must exploit the moment the enemy cavalry is tied down!”*

From the moment he saw the Empire’s soldiers spilling out beyond the walls, Havar had been fixated on one spot: the central force of four hundred infantry, barely gathered together among the eight hundred Empire infantry scattered in three groups.

—

Havar’s goal was never to achieve victory over the entire enemy force. With the barrier in place, that was impossible. The order he had received from Ser Khan was to attack the barrier and shake it. Havar interpreted this as a command to deplete the barrier’s defensive forces, making it easier for Ser Khan’s main army to launch a siege later.

In truth, it was a forged order by Amin… but Havar had no way of knowing that.

Though the Empire’s medium cavalry was threatening, the core forces defending the barrier were ultimately the infantry and archers. It was unusual for them to pull their medium cavalry out beyond the barrier like this.

The Empire’s infantry, which would normally have been out of reach, was now right before his eyes. Naturally, Havar’s entire focus was on the enemy infantry.

Eight hundred was just the beginning. He planned to quickly crush them and then target the infantry that would follow.

*”Charge! We must break through before those Empire slugs can regroup!”*

*”Kaaaah!”*

As Havar’s command echoed once more, the White Flag Troops’ infantry began to sprint forward with all their might, like wolves racing toward their prey.

—

“Damn it…! Fifth and Sixth Infantry Units! Hurry and join the central force!”

Marquis Ludwig shouted urgently. With the enemy’s intent to annihilate the central infantry now clear, the newly deployed infantry units had to join the central force as quickly as possible.

The First and Fourth Infantry Units were already moving to protect the rear of the flanking cavalry, so they couldn’t be pulled out.

While the charging medium cavalry was successfully crushing the enemy archers, the archers in the enemy’s rear lines, outnumbering them two to one, had yet to suffer significant losses. If they scattered and surrounded the medium cavalry, the cavalry would also face heavy casualties.

“Magicians, attack the enemy’s center! Baron Medean as well!”

Though an even heavier rain of arrows was pouring down from the barrier, the White Flag Troops’ infantry, raising their shields like turtles, were barely taking any damage. Marquis Ludwig, well aware of this, was directing most of the arrows toward the enemy cavalry.

To inflict meaningful damage on them, magic seemed the better option. A sturdy shield might block arrows, but it wouldn’t extinguish a fireball.

The magicians nodded and began gathering their mana.

“I wonder if this will work…”

Hersela muttered calmly as she raised her right hand, gripping a spear.

A spear made entirely of metal, from tip to shaft. Ten identical spears were lined up like stakes behind her.

She had chosen javelins over arrows because she remembered Hersela’s words: arrows imbued with Life Force were less effective against well-defended enemies.

“Volley fire! Burn them all to ashes!”

Before Hersela could throw her spear, the magicians’ spells were completed a step ahead. Twenty fireballs rained down like meteors toward the base of the barrier.

*”They’re using magic!”*

*”Warriors! Throw your spears! We’ll just explode their magic in midair!”*

Following Havar’s command, fifty warriors mixed within the infantry ranks hurled their spears in unison.

– *Kwang! Kwaaang!*

The javelins and fireballs collided, shattering into pieces. Half-melted metal fragments scattered in all directions alongside the shattered flames.

A spectacular fireworks display lit up the battlefield’s sky. Watching this, Hersela drew upon her Life Force.

A sinister energy spiraled around the spear, surging like a wave. The crimson spear let out a low, resonant hum.

Without Lacey’s blessing or Yasha’s gunpowder, and without pouring all her strength into a single strike, it wouldn’t be on the level of what she had shown in Einfeld… but Hersela’s technique had been added. The power would soon be evident.

“Haaa…”

Hersela tensed every muscle in her body, pulling her arm back—

– *Thwakwaaang!*

With a deafening explosion, a crimson flash shot forth like lightning.

—

The javelin of Life Force, hurled with a thunderous roar. By the time Havar realized what it was, it was already upon him.

*’This can’t be…!’*

Havar’s eyes widened in shock.

It was too late to block. There was no time to even give the order to dodge.

– *Pwoooosh!*

The red javelin tore through the infantry’s shields like paper, embedding itself in the front lines.

*”Ugh!”*

*”Aaaaah!”*

Soldiers pierced by the javelin screamed, clutching at the shaft.

The spear, flying with unbelievable speed and power, smashed through one soldier’s head like a fruit, then struck a second soldier—

The spear pierced through the chest of the enemy and tore through the groin of the last soldier before being slammed into the ground.

The agonizing scream of the last soldier must have echoed all the way to the top of the barrier.

It was a diagonal attack, so despite its immense power, there were only three casualties… but Havar’s face was twisted like a demon’s.

A weapon wrapped in a spiral of crimson energy.

He knew exactly what it meant. He was certain of what would happen next.

He had seen it once before.

…But he had never imagined it would fall upon them.

“Fall back! Get away from the spears! No, block with your shields!”

An impossible command.

They were running in tight formation, trying to advance while blocking the rain of arrows.

The next moment, red streaks of light wrapped around the spears and were unleashed all at once.

From a distance, it looked like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.

But what followed was far from beautiful.

– Kwad-d-d-d-d-d!

Amidst the agonizing screams, chunks of flesh scattered everywhere.

A spray of blood, like a volcanic eruption, stained the White Flag Troops’ armor red.

The soldiers near the spears were sliced to pieces, and even those further away had their limbs severed, collapsing into pools of blood.

Nearly thirty soldiers fell in a single strike, and the screams and groans flowed like a song.

“Ha-shal-leurrrrr! Did you betray usssssss!!”

A furious roar echoed loudly.

In response, twenty fireballs created by the magicians rained down.

======[Ha-shal-leur]======

‘That voice is dripping with resentment, huh? What do you think?’

Havar’s roar pierced through the noise of the battlefield, reaching even the top of the barrier.

The fact that he recognized me immediately after one spear throw suggests he knew Hersela.

[ What do you mean by asking me for my thoughts on what you’ve done? ]

‘No, it just seemed like you two were close.’

[ It’s none of your business. Those guys aren’t my subordinates, and they attacked knowing I was with the Empire, so they betrayed me first. More importantly, your spear-throwing stance is wrong. Don’t throw it downward; skim it low across the ground. ]

Hersela showed no concern for whether the White Flag Troops lived or died, her attitude indifferent.

No, considering she gave advice on spear-throwing, she was actually helping them kill more effectively.

Earlier, she said she wouldn’t help with the slaughter of her own people, but she seems to enjoy giving subtle advice. This woman.

“Whoo…”

After exhaling a heated breath, she drew a new spear from her back.

Ten more throws. That was the best she could do without leaving the battle.

Hersela’s technique… was it called the Nether? Anyway, this technique had high lethality but consumed a lot of energy when used at range.

– Hwaruk!

The flickering fireball flew toward the enemy and exploded once again, just like before.

The magicians were surprisingly useless. Not that I could blame them.

Unless they were high-level magicians, it wasn’t easy for twenty ordinary magicians to hit nearly a thousand enemies with their spells.

Even with fifty warriors, most spells would be intercepted and dispersed in mid-air.

Still, one or two managed to strike and burn the enemies.

– Kwaaaang!

The second spear throw.

The spear aimed at the right side of the formation swept away dozens once more.

“Ugh… Spread out and run! Minimize the damage! Regroup in front of the Empire’s forces!”

Havar, who had been shouting, threw a spear and detonated yet another fireball.

“Rear ranks, draw your bows! Intercept the sorcerer’s fireballs! Whether it’s fire or spears, once they stick, they can’t be used anymore!”

For someone criticized as a brainless warrior, his judgment was surprisingly sharp. Guess even a rotten apple can be a great warrior.

As he said, once close combat broke out among the infantry, such attacks would no longer be possible. It would just sweep away our own troops too.

“Uoooooh!”

The White Flag Troops charged forward with a battle cry.

– Kwaaang!

The third spear throw.

This time, it targeted their left side. About twenty fell.

Clearly, as they spread out, the effectiveness diminished compared to before.

Then the fourth, fifth.

Havar tried to block the spears by moving around, but since I deliberately aimed away from him, his efforts were meaningless.

“Ha-shal-leurrrrr-!!”

Watching the sixth spear strike from a distance, Havar finally exploded in frustration.

“You, despicable wenchhhhhhh-!!”

What a compliment.