novelraw Chapter 11: Defeat and Rout
Chapter 11: Defeat and Rout
Outside Fire Eye Town!
The cold wind swept up snowflakes, dressing the earth in silver.
Soon, the sound of wind and snow was shattered by human roars and battle cries.
Humans clad in armor began brutal slaughter across this snowy plain.
No matter how heavily the snow fell, it couldn't conceal the glaring crimson staining the ground!
Henwil, positioned in the rear, witnessed such intense combat for the first time - the most cruel and bloody close-quarters fighting with cold weapons.
The Silent Battleaxe Legion and Billie Kingdom's Ninth Legion had originally intended to pincer attack the forces that had sallied forth from Fire Eye Town.
But shortly after engagement began, another army charged out from the town.
Both sides were evenly matched in numbers.
However, Fire Eye Town's defenders hadn't endured days of marching through bitter cold to reach here.They had waited quietly in warm buildings, only emerging from their barracks when the two allied legions arrived.
In winter, preserving body heat was even more crucial than conserving physical strength.
The well-rested defenders of Fire Eye Town moved with unfrozen limbs and alert bodies, giving them superior combat effectiveness.
Soldiers from both sides treated each other like sworn enemies, dodging opponents' blades while seeking opportunities to thrust their own weapons through gaps in enemy armor.
Over twenty thousand soldiers concentrated their chaotic battle within a few square kilometers, creating an exceptionally shocking scene.
Though Henwil had seen many movies in his previous life, those were ultimately acted performances - all fake!
There were no heroes on a real battlefield. Even knights with superb martial skills, after depleting their battle energy, were merely slightly stronger ordinary men who would still cough up bloody foam when stabbed.
The battle raged from morning until afternoon, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.
Yet they remained deadlocked.
One side fought for survival, the other to drive out invaders.
Despite such severe losses, neither side showed any intention of retreating.
Just as this stalemate persisted, the allied forces' cavalry of over a thousand riders began to move.
Seeing this development, Count Obiken, commander of the Silent Battleaxe Legion, felt his vision darken.
It's over!
Billie Kingdom's cavalry moved too early!
Now there wouldn't even be a chance to retreat!
Indeed, once this cavalry charge entered the battlefield, it immediately suppressed Fire Eye Town's defenders.
But this effect lasted less than twenty minutes because the battlefield was too chaotic, the snowstorm too heavy, and visibility too poor - preventing the cavalry from maximizing their advantage!
As cavalry intervened, Fire Eye Town's defenders gradually contracted their defensive lines, slowly pulling back toward the town walls.
Covering fire from archers on the walls eliminated the allied forces' desire to pursue.
Watching Fire Eye Town's retreating army, officers and soldiers alike among the allied forces raised victory cheers.
The battlefield echoed with weapons striking shields and armor as allied soldiers roared at the retreating defenders, venting their fury, battle lust, and the fear of those who had survived.
In contrast, Fire Eye Town's soldiers remained silent, methodically evacuating their wounded back into the town.
Forces from both sides collecting their wounded refrained from attacking each other, simply retrieving casualties to their respective camps.
As daylight gradually faded, Count Obiken summoned all officers.
Looking at those young faces excitedly discussing how many enemies they had killed, he sighed deeply: "Ah~!
Effective immediately, Dallas assumes command. All officers and nobles will withdraw overnight without a moment's delay!"
Seeing the officers' bewildered expressions, Count Obiken explained: "We've failed! Without capturing this town, we have failed.
Kavizé reported the enemy still has twenty thousand troops in town! The enemy garrisoned over thirty thousand soldiers here! All regular army!
Moreover, the town maintains five thousand cavalry constantly on standby! If Billie Kingdom's cavalry hadn't moved today, we might have retreated safely!
But that opportunity is gone now. We're only cutting off our tail to survive..."
Meanwhile, Henwil was treating Kavizé's sword wound: "Today, Billie Kingdom's cavalry moved too early!
In this extreme cold, horses need recovery time after high-speed charges as it greatly exhausts them.
This means the allied forces will have no cover during retreat. If they try to move tomorrow after today's exhaustion, they won't even be able to get out of bed.
If they leave tonight, it's even worse - everyone's still excited, sweat hasn't dried, and night's bitter wind will be deadly!
Regardless of their choice, these two legions cannot withdraw without paying a heavy price."
Kavizé didn't say much. After dressing: "Stay close to me later!"
Count Obiken had intended to stay as rear guard, but his chief attendant knocked him unconscious and evacuated him.
Before the allied forces could begin setting camp, the distinctive tremor of galloping cavalry transmitted through the ground.
Soon, both allied camps erupted into chaos. Soldiers couldn't find their noble officers, making organized defense impossible.
Silent Battleaxe Legion soldiers, along with the logistics corps, scattered like startled rabbits, driven by allied cavalry as they fled madly through the snowy night.
The pursuing cavalry didn't need to kill, nor did they bother - they simply kept driving the allied soldiers forward.
Just prevent these soldiers from stopping!
The cold would help them kill all enemies.
Under these conditions, getting lost, falling behind, or being wounded meant certain death.
Henwil's half-year of running training finally proved useful.
He managed to keep pace with Kavizé's trotting horse - under these circumstances, no one dared gallop at full speed.
Darkness itself was obstacle enough, and snow-covered ground made identifying pitfalls difficult while requiring conservation of horse strength for sustained movement.
Henwil maintained a steady jog, constantly adjusting his breathing, trying not to overthink to avoid tension while watching the path.
Kavizé, being an experienced ranger, possessed his own night travel techniques, consistently moving in the correct direction.
They didn't need to go far - just ten kilometers.
There, Kavizé had prepared a hiding spot where they could rest overnight before continuing at dawn, by which time the pursuers wouldn't follow.
However, the pursuing forces paid special attention to horseback riders among the allied troops.
During pursuit, they typically fired warning arrows at mounted figures, forcing them to accelerate and exhaust their horses.
Now a thirty-strong cavalry squad noticed Kavizé's group.
Kavizé wasn't alone - several friendly noble officers accompanied him.
This obviously made the pursuing cavalry suspect they had found high-value targets.
The cavalry squad drew bows and fired a volley of arrows toward them.
Immediately two unfortunate officers fell from their horses - one shot through the neck, the other thrown when his panicked horse was hit.
Regardless of cause, both were likely doomed, and others showed no intention of rescuing them.
They turned their horses and scattered, attempting to have comrades draw away the enemies.