Shadowed Gaze: The Highserk War Saga - Chapter 26

“Destroy it! Pile it up. It’s not like we can take it with us anyway,” Walm angrily scattered a bag of soil he had been carrying on his back.

The squad leader was disassembling a cart used for transporting ore. Other squad members were also dismantling repair materials for the mine shafts and buildings for the miners, stacking them in the road.

Another group of soldiers was digging up the ground with pickaxes, directing water from the ore irrigation channels into it to create sludge.

Due to the repeated battles and sabotage, Walm and the soldiers were filthy, covered in a mix of waste, sweat, and dust.

“Don’t lay the pillars flat; bury them halfway and let them stand. That alone will create an obstacle.”

Walm’s squad had been maintaining a temporary defense position with scrap materials and equipment until two days ago. However, facing a force several times their size, they finally reached their limit after relentless attacks and had to hastily retreat. While retreating, they artificially collapsed the mountain roads, with the battalion committing to a final effort to buy time.

Still, the Libertoa Trade Federation army, likely having engineers skilled in earth magic, would be able to repair the roads in a short time and resume their advance.

Injured soldiers and materials were being prioritized and gathered at a rendezvous point in the rear. The area along the old Mayard border, covered on one side by a formidable Demonic Territory, served as a bottleneck, effectively functioning as a defensive zone.

Walm, despite his cursing, never stopped working. He understood that every piled-up obstacle, every clump of earth, could slow down thousands of enemy soldiers and save their lives.

“Cease work, everyone stop! Libertoa soldiers are coming! We’re retreating too,” announced Platoon Leader Cozul, accompanied by a few subordinates, signaling retreat. The soldiers quickly wrapped up their work, shouldered their belongings, and retreated in squads.

Among the retreating figures, Walm noticed members of other platoons who had been holding the rear.

“Hey, what happened to the others?” Walm asked one of them.

“They were blown up. The enemy brought in a bunch of magic users and hit us hard. The road isn’t completely fixed yet, but in half an hour, they’ll be swarming here. Better run fast,” the soldier replied breathlessly before hurrying down the mine.

“Hurry up, we’ll be stabbed in the back if we dawdle,” Jose urged, finishing putting on his armor. During the construction work, they had shed their armor and weapons, which would have only hindered their movement and wasted their energy. Now, Walm was dressed similar to his peasant times.

After securing his knee pads and donning the rest of his armor from bottom to top, Walm was ready, along with everyone except the two rookies.

About 10 seconds later, when Nohl and Barrit gathered with the rest of the squad, Squad Leader Duwey scanned the surroundings and spoke.

“No stragglers? Good. Let’s say farewell to this accursed mine. Let’s go.”

No one objected. In response to the squad leader’s call, the squad collectively departed from the mine.

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As the spearhead of the Highserk Empire’s army, the Jeyf Cavalry Battalion had been unwaveringly upholding their sharp edge, fully utilizing their mobility and impact force.

They struck at the enemy’s protruding units and relentlessly hammered their flanks, buying precious time. However, the damage they incurred was becoming non-negligible.

Jeyf, who commanded the cavalry, dispersed his horsemen into smaller platoons, dedicating them to delaying and harassing attacks. They lured out enemy units, then regrouped and countered with company-sized forces to overturn their numerical disadvantage.

But today, this strategy seemed to be faltering. In terms of numbers, the losses of Crest and Felius were greater.

The concern was that Jeyf’s cavalry, considered elite even in the strong Highserk Empire army and unmatched in their training and prowess, had already lost two platoons.

“…So those are the otherworldly visitors of this generation,” Jeyf mused.

Crest was known for its frequent visitors and drifters from other worlds. Jeyf had heard rumors about these visitors, but in truth, they were more formidable than any rumor suggested.

Several hundred meters away, a dazzling stream of light erupted, obliterating both men and horses from the ground. The brilliant spectacle, though possibly beautiful from afar, was creating a hellish scene up close.

Before the dust and blood mist even settled, a barrage of magic – fire, ice, wind, earth – chased the retreating cavalry. Even the horsemen who were adept in one or two magic attributes couldn’t withstand the onslaught of all four elements.

“Keep it to long-range intimidation. Magic users and archers, cover the retreating cavalry. Don’t get too close,” Jeyf ordered.

Following his command, his troops launched simultaneous attacks. Although the magic and arrows landed at a distance, the assault was enough to create a protective space, stalling the chase.

Before long, the attacks momentarily ceased, and earthen walls sprung up instantly, intercepting incoming attacks with light magic.

The gained time was only about ten seconds, but it was enough for the cavalry to escape. Persistent Felius soldiers fired arrows, but no cavalrymen fell.

“The remaining squads have already retreated to the assembly point. Commander, there’s no need for you to take risks…”

One of Jeyf’s staff members, riding alongside him, voiced his concern. Known as one of the top frontline commanders in the Highserk Empire army, Jeyf’s tendency to be overly forward was well-known to his people.

“Worry not. I have no intention of engaging directly. It would be a waste of soldiers’ lives.”

Jeyf barely caught a glimpse of the boy who unleashed powerful light magic and the girl who cast various types of spells. They seemed to be just old enough to enlist as young soldiers in the Highserk Empire army.

“I must see such a threat directly to command properly.”

Jeyf began assessing the enemy’s strength. In terms of firepower, one individual equaled about two magic platoons, given the immense power of their magic. Their physical abilities and magical shielding were undoubtedly formidable.

“Although I doubt they’re first-class in hand-to-hand combat, it’s a possibility I should consider.”

According to Jeyf’s calculations, killing them would require sending in two or three cavalry platoons as sacrificial pawns. The concern was their entourage.

“It seems the Rehazen Knights are babysitting them.”

Breaking through the Rehazen Knights, bathed in fierce flames, would not be easy. Due to dispersing his troops for operational flexibility, Jeyf’s current force was less than a company-sized unit.

They were too valuable to overlook, but their very existence could also be bait. As someone who had repeatedly lured enemies out, Jeyf wanted to avoid being ensnared in return.

“This isn’t the final battlefield. Our Commander Berger has prepared a suitable stage in the land of Mayard. It would be inexcusable not to attend.”

The party wouldn’t be just for Jeyf’s cavalry. The elite light infantry of the Reglia Infantry Battalion would also be there.

There was no need for Jeyf alone to rush ahead and dance.

“Let’s have them come all the way here. There’s no need for them to worry about the return trip – I should convey that sentiment.”

Even the usually serious staff member seemed relieved by Jeyf’s words and cracked a joke.

“Ha ha, well said… Then, it’s about time to go. Let’s pull back.”

Once he confirmed that all of his cavalry had successfully withdrawn, Jeyf turned on his heel.

While long-range magic attacks began to hit close to Jeyf, none of them managed to deliver an effective blow.