Shadowed Gaze: The Highserk War Saga - Chapter 91
The blazing inferno, accompanied by hot winds and azure flames that engulfed the supporting castle, elicited a sharp response from those who had any clue about its true nature.
“Has Hadro— has the Highserk moved?” Edgar de Dalimarcus’s monologue was lost amidst the chaos that filled the tent, overwhelmed by the uproar. The map, filled with pieces representing the deployment of friendly and enemy forces, had long since ceased to serve its purpose effectively, as the fluctuating battle conditions rendered it obsolete.
“Why would Highserk initiate an attack now? It’s inconceivable. They must be called back at once.”
“And what about that fire? It’s impossible for the fireproofed supporting castle to be engulfed in flames?!”
“Anything will do. Is there no information?”
The situation surrounding the supporting castle swung dramatically. Initially, after successfully repelling the first attack, the consensus was optimistic, believing the fortification could hold out for several days.
This changed with the second assault. The Meizenaf mercenaries, not deployed in the initial, more cautious attack, shattered the corner towers, which were crucial to the defense, and flowed into the castle.
Given the castle’s untenable situation, it was expected that the fort’s commander Baron Josh would counterattack with his cavalry, inflict damages, then retreat to the main camp to prepare for a decisive battle.
However, everything changed with the azure firestorm. Even from a distance, the wide-area attack was evident, turning spirited shouts into screams of despair.
Among Edgar’s retainers and the lesser lords who sought answers, Hadro, leading 500 soldiers, made a decision to depart. Despite being external reinforcements, some suspected collusion.
Yet Edgar had seen those azure flames save Highserk people at the border. Witnessing them now, dancing wildly as the supporting castle neared collapse and Highserk soldiers switching to an aggressive stance, made the relationship clear, offering an unmistakable answer.
“So they were lurking after all.”
The exact number of infiltrators remained unknown, but there was no doubt they were there. Was it a warning, an attempt at completely hiding their tracks, or merely a precaution? No matter how much he pondered, Edgar could only speculate without reaching any definitive conclusions.
“Hadro’s battalion will make contact with Viscount Barnes’ reserve forces,” reported a soldier with keen eyesight.
“At this point, we should consider retreating Baron Josh’s troops to the main camp.”
“But with that fire. We don’t even know if they’re safe.”
Unity of opinion was unattainable, and the generals and officers filled the tent, endlessly debating. Edgar slammed his fist onto the table with the map, quieting the bustling tent instantly as all eyes turned to him, their leader.
“Depending on Hadro’s battalion’s performance, we may launch a general attack. For now, we must closely watch the Highserk.”
Without further words or explanation, Edgar silenced any arguments or advice with a mere glance.
The Highserk soldiers, having marched from the main camp, collided with the reserves that Viscount Barnes had left on the outskirts of the supporting castle.
Despite the enemy soldiers being disorganized by the azure flames, the Highserk force, merely 500 strong, was expected to break through a few units and formations before stalling. Everyone except for Edgar believed this, applying their own logic.
Yet, the Highserk forces did not stop. They broke through the reserve forces and launched a fierce assault on Viscount Barnes’ troops, who had not managed to regroup after the chaos of the azure flames.
“Barnes’ main force has been breached?!”
“Impossible. Despite their losses, they outnumber us nearly two to one.”
The enemy could not maintain cohesion, and any attempt to regroup was ruthlessly crushed. This uncoordinated movement clearly indicated the loss of command within Barnes’ and the mercenaries’ ranks. Then, without warning, a total collapse occurred. Someone, believing in a mistaken cry to retreat, raised their voice. A headless group, desperate to escape the onslaught, clung to this belief easily.
“It’s the end,” Edgar concluded.
Retreating in the face of the enemy was not easy, and even a planned withdrawal with a rearguard left behind could not avoid casualties. It was inevitable that without someone to play the role of the rear guard, turning into a rout would result in a tragic outcome.
The supporting castle had become nothing more than a mowing field for the Highserk soldiers. The attrition from siege warfare, the widespread attacks by the azure flames, and the fierce assaults by the Highserk led to the reduction of the force of over 2,000 to mere hundreds, who sought refuge with Count Meizenaf’s main force, fleeing for their lives.
“The final battle! The target is the Meizenaf main camp! Today we settle everything!”
No one opposed Viscount Edgar’s call to arms. A roar of response echoed, and the main force led by Viscount Edgar began to mobilize.
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Perhaps, if the Highserk soldiers were to say, both Barnes and Baron Josh themselves were lords dulled by peace. Baron Josh distorted his face in self-mockery.
In terms of numbers, Count Meizenaf’s forces were still greater, and the numerical advantage was not yet relinquished. However, looking at the equipment, the remaining forces under Barnes wouldn’t count as a combat force anymore.
The broken soldiers, desperate to escape, began to discard anything that weighed them down. If it seemed they would be caught, they would throw away anything and everything – weapons, armor, even their comrades.
The unit that set out from Count Meizenaf’s main force for rescue likely never imagined being hindered by friendly forces. The Highserk manipulated and guided the fleeing soldiers adeptly.
How utterly cunning. Even though they were the enemy, one could not help but feel a hint of sympathy for Count Odilon de Meizenaf. In front of that Highserk unit, it might have been better to intimidate and eliminate the fleeing friendly forces to unite the troops.
A rabble with bad habits, unable to be repurposed, was possessed by a frenzy to dash into the chaos. The sight of distraught friendly troops, soldiers fleeing into their ranks, disrupted the formation. Yet, Count’s regular troops desperately attempted to reorganize, but the Count, having exhausted his valuable regular soldiers among mercenaries and his main families, lacked effective forces for a decisive battle.
Fear spread. Highserk swallowed up the relief units along with the fleeing soldiers. However, outnumbered, the breakthrough power of the Highserk unit within enemy lines was reaching its limit.
Josh understood. The stage had been set, prepared for him. It was his turn to act. Leaving behind the wounded and a few soldiers, Josh’s troops surpassed the Highserk soldiers from behind.
The morale of his troops was high. The moment the supporting castle was on the verge of total collapse, and defeat seemed inevitable, was turned around in a dramatic reversal; there was no one who did not roar in response. A wedge had been driven into Meizenaf’s flank by the Highserk, and all Josh needed to do was to widen that wound.
“Do not stop, push through!! Crush them! We must crush them all!!”
Josh had been mistaken in his past judgments. The balance with the Highserk was appropriate at five to five. Merely 500 soldiers had guided the route of retreat for Viscount Barnes and the mercenaries back to the enemy’s main camp, utilizing the chaos brought about by the routed soldiers to make up for the lack of striking power.
This strategy was so clever that even a shepherd would have to tip his hat. Within the Archipelago Countries, how many soldiers could achieve the same? Above all, what instilled fear in Josh was the Demon Fire user, known as the Hellfire Beacon, shouted by the Highserk soldiers.
The user of this Demon Fire, likely hidden within Josh’s supporting castle, was vicious. Using the castle as bait, the enemy leaned forward, and at the most effective time when enemy soldiers were densely packed, spread a sea of azure flames.
Viscount Barnes, commanding the front line, and the leaders of the mercenary band were buried, causing numerous casualties. It was unthinkable but had there been any chance of switching sides to Meizenaf through sweet words, those flames would have consumed Josh as well.
“Are words necessary?”
The words of Hadro, a Highserk commander, swirled within Josh’s mind. The Highserk soldiers had shown their intent through action. Therefore, Josh must also demonstrate similarly. Staking his very existence on it.
Josh continued to disrupt the unorganized formation into which the Highserk soldiers had plunged. Meizenaf was desperate to regroup. The breakthrough speed began to slow, but it was clear to anyone that Meizenaf had lost.
Exhausted and confused, Count Meizenaf’s main camp was struck by a fierce assault led by Viscount Edgar’s main force. The death throes of the unfortunate Meizenaf soldiers caught between the hammer and anvil continued.
The elegance that had been maintained in the formation was now distorted and twisted like a child’s scribble on the ground.
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Translator – Lyxxna