The army had arrived at the site of battle, the Duke had given his speech, and the men’s morale had been stoked.
“Begin! Remove these invaders from our land!!”
On the Duke’s signal, the Battle of Grandia Castle began with magical bombardments.
Super Artes that were empowered by multiple casters and had a long casting time made an arc through the air. They came in various shapes and sizes, with varying attributes and elements.
The Empire, obviously enough, did the same.
Before the magical bombardments landed, defensive measures on both sides flared up. The dome barrier stopped a giant sword of fire before it hit the Red Dragon Unit, much to Viers’ relief. He was glad to see the barrier worked.
The scale and might of those Artes were incredible. Even with the barrier protecting them, Viers felt their destructiveness. He wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of war bombardment. Not only him, but also all the others around him. They were vaguely feeling their insignificance before the awe-inspiring firepower. The exchange of magical artillery went on for a few more minutes before the Duke commanded new military moves.
Knights on flying mounts took to the skies. On pegasi, griffins, or flying ships, the air brigade began their assault. The sight of a thousand flying knights was truly a sight to behold. The men couldn't help but cheer.
To intercept, the Empire sent its own airborne division from the shadow of Grandia Castle. Viers could tell from one glance that the Kingdom had more numbers. That was until the drakes from Zami fortresses joined the fray. Even though the knights were more powerful individually, the enemy numbers were great. At least three to one.
A fierce battle unfolded in the skies in an instant. Corpses and blood began to fall upon the pure snow below. The knights had the upper hand.
Viers wondered how long they would last. Also, the lesser dragons were concerning. Viers faced them too in the Battle of Gryphon’s Reach. Farley alone had killed around one hundred, but there were still so many. It was a mystery how the Empire was able to control them.
While the skies turned into a battlefield, the ground also saw movement. However, because Viers was among the grunts waiting for orders, he wasn't able to see the army’s movement at the edge. It couldn't be helped.
From his position, he also wasn't able to see the command center at the back where the Duke and his officers were directing the war. Even when he tried using the supervision granted by Euryale Sight Arte, there were so many protections and enchantments around the HQ. Countermeasures against the enemy’s spying and surveillance, yes, but also against attacks. There were also powerful knights standing guard. It was that heavily guarded.
At least Ciel, who should be there, would be safe, Viers thought. Although considering her personality, he had no doubt his... provisional wife, of sorts, would take the field when things get dicey.
Viers and the others were on standby as the battle unfolded. The reverberations from clashes between mighty Pathseekers spread and some of the greenhorns were already shaken. Pathetic. At least those in the Red Dragon Unit had some battle experience on their belt and were battle-hardened as a result.
They were made to steadily advance, move to the left, and so on, but there was no battle yet. The other ground armies had seen battle but not the army Croix’s men were in. The Duke might be strategizing here but the men were getting restless.
Finally, nearly an hour after the battle, a messenger approached one of the generals, specifically, the general of the army which the Red Dragon Unit was folded into.
“All troops, full charge! Annihilate the enemy!”
With the sound of trumpets and drums, the time of swords and spears had come. The army of three thousand Pathseekers ran forward with murderous intent. The combined aura and oppression force was staggering.
And who would feel it more than the enemy's army? The Empire didn't all hide behind the walls of Grandia Castle. They fielded men outside too. However, it was clear from the quality of their people and equipment that these were inferior soldiers.
Military slaves, in fact.
With the likes of magical slave marks existing in the world, the poor slaves couldn't defy their owners. It was clear these military slaves were just cannon fodder.
Viers felt pity for them, but there was no stopping the tide. The Kingdom’s Army crashed into the Empire’s human walls and tore them apart.
It was the only natural conclusion. Even though the military slave units were around 5000 men, the Kingdom’s 3000 were too strong. The slaves were only Level 1 and 2s, while the knights were Level 3s or more. Furthermore, Level 3 Pathseekers possess Unreality Field. It made them practically invincible to Level 2’s attacks.
The first clash was decisive and destructive. Unlike the Empire that positioned the military slaves in a shoulder-to-shoulder, shieldwall position, the general sent his knights in a spread-out formation. Each knight was at least ten meters apart from each other.
On Earth, such a military charge was the height of folly but in this world, it allowed the physically and magically superior knights to create destruction at maximum range.
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It was very logical. The stronger a Pathseeker became, the stronger their power and capacity for destruction. The likes of Level 5s needed even more space, or their allies would be affected by their Arte’s aftershock.
Naturally, there existed formations where a bunch of Pathseekers clumped up together and showed great effectiveness. When they were using a compound Arte for example, but against the Empire’s military slaves, the general’s approach was the correct one, in Viers’ opinion.
His thoughts took a darker tone as he waded through the remains of the deceased. Croix’s Red Dragon Unit wasn't at the forefront of the army but in the middle. They were currently following the vanguard line at a steady pace.
Their path was laden with extensive blood and gore. It was a one-sided massacre. The slaves’ bodies were decimated by the powerful Artes of the knights. Most of them had a pitiful expression in their last moments that remained even after death.
Viers had killed many people before, and he was a sinner through and through, but seeing these people were made to unwillingly die like an afterthought by the Empire left a bad taste in his mouth.
He gathered the souls of the dead near him in just a one-meter radius around him. He could extend his range far more but it would risk detection. These souls that he caught, he would give them solace and peace before sending them to the afterlife.
For a tiny bit of fee. Viers was sure they wouldn't mind. Just a bit yum-yum.
The out of season’s winter chill was blown away from the heat of war. The war grew more intense by the minute. Viers’ senses picked up so much noise from too many battles. The fog of war dampened his senses; it was getting increasingly more difficult knowing the situation at the distance.
Viers had not the luxury of thinking about it too much. The vanguard had slowed, the Red Dragon Unit had caught up, which meant the vanguard encountered strong resistance.
Hmm. The enemy’s regulars have come to play.
The Empire’s regular army in front of them numbered around 3000. It was 3000 against 3000, except one side had just finished a battle. The military slaves had been decimated, but that was the easy part. It was still 5000 opponents, though. Some knights on the front line suffered injuries and fatigue.
Viers glanced at Croix, who was riding a white horse with Falmerion at his side. The prince gave him a nod.
“Red Dragon Unit, now’s our turn!” Croix drew his sword and raised it aloft. “Chargeeeee!”
Like the good vassal he was, Viers charged into the fray.
“Futon, let’s rumble.”
“Fuu!” his familiar’s spirited reply resounded in his mind.
Perhaps on the weaker side, or the enemy was strong, the knight in front of Viers was struggling. Before Viers reached the knight, he got stabbed.
“Urgh!”
“Haha! Got a bit tired fighting slaves, eh? Pathetic!”
The Harkelan soldiers taunted and were about to deliver a final blow.
The wounded knight, who got injured because of a careless mistake, hastily tried to defend but he knew he wouldn't make it. Suddenly, his opponent got hit by a yellow thunderbolt. The Level 3 peak soldier was smoking and paralyzed but still clinging to life.
“Stupid monologue.”
Viers grabbed the enemy’s face and sent electricity directly. After an involuntary breakdance by the body, the man’s life was gone with the electric current. If he kept his mouth and moved his arms, Viers wouldn't make it in time but it was what it was.
“Thank-”
Viers gave the knight a pat on the shoulder and walked in front of him, to the sea of enemies. He was truly at the forefront now. The enemy charged at him with spears.
Viers extended two of his fingers forward. Yellow lightning made intense sparks and sounds around them. The next second, electric bolts pierced one man on his chest and spread to the people around him.
“Chain Lightning.”
Viers repeated the attack once again and claimed another thirty victims or so. This ‘Arte’ was very effective against a bunch of enemies.
Not too far, there was a surge of earth and a cone of fire. Boram, Croix, and the rest of the Red Dragon Unit had arrived at the front and brought their might against the enemy and dominated their enemies, especially some notable individuals.
“That Arte is coming again! Anti-lightning ward!!”
Twenty soldiers joined their defensive Arte together and managed to defend Viers’ ‘Chain Lightning Arte‘.
“Guhh! I’m numb.”
“Can't...move...”
“Stand, you fools! Hurry up and kill him before he hits us again!” The Empire’s squad leader said.
“Uoooohhh!”
His men roused themselves and tried to attack Viers before he finished casting. It was not a bad idea.
“Hm!? Abort! Defend, defend, NOW!”
The squad leader moved to the front and raised his shield, the men mirrored his actions on reflex. Just in time before Viers’ Chain Lightning landed. However, because the defense was incomplete, it was not as effective as the one before. On top of the injury from the first attack, some of them were electrocuted to death.
“Ga gahh... How can he cast such a powerful Arte so quickly?” The squad leader tried to keep standing.
A yellow bolt entered his forehead and spread to the people behind him. The third Chain Lightning completely ended the squad whose name Viers didn't know.
That makes a hundred men, give or take, and easily double the injured.
“Incredible.”
“Who is he?”
“Must be a famous knight from an esteemed House.”
Viers’ power made the surrounding enemies fearful and awed the allies.
“Fuu. Fuu?”
Futon asked why he shouldn't use stronger lightning.
It would make us too strong and draw unnecessary attention. We’re strong enough as is. Save your strength. We’re far from finished.
“Eh, he’s falling back?” A knight said, seeing Viers walking back.
“I’m spent. Need to recharge. Sorry,” Viers said apologetically.
“NOW! Charge! Charge! Charge! Kill that lightning guy now!” The Empire soldiers in this area were emboldened.
“Guooooh! Stand your ground! On our pride as the Fearless Badger Knightly Order, don't let this man get hurt!!” A knight desperately used his shield to defend against ten men pushing against him. He decided that Viers’ firepower was a great asset and therefore should be protected.
“Yes, Captain! Uoooohhhh! Die, you Empire bastard!” A young knight with a nosebleed swung his sword with gusto.
Hmm... I feel a bit bad about faking tiredness.
Viers smiled wryly under his full face helmet. His scalp was somehow itchy too but he couldn't scratch it. If the knights knew they were shouldering unnecessary hardship, perhaps they would cough up blood.