Ch.10Prophecy (2) (Partially Revised)

As dawn broke, Durin immediately set his plan into motion.

The expeditionary force, having cleanly dealt with the surrounding tribes, marched toward enemy territory without delay.

It was a march of heavily armed soldiers rarely seen in the south, where, apart from legion soldiers, naked barbarian warriors were the norm. Verdia, the commander of the right wing, watched the advancing troops from a high vantage point. With Aurelia absent to encourage the soldiers, the view was hers alone to enjoy.

“Reports say part of the main force has already reached the isthmus. It seems they intend to cross it today.”

“The Ghost Knights of the left wing are nearby as well, so we’ll be next.”

“General Verdia, don’t you think the Regent is pushing this expedition too recklessly? As a southern nobleman, I’m deeply concerned for His Excellency.”

Beside Verdia stood young nobles from Raktelrun. They had joined when Aurelia secured command of the right wing, seeing an opportunity. Though they had consistently shown contempt for her barbarian origins, now they revealed traces of anxiety.

“The Regent has calculated everything, so why say such things?”

“He could fall victim to an ambush by the rebels.”

“You’ve seen our military strength that burned all the surrounding tribes, yet you still say that? I truly don’t understand what you’re thinking.”

“Our opponent is the Great Chieftain. We’re the ones who have fought him more than anyone else. And we’ll face him again this time.”

Not you, but the legion soldiers did.

Verdia inwardly sneered. The fear of death experienced by these spirited young nobles during war was showing.

Worried about the guards? What nonsense. In truth, they feared that the right wing, composed of southern soldiers, would collapse when facing the Great Chieftain.

“If nothing else, I must say this before we move on.”

“Speak, General.”

“Glorious sacrifice is natural in honorable battle. What greater honor could there be for a southern warrior?”

“……”

“I hope you all share the same sentiment. Surely you’re not thinking something shameful?”

The nobles answered with silence. Verdia glared at these pathetic creatures, clicked her tongue, and turned to gaze at the distant sky.

That moment had occurred last night, much darker than now. The scene with Durin replayed itself in Verdia’s mind.

“Verdia.”

“I await your command.”

Durin had moved directly to his office after meeting the Prophecy Witch. The two southern demons standing guard outside joined them. As soon as he sat down, he began issuing various instructions.

“From now on, we prepare the army for departure. Our guards are already prepared, so only you remain.”

“Your Excellency, our defense force is always combat-ready.”

“The slave soldiers have also completed their training. We can depart immediately without issue.”

Aurelia intercepted with her answer, and Verdia quickly followed. The unstable right wing always moved in accordance with the main force’s flow.

“Mere preparation is insufficient. We will advance deep into the southern continent.”

“By deep, do you mean the Rocky Mountains?”

“Yes. The Rocky Mountains they revere as their mother. We will occupy it.”

Conquering the Rock Mother. Verdia’s heart pounded. This was like a demon’s instinct—feeling ecstasy imagining destroying something and building one’s golden tower upon it. As part of the expeditionary force, she was eager to achieve merit.

“I will offer everything Your Excellency desires.”

“I will give my all.”

The tense atmosphere excited them. The heat of the coming war stimulated their demonic nature.

But Durin shook his head.

“The right wing will cross the isthmus but will not go to the Rocky Mountains.”

“Your Excellency? Then where will we…”

“You will hold your position here.”

Durin rose from his seat and pointed to a map on the wall. His finger indicated a narrow gorge. Aurelia, born and raised in Raktelrun, couldn’t properly identify it, but Verdia immediately understood Durin’s intention.

“You plan to block the middle until the main force completes its operation?”

“After crossing the isthmus, the Great Chieftain will try to lure our forces into favorable terrain. Your role is to prevent that and allow us to advance toward our expedition’s goal.”

Durin turned to look at the two commanders.

“You, along with the Durahan Guards, will hold back the waves of attackers. The success of this operation depends on this position.”

“Your Excellency, leave it to us. Not even a mouse will get through.”

Verdia answered with proper respect. Durin nodded.

“I trust you, Verdia, Governor Aurelia.”

Durin picked up the pieces on his table.

Two units defending a steep gorge against the oncoming southern warriors.

“If you succeed, I’ll handle the rest. After the Rocky Mountains comes their capital.”

He forcefully knocked down all the southern pieces.

“Are you ready?”

“Of course. My body is burning with excitement for this long-awaited expedition.”

And now, as the expeditionary force crossed the isthmus, their mission began. Verdia, joined by Aurelia who had arrived, sounded the trumpet of advance.

“Defense force! Complete your final equipment check! We’re crossing into the southern continent! Everyone forward!”

Pwooooo-!

Regent Durin, after meeting the Prophecy Witch, had declared his intention to occupy the Rocky Mountains.

The barbarian Verdia had no idea what he was plotting. The chaos created by the escaped Demon King was already overwhelming enough.

But she didn’t question herself. The Regent had given an order, and she would execute it.

Even if it meant willingly following a path that would annihilate her father’s forces.

“I’ll make you regret that day’s choice.”

Verdia dwelled on the day she was abandoned. She cursed her own weakness that had left her helpless with powerlessness and fear. She would struggle on the battlefield to wash away all those shameful feelings.

#

“Great Chieftain. They have finally appeared.”

A messenger burst through the tent flap with an urgent voice. Blue Horn Gulan, the leader of the southern rebels, clenched his fist.

“What’s their size?”

“2000, much larger than before. They’ve supplemented their forces by plundering surrounding tribes more than we expected.”

“Even so, their overall strength remains the same. Slave soldiers don’t produce meaningful results.”

He smiled grimly. His words and actions were meant to calm his excitement. For southern warriors, a great war was a magnificent picture that would complete their epic. He could barely contain his joy that his opponent was the Regent of such a powerful castle.

He had made his decision by sacrificing all his kin and subordinates sent to the center. The dream of independence achieved through sacrifice. He firmly resolved to reap the rewards this time.

“The Regent will want a quick resolution. That’s probably why he brought a small elite force from the castle. Are they approaching our position?”

“No. The Regent’s army has set up camp on the plain after crossing the isthmus.”

“An army wary of ambush. To lure them decisively toward us, we’ll need to set out bait.”

Gulan fell into contemplation. He couldn’t afford to be careless about their small numbers. One mistake could lead to his army’s collapse against powerful elite troops. The clear difference in military strength could, however, lead the expeditionary force to lower their guard.

After all, to them, southerners were mere barbarians.

After brief consideration, Gulan made his decision.

“Order the frontline soldiers to engage. It doesn’t matter how many die. Throw in mainly low-ranking warriors and keep drawing them in.”

“Great Chieftain, where will we finish them?”

“Right here. We’ll settle it here.”

The place Gulan indicated wasn’t a path filled with treacherous rocky terrain but rather a relatively gentle slope and plains. It seemed like a place where the Durahan, who made up the majority of the Regent’s army, could maneuver comfortably.

But that was only on the map. Once they arrived, they would face rough rocky terrain stretching as far as the eye could see.

“When their movement becomes difficult, we’ll deploy shamans and elite beast infantry to end it at once. Organize all necessary troops until the lure is complete. We’ll give our all the moment they appear on the battlefield.”

“Understood.”

The officials in the tent all responded with resounding voices, ready to shed the yoke of the south that they had endured for 1,000 years.

In the chaos of the missing king, opportunity belonged to the swift warrior. Gulan believed this without doubt. He pushed forward with his plan, thinking he might decorate a scene in a magnificent battle that would go down in history.

But chaos brought more variables than opportunities.

“G-Great Chieftain. The expeditionary force is advancing in a direction other than the capital.”

“What? Does anyone know exactly what their target is?”

“Well…”

“Speak now!”

“They’re heading toward the Mother Rock Temple. Not just a part, but their entire force.”

Durin’s army was moving in exactly the opposite direction of what he had planned. They were accelerating to conquer the Mother of the southerners.

“T-This can’t be…”

Having thrown 500 low-ranking warriors as bait, the situation had completely unraveled. The Great Chieftain could only clutch the poor situation map and groan.