Ch.127Battle of Barcella (2)

“Secretary, look over there.”

A black dot caught Rupiel’s eye as he traveled north along the highway. Though difficult to see clearly under the overcast sky, he could unmistakably sense an ominous presence.

“Reconnaissance beasts.”

“It seems they’ve begun to mobilize.”

“What’s our current position?”

At the secretary’s command, several adjutants gathered around. They hurriedly unfolded a map and presented it to him.

“We’re expected to reach the central border in two days. Once we pass Barcelona Fortress, there’s a direct highway leading straight to the Papal Territory.”

“The appearance of their beasts here means…”

“They’ve likely already occupied the fortress and are surveying the battlefield. Since they’re mostly cavalry, if they choose the right spot to strike, our army will suffer heavy casualties.”

Cavalry tactics had minimal effect against the Holy Knight Order, but it was a different story when facing Durin. That cursed one had a history of repelling numerous crusades from the demon realm over hundreds of years. He would certainly look for weaknesses and put a knife to their throats this time as well.

“The Demon Realm’s Prefect will target the priests.”

Rupiel quickly began his analysis. The core of this crusade army wasn’t the knights but the priests who could fire holy power bombardments. They had achieved results in minimizing human casualties against demons while resolving chaos. However, the heretics rampaging in the conflict zones and Durin’s forces continued to create variables.

That was why the secretary kept getting headaches.

“They have sufficient firepower, but without protection, they’ll be slaughtered. Their individual combat strength isn’t particularly high.”

This had already been proven on the eastern front. Those who formed defensive formations successfully repelled the demons’ all-out charges, but some units that failed to properly organize their formations due to being swept up in the momentum were completely annihilated by mere elven attacks.

Durin’s charge would be even more devastating. The massive rift the Prefect would create wouldn’t just result in the annihilation of a few units but would shake the entire crusade army.

The secretary especially felt it with his entire body—the divine power Durin had carved out in the east.

The moment the forgotten ancient goddess descended upon this land again, the morale of the crusade army would be shattered, and people would begin to question the scriptures.

The chaos arising in the conflict zone alone was already pushing control to its limits. The eastern army, which should have been helping to exterminate the demons, was completely tied down.

If unrest were to spread to the central region as well, creating a situation where they had to give up the east…

“That situation must be prevented at all costs.”

Rupiel’s wrinkles deepened. The trial tormented him. The sense of crisis he was only now beginning to feel drove the angel forward. He resented those damned archangels who wouldn’t look back.

Yet he harbored no hatred. He merely blamed his own powerlessness.

An empty sigh spread throughout the camp.

#

The encounter between Durin and the crusade army.

It happened earlier than expected. A small number of Durahan sent ahead of the main force and the crusade army’s scouts glared at each other from a distance.

“Are you afraid, demons!”

“God will punish all of you!”

“Become sacrifices for our faith!”

Their loud shouting made them look more like vagrant mercenaries than holy knights. The confidence from their numerical advantage reached the sky. Some emotional beast corps soldiers growled.

“Your Excellency! Let us go kill those bastards!”

“We can’t stand this!”

Durin pondered for a moment.

If an engagement occurred and they were delayed even slightly, the crusaders would come rushing in. There was no chance of victory in a direct confrontation. Even for someone like Durin, it would be impossible to withstand hundreds of elite priests pouring holy power.

Yet they couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. If morale broke, the demons who needed to advance with momentum might collapse on their own.

He judged it to be favorable for an army that needed to exploit openings. If the enemy provoked them, they could use that to create variables.

“We should at least break their spirit.”

“So it’s battle then!”

“We won’t engage in a direct confrontation. We need to lure out a small pursuit team. Are there any volunteers for the guerrilla unit?”

“All of us! We are ready to be deployed in this glorious battle. Please give us your orders!”

Thud!

A hundred soldiers knelt down. The beasts who had followed from western Yoannina were frenzied, imagining the faces of angels they would endlessly slaughter. Their hands holding crude greatswords trembled with excitement.

“I authorize engagement. Kill them and return before sunset.”

“We will follow your orders!”

“However, do not annihilate them completely. Leave just one alive so that news of their defeat can be delivered by a survivor.”

“Hahaha! That’s exactly what we wanted, Your Excellency!”

The beast assault team rushed forward en masse. Their targets were the scouts still provoking them ignorantly on the ridge. The mobility of beasts in rough terrain was beyond imagination.

The reconnaissance team, trying to flee after confirming the movement of the corps, was immediately caught. Their decision to shoot one arrow and retreat proved to be a fatal mistake. By the time they panicked, discarded their weapons, and turned to run, the beasts had already climbed up the ridge.

“Aaaaargh!”

“We’ve come as you wished, vermin! We’ll thoroughly insult your god!”

“Kill them!”

The veterans in the rear were cut in half first. Blood splattered everywhere. The lizardmen beast corps rampaged gleefully in the cauldron of madness.

“Is this all your faith amounts to?”

“Pray to your god now! Receive the reward for your belief!”

O Lord! My cowardly father!

The demons mocked the holiness. They fearlessly uttered words that would enrage any priest present. But no one was there to condemn the demons.

“Ugh…”

“Gurk.”

The final breath escaping from a half-severed neck was the last prayer. It was nothing but a desperate plea for salvation in the midst of pain.

But God did not watch over them.

The price of arrogance returned as a miserable death.

……

“Huff! Huff!”

The only scout who survived the first engagement ran breathlessly. He had barely managed to cling to life. It was thanks to throwing all his comrades to the demons.

No other thought came to mind.

He just ran desperately, wanting to live. If he could reach the main force of the crusade army, he could save his life. The hope of escaping from the terrifying demons drove the survivor’s body forward.

“Ah, aah!”

After running for who knows how long, he saw flags in the distance. A white cross. As soon as he saw the symbol of the crusade army, the scout screamed.

“Aaaah! Over here! Aaaaaaah!”

It was a bestial scream. Tears flowed madly. Despite his breath reaching his chin, he struggled with all his might.

His effort was not in vain.

As he threw himself forward, almost collapsing, he was able to prostrate himself before a knight.

“What’s the matter? What happened to you?”

A cold voice flowed out. The soldier, now a defeated soldier rather than a survivor, pressed his head to the ground and shouted.

“Demons attacked the reconnaissance team! No one else survived!”

“So they’re nearby. I thought they were two days away, but they’ve approached faster than expected.”

“We must prepare. Their beast corps is too powerful…”

While urgently reporting, the soldier felt something wrong with his body. Pain surged up.

“Kuh. Kuuuh!”

“Scout. What’s wrong?”

“Aaaaargh!”

The soldier writhed in pain. Unable to continue speaking due to the unbearable agony, he screamed. A priest on standby quickly approached. He summoned holy power to treat the unknown wound hidden under the armor.

At that moment.

Crackle!

“It’s demonic energy!”

Black energy rose up. It was the unholy power wielded by demons. It created sparks as it clashed with the holy power. The startled priest retreated. A knight stepped forward, prioritizing the protection of the high-value personnel.

“What is happening!”

“It seems the engaged forces fought with high-ranking enemy types. To leave demonic energy in wounds, they must be at least elite soldiers.”

“Damn it. Is it the Prefect?”

“And…”

The priest couldn’t continue. It was quite different from the soldier’s condition. The holy knight turned around to see what was happening, and his face froze.

“Th-these things!”

The demonic energy rose like worms and formed a shape. As if mocking the white cross, it formed an inverted black cross standing upside down—the symbol of heresy and a denial of the God of Light.

“We must kill them immediately! How dare they blaspheme against God!”

“General! Please wait a moment. We still need to assess the situation!”

“Situation? They’re only two thousand in number, what is there to fear! This is actually fortunate. I will kill all those blasphemous creatures and offer them to the Archangel!”

“General! General!”

Despite the priest’s urgent calls, he couldn’t stop the enraged holy knight. Not only angels but many humans who sided with them joined in. Hundreds of troops rushed forward, following the white wings.

“Damn it! Quickly inform the Secretary!”

A great wave had been set in motion. Hale would mobilize all his troops. Grand strategy meant nothing to those who valued holiness more than life.

Ripples began to form in a plan that Rupiel hadn’t even been able to draw up.