Chapter 309

“Maintain strict vigilance throughout the night!”

There was no rest for the weary.

The Crown Prince’s army, having suffered an unexpected ambush, was on high alert, their nerves frayed.

It was an exhausting situation for the soldiers, both mentally and physically.

Their morale was plummeting, and their physical condition was deteriorating.

All of this was orchestrated by the Celtrine forces.

And at the center of it all was Max Celtrine.

His name alone was enough to send shivers down the spines of the Crown Prince’s soldiers, their teeth gritted in hatred.

“…Captain, I think it’s time to make a move.”

Marius said cautiously, inside a tent lit by a lantern after sunset.

Their morale wasn’t recovering, and time was ticking away.

It wasn’t a good idea to remain in this state.

That’s why he was speaking frankly to Vinchel, their commander.

“Vice-Captain, what about the monstrous catapult…?”

Justino interjected, his voice laced with worry.

“They haven’t used it since that day. What does that mean? Only one thing. They don’t have enough boulders to fire.”

Marius declared confidently, as if he had already reached a conclusion.

“But we can’t be sure…”

Justino trailed off.

“No, the Vice-Captain is right. There must be a reason why they’re not using such a powerful weapon.”

Vinchel, who had been sitting silently, finally spoke.

“If you both think so…”

Justino immediately agreed.

He also thought it was time to make a move.

He had only voiced his concern because of the threat posed by the monstrous catapult.

Vinchel tapped the table where the map was spread out.

“It’s definitely time to make a move. Delaying any further will only benefit them. Not just the ones inside the castle, but the others as well.”

He was referring to the princess faction.

If the Crown Prince’s army continued to show weakness in this battle, where they had mobilized a large force, the princess faction’s morale would soar.

“A few defeats are inevitable in war, Captain. The one who wins in the end takes it all. All our soldiers are ready for that final victory.”

Marius said resolutely.

Their morale might be low, but their anger was boiling over.

If they received the order to attack, they would unleash their fury on the enemy.

“Yes, an all-out attack.”

Vinchel’s eyes gleamed.

“We’ll deploy all our siege weapons and all our soldiers. We’ll break through the gate, climb the walls, and turn Celtrine Castle into a wasteland.”

A cold, murderous intent emanated from him.

Marius and Justino knew.

That Vinchel was furious, having been repeatedly outsmarted by that young brat, Max Celtrine.

“Tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir!”

The decisive battle was imminent.

* * *

“The atmosphere is strange.”

Hank, the knight captain, approached Max, his face tense.

He wasn’t the only one.

Most of the people on the walls had sensed a change in the enemy’s atmosphere.

They were moving busily, kicking up dust, their movements unconcealed.

“Yes, it seems like they’re finally ready to attack.”

Max said, his gaze fixed on the enemy camp in the distance.

“But we’re ready for them.”

Ran continued his words.

“Of course. We just have to follow the plan we discussed yesterday, right?”

“Yes. Focus the Turtle Catapult on the enemy’s siege weapons.”

Siege weapons were the biggest threat to the defenders in a siege battle.

They could break through the gate and attack the walls.

They had already destroyed all the catapults, which were the most dangerous, but the enemy still had battering rams, siege towers, and ballistae.

If they could destroy those, the defenders would retain their positional advantage.

That’s why they were planning to concentrate the Turtle Catapult’s firepower on them.

“And ignore the siege ladders?”

“Yes, ignore them. It’s a waste of boulders.”

Siege ladders.

They were siege weapons, but they were the most primitive type.

They required the soldiers to charge towards the enemy, risking heavy casualties.

Wasting precious boulders on them would be a huge waste.

And it was impossible to target all the siege ladders with the Turtle Catapult anyway, as there were too many of them.

They could easily handle the siege ladders with arrows.

“Heh, alright, Max.”

Ran’s face was still filled with confidence.

For two reasons.

She believed in her own skills, her ability to carry out her assigned task perfectly.

And she believed in Max and the residents, who had gone through hell with her.

“Use the ballistae to harass the enemy commanders. Don’t let them reach the walls easily.”

Max turned to the residents who were manning the ballistae.

Vinchel, Marius, Justino, and Sayanoid.

The Imperial Knights, the leaders of the enemy army, were all superhuman monsters.

Especially Vinchel, the Sword Saint, was on a different level.

That’s why Max had signaled for them to fire the precious orichalcum arrows at Vinchel when he was chasing them.

“Understood, Savior!”

The residents replied, their faces grim.

They also knew.

How dangerous the enemy commanders were.

Max had repeatedly warned them.

And everyone on the continent knew the reputation of the Imperial Knights.

Max didn’t order them to kill the Imperial Knights with the ballistae.

Because he knew it was impossible.

But they could harass them.

If they could prevent them from reaching the walls and unleashing their full power, that would be the best outcome.

Because it would lead to their victory.

“I’ll handle the Sword Saint. The rest of you, focus on stopping the commanders in your assigned areas.”

They couldn’t stop the Imperial Knights with just ballistae.

So Max, Gwen, Milia, Duncan, Norman, and Hank, the strongest among them, would split up and block them.

It would be a tough fight for each of them individually, but they could manage if they worked together and utilized the ballistae effectively.

But Vinchel was too dangerous, so Max had volunteered to handle him personally.

Max, who had learned the ultimate technique from the Master Slayer and had awakened his hero trait, was undoubtedly the strongest among them.

His experience in fighting and surviving against formidable opponents like Shadow Gulshan, Mad Mesker, and the Gray Reaper Kalkus had made him even stronger.

But he wasn’t arrogant.

No, he couldn’t afford to be arrogant against an opponent like Vinchel.

‘The Sword Saint is incredibly strong. But I’ll stop him. For my sake, and for everyone’s sake.’

Max made a silent vow.

“Charge!”

The Crown Prince’s army finally launched their all-out attack.

* * *

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

A barrage of arrows rained down on them.

The sky was filled with arrows.

But the Crown Prince’s army continued their advance, their shields raised above their heads.

*Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!*

The arrows bounced off their shields.

But they couldn’t block them all.

*Thud!*

*Thud! Thud!*

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

Soldiers screamed in pain as arrows pierced their flesh.

But the knights were ruthless.

“Those who are still alive, keep moving! Don’t stop! You’ll die if you stop!”

They pushed their soldiers forward.

It seemed cruel, but it was the right choice on the battlefield.

If one person hesitated, everyone would hesitate, and another volley of arrows would rain down on them.

One person’s hesitation could lead to more casualties.

“I said don’t stop!”

*Slash!*

A knight decapitated a soldier who was cowering in fear.

The other soldiers snapped out of their daze.

They charged forward, their eyes filled with determination.

The same scene was playing out on all sides of the castle.

“Damn it, they’re persistent.”

“They’re really serious this time.”

“T-They’re getting closer!”

The Celtrine forces were also tense.

Because they could sense that this battle was different from the previous ones.

The enemy was charging at them with a desperate determination, regardless of the casualties.

“Don’t panic! Keep firing your arrows! Inflict as much damage as possible!”

The Celtrine knights encouraged their soldiers.

They had the advantage of terrain.

And they had plenty of arrows.

The best way to utilize their advantage was to inflict as much damage as possible on the enemy with their arrows.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Arrows rained down on the enemy relentlessly.

“Damn it. They’re firing so many arrows?”

“What the hell? How many arrows do they have?”

The Crown Prince’s knights were frustrated.

Arrows were a consumable resource.

A limited resource.

So it wasn’t a decision that the defenders could make lightly.

They didn’t know how long the battle would last, and if they used up all their arrows in the beginning, they would be left defenseless.

But the Celtrine forces were firing their arrows as if they had an unlimited supply.

It was making it even more difficult for the Crown Prince’s army to advance.

“Keep moving forward, regardless of the arrows! Arrows can’t stop you! You are the Crown Prince’s glorious and righteous army, here to punish the treacherous rebels! The Crown Prince will reward all those who achieve merits!”

Marius shouted, encouraging his soldiers.

His words, filled with promises of rewards, seemed to be effective.

The soldiers’ steps became heavier, their determination renewed.

Meanwhile,

*Rumble!*

*Clank! Clank!*

Large siege weapons were also advancing slowly but steadily.

Soldiers were pushing them with all their might.

There were siege towers, as tall as the castle walls, and battering rams, with massive heads that seemed capable of shattering any gate.

Any of those siege weapons would pose a serious threat if they reached the castle.

The Crown Prince’s army knew that too.

That’s why they were advancing with all their siege weapons at once.

Even if the enemy used their monstrous catapult, they wouldn’t be able to destroy them all.

They would use the remaining siege weapons to win the battle.

But,

“Hehehe. Look at those slowpokes. Don’t worry, everyone. Our cute turtle is much faster. We’ll crush them one by one.”

Ran said confidently.

The soldiers had witnessed the terrifying power of her creations and her exceptional command skills.

So they could remain calm, trusting her words.

“Alright, they’re within range. Let’s go.”

Ran commanded the Turtle Catapult with her flags.

The catapult fired faster than before.

They had gained experience from the previous battles.

*Whoosh!*

A heavy, thunderous roar echoed through the air.

A boulder shot up into the sky.

“G-Gasp?!”

“T-The monstrous catapult!”

The Crown Prince’s army flinched, even though the boulder wasn’t aimed at them.

It was a weapon of terror.

They had all witnessed its devastating power.

“H-Here it comes!”

“R-Run! It’s coming!”

The soldiers pushing the battering ram screamed in terror.

“D-Damn it! Push it with all your might! Dodge it!”

A knight shouted from behind, his voice desperate.

The best outcome would be to push the battering ram forward and dodge the boulder.

The enemy would waste a precious boulder, and they would suffer no damage.

But it was a foolish hope.

Why?

Because it was slow.

As slow as a snail.

And Ran wouldn’t miss.

But the knight continued to urge his soldiers forward.

He couldn’t let go of his desire for the best outcome.

The soldiers, driven by the knight’s desperate pleas, pushed the battering ram with all their might.

It led to the worst possible outcome.

*Boom!*

*Crash!*

The battering ram was crushed, its wooden frame splintering into pieces.

The soldiers who had been pushing it met the same fate.

Their bodies were mangled beyond recognition, turned into bloody pulps.

Only a pool of blood remained, marking their final moments.

“A-Aaaargh!”

*Thud!*

The knight, overwhelmed by the horrific consequences of his actions, collapsed to the ground, his face pale with shock.

And then,

He saw a second boulder hurtling towards him, a harbinger of death.