Chapter 330

“I will kill every single one of those bastards.”

Arhin gritted his teeth, his face contorted with rage.

Duke Cavern’s face was also dark with anger.

But as a seasoned veteran, he didn’t let his emotions control him.

He assessed the situation calmly.

“Be patient. I told you. There’s a reason why they’re struggling so desperately.”

“…Grandfather.”

“You’ve heard the reports. Even Regina Erenbert, the best swordswoman in the north, is leading those raiding parties. They wouldn’t assign her to such a role unless they were desperate. It’s obvious. They know that they can’t afford to clash with our main force. That’s why they’re trying to buy time. So what should we do? We ignore their pathetic raids and keep moving forward. That’s the best response.”

He called them “pathetic raids,” but the damage they had inflicted wasn’t insignificant.

Constant dripping wears away a stone, and their casualties were starting to add up.

They had already lost over a thousand soldiers.

And the soldiers were becoming increasingly stressed and fatigued.

They weren’t in their best condition.

It meant that they couldn’t fight at their full potential.

It was something that Duke Cavern usually avoided, but he had no choice in this situation.

They had to keep pushing forward.

“We’re almost there. We’re almost at Howell.”

Duke Cavern’s eyes gleamed.

Howell.

It was one of the territories that the Celtrine allied forces had hastily conquered after taking Odinel, and it was the southernmost territory they controlled.

It meant that they had to defend it with their main force.

They would have definitely set up their defenses there.

They were finally going to reach the enemy’s defensive line.

It was a significant development.

“Until now, they had the initiative, and we were forced to react defensively. But it’ll be different from Howell onwards. We’ll be the ones attacking, and they’ll be the ones defending. From now on.”

Duke Cavern’s voice was filled with power.

Arhin, finally realizing that the tide was turning, clenched his fists.

“Y-Yes! You’re right!”

His voice was filled with excitement.

“Grandfather! Please let me lead the vanguard! I’ll make those bastards pay for what they’ve done!”

It was a statement that showed the spirit of Arhin Cavern, the Fierce Tiger of Cavern.

The Duke knew.

That his grandson and heir was a brave and strong warrior.

He still lacked the judgment of a leader, but that was something that could be nurtured.

Duke Cavern was confident that he could remain active for at least another decade.

“Very well. I’ll leave it to you.”

He patted Arhin’s shoulder.

* * *

“Howell!”

The eastern army’s morale soared.

It meant that they were finally going to be free from those annoying raids.

There was a gate in front of them, and there were hastily constructed palisades and fortifications scattered around, but the eastern army soldiers looked happy.

“Begin the attack.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Arhin, who was leading the vanguard, shouted, “We’ll break through the gates of Howell! No wall or obstacle can stop the eastern army! They’ll be crushed! Kill anyone who stands in our way! Charge!”

The eastern army’s fiery assault began.

They unleashed all their pent-up frustration on the enemy.

The hastily constructed palisades and fortifications were no match for them.

The gate was also on the verge of collapsing.

“Captain, we can’t hold them much longer!”

A Celtrine knight reported urgently.

Hank, the captain of the Celtrine Knights, who was in charge of the defense of Howell, gave the order with a grim expression.

“I understand. Sound the retreat. We’re falling back to the next position.”

“Yes, Captain!”

*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The drums sounded, and red flags waved in the air.

It was the signal to retreat.

The Celtrine army retreated in unison.

They were quick and agile, like squirrels.

Because they had been prepared to retreat from the beginning.

It was all part of Max’s plan.

To lure the enemy deeper into their territory.

That’s why he had deliberately set up their “true” defensive line at Odinel, their final stronghold.

The other defensive lines were just bait.

Lures to draw the enemy in.

The eastern army, unaware of this, was elated by their victory.

“They’re retreating!”

“We’ve conquered Howell!”

“Victory! Victory is ours!”

“Woooooo!”

They cheered.

Arhin, who had played a major role in the vanguard, was at the center of the celebration.

Duke Cavern was also pleased.

His judgment had been correct.

‘Their defenses are still weak.’

There was a reason why they had launched those persistent raids, even using the Knight of Zephyr.

It meant,

‘We can’t give them time to breathe. We have to keep pushing forward before they can build up their defenses.’

He made his decision and gave the order.

“Calm down! This is just the beginning! Prepare to advance! We’ll keep moving forward!”

* * *

The eastern army swept through the territories that the Celtrine allied forces had conquered, like a storm.

Castles fell, and territories were retaken.

They were certain that the Celtrine allied forces were being driven into a corner.

Because their resistance was getting fiercer.

It was a sign of desperation.

But it didn’t matter.

They crushed all resistance and continued their advance.

The eastern army was on a roll.

The shadow of victory loomed over them.

But the Celtrine allied forces weren’t just sitting back and watching.

They were making their move.

Across the Lime River.

* * *

Baydeli Fortress.

The three thousand soldiers stationed there were relaxed.

Because they were certain that no enemy would appear.

“Yawn, I feel bad for having such an easy assignment.”

One soldier said, yawning.

“Yeah, the guys who went to Odinel must be having a hard time.”

“Well, what can we do? We can only wish them luck. But they have twice as many soldiers, so they should be fine. And there’s no castle or fortress for the enemy to defend.”

The Lime River itself was a formidable barrier, but that was only true if the enemy had to cross the river.

If they marched south from Baydeli, the natural barrier would be useless.

“Hey, stop chatting. Focus on your duty.”

A knight who was patrolling the area scolded them.

The soldiers fell silent.

But as soon as the knight turned his back, they started muttering again.

“Tsk, like there’s going to be an enemy…”

*Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!*

“…Huh?!”

The soldier’s eyes widened in surprise, his words cut short.

The other soldiers also looked surprised.

“W-Wait, what’s that sound…?!”

“H-Horses! It’s the sound of horses galloping!”

“O-Oh, shit!”

*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*

The soldiers manning the watchtowers frantically rang the alarm bells.

“Enemy! Enemy!”

“Everyone, battle stations!”

But the sound of galloping horses was rapidly approaching.

It was coming from the north.

Soon, countless horsemen filled the plain before the fortress.

It was the Erenbert cavalry, twenty thousand strong.

The elite of the elite of the northern army.

Their presence was awe-inspiring.

The Baydeli garrison’s faces hardened.

“D-Damn it. Send a messenger to the main army…”

The Cavern knight who was in command started to say, but,

“Surround them!”

A booming voice echoed across the battlefield.

It was Lobel Erenbert, the Acting Head of the Erenbert family, who was leading the charge.

As soon as he gave the order, the cavalry spread out like wings, swiftly surrounding Baydeli Fortress.

They were completely surrounded.

There was no escape.

The garrison’s faces turned pale.

“Half a day! I’ll give you half a day! Conquer Baydeli before sunset!”

“Yes, sir!”

The twenty thousand horsemen launched a fierce assault on Baydeli Fortress.

* * *

“There’s nowhere left to retreat.”

Max, who had already returned to Odinel by ship after the raid, was giving a speech to his soldiers before the decisive battle.

“But it doesn’t matter. This is the battlefield we chose. It means that everything is going according to plan. They’re the ones who are cornered. Not us.”

His voice was filled with power.

His words lifted the spirits of his soldiers, reminding them that they still had a chance to win.

“Remember this. We’re not here to defeat the enemy. We’re the anvil, not the hammer. Hold your ground. Stand firm and don’t let them break through. Then we’ll surely achieve victory.”

Odinel Castle had been devastated by the catapult bombardment.

Did it mean that they had nowhere to rely on?

Max didn’t think so.

He was actually planning to abandon the ruined castle.

If they faced the enemy in the open field, they would have the river on their right and the mountains on their left.

It was a terrain where the enemy cavalry couldn’t outflank them.

It was a dead end.

That was one of the reasons why Max had lured the enemy to Odinel.

They didn’t have to worry about being attacked from the flanks. The battle would be decided by a simple clash of strength.

Of course,

In a clash of strength, the side with more soldiers had the advantage.

Because they had more raw power.

But before that happened,

If something changed,

And if they could just hold out until then,

Max’s eyes gleamed.

“Now, let’s go achieve victory!”

* * *

“They’ve really made a mess of this place.”

Duke Cavern clicked his tongue as he saw the ruined Odinel Castle.

“Heh, thanks to that, they’ve been forced to come out and fight us in the open field. They brought this upon themselves.”

Arhin smirked.

The Celtrine allied forces were cornered at Odinel.

They had no castle to rely on.

And nowhere to escape.

Well, their commanders could probably escape by ship.

But would they consider that survival?

Their army would be annihilated, and they would be left with nothing.

“Hmm, that’s an eyesore.”

Duke Cavern’s gaze landed on the Turtle Catapult, which was positioned behind the Celtrine allied forces.

The monstrous catapult that was infamous among the Crown Prince’s forces.

Even Duke Cavern couldn’t help but be wary of it.

“Don’t worry, Grandfather. We’re prepared for that monstrosity. It can’t change the tide of the battle.”

Arhin said confidently.

Duke Cavern stroked his beard and nodded.

“Yes, you’re right. A single weapon can’t change the tide of the battle. Anyway, it’ll make a fine war trophy. His Highness will be pleased.”

“Haha, you’re right. It would be amusing to capture it and use it to attack Celtrine Castle, where the traitorous princess is holed up.”

Arhin chuckled.

Duke Cavern slowly raised his hand.

“Honestly, no one has ever annoyed me this much. He’s a damn nuisance. But our short-lived rivalry ends here.”

He thrust his hand forward.

“Attack! Don’t leave a single one alive!”

The Battle of Odinel, which would decide the fate of the civil war, began.