“NO! Save me!”
“Retreat- ARGH!”
“RETREAT!”
“NO! NO! My soldiers!”
The infantry formation immediately crumbled. Baron Miluna’s proud army and famed knights were destroyed right in front of his eyes.
“I can’t… I can’t go back like this! My life is…”
“Milord! You must retreat! All the commanders have been killed! Those Khalodians are attacking the commanders first! The rumor was right!”
Baron Miluna watched the battlefield with empty eyes. The loud booming sound still continued, killing nobles and knights.
‘It was real… It was true!’
He considered it a hoax or exaggeration from the runaways as all of them usually did that in the past. There were some unexplained questions that remained, but he figured his elite soldiers and knights could withstand anything.
‘I was a fool! I should’ve listened to them more carefully! I forgot my father’s warning!’
His father used to tell him to stay humble and always keep his eyes open. But it was long forgotten in his power and victories. Another loud boom was heard as another knight fell to the ground. Their last defensive formation was immediately broken as soldiers began running in multiple directions. A horn signaling to retreat was blown without orders and the soldiers began to run.
“Milord, you must retreat. We need to reorganize first! The war has just begun! We still have a chance!”
Miluna came back to his senses. He clenched the reins of his horse and shouted, “Retreat! Dorian, follow me!”
“No, milord. This is where I will stand. I will stay and call back our men. You should go ahead, milord.”
Dorian answered firmly.
“Come back alive. This is an order! Do not try to fight back. We have lost. I need you for our next battle. Make sure you come back!”
Miluna shouted at Dorian. He smiled bitterly as he answered, “Yes, milord! Please, go find safety!”
Miluna pulled his reins and began riding out of the battlefield. All the soldiers began sounding the horn of retreat they ran to the back.
“They are falling back! Calvary, charge and scatter them!”
“Yes, sir!”
The cavalry rode out, following the soldiers on foot. Their formation was completely broken as the soldiers began running in all directions.
“Surrender! Drop your weapons and surrender! Lord Brant Khalodian is willing to accept you as our citizen if you surrender! You will have land, a house, and you will be fed! SURRENDER NOW!”
A thundering voice was heard throughout the battlefield. It made almost all the soldiers who heard it give up any thoughts of resisting.
“I surrender!”
“Welcome. Khalodian is heaven for common people! You will be happy that you did.”
*
-Baron Miluna’s three thousand heavily-armored infantries have failed!-
-The commanders all fell to their deaths by unknown attacks!-
-All the nobles retreated! They fear death!-
-Viscount Yarreny from the West has declared he will stay neutral!-
Khalodian obtained complete victory. It was only the beginning, but the four lead groups of the king had failed. The most troubling issue for the king was that the nobles began turning their backs on him. Under normal circumstances, nobles or knights died in much fewer numbers. Even if they were captured, they were usually released after paying a ransom. However, this war was different.
“How… how they dare kill all those nobles!”
“That Brant Khalodian is evil!”
“He kills nobles like flies!”
“What weapons are they using?”
Nobles of the king’s faction were outraged.
“It’s very effective nonetheless. We need to find a way to fight back, or we will lose our allies.”
Viscount Roman commented calmly, but other noble shouted in rage, “Let them go! We will not have cowards in our ranks!”
Marquis Atua who had been silent turned to Viscount Roman.
“Those that want to back out… they are from the neutral factions, aren’t they?”
“Yes. They have close ties with them.”
The marquis began tapping on the table as he fell silent, deep in thought. All the nobles became silent and watched him.
“Good. Very good.”
He smiled as nobles watched him in confusion.
‘Good? What’s so good about this?’
‘What is he saying? Is he mad?’
‘Huh? Did he have enemies among those nobles?’
‘Why is that good?’
Everyone seemed to be lost and Viscount Roman was the same.
“Haha, I guess you all are curious as to why I said that. Think about it, these people are like parasites. They try to suck the blood out of anyone that is convenient. We will sort out all those who acted like they were one of us. And we will get rid of both Khalodian and those parasites at the same time. Khalodian will not stand against us for long. It’s a small land. We can wait until they grow tired… they won’t last more than ten years!”
He grinned as his eyes were filled with greed.
‘I doubt it.’
Viscount Roman was silent as he thought differently. He did not share the same thoughts as the marquis.
‘We will not win if we buy time…’
His face turned grim. They had no way to fight back.
“Our job is to gather more troops so they cannot rest. Call up more armies and bring your soldiers. We will…”
Nobles began to plan another attack against Khalodian.
