Chapter 4

The fourth section came to a close.

"Light cavalry, send the light cavalry to block them. Have the artillery turn their guns, and the musketeers, have them turn around!" On the high ground, the fat general strained his voice to give orders.

But his orders were already too late. All the Blood Knights were clad in heavy red armor, both riders and warhorses. Their speed was so great that even the light cavalry could not keep up. The Blood Knights had already charged down the dunes, savagely attacking the flanks of the human army, leaving the light cavalry to respond in a panic.

The attack of the Blood Knights was swift and brutal. Unlike humans, these terrifying executioners had centuries to hone their skills in slaughter. The numbers were similar, but the disparity in combat strength was vast—human cavalry, caught off guard by the sudden encounter with the Blood Knights, were cut down, stabbed, or trampled to death before they could even defend themselves or throw their weapons. In just a few minutes, the red tide had swallowed everything. The light cavalry were annihilated so thoroughly that the entire flank of the human army was completely exposed to the Blood Knights.

The Blood Knights did not pause for a second. With a level of organization and training that far exceeded that of humans, they reformed their ranks while charging, heading straight for their next target.

"Fire!" Although the musketeers had not yet fully formed their ranks, they had no choice but to fire.

However, neither the formation nor the distance was in the musketeers' favor, and the vampires' armor deflected a significant portion of the bullets. Although the musketeers managed to bring down a few, there were no other units to block the Blood Knights. Like hungry tigers, the Blood Knights pounced. In an instant, they charged into the midst of the musketeers, their swords and axes wreaking havoc, leaving a trail of blood and carnage, and quickly routing the musketeers.

From his vantage point on the high ground, the fat general watched helplessly as the Blood Knights followed the fleeing soldiers into the ranks of the infantry, cutting them down like grass. He was at a loss, bewildered by this sudden and overwhelming attack. How could a mere thousand-strong cavalry charge through his entire army so effortlessly, as if they were entering a no-man's land? He looked around in despair, hoping to find a unit that could stop the enemy, and then he saw his lifeline.

"Send the Holy Knights into battle! Only the Holy Knights can stop that enemy force!" He shouted to the messenger, who immediately galloped towards the Holy Knights, who were hidden at the rear of the entire army. To the messenger's surprise, he found that the Holy Knights were already prepared.

"Sir, the general orders you to immediately engage the Blood Knights, or we will face total annihilation."

The captain of the Holy Knights, the man who had shared a table with the fat general the previous night, smiled faintly.

"No, you are mistaken. It is ‘you’ who face the danger of total annihilation." He turned to his subordinates, ignoring the stunned messenger. "All units, retreat. Take the mages with you, and be mindful of the route to avoid enemy pursuit."

After giving the orders, he turned back to the messenger.

"Young man, you have a choice. Come with us, or go back to your death. You are free to choose."

"I... I... I..."

"This defeat is not your fault; it is entirely due to the incompetence of the commander. We are simply retreating because the situation is beyond saving. It is not glorious, but it will not be condemned."

The decision was easy to make. Within minutes, the entire Holy Knight contingent had left the battlefield and retreated.

...

The sinners were plunged into despair.

In front of them, an endless stream of skeletal soldiers, like a nightmare, continued to rise and join the attack. The dark magic was growing stronger, and the skeletons that had been felled earlier were rising one by one to rejoin the ranks.

Behind them, the Blood Knights had already unstoppable destroyed all human forces. No unit could withstand even a moment of the Blood Knights' charge. In a short time, all the armies except the sinners had collapsed, abandoning their weapons and fleeing in all directions, leaving the Blood Knights to ride and slaughter at will.

The outcome was already decided, and the Blood Knights were not in a hurry to destroy the last human force. They spread out, chasing and slaughtering the fleeing human soldiers, cutting them down or trampling them one by one. The sand was stained red with blood.

All the remaining soldiers who were still resisting retreated into the ranks of the sinners, desperately holding back the continuous attacks of the skeletal warriors.

When the Blood Knights finished their bloodthirsty entertainment, it would be the end for the sinners. But even if they were too lazy to act, the sinners could not hold out much longer.

Scarface used his spear to knock down a skeleton that tried to attack him. He was already bruised and exhausted. Not just him, but the entire squad was almost out of strength, barely managing to block the relentless waves of attacks with their weakened arms. The only thing that made him feel a bit better was seeing the once arrogant officer fall from his horse and be hacked to pieces by the skeletal soldiers.

This is the last time we will see the sun. Scarface looked up at the sky. The battle had lasted for hours, and the dark clouds that had covered the sky had now dispersed, leaving a blood-red sunset that illuminated the battlefield.

"Hold on... hold on!" The old man was still trying to encourage them, but it was meaningless. More than half of the squad was dead or wounded, their bodies hanging from the chains, dragging everyone down and preventing any movement.

Several Blood Knights charged towards their squad.

The old man raised his spear, but the tip only scratched the red armor. A sword flashed, and a gray-haired head flew up. The headless body collapsed, blood gushing from the neck.

A vampire dismounted and approached the old man's corpse. The sinners raised their spears at him, but they were all trembling, half from exhaustion and half from despair.

The vampire stood by the old man's body for a moment, then looked up at the terrified humans, ignoring the spears, and slowly approached them. His sword was already sheathed.

As the vampire drew closer, Scarface roared and thrust his spear. But the vampire caught the spear at the last moment, wrenching it away. Taking advantage of Scarface's stumble, he punched him in the jaw, sending him flying backward and collapsing unconscious on the ground.

The vampire turned the spear and threw it like a javelin, piercing the chest of a sinner. The man screamed and fell, convulsing in his death throes.

But the vampire did not launch any further attacks; he simply watched the man die calmly. A moment of confusion flashed in his eyes.

Then he remounted.

"Listen, mortals!" The vampire circled the human ranks, shouting. "I am Baron Pinoth, a noble of Calian! I am giving you a chance. Drop your weapons, raise your hands in surrender, and I will spare your lives for now! Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy!"

The skeletal soldiers fell back. The remaining humans looked at each other in panic. But the choice was not difficult. One by one, they began to drop their weapons and raise their hands.

On a distant dune, a pair of eyes hidden in the sand carefully observed everything that was happening on the battlefield. Watching the vampires clear the field and bind the prisoners, marching them away in groups. Even the wounded were bandaged and taken away, leaving only the bodies of men and horses, broken swords, and shattered shields, all dyed red by the setting sun.

It would not take long for all traces to be erased, and the sand would cover everything, leaving only insignificant marks to weep in the sand.

After confirming that the undead army had left, the observer pulled out a piece of paper and wrote a line on the sand.

"The divine prophecy was entirely correct. The holy water's effect has been verified. Anyone who drinks the holy water cannot be reanimated by dark magic after death. Without a doubt, this method will prevent Calian's army from being replenished in the war..."

The destroyed battlefield is complete.

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