Chapter 5

Duduba handed over his duties to his old friend Feried at the lookout tower in Ledan military town as usual. Having served in Ledan for seven years, Duduba was not particularly concerned about the Ossasu barbarians' invasion this time. Perhaps most soldiers who had served as long as he had shared the same attitude.

For each invasion by the Ossasu barbarians, the danger and losses faced by Ledan military town were the lowest among all the military towns. The most severe battle occurred five years ago, but even then, only one battalion of Ledan's forces was lost.

Moreover, that battle against the Ossasu barbarians would not have resulted in such casualties. At the time, a small group of Ossasu barbarians was wandering outside Ledan military town, and their mission was merely to reconnoiter the town's movements. They did not even have any siege equipment.

However, a group of noble officers from the capital, seeking glory, urged the legion commander to attack the Ossasu barbarians outside the town.

At that time, Duduba was still a new recruit. In that battle against the Ossasu barbarians, he was selected to participate in the assault on the Ossasu outside the town as part of his combat training. In the battle against about three hundred Ossasu barbarians, Duduba experienced their formidable combat abilities and what he considered the closest brush with death in his life.

Among the more than two thousand soldiers who attacked, after the cavalry's fierce charge split the Ossasu barbarians, Duduba, as a shield and sword soldier, immediately charged forward with the troops. Facing the strong and fierce Ossasu barbarians, it often took two or three soldiers to kill one of them.

At that time, Duduba made a mistake in his first battle against the Ossasu barbarians. As a new recruit, he had not experienced many real battles, and this time he was following the veterans to gain combat experience.

Duduba clearly remembered that, under the cover of the veterans, he mustered his greatest courage and slashed the face of an Ossasu barbarian. Thinking the Ossasu was dead, he relaxed and was about to shout to release his pent-up emotions.

But before he could do so, he saw the Ossasu, covered in blood, raise his large axe and swing it at him. Duduba, paralyzed with fear, thought he was about to die. Suddenly, the Ossasu's head flew off, and the blood spurted onto Duduba, leaving him stunned!

"Newbie! Never treat the Ossasu barbarians as your equals. Their will to survive is terrifying beyond your imagination. Remember, never show any sign of underestimating your enemy. Only when you are sure they are dead can you claim victory!"

The veteran's words have always been etched in Duduba's mind. However, he was saddened by the fact that the veteran who saved his life was later killed in a mutual destruction with an Ossasu barbarian.

In the years that followed, Duduba secured a position as a lookout tower guard. Whenever the Ossasu barbarians wandered outside the military town, Ledan no longer sent troops out easily. The smell of war seemed to be fading from his life, and the long-term safety made him relax his guard against the Ossasu barbarians, no longer as passionate and impulsive as he was in his youth.

Planning to retire and return home after this year, Duduba began to look forward to his future. Perhaps his years of military service would help him find a good job back home.

On the lookout tower, Duduba lazily stretched his waist and looked at the distant plain. That was the place where he had fought, and he could boast about his heroic deeds to his grandchildren in the future. However, he would never tell them about the time he was paralyzed with fear!

Hmm? What sound?

Duduba shook his head, looking at the distant plain. The heavy, oppressive sound grew clearer in his ears. Suddenly, a cavalryman holding a large flag appeared in his line of sight on the distant plain!

Is that... the Ossasu barbarians? A sudden sense of foreboding filled Duduba's heart!

A vast, dark mass of Ossasu barbarian cavalry gradually came into view, and Duduba's breathing stopped. He felt as if he were back in that battle as a new recruit, a scene he would never forget. This time, that feeling was back!

The horn!

The first-level military horn sounded, and Duduba, regaining his senses, immediately blew it. He knew that this time, the Ossasu barbarians' invasion would not be as simple as before, and Ledan military town would face its greatest crisis!

The sound of the first-level military alert horn plunged the entire Ledan military town into chaos. From civilians to soldiers, from officers to the legion commander, everyone was momentarily stunned and then fell into panic.

It had been a long time since the first-level military horn had been heard. Some people who rushed to the town walls saw the vast, dark mass of the Ossasu barbarian army and knew that the worst had happened!

Ledan military town had not experienced a large-scale war for many years, and even small-scale wars were rare. The veterans who had participated in wars were no longer as capable as before, and the situation was even more worrying with the addition of a group of young, inexperienced noble officers from the capital.

Duduba's face turned red from continuously blowing the horn. Seeing the soldiers begin to gather, he felt a sense of relief. He had fulfilled his duty, and as long as the soldiers quickly assembled and prepared, they might still be able to defend Ledan military town in time.

"Whoosh!"

The sharp sound of an arrow piercing the air was not noticeable amidst the chaos. Just as Duduba became alert, an arrow instantly hit his face. With his eyes wide open, Duduba knew he was finished. His entire consciousness turned dark, and his body, no longer under his control, was shot off the lookout tower by the force of the arrow, and the horn sound abruptly stopped.

When Aubur heard the horn, he quickly gathered his men. Although he was extremely worried about his family, he knew the importance of the situation. If he could not defend Ledan, worrying would be useless.

When lower-ranking officers like Aubur had gathered their men, they were surprised to find that their superior officers had not appeared to lead them to their next actions!

This was truly bad news. In the army, orders always came from the top down. Without the guidance of their superiors, they would be like headless flies, and any unauthorized actions would be punished by military law.

Legion Commander Nefal was already furious, having been informed that most of the noble officers from the capital were packing their bags to flee Ledan. Their cowardly and incompetent behavior had enraged him to the extreme. At such a critical moment, they were only thinking of saving themselves. If they could not resist the Ossasu barbarians, they would not be able to escape.

The only consolation was that the soldiers had been gathered by the lower-ranking officers, and a few responsible noble officers had taken up their duties and begun to command the defense. Nefal, now in full armor, realized he needed to take charge and personally command the battle to stabilize the troops.

The news of the noble officers' absence and their intention to flee quickly spread through the ranks, further dampening morale. When Nefal appeared, he began to assign temporary battle commanders and personally took command of the fight, which boosted the soldiers' confidence. The cowardly and incompetent noble officers were useless, and only by relying on themselves could they protect everything in Ledan, as their families were there. This was their fighting spirit!

The Ossasu barbarians' attack was swift and decisive. Before Nefal could fully deploy the soldiers, the Ossasu's vanguard had already brought siege equipment close to Ledan. The brutal battle began immediately.

Nefal continuously received reports from his guards, each one making his heart colder. The Ossasu barbarians had already climbed the walls and were fighting the defending soldiers. The city gates were about to be breached by a group of Ossasu barbarian commandos, and all defense points were in crisis... Nefal knew that this time, the Ossasu barbarians were determined to capture Ledan. Their fierce attack seemed well-planned. If Ledan fell, it would open a gap in the northern defenses, allowing the Ossasu barbarians to continuously invade and besiege other military towns. More terrifyingly, if they broke through the northern defenses, the Ossasu barbarian army would advance deep into the kingdom, leaving the Adria Kingdom in a completely passive position.

Nefal remained silent, his clenched fists revealing his current state of mind. The few officers beside him were anxious, waiting for the legion commander's next decision. The current critical situation had left them in despair, hoping that Nefal could find a way to turn things around.

"Notify all units not yet engaged in the main battle to retreat and gather! The city gates of Ledan cannot be held. Prepare the soldiers for street fighting! Fight to the last man to kill as many invading Ossasu barbarians as possible. Send a part of Dejohan's cavalry battalion to seek reinforcements from the rear and other military towns!"

Nefal's cold, sharp eyes scanned his subordinates as he made his decision.

"Our only remaining hope is to wait for reinforcements. We cannot hold Ledan, but the longer we can delay them with street fighting, the longer our chances of survival. Tell the soldiers that if they do not want their families to suffer at the hands of the Ossasu barbarians after Ledan falls, they must fight with their last ounce of strength! I will fight with them to the last moment!"