Chapter 16

Worm stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

Due to using his magic to its limit, Worm's body was overwhelmed by extreme fatigue. His legs felt as heavy as stone from running such a long distance. His allies were pinned down by fire, and there was no one around.

"You're the only one left. ...The commander, right?"

It would save time if he answered. Preparing for no response, he was surprised when an answer came.

"Yes. A mere foot soldier bowing so low. I am Winston Felius, the commander of the Felius Kingdom's Myard dispatch army."

There was a fear of a body double. After all, Worm had never seen the commander's face. However, the demeanor and the short, concise tone conveyed a sense of innate nobility and dignity.

"Surrender."

There was no need to kill him in vain. Capturing an enemy commander, especially a royal, would be advantageous in negotiations between nations.

"I have my limbs intact, my sword, and my pride. My soldiers are still fighting. There is no reason for me to surrender!!"

Winston pulled out his sword with a swift motion and advanced towards Worm, maintaining an upper guard stance.

His movements were better than expected. Worm had assumed the royal commander was just a figurehead, but he had to revise his thinking.

Worm deflected an upper strike with his halberd and thrust forward, but Winston deflected the tip with his sword and circled around to Worm's left side.

Worm could no longer use magic or skills. He had hoped for support from the surrounding soldiers, but they were hindered by the flames and the efforts of other soldiers trying to rescue Winston. Even the magic to reinforce his body was running out.

He focused solely on how to kill the formidable opponent in front of him. Their swords and halberd crossed multiple times, each aiming for a fatal blow.

Winston's sword cut Worm's arm, and Worm's halberd grazed Winston's neck.

Blood seeped from the neck, but it was far from a fatal wound. They pushed each other back, creating space and distance.

Worm grabbed the bottom of his halberd and thrust from a distance further than usual. The unexpected range disrupted Winston's stance.

Worm pulled back his halberd and threw it at Winston's head. Winston calmly knocked it away with his sword, but Worm, advancing, hid his sword draw with his left shoulder and swung his longsword.

Winston's movements stopped, and he collapsed to his knees. His neck was half-severed, and blood gushed out uncontrollably.

"Even if I lose, Felius... is not... defeated yet."

Winston, struggling to speak, fell to the ground, his eyes fixed on Worm, and breathed his last.

"I have slain the enemy commander!!"

Worm took a deep breath and shouted. The cry of victory quickly spread across the battlefield.

While the Haiselk soldiers became more energetic, the Felius soldiers, who had been fighting to the bitter end, fled down the hill.

The Haiselk soldiers were not so lenient as to let them escape. As Worm, nearing his limit, panted heavily, the sound of horses reached his ears. A group of cavalry appeared.

A man stepped forward from the group of heavily armored soldiers.

"Did you take down Winston?"

It was Jief, the commander of the Jief Cavalry Regiment, known to every Haiselk soldier.

"Yes."

It was a confirmation of the victory. Jief, who had been inspecting the body, slowly nodded at Worm.

"It's Winston Felius himself. Well done. A great achievement. What is your unit and name?"

Worm, who had thought it was just a check for a body double, was slow to respond.

"Kozuru Squad, Dwey Platoon, Worm."

"I see, Worm. I thought I would take Winston's head myself, but that was a fine job. The light infantry regiment will regroup on the hill and finish the job. You can rest until then."

Worm was already at his limit. If the opponent had not been a general, he would have collapsed on the ground.

"And in praise of your valor, Commander Berger will give you a reward. Don't die before then."

Jief, having finished speaking, rode his horse and led the regiment down the hill.

The enemy soldiers who could not escape were swallowed by the regiment and left their bodies on the ground.

From the top of the hill, everything was visible. The battlefield was like a single living creature, with the Haiselk infantry regiments attacking the enemy's flanks and rear, and the cavalry continuing to strike.

Worm held his breath, thinking it was like wolves attacking a flock of sheep. The impact was terrifying, and the enemy had to respond to the cavalry, causing their formations to crumble and the encircled units to be annihilated.

This chain reaction spread throughout the battlefield. It was clear to Worm that the Felius-Myard Alliance Army was defeated.

"Worm, are you okay?"

Jose, covered in dirt and blood, asked Worm, concerned for his well-being.

"I'm fine. Just really tired."

"Being tired is a sign you're alive."

"Are the others okay?"

"Everyone's fine. Barito and Noor look like they're about to drop, but what about Platoon Leader Dwey?"

No one would believe that Platoon Leader Dwey had died. Worm was certain that even if he were skewered, he would still attack.

As Worm, exhausted, was about to sit down, a voice stopped him. It was Platoon Leader Dwey, with his familiar gruff, low voice.

"Don't sleep. You'll be unable to stand soon. Drink water in small sips. The pursuit will start in five minutes. After that, we're done."

Yes, the battle was still ongoing. Worm took a sip of water from his canteen, which instantly quenched his thirst and was absorbed into his stomach.

Worm turned his gaze to the side. The body of Winston Felius, whom he had killed, was being guarded by the remnants of the enemy's tent.

Worm had somehow survived the most difficult part, but the critical moment was still ahead. A few kilometers away, on the hill where Myard had set up camp, a fierce battle was still raging.

---

"The Felius army is in total disarray!! Three regiments have already been annihilated, and the remaining regiments are retreating."

"There is also a report that Sir Winston Felius has been killed..."

"The Ariand and Gary regiments have been routed, and the hill is completely surrounded."

Winston Felius's death was enough to push the Myard forces to the brink of despair.

Yus Myard, the remaining commander, tried his best to regroup, but the Jief Cavalry Regiment of Haiselk ruined his efforts.

Continuously striking the flanks and rear of the regiments that had been evenly matched with the Haiselk infantry, they finished off the disorganized units with concentrated infantry attacks.

Yus tried to organize a retreat using messengers and magical devices, but the scattered and disorganized retreat of the Felius soldiers caused less damage.

Already, over 6,000 Felius soldiers had been killed, and the Myard forces had lost more than 5,000.

The only survivors were the infantry regiments that had fled early on the left flank and the 3,000 who had barely managed to escape to the hill. In retrospect, Yus thought they had been intentionally trapped on the hill.

Thinking about why he had bowed to the neighboring country and endured for five years, Yus felt his strength drain from his body, but he held on for the sake of his people and his only remaining daughter.

To avoid the complete collapse of his country, Yus had implemented a scorched earth policy in Old Kanoa. Important facilities were burned, and all portable food was transported to Myard. The remaining grain was burned.

He had accepted as many Old Kanoa citizens as possible, but those who remained in the territories annexed by Haiselk despised him like a demon, as Yus had learned from spies in the city.

Hated and despised, he had joined Felius's proposal for the sake of his homeland, but now he was unsure if it had been the right choice.

"The Adoa regiment's attempt to break through the encirclement has been repelled."

The last hope for breaking through the encirclement had failed. Yus's options were limited.

He informed the magical devices in the city that defeat was inevitable. Those who could escape had likely started fleeing to neighboring countries.

"There's nowhere to run. If this continues..."

An exhausted staff officer muttered, hanging his head. Normally, he would have scolded him not to give up, but the situation was already decided.

"...It's over."

The encirclement was tightening, and attacks were coming from all directions. Yus decided not to waste any more soldiers.

"Surrender—"

Yus's words were drowned out by a roar. The invaders of the main camp were Haiselk soldiers, but their banner indicated they were from the city of Saria.

"Saria soldiers!!"

His former compatriots, upon spotting Yus, shouted with bloodshot eyes.

"There he is, the traitor Myard!"

"Kill him, he burned my family's farm!!"

"Death to the traitor!!"

He was aware of the hatred. The scorched earth policy had caused significant losses, and some soldiers had committed looting and rape, which Yus had punished.

It was only natural. The hatred of the Saria residents had not diminished over five years but had intensified, something Yus had not fully anticipated.

His subordinates tried to hold them back, but they were no match for the Saria soldiers' frenzy. Yus, without drawing his sword, waited for his former citizens to approach.

"Myard-sama!!"

He did not have time to think about who or what he was apologizing to as countless blades pierced him.

His last thought was of his daughter left in the city. The man who had sacrificed so many people, thinking it was a necessary sacrifice, had, in the end, thought of his family. As his consciousness faded, Yus realized how selfish it was.

Yus Myard's body, pierced by 13 spears and swords, was lifted and displayed on the hill.

With the complete collapse of the Felius-Myard command structure, the decline of Myard was sealed.