Chapter 42

"It's a slope that gives me the creeps deep down."

The brown forest soil was damp, as if it had been continuously sucking in living blood. Since the conflict around the Celta Peninsula began, it was no wonder that such thoughts would arise on the Orzilica Slope, where blood had no time to dry. Parmust, the chief centurion of the Clayst Kingdom's army, was a commander in charge of a regiment composed of Felius militiamen. Considering the current situation where most of the officers were from the Clayst Kingdom, it was a rare case for a Felius-born to hold a rank that commanded five centurions.

Parmust had a long military career and was now one of the few commanders who had experienced the Battle of Eidenberg. Amid the collapse of the entire army, Felius lost many soldiers. His peers and superiors were no exception, with most being either killed or captured. Due to such experiences, he was particularly sensitive to the threat of the Haiselk Empire's forces advancing from the mainland.

"This is a place that can even withstand a major outbreak. It's not easy to break through. But we can't afford to wait any longer. We cannot afford any more delays at this forward outpost, which is not even a subsidiary fortress."

Parmust paused, sharing his sense of crisis with the gathered centurions. The conquest of the six entrances of Celta was an urgent matter for the Clayst Kingdom's army, but it had taken a whole unit to grasp the defensive posture of the pass.

"As you know, the front is a ridge used as an earthwork, the right side is a steep slope almost like a cliff. The left side along the ridge has a smaller elevation difference, but there is a cut bank at the end of the ridge."

No one among the chief centurions objected. This was something that each unit had confirmed through repeated sacrifices.

"It's not all bad. There is good news too. The main force of the Myard Principality's army defending this Orzilica Slope consists of new recruits. It's better than the other entrances. We could even say we are fortunate."

He intended to encourage the officers who were making grim faces, recalling bitter experiences, but it was largely true. In other entrances, several centurions had been completely wiped out from the records. Compared to that, the casualties on the Orzilica front were moderate.

"The commander of the knights has expressed his expectations for the Orzilica entrance. We must meet these expectations. Therefore, we will launch a major offensive from today. I want to hear your frank opinions."

"The right side is a cliff, but if we lighten the soldiers and use those with wind attributes, we can climb the cut bank on the left."

The most senior centurion in the regiment, aside from Parmust, took the lead in proposing this. It was a consideration to prevent others from being intimidated.

"It's a good plan, but the road ahead is long. We can't afford to exhaust our valuable magic users. They will be dedicated to drawing the enemy's attention."

"The approach roads and earthworks in front of the earthworks have been completed in a few days. I request that you support the assault."

"The casualties will be much higher than before. We don't have enough healing mages, but we will prepare burn irons and bandages thoroughly."

The conversation flowed, and the adjustment of plans proceeded smoothly. When all the topics were exhausted, Parmust summarized.

"Our top priority now is the magic users and commanders. Pay particular attention to that middle-aged woman. She can shatter armor with her bare hands and tear flesh."

The female commander in her prime was the greatest threat in the pass. Her strength far exceeded that of ordinary people, and her physical enhancement skills intimidated the common soldiers. Additionally, her voice, which carried well even in the chaos of battle, instilled fear in the enemy and reassurance in her allies. She was one of the key factors in the solid defense of the earthworks, where new recruits made up the majority of the troops.

"There are also a few agile officers. We must overwhelm them with numbers and kill them decisively. Any other opinions? ... From now on, we will launch an attack on the Orzilica Pass."

After thorough preparations, Parmust ordered the conquest of the pass. The centurions, having saluted, left to their respective units. A moment after the informal council, six hundred soldiers advanced up the Orzilica Slope. Even in the daytime, the slope was dark, and part of the army split off. They quietly deviated from the road and cut through the rough terrain, aiming for the cut bank.

The soldiers' eyes were bloodshot, and their breathing, repeated over and over, was evidence of their heightened heartbeats. Moderate tension led to appropriate concentration. The situation was not bad. Parmust's troops had been baptized in blood through the reduction of the magic territories and had transformed their experiences into confidence. In addition to plundering along the way, they were promised fertile land after the fall of Celta, not the desolate magic territories but arable land.

"We must take it at all costs."

Until now, the Felius refugees had been given food and housing from the Clayst Kingdom, though not in sufficient quantities, and a minimally livable environment had been provided. It was a well-known secret, even to children, that this was a calculated rescue to strengthen the army and develop farmland. Therefore, while weighing the benefits and losses, they intended to fulfill their obligations, even if they were calculated. Many of the people gathered here felt the same way.

Parmust took a deep breath. Many deaths would come from the former Felius people before the desolate land produced its fruits. It was a choice between witnessing this or seizing land and food from the neighboring country. He had already made his decision.

"All units, charge!!!"

Parmust's command was repeated by the centurions and spread throughout the battlefield. Drummers struck their drums, shaking the air and pushing the backs of the advancing common soldiers. As in previous battles, arrows and stones rained down on the soldiers advancing towards the earthworks, and attack magic scattered blood and flesh.

"Aaaahhh!"

"What, where from!?"

The militia was not entirely helpless. They had flattened the rough terrain, using the excavated wood and soil to build earthworks. The thick soil could withstand even direct hits from attack magic, and the piled-up earth and sand reached the height of the pass, allowing direct fire on the earthworks.

"Attack from the earthworks, don't just focus on the direct path! Cut off the reinforcements from the approach roads."

A seasoned enemy non-commissioned officer was controlling the agitated soldiers. He was a Haiselk Empire officer mixed in with the Myard soldiers. The archers, following his orders, shot arrows at the soldiers leaning out from the approach roads and shields, forcing them to expend energy before reaching the earthworks.

"Those Haiselk people are battle-hardened... but a few projectiles won't stop us."

Many soldiers reached the earthworks, climbing the uneven slope with one hand on their shields.

"Magic users, hold back your attacks, you might hit your allies. It's a simple matter of brute force now! Don't let the new recruits be pushed back."

The clashing sound of spears seeking a place to rest echoed like the sound of pebbles being sifted. Sharp spears scratched armor and cut flesh. A Myard soldier who had been impaled in the ankle and fell from a horse met a gruesome end.

"Ugh, aaaaah, ah!?"

The new recruit groaned from the impact of the fall. To Parmust, this was terribly slow. He should have swung his sword or begged for his life. The Clayst militiamen, riled up, were quick.

"Sto-pp, ah, ah!"

They were stabbed repeatedly and quickly lost their shape. Parmust did not linger on the common sight. The competition above them gradually narrowed, and in some areas, it escalated into a melee with swords.

"Damn, they're holding on."

The formation was distorted but still intact. In the areas where they were at a disadvantage, the bodies of Clayst soldiers piled up, leaving no room to stand. The behavior of the commanders with the skills of "Brute Strength" and "Adamantine" was understandable. At the council, they had been assigned to units that would not exhaust themselves. Yet, why was the entire formation not collapsing? Parmust, carefully observing the earthworks, did not miss the sharp thrusts mixed in with the common soldiers' spears.

"Is it that man again? The Haiselk unit at Cape Gara, they are always troublesome."

An axe-pike swayed through the slow spears, and each time, fresh blood splattered in the air. It inevitably reminded him of Eidenberg. The lightly armored infantry crossing the horse barriers and the hill, the blue flames rising, the cavalry unit moving as one with the horses—his memories sounded the alarm.

"... The enemy is not the Haiselk of those days. They are just the remnants. What are they thinking?"

The womanly sentiment of recalling the old battlefield and the hatred for the enemy made his teeth chatter. Parmust could not shake off the old memories. Before he could search for the cause, his long experience as a commander on the battlefield detected an anomaly in the earthworks. A cheer echoed from the left cut bank. The lightly equipped units that had separated had moved to a flank attack. The number of personnel was not enough to be a decisive blow, but some were diverted to deal with the new threat. The blood vessels in his brain flowed like a torrent, and his thoughts raced rapidly.

"The enemy's left wing is targeting the center. Parmust's centurion, all units, charge!!!"

As a commander, Parmust saw the breakthrough and ordered the unit waiting below the earthworks to charge. It was a reserve unit kept in reserve as a decisive move. They were always ready to charge. The soldiers below informed their exhausted allies who were fighting the enemy.

"Clear the way, we will break through in one go!!!"

"Move aside, Parmust's centurion is leading, advance!!!"

"Move, move, you'll be trampled."

The soldiers who had gathered at the earthworks scattered. The centurion, maintaining a wedge formation, charged up the slope, cutting down the new recruits with their numbers. The enemy's response was quick. They had already realized they could not block the breakthrough and were systematically retreating from the flat area to the terraced fortifications.

"Fall back, fall back!!!"

"The earthworks have been breached. Retreat to the fortifications!!!"

The conquest of the pass was successful. After reorganizing the disordered soldiers, Parmust hesitated about whether to gradually challenge the fortifications. But the memories of the capital, which he had tried to shake off, flashed through his mind. It was hateful. It was all the fault of those Haiselk soldiers. He had to discard his hesitation.

Parmust consciously changed his thoughts. Except for a few small outposts, once they broke through the fortifications, they could directly target the subsidiary fortress. If they did, Parmust's militia regiment would earn the necessary achievements and be ordered to reorganize in the rear. The enemy was collapsing. Now was the perfect opportunity to pursue and expand their gains.

"The enemy is collapsing, push them back to the fortifications!!!"

Even if they couldn't take the fortifications, they could cut down a significant number of enemies. Responding to Parmust's call, the soldiers crossed the inner defenses one after another. The enemy's female commander was among the rear guard, ordering the retreat. Her mace pushed back the swords, and the punch that hit the lead soldier made him burst like a ripe fruit. But the outcome was already decided.

The Myard