***Arc 5 The One Who Obstructed, Chapter 102 Storm and Beast***
As the morning sun rose, the second day of battle began――the soldiers defending the Royal Prince, Gildanstein were confronted by Verreich’s army First Corps, led by the Great Wolf Granmeld Varkus.
Its military fame and the howling wolf banner alone had the power to intimidate those facing them.
On the other hand, many of Gildanstein's soldiers were just mish-mashed together.
However, the front of the main camp was naturally fortified with veteran and experienced soldiers, showing that they would not back down a single step even against the valiant Granmeld.
Gildanstein was on the left wing and Keithriton on the right.
They were positioned so as to widely surround the Verreich army, which was stationed on a gentle hill.
Gildanstein divided the nine Corps into two, five for himself and four for Keithriton――each as a general of one army.
He must have been concerned that commanding the two wings as a single army, which were too far apart, would create a delay in command.
Their aim was the center of Verreich's army.
Gildanstein's right wing and Keithriton's left wing were each lined up vertically with two corps, giving them double the thickness of the enemy’s line.
They were aiming to break through the center of Verreich's army due to the difference in numbers.
This formation that seems to purposely show its aim――There was a meaning here.
Because the soldiers of the Verreich army were stationed on a hill with good visibility, the state of the enemy was clearly visible to each of Verreich’s soldiers.
No matter how superior the quality of Verreich’s soldiers was, the fatigue of battle would consume even Krische.
Anticipating the uninterrupted enemy offensive even after killing numerous enemies――would have a great impact on the morale of the soldiers.
――The advantage goes to the one who takes the high ground.
Many blindly believe this, but in reality, taking the high ground does not always bring an advantage.
When we look at war, we tend to look only at its violent struggle——the physical energy, but the war’s essence was much more spiritual and psychological.
It was not merely killing each other, but a battle among tens of thousands of people.
What decides victory or defeat is morale, control, and organized fighting ability, not the number of dead.
The morale of the central Verreich forces, positioned on the hill and observing the enemy lineup from above, was lowered by the blatant enemy lineup.
Visual effects can't be underestimated.
Not many soldiers want to find themselves in a tight spot in a life-or-death battle.
Everyone wanted an honorable life, not an honorable death.
Knowing one's superiority boosts one's morale while knowing one's inferiority lowers it.
It's a natural providence, and the commander must skillfully manipulate the information that is conveyed to the soldiers.
In that sense, the information given to the soldiers by the good vantage point of the hill, and the negative impact of this information, is too great to be ignored in this situation of number inferiority.
Gildanstein forces were aware of this and intentionally concentrated their forces.
To crush that fighting spirit even before the fight.
The Verreich army on top of the hill has the advantage of being able to use its potential energy.
However, considering the psychological pressure on the center, while it couldn’t be said to be a disadvantage, it was also hard to say that it was an advantage.
The two sides were evenly matched in terms of battle formation.
The center and the left wing of Gildanstein's main camp need only prevent the enemy's right flank from flanking and breaking through.
Gildanstein's right wing, and Keithriton's left wing.
Their role was to defend against the enemy's offensive until the central breakthrough was completed.
In front of the Great Wolf who led the right wing of the Verreich army, Granmeld Varkas――the reason why they were showing an undisturbed stance against the famous ‘Wolves Pack’ was because of that sense of security.
――However, a girl who appeared in front of them changed the atmosphere.
A man wearing a wolf helmet and carrying an iron club larger than an ordinary man's height appeared as if splitting the waves of soldiers.
Appearing from behind Granmeld was a girl who was out of place on the battlefield.
She had silver hair, a cloak, and countless white spears in her hands.
That was all they could see from a distance, but,
“...Cursed Child”
Someone muttered in horror and even those who did not know who it was recalled the gossip they had heard.
The head-hunter of Bernaich, Christand’s monster.
It didn't matter to her whether you were a skilled soldier or a renowned general of an army.
That abnormality wielded a barbaric sword and tore the necks of the most famous and fierce men as if she were cutting the grass.
Yes, necks――it was said that she had a morbid fondness for cutting off heads and smiled while looking at her collection of heads of those she had killed.
The voice of the centurion flies out, telling them to be quiet.
The girl throws the spears she had been carrying.
The spears flew through the air.
It drew a parabolic line as if to show the way forward.
The spears, which seemed to be thrown at random, were lined up directly in front of them, and all of them stood, piercing the earth.
What was she going to do? Until that moment, no one could understand.
From a distance that even the arrows of both sides couldn't reach each other, the girl danced alone.
Her initial velocity surpassed even that of a horse, the girl that sprinted and grabbed the spear seemed even faster than flying arrows.
Then, her body turned and spun around,
"H――!"
――The spear shot from her hand and pierced the wind with a thunderous roar, ripping apart countless pieces of flesh.
Looking at the enemy headquarters from the top of the hill――a man in black armor, Granmeld, who was next to her, asked.
"A spear?"
“Yes, it is good for creating an entry point, Krische wants to disrupt the wall of heavy infantry in the enemy's front line.”
She was holding eight 6 shaku (1.818 m) spears in her hands.
Granmeld held out his hand in amazement, but Krische said she was fine and continued walking.
Eight spears were too much baggage for the small Krische, and somehow, she also looked not fine carrying it.
Compared to ordinary people, she has far more physical strength, but there was still a limit due to her physique.
Although she said she was fine, in reality, it was a big load for Krische to carry.
“Keith, I left Woof Woof’s to you.”
"Yes ma’am! Leave it to me."
She told Keith, the Third Battalion Commander that, and went to the front.
She slowly made her way down the hill.
The soldiers looked back to see what was going on when they saw Krische’s luggage, but Krische didn’t really care.
Granmeld leads the way, making sure her spear doesn't get caught or stuck on other soldiers, and made way through the soldiers.
He wondered if eight spears would be enough, but he was convinced that if Krische was fine with it, he could leave it to her.
Throwing javelins were originally used just before they rushed in――only by throwing all at once on command, it would be effective.
As a commander, he thought it was meaningless, but as a warrior, Granmeld had strong confidence in Krische’s words.
Against the line of battle that has been set up.
He wanted to see her javelin, which she said was effective even against an army.
In the battle against Hilkintos, Granmeled had missed it.
"Okay, move. Our princess is on her way."
As they came out to the front of the line, Granmeld went to the front row along with Krische.
A battle line with no gaps between the archers deployed in front and the enemy soldiers lined up in the back.
A shiver runs up his spine.
The fear of death was what always stirred Granmeld’s fighting spirit.
"So, are you really going to run alone?"
“Yes. Krische will disturb them appropriately (randomly), so please follow me appropriately (randomly) and pry it open.”
Untying the strings that bind the spear, Krische had no shred of fear.
Facing the front row, against 10,000 enemies——while intending to rush in first.
‘Crazy’, Granmeld smiled.
Even Granmeld, who boasted that he was a natural battle fanatic, seems impure in front of this girl.
As if walking through the encampment, she was unaffected by the current situation and behaved as she normally would.
Absolute confidence——she has something that cannot be measured by Gran Meld's standards.
He had seen many stalwarts and fearless warriors, but he didn’t know a single person who was as confident as she was.
"Woof Woof makes the way, Krische takes His Highness's head, and it's over."
“Ha, plain and simple is good.”
"Yes, that way Krische doesn’t have to hold back. Simple is best."
Saying this, Krische threw the spears.
From far away, gradually closer.
The spears that drew a parabola mysteriously pierced the earth at the same time,
“Well then”
Krische ran as if tearing the wind.
She lowered her posture one step, and by the second step, she was already at top speed.
The acceleration was spectacular, but that's not the point.
Her body, which had accelerated and leaned forward excessively.
As if applying a sudden brake, she turned her upper body and kicked the ground in front of her with her heel.
Her knees softly received the impact that could have blown her whole body away, and her rampaging upper body forward――the spear that was set up was shot from far behind along her body with a roaring sound.
Even arrows fired from a strong bow cannot keep up with the speed of this spear.
It was so fast that even was left behind.
After a beat, the melee spear bullet that caught everyone's eye pierced the line of archers from a distance that even arrows could not reach.
And further behind, crushing the heavy infantry along with the large shield they were holding――creating a hole in the massive front ranks.
Granmeld, who was watching from up close, was stunned.
‘Since she was saying that far, she must be able to fire a spear stronger than me.’
That was the extent of his thinking, but Krische’s spear throw was enough to take on an army――literally, t was more than enough to take on an army.
It was truly an extreme individual skill, far beyond his imagination.
Despite her broken balance and inertia, Krische put her hands on the ground and spun like a cat.
Reaching for the next spear, she accelerates again, then brakes sharply――easily unleashes an insane battering spear.
Slightly to the left of the previous point——crushing the wall of flesh.
――What resounded on the battlefield were the screams of the enemy that shook the air, and the loud cheers from the top of the hill.
From an overall perspective, a single shot would have only killed a mere dozen to two or three dozen.
Even if she fired all of them, the number of enemies she would kill would not reach two hundred.
From the total 45,000 troops, the damage she would inflict would be negligible.
However, it was only one person――a mere individual achieving that results on the battlefield being show to all soldiers.
Its morale-boosting effect was already comparable to that of 10,000 soldiers.
Even the soldiers in the central formation, who were frightened by the large army in front of them, burned into their eyes
the spectacle that had occurred on the right wing from the top of the hill and screamed with joy with their whole bodies.
On the contrary, what it gives to the opponent was fear toward the aberrant transcendence.
The fear of having their strong vanguard crushed by a single girl, without a moment's thought.
It was not anyone's instruction, but as if by mutual consent.
Countless arrows rained down on the dancing girl.
The countless bows that should have been aimed at the army were simply aimed at the charging Krische and fired.
A storm of arrows covered her sky in black and aimed at the girl, but the girl walked in front of her as if nothing had happened. She accelerates through the rain of arrows as if it were natural. She weaves through the gaps with minimal movement.
To those who fired their bows, it looked as if even the arrows were frightened of her - as if they were deflected away from her.
When she grabbed the third spear, they were even more terrified.
――The air on the battlefield changes in a moment due to a single individual.
The corps commander, the battalion commander, and even Northern Verreich, who were watching from the top of the hill, couldn't help but laugh at the individual warrior outside their normal logic.
The girl embodied the old savage valor, the prototype of the warrior, who should have died before control, battle lines, and organization.
Now there she was the figure of a matchless hero who has become a fictional story――
“――Surely there’s no longer any need for my order here!"
And Granmeld who saw it up close, raised his voice with the frenzy that ran up his spine.
“I'm going, you guys follow me! Show them who's behind that crazy princess――show them!"
A third roar echoed, and before Krische could grab the fourth, Granmeld advanced.
Sprinting without worrying about keeping pace with his subordinates――Granmeld turned into a beast.
But no one cares about it.
‘Wolves’――All they knew from the beginning was to follow the back of their leader and eat the flesh of their enemies.
Among the veterans, the one who possesses the fastest magic power followed Granmeld's sprint.
The slow ones bring the soldiers left behind under their command by brutal means.
It was not unusual for their chief to leap out like this.
A suicide attack with abandon, an offensive without leadership.
By eating the flesh and blood of their enemies, wringing out their lives, and going through hell many times, they had become Christand’s strongest――the name of the "Wolf Pack" has been known to the surrounding countries.
They had already lost their hesitation, and their morale had swept over the top.
The commander of the Gildanstein archers understood the situation and raised his voice.
But his men were unaware that they are about to be crushed by a pack of wolves, and they continue to aim at the prominent symbol of fear, the silver monster.
If you don't kill, you'll be killed――that kind of mass hysteria has swallowed them up.
The power of the spears fired completely shattered their common sense and rationality as soldiers――they had changed from an organizational part of the army to mere pitiful individuals.
The spear of destruction is released, and the girl grabbed the next one.
The girl's lovely appearance made them lose their sense of reality.
The archers on the edge were quicker to realize the presence of the enemy forces closing in on them and recovered their spirit, but the center, targeted by the out-of-the-ordinary spears, was out of control,
“Bas…ta――rd!?”
The situation was exacerbated by Krische that cut down the commander as she passed by.
She spun her body and dodged, her movements more like a dance than a sword fight.
Krische danced into the line of archers. Blood smoke swirls and screams echo through the air.
As if slithering on the ground, she disappeared from sight and closed the gap like a snuggling cat.
Everyone was wary of her, yet they lost sight of her and only recognized her presence when the blood blooms.
The corpses were all fierce men who had not lost their reason in this situation, and all of them were dead, their necks ripped open from the middle.
Their hell would not end even after she passed by.
What resounded was a dull roar that could not have been caused by humans.
A helmet that looks like a wolf stands tall in the crowd.
Holding high in the sky with one hand was a large iron staff of six shaku and seven sun (~2m) that ordinary people cannot even hold.
Dancing in the air was an allied archer――a distorted mass of flesh.
――Great Wolf Granmeld Varkas.
And behind him, like him, were fierce men who almost surpassed the realm of humans.
The wolves, who have passed through countless battlefields and hells, now stopped the fleeing archers and advanced through the line.
And behind them was a further army.
The central archers were completely demoralized――they have lost any sign of control.
Krische no longer saw them and grabbed the last spear.
The effect of releasing so much in such a short time is not small, her body felt tired. Her breathing was ragged.
Her muscles, being stretched in a strange way, hurt and she frowned a little, but that was not worth Krische’s attention.
No matter how tired or sore she was, as long as she did not lose consciousness, she could function.
She could fight just as usual.
The pain and fatigue she felt were not important to her.
What Krische seeks and protects——this was the battle for it.
She was always willing to go to great lengths if it is for the sake of someone else.
Same as before.
She simply puts the kinetic energy that could blow her away into the spear in her hand.
The spear was released and dove into the enemy's front line, which had already collapsed, ending the countless lives that were there.
Fleshes were crushed, gouged, and popped off, and the surviving soldiers looked at her with frightened eyes.
Krische didn't care.
'Other than that' has always been unimportant to her.
Originally, most things in the world didn't matter to Krische.
She would only do her best for the few precious things that were important to her.
Like pulling weeds out of a flower bed. Like brushing the dust off her clothes.
She just cleaned up what was in front of her eyes without any emotion.
"Hahaha!! I've finally caught up!"
From Krische's right side, the outgoing Granmeld wielded an iron club.
A dozen others soon followed.
"It's the best assault. I might get addicted to it!"
"... that’s good then."
Granmeld laughed at Krische, who seemed a little tired, and told her to leave it to them.
"I've been set up for this much. Just take a break until we’ve reached it. From here on, my corps will be enough."
“Nn…Krische will take Woof Woof word for it."
Krische glanced at the frightened crowd of enemies and retreated from the front into the middle.
Instead, the pack of wolves rushed out――the most elite of them.
The quality of Granmeld's subordinates was higher than that of the Black Century.
The way they’re used to being on the front line was different. If they were in the Black Century, they would all be top of the line.
There were dozens of them――Krische was impressed that Granmeld's army was still of good quality.
In terms of breakthrough power and offensive power, the Black Century was inferior if they fight with the same number.
They are outstanding in terms of the military prowess of their individual soldiers.
Seeing that even the battalion commander, who had abandoned his command, was mixed in with the group, it was only natural, but even so, there was no doubt that they were very strong.
"Thank you very much, Princess!"
"Please be careful."
When the neck of the enemy who was approaching the soldier was cut shallowly, he said so and returned to the center.
Krische looked at the surroundings.
However, there were still some bad aspects in terms of coordination and defense.
They charge in and kill the enemy without regard for their allies.
Morale is high, and as a result, they have overwhelming offensive power, but because they do not emphasize coordination, they have a problem in terms of staying power.
If all the members are of the Granmeld class, they might be able to handle it, but otherwise, the magic possessors are just soldiers who are better than the average person.
Their fragile bodies that die if stabbed or cut――their attrition rate is bound to be higher than that of the Black Century.
"Rear ranks! To the front!
Granmeld's voice echoed next to her, and Krische covered her ears.
Along with the voice, the following people increased their speed and replaced the mana possessor who was in the lead.
There are almost no magical power holders in the rear.
However, in exchange, they were very good soldiers as light infantry.
In this melee, a certain degree of control was established, and individual skill was also excellent.
And in place of the magic possessors who had been replaced――
"Hi――!?"
*Squash*
The sound was the distorted meat drum played by Granmeld.
Swinging it left and right, the enemy's bones and armor shattered left and right, and flesh scattered.
The handling of the iron club was rough and forceful, but it seemed very efficient when dealing with mere soldiers.
If you let the magic possessor to the front, Granmeld would rest and will come forward when they rest.
As a result, the impact of the charge was not lost, giving the enemy no time to rest and regroup.
Krische was a little impressed thinking ‘So they are not completely foolhardy.’
The army of the powerful Granmeld was surprisingly adhering to a fine rhythm and pacing of attack.
Using himself and those who possess magical power as a spear, and using a soldier who does not as a shield――he used them well.
Krische jumps lightly, checked her surroundings, and dove into the sea of people.
What she saw was the corps commander--and the next thing that surfaced was,
“A-gh!?”
when she cut off a neck.
As she cut the neck of the adjutant, Granmeld quickly caught up and lifted the corners of his mouth.
"I'd be happy if you could leave some for me too."
“If you want the credit, Krische can pretend that Woof Woof killed him. Krische doesn’t mind.”
“Haha, it’s not like that…well, Krische-sama won’t understand it!”
Kicking off a nearby soldier——and that's it.
It was less than half a koku after the war started.
Krische Christand and Granmeld Varkas dealt with them single-handedly.
They overwhelmed and devoured the soldiers in front of the enemy's main camp.
Dancing out of the line of soldiers was the enemy's main camp——the royal banner of Gildanstein, the Royal Prince, could be seen.
Krische was ahead of everyone else, followed by Granmeld.
The soldiers who saw this ——and in the back, Gildanstein, who was on horseback, jumped off his horse.
Krische calmly stepped forward, tinged with cold emotion.
She plunged head first into the line of cavalry that was running in, killing and crushing its first three riders and toppling the rest.
Everything around her——all movement seemed to stop for Krische.
She snatched the spear from the cavalryman's hand, then to the front.
She pierced the obstacle that formed a wall with the spear.
Krische stepped forward, heedless of the shattered pieces of flesh.
There was nothing but pure killing intent.
Everything she faced was stared at by her inorganic purple, leaving them speechless and their fighting spirit froze.
She was a storm of violence.
Clothed in thunder and storm, she ripped and devoured everything in her path.
She charged in and left the wind behind.
Even the consciousness of those watching her looked at nothing.
Only those skilled enough to barely keep track of her can catch the flash emitted by the blade.
The blade was less than two shaku long, A blade that was too small to handle on the battlefield.
The blade bent on the side of the blade, looked like a polished machete, and yet the blade's range seemed equal to that of a spear.
It was as if her arm itself was a sickle or something, and her human head was a red flower.
Each time the blade was swung, it scattered afterglow and blood rain around.
it wasn't a fight.
The girl flashed her sword, which was barely held in place by a skilled swordsman as if slipping through.
And so, one hero's life comes to an abrupt end.
Whether one was a young amateur or a master who had spent decades with the sword, all were equal.
The girl's blade was beyond human reach.
The wall in front of the girl――it was a lump of human flesh that broke it further.
Just by force, Granmeld threw the corpse he had grabbed onto the battle line.
“Make way!!”
His physique looked exceptionally large at that place.
Was it the vortex of magical power bursting out making it so?
Just with his grip strength, he crushes the soldier's skull along with his helmet and laughed maniacally.
A pack of mad wolves followed behind——he was the Great Wolf.
Before them, a soldier was only an obstacle that could scream.
They force their way through, overwhelming tactics and everything in their path.
――and then.
"……It is the end"
The girl with two shaking tails thrust the stolen sword into the blackened lion armor――Gildanstein's heart.
Everyone was a bystander to the scene, and there was nothing to stop her rampage.
However――
"Again, like this...!"
Anger seethed in her beauty, which had remained calm at the front line.
She irritatedly stepped through the corpse's armor, crumpling its torso and snapping a rib.
Granmeld noticed the situation and looked around.
Fear and relief on the faces of the soldiers.
"...Even after this all this, you're using a body double, huh――piece of shit!"
Granmeld shouted while smashing the skull of a nearby enemy soldier.
"The Royal Prince, Gildanstein, was frightened of us and ran away!! Behold, the deception that you worshiped as your king!!”
Grabbing the corpse of the body double that Krische killed, he easily ripped off its head and raised it above his head.
Whatever the case may be, if they haven't achieved their goal, they will just continue until they achieved it.
Now that the enemy has been cut in half, the left wing of the Guildenstein army――there was no way for the 10,000 to survive.
"... Krische-sama, it can't be helped. We're going to crush the enemy's left wing with our right wing."
"Wait a minute... please."
Krische clenched her fists at the end of her thoughts.
Why did he go out of his way to show his face to Krische and provoke Krische like that――
“...So that’s how it is”
Yesterday's battle was scheduled for noon.
The day before yesterday, when it was reported that the army had been divided――the distance between them was 120 ri (~48km) as of this morning.
The army could march 80 ri (~32km) if it had time to spare.
Therefore, it was expected that the two armies would meet before noon at the earliest, or afternoon at the latest.
However, as a result, Gildanstein arrived well past noon and near evening.
Considering the fatigue of the soldiers, they avoided collisions upon arrival.
They had even more leeway because Krische and the others did not move southward, but instead took up positions at their present location.
This was how they thought of their actions.
But then, they could have delayed the time further, even at night.
Because it's up to them to choose the timing of the battle.
Why did he bother to show his face that evening? ――It was also thought that he wanted to measure the difference in power between both sides and to let the hodgepodge of soldiers get a taste of the battlefield atmosphere, but that's not the case.
He purposely waited until evening to show his face so that she wouldn't notice until morning.
To reassure Krische that Gildanstein was here.
"... He never intended to fight Krische from the beginning."
Within the night of his appearance, Gildanstein moved——and joined Nakirus-Felizar's corp as reinforcements.
Naturally, the aim was
"... Selene"
Krische gripped the hilt of her sword painfully and muttered to herself.
――The next day, Dorval Plain.
"... So it really was His Royal Highness."
Christand army main camp.
Selene Christand looked at the man who broke through their defense.
"I've given it some thought, but fighting that thing is a risk. I thought about what I should do to make it docile, and I decided that I should follow my principles and exploit its weakness.”
He was not wearing black lion armor, but dull armor that had been bathed in a great deal of blood.
A lightweight half plate that protected important points.
He looked like a mere captain――but he carries a war ax over his shoulder.
Most of the ones he brought with him were held back by their defenses, but the few around him were the elite.
"Don't worry, I won't kill you. It won’t make sense to do that to a hostage. I have a tentative promise about that as well.... So here's a proposal."
Gildanstein smiled and indicated the situation around him.
Kolkis had cut deep into the enemy's right wing.
Eluga was in front――he was aware of the situation, but Gildanstein's checks were working.
"As the commander of this army, I ask you to surrender. If you comply——Gildanstein Kalnaros Vel Sarcarinea Alberan, swear by this name, swear by the blood of the kingdom, this civil war——Pledge to show it as the final bloodshed... You don't want to cause unnecessary deaths, do you?"
“I appreciate your words, Your Royal Highness.”
――However, she continued.
She drew her sword and thrusts it.
It was Bogan's long sword.
"However, as a general of an army——one who has sacrificed so much blood and blood... and as a patriarch who protects the family, I cannot nod my head at your invitation."
Blue eyes unwavering, to the core.
Selene stared at Gildanstein.
Gildanstein just laughed happily.
"... Stubborn aren’t you. Kuku, I like it.... I can even make you the queen."
"If you can that is. ――Also, Your Highness is misunderstanding one thing."
Selene also had a faint smile on her beautiful face under her helmet.
"... the result, that is your death is still left in this place."
The line of soldiers was split.
The shadow that jumped out swung its blade.
Naturally, Gildanstein blocked it——he quickly distances himself.
Countless shadows leap out at the spot where he was.
They weren't wearing black armor——but they were all magic possesor.
The woman who slashed at him, her black hair swinging from under her helmet, stood in front of Selene as if to protect her.
And dozens of soldiers followed suit.
What was hoisted in the sky was the crescent skull-shaped centurion flag――
"It takes a certain amount of ordeal to kidnap a princess, Your Highness. Didn't you know that?"
"I see, that unit——the Black Century was it?"
‘Kuku’, said Gildanstein, laughing, raising his battle-axe,
"... Is it your idea or is it the cursed child's idea...that's a nice idea. Not bad for closing a battle. ――All right"
Just like when he faced the hero Bogan Christand.
"...I will taku you on, small fries."
――A huge amount of magical power erupted from his entire body.
