pαndα`noνɐ1~сoМ 458 Aggrieved Knights
"It's basic common sense to learn about your opponents, no? But never mind that. Make your choice, Count Eldridge. If you're wise and care for your knights, it'll be in your best interest to surrender."
"Hoh? For a supposed legitimate heir to the empire's throne, you are awfully cold towards your people."
Count Eldridge bought time with his casual remark while studying the surrounding for traps. However, he found none besides the pit they were in.
"My people are righteous and outstanding heroes who help the weak and those in need, not the power-hungry, self-driven people like you, Count Eldridge."
"Is that so? Well, how do you plan to deal with all of us by yourself? Surely, you didn't think you could take us all on alone, Lady Astoria."
Although Count Eldridge sounded calm, his expression soon turned grave.
He found it alarming that such a huge pit was not seen and reported by the scouts despite the cleared trees leaving a large gaping space in the middle of the forest.
'An illusion array,’ Count Eldridge's gaze sharpened immediately.
Since the Kingdom of Black Rose had used an illusion array to hide the large pit in the forest from aerial scouting, they likely had also used illusion arrays to hide other special terrains and possibly even their numbers.
Just as Count Eldridge had that thought, a sudden voice confirmed his fears.
"But she's not alone?"
Several matriarchs stepped toward the pit's edges and revealed themselves along with the army of witches behind them as their concealment spell dispersed.
In that instant, Count Eldridge and his holy knights suddenly felt the presence of many witches — possibly more than their army.
"I hope you brought enough troops to entertain our thirty thousand witch army.
There are a few spells and tricks we wanted to test."
When Count Eldridge heard a matriarch say that, the corner of his lips twitched. Just as he had feared, the Kingdom of Black Rose had hidden more troops than they had revealed on the surface.
According to the latest scout report, the reserve army in the border cities had all gone to reinforce the three forts. Yet, there were another thirty thousand battle witches here, where they were — or so the matriarch stated.
"So what if you have more numbers than us? I have ten thousand holy knights with me; each one of them is comparable to Early-stage High Witches. Your numbers mean nothing to us. Bring it on!"
"Sigh... So you have chosen to die. So be it."
Shortly after Astoria sighed, she steeled her heart with a cold look before signaling the matriarchs to order their battle witches to attack.
"Battle witches, prepare for battle!" the matriarchs barked.
The battle witches immediately circulated their mana and generated power as they charged their spells.
At the same time, Count Eldridge commanded the ten Peak-stage Second-Circle Wizards with him to create an earthen slope for them to rush out
of the pit.
Although the Peak-stage Second-Circle Wizards successfully created the earthen slope, they felt something very wrong with their mana flow.
"The wizards have forged the path ahead. All holy knights, charge with me! For the glory of the empire!"
"Wait, Count Eldridge—"
"For the glory of the empire!!"
The holy knights roared, following Count Eldridge's lead as they rushed up the newly-formed earthen slope, missing the wizards' late warning.
Only after their aura surged in full swing—did they notice the same problem as the wizards.
"Huh?"
"Attack at will!"
Following the empire's confusion and the matriarchs' attack order, a barrage of spells soon rained down on Count Eldridge and his holy knights, overwhelming them instantly.
Puchi!
"Arghh—!"
"Nooo—!"
Painful cries immediately resounded as the battle witches' ballistic spells struck the holy knights like cannonballs, sending them flying and crashing into others behind them. It resulted in a domino effect as countless holy knights rolled down the earthen slope
Although they had their sturdy armor to protect them, they still suffered internal injuries from the shock waves. Some also had their arms and legs bent in unnatural directions.
In a single instant, the empire's charge easily halted as the battle witches one-sidedly crushed the army of holy knights. Even Count Eldridge did not get out unscathed, as he had led the charge.
After they were blasted back down to the bottom of the pit, the battle witches continued to bombard them with ballistic spells that exceeded the power granted by their Peak-stage Senior Witch ranks.
As a result, Count Eldridge and the holy knights continued accumulating internal injuries until they coughed up blood. Hundreds started dying at once, and the number continued to soar by the moment.
Unfortunately, the ten Peak-stage Second-Circle wizards had it worse; they died from the very first shot.
Originally, Count Eldridge's holy knight army shouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat.
However...
"My Lord, there's something wrong with my body! I can't circulate my aura properly!" a holy knight shouted desperately, vomiting blood in the process as ballistic spells battered his body.
Aura was vital to increasing their strength, defense, and speed. Without reinforcing their bodies with aura, they were only slightly stronger than ordinary people.
"I came fully prepared to face the enemy's traps, but even I did not expect them to have this kind of trap prepared for us... All holy knights, retreat...! We must report back to His Imperial Majesty...l We must let everyone know the enemy can suppress our aura...! It was a mistake coming here..."
Count Eldridge continued to cough up blood while speaking and dragging his battered body toward the dark passage.
At the same time, holy knights threw themselves behind Count Eldridge and shielded him from the incoming ballistic spells with their bodies.
"Ughk, please leave, my Lord! We'll cover your retreat...!"
"I'm sorry, everyone. I've dragged you all to hell with me."
Count Eldridge felt deeply regretful as he watched his holy knights throw away their lives one by one to protect him.
However, the holy knights didn't blame him; they were prepared to die when they chose to follow him. Even so, they still felt aggrieved and unresigned.
They came for revenge and glory, but all they got was depression and defeat. After all, they were crushed before they were even given a chance to show off their strength!
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