Chapter 296

Editor: SilentS

Wisteria was already under fire from both the front and the left, but the situation continued to worsen.

「The enemy cavalries on the right are charging! 」

A warning cry came from the right flank. As Ardis looked at that direction, the enemy cavalries that didn’t move a single muscle till now, were raising clouds of sands as they charged towards them.

「Why are they charging now! 」

「Where are the Kingdom’s cavalries!? 」

「They’re not moving! 」

「Those shitbags! Don’t only move us around! 」

Amidst the angry cries thrown around, Greyth’s voice called out instructions.

「Stop their charge with all you got! If we can foil their first charging attack, they will be forced to stop! 」

The allied mercenaries were layering barriers after barriers.

At the same time, the enemy infantries are retreating to not get in the way of their cavalry’s charge.

「Ruu――!」

「Here, Ardis! 」

Ardis confirmed Luciel’s appearance and ran to her.

「How many layers!? 」

「At least three! 」

「Got it! 」

Finishing grasping each other’s intentions with just a few words, Ardis started deploying barriers of his own to stop the enemy cavalries’ charge.

As Greyth said, stopping the first attack is all that was needed. After all, the enemy could only have a charged attack once. There is no second opportunity.

Even if they tried to turn around after a failed charge on Ardis and the others, they would encounter only enemy infantry or their own soldiers in the middle.

When their charge comes to a halt and they have nowhere to go, they have no choice but to stop.

No matter how strong their cavalry is, they could never be effective in a melee battle.

But of course, the enemies saw victory in this charged attack.

If they can’t defend against the charge, Wisteria will surely crumble and at the same time, it’s likely to decide the battle’s outcome.

「They’re here! 」

The enemy cavalries already blew apart the group in the front and was approaching rapidly.

All members of Wisteria were like Ardis, bracing with their barriers to defend against the charge.

However, some of them weren’t strong enough. People were flung into the air as the horses leaped, and spears pierced through them.

Two cavalries came straight towards where Ardis and Luciel were. The enormous horse with its charging momentum neared Ardis and crashed into the deployed barrier head-on.

Although four layers of barrier were shattered immediately, that’s all their momentum amounted to.

The next moment, the cavalry’s war horse tripped over its own momentum and went out of his sight.

The rider must’ve had confidence in his horse’s power and weight, but in the end, it seems like it was his mistake.

Unable to shatter all the barriers, the horse’s stature was broken, and the rider met his end as the consequence.

「One more! 」

Luciel warned Ardis of another charging cavalry. He must have witnessed the cavalry stumbling before.

This time, the rider didn’t aim to trample them with his horse. He was charging with a spear in his hand.

「Deflect it! 」

「Upwards!? 」

「Yeah! 」

Exchanging short words, Ardis created another layer of barrier with a slight angle upwards to deflect the spear tip.

On top of Ardis’s barrier, Luciel layered another smaller yet tougher barrier.

The spear held by the rider crashed into the barrier. However, the trajectory slowly shifted before Ardis’s eyes.

Stopped by Luciel’s pinpoint barrier, the remaining momentum was deflected by Ardis’s angled barrier.

The spear flipped upwards after getting deflected. Not able to make use of the momentary opportunity, the rider missed his attack.

The rider continued with his momentum to find the next target, but naturally, Ardis would not allow him to do that so easily.

Dispelling the barrier that served its role, he turned around and shot a magic arrow towards the horse’s hind leg.

No matter how fast the horse is running, it can’t outrun an arrow. The magic arrow lodged itself deep into its hind leg, causing the horse to run amok from the pain, dropping the rider in the process.

「Uwaah! 」

The enemy that fell off his horse failed to regain his balance before hitting the ground.

As he fell at an unfortunate location, he was trampled by the following cavalries.

Having witnessed the end of the rider, Ardis looked around for more enemies to look out for.

「Our damage is severe」

「Unn……」

As he looked around, there were figures of his comrades being made into skewers.

Most of them seemed to have defended against the charge, but casualties are still considerable.

However, after losing their charging momentum and not having enough space to start gaining speed again, it meant that the enemy cavalries are no longer a threat.

What they can do at best is to retreat the way they came or be plunged into a melee battle.

Naturally, Wisteria wouldn’t let them run.

「It’s our turn! Don’t let them run! 」

Greyth’s voice was responded by everyone. For everyone that had escaped the imminent death, this is the greatest timing to counterattack.

With the enemy cavalries here, there’s no worrying about arrows or arts from the enemy in fear of friendly fire.

The enemy will at most send out their infantries to aid the cavalries. A melee battle is a mercenary’s forte.

It’s what everyone there hoped for. While the allies slowly regained momentum, the situation suddenly took a turn again.

「There are more cavalries coming this way! 」

Someone from the right rear yelled out a warning.

「Shit, there’s still more!? 」

「No! It’s Rodelia! 」

Thinking that there are more enemies worsening the situation, another voice denied that idea.

Nonetheless, it was surprising news to hear that the friendly cavalries are charging towards them.

「What!? 」

「Don’t they see we’re here!? 」

「They don’t give a damn about us here! 」

The mercenaries began to spiral into confusion.

「Tch, so that’s how it is! 」

Greyth, who appeared to understand what it meant, cursed.

A tactic to stop the enemy’s charge and then move on the cavalries when the enemy’s charge is halted.

However, that’s surely a tactic the enemy knows as well. After all, it’s the most basic principle to never let cavalries stop in enemy territory.

The only time that stopping is allowed is the final attack that will set the battle outcome.

Randeshell’s cavalries failed to determine that exact time. Now that Ardis and the others survived the enemy’s attack that should’ve been fatal, their cavalries have no chance to shine here.

There would be nothing they can do if they get attacked by cavalries in an unorganized state.

However, a situation like that wouldn’t happen in a melee battle normally. After all, there would be risk of friendly fire.

In a fast-paced melee battle that is happening currently, it’s difficult to even discern foe from friend.

In other words, sending the cavalries now meant sacrificing everyone despite on the same side here. It is not an action anyone would take normally.

Even if they won the battle, there will be skepticism towards the commander’s ability.

However, if it’s not Rodelia’s army that will bear the losses, but the mercenaries hired with money――

「All of you, make footholds, and get into the sky now!」

「But, we will be under fire if we do that!? 」

Although there was one person that reflexively questioned Greyth’s orders, the others followed immediately.

「It’s still better! We will just be squashed by our own cavalries if we stay on the ground! 」

The front and left are enemies, with the addition of allied mercenaries from the rear who rushed forward without understanding what was going on, and the Rodelia cavalry, which is rushing from the right rear right now becoming the last nail of the coffin.

They can only flee to the right front, where the Randeshell cavalry came from, or up above.

However, there’s not enough time for all of them to take the right front path, considering their location.

In other words, the only realistic choice they had was to escape upwards.

「I’m going first, Ardis. 」

Sark who understood the situation created his own footholds and started running upwards.

He was immediately showered by several arts, but it seems like all of them were stopped by the barrier he put up simultaneously.

「Ruu――, ready? 」

「Yes. 」

Calling out to Luciel who seemed a little fatigued, Ardis created a foothold, and climbed.

「I will take care of the barrier. 」

「Sorry for the trouble. 」

To lessen Luciel’s worry by even a little, Ardis created a slightly larger barrier that could cover them both.

Looking around, everyone of Wisteria was climbing to the sky, similarly like Ardis and Luciel.

However, some mercenaries from other bands couldn’t make their own footholds, and some were busy fending off enemy cavalries that they didn’t have time to flee, leaving a considerable number of mercenaries still on the ground.

「Ardis, a large one is coming! 」

Following Elion’s warning, a large fireball came his way from Randeshell’s army.

Arts loaded to the brim with deadly purpose to shoot them out of the sky were launched at them one after the other.

Some unlucky comrades couldn’t endure the attacks that shattered their barriers, throwing them back to the ground.

Amidst that, Rodelia’s cavalry unit finally arrived at the action with their charge.

The sound of horseshoes, combined with many horses trampling over the ground underneath them, threw up clouds of sand.

The enemy cavalries that had their momentum halted could do nothing to stop them, and mercenaries that didn’t escape in time were thrown in the air from the charge.

As Rodelia’s cavalry troops passed under their eyes, they swerved right, passing right by the enemy infantries, and continued towards the right.

With no enemy ahead of them that could stop their advance, the situation completely overturned at that exact moment.

Wisteria was already under fire from both the front and the left, but the situation continues to worsen.

「The enemy cavalries on the right are charging! 」

A warning cry came from the right flank. As Ardis looked at that direction, the enemy cavalries that didn’t move a single muscle till now were raising clouds of sands as they charged towards here.

「Why are they charging now! 」

「Where are the Kingdom’s cavalries!? 」

「They’re not moving! 」

「Those shitbags! Don’t only move us around! 」

Amidst the angry cries thrown around, Greyth’s voice called out instructions.

「Stop their charge with all you got! If we can foil their first charging attack, they will be forced to stop! 」

The allied mercenaries were layering barriers after barriers.

At the same time, the enemy infantries are retreating to not get in the way of their cavalry’s charge.

「Ruu――!」

「Here, Ardis! 」

Ardis confirmed Luciel’s appearance and ran to her.

「How many layers!? 」

「At least three! 」

「Got it! 」

Finishing grasping each other’s intentions with just a few words, Ardis started deploying barriers of his own to stop the enemy cavalries’ charge.

As Greyth said, stopping the first attack is all that is needed. After all, the enemy could only have a charged attack once, there is not a second chance for them.

Even if they tried to turn around after a failed charge over Ardis and the others, they will find only enemy infantries around them, or their own soldiers occupying the center.

They have no choice but to stop as they have nowhere to go when their charge comes to a halt.

No matter how strong their cavalry is, they could never be effective in a melee battle.

But of course, the enemy saw victory in this charged attack.

If they can’t defend against the charge, Wisteria will surely crumble and at the same time, it’s likely to decide the battle’s outcome.

「They’re here! 」

The enemy cavalries already blew apart the group at the front and was approaching rapidly.

All members of Wisteria were like Ardis bracing with their barriers to defend against the charge.

However, some of them weren’t strong enough. Spears pierced through them, and people could be seen thrown into the air whenever the horses leapt.

Two cavalries came straight towards where Ardis and Luciel were. The enormous horse with its charging momentum neared Ardis, and crashed into the deployed barrier head-on.

Although four layers of barrier were shattered immediately, that’s all its momentum amounted to.

The next moment, the cavalry’s war horse tripped over its own momentum and went out of his sight.

The rider must’ve had confidence in his horse’s power and weight, but in the end, it seems like it was his mistake.

Unable to shatter all the barriers, the horse’s stature was broken, the rider met his end as the consequence.

「One more! 」

Luciel warned Ardis of another charging cavalry. He must’ve seen the cavalry earlier tripping.

This time, the rider didn’t aim to trample them with his horse, but was charging with a spear in his hand.

「Deflect it! 」

「Upwards!? 」

「Yeah! 」

Exchanging short words, Ardis created another layer of barrier with a slight angle upwards to deflect the spear tip.

On top of Ardis’s barrier, Luciel layered another smaller yet tougher barrier.

The spear held by the rider crashed into the barrier. However, the trajectory slowly shifted before Ardis’s eyes.

Stopped by Luciel’s pinpoint barrier, the remaining momentum was deflected by Ardis’s angled barrier.

The spear flipped upwards after getting deflected. Not able to make use of the momentary opportunity, the rider missed his attack.

The rider continued with his momentum to find the next target but, naturally, Ardis would not allow him to do so easily.

Dispelling the barrier that served its role, he turned around and shot a magic arrow towards the horse’s hind leg.

No matter how fast the horse is running, it can’t outrun an arrow. The magic arrow lodged itself deep into its hind leg, causing the horse to run amok from the pain, dropping the rider in the process.

「Uwaah! 」

The enemy that fell off his horse failed to regain his balance before hitting the ground.

As he fell at an unfortunate location, he was trampled by the following cavalries.

Having witnessed the end of the rider, Ardis looked around for more enemy to look out for.

「Our damage is severe」

「Unn……」

As he looked around, there were figures of comrades being made into skewers.

Most of them seem to have defended against the charge but casualties are still considerable.

However, after losing their charging momentum and not having enough space to start gaining speed again, it meant that the enemy cavalries are no longer a threat.

What they can do at best is to retreat the way they came, or be plunged into a melee battle.

Naturally, Wisteria wouldn’t let them run.

「It’s our turn! Don’t let them run! 」

Greyth’s voice was responded by everyone. For everyone that had escaped the imminent death, it is the greatest timing to counterattack.

With the enemy cavalries here, there’s no worrying about arrows or arts from the enemy in fear of friendly fire.

The enemy will at most send out their infantries to aid the cavalries. A melee battle is a mercenary’s forte.

It’s what everyone there hoped for. While the allies slowly regained momentum, the situation suddenly took a turn again.

「There’re more cavalries coming this way! 」

Someone from the right rear yelled out a warning.

「Shit, there’s still more!? 」

「No! It’s Rodelia! 」

Thinking that there’re more enemies worsening the situation, another voice denied that idea.

Nonetheless, it was a surprising news to hear that the friendly cavalries are charging towards them.

「What!? 」

「Don’t they see we’re here!? 」

「They don’t give a damn about us here! 」

The mercenaries spiraling into confusion.

「Tch, so that’s how it is! 」

Greyth who appeared to have understood the meaning behind it cursed.

A tactic to stop the enemy’s charge and then move in the cavalries when the enemy’s charge halted.

However, that’s surely a tactic the enemy knows as well. After all, it’s the most basic principle to never let cavalries stop in enemy territory.

The only time that stopping is allowed is the final attack that will set the battle outcome.

Randeshell’s cavalries failed to determine that exact time. Now that Ardis and the others survived the enemy’s attack that should’ve been fatal, their cavalries have no chance to shine here.

There would be nothing they can do if they get attacked by cavalries in an unorganized state.

However, a situation like that wouldn’t happen in a melee battle normally. After all, there would be risk of friendly fire.

In a fast-paced melee battle that is happening currently, it’s difficult to even discern foe from friend.

In other words, sending the cavalries now meant sacrificing everyone here regardless of whose side they were on. Needless to say, it is not an action anyone would take normally.

Even if they won the battle, there will be skepticism towards the commander’s ability.

However, if it’s not the Rodelia army that will bear the losses, but the mercenaries hired with money――

「All of you, make footholds and get into the sky now!」

「But we will be under fire if we do that!? 」

Although there was one person that reflexively questioned Greyth’s orders, the others followed immediately.

「It’s still better! We will just be squashed by our own cavalries if we stay on the ground! 」

The front and the left are enemies, the allied mercenaries from the rear that rushed forward without knowing anything, and then the Rodelia cavalries that’s charging from the right rear now.

The only direction they can escape to is the right front where the Randeshell cavalries came from, or up above.

However, there’s not enough time for all of them to take the right front path considering their location.

In other words, the only realistic choice they had was to escape upwards.

「I’m going first, Ardis. 」

Sark who understood the situation created his own footholds and started running upwards.

He was immediately showered by several arts but, it seems like all of them were stopped by the barrier he put up simultaneously.

「Ruu――, ready? 」

「Yes. 」

Calling out to Luciel who seemed a little fatigued, Ardis created a foothold and climbed.

「I will take care of the barrier. 」

「Sorry for the trouble. 」

To lessen Luciel’s wear by even a little, Ardis created a slightly larger barrier that could cover both of them.

Looking around, everyone of Wisteria was climbing to the sky similarly like Ardis and Luciel.

However, some mercenaries from other bands couldn’t make their own footholds, and some were busy fending off enemy cavalries that they didn’t have time to flee, leaving a considerable number of mercenaries still on the ground.

「Ardis, a large one is coming! 」

Following Elion’s warning, a large fireball came his way from Randeshell army.

One after another, arts filled to the brim with murderous intent to shoot them off the sky were hurled towards them.

Some unlucky comrades couldn’t endure the attacks that shattered their barriers, throwing them back to the ground.

Amidst that, the Rodelia cavalry unit finally arrived at the action with their charge.

Raising up clouds of sands, the sound of horseshoes along with countless horses trampled over the ground below them.

The enemy cavalries that had their momentum halted could do nothing to stop them, and mercenaries that didn’t escape in time were thrown in the air from the charge.

As the Rodelia cavalry troops passed under their eyes, they swerved right, passing right by the enemy troops, and continued towards the right.

With no enemy ahead of them that could stop their advance, the situation completely overturned at that exact moment.