Chapter 206
Chapter 206
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 206
Chapter Title: Cavalry Annihilation
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“Gulp.”
Madrika was a strong knight.
He talked a lot and came off as arrogant, but that attitude was backed by real skill.
After all, not just anyone could be recognized as one of the leading knights representing a major city like Maren for so long.
Even so, this was the first time Madrika had faced a cavalry force numbering around three hundred.
Such a massive mounted force only gathered in true wars, and while he had plenty of experience with small-scale territorial skirmishes, he had never seen real warfare.
The same went for the knights who had come with Eugene.
“Intimidating.”
“But judging by their mismatched gear, they don’t look like a proper knight order.”
“Their armor isn’t standardized either. Their formation’s a mess.”
“Did they bring in some mercenaries?”
Though none of them had experienced true war, these were proper knights—highly skilled with abundant combat experience—so they accurately assessed the enemy.
And as they spoke, a similar thought flashed through all their minds.
‘Could we actually take them?’
In open flat terrain like this with few obstacles, cavalry was the most powerful force. Infantry simply couldn’t match their mobility and destructive power.
And in cavalry-versus-cavalry fights, numbers were the biggest factor in victory. That much was common sense.
But that assumed all other conditions and skill levels were perfectly equal.
The enemy outnumbered them fifty to three hundred, but those foes weren’t true knights—just mercenaries on horseback.
Moreover, their own side was fully equipped with plate mail or plate armor, while most of the enemy likely wore leather or chain mail.
Few wielded the knight’s essential weapon, the cavalry lance; most were armed only with swords and shields.
In other words, the enemy might have the edge in mobility due to lighter gear, but they were no match in attack or defense.
“If we just avoid getting surrounded, we could give it a shot.”
“Hmm. Their formation’s so sloppy, they probably won’t coordinate well.”
The initial shock of facing six times their number faded quickly, and the knights began coldly devising effective tactics.
That was the nature of knights—trained through rigorous military education, countless spars, and real battles.
“Sirs, mobility seems to be the key here.”
“No, we don’t need to worry about that either.”
The knights’ eyes turned to Eugene at the sound of his voice.
Still watching the enemy cavalry closing in fast, Eugene shifted his gaze to Princess Lirisein and spoke.
“Princess. How far have they chased us like that?”
“About three kilometers.”
“At that speed the whole time?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Eugene turned to the knights at the princess’s reply.
“The princess’s and the elf knights’ mounts are all Elrand bloodlines. Famous warhorses renowned for their incredible stamina. That’s why their horses aren’t worn out.”
Ooh...!
The knights, quick to grasp Eugene’s point, let out low exclamations.
“Right. Their horses are already exhausted. No matter how lightly armed they are, they can’t keep up that pace in their condition. Princess Lirisein, you’ve done us a huge favor.”
“Overwhelmed with emotion. I will continue striving to be worthy of standing by Your Grace’s side.”
Her face flushed and shoulders heaving at Eugene’s praise, Princess Lirisein humbly bowed her head.
“Then we charge right now, Sir Eugene?”
Eugene shook his head at the knights, brimming with eagerness to crush the enemy immediately.
“No, we hold off on the charge.”
“Hm? Why not?”
“Our goal isn’t just to repel them.”
“......Pardon?”
Ignoring the knights tilting their heads in confusion, Eugene stared at the enemy cavalry, now within three hundred meters, and unleashed his presence.
“We annihilate them. Not a single one gets away. To do that, we need to wear them down more. Make sure they can’t escape this place.”
Ooooh!!!
The knights blazed with fervor at the declaration of total annihilation.
“Everyone, draw your bows. We form an inverted wedge.”
Unlike mercenaries limited to one or two weapons, knights trained in all manner from childhood.
Among them, sword, spear, and bow were essentials for any knight.
Hunting was a noble virtue, and excelling in a lord’s hunting tournament brought great honor.
The knights with Eugene were all master archers.
And as knights, not mere bowmen, they could shoot from horseback even at a gallop.
“Hoo?”
Curiosity sparked as the knights drew their longbows and eyed Princess Lirisein and the elf knights’ bows.
The elves’ bows were half the size of standard longbows.
They were horn bows, special to the elves, crafted from water buffalo horns from Elrand.
“Your Grace. Do we shoot now?”
“Hm? Can we hit them from here?”
“Horn bows can. Effective range, sufficient.”
The knights couldn’t hide their shock at Princess Lirisein’s firm assurance.
If true, that meant nearly twice the range of a longbow.
“Then fire at will. Sirs! Let’s move!”
Ooooh!!!
The knights formed an inverted wedge around Eugene and began to shift positions.
* * *
“Those bastards are running!”
“Cowards!”
Zenas and the Cinder Knight Order, having spotted Eugene and his knights long ago, whipped their horses forward, convinced they were fleeing.
‘Heh heh! That Yann Eugene or whatever—he’s nothing special! Grab him, and all of Maren is mine!’
And that elf bitch? He’d torment and toy with her every way imaginable before killing her.
‘Five minutes? No, three is plenty!’
Their horses were quite fatigued, but with this overwhelming force difference, it’d be over in minutes, so Zenas paid it no mind.
“Huh?”
Then he noticed a few of the “fleeing” enemy knights doing something odd.
They released the reins and twisted fully around in their saddles, riding backward.
“Ha! Are they insane?”
Zenas snorted at the bizarre sight he’d never seen before.
Impressive trick, sure—but why pull that stunt now?
“......!?”
But his eyes widened the moment five or six aimed small bows—far shorter than longbows—their way.
Elf ears? No way they’re shooting from this range...
Twang!
“Kehek!”
“Gah!”
Pursuing subordinates tumbled from their saddles, arrows piercing throats and foreheads.
‘Damn it! It’s just a few. Keep chasing and... Hng!?’
Zenas gritted his teeth, but then paled.
Arrows kept raining without pause, and each volley dropped five or six from saddles or horses with unerring precision. Archery skill bordering on divine.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
The fallen were trampled by comrades’ hooves, pulverized without even a scream.
“These lunatics!”
Realizing the dire turn only after dozens lay dead in moments, Zenas finally grasped the gravity.
“Faster! Kill those fuckers—aaargh!”
The already frenzied Cinder Knights lashed their reins wildly. But their horses, at their limit, couldn’t obey.
The gap between pursuers and “prey” barely shrank, holding steady at around a hundred meters in the ongoing chase.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t even a chase.
The “prey” were far too composed, shooting arrows at will to steadily rack up casualties—unlike the Cinder Knights, who just rode.
Plus, from Eugene and the knights’ view, they had three hundred targets packed tight.
Even half-hearted shots hit horses and men alike without fail.
Horses slowed, reached their limit, and stopped; riderless mounts halted too.
And like a snowball rolling downhill, it snowballed into disaster.
“M-Move!”
“Run! Don’t block— you fuck... urk!?”
Most Cinder Knights were ex-mercenaries. Untrained and ignorant of mounted tactics, they couldn’t handle the chaos of large-scale cavalry combat.
Their already sloppy formation crumbled further amid stalled horses.
They’d started in three units; now they were tangled into dozens of scattered clumps.
And as if on cue, rain began falling from the overcast sky choked with storm clouds.
“Sir Eugene! It’s raining! Mobility will be tough now!”
Madrika’s shout brimmed with regret.
Rain was a cavalryman’s worst nightmare—mud slicks made mounted combat hell.
The enemy faced the same, but retreat was inevitable, leaving the knights disappointed.
‘Lucky break.’
Eugene saw it differently.
“Mirian, you’re up.”
“Kihehehe! Hey hey, me next! Been waitin’!”
Mirian, clinging to Serilion’s mane, cackled arrogantly as he shot upward.
“This one’s, stirruppp!”
“Huh!?”
A fist-sized orb of light appeared before Eugene, startling the knights wide-eyed.
Only Princess Lirisein and the elf knights—who could always see spirits—watched expectantly without surprise.
“Heh heh! Finally time for me, Neo King God Revolution Mirian Mark II, to shine?”
“......I’ve heard that the only good spirit is a vanished one.”
Eugene’s chilling glare.
“E-Earth spirits are good too!”
Cowed, the spirit flapped his four wings innocently and zipped off like lightning, halting before an enemy clump.
“Mirian Kiiiiik!”
With a nonsensical technique name, the pouring rain coalesced and crashed down on the enemies’ heads.
“Mirian Kick! Kick! Kick! Mirian Punch! Mirian Tornado! Kihehe! Kiihet het het!”
Evolved with an extra pair of wings, Mirian zipped across the battlefield, screeching madly.
Of course, no kicks, punches, or gusts materialized—just massive water blobs slamming and sweeping foes.
And it didn’t stop at soaking and confusing them.
“Miriiaan! Water paaark!”
Rumble rumble rumble!
At the cheeky roar, a spectacle fit the name unfolded. Accumulated rainwater surged as a torrent, sweeping the enemy.
Horses didn’t collapse, nor troops take heavy losses from it.
The real issue: the deluge, dozens of times heavier, turned the scattered clumps’ ground into vast quagmires.
“Th-This damn...!”
“That Yokai bastard!”
“It’s a demon! A water demon!”
Enemies wailed and flailed in the sucking, slippery muck like a swamp.
Amid the absurd yet astonishing scene, jaws agape, Eugene bellowed at the knights.
“What’re you waiting for? Now’s our chance!”
“......!”
Snapping to, the knights sized up the situation.
Rooooar!!!
Roaring war cries, they circled wide from the enemy clumps, unleashing arrows.
Already dominant before Mirian’s water spirit show, the knights now swam like fish in water.
Just orbiting and shooting dropped dozens in the mud pits.
“Dismount! You worthless shits!”
Zenas belatedly drew his sword, raging.
Many obliged, leaping down to follow him.
But.
Rooooar!
Amid the downpour, crimson-black aura unfurled like a torrent.
“Hng!?”
“Ugh!”
Origin’s presence overwhelmed them, freezing bodies like statues.
“......!”
Zenas and the Cinder Knights gawked, netted fish helpless, as they spotted the black knight charging, crimson-black aura rippling like vast bat wings behind.
“Die.”
Muttering unheard over the din, Eugene hurled the Madragika gripped in his hand with all his might.
Screeeee!
Shrouded in scarlet presence amid bloodlust’s joyous roar, the demonic spear sliced through rain toward its target: King’s infantry captain Zenas’s helmet.
(To be continued in the next chapter)