Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Blood-Stained Battle of Streb Fortress (4)
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But the defenders of Streb Fortress were just as desperate.
The Imperial Army's month-long siege had worn them down completely, and once the arrow towers crumbled under the barrage of catapults, their archers began falling one by one to the enemy's arrows and stone projectiles.
"Hold the line just for today!!! Reinforcements are on the way!!"
The promise of reinforcements gave them a surge of strength. They loosed arrows until their fingers bled and hurled stones from the walls onto the foes below.
"The siege tower's approaching!! Ready fire arrows!!"
"The enemy's battering ram is coming too!! Which should we target first?"
Cordelia asked Count Redelmo, who was directing operations from the command tower.
"Focus on the siege tower! Streb's gates won't give way to a few rams."
"Yes, sir! Fire arrows at the siege tower—all at once!! Launch the oil!!"
The oil that had devastated the Imperial forces on the second day of the battle rained down once more, but the Imperials weren't foolish enough to fall for the same trick twice.
"It's oil!!! Get the dirt sacks ready!!"
As the oil spewed from tubes protruding from Streb's walls, they raised dirt sacks to absorb it, dumping the soaked earth before the flames could catch.
But while they blocked the oil, the siege tower began smoldering under the volley of fire arrows.
Meyer, the acting legion commander watching the battlefield, saw the tower ignite and issued orders.
"Send word to the left and right flanks: prepare anti-cavalry formations!"
"What are you talking about? Cavalry out of nowhere?"
"If I were the enemy commander, I'd launch a cavalry charge right about now. Hit us while the siege tower burns and we're rattled—for maximum impact."
"But even so..."
"I'm the acting legion commander right now!! Relay the order!!"
Meyer's shout made the staff officer shake his head but pass the command down the line.
"102nd Infantry!! Shift to the flank and prepare anti-cavalry formation!!"
"Huh? Suddenly? You sure the order came through right?"
"Positive!!"
The centurion leading the 102nd Infantry cocked his head at the abrupt command from headquarters but followed orders, moving his unit to the side.
At that moment, the gates swung open. Theseito cavalry charged out, thundering toward the Imperial forces besieging the right wall.
But the momentum of their charge faltered as the Imperial heavy infantry swiftly formed an anti-cavalry line. The riders veered off in panic.
"What?! Those bastards!!"
"...Retreat! Charging a hundred riders into their prepared infantry would just boost enemy morale if we get wiped out."
The cavalry included Cordelia and ten knights, but she bit her lip and ordered a cool-headed withdrawal. Even with knights, suicide against ready infantry was pointless.
Watching the enemy cavalry retreat, the Imperials pressed their assault with renewed vigor.
"Enemy cavalry's pulling back!! Tell the center to pick up the pace!!"
Seizing the moment while the gates stood open from the cavalry's sortie, Meyer ordered the center—advancing slowly with the ram—to accelerate.
Arrows rained down in a deadly hail, of course, but the Imperials pushed forward through the losses, finally slamming the battering ram into the gates.
Boom!!
The gates shuddered violently with the impact, but Streb's sturdy construction held firm.
Undeterred, the Imperials pulled the ram back and rammed again, repeating the brutal process.
As the ram hammered the gates, on the right wall, heavy infantry advanced shields raised to shield light infantry who rushed forward, ladders in hand, to scale the battlements.
But relentless arrow fire and boiling water kept them from gaining purchase. Then, an idea flashed in Yuno's mind.
"Get out of the wayyy!!"
Yuno unleashed an Aura Blade, slicing the burning siege tower into quarters.
"Your Highness? What are you—"
"Just watch!! Haaah!!"
He hoisted the massive burning wooden chunks with both arms and hurled them onto Streb's walls.
"Wh...what the hell is that?"
"Dodge!!"
As the enormous flaming tower crashed down, the defenders scattered in terror. The arrow barrages and hot oil ceased.
"Now!! All light infantry, climb!!"
"Endure the heat!! Burns won't kill you!!"
"Rest now and you'll rest forever!! Up the walls—move!!"
The Imperial light infantry seized the opening, swarming the walls. For the first time since the siege began, Streb allowed enemies atop its battlements.
"Send a message to HQ. We need reinforcements now!!"
"R...right!!"
Meyer, witnessing this, requested reinforcements from the crown prince at headquarters.
Soon after, 1,000 heavy infantry and 3,000 light infantry from the best-preserved 5th Legion of the 1st Army joined Windrage's forces and latched onto the left wall.
With the 5th Legion's arrival, Windrage's troops—who had only been screening—launched a full assault.
Windrage soldiers climbed alongside the 5th, knights leading the way. They gained secure footholds on both the left and right walls, swelling the Imperial presence atop Streb's defenses.
"Hrm... This isn't good... Cordelia! Take your knights and hold the right wall! I'll handle the left!"
"Sir!! You're not well! You can't push yourself!!"
"A commander can't hold back at a time like this! Go!!"
Count Redelmo and his knights finally rose to meet the tide.
Cordelia led her ten knights to the right wall, while Redelmo took his ten to the left.
The Imperials, who had been massacring Theseito troops unilaterally, began getting pushed back.
"Drive them off!! Show them Streb's might!!"
As the enemy gained momentum, Yuno himself started climbing a ladder.
But it snapped under his weight, and the defenders shoved ladders away while pressing the Imperials.
"Damn it!! What kind of flimsy ladders are these!!! I'll have them make sturdier ones next time!!"
Falling from the wall, Yuno scanned for options. His eyes fell on the broken battering ram before the gates.
It had pried the gates somewhat but was crippled when rocks crushed its wheels, rendering it useless. The center had merged with the left flank.
"Hrm... That might work..."
Another idea struck. Yuno leaped into action.
Channeling mana to amplify his strength to the max, he lifted the massive iron-headed ram.
The wheels were smashed, but the iron ram itself was intact. Yuno swung it down on the gates.
Kabooom!! Kabooom!!
"Wh...what's that noise? What is it?"
"Sounds like it's from the gates!!"
Startled by the pounding, Count Redelmo rushed over.
"Is...is that madman the prince who just became a Swordmaster?"
"Looks like it from the armor. But why's a fresh Swordmaster here alone..."
"Perfect!! Arrogant newbie—prime for killing!! Arrows on him!! Take him down!!"
Hundreds of arrows zeroed in on Yuno.
He sensed them with his aura perception but didn't stop hammering the gates.
Tingtingtingting
The arrows pierced his armor but bounced harmlessly off his body.
Trained relentlessly by Katrin Aragon since childhood, Yuno's physique shrugged off ordinary arrows. Even after becoming a Swordmaster, he'd emerged unscathed from spars with her.
Yuno trusted his body, and it never betrayed him.
"Wh...what the hell is that guy?! How?!"
Count Redelmo, who had once broken an Imperial Swordmaster with concentrated fire, was baffled. Crown Prince Franz and Meyer watching from command shared the shock.
"What the hell is that lunatic doing now!! Never mind—it's our chance while the enemy focuses on him!! Order a full assault!!"
Meyer commanded total attack: Windrage and 5th on the left, 10th on the right.
"Yu...Yuno, you idiot—what reckless stunt is this!! 1st and 4th Legions, charge and rescue the Third Prince!!!"
Seeing arrows converge on Yuno, Crown Prince Franz ordered the 1st and 4th to charge.
Ignoring it all, Yuno endured the arrow storm, pounding relentlessly. The slightly ajar gates began yielding to his monstrous strength.
Kreeeak... creeeak!!
Shoving the ram into the gap, Yuno wrenched it side to side, forcing the gates wider until they shattered open completely.