Chapter 132
Chapter 132
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Chapter 45: Colossal Divine Soldiers (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As Count Potas had predicted, the Free Isiria Kingdom's forces had linked up with the marines from the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom and the troops from the Edriger Kingdom.
The combined army, including the marines, the Black Legion, and the Golden Glory Mercenaries, boasted a massive force of 60,000 strong. In contrast, the Philius Imperial Army had scraped together around 40,000 even including all reinforcements. It was clear to anyone that the allied forces of the three kingdoms held the upper hand.
The overall command of the 60,000-strong tripartite alliance fell to the Free Isiria Kingdom's 3rd Marshal, Marquis Direp.
The reason was simple. Among the 60,000 troops, the Free Isiria Kingdom's contingent was the largest, so they had taken command.
Moreover, 2nd Marshal Duke Akimov was rushing over with another 20,000 troops to join them.
Marquis Direp, the 3rd Marshal, planned to hand over command the moment Duke Akimov arrived.
With the war erupting on their own soil—not to mention the loss of one marquisate and two counties—the royal castle of the Free Isiria Kingdom had declared total war and mobilized a massive army.
"Marquis Direp, sir! Duke Akimov has arrived!"
The adjutant to the 3rd Marshal's staff entered the office with a knock, delivering the report. Marquis Direp, who had been studying the military map on the wall, adjusted his glasses and straightened his uniform before stepping out.
"Guide me to him."
"Yes, sir!"
"Is the honor guard ready for inspection?"
"They are standing by."
With the honor guard inspection ready, it meant everything was set once Marquis Direp joined them to welcome Duke Akimov.
He couldn't dawdle. Marquis Direp quickened his pace alongside his adjutant.
Fortunately, he linked up with the honor guard preparing for inspection just before Duke Akimov arrived.
"Duke Akimov, Your Grace!"
Shortly after they assembled, a herald in full regalia stepped forward from beside a splendid carriage, announcing Duke Akimov's arrival with great fanfare.
No sooner had the resounding proclamation ended than the carriage door opened, and out stepped a blond middle-aged man wearing a monocle.
The honor guard performed their salute, and Marquis Direp hurried over to Duke Akimov.
"Your Grace. I hope your journey was comfortable."
"Do you think the road to the front lines would be comfortable? That said, the inspection is quite splendid."
"Since Your Grace has personally led the army to take command at the front, we had to offer at least this much welcome."
"Hm. I suppose so."
Duke Akimov slowly nodded at Marquis Direp's words. He had mentioned the honor guard, but it wasn't a complaint.
He enjoyed pomp and ceremony. Though he feigned otherwise, a clear smile lit his face as he watched the elaborate display.
"Let's head to the command post first. I need to hear the battlefield report directly from the top commander."
"I am currently the top commander on this front, Your Grace."
"Is that so? Then come to the command post and give me a precise briefing. My adjutant gave me a general overview on the way, but things could have changed."
"Yes, Your Grace. I'll report the situation as soon as we arrive."
Soon, the two marshals and their retinue reached the building serving as the command post. There, 3rd Marshal Marquis Direp gave 2nd Marshal Duke Akimov a detailed briefing on the battlefield situation.
"That concludes the report."
Duke Akimov fell silent for a moment, as if deep in thought. Then, with a calm expression, he spoke.
"So, despite our numerical superiority, we haven't pushed back the enemy lines at all. That's accurate, then."
"Y-Yes."
Duke Akimov's voice grew icy. Marquis Direp swallowed dryly, anxiously gauging the duke's mood.
Even with the advantage in numbers, they hadn't scored a proper victory against the Philius Imperial Army. There was no room for excuses if Duke Akimov rebuked him.
"The situation isn't good."
Duke Akimov muttered, clearly to himself, but loud enough for the nearby Marquis Direp to hear.
It felt like a sharp reprimand, and Marquis Direp bit his lip in unease.
"I apologize, Your Grace, Duke Akimov."
Instead of excuses, Marquis Direp admitted his fault.
At that, the duke's cold expression softened slightly.
Still, his dissatisfaction at the lack of a decisive victory was plain on his face.
"I've taken overall command now, but we can't afford mistakes like this anymore."
"Of course, Your Grace."
Marquis Direp bowed his head. As the 2nd Marshal, Duke Akimov held the greatest authority in the Free Isiria Kingdom's marshal staff short of the 1st Marshal and the king himself. Direp had no choice but to tread carefully.
"Do you have any strategies in mind?"
"Crush the Philius Imperial Army with overwhelming force."
"Overwhelming force... you say?"
"Exactly."
In short, no special stratagems. Marquis Direp felt frustrated, but as the former top commander who hadn't achieved any notable victories—and given Duke Akimov's lofty status—he couldn't easily object.
"We'll launch a full assault starting tomorrow. No objections or rebuttals."
Duke Akimov even declared no arguments would be entertained, intensifying Marquis Direp's frustration, though he held his tongue.
After all, he was in the position of an incompetent commander. Nothing he said would be accepted by the marshal staff.
"Everything shall be as you decree, Duke Akimov."
The 2nd Marshal's staff officers chorused in unison. Marquis Direp could only shake his head inwardly with a deep sigh.
"What kind of man is 2nd Marshal Duke Akimov?"
"He's risen to the second-highest position in the Free Isiria Kingdom's marshal staff, below only the king, but amusingly, he's no brilliant commander."
Count Denitz answered Marquis Kreier's question.
He had recently handed over management of the occupied territories to Bishop Gustav and led a portion of the garrison to join the Ireiser front. Now, he was visiting the hospital room to check on Marquis Kreier, who had been wounded in the previous battle.
"For a 2nd Marshal to receive such an evaluation... It says much about the state of Free Isiria's command structure."
"They've had little experience in wars beyond fighting monsters over the years. It's not entirely incomprehensible that they lack skilled field commanders. Though our Philius Empire isn't much different in that regard."
As Count Denitz said, most of Free Isiria's commanders had almost no field experience outside of monster subjugation.
The Philius Empire was much the same, but unlike them, it had an exceptional field commander in Count Denitz—endowed with the author's affectionate favoritism.
"Then I'll take my leave. I have a direct report to make to His Majesty the Emperor."
"Very well."
Count Denitz gave a slight bow in farewell and left the room, heading straight for the emperor's office.
"His Majesty the Emperor is waiting."
The Royal Guard at the entrance announced. Count Denitz nodded, and the guard opened the door. Inside were the emperor and Gestain, the one-armed swordsman always at his side.
"Count Denitz. Have you completed the task I assigned?"
At Raymond's question, Count Denitz smiled faintly.
"The formation is ready, allowing Your Majesty to deploy the ultimate weapon under optimal conditions."
"Good."
"Sir Rackle and the Ironhammer Unit provided great assistance. Thanks to them, we made it in time."
Deploying the Colossal Divine Soldiers in the next enemy assault was now a certainty.
Raymond had ordered Count Denitz to devise a formation that would maximize damage to the enemy while using them.
True to his mastery of formations, Count Denitz had, with the Ironhammer Unit's support, completed a defensive array incorporating numerous traps as requested.
"With 2nd Marshal Duke Akimov joining Marquis Direp, an attack will come soon."
Raymond said gravely. Count Denitz nodded.
"Central Intelligence reported suspicious enemy troop movements this morning. I agree—the assault is imminent."
Just as Count Denitz agreed, Raymond grinned.
He had heard urgent footsteps crossing the hallway.
"Speak of the tiger, and he appears. They're quick."
A knock sounded, the door opened, and a messenger rushed in, dropping to one knee.
"Your Majesty! The tripartite alliance forces have begun marching on our defensive line!"
Though he had anticipated an imminent attack, Raymond hadn't expected it quite so soon. He immediately donned his armor and prepared to head to the defensive line.
"Count Denitz. We'll meet again on the battlefield."
"I shall serve Your Majesty with all my strength."
Satisfied with Count Denitz's reply, Raymond smiled and stepped out. Royal Guards waiting in the corridor fell in behind him.
"To the battlefield, Your Majesty?"
Apparently, the messenger's report had carried down the hall. Marquis Blizzard of the Royal Guard asked cautiously. Raymond nodded.
"Yes. To the battlefield."
"We shall accompany you."
Unlike before, the Royal Guards now fully understood Emperor Raymond's resolve and no longer tried to dissuade him.
They simply vowed silently to serve as his shield and followed.
Raymond headed straight to the defensive line. When he arrived, the alliance forces hadn't yet begun their assault.
The scouts' reports had spread across the entire line, and the deployed troops had completed all preparations to receive the enemy.
In the tense silence, the tripartite alliance army came into view. The Free Isiria Kingdom's Royal Army led the vanguard, their banners fluttering fiercely in the wind.
"Enemy spotted!"
At the sharp cry of the Philius Empire's scouts, the soldiers and knights in the vanguard formation raised their weapons in unison.
Raymond silently raised his right hand. It was the signal to attack, and the empire's mages unleashed the first strikes on the enemy.
Mana surged, and a barrage of attack spells rained down on the foe.
The alliance mages countered with shields or their own spells.
Most were intercepted, but some struck the Royal Army's rear.
"Graaagh!"
"Arrrgh!"
Screams erupted amid the explosions. Yet the vanguard was the renowned Royal Army of Free Isiria.
Even after hundreds fell to the empire's mages' volley, they pressed on undeterred.
"Launch the magic attack!"
Heralds' voices from the alliance lines faintly reached the empire's formation.
Now it was the alliance mages' turn. Brilliant spells streaked across the sky, slamming into the Philius lines.
"Graaagh!"
"Arrrgh!"
Screams rang out once more. Dust billowed from the blasts as knights and soldiers collapsed lifelessly.
Seizing the moment of chaos from the magic barrage, the Royal Army closed much of the distance. Soon, they entered the range of the empire's archers.
"Archers! Fire!"
Countless arrows darkened the sky. Lacking magic's explosive power, the relentless volleys steadily thinned the Isirian Royal Army's ranks.
"Advance! Don't stop!"
Next, they reached the trap zone laid by Count Denitz and Rackle Bronze. Innumerable traps blocked their path. Yet they did not halt.
Heralds' advance orders echoed ceaselessly, and after hard-fought progress, they clashed with the Philius vanguard. The true battle began.
Magic barrages, arrow storms, and traps had inflicted no small losses on the Isirian Royal Army. But ample numbers remained, and follow-up troops poured through the path they had carved.
"Your Majesty! It's not time yet!"
As Raymond watched his falling soldiers and moved to summon the Colossal Divine Soldiers, Count Denitz rushed over to stop him. The moment had not yet arrived.