Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Chapter 45: Colossal Divine Soldiers (3)
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The Isirian Royal Army was renowned among the Free Isiria Kingdom's forces for their intense training and elite status.
They shattered the front lines of the Philius Imperial Army and penetrated deep into their formation.
At first, the Philius Imperial Army held firm, chanting praises for the Emperor to the very end, but they couldn't withstand the relentless assault and began to fall back bit by bit.
Believing they had seized the momentum, Second Field Marshal Duke Akimov ordered the entire army to advance, but Marquis Diref—who had faced the Philius Imperial Army up until now—and his staff officers felt an inexplicable unease.
"Adjutant. Doesn't something feel off? It's different from the Philius Imperial Army we've been fighting so far."
The adjutant nodded at Marquis Diref's words before speaking up.
"I think so too, Your Excellency. It feels like they're deliberately opening a path for us right now."
"Have they laid a trap?"
"It's possible, but not something that could turn the tide against our 60,000-strong force."
The ominous aura was undeniable, but the adjutant saw no cause for worry, and Marquis Diref decided to brush it off as well. As the adjutant said, digging a massive trap capable of reversing the battle against their momentum-holding army of 60,000 wasn't feasible.
"Advance!"
The messengers relayed the command at the top of their lungs, and the flag bearers waved the banners signaling the charge.
As the Free Isiria Kingdom's army pressed forward fiercely, the commanders of the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom and Edriger Kingdom, caught up in the heat of glory, recklessly pushed their own forces ahead as well.
"I see the enemy's command post!"
"It's the Emperor's banner!"
"Hooray!"
A thunderous cheer erupted from the Free Isiria Kingdom's ranks. The Philius Imperial Army's formation appeared to be crumbling, their troops in disarray.
With the command post visible nearby and the Emperor's banner in sight, the knights and soldiers of the Tripartite Alliance's morale soared even higher.
"For the Free Isiria Kingdom! Advance!"
Their spirits pierced the heavens. At the commanders' shouts, the Free Isiria Kingdom's forces surged toward the command post first.
But they never reached the Philius Empire's command post where the Emperor stood.
A colossal golden divine soldier burst forth from the earth.
Seeing the massive back of the divine soldier—towering at least 5 meters—Raymond gauged the limits of his Dominion.
Colossal Divine Soldiers consumed a tremendous amount of Dominion. They were recommended for summoning only when Dominion was at its peak, but with the situation so dire, he had no choice but to force it.
"Around 30 minutes at best..."
Raymond muttered to himself, biting his lip.
Thirty minutes on the battlefield was no small time, but if Count Denitz's traps functioned properly and their allies performed well, it was enough to inflict severe damage on the enemy.
Fortunately, the enemy's top commander, Duke Akimov, was oblivious to the Philius Imperial Army's traps and had driven his forces forward recklessly. They had already plunged deep into the Imperial Army's lines.
Even if they spotted the divine soldier and ordered a retreat, it was too late.
"It's a Colossal Divine Soldier!"
"His Majesty the Emperor has awakened a divine soldier!"
"Hooray!"
The Philius Imperial Army's morale skyrocketed at the sight of the gigantic divine soldier, unseen since ancient times.
"A Colossal Divine Soldier?"
"Impossible!"
In stark contrast, the Tripartite Alliance's knights and soldiers fell into chaos at the sudden appearance.
Raymond didn't miss the opening. As he extended his hand, the divine soldier sprang into action, lumbering toward the Tripartite Alliance forces with its massive body.
"K-Knights, to the front!"
The knights rushed forward. They swung their swords at the divine soldier's legs, but not a scratch formed. Instead, they were engulfed in magical flames pouring from its lower body, perishing to the last.
Though originally crafted for siege warfare, the divine soldier was adequately armed against knights, soldiers, and mages alike.
Inside, it housed magic circles capable of unleashing dozens of spells, along with scores of built-in weapons to slaughter foes.
Before long, a sharp longsword was gripped in the divine soldier's hand.
Each swing unleashed razor-sharp aura shards, cleaving through dozens of enemies in a single stroke.
"Arghhh!"
The knights and soldiers were no match for it. Even the mages' spells failed to pierce its magical defenses.
With all attacks ineffective, they could only suffer helplessly. As the Tripartite Alliance forces fell powerless before the divine soldier, Count Denitz issued the assembly order to the Philius Imperial Army, which had only pretended to be routed.
The scattered Imperial troops regrouped, cutting off the Alliance's retreat. The enemy had penetrated far deeper than expected, blinded by the Emperor's banner, making it possible.
"Our retreat is cut off?"
Second Field Marshal Duke Akimov was aghast. He had thought the Philius Imperial Army cornered, but no.
In an instant, the divine soldier appeared, and with it, their entire force reassembled to seal the escape.
"Clear the retreat path!"
Duke Akimov bellowed at the top of his lungs. This was dangerous. With the Imperial Army controlling the rear, the mage unit—the only ones who could check the divine soldier—was exposed.
But Duke Akimov was no incompetent like Marquis Lanins. He promptly ordered a formation shift.
Yet it didn't go as planned.
"What the hell is happening? Why hasn't the formation changed yet?"
In the meantime, Shades had slain many mid-level commanders, promoting inexperienced juniors to fill the gaps en masse.
It hadn't shown in calm times, but in this chaos, complex orders naturally bred confusion.
"Arghhh!"
"Aaaah!"
Screams erupted from the rear. Delayed formation shifts allowed Philius Empire knights to infiltrate the Alliance mage unit's lines, slaughtering them with their blades.
The Empire's cavalry followed deep, intensifying the pandemonium.
Mages boasted superior firepower, but most below a certain level couldn't handle close combat. A skilled knight meant instant defeat.
"What are you doing? Move the guard units to rescue the mages!"
Duke Akimov shouted. Nearby guards belatedly moved to aid, but by arrival, most mages lay dead.
Apparently satisfied, the Empire's knights and cavalry mounted up and withdrew elsewhere.
"No choice—scout alternative retreats!"
At Duke Akimov's order, the Alliance sought new paths. Soon, they found one.
"W-We found a retreat route!"
"Concentrate all forces there immediately!"
Duke Akimov ordered a full retreat on the adjutant's report. But even that proved difficult.
The path they'd found was one Count Denitz had deliberately left open, greeting entrants with countless traps.
"Your Excellency! Traps!"
"Break through! We have no other choice!"
Unaware the divine soldier's active time was limited, Duke Akimov drove them into the trap-laden route.
The Free Isiria Kingdom army couldn't defy their Second Field Marshal, forcing the breach. Lisbon Maritime Kingdom and Edriger Kingdom troops, refusing orders, tried other paths and were annihilated.
Thirty minutes passed; the divine soldier deactivated. But the Alliance had already suffered catastrophic losses.
Through divine soldier, traps, and encirclement, they'd lost masses of troops.
Moreover, Duke Akimov's Free Isiria forces hadn't fully escaped the Philius encirclement—the battle raged on.
"The divine soldier vanished!"
"Order full reassembly! We haven't lost yet!"
Hearing the adjutant's report, Duke Akimov rallied his retreating troops. Though Lisbon and Edriger armies were wiped out, Isiria retained significant numbers. Without the divine soldier, they could take on the Imperials, he believed.
He refused to retreat as a defeated commander. His orders spread instantly; the forces halted retreat, reformed lines.
Watching from command, Emperor Raymond shook his head with a short sigh.
"The enemy commander won't give up easily."
Count Denitz remarked.
"I'll handle it personally."
"Your Majesty, are you sure? Operating the divine soldier... drains a lot of energy, I hear."
"It wasn't enough to worry over. I'm fine."
Raymond stepped out without hesitation, seeking the Imperial Army's Kasiyas.
"Sir Kasiyas!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!"
"Prepare the Imperial Army! I'll lead them myself!"
"Understood!"
Soon, one legion—6,000 Imperial troops—stood ready. Raymond led them toward the enemy commander.
"Draw their eyes to us! Raise the Emperor's banner high!"
At Raymond's order, flag bearers hoisted it aloft. Every knight and soldier of Free Isiria fixed their gaze.
To them, the Emperor's banner meant ending the war swiftly—and rich rewards. But the Philius Imperial Army didn't stand idle.
"His Majesty fights with us!"
Emboldened by his appearance, the Imperial Army charged fearlessly.
Clashes with Free Isiria forces began.
Though battered by divine soldier and traps, they remained a formidable army.
They fought like fierce tigers, refusing to yield easily. Without the early divine soldier rampage, Imperial defeat seemed certain.
"Your Majesty! Our lines are buckling! You must retreat at once!"
"Yes! Fall back to safety!"
Imperial commanders blocked Raymond, sword Soul Sword drawn, from advancing.
With Isiria's momentum unbroken, losing the Emperor here was unthinkable. But Raymond's resolve held firm.
"The harder our men fight, the less I can retreat as Emperor."
He stated firmly. High commander Kasiyas, at his side, couldn't sway him either. With a brief sigh, he spoke.
"Imperial Army, prepare to escort His Majesty!"
Orders spread; soon, they formed charge lines. At the vanguard: Emperor and Royal Guard. Ahead: Free Isiria forces.
"Charge!"
The Imperial Army stormed the enemy lines. Isirian knights countered.
Their heavy cavalry detached, charging the Imperial mounted vanguard.
But they'd overlooked one thing: losing most mages in the prior encirclement.
Dazzling magical barrages arced over Raymond, smashing the enemy knights.
With few mages left in Isirian ranks, no defenses or counters rose.
"Arghhh!"
"Aaaah!"
The knight formation shattered under the onslaught. Raymond and the Imperial cavalry pierced through, striking the Isirian infantry.
Fierce melee ensued. Isirian infantry outnumbered them, but Imperials were elites.
Plus Sword Saint Gestain and Royal Guards of top-tier prowess—ordinary infantry couldn't cope.
The broader Philius army didn't watch idly. Spurred by the Emperor's banner fluttering amid foes, they charged en masse.
"Duke Akimov! This won't do!"
"We must retreat!"
Staff officers clamored; soon, Akimov had no choice but full withdrawal.
That day, the Tripartite Alliance lost 40,000 to divine soldier, traps, and planned encirclement—a devastating blow crippling their front.