When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 870 - 821: Battle of Malunpo (Part 2)

The hundred-man squad led by Kaler was the first to be attacked, and the impact they suffered was the fiercest.

The winter clouds hung low, like a heavy leaden plate, pressing down on people until they could barely breathe.

Behind the palisade breastworks, Kaler held an exquisite pipe, puffing away.

He had found this pipe on a noble war prisoner, and the pouch of tobacco it came with had lasted him until now.

Exhaling a cloud-like puff of smoke, Kaler calmly watched the enemy troops advancing ahead.

Because it was a positional battle relying on the camp, Victor did not organize the formation in the manner of a large field battle rank.

Instead, it was organized into a hundred-man squad, consisting of 20 Holy Gunmen and 80 Long Spearmen/Axe Gunmen/Long Halberdiers.

Victor himself and another highly esteemed Captain Bai each led a firefighting team.

This configuration was because they were defending small positions, where large formations were not practical.

"Don't be nervous!" Holding his pipe, Kaler glanced at the Defensive Army sweating profusely despite the winter, "We have the protection of the palisades. As long as you're not afraid of death, it's hard to die."

The Defensive Army member replied helplessly, patting his makeshift wooden armor, "If I had dual-layer armor like those Black Crown Cultivators, I wouldn't fear death either."

Kaler chuckled aloud.

These Black Crown Cultivators, especially the Long Spearmen and Long Halberdiers, had not only a layer of breastplate but also a fine chainmail layer underneath.

Despite the cold seeping into their bones, everyone's breathing remained steady and strong.

They had all studied three to four sections of the Knight's Breathing Techniques, with endurance and combat will far surpassing that of the ordinary Thousand River Valley Battle Group soldiers.

Kaler wanted to chat a bit more but was interrupted by the increasingly loud battle cries.

Yellow robes fluttered in the cold wind, shield cars crunched over the muddy ground, driving over accumulated snow with a dull creak.

The battle cries exploded from the enemy's front rows:

"Victory!"

"Uru, wa!"

The sound waves gathered as if in some kind of fervent religious ceremony.

Putting the pipe away in his arms, Kaler exhaled a breath of white air, tightening his grip on the knife.

The Black Crown Long Spearmen behind him were already in position, their long spears and halberds crisscrossing to form a tight line of defense.

The Holy Gun Cultivators further back mounted their guns on the second layer of low walls, aiming at the advancing Leia soldiers.

"Ready!" he shouted, flipping his hand, letting the back of the knife tap the wooden wall.

With a series of uniform clattering sounds, the entire position tensed up instantly, and all the soldiers were simultaneously prepared to counter the attack.

The first short ladder reached the palisade, followed closely by the second and third.

The charging Leia infantry climbed up, attempting to breach the camp's defenses.

"Die, you devil's dogs!"

With a grimace, Kaler stepped forward suddenly, the tip of his long halberd piercing precisely into the throat of a climbing soldier.

Blood splattered as the soldier's fingers twitched in the air, and he fell off the short ladder.

He landed heavily on top of his companions, emitting a crisp sound of bone cracking.

Meanwhile, a second enemy soldier had already climbed onto the breastwork, swinging an axe towards Kaler.

Kaler retreated a step, dodging the oncoming axe's blade, then reversed his knife to slash open the enemy's thigh, immediately turning to collide with him, knocking him directly back outside the wall.

The charging wave hit the embankment, stirring up blood-red froth and spray.

"There's a breach on the east side!" someone shouted.

"Patch it up!" Kaler's gaze shifted, and he swung his military saber fiercely, pointing towards the breach.

The Holy Gunmen reacted instantly, and as a Leia soldier climbed over the palisade, at a distance of ten meters, a lead bullet pierced through his forehead, blood splattering everywhere.

The corpse hadn't even hit the ground when a nearby Holy Gunman drew his military saber, rushing towards the following enemy.

The Leia people were quick to react too, and silver-armored Imperial Knights appeared in the distance, drawing bows and loosing arrows with precision at the Holy Gunmen exposing themselves on the battlefield.

"Watch out!" Kaler heard the sound of arrows cutting through the air, and he quickly crouched, flipping his military saber to deflect the incoming arrows.

Unfortunately, seven or eight soldiers still cried out miserably, clutching their arrow-pierced wounds as they fell.

"Holy Gunmen, don't expose yourselves, the Imperial Knights are shooting arrows!"

In the next instant, he heard the sound of hooves.

He turned sharply and saw a silver figure leaping over the trenches, diving into the enemy ranks in mid-air.

It was Saint Jeanne!

The long spear drew a cold arc in the air, blue and white lightning bursting from its tip.

Like the Thunder God from ancient Norn mythology reborn, the black-haired maiden carried an unmatched thunderous force, tearing through the ranks of Imperial Knights directly.

An Imperial Knight was struck by a current, convulsing instantly, releasing a burnt smell from within his armor.

Meanwhile, the cuirassiers behind Jeanne swiftly drew their guns.

Gunfire exploded on the battlefield, a volley, and three Imperial Knights fell from their horses.

"Praise the Holy Wind!!"

The cavalry roared, adding this as they continued to charge the enemy lines.

Taking a deep breath, Kaler turned back and once again engaged in the battle.

His military saber was already drenched in blood, under the fluctuating Divine Magic Light Balls and the effect of potions, the Leia soldiers, red to the ear tips, were also desperately attacking.

The snow was trampled into a muddy mess, mixed with blood, forming dark red sludge.

Not only was it like this for Kaler's small position, but the positions along the entire line were so.

The sounds of shouts, screams, and the clash of weapons filled the ears, everyone was fighting with all their strength.

When the horn for rotation sounded, Kaler realized he had almost turned into a bloodied man.

His armor was covered with enemy blood, his own blood, even his eyelashes were dotted with blood stains.

He did not retreat immediately, instead, he stood in place, breathing deeply.

If Grosien were to see his brother-in-law now, he might not recognize him for a moment.

The once somewhat naive and simple young man, now had a gaze as fierce as a tiger. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

...

Dusk fell, and the bloody smell of the Marlen Slope battlefield still lingered.

The snow had been trampled into muddy dark red, bodies lay haphazardly in front of the trenches and fences.

The Leia Army's attack lasted from dawn to sunset, until now, dinner time, it fell into a brief silence.

Baron Marchelov, draped in a thick cloak, quickly passed through the crowd around the fire, arriving at Count Dretta's tent.

He took off his leather gloves, revealing hands reddened by the cold, lifted the heavy curtain, and went inside.

"Lord Dretta," he asked eagerly in a low voice as soon as he entered, "Should we launch a night battle?"

Count Dretta stood in front of the map, but remained silent.

His fingers slowly moved along the fortress lines on the map, with even some blood stains visible on his cuffs.

"What about the other fortresses?"

"The defense is intense, but they don't seem to have used much artillery."

"Naturally." Although Count Dretta did not understand how the mountain copper springs were made, he knew these things were water-powered to wind up.

In the dry season of winter, many streams and small rivers were only ankle deep, unable to wind up the spring warehouse at all.

The only possible time to wind up would probably be at night by the river.

"Remember to assign people to patrol by the river at night to prevent them from taking the opportunity to wind up the spring warehouse, as for the night battle..."

Dretta hesitated.

If a night battle were launched now, the Thousand River Valley People might not be caught off guard.

Their defenses were still intact, while our soldiers had been fighting all day, their stamina and morale were gradually declining.

Fighting in the unfamiliar night would only amplify fear and chaos.

Moreover, the Thousand River Valley Army's defenders should have become familiar with the rhythm of the attack, hastily launching a night battle was meaningless.

Besides, Lord Raffel's plan had already been put into action.

The attacks in five directions would definitely hold them, unable to reinforce.

"They cannot have reinforcements." Dretta muttered, a glint of confidence in his eyes.

The Thousand River Valley People were now isolated, their defenses seemingly strong, but under constant attrition, they would eventually show flaws.

The Leia Army had ample manpower and resources, only needing to wait, waiting for their morale to collapse, waiting for their fortifications to get damaged.

Today towards the end, Dretta could clearly feel that the combat effectiveness of the Thousand River Valley Army was weakening.

Morale is the key to determining the outcome of war.

"Night battles affect morale." Dretta finally spoke, his voice calm and firm, "We don't need to rush, let the soldiers rest well, gather some cattle and sheep nearby to reward them, and prepare to fight again tomorrow."

The baron frowned but eventually nodded in agreement.

Count Dretta raised his head, looking at the night outside the tent.

The firelight flickered in the cold wind, reflecting the silent fortress in the distance.

He knew this fortress would fall sooner or later.

Just, there was no need to be in a hurry.