Chapter 440
Chapter 440: You Guys Are Surrounded. (1)
Woroka had brought 60,000 warriors. It was more than enough to sweep through the North.
In front of them stood Amelia’s Raybold Army, barely 10,000 strong.
However, Woroka lost a staggering 10,000 warriors in just one skirmish. Meanwhile, the enemy suffered almost no casualties.
Woroka wanted to charge right in and attack, but he couldn’t. He had no way of knowing if it was a trap or if they were genuinely retreating.
“Ugh… that woman… how dare she!”
It was a disgrace as a warrior. Throughout the long history of the North, he might be the only one to suffer such a tremendous loss at the hands of a woman.
Before him lay countless corpses of his warriors. The bodies of the Raybold Army were nearly invisible.
It was an unavoidable result when caught in a perfectly executed tactic.
The warriors whispered among themselves.
“Are we… really losing now?”
“Didn’t they say a woman was their leader? And yet this many have died?”
“What on earth did we encounter?”
The warriors looked at Woroka with shameful expressions. They began to doubt his ability.
In any case, the tribes had been forcefully united due to a lack of food; there was no loyalty towards Woroka.
Woroka sensed this atmosphere and grew furious.
“What are you doing! Clear the battlefield and set up camp! It’s not that bad! We have the numbers to win! They are retreating because they can’t keep fighting anymore!”
In reality, it was an enormous loss. But Woroka had to keep pushing his warriors down, claiming it was no big deal.
There wasn’t much to tidy up on the battlefield either. They couldn’t clear all the corpses, so they salvaged useful weapons and any surviving horses.
Leaving behind the corpses of their allies, the barbarian army pressed forward a little further. They couldn’t very well rest with the bodies piled up around them.
They set up tents haphazardly and began to tie up their horses to rest.
“Ugh, I’m tired.”
“Let’s rest a bit now.”
“Let’s get some good sleep tonight.”
Being simple-minded, the warriors quickly forgot about the numerous dead among their ranks. With so many tribes united, it felt like they were only halving their losses.
Still, it had been a major battle, and fatigue quickly descended upon everyone. Even those who didn’t directly fight were tense and stiff.
While everyone relaxed, their vigilance fell apart, but no one worried too much. They all knew there wasn’t an army left in the North. The only ones left, the Raybold Army, had also retreated.
“Anyway, there’s no one to fight us, right?”
“Right, let’s just sit and rest.”
“Even those we fought before ran away.”
Woroka didn’t particularly tighten his ranks. There was no need to stir up grievances among the warriors right now.
“Damn, that woman has ruined my reputation.”
All he could do was curse Amelia under his breath.
They lacked experience in setting up proper camps and hadn’t thought to do it responsibly. They had always moved in small units to plunder, so establishing a proper camp was unnecessary.
As the warriors relaxed in such a disarrayed state, they suddenly had to spring up at the sound of hooves early in the morning.
Dudududududu!
“Get up!”
“Enemies! We’re being ambushed!”
“What! Where are they coming from!”
The barbarian warriors, who had been sleeping lazily, hurriedly grabbed their weapons and got up.
They hadn’t expected an attack, so they were all flustered and confused.
Woroka burst out of the tent and shouted.
“Pull yourselves together! Formation! Prepare for battle!”
The warriors scrambled to form a line, albeit clumsily.
But nothing happened.
‘I distinctly heard the sound of hooves…?’
Everyone fell silent and strained to listen.
Dududududu…
The sound faded away. It seemed like it was circling the area, but they had no idea what the enemy was thinking.
The warriors could only look around anxiously, unable to see far in the dark night.
So, the warriors remained tense until dawn. When nothing happened throughout the night, they finally slumped down.
“Damn! What was that!”
“Did they just come and leave?”
“Didn’t we wake them up?”
Everyone, despite being exhausted, couldn’t help but express their relief. Some even bragged about how surely the enemy was scared of them.
But Woroka, who had spent the night awake, was left grinding his teeth in frustration.
“That woman dares…”
Her intentions were clear. She had certainly come to unsettle them.
It was a tactic to get on their nerves so that they couldn’t rest properly.
They couldn’t keep moving like this. Everyone had fought and hadn’t had good rest.
“I can’t be caught off guard twice.”
Woroka boldly decided to halt their advance and allow the warriors to rest during the day. With time to spare, they would rest and move at night.
They would be able to see further in the daylight and spot any approaching enemy troops quickly.
That wasn’t all.
“That gives me a good idea. We should also launch a night raid.”
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. If they made sure the enemy couldn’t rest either, it would balance the scales.
Their troop strength was overwhelmingly greater. If they divided forces to prevent the enemy from resting, the latter would tire quickly.
“Send out a reconnaissance team first. They must be waiting nearby to stop us.”
Under Woroka’s command, the barbarian scouts scoured the area and found the Raybold Army’s encampment quite a distance away.
1,000 warriors among the well-rested barbarian fighters moved to raid the Raybold Army’s camp.
Of course, they weren’t actually looking to engage in a conflict. Their intention was to tire out the enemy using the same tactics they had just suffered.
Dudududududu!
“Kiyaaahhhh!”
“Wake up, you bastards!”
“Ha ha ha! We’re here!”
The barbarian warriors were quite accustomed to this kind of plundering action. Upon discovering the Raybold Army’s camp, they circled around from a distance, making a ruckus.
Naturally, a small commotion arose in the Raybold Army’s camp as well.
Soon torches were lit, and soldiers emerged to prepare for battle.
Dudududududu!
“Hee hee hee, I want to charge in like this.”
A few drunk warriors fidgeted. 1,000 wasn’t a small number. Just charging would inflict considerable damage on the enemy.
However, since their goal was merely to keep the enemy tense and deprive them of sleep, they didn’t attempt anything else.
The barbarians continued to mock the Raybold Army.
“Hey, hey, looks like they’re scared.”
“They’re such stiff fellows, I tell you.”
“Did they think they were the only ones who would suffer?”
The Raybold Army held formation but didn’t chase or pursue them. They couldn’t afford the burden of a nighttime chase.
So the barbarian warriors felt free to make noise and talk loudly while circling around.
Having done enough to annoy them, they turned to leave. It was still dark, and they had to rely solely on the moonlight.
“Hey, let’s head back. We need to switch out the shifts with the next team.”
Just as they were moving away from the Raybold Army’s encampment.
Suddenly, a multitude of lights appeared on either side.
“Huh? Huh? What’s going on?”
As the warriors were puzzled, hundreds of fire arrows shot up into the dark sky. Soon, they fell like meteors into the ranks of barbarian warriors.
Puff-puff-puff!
“Ahhh!”
Heeeeee!
The warriors and horses hit by arrows screamed and writhed on the ground.
They hadn’t felt any presence around them when they arrived. It meant that the forces must have been hiding far away and had approached silently.
“Hurry and move!”
“What the hell are those bastards!”
“Run! Get out of here!”
The barbarian warriors were thrown into a panic by the sudden assault. With arrows raining down on them from both sides during the dark night, they couldn’t even respond properly.
In the end, all they could do was flee the area as quickly as possible.
Seeing the defeated warriors, Woroka was furious.
“Urgh…”
They had completely played into Amelia’s hands. She had surely predicted that he would take a step like this and had set an ambush. Thinking back, they had already rested a full day.
Rage surged up inside him, making him want to lead his entire army and invade immediately.
But Woroka had always been the thoughtful type compared to other barbarians. With morale already low, he couldn’t risk stepping into another trap.
Eventually, other tribe leaders came to Woroka.
“Another day has passed. It took us two days to reach the Northern entrance, which means we’ve already wasted three days.”
“By now, the wolves of the North should be fighting the Rift.”
“What are you going to do with these continuous operational failures! We’re overwhelming; we should just push forward as we are!”
With the tribe leaders pressing him, Woroka snarled in response.
“After one clash, are you still saying such things? Who knows what kind of trap they’ve set this time!”
“Then, are we just going to drag out the time?”
“I mean let’s proceed with a bit more caution.”
Woroka was just as anxious, as time was running out. They needed to destroy the infrastructures of Perdium and Penris quickly and secure a base.
He had initiated a feint to agitate the opponent, but now he was the one feeling restless.
“Let’s check the enemy’s encampment again in the morning and make a decision.”
At Woroka’s decision, the tribe leaders left with discontented expressions. The trust among these already unfriendly allies was quickly crumbling.
When morning came and they sent out scouts again, they found that the Raybold Army had already moved their camp.
“Phew…”
Woroka bit his lip in contemplation. The loss he suffered in the first skirmish weighed heavily on his mind.
It was only natural to feel uneasy as they were unsure of the enemy’s intentions.
Moving slowly to ensure there weren’t any traps like before, their marching speed slowed down considerably.
They moved gradually, taking another day to rest. Now it was the fifth day. Time was slipping away.
“If that blood-drenched demon gets consumed by the Rift, that’s great, but… what if they manage to block it…?”
Just thinking about it was horrific. They had to stomp on Perdium and Penris and secure a base as soon as possible.
Amid this, one tribal chief proposed a new idea.
“Why don’t we send out a separate unit?”
“Separate the troops?”
“Yeah. Our main force is slow because we’re dragging along our supplies, so let’s take some out to capture another nearby territory first. They’re all empty anyway, right?”
“Hmmm…”
“Amelia can’t possibly hold that all on her own. It should be a priority for her to stop our main force.”
That was a reasonable suggestion. They needed to occupy at least one other territory in addition to Perdium and Penris and establish a defensive posture.
They had to prepare for whichever side would win the battle against the Rift and Ghislaine.
“Alright, let’s send out 3,000 warriors.”
With that number, they would easily capture an unoccupied territory. They could mobilize more, but to keep their mobility, this was the max.
Thus, a unit of 3,000 split away from the main forces. There was ample space near the end of the Northern entrance to maneuver.
Woroka, putting his mind to work, said,
“Send scouts to find the Raybold Army’s encampment again. Keep an eye on them, and if they notice our separate unit and divide their forces, we’ll strike immediately.”
They would probably be conducting their own reconnaissance, so they might discover any split-off units.
To stop a unit of 3,000, the enemy would have to pull away a similar number of troops. If thousands of soldiers were pulled away, it would disrupt whatever operation they might be preparing.
But they didn’t know. Up above their unit, a crow was flying.
About half a day later, the scouts returned and reported.
“We found the Raybold Army’s encampment, but there’s been no movement; they are just waiting!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes! Since we discovered them, there hasn’t been any activity!”
At the words of the warrior, Woroka nodded. That was enough. He felt a bit relieved thinking they could secure another territory for now.
Still, they needed to eliminate Perdium and Penris quickly. Only then could they be fully assured.
“Alright, we’ll rest today and face the Raybold Army again tomorrow.”
The Raybold Army must have some grasp of the situation. Probably, they were stuck pondering what to do and couldn’t move.
Woroka thought they could engage in battle again after they had sufficient rest and morale was up.
But when dawn came, Woroka received the shocking news.
“Annihilated…?”
“Yes… they were ambushed…”
One of the warriors who had set out separately returned covered in blood. He reported that they had been ambushed by a suddenly appearing army and were completely wiped out.
“Where the hell was it! There aren’t any other armies in the North!”
“Well… it had the Raybold sigil.”
“Raybold?”
“Yes, for sure.”
“How did they show up when they weren’t moving!”
The warrior wore a bewildered expression. If it was indeed the Raybold Army that attacked them, Woroka didn’t believe it, leaving him completely baffled.
“Ugh… could they have secretly kept troops ready from the start? Have I been tricked again? Did that damned woman fool me again!”
Woroka’s face turned red with rage as he shouted repeatedly.
Thinking back, the scouts only reported that the Raybold Army wasn’t moving but never mentioned how many troops were left.
It was humiliating. The great warrior and chieftain of the North had repeatedly fallen for the same army!
Not to mention that it had been a mere woman, lacking any reputation, who had done this to him, rather than the famous blood-drenched demon.
The other tribal chiefs could no longer contain themselves.
“If it’s going to be like this, we’re out. We’re going to occupy another territory ourselves.”
“We just need to confront and push through!”
“Why are we being pushed around like this! It’s already been six days!”
For them, Woroka’s caution was incomprehensible. That last time, didn’t his cautiousness lead to the humiliating agreement with the blood-drenched demon?
Moreover, quite some time had passed. By now, results should have approximately surfaced.
The battle against the Rift was unlike wars with humans. Once they clashed, whether winning or losing, things would resolve quickly. They had to keep fighting without a break.
“We need to destroy the infrastructures of Perdium and Penris quickly.”
“That’s how we can rampage in the North without fear.”
“Even if the blood-drenched demon loses, there are still the Northern troops left.”
If Ghislaine survives and retreats, ultimately, the Northern forces would come here. They had to wrap this all up as soon as possible.
“I know! I know!”
Woroka grumbled as if he didn’t want to hear any more. How dare those foolish barbarian bastards offer advice!
But the urgency of the situation was undeniable. In the end, Woroka decided on a last stand.
“We’re going straight for Perdium. We’ll tear down the lord’s castle completely.”
The Raybold Army would surely be blocking their path again. They had to push their entire army forward and smash through.
“Let’s go!”
Woroka and the furious warriors moved out immediately as dawn broke.
Dudududududu!
They continued moving without rest. They even left their supply units behind to slowly follow.
By now, the Raybold Army had also moved again. The barbarians pressed on towards Perdium.
Not long after, they encountered the Raybold Army stationed in the open plains.
“This wide area is just splendid.”
Woroka muttered as he observed the surrounding terrain.
They had already passed through the Northern entrance. Now they could fight in the spacious fields. It was a perfect spot for cavalry to shine.
Amelia, who had been toying around with trickery, wouldn’t have much of a chance here.
“Are they planning to fight by the river?”
A river flowed alongside one section of the open plains. From the perspective of the barbarian army, it was on the left, while it was to the right from the Raybold Army’s formation.
And on the left side of the Raybold formation, a distant thicket of bushes was visible.
Though it was an open plain, if they extended their formation long enough, they could avoid being surrounded by cavalry.
Woroka chuckled as he surveyed the long-stretched Raybold formation.
“In the end, they’re just trying to hold out here somehow.”
The troop count appeared to be similar to before. There was certainly no sign of reinforcements.
Their numbers were far fewer than theirs, so their strategic options would be limited. They must be trying to hold on to such a meager terrain.
“Those numbers can be broken. I won’t fall for last time.”
The battlefield was much wider than before, allowing an even greater deployment of strength. This time, no matter what tricks the enemy tried, they would be crushed.
Woroka ground his teeth as he glared at the Raybold army.
“Today, we’ll put an end to this.”
He intended to kill not a single one of those wretched foes.
As the barbarians prepared for battle, a crow approached Amelia, who was seated watching the scene unfold.
Caw!
Dark, slightly stepping back at Bastet’s cry, grimaced and said, “I’ve come…”
Amelia asked with an unimpressed expression, “Ready?”
“All done…,” Dark replied.
“Good work.”
As she closed her eyes softly and whispered lowly, Amelia added, “Today is going to be the end.”
She held no intention of letting a single one of the barbarians escape.
