NOVEL WEB Chapter 131
Chapter 131
Caion’s unit sudden appearance from the side caused Diorant’s eyes to tremble violently.
“How are those guys moving to that location?!”
As an independent unit under the 6th Legion, only Kiaran, the 6th Legion Commander, had the authority to command them.
However, in this situation where they were acting as reinforcements, Diorant also had command authority.
Yet, shaken by Galveron’s sudden appearance, Diorant could only think of ways to retreat.
No, even that was proving difficult, as Galveron’s cavalry was advancing at an incredible speed, almost pinning them down…
And now, a mere three-hundred-man unit was charging toward a force led by an Aura Master?
“Th-those lunatics!”
Diorant shouted.
“Hahaha, this is madness, isn’t it?”
Kyle, who was running beside Dianal, let out a slightly crazed laugh.
Jerka, who was on the other side, spoke.
“But if the unit leader were here, he would definitely have done the same.”
Nod.
Dianal nodded in agreement.
He pondered and pondered again.
What would Damian have done?
In this situation, where their comrades could all be slaughtered, how would he have acted?
‘I’m sure this is the right path.’
If there was a way, Damian would have somehow succeeded. That’s the way of the Caion unit.
Even though Damian wasn’t here, standing by and fleeing while their comrades could be wiped out was out of the question.
‘If we did that, he’d return and tear us apart.’
He couldn’t tarnish Damian’s name like this.
“Remember, don’t go too deep. We’ll strike and retreat, just like when we fought the Rose Knight Order.”
“Understood.”
“Yes, sir!”
Besides, their opponents weren’t infantry but cavalry.
If they got caught up in that speed, they’d be trampled to death on the spot.
“Foul!”
Peeeeeee!
With the sound of the signal whistle, the thirty archers led by Paul quickly moved to the side.
Their target was the cavalry’s flank.
If they could cut through the middle, they might be able to sever the rear from the rest.
Thud!
Paul, running ahead with the archers, lowered his stance and raised his bow.
The training must have been effective, as they moved almost as one, drawing their bows in unison.
Then,
“Fire!”
Shh-shh-shh-shh-shhh!
At Paul’s command, their arrows shot toward the center of the cavalry.
Though the enemy’s speed and long spears could deflect some of the arrows…
Thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack!
They couldn’t block them all.
Neighhhhh!
Three horses hit by arrows reared up and collapsed on the spot.
“Aaargh!”
“There’s an accident up front! Avoid it and keep moving!”
As a horse running in the middle fell, the cavalry behind it tripped, causing a chain collision.
Seeing this, Dianal, along with his troops, charged toward the disrupted cavalry.
‘About twenty horses have fallen?’
Even in this moment, their ability to adapt and keep advancing was a testament to the skill of a unit led by an Aura Master.
They had aimed to take down at least fifty, but…
Even this much was enough.
The enemy’s speed had clearly slowed after losing a chunk of their forces.
“You insects!”
“You dare challenge us?”
The cavalrymen of Galveron sneered as they saw the Caion unit charging at their flank.
But at that moment,
Whoosh!
Dianal, at the forefront, dashed toward one of the knights who had fallen from his horse at an incredible speed.
His movement was so swift that the knight lost track of him in an instant.
“Wha-what?!”
“Where did he go?!”
Dianal, who had concentrated his mana to his legs, was a blur.
Whoosh!
He moved to their side,
Slash!
“Argh!”
Cutting through the left leg of a knight as he passed by.
“There you are!”
Clang!
He blocked the spear of the knight who countered and quickly closed the distance.
“Don’t get cocky, you imperial dogs.”
“You maniac…!”
The knight’s spear, clashing with Dianal’s sword, flew into the air. The knight’s eyes widened in disbelief.
How could his mana-infused attack be blocked?
‘With that slender sword…?’
The blade was barely 5 centimeters wide, thinner than a typical longsword.
How could such a slim sword possess such strength?
At that moment, Dianal slammed his shoulder into the knight’s chest.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
The knight’s armor caved in, and blood mixed with saliva spewed from his mouth.
With the knight too close to swing his sword, he needed space.
As the knight staggered backward from the impact,
Crunch!
Dianal’s upward strike tore through the knight’s armor, splitting him in half.
“……!”
“Wha-what?!”
It was a sight to behold.
Though the armor wasn’t full plate, it was still metal.
But is it really possible to not just strike the gaps in the armor, but to cut through the armor entirely like this?
And not even by a knight, but by an ordinary soldier?
“Haaaaah!”
There was no time to be amazed.
By now, the Caion soldiers had charged in, knocking away all the knights in front of them.
Peeeeeee!
“Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!”
Dianal shouted loudly as he scanned the surrounding cavalry.
He realized that if they delayed any longer, they would be completely surrounded.
Galveron’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“Do you think you can just leave after pulling off this stunt?”
He turned his horse and began directing his troops to flank the Caion unit.
These brazen fools dared to challenge his cavalry and now thought they could simply run away.
They were quite organized, quickly securing their escape route and moving swiftly, but…
“You think I’ll let you go that easily?!”
Galveron gathered his mana and focused it into his sword.
For a moment, he considered using Aura to sever the enemy’s forces in one blow.
‘No, I won’t waste Aura on the likes of them.’
Though Aura had tremendous power, it also placed a significant strain on the user’s body.
In Galveron’s case, using it repeatedly was burdensome, and even in perfect condition, he could only use it around four times in a battle.
That’s why he reserved his Aura for breaking through solid defenses or killing key enemy commanders.
For dealing with small fry like these…
“This will be enough!”
Rumble!
As Galveron swung his sword upward, a crescent-shaped wave of pure mana shot forth.
While Aura contained the essence of the wielder, this was pure, unadulterated mana power.
Whoooosh!
The crescent-shaped wave rushed toward Dianal at the front.
“……!”
Seeing this, Dianal concentrated all the mana he could into the sword held in both hands.
‘I have to block this…!’
If he dodged, his troops would be in danger.
In an instant, Dianal made his decision and charged directly toward Galveron’s mana wave.
And then…
“Haaaaah!”
At the moment of impact, Dianal slashed in an X-pattern with all his might, striking the mana wave head-on.
Clang!
A deafening roar erupted as a vortex of mana swirled wildly in all directions.
Rumble!
The ground shook violently.
Dianal bit his lip as he looked at his shattered sword. Then he shouted,
“Retreat! Everyone, move quickly!”
With the vortex of mana swirling and their vision blurred, this was the perfect moment to escape.
At Dianal’s command, the squad leaders quickly relayed the orders to their troops, and they began retreating to their designated points.
“Run! Run! Run!”
“Run like your life depends on it! If you fall behind, you’re dead!”
Every soldier in the Caion unit ran as fast as they could.
In an instant, they broke through the cavalry attempting to surround them and began fleeing.
It was a maneuver they had performed countless times with Damian.
Disrupt the enemy’s balance, then retreat and regroup for another chance.
It was the best strategy to offset the overwhelming difference in strength.
Watching the retreating Caion unit, Galveron’s expression turned cold.
“Those bastards…!”
He considered splitting his forces to chase after them. But then…
‘…Are they the ones who defeated Piaren’s Rose Knight Order?’
A queasy sensation stirred within him as he recalled their identity.
This situation was almost identical to what had been described in the previous war report from Sragan.
“Ha, ha ha ha… So they’re the Caion unit, the ones who took down the Rose Knight Order.”
He had heard it was a hundred-man unit, but they must have received reinforcements during the short interval.
They seemed to have about three hundred men now.
Swoosh.
Galveron completely turned his horse to face the Caion unit.
The reinforcements from the Baroque Kingdom had already suffered significant losses.
Even if they moved to Sragan now, it would take a long time to regroup.
In that case, we should…
“Jeffrey. Lead the infantry and hold off the Baroque Kingdom’s reinforcements. Just prevent them from moving to Sragan.”
“Yes, sir!”
“I’ll lead the cavalry and wipe out these guys.”
The Caion unit.
At this point, their reputation was spreading across the entire continent. If he could completely annihilate them…
“Hahaha, my status would rise to the heavens.”
Galveron was already famous as the Empire’s fourth Aura Master.
And if, after breaking through the borders of the Tirkan Kingdom in his first battle, he could stop the Baroque Kingdom’s reinforcements and annihilate the Caion unit…
‘There couldn’t be a more perfect outcome.’
It was a golden opportunity to prove his martial prowess.
Having sorted out his thoughts, Galveron looked at his cavalrymen.
A few knights had fallen due to the Caion unit’s attack, but compared to the whole force, their losses were minimal.
Galveron shouted,
“Anyone able to move, form up quickly. We’ll pursue them immediately!”
The fortunate thing was that this was a plain, without dense forests or hills to hinder their horses.
So, even if the enemy fled, catching them wouldn’t be difficult.
‘The Rose Knight Order was caught in their trap due to the terrain.’
But in this open space, it would be impossible for them to plan any special tactics.
“We’ll chase them down. We’ll wipe them out before the day is over!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Let’s go!”
Galveron urged his horse in the direction the Caion unit had fled.
In his mind, the only thing that burned was the thought of the fame and glory he would gain from a perfect victory.
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