Chapter 104: A Feint Operation (2)

It was nice to see Eisen's face. Benedict began to analyze the Shonan army’s movements with a smirk.

‘That is the way to Sultan, and with only 1000 troops, it's probably going to be a feint operation.’

He made his decision. Now that he had confirmed the faces of the three counts Mordred had told him about, the only thing left to do was to attack the main unit heading towards Caliph.

‘It’s a shame, but I’ll come for you next time.’

There was a difference of more than 10 times the number of troops. With only 1000 soldiers, it was almost certain that they wouldn’t be able to attack Sultan, and instead, his own soldiers stationed there would grind them up.

“Everyone head towards Caliph!”

“Yes, sir!”

A hawk set on its prey began to soar high into the sky.

* * *

The siege weapons were amazing. Since they launched from the fortress, whose walls were higher than those of Caliph, their destructive power was truly staggering. In addition, the Falcon army’s archers shot arrows like rain, so it was a disaster for the rebels.

‘Haha, it’s obvious that this is going to fall.’

It was an absolutely overwhelming force!

Even though the fortress was built from sand, it was stronger than expected because it was made with magic, and it blocked the rebels' attacks very well.

Oscar clenched his fists, sure of his victory.

Not too long after, a soldier downstairs shouted in a loud voice, “The wall is breaking!”

They never expected that the wall would break so soon, but the relentless attack on one spot made the wall crack. Oscar shouted in an even more excited voice, “The wall has fallen! Everyone, charge!”

“Ahhh!”

It was an overwhelming power and attack, the reward of investing all his wealth. However, just as the subjugation forces and the rebels were about to fight around the collapsed wall…

“Benedict is here!”

“What?”

The desert’s best warrior, Caliph Benedict had arrived, smiling like a grim reaper.

“Benedict has arrived? This doesn’t make any sense…!”

Oscar had no choice but to assess the situation in a panicked voice. Herarion had told him about the power of the desert’s best warrior and the eyes of the desert, but he hadn’t expected Benedict to arrive so quickly.

However, as the commander, he couldn’t reveal any panic to his soldiers; besides, he had prepared other things for such an event. Oscar shouted once more with Aura, “Eiji soldiers, drop all your siege weapons and start guarding the back!”

The Eiji force abandoned their siege weapons and began to rush to the back.

Oscar was not trying to stop Benedict out of a sense of responsibility. He already thought that he had accomplished a great deal by breaking down the wall, so now he aimed to take Benedict’s head.

Benedict did not advance further. He crossed his arms quietly and observed the movements of the subjugation army.

Eiji’s army was gathering in one area like a swarm of ants and…

Whoosh!

Oscar threw himself outside from the top of the fortress without hesitation. It was a powerful jump. Oscar’s body became a small dot as it blocked the sun.

Thud!

He fell like a meteor.

In the midst of the thick dust, Oscar finally showed himself.

“The count is in the lead!”

It was truly a tremendous occasion for the commander to lead the way.

Oscar walked out of the hollow area where he had landed and took a family orb, the Skylight Gear Pin, from his back. The gear pin was the size of an adult man’s forearm.

Oscar twisted it in opposite directions, the things hidden inside began to stretch like a magic wand.

Creak!

The wand continued to grow and when it finally reached Oscar’s height, the gear pin stopped growing.

Those who practiced spearmanship would have heard of the Skylight Gear Pin at least once, but Oscar was one of the best spearmen in the empire.

“You carry quite a fun toy,” said Benedict.

“It’s not something you have the right to judge.”

“I’ll also show you something fun.”

The corners of Benedict’s lips rose and he raised one hand over his head. He started casting a spell. “Altpajswl whtlagktpdy!”

As Benedict uttered the spell, faint light glowed around his body and quickly disappeared. As soon as the light disappeared, the ground began to vibrate.

Tremble!

The vibration was like an earthquake. It actually started to shake the world’s axis, moving the grains of sand stuck together little by little.

‘This is…!’

The power to move the sand of the desert.

Oscar instinctively realized that this was the power of La and shouted, “Everyone, be careful of the ground!”

Oscar had already studied the power of La before going to war, but the gap between theory and practice was truly enormous. As everyone gulped nervously and watched the ground, a voice in the back said urgently, “The ground is collapsing!”

“The palace is tilting!”

“Everyone, run!”

The soldiers realized that the palace was collapsing once it began to tilt, but it was too late by then.

“What the hell…!”

There was nothing Oscar could do except watch the fortress collapse.

Thud!

The fortress was now worthless. With his mouth half open, Oscar stood like a statue as he watched the fortress crumble.

“Everyone, escape!”

The Falcon army inside the fortress began swarming out like ants.

Maybe the fortress was too tall? The soldiers that were on the upper floors of the fortress couldn’t escape in time and were eventually buried in the sand with the siege weapons.

“...”

“...”

The air was filled with thick dust. The soldiers struggled to get out of the ruins of the fortress. The huge amount of money that had paid for the fortress disappeared like a midsummer night’s dream.

“Much better.” Their fighting spirit was on the other foot now.

Benedict had destroyed Oscar’s wild card with a single move, and he stroked his chin with a satisfied smile, but then…

Swish!

A sharp sound tore through the air. An arrow as fast as the speed of light passed Benedict’s cheek.

“Argh.”

The arrow struck the throat of the soldier behind him.

“Oh?”

Benedict had seen the arrow flying towards his head, but he knew that it would miss so he did not move.

Drip.

The arrow had grazed the side of his cheek, leaving a small scratch that bled a little bit.

“Your Majesty! Are you alright?” Shula asked belatedly.

Benedict wiped his cheek and replied in a calm voice, “No need to make a fuss, it’s only a superficial cut.”

“But still…!”

“Anyway, was his name Terion? He can’t even shoot me from this distance. The empire’s archers sure are terrible.” Benedict activated the eyes of the desert before he knew it. Through the eyes, Benedict could see Terion.

Eventually, the dust settled and Terion emerged from the fortress’ ruins. He approached Oscar and said, “Count, focus!”

“Count Terion…”

Terion Falcon, commander in chief of the archers, was holding the Falcon family’s orb Yelcia, a bow.

“We’ve received too much damage, so unless the count and I stop Benedict, this victory might not be ours.

“Alright…”

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that he had spent his entire wealth on the subjugation. He had panicked for a bit, shocked that he could lose so much in one go. However, Oscar came back to his senses, thanks to Terion, who had comforted him with the composure of an archer.

“Thanks for coming out and revealing yourself,” said Benedict.

The two counts were leading the subjugation army, and if Benedict beheaded them, the attack would be over.

“Shula,” said Benedict.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I will take care of those two, so in the meantime, join forces with those in Caliph and drive out those imperial bastards.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Honk!

The rebels blew their horn.

“Let's go!”

“Yes, sir!”

The rebel commander Shula, who was Benedict’s right hand, took the lead and tried to head to the right, but just then, Oscar and Terion raised their weapons.

Benedict dismounted and said, “You have no manners.”

Thud!

With his hands behind his back, he stomped his right foot.

Ping!

A sharp sound that tore the air, cutting through the counts’ ears and…

Rumble!

“...!”

The world’s axis began to crack with a harsh vibration. The ground started to split just as it had when the crustacean had appeared, and the sand in the desert began to fall through the cracks.

Rumble!

There was no end to the crack. Like a living creature, the earthquake started from Benedict’s foot and separated the counts from the rebels. The counts could not stop the rebels at all.

“Damn it…!”

A single stomp had created an earthquake of such enormous magnitude. Khan hadn’t told them this was possible.

Benedict raised his head arrogantly and said, “Adults shouldn’t get involved in children’s games.”

“How dare you!”

Oscar spewed out Aura and began to charge like an angry bull.