Chapter 62：Defeat in Detail

The battle raged on in the background as Sicilia went for a silent stroll through the woods on her horse. Although she would describe this stroll as 'peaceful,' she knew that saying such a thing be would be nothing more than lying to herself.

In the hours that passed, she would often hear the roars of artillery-fire in the background while other sounds commonly heard in battle occasionally cropped up.

Hopefully, everything was going according to Erika's plan.

The plan in question being based on the 'defeat in detail' or 'divide and conquer' tactic; a tactic which utilised a large fraction of one's own force in order to eliminate smaller portions of the enemy's forces in isolated battles rather than confronting the entire bulk of the enemy at once.

In other words, the Omega Corp's Dragoons will elimate the isolated incoming reinforcements while they were still unprepared and before they could rendezvous with the vanguard forces.

On top of this, gatling gun divisions which were supplemented with Omega infantry battalions were placed in possible escape routes to cut down any retreating crusader companies.

However, that doesn't mean that all crusaders were caught by the gatling gun emplacements. Sometimes Sicilia would even come across lone deserters in the forests. Of course, she promptly silenced them while they were still exhausted before she looted their bodies.

While looting may seem like a petty act, Sicilia had no qualms with such a notion. There was no reason for her to concern herself with such things. If an opportunity arises for Sicilia to benefit in any way, shape or form, she will take that opportunity as long as the risks were low enough. It was as simple as that.

Why else would she even be here in the first place?

Nevertheless, Sicilia still had a mission to complete. While Erika may be an outstanding commander, she lacked tact when it came to more... 'personal' tasks.

In fact, the current situation of the two ladies was proof of their difference in skill-sets. Erika was off commanding the battle while Sicilia was on a mere 'hunting trip.'

Soon enough, Sicilia caught sight of her target.

A figure riding a horse at breakneck speeds.

And it would seem that, the figure was also riding right towards Sicilia.

But most importantly, the figure doesn't seem to have noticed Sicilia's presence yet.

How convenient...

For the first time since temporarily parting ways with Erika, Sicilia spoke with genuine joy in her voice.

"Caught you."

As Sicilia's mouth curved into a faint smile, she got off her horse and crouched down behind the bushes. She then unslung her musket from her back and prepared to fire. However, this wasn't any ordinary musket. It was a 'rifle' which as its name would suggest had rifling.

In particular, this was the 'V-23 Redblack Rifle,' instead of the 'V-22 Redback Rifle' which was the standard issue musket for Drussian Dragoons. As its name would suggest, the V-22 was inferior to the V-23 in all aspects excluding cost efficiency.

Even gatling guns were easier to produce when they were compared to the V-23 rifle. As such, only a select few individuals were gifted with the ownership of such a fantastic weapon.

The closest weapon model in terms of rarity to the V-23 was the V-18 schlange pistol which was reserved for officers of the Imperial Army only and even then the difference in rarity between the two models was still by a large margin.

What made the V-23 more effective than its V-22 counterpart was that it contained 'true rifling' and were all breach-loaded rather than front-loaded. Such upgrades was what made the difference in both its effectiveness as well as its time and production costs.

And now Sicilia was about to prove just how effective it was.

It didn't matter how fast her target was moving.

As long as Sicilia remained composed, she knew that she will succeed.

If one were to ask Sicilia what was the one thing she knew about human beings she would give them the same answer each and every time.

'In general, humans are too predictable for their own good.'

And her target just proved her statement.

For Sicilia wasn't looking for her target in these forests.

Instead, she was simply waiting for them.

As her target continued to draw closer, she lifted her rifle and aimed it towards her target.

Immediately after, Sicilia took a deep breath as she steadied her aim.

Then she pulled the trigger.

...

"Where the hell are our reinforcements? It's been nearly an hour since the last battalion joined up with us. What's taking them so long?"

It was no secret that Stefanie's patience was starting to run thin. How could it not? Her forces consisted of more than 60,000 soldiers while the Drussians only had a meagre 20,000 men at their disposal.

Stefanie glared at the knight by her side as she lifted her voice.

"And how the hell have we not we crushed those Drussians yet?! There's only 20,000 of them! 20,000! We have been receiving reinforcements for the entire battle! We even have artillery! They don't even have artillery! So tell me! How have we not crushed those damned Drussians yet?"

The knight that Stefanie glared at, a female knight named De glanced around nervously before she responded.

"We know that but it would seem the Drussians were more devilish than we originally thought. No matter what, they always ensured that their position was safe from artillery fire. Right now, their position on the opposite incline of the hill is preventing our cannons from having a clear shot."

Stefanie saw De sigh to herself before she continued.

"On the other hand, our cavalry can close in them but with the use of their square formations, we always come up with even or negative trades. We just can't break through their lines. The only reason why we were even able to move up was because they were slowly retreating."

"I know and that's what's irritating me!"

Stefanie couldn't help but grit her teeth together as she spoke in a raised voice.

"They're trying to hold out for reinforcements while trying to tire us out! There's no doubt about it! That must be their plan! Otherwise why would they be so obstinately fighting a losing battle? It just doesn't make sense?"

"Although I have a bad feeling about this. I can't possibly deny or refute any of your points your highness."

In response to De's answer, Stefanie found that she was able to calm down and lower her voice as she spoke.

"It doesn't matter. We still should have around 180,000 incoming reinforcements, even if Drussian reinforcements do arrive, we can still outmatch them in numbers. It doesn't even matter if their goal is to tire out our current forces, we can just cycle them out with our reinforcements."

"Your highness, over there! In the horizon. It would seem that our reinforcements arrived."

Stefanie felt her heart rate slow down the moment she heard the random knight's comment.

With a relieved sigh, Stefanie turned her attention towards the horizon to glance at the silhouette of the incoming reinforcements. With that same sense of relief in her voice, Stefanie let out a comment.

"What the hell took them so lon-..."

Only for her to immediately realise that something was wrong.

The first discrepancy was the fact that the 'reinforcements' appeared to be already deploying their artillery even though they were well out of range of the Drussians.

Instead, it seemed as if they were aiming the artillery at Stefanie's position.

The second discrepancy was the uniform of those 'reinforcements.'

They were dressed in purple. The main colour scheme of the Imperium of Drussia.

Those weren't Stefanie's crusaders...

Those men were Drussians.

"Those aren't our men! Quickly! Call our reserves into action! Don't leave our rear exposed!"

Stefanie was the first to react. Within moments she was already issuing orders while the knights and nobles around her were still in a daze.

"Where are our cavalry! I want those artillery taken out this instant! I want those artillery taken out befo-"

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

But it was too late.

Soon, explosions of dirt and rock kicked up into the air, taking the lives of anyone unfortunate enough to be in the target zone. Within moments, Stefanie witnessed the morale and composure of her commanding officers quickly disappear.

Like madmen who've been alone on an island for too long, she heard them mutter random sentences to themselves.

"We've been outflanked? But... But how?"

"Impossible! This is impossible! This has got to be a dream right?"

"Our reinforcements... Why are our reinforcements firing at us!"

"We've been forsaken... God has forsaken us!"

"I won't die here! Watch me! Witness me! I will return ho- guuaghhhh!"

Of course, Stefanie did not appreciate this sight in the slightest. Although in vain, Stefanie still tried her best to rally together her entire army. She has done too much for this to fail now.

"Get a hold of yourself! You're nobleborn! You dare disgrace your birthright! Fight! Stand and figh-"

"Your highness!"

However, she was interrupted by De who swiftly grasped Stefanie's wrist.

"Please! You must flee!"

"Flee?! I can't possibly flee! Not when we're this close to victory!"

Stefanie couldn't help shouting at the knight, she just could not believe what she heard from De. However, De remained composed despite the dire situation around her as she spoke.

"Your highness please... Please think about what your father would have wanted."

"What my father would have wanted?.."

Stefanie was stumped the moment she heard De's response. Nevertheless, De still continued speaking.

"Would your father wanted you to die pointlessly in battle? Or would he rather have you survive... and keep the royal bloodline alive."

"He... he would have... damn it!"

Stefanie knew that she couldn't disagree with De. With a heavy heart, Stefanie gave what was mostly likely her final order to De.

"Win this battle for me."

De stayed silent for a moment before she responded.

"As you wish your highness."

The moment that Stefanie heard De's response was the moment she kicked her horse into full speed to flee from the battle, quickly leaving the sounds of explosions behind her.

After who knows how long of riding at breakneck speeds, Sicilia has rode into a forest.

She rode and rode before-

Bang!

"Neeiiiigh"

Stefanie's warhorse screamed in pain before it threw her of its back.

Within moments Stefanie was sliding across the dirt of the floor before she finally stopped.

After spitting out dirt, Stefanie quickly sight of what was most likely the perpetrator.

The figure was a woman dressed in high quality purple clothing and armed with a musket that had smoke emanating out of its barrel.

However, the most distinctive thing about the woman was her silver hair and purple-violet eyes.

"Silver hair... purple eyes... you're a Dunnwal... you're a member of Drussian royal family!"

The smile that was already on the figure's face grew wider when she heard Stefanie's shout.

"I'm flattered, I'm glad you noticed. I'm Sicilia Gella Dunnwal, the older sister of Emperor Maxwell."

"Aha... ahaha... ahahahahahahahaha!"

For some reason that not even Stefanie knew, she began laughing. Laughing to herself to be more specific. Somehow, someway, Stefanie was acting before she was even thinking. Soon, she opened her mouth to let out her cold voice.

"You know... I was beginning to think that I may never taste the sweetness of delivering divine justice onto you detestable Dunnwals. Although... I must admit that it was Maxwell's head that I really wanted."

As Stefanie said this, she felt an expression that was both a smile and a scowl grow on her face as she reached for the hilt of her sword.

"But I guess the head of his bitch of a sister will do just as fine."