Chapter 55: Revolutionary Period - Breakthrough (2)

Chapter 55: Revolutionary Period - Breakthrough (2)

Translated by Mara Sov

Revolutionary Period Breakthrough (2)

The defense lines became chaotic as the soldiers witnessed the absurd sight of their enemies breaking through their magical bombardment.

The Germania Empires infantry, who tried to hold against the enemy, could do nothing against the bombardment of steel at close range.

Wails of agony and despair echoed on the battlefield.

A storm of shrapnel tore through the bodies of those unlucky enough to stand on the frontline. Some soldiers recovered their senses and tried to flee, but the hailstorm of steel was uncaring of their decisions.

With their mission completed, the mounted artillery returned, giving way to the cavalry led by Knights as they began their charge.

Foward men! Charge-!!

For Francia!

The cavalry charged toward the shattered enemy lines, followed by a wave of infantry soldiers.

As he watched this scene from his telescope, the Grand Duke dropped the instrument onto the ground with a loud clatter.

This was a tactic never seen before.

No, calling something like this a tactic was being generous,

This was nothing more than a desperate move, a ridiculous bet relying on the irregularity known as the Saint of Francia.

Although the enemys intentions were obvious, the Germania Empire couldnt do anything to counter it.

With a bitter laugh, the Grand Duke muttered darkly.

This war is a mess.

Ahhhhh-!

The enemy infantry screamed as they were torn to shreds.

Chargeee!

Kill them all!

Knights and cavalrymen rushed into the enemy lines, striking down any enemy in a frenzy.

Drawing my bow, I quickly notched an arrow.

After a swift observation, I aimed at a helpless mage who was panicking as both armies clashed.

As soon as I released the string, the mage fell with an arrow lodged in his forehead. Drawing another arrow, I looked at the Witch hovering in the distance.

The magic circle looked to be about one-third complete, rotating clockwise making the woman seem like a goddess looking down on us.

She was still too far.

For the motherland!

Long Live the Republic! Follow the Marquis-!

Looking back, I could see the revolutionaries breaking through the enemy lines as they followed our charge.

Amidst the song of steel and the desperate screams of the fallen, Sir Gastons shout reached my ears.

Marquis! Enemy cavalry incoming!

Letting go of my bow, I unsheathed my blade.

Most of our spears had snapped during the initial charge.

Cavalry, form up! Knights! To the front!

The Germania Empire cavalry trampled any soldiers in their way as they approached.

I couldnt help but swallow a lump as the Empires cavalry made the ground shake with their charge against us.

Hold your positions!

My hand became slick with sweat.

S-Shouldnt we retreat now?

But Damiens frightened voice made me scoff.

Knights! The commoners, the ones that were once looked down upon are now following our charge! They have put their trust in us! Tell me! If one runs now, could he even deserve being called a Knight?!

No!

Then, advance! We must move forward! Those who flee will die by my hand!

With the signal given, the horses moved.

Slowly at first,

Then, a light trot,

Soon the trot turned into a gallop.

Thousands of cavalry faced each other on this battlefield.

The wind screamed past my armor, and the ground quaked, our charge created tremors on the battlefield.

As the enemy lances approached, I raised my blade and yelled.

For Francia-!!!

As if answering my challenge, the enemy also screamed.

Sieg Heil Kaiser!

Imbuing my blade with mana, I sliced through a lance, cutting a Knights throat.

My sword, backed by the momentum of my charge, shattered the Knights defenses, cleaving through his bone in one swoop.

But at that moment, my horse let out a pitful scream.

Neighh!

Pierced by another Knights lance, my horse fell. With a roll, I was quickly able to get up and face the enemy coming at me.

Shit!

Drawing my dagger, I quickly infused it with mana and threw it, piercing the Knights helmet.

The very next moment, I ducked to avoid a lance of another cavalryman approaching from the side. With a horizontal slash, I severed the legs of his horse.

Aaargh-!

With a gruesome scream, the rider tumbled to the ground, pinned under his own steed.

All around me, countless screams erupted as the combat continued.

Marquis!

Sir Gaston urged his horse towards me as he bisected two Knights with a single slash of his greatsword.

Are you alright, My Lord?

Im fine, concentrate on our enemies for now!

Drawing another dagger, I planted it on the brow of another foe. As the carnage went on, I lost count of how many enemies I had killed and Sir Gaston approached me once again.

Marquis! The enemy cavalry is retreating! Your orders?

I immediately turned my gaze towards the high ground.

Through the broken line, I could see a considerable number of enemy infantry approaching, while their cavalry tried to hold us. Among the incoming tide, I could see the fluttering banner of the Grand Duke Leopolds house.

Was that the legion under the Grand Dukes command?

Damn it. This wont be easy.

The Witchs magic circle was about half done.

If the battle turned into complete chaos, there was a chance the Witch would cancel her spell to avoid friendly fire. But until now, there were no signs of this happening.

Perhaps the plan failed?

Should we retreat now?

I found myself looking back for a moment.

Tens of thousands of soldiers from Francia, were desperately fighting while yelling Long Live the Republic! as they followed us.

Ha.

After getting this far, there was no turning back.

Those who have lost their horses, grab whatever you can! I dont care if its the enemys own horses or of a fallen comrade! Prepare for the charge! We will break through them-!!

By your command!

Cavalry! Prepare for the charge!

I drew my arrow, our trump card, an arrow brimming with Divine Power.

For them, and for the trust Eris has put in me, I would draw this arrow she had spent days imbuying with her strength.

My left arm, the one that was struck by a bullet screamed in pain, as I pulled back the bowstring.

I had a single target.

The Witch who hovered above us, arrogantly chanting spells as if she was a goddess.

Imbuing the arrow with all the mana I had left, I released the bowstring.

Just as her Grand Magic was nearing its completion, Frau Wilhelmina Von Weinfeld sneered.

The desperate struggle of the Francian army and their breakthroughs were noteworthy. For an army composed of ignorant barbarians that is.

But in the end, they failed to reach her.

Wilhelmina, after using dozens of amplification crystals shuddered with bliss as she felt the boundless magical power infused in the circle.

In such a chaotic battlefield, her Grand Magic would result in severe casualties for both sides.

However, the plight of such uncultured barbarians was of no concern to her. After all, here she was, wielding power once reserved for the Divine! After this day, her name would become a symbol of awe and terror.

Commander!

At that moment, her subordinate yelled, as an arrow shot into the sky was flying towards her.

Tsk, what foolishness. Nothing more than a desperate struggle.

The Witch raised her hand, conjuring a magic barrier to block the puny arrow.

However, the arrow, unable to contain the energy within it, burned like a comet leaving a bluish golden trail in the sky and stuck Wilhelminas barrier, as the Witch herself couldnt help but be astonished at this development.

Ah?

The arrow easily shattered her barrier, as Wilhelmina quickly raised both hands to conjure more layers, one over the other.

Yet, the arrow didnt stop.

Like breaking a frail glass, all her barriers shattered.

One by one, the layers of magical defense were broken in an instant, as the arrow continued its trajectory.

It cant be!

Wilhelmina screamed like a banshee as she realized her magical power would be insufficient to block such an arrow after pouring all her power into the Grand Magic.

In her desperation, she considered using the mana she had been building for her Grand Magic, but she hesitated.

What sort of heresy would be to use her spell, the Grand Magic she had poured her entire fortune into, a feat that bordered on the divine, just to block a single arrow?

Could she, a being recognized as a Sage, really fall to a single arrow?

In that moment of hesitation, Wilhelminas last barrier shattered and the arrow pierced her shoulder.

The arrogant Witch, the woman who believed herself to be a Goddess, had fallen.

OhOHHH-!

Amidst the soldiers cheers, the magic circle crumbled.

Even the Grand Dukes regiment hesitated for a moment as they watched the Witch fall.

I pressed forward, cutting down anyone who stood in my way with Sir Gaston at my side.

The other mages who were assisting the Witch seemed completely drained of their mana, so they chose to flee rather than fight us.

After cutting down a few dozen soldiers, I finally reached the Witch.

The once mighty Sage, now had an arrow stuck in her shoulder as she glared at me with bloodshot eyes.

You! Filthy mongrel, Ill never forget this humiliation.

When I was about to rush her, I noticed a huge magic circle forming between me and her, so I hesitated.

The Witch extended her finger tracing something in the air,

By reflex, I reached for my belt to throw a dagger at her, but my hands came out empty.

The next moment, a huge pillar of fire surged.

By instinct, I stepped back from the suffocating heat the fire emanated, as the Witch continued to conjure more flames on the ground between us.

My Lord the Marquis, are you alright!?

Sir Gaston reached me, as he asked through his heavy panting, but I could barely answer him, feeling all my energy draining away.

The fire wall, hot enough to melt even steel stood as a barrier in our path to Victory.

After all those sacrifices to reach her,

She would get away,

No!

I clenched my teeth.

This opportunity was akin to a miracle. We would not have another chance.

Due to their arrogance, they didnt foresee our desperate charge, and even with all those sacrifices we barely had a chance!

How much blood had been spilled today for me to give up now?

There would be no victory for us if we were to fail here.

If we meet that Witch again we will lose, and regardless if the Republic surrenders or not, both Christine and I will surely be executed.

She put her trust in me, the woman who was willing to crawl towards deaths embrace for my sake.

The woman whom I failed in my past life, leaving her to die.

And in this life, she was almost taken from me again.

After all of this, would I put her life at risk for a third time?

Taking off my water flask, I poured the contents over my head.

M-My Lord?

Sir Gaston cried out to me, but I ignored him as I charged into the inferno.

Its hot.

Even when I squeezed whatever mana I had left to shield myself from the flames, my magic was quickly depleted.

I couldnt breathe.

My body screamed at me, the pain was unbearable, but a burst of magic from my chest spread out to my body, protecting me for a few precious moments.

I closed my eyes to avoid burning them, so I had no idea what was happening or for how long this inferno would stretch.

But the moment I finally stepped out of the flames.

Right before my eyes,

The Witch was limping away.

I lifted my sword tempered by the flames, the handle burned my skin, melting my flesh.

However, I ignored it all,

With a single movement, I threw the sword with all my might.

The Sword cut through the wind with a whistling sound.

And it pierced the head of the Witch who had turned back to look at me.

In her eyes, I could see her confusion and dread.

The Storm Witch, the woman who thought herself to be a Goddess, collapsed without uttering a single word.

Seeing the inferno behind me disappear, I finally collapsed.

My Lord!

I could hear Sir Gastons desperate voice.

In my fading consciousness, I saw light coming from the black rose on my chest slowly being snuffed out.

Christine.

Then, the darkness claimed me.

TL:

HELLDIVERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

/genesisforsaken