"Fuck!" Schneider spits out a clot of blood. His eyes scanning the dead bodies around him, his shield crackling from the fire nipping at the edges.
"Sir! Another barrage! Incoming!"
Schneider looks up in frustration, his jaw clenched before he roars to his men. "Don't falter, hold the line!" BOOM! The world around him then shatters, dust exploding on his face as screams erupt around him, hands over his ears as the explosions become too much to bear.
He then looks up, his eyes half lidded as the battle takes its toll. A soldier runs to his side. "Sir, the Osterians are advancing on our lines!"
Schneider gives him a half smile. "How many soldiers?" He stabs his saber on the ground, his knees shake as exhaustion stabs through his chest.
"Eight thousand! Sir!" the man reports.
Schneider nods, "I get it, have the men ready for retr-"
"Sir! Message from the General," the soldier salutes, "Lt. Col. Meyer has been sent to fortify the defenses. He urges you to hold on for a little longer."
Schneider chuckles as he wipes the dirt off his cheek. "This is going to take a while." He glances at the sky to see another volley of fire. "Well, shit."
He closes his eyes as the volley lands, his breathing heavy as he leans against the trench. The powerful explosions, the scorching heat leaving him sweaty and exhausted.
He then glances at the soldiers beside him, musket gripped tightly in his hands as Schneider asks. "Can you peek through? How close are the advancing soldiers?"
The man nods, peeking through the dirt. "Five Hundred meters. Sir!"
"That's good. We should have enough time." He then closes his eyes, magic entering his system as he recuperates, the hill erupting from the volley of fire.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Drissian Right Flank, Klein Quarters.
"General Klein! Col. Volk! Reporting for duty!" A man enters the tent. His eyes surveying the map as he spoke, "I was told that you have need of me?"
Klein looks up from his thought. "I do. The current flow of battle would require your services."
He then gestures through the forest, Volk peeking at the assembly of pieces arranged on his map. "Hide your men behind the hills and forests and wait on my signal."
"Yes, sir!" Volk salutes as he turns and takes his leave.
Klein just nods, "If everything turns as plan, then we'll deal a blow that would cripple their capabilities throughout this war."
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Osterian Left Flank
"Colonel Scholz!" Keller rides in as a barrage launches from their hands, drenched in sweat, exhausted from the continuous bombardment of fireballs.
"Uh.... General! Is there anything you need from me?" The man salutes him, his expression uneasy as his eyes look away. The threat of imprisonment fresh on his mind.
Keller nods, "I have." He passes him a spyglass, "We received reports on an enemy reinforcement preparing to fill the gap on the first defensive line."
Scholz takes it to his eyes. "I see, then you wish for us to intercept them?"
"Yes, I also want you to bombard the first line with increasing intensity. Is that clear?" Keller spoke, his eyes locking with his as Scholz look back, shocked.
"Sir! With all due respect. We are exhausted as it is! We can't just intensify bombardment and with your additional order, we'll suffer magical exhaustion!"
Keller glares at him. "May I remind you of your blunder!? You and your regiment decimated a hundreds of men with your miscalculation! Enough of a reason for imprisonment!"
His eyes light up in anger, the mages before him lowering their head as he shouts. "You are all under my command. To disobey me is treason!"
He turn his horse back, "Do not fail me again."
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
General Beck just leans back in his chair. His arms crossed in consternation as he glared at the battlefield before him. "Those bastards really left me with the boring part, huh?"
"Sir, I don't believe it is proper to call such a battlefield boring." His adjutant stands beside him, hands behind his back as he remarks.
"Shut up, Turner." He spits out as the infantry line explodes in fire, the officers raising their shields as they order another volley of gunfire, ripping through the Osterian lines.
Beck then shouts, "Mages! Aim!"
A minute passes as the Osterian lines advance against them. "Fire!"
Countless fireballs form around them, the scorching heat appearing for a second before it fires, smashing against the Osterian lines, drowning them in fire, barely held off by their own officers.
"This shit is boring as hell, if you compare it to them." In response, the hill explodes, as the two defensive lines was drowned in flames and magic, its form dotted in small cracks and craters.
The men ducking beneath the ground, afraid for their lives.
"I suppose you are right." Turner remarks as volley of fireballs makes burns their surroundings, the world around them exploding in fire as their shield crackles against its strength.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Schneider gasps as he staggers back, bullets sparking against his shield as he aims his musket, his men firing relentlessly till a powerful wind blows them back.
"Charge them down!" A familiar voice shouts from the Osterian lines.
Schneider turns to the voice, to see the same man charging along with his men, saber raised above his head as green light erupts from his fingers.
Schneider clicks his tongue in irritation, he looks to his side, his men desperately firing, along with the men above him. "Where are they?"
"Sir! A powerful bombardment stalled their arrival! The First line is being ordered to retreat!" The messenger salutes, musket on hand.
"What!?" Schneider grabs his collar as he roars, "What the hell!? How will my men retreat now!? The enemy is a hundred meters away from us. We'll be walking targets!"
The messenger recoils, his face apologetic, "I'm sorry, sir! But I'm just sending orders."
"Dammit!" Schneider slams his hand against the earth. Magic gathers at his throat. "Everyone retreat back to the second line. First Company with me!"
He spits out a clot of blood before muttering, "We'll hold them off."