Now, tens of thousands of troops are assembling in Lyonnesse Castle, united under the White Lion shield of the Lyonnesse family crest. This army of twelve thousand is all the duchy of Lyonnesse can muster. Dalheid is well aware that serf conscripts are of little use in the war against the northern barbarians, so he decisively chooses to bring only the most elite five thousand serf soldiers.
The remaining seven thousand are composed entirely of knights, squires, cavalry, and sergeants. Duke Dalheid, with a serious expression, watches the army gathering in the castle and says to the knights beside him, "This battle will decide whether Lyonnesse can survive."
Knight of the Holy Grail Eisen's armor and cloak show some signs of wear. He says little: "My duke, no matter what, I will stand by your side, fight in the name of the lady, until death."
Another general stands behind Dalheid; he is Count Ryan, also the duke's deputy.
Meanwhile, Dalheid's heir, Aldred, has also arrived, having traveled night and day upon learning that his homeland was under invasion, he rushes back to Lyonnesse Castle.
"My duke, the army's morale is low, and their condition somewhat sluggish. Is it really wise to strike out rashly?" Count Ryan looks at the map, his expression filled with worry.
"The barbarians long for a decisive battle with us, there's no doubt about that. What do these northerners know? They only understand slaughter and pillage, nothing more," Dalheid says with disdain. "Clearly, the barbarians have positioned themselves on the Nantz Plains because it is a narrow plain filled with mountains and forests, where our knights are at a disadvantage, so they have chosen this place to challenge us."
"Yes, that must be the reason," Knight of the Holy Grail Eisen nods. He was about to raise this point when Dalheid, clearly confident in his leadership, already understood the barbarians' intentions. Although not the most outstanding among the dukes in terms of leadership, Dalheid has been through many wars large and small.
He immediately sees through the barbarians' intentions, a clear challenge.
"Indeed, battling the barbarians on the Nantz Plains will indeed affect our knights' charge, but it also presents a rare opportunity for us," Dalheid says, focusing on the map.
The map shows the former glory and vast territories of the Duchy of Lyonnesse, now fragmented. Three black lines stretch from the north from the Claw Sea, reaching Randor Island, then split into two thick black lines directly into the heart of Lyonnesse.
The duke knows he cannot sit idly by; the barbarians have already laid waste to the entire northern part of the duchy. If he continues to hide in the castle, it's only a matter of time before the barbarians reach Lyonnesse itself.
"They desire to battle the Britonians, and are the Britonians any less eager? The thing Dalheid fears most is the barbarians dispersing within the duchy and wreaking havoc. Now that they are arrayed for battle, it is exactly what Dalheid wishes."
"Nantz, Nantz... I had planned to lead a purely knightly force to attack the barbarian army's rear, catching them off-balance for a decisive defeat, but the current storm is too fierce, and the Pegasus Knights cannot fly. The reinforcements from Ulysses are still on the way," Dalheid says somewhat despondently. "Clearly, that plan must be scrapped. We will stick to the original plan, meeting with Ulysses and then facing the barbarians on the Nantz Plains."
"Yes!" With Dalheid's command, no one else raised any objections.
"Bring that out!" Seeing the army's morale waning, Dalheid was prepared. With a grand gesture, several family knights carry out a large banner from inside the castle.
This is a long white military flag, as white as snow, with a faint holy light shimmering on it, depicting a scene.
It shows the figure of the founding knight-king Arthur, standing atop a mound of orc corpses bathed in a sea of blood, enveloped in divine light, with golden-red tassels fluttering in the sky. This banner, woven from the hair of an elven princess, is a priceless treasure passed down since the establishment of Britonia.
"That is... the banner given by the lady!" The first knight to recognize it exclaims in disbelief: "This banner must have fought alongside King Arthur!"
"I know, this is the battle flag of the first Duke of Lyonnesse, Sir Shilruf, who fought alongside this banner for over two hundred years until he died on the banks of the Sannes River!"
"My goodness! My goodness! We actually have the opportunity to fight alongside this banner!"
"My lady! I am ready!"
Blood boils in the
hearts of the knights, and the previously dampened spirits are rekindled by the sight of the banner. Many young ranger knights shout long and loud, while the staid kingdom knights are also filled with fervor.
Dalheid, seeing this, nods in satisfaction: "Move out!"
...
After two days' march, the knightly army nears the Nantz Plains, where Ulysses's army of kingdom knights and Duke Lyonnesse's forces meet, totaling just under twenty-eight thousand, with over five thousand knights.
Ulysses and Dalheid meet, shake hands, and gather inside the large tent to discuss the battle plans.
Inside the knightly tent, candles are lit, and Dalheid and the Lyonnesse nobility gather around, with Ulysses and other Holy Grail Knights standing on the other side. They surround the large table in the tent, looking at the map on it.
"Tomorrow, we will battle the barbarians on the Nantz Plains," Dalheid points to the small area on the map: "Our plan is to start with a massive charge by our knights to disrupt their formation, then Sir Eisen from the left flank will lead a detachment to flank them, Lord Ulysses will handle the barbarian counterattack on the right flank, and then I will lead the main force to crush the barbarian main force, driving these Skarlin tribe's chaotic scum into the sea!"
"Starting with a heavy cavalry charge? A direct assault on the barbarian line?" Karad raises a concern: "My duke, isn't that a bit rash?"
"Ha, Lord Karad, you also see what the terrain of the Nantz Plains is like," Dalheid replies with a scornful laugh: "Do you think I haven't noticed? The barbarians want to battle us here, playing on the knights' inability to fully utilize their capabilities, hoping to lure my knights into attacking their well-prepared lines in phases, then gradually eliminate them. I'm not foolish enough to fall for that. Tomorrow, Count Ryan will lead the knightly army in a direct frontal charge, and we must crush the barbarian forces in one fell swoop!"
Karad, seeing this, falls silent, perhaps seeing some sense in Dalheid's plan.
Ulysses nods: "If so, Your Grace, your knights will charge directly at the barbarian forces, and I will lead the kingdom's knightly army to flank you, prioritizing the destruction of the barbarian center, for it is composed of the Skarlin tribe's most elite warriors. If we can force King Egil of the Skarlins to retreat, those vassal tribes will no longer heed the Skarlins' commands!"
"We need to keep a reserve force," Ulysses adds, somewhat critical of Dalheid's bold plan. He turns to Duke Lyonnesse: "We can't risk all our forces without reserves."
"My son, Aldred, will lead two hundred knights and eight hundred squires, totaling a thousand cavalry, as the reserve," Dalheid nods.
"No infantry?"
"Infantry are useless in this war, Ulysses. This isn't my first time fighting the northern barbarians," Dalheid shakes his head, speaking seriously: "Only knights can defeat the barbarians."
Ulysses pauses for a moment, then nods heavily.
Indeed, the northern barbarians, followers of chaos, are far stronger than Britonia's infantry. Not only could they fight five to one, but ten to one would not be a problem; the infantry could easily be overwhelmed by the fearsome barbarian soldiers. Only the strictly trained knights can unite under the lady's banner and withstand the fearsome barbarians.
So, the battle plan for the next day is settled, and everyone rushes to rest.
Ulysses and Dalheid step out of the tent, with Dalheid adjusting his plate armor and cloak, turning to Ulysses: "Lord Ulysses, thank you for leading your army to support us. Lyonnesse will always be grateful to you."
"It is the lady's command, my duty. You need not thank me," Ulysses shakes his head, his face resolute. "I am just worried, the barbarians' strength may exceed our estimates. The lady has sent me dreams, saying this invasion is unprecedentedly strong."
"But do we have any other choice? We must fight to the death," Dalheid frowns, following Ulysses's gaze toward the distance.
In the distance, darkness stretches out. Tomorrow, the army will battle the barbarians not far ahead, and the barbarians have long been waiting.
The night falls like a black cloth, blocking out all sunlight. Ulysses and Dalheid look up at the sky, silent.
White, indistinct things begin to fall from the sky, landing on the knights' hair and armor.
It is snowing, snow begins to fall!
"
Rest well, Ulysses," Dalheid pats Ulysses's shoulder, the duke himself aware that tomorrow will undoubtedly be a fierce battle: "I'll go rest now."
"Mm." The Grand Master of the Holy Grail Knights nods silently, standing alone in front of the tent, quiet.
The snow slowly gets heavier. Snow in April feels unusual, yet such are the effects of the winds of chaos. When the winds of chaos sweep the land, anything bizarre can happen.
"Karad? Come out, I know you're there," Ulysses removes his golden unicorn-emblazoned helm, revealing his resolute face.
At the top of the helmet, several candles burn.
Dressed in red and blue robes, with a sword at his waist, Earl Karad of Bastogne approaches from behind, his face still showing some concern: "Ulysses, I'm still worried. Duke Dalheid's plan is indeed detailed, but starting with such a heavy cavalry charge is really a huge gamble."
"What war isn't a gamble? There's never a sure win in battle," Ulysses's expression remains unchanged. Ever since he became a Holy Grail Knight, his emotions seem to have been concealed, and he usually wears his helmet, only people like Anna, who are close to him, get to see his face without it: "Starting with a massive cavalry charge will force the barbarians to also commit fully and battle us head-on, this is exactly what we want, Karad. The kingdom can't delay, nor can Lyonnesse! Do you know how much food our twenty-eight thousand-strong army consumes in a day? Do you know how many refugees and villages in the Duchy of Lyonnesse are waiting for our support? If we spend more time fighting abroad, the situation at home becomes even more uncertain."
"Indeed." This time, Karad has nothing more to say.
Ulysses and Dalheid are both aware that after the peasant revolts and a series of events, followed by the chaos invasion, Britonia urgently needs time to recuperate. Therefore, it's not surprising that Dalheid is eager to resolve the battle quickly. Only by thoroughly defeating the barbarian forces in war can he preserve some vitality for his duchy to start the long process of recovery and rebuilding.
Karad holds immense respect and admiration for Ulysses, who is a teacher, brother, and in a strict sense, a brother-in-law to him. The two have fought side by side many times, and it is for this reason that he dares to question Ulysses; otherwise, in Britonia, the words of a Holy Grail Knight are truth, beyond any doubt or desecration.
"Such heavy snow," Ulysses looks up at the pitch-black sky: "Rest early, Karad. Tomorrow, we will ride in the name of the lady, there is no luck in this war."
"Yes!" Karad bows deeply, then leaves in another direction.
Ulysses strokes his brown beard, standing in place, watching the heavy snowfall.
"Lady, please grant us strength and courage to continue fighting. Your faithful servant Ulysses vows here, we will fight in your name until the last moment, until the end comes."
...
The next day, the knightly army finally heads to the Nantz Plains. At this time, the world is blanketed in white snow, and the barbarian army has long been waiting.
The gathered barbarian warriors, beasts, numbering in the tens of thousands, densely populate one side of the Nantz Plains. They appear like a dark cloud without end, the plain reeking horribly, with horn and drum sounds from the Skarlins tribe echoing for kilometers without end. Dark chaos eight-pointed flags, fearsome octagonal insignias, and countless small tribe banners stand tall, the shrines of evil gods everywhere, adorned with skulls, desecrating the land of the goddess.
Britonia's knightly army slowly enters the battlefield, the tips of their lances and sword blades gleaming in the snowlight, their magnificent armor and orderly formations forming a beautiful giant painting.
Ulysses feels proud of Britonia's knights, guided by the goddess, facing any formidable foe without flinching.
"Dooo~" The majestic and sonorous horn sounds among the knightly army, knights rallying under the battle flag of the first Duke of Lyonnesse, Sir Shilruf, the horn blowing ceaselessly.
The barbarian army also blows their horns, followed by countless curses and the sound of axes striking shields.
"So, it begins." Ulysses's gaze contains determination and will, five Holy Grail Knights following him.
"Prepare for battle! Knights, fight for the land of the lady! For the Lady! For Britonia!!!" Dalheid grasps his warhorse's reins, raising his lance, shouting loudly, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
"May the
lady grant us victory!"
"Forward!!!"
Updated! I had some things to handle today, so the update is a bit complete. Ask for votes!
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