"It has begun."
Judas coldly smiled as he gazed at the torches that now surrounded the mountain base where the barracks once stood.
Those inside were probably quite shocked. They would never have expected barbarians to reach this deep into their territory.
Even though this area was called the 'Northern Front,' it was actually deep within the inner territories of the Wynz border province. Naturally, in their understanding, the appearance of barbarians here was unthinkable.
But ever since they were branded as traitors, the Red Lion Army had long stepped outside of 'common sense.'
They had even allied with actual demons, abandoning their duty as the self-proclaimed eastern shield of the Empire.
And of course, the barbarians—who had long been eyeing the fertile lands of the Empire—would not miss such an opportunity.
This was precisely what Judas had intended. He had placed the hostages of the barbarian tribes in the barracks, which the Star's Legion would likely target for a surprise attack.
Barbarians are fiercely loyal to their family and kin. Unlike the Empire, where individualism was becoming stronger, the spirit of community was deeply ingrained in their culture. So, naturally, if their kin were taken hostage, they would be enraged.
And if the target of that rage was the Empire already in turmoil? It was certain to provoke an even stronger reaction.
The goal was to ignite the barbarians' fury—and fan the flames of their ambitions.
That was the strategy Gregory had handed to the Red Lion Army. And it was the grand strategy they had ultimately decided to adopt.
Currently, the number of barbarians surrounding the mountain base is roughly 2,000. Considering the terrain, which was steep and familiar to the barbarians as their own, and their exceptional individual combat skills, the Star's Legion would not find it easy to counter.
In the chaos of battle, Judas planned to strike. And then, he would personally crush Elric, the man who had humiliated him at the Black Snowfield.
'And I will prove that I am the only true vessel for Him.'
"Everyone, stand by."
At Judas's command, the demons' eyes gleamed with fierce intensity.
***
"What the hell is that?"
"Barbarians?"
"Where the hell did these bastards come from...!"
"The Red Lion! Did he really open the gates for the barbarians?"
The Star's Legion was thrown into chaos in an instant.
Barbarians from the eastern borderlands. The soldiers of the Empire had only heard stories about them but had never seen these foes with their own eyes.
On top of that, they hadn't detected any other forces in the vicinity during their scouting, which made this ambush all the more shocking.
『What a savage atmosphere. What do you plan to do?』
Mephisto chuckled lightly as he watched the dozens, no, hundreds of torches surrounding the mountainside.
Elric's expression tightened.
[Something's wrong.]
『What do you mean?』
[There was nothing there.]
Before launching the surprise attack on the enemy camp, Elric had meticulously scanned the area with his Mind's eye. He had made sure there were no hidden enemies lying in wait.
Given that killing intent leaves a trace, he had been certain his Mind's eye would catch anything.
Moreover, he had significantly expanded his Preta Sense, making it even less likely for anything to escape his detection.
This method had successfully prevented ambushes and counterattacks several times in the past.
Yet, this time, he had missed something.
But Mephisto seemed to think this was to be expected.
『You're mistaken, rookie.』
Rookie.
The word struck a chord with Elric, resonating deep within him.
『The magic you rely on so much is not perfect. Magic is just a byproduct of the process of uncovering the unknown; it's not the end result, is it?』
"…!"
『If someone wants to deceive you, they can do so easily. There are magics for that, or perhaps techniques like the seals we use. Maybe it's their physical abilities.』
Elric felt as though he had been struck on the back of the head by something blunt.
Magic is not perfect.
It is merely the 'process' born of seeking truth, not the 'result.'
It was a criticism of his reliance on magic.
Mephisto was right to call him a rookie. That term reflected Elric's immaturity, despite his efforts to act grown-up.
[You're right. Magic isn't perfect. Perhaps they were simply beyond the reach of my Mind's eye and moved in quickly.]
Barbarians were well-known for their physical abilities, capable of thriving in rugged highlands and plains. It wouldn't be surprising if they managed to evade his senses entirely.
Elric, however, welcomed this new revelation of his own limitations, as it gave him something to work on.
With newfound resolve, he shouted:
"Prepare for battle!"
His voice, charged with mana, reverberated loudly.
The soldiers, who had been thrown off by the sudden appearance of the barbarians, widened their eyes.
For some reason, listening to Elric's voice washed away their confusion, allowing calm reasoning to return.
"Form ranks and brace for the ambush!"
The soldiers quickly aligned themselves.
They had been fortunate so far, but deep down, they had always known this day would come. After all, the Red Lion Army wasn't foolish enough to keep suffering losses without striking back.
"Blue Ram, Blue Horse! Take the front! Phalanx formation!"
At Isabelle's command, the knights of the Weyl House moved with flawless coordination.
With a clatter, the Blue Ram and Blue Horse knight orders drew their massive tower shields and positioned themselves at the front, forming a phalanx. The rest of the knights reinforced their flanks.
The discipline and order the Weyl House had cultivated over generations were on full display.
"Count's men and viscount's soldiers, support the flanks!"
The men of Count Caliger and Viscount Kuransibil hesitated momentarily, unsure of what to do.
"What are you waiting for? Do you want to die here? Move it!"
Isabelle's sharp words and a nod from Count Caliger spurred them into action.
The phalanx held by the knights of the Weyl House was reinforced on both sides by the soldiers of the Count and the Viscount.
"The Star's Legion will secure the rear!"
"Execute Formation C!"
Following Brian's command, the Star's Legion spread out in a single line, securing the back while turning to face potential threats from behind.
They took their positions without hesitation, having fought side by side in numerous battles, their teamwork honed to perfection.
"Black Skull, you're more suited to skirmishes than to large formations, so focus on driving the enemy into one spot!"
Heize and the Black Skull's eyes gleamed.
They understood Isabelle's intent. She wanted them to engage in the skirmishes but drive the enemies toward the main formation, creating a hammer-and-anvil tactic.
The Black Skull would serve as the hammer, driving the barbarians into the anvil of the main force, where they would be crushed.
"Damn bastards. Do they even know where they are?"
"Cannibals. I'll rip them to pieces."
Just as the soldiers' spirits were rising, Elric spoke:
"They're coming."
At his word, the barbarians surged out from the forest, rushing toward the camp.
They wore little more than animal hides draped over their bodies, their muscular bronze skin adorned with war paint and tattoos. In one hand, they wielded massive, curved scimitars, while small bows and quivers hung from their shoulders.
Their ferocious eyes gleamed dangerously. They looked less like men and more like wild beasts.
With strange cries, they charged, sounding more like animals than humans.
They were predators, moving in packs.
"[Blazing Flames]!"
"[Flowing sea of flames]…."
"[Raging Storm]…!"
Boom! Fwoosh!
Before the barbarians could collide with the frontline, spells rained down on them.
Wind howled, and flames erupted from the ground.
It was a fearsome sight, but instead of being deterred, the barbarians seemed even more driven by the attack.
"Kuha! Matata! Shabara! Ha!"
The leader of the barbarians shouted commands in a language the Empire's forces couldn't understand, and the warriors responded with thunderous cries.
Ah! Ah!
With each shout, their morale seemed to double.
"What are they saying?"
Herman asked as he drew his sword, while Sailor chuckled and answered.
"They say that since we use cursed magic, we must be demons blessed by an evil god—and that they must tear us apart."
"What?"
Herman scoffed, finding the idea absurd. As a veteran who had fought on the front lines during the Great Demon War, the notion that they were demons was laughable.
But he was glad he had asked Sailor, as the man seemed to hold considerable sway over the barbarians.
If this man was their leader, eliminating him would be key to breaking their morale.
He prepared to charge forward.
"Wait, where's the Radiant Star Duke?"
Sailor's sudden question made Herman freeze.
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't see the head of the Melvinger family. Where did he go? He wouldn't flee... So, where?"
Sailor looked genuinely puzzled.
Herman quickly scanned the area.
It was true. Elric was nowhere to be seen.
Then, a thought struck him.
'Could it be...?'
Sailor seemed to have the same realization, laughing dryly.
"He left us to handle the chaos while he went off to enjoy the fun on his own."
***
Boom! Boom!
The sounds of battle grew louder.
The stench of blood and burning flesh filled the air. The scale of the fighting was clearly not small.
So, they're putting up more of a fight than expected.
Judas's lips curled into a small smile.
"Not bad."
Crack!
The seal on Judas's back began to glow ominously.
There was another seal next to the one he originally had.
It depicted a two-legged raven taking flight.
The Seal of Frenzy.
This seal, representing Azazel, was a rank below the Seal of Insanity. Possessing this seal indicated that Judas held a special status even within Gregory's ranks.
He was a bishop.
Or a 'vessel.'
Someone worthy of Azazel's descent!
Judas wasn't going to hold back this time. He couldn't afford to, not with the sly Melvinger lurking around. He planned to charge into the heart of the enemy and crush Elric's head from the start.
"Let's move ou—!"
Judas's command was cut short.
Before he could finish, a surprise attack came from above.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A winter storm descended upon them from the sky.
"Not so fast."
Elric was there.
[T/L: You can read ahead chapters and support me here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]