Leon's army surged forward like a tidal wave, the sound of iron cavalry shaking the earth, and arrows pouring down from the sky, descending upon the Silver Wolf Tribe. Arthur calmly gave the order, "Do not retreat! Every step is their tomb!"
The warriors of the Silver Wolf Tribe, armed with spears and curved swords, skillfully repelled each enemy trying to break through. Their shouts and roars were filled with determination, their battle spirit high, even though every charge came at a heavy price, they never wavered.
However, the overwhelming numerical advantage of Leon's army was too great. They launched a frontal assault and attempted to flank the Silver Wolf Tribe from both sides. Arthur sensed the enemy's intent and quickly adjusted the formation, concentrating his warriors at the narrowest part of the valley, using the terrain to counter the Strongson army's advance.
Just as the Silver Wolf Tribe was about to be overwhelmed, a deafening roar came from the mountaintop. Arthur looked up and saw dozens of massive boulders tumbling down the peak, crashing into Leon's front-line troops. The boulders were unstoppable, flattening everything in their path—soldiers and warhorses were as fragile as paper before the rocks.
"Matul's troops!" a Silver Wolf warrior exclaimed. Sure enough, the sound of horns echoed from the mountaintop, and Matul's soldiers threw boulders and logs from above, using crude tools to cut the enemy into two. Leon's iron cavalry was thrown into disarray, and the reinforcing troops were blocked by the narrow mountain paths.
Seizing the opportunity, Arthur immediately ordered the Silver Wolf Tribe to counterattack, opening a retreat route. His warriors, braving arrows and the enemy's frantic counterattacks, suppressed the enemy's vanguard, buying precious time for the coalition's retreat.
Under the cover of Matul's reinforcements, Arthur led the Silver Wolf Tribe step by step out of the bloodbath. His armor was soaked in blood, his battle axe smeared with dirt and the blood of enemies. Every Silver Wolf warrior bore wounds, but none of them retreated. They knew that this battle was not only for the survival of the coalition but for the future of the entire East.
By the time they had finally shaken off Leon's pursuit, the first light of dawn was appearing on the horizon. Arthur looked back with the remaining warriors. The smoke of battle still lingered over the battlefield, and the sound of Matul's reinforcements' horns still echoed. But he knew that Leon would not give up so easily.
"Retreat to the rear," Arthur said softly, his voice a mixture of exhaustion and resolve. "There, we can properly organize our next defense."
After the coalition forces, including Arthur and Zack, met up with Greve at the border rear, Greve collapsed onto the ground, tears silently streaming down his face. His gaze revealed deep despair, as if all hope had been completely extinguished in that disastrous fire.
Zack asked Arthur, "What exactly happened with that fire? Do you have any leads?" Arthur frowned, unsure of what had transpired, but he had a strong premonition that a dark secret lay behind it all.
Greve's voice was low and broken. "We have lost too much. Edelrnia... there is no hope left." He wiped his tears, his eyes filled with grief for the fallen soldiers and the hopelessness of countless families. His completely broken demeanor seemed to indicate that he had lost all hope.
Arthur silently watched Greve, his heart heavy. He understood that for this general, the fire had not only destroyed Edelrnia's defenses, but had also shattered his faith. The sacrifice of every soldier, the loss of every inch of land, felt like a massive boulder pressing on his shoulders.
Zack murmured, "That fire..." He turned to Arthur, his tone filled with confusion and suppressed anger. "Who caused this disaster? Could it have been some kind of secret weapon from the Strongson army?"
Arthur's brow furrowed as he looked across the horizon, the land still consumed by flames. He remembered the strange fire on the battlefield—intense and swift, consuming everything, as if it contained an unnatural force.
"It wasn't ordinary fire," Arthur's voice was low but firm. "It came too fast, too precise, like a disaster planned in advance. Maybe it wasn't just the Strongson army... there are other forces pulling the strings behind this."
Zack clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. "Whoever did this, they have destroyed our last hope."
Greve raised his head, a flicker of anger appearing in his tear-streaked eyes. "Hope? Hope was burned to ashes long ago! Our soldiers gave their lives to protect the country, and now we don't even have a stronghold to defend! Edelrnia's future is gone!"
Arthur walked up to him, his voice low but resolute. "General, I know the pain you feel, but the war is not over. You think Edelrnia has no hope left, but as long as one person stands up to fight, the soul of this land is not destroyed. We are still alive, Greve! As long as we live, there is hope!"
Greve froze, his fists tightly clenched. After a moment of silence, he asked in a low voice, "Arthur, do you really believe we can turn this around?"
Arthur nodded, his tone unwavering with determination. "We have no choice. No matter how strong the enemy is, no matter what dark conspiracy lurks behind this, as long as there are those willing to fight, Edelrnia will never fall."
Zack patted Greve on the shoulder and comforted him. "We've already given so much; we can't let these sacrifices go to waste. The Strongson army is still advancing. We must unite all forces and reorganize our resistance."
Greve's shoulders trembled slightly, and a glimmer of clarity began to appear in his eyes. He slowly stood up, took a deep breath. "Arthur, you are right. We are still alive, so we cannot give up. No matter the cost, we must protect what remains of our land and our people."
Under Greve's leadership, Arthur and Zack quickly made their way back to the rear of the frontlines. They rushed through the palace gates and swiftly arrived at the king's council hall. The king's expression was grim. Upon seeing the arrival of the leaders, he said no pleasantries and immediately asked, "How is the situation at the front?"
Greve lowered his head, his voice hoarse. "Edelrnia's defenses have completely collapsed. Tens of thousands of soldiers have died, and the army camps at the front have been almost entirely destroyed by the Strongson forces. We may be the next target."
Upon hearing this, the king's face grew even paler, a flicker of fear in his eyes. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, his tone cold and resolute. "Perhaps Edelrnia cannot be saved. Our fate is now tightly intertwined with it." He took a deep breath, looked out the window, and with determination, added, "I can no longer hesitate. Prepare to head to Edelrnia's capital immediately."
"But, Your Majesty," Greve quickly interjected, "the people of Edelrnia need to be evacuated. If the defense retreats, they will face immense risks."
The king's expression remained stern. "The safety of the people will be personally arranged by me. We cannot remain stagnant in this crisis; we must fight for every chance of survival. Let them retreat to the rear, ensuring that the rear can support our final defense."
The people of Edelrnia began evacuating under the protection of soldiers, while Leon's army adjusted its formation.
The atmosphere in the council hall was suffocating, as if everyone struggled to breathe under the weight of it all. The king turned to Arthur, his eyes full of expectation. "Arthur, you and the Silver Wolf Tribe's warriors have fought bravely. Now, I need you to protect the citizens during the retreat from enemy pursuit."
Arthur replied quietly, "The Silver Wolf Tribe's mission is to protect the hopes of our allies. Your Majesty, I will do everything I can to ensure their safety. But the retreat will inevitably slow us down. If Leon's army advances too quickly, we may not be able to retreat without casualties."
Zack thought for a moment and then replied, "We can use the canyon's terrain to set traps and slow their advance. But this will take time, and many will have to sacrifice to hold them off."
The king spoke in a low voice, "This is our only chance. Tell every soldier that their sacrifice is for the survival of many."
General Greve's eyes showed a mix of emotions as he stood tall, facing the king. "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the remaining forces to hold the rear, skirmishing with Leon's forces to buy more time for the retreat."
The king's gaze grew deep. He patted Greve's shoulder. "Greve, Edelrnia will forever remember your loyalty. You and your troops are our heroes."