Cannonballs began to tear through the ranks of the Cruyff cavalry. Men were thrown from their horses as they panicked due to the thundering roar of artillery fire. The approaching infantry were frightened, they could see their supporting cavalry being bombarded. Heavy casualties had already been sustained for the Cruyff cavalry, 700 out of their 3,000 had fallen.
Seeing how effective his bombardment had been, Victor ordered all 3 sections of his battery to target the Cruyff cannons, who had moved into a fireable range. Not allowing their advancing troops to continue without support, the Cruyff artillery started their own bombardment.
Since the cannon fire on the Cruyff cavalry stopped, both General Bertrand and Rapp ordered their cavalry units to engage. Brandishing their sabres and lances, the Luxenberg cavalry began a spirited charge.
As their hooves met the ground, the horses propelled forward, quickly approaching the enemy. The Luxenberg cavalrymen were focused, their gaze never straying away from their targets. As they drew closer they could see the frightened expressions of the men that they were about to kill. With loud thuds and cries the Luxenberg cavalry fell upon Duke Cruyff's cavalry.
Swamping the disorganised and unprepared cavalry of Cruyff, Victor's cavalry began to cut through their ranks. Throats were slashed and hearts were impaled, men were disembowelled or decapitated. The destructive force of the Luxenberg cavalry shattered the enemy's morale. Fleeing and surrending, the Cruyff cavalry who had been diminished to half their original number did anything to survive.
While a fierce mounted melee ensued on the flanks, the Cruyff infantry were overwhelmed by the range of the Luxenberg Jaegers. Skirmishes were a rare unit for dukedoms to have. Developing the soldiers and procuring the rifles was a tall task for smaller territories like dukedoms. Nevertheless, 600 Jaegers began to apply pressure early on in the skirmish.
Taken aback by the range of the Luxenberg infantry, the Cruyff soldiers briefly paused due to the confusion. They still had another 20 meters until the main Luxenberg infantry formation was in range. Not wanting to be sitting ducks, the infantrymen from the Cruyff Dukedom advanced closer into the jaws of death.
Rifles raised on both sides, an intense exchange of bullets started. At first, the sides were evenly matched, men on both sides fell like dominoes, but as the skirmish raged on, there was a clear discrepancy between the 2 sides. Experience and skill were factors that began to show, the Luxenberg soldiers were beginning to inflict more casualties than they were sustaining.
Harold Cruyff was watching from the rear as his army struggled against a formidable Luxenberg army. He watched as his cavalry fled and surrendered. His cannons and their crew were being decimated by a powerful battery.
"Useless curs, the lot of them! Stand and fight you cowards!" Screamed Harold Cruyff. Blinded by rage, he could not sense the danger he was in. The Luxenberg cavalry who had finished dealing with their opposition now encircled the battlefield. There were no routes for retreat now unless they could fight through 3,000 enemy cavalrymen.
More than a third of the Cruyff infantry had perished in comparison to less than a quarter of the Luxenberg infantry. Sensing that all hope was lost many of the conscripts who were forced to enlist ran away or threw down their arms. Once 3,000 men surrendered, many more followed their actions.
Pressing their advantages, both General Bertrand and Rapp ordered the infantry to advance. They were to take prisoners and kill those who still had the will to fight. Victor ordered his cannons to hold fire, there was no point in wasting ammunition or risking friendly fire.
Victor's elite guards were itching for some action. All they did during the battle was spectate atop a hill. Satiating his men's urge for battle the elites of Victor's army rushed down the hill to join the fray. Only 20 Royal Scots Grey soldiers remained to protect Victor.
'This battle is nearing its end. I wish we did not suffer as many casualties as we did. But all things considered, I think this battle has been a convincing victory,' Victor thought to himself while overlooking the final stages of the battle.
While the majority of the Cruyff army had fled or surrendered 4,000 infantrymen remained. Set in a square formation, the soldiers had Harold Cruyff and his adjutants in the centre of the square. It was an admirable last stand, but it was wasted on such a pitiful lord like Harold Cruyff.
Approaching the enemy formation Victor addressed the Cruyff soldiers, "Soldiers of the Cruyff Dukedom, my quarrel is not with you. I am not here to pillage or burn. Your homes and loved ones are not my targets. My issue is with your pitiful and arrogant duke. Lower your arms, I do not wish to see the blood of good men spilt in vain."
Ballistic at such an offer, Duke Harold Cruyff began to yell at his soldiers, "Shoot that bastard! Shoot him now! What are you wastrels doing? Fire!" The Cruyff infantrymen held firm, they neither moved nor fired. Infuriated by such defiance, Harold Cruyff dismounted from his horse and wrestled a loaded rifle out of the hands of 1 of his soldiers. Taking aim at Victor, Duke Cruyff hastily pulled the trigger. Bang! The rifle fired.
As soon as the rifle was fired the soldier in front of Duke Cruyff collapsed. In his arrogance, the red-haired duke failed to aim properly and as a result, killed his own soldier at point-blank range.
Many soldiers in the formation could only stare in horror. The man they were laying down their lives for had just killed a loyal soldier. After witnessing such a disturbing display all the soldiers threw down their arms in surrender.
Victor was mortified and disgusted. To accidentally kill your own soldier, who was prepared to die for you was the ultimate insult to their loyalty. Victor signalled for his men to capture Duke Cruyff and his adjutants.
Rounding up all the prisoners and tallying the death toll, the final outcome of the battle was determined.
From the Dukedom of Cruyff, the original army of 24,000 infantrymen, 3,000 cavalry and 80 guns had diminished greatly. 2,000 of the 3,000 cavalry had been killed while 600 were captured and the rest fled. Only 20 of the 80 guns remained operational, the rest had been destroyed in the bombardment. Finally, 14,000 infantrymen had died while another 10,000 had surrendered. Finally, Duke Cruyff and all his staff were taken prisoner.
While Victor's army of 22,000 infantrymen, 4,500 cavalrymen and 110 guns had sustained some damage. 700 cavalrymen were either wounded or dead. 5,000 infantry were either wounded or dead and 10 cannons and their crew were out of commission.
Victor mourned for the loss of his soldiers. They had fought bravely in the first battle of Duke Victor Luxenberg's reign. A burial and funeral service was done for the soldiers before the army marched towards the Cruyff Dukedom's capital city of Sardia.
During the march to Sardia, Victor was greeted by multiple blue system screens.
'Optional Quest 1 Completed: Execute Josephine Luxenberg!'
'Rewards: 5x 100-Man Infantry Unit Summon and 2x 30-Man Cavalry Unit Summon'
Victor was most pleased to get such a decent reward for killing his stepmother. Her death served as a morale booster for his army. She rarely interacted with Victor but managed to mess with him through others. She was the reason Victor was poorly fed. She was the reason many of the palace staff ignored or bullied Victor.
After dealing with the first blue screen a second blue screen appeared.
'Hidden Quest Completed!: Win Your First Battle!'
'Rewards: 20x 100-Man Infantry Unit Summon'
Seeing this almost gave Victor a heart attack. From this battle and the death of his stepmother, he managed to replenish half of his infantry casualties. Victor used these summons immediately hoping to bolster his army. Victor smiled and muttered as he used the summons.
"It's time for some reinforcements."