Chapter 16: Complete Victory

Chapter 16: Complete Victory

TL: Etude

Pauls heart tightened as the sounds of battle approached from the front.

This time, the soldiers performance had improved compared to the last battle. There was no reckless charging, thanks to a company kept in reserve near Paul. Senior officers like Bryce had also charged into the fray. Although Paul was opposed to senior officers leading the charge, it undeniably boosted the soldiers morale.

However, the situation gradually turned dire, with Pauls side showing signs of weakness as the battle slowly shifted towards the center of Lakeheart Town.

Paul became anxious. Let the reserve company take over, he suggested.

Schroeder shook his head. Its not time yet.

Just then, a report came in: suspicious figures resembling another group of pirates were spotted near the towns other bridge.

Send the reserve company there, Schroeder decided.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

Paul sighed in relief. Good thing we kept the reserve. It would have been bad if another group of pirates broke into the town.

The reserve company, now acting, began to rapidly move towards the other side of the town.

Their movement was pivotal; the soldiers engaged in battle thought their lord was abandoning them to retreat, and many started fleeing towards Pauls position.

No retreat signal has been sounded, get back to the fight!!! Bryce and other officers, while fending off enemies, shouted furiously. Some soldiers returned to the battle, but many did not.

Their disadvantage became even more apparent

Thats when the old knight Schroeder made his move.

He charged on his horse, quickly closing in on a fleeing soldier, drawing his sword in a swift motion.

In a split second, before anyone could comprehend his actions, the deserters head was no longer on his shoulders, rolling on the ground and ending up under Pauls horse.

The body, now headless, collapsed with a thud, blood spurting from the neck, staining the ground red.

The sight of this fierce action stunned both the fleeing soldiers and those with Paul.

The old knights eyes were blazing with anger, his neck flushed red and veins bulging, emitting an almost palpable aura of fury.

This is the fate of a deserter!!! His voice thundered across the battlefield, striking fear into every heart.

Provost guards, on my command, deal with any retreaters in the same way, no mercy!!!

As the soldiers reached the shore, pirates who had managed to get on their boats began rowing away, distancing themselves from the land.

Wait for me!!!

Cuckold!

Go die!

The pirates still in the water, who hadnt managed to get aboard, cursed their abandoning comrades, while some swam desperately towards the departing boats.

Some pirates left on the shore resisted briefly but were either killed or surrendered.

At this moment, a troop of soldiers arrived at the shore the gunners, tasked with striking the final blow.

Six musketeers, already loaded, aimed and fired towards the pirate boats, while others lit bamboo fire tubes and ignited hand grenades.

Despite the muskets limited accuracy, their targets were close and densely packed, resulting in a successful volley.

With the muskets smoke, four pirates on a boat were hit, two falling into the lake, their fate unknown. One was hit directly in the chest and was immediately lifeless, while another, hit in the arm, screamed in agony.

The pirates, unfamiliar with such weapons, were astounded and fearful. Witchcraft! Black magic! The nobles are using evil magic!

Then, more terror rained from the shore as round objects with sizzling fuses flew towards the boats. The pirates, realizing the danger, frantically rowed away.

The first grenade landed accurately over a boat and exploded mid-air, mutilating the pirates nearby and throwing the boat into chaos.

If the muskets hadnt drawn much attention due to their limited numbers, the grenades caused a major upheaval. Although some fell into the water, those that exploded wreaked havoc, with shrapnel and nails scattering, the lake echoing with explosions and pirates screams.

Die, you sons of bitches! laughed Makarov, throwing grenades at the pirate boats. Todays victory washed away the gloom of previous defeats, providing a much-needed vindication.

The pirates, enduring the explosions, rowed desperately, eventually escaping the range of the firearms.

Meanwhile, the reserve team sent to the other side of the town reported back. The other suspected pirates, after observing, decided not to attack upon seeing the well-prepared reserve forces. They vanished after witnessing the defeat of their counterparts, and the reserve was ordered to remain on alert.

After the victory, excitement and cheers filled the battlefield, lifting the long-standing gloom over the army. With the enemy out of sight, the Count ordered a cleanup of the battlefield and announced two orders through the provosts: all spoils must be declared, and prisoners must not be mistreated.

On Schroeders advice, two cavalrymen were dispatched in the direction of the pirates retreat to scout for any possible counterattacks.

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