*Rumble*

*Rumble*

The ground shook with the sound of the horses hooves.

The Kashuka Knights turned around after sweeping through the Imperial Armys entire infantry.

Aagh!

Help me!

Any Imperial Army soldiers in their way would be swept to the side under the might of their charge. This was the tactic that they had employed to great effect.

Stop them! Enter the tortoise formation to stop the cavalry!

Following the commanders orders, the Imperial Army moved in unison. A moment later, their shields and spears came together to form a solid wall around them.

But such a formation was useless when their opponents were heavily armed with magic weapons. Their formation would have been effective against regular cavalry, but this was anything but that.

AAAAGH!

They forcefully broke through once again.

In the face of such a reckless charge, the Imperial Army broke down.

The Imperial Armys spears couldnt pierce through the enemys armor, and the shields they wielded broke easily.

Their shield wall crumbled easily and many soldiers were trampled by the enemy horses hooves.

The Kashuka Knights soon broke through the center and began heading towards the artillery.

At this rate, the artillery troops were going to be left exposed and defenseless against the enemys attacks.

As a result of their efforts to sustain shelling magic on the Outsiders, they were starting to run low on mana. They didnt have enough energy to deal with the cavalrys approach.

Despite being plunged into crisis, Desir didnt panic and slowly examined the enemy. His two eyes were looking for the Kashuka Knights planned route.

For cavalries that cant make sharp turns, theyre dead the moment their planned movement is discovered.

Having finished organizing his thoughts, Desir gave Romantica an order.

Romantica, aim for the one third from the front.

The enemy that Desir was pointing at was armed with particularly good weapons in comparison to the rest of the cavalry.

Romantica, too, had noticed the superiority of his gear through the difference in the flow of mana and soon went into sniping mode. And the moment the target entered her line of sight

*BANG*

The bullet pierced straight through the head of the Kashuka Knights leader, and he tumbled off his horse like a rag doll.

Using a weapon called a rifle to concentrate a significant amount of her power into a single bullet, Romanticas shot far surpassed her manas limit in terms of strength.

Dont stop!

Continue carrying out the leaders orders!

The Kashuka Knights turned a blind eye to their leaders death and continued charging.

Desirs orders continued.

Adjest, freeze the enemys movements.

As soon as he finished talking, Adjests calculations appeared in the form of a multitude of magical arrays in front of herself.

[Forest of Crying White Crows]

Fourth Circle ice magic.

Hundreds of pillars of ice surfaced along the trajectory that the Kashuka Knights were following.

!

Their movements immediately slowed. The wall that had appeared out of nowhere forced them to quickly change their route.

But without a leader to make commands, there was no way they were going to make a quick and unified decision.

Desir raised his hand towards the hesitant Kashuka Knights.

[Flame Storm]

A spell that would normally be classified as being of the Third Circle surged towards the Kashuka Knights with the force of a Sixth Circle spell.

And as their silver armor dyed itself red

*BAAAAANG*

A huge firestorm erupted with a deafening roar.

Th theres no way

Regardless of which side they were on, everyone that was watching the scene had the same thought.

There was no one that could survive in such flames that still continued to burn fiercely.

The Kashuka Knights that had been at the center of the explosion, as well as assisting enemy troops surrounding them, were wiped out completely.

We werent told about any of this! How could a magician of this level be mixed in amongst the infantry!

Having witnessed overwhelming magical power, the Outsiders fell into a panic.

The Imperial Army didnt miss the opportunity.

HRAAAAGH!

A multitude of battle cries sounded.

The momentary upper hand that the Outsiders had claimed swiftly returned to the Imperial Army.

I think weve done enough.

It was like Pram said.

The Starling Party had neutralized the enemys attacks, and completely annihilated their main troops.

They had created the current situation.

The Outsiders resisted desperately. The situation had already turned against them, yet they remained persistent.

Desir spoke to the party members as he gasped for air.

Like Pram said, weve done enough so lets leave the rest to the infantry

At his orders, Romantica questioned him.

Were not seeing it through to the end?

This is enough for now. This wont be the last battle anyway.

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A magicians management of their mana was more important than a knight maintaining their fitness. A magician out of mana was no different than an ordinary person with no training.

But that wasnt the only reason why Desir ordered a retreat.

Something isnt right.

Despite his overwhelming victory, he didnt look very happy.

Going to the rear where the command center was located, the Starling Party was able to join up with Radoria and Kelt who had been active within the artillery troops. They had retreated to the command center after the Blue Moon and Red Dragon parties finished aiding the artillery unit, as well as their personal mana stores being largely depleted.

Noticing the Starling Party, Radoria approached them.

You guys are doing great. Thanks to you, the artillery battle was really easy. Theres a tent at the back so you should rest up a bit.

Adjest, Romantica, and Pram hurried to the tent that Radoria was pointing at.

But Desir was different. With a stiff expression, he continued examining the battlefield.

When Desir didnt immediately join his party members to rest, Radoria spoke to him.

Whats wrong, Desir?

Things seem to be going easier than I expected it to. Since our main forces were sent to the central front to provide support, Id expected the situation to be difficult

Radoria spoke as if she didnt understand.

Well thats obviously because you guys have done so well.

No, thats not what I mean.

The questions Desir had werent about the current situation. They were more about the fundamental situation itself.

The Outsiders, created by groups of criminals all over the continent, currently possessed enough power to be called the strongest on a battlefield.

It was enough to go head-to-head with the forces provided by the Western Kingdom Union.

And the current force of the Imperial Army that was mobilized for this war was only a fifth of the Allied Forces power.

Sensing the tense atmosphere flowing between Radoria and Desir, Kelt approached them.

Its strange. Even though the troops that were sent to the western and central fronts were considerably large, when thinking about how powerful a force they have, the number of troops they sent here is far too little.

Kelt seemed to have realized that something was off as well.

Thats certainly the case.

Is it because they dont want to take the risk? If they go all-out and lose, then thats it for them.

At Radorias guess, Desir shook his head.

The troops theyd mobilized this time were far too big for them to have been preparing for next time.

If the Outsiders lost this battle, they did have the homunculus as a wildcard, but it would be near impossible for them to overturn the situation.

The Outsiders arent in a position to save their power.

He could only assume that they had something else they were aiming for.

What could their goal be?

Desir quickly reached a conclusion.

The supply routes.

What?

If the homunculus at the central front was to tie down the Allied Forces main forces and the supply routes in the western and eastern fronts were their main goals

Radoria and Kelt turned pale.

The Allied Forces that were composed of the continents greatest nations were truly enormous. If the supply routes were seized by the enemy, it would become impossible to maintain all those troops.

They would lose without even getting a chance to fight the enemy properly.

Radoria spoke urgently to Desir.

Wed better send a scouting party. Ill tell the command immediately.

We have no time for that. Romantica!

Surprised by Desirs call, Romantica jumped out.

Whats going on!?

Romantica, I need you to invoke detection magic around the ports supply route.

Flustered, Radoria spoke.

Desir, even if its Romantica, using detection magic at such a distance

Weve always practiced within that range so its okay.

Romantica cut off Radioras words and began invoking detection magic.

The wind blew around her, and soon it concentrated onto one point and stretched out.

As the wind searched every nook and cranny of the battlefield, Romanticas eyebrows flinched.

This is

Des1r hurriedly asked.

Are you getting a response?

Around two thousand armored people are heading towards the supply route.

At Romanticas response, the expressions of Hebrion Academys party leaders hardened.

Kelt murmured.

This entire assault was a ruse

The once heated atmosphere turned cold in an instant.

-

Chapter brought to you by The Patrons.

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ED2: Purplemen101

TLC: N/A (this could be you!)

QC: Dr Lock, Nhan