“Get out of the way! Anyone cowering will be trampled like rats!”
The soldiers of the Hero’s army screamed as they scattered in panic, allowing Berganda and Sheto to make it to the far side of the wall without much resistance.
“W… what is this…?”
And spread out on the other side…lay the monster army, burned and shattered.
‘As a siege spell, Blazing Star of Flame is different from the others because it allows the caster to set the area of effect. It seems they rained the star fragments down around their main force.’
There had been so many monsters before, but they were now reduced to half. Even those that had survived had been burned or had gaping holes in their bodies.
“So they used their own main force as bait, and wiped us out with siege sorcery. They do not deal in half-measures, eh?”
‘This is no time to be standing dazed! Shout, blow a horn…anything! Gather the troops and withdraw at once!’
The demon general shifted Sheto onto his back and silently raised one arm.
And then Udik and the others, who were waiting behind him, let out a resounding roar that carried far and wide.
The answering whistles rang out again, like the cries of migrating birds. And in the next instant, the monsters turned and fled, running from the battlefield without looking back.
“Why…”
Sheto spat out the words that had been building up in his chest.
“Why, can’t we, win…!”
“So after throwing everything we have at them…every plan, every last bit of will, even sacrificing our own…we still cannot reach the summit, eh…?”
The same sentiment overflowed in Berganda’s voice.
Just then, the pounding of heavy military boots sounded at their backs.
‘Sheto! The Hero’s army is coming!’
Salia’s cry had become pure fear.
When they looked back, the Hero’s forces were charging in like a raging torrent. And in their hands were not long spears, but double-edged swords.
‘So they have discarded their spears and taken up swords!? And this speed…!’
‘Gladius Hispaniensis, eh? And that box formation earlier must have been a variation of the maniple formation.’
Casting off their previous sluggishness, the enemy now rushed forward at a terrifying pace. The monsters were wounded and stumbling as they fled. Surely there would be no way to shake off the enemy.
‘This is bad! At this rate, they will catch up!’
At Salia’s warning, Berganda shot a furious glance back at the pursuing enemy.
But just as he started to halt and raise his axe…
“General! This is as far as we go!”
The ogre said as he turned around, his feet planted firmly on the ground.
As if in answer, the others also took up positions to face the enemy.
“Live on! And avenge this defeat!”
“Aye!”
The force returned to Berganda’s legs, just as he was about to stop. And he broke into a run once more.
And before Sheto’s eyes, the remaining soldiers hurled themselves into the oncoming enemy tide, one after another. Even those who were wounded, their bodies broken and bleeding, desperately raised their spears to hold back the pursuit.
“Ah… ah…”
Still, the violent wave of the Hero’s army swallowed everything without mercy. Those attempting to rejoin Berganda, those trying to hold the enemy back…all of them.
“Everyone… everyone, will die…”
The clamor of the battlefield was fading into the distance now. The enemy was held at bay by the rear guard giving their lives.
A salty stream ran down Sheto’s cheek, washing the stains of blood and mud.
With the battlefield of defeat behind them, the monsters kept running. Desperately and without ever stopping.