Chapter 59 : Second Clash (18)

Chapter 59: Second Clash (18)

Shatien let out a ragged breath.

“Huff, huff.”

He had exploded with power all at once. The commanding knight was easier to deal with than most, but the difference was not so great that he should have been cut down in a single exchange.

Shatien had forced himself to finish the man. He was drenched in blood from head to toe as the price, but he was satisfied.

“Sir Krikt is down!”

“It is that bastard! That one!”

“Shatien. It is Shatien the Knight Killer!!”

The intruders who grasped the situation began to panic and run.

“Ugh.”

Shatien moved his aching body and steadied his breath. His stamina was always the problem. If he had enough of it, he felt certain he could face a hundred enemies or more on his own.

“Centurion, that was incredible!”

“It was nothing. Is everyone all right?”

“Yes, sir!”

At their bright replies, Shatien exhaled once more and quickly surveyed the field.

It looked as if they had eliminated most of the infiltrators. If no unforeseen incident occurred, the night raid would end…

“Waaaaaaah!”

But of course, nothing in Shatien’s life ever ended neatly.

“Attack the supply depot!”

“Retake it at once! Remember our fallen comrades!”

A tremendous roar rose from the slope beneath the palisade.

“…!”

A heaving sea of torches surged forward with an imperial force so vast Shatien could not estimate the number.

* * *

The imperial army reached the main gate in an instant. Their horses dragged a log reinforced with iron plates toward the entrance. It was crude, but it was still a siege weapon. They clearly intended to break through this time.

“Those filthy cowards!”

They had broken the agreement and acted on their own. If the operation failed, shame should have been their reaction, yet they attacked to the end.

‘I will drive them back no matter what.’

They still had time before the enemy finished climbing. Shatien immediately ordered the mercenaries to retrieve the necessary equipment from the depot. Soon the men returned with arms full of gear.

“Centurion! They say the fires inside are nearly contained. The remaining troops will join the palisade.”

“That is fortunate.”

Armed mercenaries hurried up the wall. Some staggered, but the chaos had sobered them somewhat. Others gathered below the gate, forming a solid wall of shields to block any breakthrough.

“Hold this gate as if you are ready to die!”

“Waaaaah!”

Their spirits were high despite the alcohol still lingering in their systems.

Just then, ladders hooked onto the palisade.

“Take the wall!”

“Move! Heavy infantry first!”

Imperial soldiers climbed upward, shields over their heads. This was the moment to strike, before they reached the top.

“Do not wait for them to climb. Knock the ladders down!”

“Yes, sir!”

Mercenaries hooked the sharpened ends of their spears beneath the ladders. Three or four pushed with all their strength.

“W-Whoa!”

“It is tipping! Hold tight!”

“Grab underneath! If it flips you will die!”

The imperial soldiers below fought desperately to keep the ladders steady.

‘Not as easy as I hoped.’

Shatien clicked his tongue and picked up a spear.

Its heavy weight traveled up into his grip. He raised it slowly and focused on the ladder.

“Huuup-!”

He gathered strength,

-Flash!

With a sharp tearing sound through the air, the hurled spear smashed into the ladder’s side rail.

The spear pierced cleanly through and the ladder collapsed.

-Craaack!

“Whoaaa!”

“Gyaaah!”

-Thud!

The mercenaries cheered the display. Every time they saw such overwhelming skill, it bolstered their morale.

“Wooooaaa!”

“Sha-tien!”

“Sha-tien!”

Shatien raised his hand in acknowledgment. He needed to push their morale as high as possible.

“This is the spirit! You are fighting well. Hold just a little longer. When dawn comes they will fall apart.”

Thanks to that, the mercenaries’ morale soared even higher.

“Understood.”

“We will not let a single one climb up, Centurion.”

Even while speaking, Shatien continued throwing spears at the ladders. Each time one broke, five or six imperial soldiers crashed to the ground.

But this covered only one portion of the front. He could not destroy every ladder. And beyond that,

‘I cannot see the rest of the line.’

The darkness made it impossible to assess the overall situation. Steel clashed on all sides, yet the fighting positions remained unclear. There was a reason old war manuals warned against night battles.

Shatien clicked his tongue.

Just then, someone ran toward him.

“Who is it!”

He swung his blade and the mercenary flinched back in terror.

“Eek! It is me! Ally! I-I’m not an enemy, Centurion!”

“My mistake. It is dark.”

Shatien sheathed his weapon.

It was hard to distinguish friend from foe. He had nearly killed a messenger.

“I-I am fine. But more importantly, Centurion, please help below. The gate is about to fall.”

“What?”

Only then did he hear the battering ram clearly.

-Thud, thud, thud!

The massive ram he saw earlier had reached the gate. The blows sounded as if the gate would shatter at any moment.

When Shatien looked down in shock,

-Crack!

-Thud!

-Craaaack!

“It’s done! It is breaking!”

“Push in! Secure space! Kill them all!”

Enemies with torches poured through the shattered gaps.

* * *

“Hold them back!”

“Push with your shields!”

“There are too many!”

“Hold! If we hold, we win!”

The mercenaries at the entrance fought desperately. Shockwaves crashed against their shields with every strike.

-Crack, thud, thud!

-Clang, clang!

They staggered but held the line.

‘The gate comes first.’

Shatien decided instantly. There was no reason to hesitate.

Once the gate fell, the palisade no longer mattered. Neither side had enough archers to influence the walls.

-Tap.

He gripped the war hammer he had prepared.

‘Knights carry these for good reason.’

In a narrow entrance, it was unmatched.

Especially for destroying armored knights.

‘And it doesn’t break easily.’

That part he liked most.

“Centuria!”

“Yes, sir! You called?”

“I am going to support the gate. I leave the rear to you!”

“Leave it to us.”

“Good!”

Shatien sprinted down after saying those words. When he arrived, a familiar face greeted him.

“Shatien! I knew it was you.”

“Centurion Jacri, you were here?”

He saw someone blocking the entrance, and it was Centurion Jacri as he expected. But there was no time for greetings.

“Push them!”

“Kill them all!”

-Thud! Thud!

The imperial army slammed forward. The shield wall trembled as if it would collapse any second.

“Their assault is too fierce. Shatien. Do you have an idea?”

Jacri sounded urgent.

“Open a path for me. I will push through and try something.”

“Huh?”

Opening a gap while locked in formation was dangerous.

The line could collapse. Jacri, who prized order, hesitated. But he had fought with Shatien long enough.

“Very well!”

He shouted.

“Centuria, open a path!”

“…?!”

The mercenaries turned, startled.

“Are you serious?”

“If we open it, they may break through.”

Jacri’s expression did not change even after hearing their replies.

“It does not matter. Open it! Shatien will go through!”

“?!”

“Centurion Shatien is here?”

At last they noticed Shatien. Their faces brightened. The impossible battle suddenly seemed winnable.

“Open it!”

“Shatien is here!”

“It is Shatien the Knight Killer!”

The mercenaries stepped back and opened a gap. Imperial soldiers who had leaned forward suddenly toppled inside.

-Thunk.

The mercenaries stabbed the fallen men. The imperial soldiers behind panicked. Their own allies blocked them.

“You cowards!”

“Who are you calling cowards?”

“Go lick the emperor’s arse, trash! Ptooey!”

For those few tangled seconds, the mercenaries widened the opening.

Through that gap—

“Haaaaaap!”

Shatien charged and swung his war hammer.

-Swoosh!

-Thud, crack, crunch!

“Arghhh!”
“Gugh!”

The imperial formation shattered.

Shields broke. Weapons failed to catch the blows. Blood sprayed in every direction.

Only bloodbath remained in areas Shatien swung his weapon in.

“I-It’s that bastard!”

“It is Shatien! That monster is here!”

“Fall back! Retreat! Why is he here of all places!”

The front line collapsed in terror. The commander shouted, but it didn’t last long.

-Crack!

Every time someone tried to speak, Shatien’s war hammer destroyed another skull.

“Uwaaaa!”

Jacri’s unit drove the imperial soldiers back through the gate.

The imperial army started to be pushed back.

With just a bit more force they would push them out.

But then—

“?!”

A chilling intuition warned him.

“Hup!”

-Swish!

A razor sharp thrust grazed Shatien from within the chaotic line.

If it had hit cleanly, he would have died.

Yes.

It was precise swordsmanship no ordinary soldier could use.

The strike of a knight.

“This one has good instincts.”

“No wonder the soldiers fear him.”

“Do you think it is only soldiers? Hmph. I heard he has beaten a few knights already.”

Knights emerged from among the imperial soldiers, one after another.

The imperial troops had pulled back, leaving a small arena before him.

But the problem was,

‘There are still this many knights?’

More than ten knights surrounded Shatien, swords raised.