Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 245: Battle of Ladakh part -3

Near the Hidden Pass

Twenty wooden carts, each bristling with hwacha arrows tipped with fuses, stood concealed on either side of the steep slopes flanking the hidden pass.

Carefully positioned along the bend, the siege machines were angled to rain devastation upon the narrow path ahead, where the enemy was expected to emerge.

The soldiers, bundled in thick cloaks against the biting wind, crouched low near the siege machines. Frost clung to their beards and eyelashes as they waited, silent and still, their breaths misting in the frigid air.

"Piiiiiiip!"

At once, all soldiers sprang into action, lighting the fuses of the hwachas in unison.

Within seconds, hundreds of arrows were launched into the sky with a whooshing roar, leaving a trail of smoke in their wake.

The arrows shot straight arc in the open space, like an unrelenting storm of destruction, descending with terrifying precision upon the advancing cavalry.

From below, the enemy cavalry barely had time to register the onslaught. Their charge faltered as the hellish rain of hwacha arrows descended upon them with unrelenting force.

’Khach!’

’Khach!’

The initial wave struck the ongoing waves with a brutal impact. It was more gruesome to those who were exposed and got impaled directly to face or neck while staring on it.

The arrows, powered by gunpowder and fired from long range, struck with devastating momentum. Steel-tipped shafts punched through armor, tore through flesh whopping holes making blood gush out.

Horses reared in panic, their screams of terror mingling with the cries of wounded. Some mounts tumbled mid-stride, throwing their riders violently into the snow, only to be crushed under the hooves of those behind them.

As the initial chargers fell, others stumbled over the carnage, their momentum shattered. Horses, frightened and unmanageable, veered erratically, crashing into one another. A few desperate riders tried to break formation and spread out, hoping to avoid the relentless barrage, but their attempts only disrupted the cohesion further.

The disorganized cavalry huddled together, their maneuvering blocked by the tightly packed ranks of their own forces. In their confusion, more were caught in the storm, impaled by the unforgiving arrows that showed no mercy.

Some riders frantically raised shields, trying to protect themselves. Yet, the hwacha arrows struck with a ferocity that rendered their efforts futile.

The sheer force of impact splintered shields and knocked riders from their mounts.

Arrows slipped through gaps in their defenses, puncturing flesh and armor alike. The occasional minor explosions added to the chaos, sending fragments into the air and battering those attempting to hold their ground.

Everything happened in seconds.

Commander Lobsang tightened the reins of his horse, slowing it down. The barrage had finally ended, leaving the path ahead visible at the turning. They weren’t far from their target now, and retreating was no longer an option.

Suddenly, the distant roar of cannons thundered from another position, jolting him back to the urgency of the moment. He had no time to waste. Striking his horse with the heels of his boots, he urged it into a gallop. This time, he took the lead, rallying his men to push forward.

But as they rounded the turn, his breath caught in his throat. His heart froze. Ahead, standing firm in disciplined ranks, were men in blue uniforms, their muskets raised and ready, gleaming ominously in the pale light.

Before he could react, a deafening crack shattered the air. The muskets fired in unison, filling the sky with smoke and the acrid stench of gunpowder. Lobsang felt a searing pain as a volley of bullets tore through the air, striking him and others around him.

Blood oozed from his wounds as he tumbled from his horse, the world spinning in a haze of pain and chaos. All around him, the cries of his men rang out, mingling with the relentless cracking of musket fire and the dull thuds of bodies hitting the ground.

His vision blurred as he lay sprawled on the frozen earth, the bitter cold biting at his skin. In the distance, the chaos seemed to fade, replaced by an eerie silence. Lobsang’s breathing slowed, and a strange calm washed over him. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

With what little strength he had left, he closed his eyes. Darkness engulfed him, yet there was a faint sense of relief—he had done his part until the end.

***

Meanwhile, Bheem watched the scene unfold from an elevated height with a satisfied smile.

Standing beside him, King Dravya raised his eyebrows and exclaimed, "Huh! So powerful."

However, their joy of victory was short-lived as Colonel Ratnakar approached them with concern.

With a crisp salute, he informed Bheem, "General, The other posts are also under attack,"

Bheem glanced at the dotted lines formed as footsteps in snow below incoming at the other fronts. From his vantage point, he could clearly see multiple enemy assaults being launched simultaneously by infantry at various positions.

"Foolish!" Confident in their firepower, he was excited to etch his name in history, with this golden opportunity the fate had provided.

He smirked and commanded, "Fire all cannons. Use all those splintering shells on the enemy as soon as they are in range. Keep the artillery ready."

He felt a twinge of frustration inside as he struggled to recall the technical term his liege had mentioned, ’grape or grip , the hell was that?’

A yellow flag unfurled, and soon whistles echoed across their elevated position in the mountain.

The cannons thundered in unison, shaking the mountaintop as solid iron shots tore through the air.

Each projectile smashed into the advancing enemy, blasting massive gaps in their ranks and sending bodies and shattered weapons flying.

The infantry hesitated briefly, their shouts tinged with desperation, but pressed forward, determined to close the distance. As they reached within 500 meters, the cannons roared again, this time unleashing grapeshot.

A deadly stream of metal tore through the tightly packed soldiers with brutal efficiency, shredding them like splintered cards scattered by a sudden gust. Men crumpled in droves, their screams mingling with the echoing blasts as blood sprayed across the icy valley, painting the scene in devastation.

The slope became a graveyard of lifeless bodies and broken arms, yet the remaining soldiers, undeterred, continued their charge toward the high posts. It seemed even the might of the cannons could not fully break their resolve.

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//A/N: Thanks to Ignus106 for your warm support by donating 1 new GT tickets. Your immense support is deeply appreciated. :)