Treatise Of A Failed Knight-Chapter 233: Battle For The Plains (Part 1)

SWOOSH!!!

The battle officially begins, and both armies charge towards each other in a primal display of violence.

Each side bears their own degree of strength.

The Great Northern Tribe has the advantage of numbers, while Kalakuta’s army takes the upper hand in terms of lethality.

Even if the warriors can evenly match the Cadre 2 Magivores, one has to consider the two thousand Cadre 3 Magivores.

This is the cunnundrum.

But I am not worried in the slightest.

Why?

’I can see the future. You don’t live to see tomorrow!’ I smile at the crowd while using Tracing to constantly change positions and attack the opponents with vicious lethality.

With my Armament, killing small fry like this isn’t a big deal.

But—

’My goal isn’t simply to kill them.’ I grin, leading an elite group of Magivores deeper into the Army to create an opening within the seemingly airtight formation.

The Magivores with me are the Cadre 3 and Cadre 4 kinds.

The Freedom Fighters are also with me.

I only leave the Cadre 2 Magivores behind in the open battlefield while we keep marching deeper into the enemy’s territory.

"W-what is he doing?!"

"Does he want to attack our people?!"

"Oh no, he’s going after the civilians!"

I can already hear the voices of so many Central Plains warriors directed at me, but they have all missed the mark.

How can I do something like that with Kalakuta as our leader?

No way!

His goal isn’t to hurt innocents, and he gives the leaders an opportunity to surrender.

Clearly, he would never go after civilians.

But... This plan has been sanctioned by him.

’Hehehe! While Kalakuta and the leftover Magivores keep everyone busy, I’ll make sure their last ray of hope is crushed!’

That’s right!

I plan to prevent any backup force from arriving on the battlefield.

This is a tactic I came up with myself.

Of course, Kalakuta had to approve of it, and he only did so after making me promise to give the enemies a chance to surrender before attacking.

I already know how that will turn out, but I still decided to humor him and agree to it.

’It’ll be quite a hassle going to each Tribe and cutting down their resistance before they sprout, so why don’t I just focus on the nearby ones?’ I smirk to myself. ’It will be too late to deter the ones who are much further anyway, since they would have had more time to prepare.’

Rather than enter deeper into the Central Plains, I will simply stop all resistance in the closest Tribes and return to the battlefield.

I’ll use a pincer attack on the enemy from behind while Kalakuta holds them off from our starting position. With the enemy sandwiched between us, we’ll have a higher chance of wiping them out.

The biggest advantage of this arrangement is that even if the faraway Tribes see what I did to the nearby Tribes and stubbornly choose to fight us, I can use my position to directly intercept them before they join with the main army.

These are all things I already considered the battle, so I am fairly confident of this strategy.

’I have never led an actual war before, but the Randalorion Kingdom was involved in two wars in my past life—the Civil War and the Sarvosia Invasion. I was unfortunate enough to participate in both of them, so I have ample experience in that department.’ A wry smile forms on my face as I quicken the pace of my marching forces.

Apart from those two major conflicts, I was also involved in several minor skirmishes in my past life.

It simply comes with the territory of being a Knight.

All of these experiences have hardened my heart and desensitized me to the chaos and bloodshed of war.

It has allowed me to read the flow of the battlefield and make the most rational choices.

There’s no way I can lose!

********

"That Knight—!"

The Chief and the other Ministers gasp upon seeing Javier and the Freedom Fighters make a breach in their ironclad formation.

Shock instantly dots their features.

Even when they are tempted to stop him, the sudden aggression of the surrounding Magivores prevents them from doing anything about the matter.

"Tch! They’ve been given the order to increase their ferocity!" One of the Ministers guesses wrongly.

It isn’t that Javier has controlled them to become more aggressive.

Actually, he is no longer in control of these Magivores. He relinquished control over them since he had to focus on the battle ahead, and also because he would inevitably lose contact with them as a result of distance.

Now left with their basest instincts, these Cadre 2 Magivores would indiscriminately attack anyone.

However, Javier has already taken away the Freedom Fighters—with the exception of Kalakuta—which means the only prey left for these Magivores are the Central Plains warriors.

As for Kalakuta, he isn’t in any danger within this horde.

Not only does he possess a rare B Grade Armament in this battlefield, but he is also currently surrounded by the enemy warriors.

The Ministers, to be specific.

"You will meet your end today, Kalakuta!"

The Minister of Combat licks her lips as she grins devilishly at him.

However, he shakes his head and sighs.

"A woman has no place on the battlefield."

"W-what?!"

"I refuse to take you seriously. Children and women should be excluded from the skirmishes of men."

"...?!"

The Minister of Combat is highly revered in Central Plains.

Everyone knows how strong she is.

In fact, although it isn’t the general consensus, many people suspect her of being stronger than the Chief.

She is essentially the unofficial strongest in the land. Yet this man, Kalakuta, dares look down on her?

Rage unlike any other boils within her.

However, before she can even act on this overwhelming feeling, she receives an order from the Chief.

"Pursue that group and intercept them. Even if it costs your life, you mustn’t let them break through the walls."

"B-but—!"

"You are the fastest among us, and your forces are the most elite. That’s an Order... Please."

The Minister clenches her teeth.

She glares hatefully at Kalakuta, clicking her tongue before marching off with the surviving portion of her group.

In her mind, she is tempted to hope for Kalakuta’s survival until her return.

But this wouldn’t be a good thing.

After all, the Chief and the other Ministers currently have the man trapped in an encirclement.

They also wield the ancient treasures, making them stronger than ever.

If Kalakuta were to survive against all of them until she returned, then it would not only mean their strength is insufficient to take him down, but it could also mean her own strength would not suffice.

As a result, despite possessing the desire to destroy him, she had to wish her comrades gold fortune while transferring her aggression to the one she is in pursuit of.

In fact, she is not lacking in hatred towards Javier either.

"Shameless traitor! Not only did you deceive our Great Northern Tribe with your words, but now you wish to leave the battlefield to cause more mischief! I won’t let you!"

Javier, of course, can’t hear her words.

She is not only too far away, but the sounds of several thousand marching easily quench any single voice, regardless of its volume.

Although Javier can’t hear her, he has already noticed her in hot pursuit.

’Hehe... Just as planned!’

A wide, sadistic grin is plastered on his face.

’It’s a little disappointing that they only chose to send this many, but considering the sheer number of the Magivores they have to deal with and how feral they would have gotten after losing their link with me, I guess this number is acceptable.’

After taking a Potion to enhance his vision, he takes a look at the leader of this army that is giving chase and spots a woman.

’Minister of Combat... The strongest in the Central Plains. Should I be honored?’

Javier almost snickers.

But he quickly recovers his composure and nods meaningfully.

"They’re gaining on us." One of the Freedom Fighters is quick to point out as he stares at Javier. "What should we do?"

"No need to be worried. This isn’t the full speed of these Magivores, remember? We’re only moving at this pace so they think there’s a chance and keep pursuing. Once they have crossed the necessary distance that marks a point of no return, we will increase our pace and make sure they keep chasing us." Javier responds promptly.

This is a general rule in warfare that plays on human psychology.

Why discourage someone whom you wish to engage you in pursuit?

It’s better to preserve your strength and make them give chase until they are unable to turn back even after detecting something wrong.

"Once these conditions are fulfilled, I have a surprise I’d like to give them." A mischievous grin forms on his face as his hair sways chaotically with the wind.

"A reward for their efforts for making it this far... hehe!"

While Javier is saying all of this, the Minister of Combat and her squad keep increasing their pace while she finds her thirst for battle rapidly rising.

Apart from the two C Grade Armaments which she wields, she is also in possession of an ancient treasure.

This goes by another name

—B Grade Armament!

"I’ll kill you! I’ll kill all of you, I swear!"

Right as she is having this violent thought, everyone notices a sudden change with the Freedom Fighter army.

"T-they’re getting faster?!"

Javier’s group suddenly begins to create an incredible gap between the two forces, rapidly replacing the shrinking distance.

"No... No!!!"

The Minister of Combat howls in great dissatisfaction.

She doesn’t even consider stopping.

She can’t afford to look back and consider the others fighting on the battlefield.

Anxiety and the urge to win overrides her senses and she commands her troops to keep charging forward.

... Completely unaware that she is playing into the enemy’s hands.

Then, as they push themselves to the limit, slowly reaching exhaustion, they are greeted by yet another shocking sight.

No, this one is incomparable to the others.

After all, the matching Magivores quickly begin to change their directions and turn towards them.

At first, the Minister of Combat was even pleased to see this.

Doesn’t this simply mean that Javier and his forces have chosen to face them? Have they finally decided to fight fair and square?

But—

"W-what? Isn’t that—?!"

—How could she have known the despair they would be greeted with?

Rather than the entire army altering their trajectory, only a portion of them are doing this, and it consists entirely of Magivires.

The Freedom Fighters and Javier are still marching towards their original goal, completely unhindered.

But that isn’t all.

No...

There’s something else.

Something even more dire!

"C-Cadre 4 Magivores?!" The Minister of Combat blurts out when she sees the incoming horde of monsters and detects three Cadre 4 Magivores among their ranks.

She never knew the Freedom Fighters had Cadre 4 Magivores in their ranks for this battle.

In fact, none of the Great Northern Tribe Ministers did.

They were all under the assumption that the army only consisted of Cadre 2 and Cadre 3 Magivores.

But now?!

The Minister of Combat suddenly feels a chill wash over her.

Three Cadre 4 Mangivores and hundreds of Cadre 3 Mangivores are currently approaching, with no signs of stopping.

Her squad clearly stands no chance.

Do they retreat?

No...

They’ve already come too far.

Besides, these creatures are extremely dangerous, and if left to run amok, they could cause irreparable damage to their territory and people.

In the end, they simply have to face them—even at the cost of their lives.

The only worrisome thing is Javier and his army that are still making their way into the heart of Central Plains.

’Are there other Cadre 4 Magivores with him?’ She shudders at this possibility. ’I certainly hope not!’

If he does, then whoever encounters him on this path will only experience slaughter.