Dark Fantasy: Magical Eye Knight – Chapter 180

 

Chapter 180: Crossroads (2)

 

The environment was a maelstrom of pandemonium.

 

The Civil War in the Empire. The largest nation that ruled the western side of the continent had now released the might it had been building up for a long time.

 

The power that had been accumulated over decades had grown to tens of thousands of soldiers and a massive number of supplies that could sustain them for a month, which was enough to fuel the desire for power.

 

“Uwaaaaaah━!”

 

“Aaaagh!”

 

Screams that were indistinguishable from yells or battle cries could be heard everywhere, even without the reflection of a tall rock or mountain range. Both the dying and the killers screamed.

 

Blades and swords collided, snarling teeth and sending sparks flying. They ripped flesh, slashed muscles, and broke bones.

 

“Retreat! Retreat!”

 

“Run! Run away!”

 

Mercenaries who had broken ranks were fleeing across the battlefield. They were mercenaries who had agreed to fight after being promised a large quantity of money by the lords or administrators, but they were powerless against the terrifying cavalry that charged in and the radiant figure of the princess, who resembled a messenger of death.

 

“Do not run away! Raise your spears! Set up your shields!”

 

Commanders and leaders of mercenary groups, dressed with feathers and colorful cloths, or captains and generals, cursed desperately as they attempted to stop the retreating soldiers, but the momentum had already changed to the opposite side.

 

Kwaang!

 

A fireball landed close to it, resulting in a huge explosion. In the upside-down world, the sky was underneath and the ground was above.

 

She noticed the horse she was riding had been destroyed by a wizard’s attack. Her revelation came at the same time that she crashed to the ground.

 

Thud!

 

Her lungs immediately contracted, strangling her. Despite the severe ache in her chest, she jumped to her feet. A blade was embedded in the area where she had stood.

 

Despite her impaired eyesight, she dodged the blade pushing up from below and drew her sword.

 

Before the deathly horror could drive her insane, a flash of light like sunlight ripped through the jaw of the mercenary who was approaching her with his arms flailing violently.

 

Julia drew in a sharp breath as she drew her blade, leaving a clean incision from the man’s lower jaw to his forehead.

 

Enemies attacked her from all sides.

 

“It’s the princess! The princess has fallen.”

 

“Capture her!”

 

“No, kill her!”

 

The thrilled adversaries rushed in after seeing her fall to the ground. Spears, swords, knives, and axes aimed their frigid tongues at Julia’s critical areas.

 

Julia’s weapon shone with stunning magical power. Those who had reflexively closed their eyes in response to the quick flash of light were unable to open them again.

 

“Aaaagh!”

 

A soldier with a bloody face and one ear severed ran in, spitting amid the dead that had fallen around her in a circle.

 

Because his eyes were bloodshot, he had no idea he was attacking the princess. He ran because there was a flash of light in his line of sight, and that was enough reason to charge.

 

The long axe spear he was wielding slashed through the air with great penetration. Julia dodged the axe spear by shifting her left foot behind her right and slightly turning her torso.

 

Puck, the axe’s blade struck the hard soil, sending sand flying. Julia moved before the axe was raised again.

 

The frigid blade slashed into the soldier’s abdomen, ripping through the quilted armor and spilling his guts from within.

 

The soldier, who had dropped the axe spear, collapsed on his knees, his eyes wide, as if attempting to gather his own intestines.

 

“Mo, Mother. . . . . . .”

 

Julia moved back and gazed down at the soldier as he whimpered. The sword sliced through the soldier’s neck. The headless body lurched backward and collapsed.

 

There were no more soldiers or mercenaries near her who could move. Even silver-ranked or higher mercenaries and knights were cut in half like straw dolls in front of Julia, so enemies within striking reach of her sought another opponent.

 

A short break was granted. Julia roughly brushed her sweat-soaked hair off her head.

 

The strands of hair that had been clinging to her forehead, eyes, and cheeks were cut off strand by strand, unable to withstand the brute power, giving only minor discomfort, but she didn’t mind.

 

She merely thought, uselessly, about whether to cut her hair short. She imagined proposing it to her staff members. They would object. They would say that if the ruler’s appearance changed, the soldiers would be disturbed.

 

“Hoo, hoo. . . . . . .”

 

The temperature was so chilly that her breath turned white. She didn’t feel the cold, even in the midst of the heated combat.

 

The great heat came not only from her breath or the wind but from her entire body, from her head to her toes, rising like white steam.

 

The surroundings grew slightly quieter. Of course, there were still lethal sounds of weapons colliding around, as well as occasional blasts of fireballs launched by combat wizards.

 

And the fragrance was present. The stench of burnt flesh, blood, sweat, and even iron.

 

She had been feeling the scent for more than half a year, and it now appeared to be attached to the mucous membrane inside her nose, unlikely to go away.

 

Before returning to the battlefield, Julia stared at the ground, dazed. She confronted the face of the corpse she had just hacked down.

 

A young man’s bloodied face. His pupils were dilated and relaxed, and his mouth was completely open.

 

She now wondered when she had last battled something other than a human. When had she last felt at ease?

 

Her mind continued to race, and she traveled back a year. The trek across the continent was most likely her last. From the west to the east, she had arrived in the city in search of an ancestor’s legacy.

 

She had relationships, conflicts, and meetings there.

 

Even now, the immense magical power that boiled within her like lava originated from the underground labyrinth in that city.

 

Violet eyes came to mind. The owner of those eyes and a huge stature.

 

Julia quickly raised her head and cried loudly.

 

“Form ranks!”

 

Her loud yell, infused with her magical might, swiftly rallied the scattered cavalry. They formed a circle and smashed the attacking army, with combat wizards on the inside and knights on the outside wielding long spears and shields.

 

Neigh.

 

Her horse, which had been knocked down next to her, approached her. Fortunately, its legs were unbroken. If they had been, she would have had to get another horse and ride him.

 

She climbed the saddle, kicked the horse’s flank hard, and galloped away.

 

Despite being fully armored, the horse galloped forward with tremendous hooves due to the lightweight magic performed on her armor and her own light weight.

 

By then, the infantry had totally surged in and was pushing back the warriors gathered from each zone.

 

Only then did the commanders order a retreat. The princess, the cavalry, and the combat wizards’ magic, which had been charged in a wedge configuration, had always been too powerful.

 

“Damn it, this is a bloody nightmare!”

 

Count Claydos, who was viewing the incident from a safe distance away from the battlefield, surrounded by knights and troops, flung the baton he was carrying, enraged.

 

“Didn’t you say that we only need to prepare for a siege?! You were the ones who said that we should push them back to Rotenfelt Castle! Because of its suitable terrain for siege and powerful walls, it would be ideal as a last bastion! Meanwhile, we had to gradually eliminate the five thousand troops that would arrive as reinforcements!”

 

The officers shuddered at his rage. As did the lords and nobles who governed Delan, Hosfel, Gittson, and Douches.

 

“But why is that princess running around like a naked thunderclap?!”

 

“W, Well, she might have been hiding her strength. . . . . . .”

 

One of the officers barely raised his hand and spoke, but that only fueled Count Claydos’ rage.

 

“The princess has lost four times thus far! She has lost more than 2,000 men! She must only have a little more than 3,000 men left, so how much stronger can she be if she hides her strength, and how strong can she be if she is strong?!”

 

Nobody dared to face his rage head-on. It was only inevitable, given that Prince Aldrick’s plot to capture or at least seize the princess’ head as a triumph in this battle was at risk of failing.

 

“Your grace. For the time being, I believe it is best to retreat. The timing is not correct.”

 

Just then, someone spoke quietly from behind the counter. The woman with brown hair had a great voice that was deep and serious but intriguing.

 

She wore a robe and armor made of leather and chain mail, and she held a big crystal ball in one hand.

 

“Lady Giselle, do you mean we should retreat?”

 

Surprisingly, Count Claydos reduced his voice.

 

“The momentum has shifted. In this case, sending in additional knights or soldiers will be a waste of their lives and efforts. Withdraw the remaining soldiers and set up a proper camp.

 

“What’s next? That abominable princess has already killed many of our men.”

 

Giselle said it with a little smile.

 

“You’ll know what I mean tomorrow.”

 

People took a step back from the magical force that she exuded along with her smile. It was because they felt uneasy, like if someone was choking them.

 

Count Claydos glanced at her, a cold perspiration on his cheeks.

 

‘She may be a woman sent by His Highness the Prince as reinforcements, but she is too unsettling. How did he know about this witch. . . . . .’

 

The count nodded and replied,

 

“I understand.”

 

Soon after receiving the order, the bugler blasted a long blast on his bugle. When the retreat signal was given, the soldiers on the front lines began to evacuate.

 

“The enemy is retreating!”

 

“W, We’ve won! We won!”

 

Waaaah-!

 

Despite the vast numerical difference, the remaining men celebrated their triumph.

 

“Your Highness! We’ve won! It is entirely due to Your Highness’ forethought!”

 

Julia turned her horse’s head to view the retreating prince’s army among the triumphant declarations and outpourings of adulation.

 

“Let’s go back too.”

 

“Yes!”

 

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

 

The Jayviden Countdom was reached three days after leaving Gray Valley.

 

Russell and his group, standing on a nearby hill, observed the territory below from a higher vantage point.

 

The region, which was located along the enormous Purium River that flowed to the sea, included a large city and fortress walls.

 

The weather, which had passed autumn and was approaching winter, was bright, and blinding sunlight streamed down below. The river gleamed as it reflected sunshine, and Russell noticed a small boat going for the dock.

 

“Wow! Is that a river? It’s enormous!”

 

“It’s a river that leads to the sea. By the way, shipbuilding technology has greatly advanced. There were no large ships like those when I was alive. . .”

 

Aellasis, appreciating the river, and Calia, sensing the generation divide, whispered.

 

As he focused more magic power in his eyes, the small boat grew larger, and he could see people scurrying around like ants. Unloading goods, seamen wore sleeveless vests and towels knotted over their heads.

 

Around them, there were street sellers selling food and carriages transporting freight to warehouses. It was a lively city.

 

Weizen, who was unaccustomed to riding a horse, stroked his waist.

 

“Ouch, my back. That’s Jayviden Count’s turf. He made a lot of money through canals, commercial ships, and trade. He is also one of the prince’s biggest supporters.”

 

“A supporter of the prince.”

 

“That’s why he doesn’t get along with the princess. The battle is taking place on the Ferger Plains, which isn’t too far away. Let us observe how the fight goes for now.”

 

“Which side are you on?”

 

“Me?”

 

Weizen shrugged his shoulders after raising his hand to stroke his waist and resting his chin on it.

 

“I do not know. I am just a mercenary who does what I am paid to do. If I listen to what the big guns say, they’re pretty much the same. Prince Aldrick was clever when he was younger, but at some point, he turned into a guy who just stabs anyone who gets in his way and spends his time chasing women. Princess Julia is considered to be extremely attractive and skilled with a sword. But there’s even a story that she decorates her room with the skeletons of her defeated foes.”

 

‘She didn’t seem like the type of woman to do that.’

 

Russell remembered Julia, whom he had met and parted ways with in Calisden. A woman of stunning beauty with silver hair and golden eyes. For some reason, memories of navigating the underground maze, meeting her ancestor from three centuries ago, and restoring her power returned to him vividly.

 

“I wonder if she’s doing well.”

 

“Huh? Who? Do you know anyone there?

 

“No. Let’s go.

 

“Ack! Wait! My back is still. . .!”

 

“Hehehe! I’ll go first! Weizen, follow me closely from behind. “

 

“Be careful.”

 

When Russell took the lead, Kry bolted, followed by Aellasis and Calia. Weizen, who was holding his back, frowned and tugged on the reins.

 

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