Currently, the mobile army personally led by Ghislain numbered 10,000.
The force allocated to Marquis Maurice Macquarie was 20,000, but to increase speed, the elite 10,000 were selected to move first.
Dududududu!
The 10,000-strong Fenris Mobile Army moved at a tremendous pace. They rested only when their horses needed to rest.
The vigorous horses from the northern regions required only short breaks. Additionally, the highly nutritious Fenris combat rations further reduced their downtime.
Dududududu!
Ghislain, who roamed the kingdom as if it were his own backyard, drove the mobile army faster along the familiar paths, quickly catching up to the Delphine Army led by Count Fogren.
Dark, who had been following the Delphine Army, relayed information via telepathic communication.
— They're moving forward diligently.
Ghislain looked up at the sky. There was still some time left before nightfall.
"Good. They probably haven't even considered that we might be coming."
Logically, it would be unthinkable for the Northern Army, fresh from battle, to arrive so soon.
In fact, the messenger sent by the defeated Count Matthes had not yet reached the other corps.
The Fenris Mobile Army had moved even faster than the messenger.
"Everyone, take a good rest now. We'll be moving all night."
Having marched for days without rest, the mobile army collapsed where they stood at Ghislain's command. Even for well-trained soldiers, forced marches were grueling.
They didn't bother setting up proper camps. They simply tied their horses and rested where they were.
Of course, they weren't just lying around.
Fenris now had as much of one thing as they had rations: potions.
"Hehe, having money really is great."
"To think I'd drink this even when I'm not injured."
"Something I couldn't even afford in the old days."
Each soldier took out a potion from their pouch and began drinking it.
Potions not only healed wounds but also boosted vitality by artificially enhancing regeneration.
It was akin to pouring gold into their mouths, but no one cared.
Thanks to immense production, every soldier carried extra potions.
Though their training and discipline were strict, Ghislain always provided the best treatment for his soldiers.
This elevated their morale higher with each battle.
Wheeeeee...
As the surroundings darkened and a chilling wind began to blow, Dark returned from scouting and conveyed his findings telepathically.
— As you said, their movement speed is slowing down.
"Everyone, mount your horses."
At Ghislain's command, the soldiers wordlessly climbed onto their horses.
"Time to move."
As Ghislain urged his horse forward, the mobile army followed.
Dark provided updates via telepathic communication.
— They're halting their advance from the front.
"Increase speed!"
Dududududududu!
Their pace quickened further. Nothing could obstruct them.
Naturally, this was because Ghislain had carefully chosen their resting place.
The enemy wasn't foolish and would likely deploy scouts over a wide area.
To avoid detection, they had to wait at a significant distance.
Thus, Ghislain had selected terrain where the horses could continue running without interruption for their break.
— They're beginning to construct a campsite.
"Faster!" Ghislain shouted loudly, a fierce grin on his face. black energy began to ripple and swirl around his steed, Black King.
Neighhhhhh!
The Black King let out a long wail and shot forward like a streak of light.
Even though he distanced himself from his allies, Ghislain didn't care.
His role was always to arrive first at the most dangerous place.
Dududududududu!
The mobile army drove their horses even harder, following in Ghislain's wake.
They fought every battle as if it were their last, pouring all their strength into their charge.
Even the most seasoned troops couldn't construct a campsite for an army of 30,000 in a short time.
Once the camp was set up, Count Fogren spoke to his aide.
"An individual suspected of being a superhuman has joined Marquis Macquarie. They might attempt a raid due to their lack of forces, so ensure the defenses are thorough."
"Understood."
"Set up stakes and bladed traps around the campsite just in case."
Even after a victory, Count Fogren, as a capable commander, didn't let his guard down.
The soldiers, exhausted from their march, grinned in anticipation of rest once the camp was completed. However, upon receiving the order to set traps, their expressions soured slightly.
Even so, they knew they couldn't afford to neglect precautions during war. As elite soldiers, they moved without hesitation.
"Alright, let's get this done quickly and rest!"
The soldiers standing guard began to be reinforced. Others moved for duty rotations.
The soldiers dispatched for trap-setting selected suitable spots and began digging.
It was at this moment, when everyone's tension eased, and vigilance was at its weakest.
Dududududu...
Several soldiers, hearing faint hoofbeats in the distance, lifted their heads.
The sound wasn't very loud. From experience, they deduced it was just one rider.
"A messenger?"
The soldiers, puzzled, soon wore expressions of horror.
Dududududududu!
The faint sound of a single horse was suddenly overwhelmed by the roar of a massive cavalry charge. The thunderous sound grew closer.
Although it wasn't yet fully dark, the dim light allowed a keen-eyed knight to spot a spear in the approaching rider's hand.
"Enemy! Enemies have appeared!"
"Grab your weapons!"
"Form ranks now!"
Chaos erupted. Soldiers abandoned their tools and scrambled for their weapons.
It wasn't that they were unprepared. They had followed battle protocols and made no careless mistakes.
Ghislain had simply exploited their brief lapse in vigilance with precision.
Pulling back his spear, Ghislain imbued it with black energy, making it quiver.
"Let's play."
With that single utterance, Ghislain's red eyes gleamed as he hurled the spear.
Boom!
The spear, saturated with mana, flew like a missile and detonated with a massive shockwave.
Soldiers nearby didn't even have time to scream before their bodies were torn apart.
Yet, with an army of 30,000, the casualties were but a fraction.
The enemy still had overwhelming numbers.
Neighhhh!
Flash!
The Black King let out a piercing cry as it charged into the Delphine camp, which had been thrown into disarray.
Ghislain gripped a spare spear from his saddle.
"Good."
The enemy was still in chaos. Ghislain had struck at the perfect moment.
They needed to be overwhelmed before they could regroup or take control of the situation.
Until the mobile army arrived, it was Ghislain's job to keep them disoriented.
"Let's go!"
Fwoosh!
As Ghislain roared, the black energy around the Black King intensified, and dozens of magic spears materialized around him.
Paaaah!
The spears shot out in all directions, piercing through enemies.
"Aaaargh!"
"Stop them! Stop them!"
"Form ranks now!"
Dududududu!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ghislain and the Black King rampaged through the camp, decapitating soldiers and creating havoc everywhere they went.
Some tried to fight, while others fled in terror from Ghislain.
Commanders issued orders, but amidst the disarray, the soldiers couldn't follow them properly.
Paaaah!
"Aaaargh!"
Whenever they tried to organize, mana spears would scatter them again. The Delphine Army fell into panic and confusion.
"What's going on? Who's attacking us?"
"Gather! Everyone, gather!"
"Dammit! A monster has invaded!"
No one thought the attacker could be Count Fenris. It was inconceivable.
Still, the 30,000-strong army began forming ranks from the outskirts inward.
At the camp's center, troops gathered to protect their commanders quickly.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Mages surrounded Count Fogren, while knights formed a shield wall around them.
The best elite troops also took up positions to guard their commander. Though the situation was unclear, their priority was to protect their leader.
Count Fogren shouted angrily, "What is this! How were the defenses set? The enemy has invaded! Who is it! Who the hell is it?"
"Th-The enemy is a single individual. Their identity is still..."
By then, the surroundings had darkened further, obscuring the enemy's crest and figure. To make matters worse, the enemy was shrouded in black energy.
The use of black energy was a hallmark of the priests of the Salvation Church and Count Fenris.
Since it was impossible for the priests of the Salvation Church to attack them, the enemy could only be Count Fenris, but they couldn't imagine that Count Fenris would come alone.
"Block them immediately! Stop them at once!"
"Don't worry! We were caught off guard, but our forces will soon surround them and..."
The knight's report was abruptly cut off.
Dududududududu!
The sound of pounding hooves shook the ground violently. For the earth to tremble like this, it meant an enormous cavalry force was approaching.
"W-What in the..."
Before anyone could properly assess the situation,
A cavalry force numbering 10,000 swept through the Delphine Army's encampment.
Boom!
"Aaaagh!"
The soldiers, who had only just begun to form ranks, screamed as they were mowed down in droves.
The Delphine Army had neither mounted their horses nor properly arranged their formation. There was no way they could withstand the sudden cavalry charge.
The encampment erupted in flames in several places. The Delphine Army began to be massacred by the charging cavalry.
"W-What is this..."
Count Fogren couldn't believe the scene unfolding before his eyes, even though he witnessed it himself.
He had overlooked nothing. They were in the process of preparing traps to guard against a nighttime raid.
Yet, the enemy had exploited the brief moment when they were most vulnerable and achieved a perfect surprise attack!
To accomplish this, the enemy would have had to monitor their location in real-time, evade the scouts' sight, and calculate distance and speed to match perfectly.
It was an impossible feat. He could only conclude that the enemy had been exceptionally lucky.
Then, suddenly, Count Fogren recalled someone renowned for such mobility.
"S-Surely not..."
It didn't make sense. Chronologically, it couldn't be him.
But if it wasn't him, the current situation couldn't be explained. The remnants under Maurice's command couldn't display such power.
A lone figure rampaging among countless enemies.
A massive black horse wreathed in black energy.
Mana spears flying in every direction.
The acknowledged strongest in the North.
"Count Fenris!"
At Fogren's scream, which was more like a cry of despair, Ghislain responded.
"Yes, I am Count Fenris."
Fwoosh!
Ghislain charged at Count Fogren like a bolt of lightning.
Even with a surprise attack, the enemy force was 30,000 strong. If they resisted to the end, his side would also suffer significant losses.
The 6th-circle mages, in particular, were a problem. Their destructive power was immense. He had to draw all attention to himself.
As Ghislain had predicted, Count Fogren pointed and shouted, "Kill him! Everyone, attack that man! If we kill him, this war is ours to win!"
How had the 2nd Corps been dealt with so quickly? How had he arrived here so soon?
How had he struck with such perfect timing?
Count Fogren didn't know.
But he did know one thing.
Even if everyone here died, that man must be killed.
"L-Lord Commander, our allies are all around. If we cast magic now..."
The mage hesitated. Count Fenris was a master. To harm someone of his caliber, they would need to unleash the highest level of magic.
Using anti-personnel magic would inevitably cause collateral damage.
But Count Fogren, frustrated, grabbed the mage by the collar and roared, "Do it now! Kill him now, you fools! If we leave him be, we're all dead anyway!"
Their momentum was already broken, and their formation was in shambles. The enemy was sweeping through the encampment with overwhelming mobility. Only their sheer numbers were delaying the inevitable.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ghislain knocked away the soldiers surrounding him as he charged toward Count Fogren.
Since the knights were all gathered around Count Fogren, breaking through the path wasn't difficult.
He had to keep drawing their attention.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Aaaargh!"
As they watched soldiers being mercilessly cut down, the mages steeled themselves.
Count Fogren was right. This was no time to be considerate of their allies.
That monster must be killed here and now.
Hummmm...
The 6th-circle and 5th-circle mages, along with their subordinates, began drawing upon all their mana.
Rumble!
The 6th circle was just below the 7th circle, the level of superhumans. Though not quite superhuman, they were weapons of war capable of altering the battlefield.
Although fewer in number than in the 2nd Corps, this camp still had two 6th-circle mages, six 5th-circle mages, and no fewer than fifty subordinate mages.
They prepared to cast their spells, fully aware it would harm allies.
Their target was one man.
Feeling the immense mana converging around him, Ghislain gripped the reins of the Black King tightly and said, "Hang in there, Bean."
Flash!
Ghislain's body became completely shrouded in black energy. Within the darkness, his red eyes gleamed.
Neighhh!
The Black King, too, became enveloped in rippling black energy, its red eyes glowing like its master's.
And then,
The mages' spells struck Ghislain.
Boom!
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