The Lord Of Blood Hill-Chapter 11: Defeat and Retreat

Outside Fire Eyes, the cold wind whips up snowflakes, adorning the land in a silver cloak.
Soon, the sound of the wind and snow is shattered by the furious cries of humans.
Armored warriors engage in brutal combat on this snowy plain. No matter how heavily the snow falls, it cannot conceal the glaring crimson on the ground.
For Henwell, watching from the rear, it's his first time witnessing such intense fighting, a savage clash of cold steel.
The Silent Battle Axe Legion and the Billie Kingdom's Ninth Legion are supposed to pincer the troops that have ventured out from Fire Eyes.
But shortly after the battle begin, another force surges out from Fire Eyes.
Both sides are evenly matched in numbers.
However, the defenders of Fire Eyes had not endured days of marching or battled through the biting wind to get there.
They waited quietly in their warm quarters until both coalition legions arrived, only then emerging from their barracks. In winter, conserving body heat is even more crucial than conserving strength.
Having rested and prepared, the defenders of Fire Eyes have no stiffness in their limbs, no numbness in their bodies, giving them a significant edge in combat.
The soldiers on both sides fight as if avenging the death of a loved one, dodging each other's blades as best they can while looking for any opportunity to thrust their own swords into the gaps in their opponents' armor.
Over twenty thousand men are locked in chaotic combat within a few square kilometers, creating a truly awe-inspiring scene.
Henwell had seen many movies in his previous life, but those were just performances, all fake.
On a real battlefield, there are no heroes.
Even knights with exceptional martial skills are just stronger men once their energy is depleted, and a single stab can still make them cough up blood.
The battle rages from morning until afternoon, with heavy casualties on both sides, yet the stalemate persists.
One side fights for a chance at survival, while the other seeks to expel the invaders.
Despite the severe losses, neither side shows any intention of retreating.
Amidst this deadlock, the coalition's cavalry of over a thousand men makes its move.
Seeing this, Count Obiken, the commander of the Silent Battle Axe Legion, feels a wave of despair.
It's over.
The Billie Kingdom's cavalry has acted too soon. Now there's not even a chance to retreat.
Indeed, once the cavalry charges onto the battlefield, they immediately exert pressure on the defenders of Fire Eyes.
However, this effect lasts less than twenty minutes. The battlefield is too chaotic, with heavy snow and low visibility, preventing the cavalry from utilizing their full potential.
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With the cavalry's involvement, the defenders of Fire Eyes begin to slowly pull back their lines, gradually retreating towards the city walls.
The archers on the walls provide cover, dampening the coalition's desire to pursue.
As the Fire Eyes troops withdraw, the coalition forces, from officers to soldiers, erupt in victorious cheers.
The battlefield echoes with the sound of weapons striking shields and armor.
Coalition soldiers roar at the Fire Eyes defenders, venting their anger, and the fear that still lingers from surviving the ordeal.
In contrast, the soldiers of Fire Eyes remain silent, methodically transporting their wounded back into the city.
Those tasked with clearing the battlefield from both sides refrain from attacking each other, focusing instead on bringing their respective injured back to their camps.
As dusk falls, Count Obiken gathers all the officers.
Looking at their young faces, excitedly discussing how many enemies they had slain, he lets out a wistful sigh.
"Ah... From now on, Dallas will take over command. Lead all the officers and nobles to retreat overnight. Don't stop for a moment."
Seeing the officers' bewildered expressions, Count Obiken continues, "We have failed. As long as we haven't captured this city, we've failed. Kavize s that there are still twenty thousand enemy troops in the city.The enemy has stationed over thirty thousand regular soldiers here."
"Moreover, there's a cavalry force of five thousand within the city, ready to deploy at any moment. If the Billie Kingdom's cavalry hadn't moved today, we might have had a chance for a safe retreat. But now, that's gone. We're merely trying to survive..."
Meanwhile, Henwell tends to Kavize's sword wound.
"Today, the Billie Kingdom's cavalry moved too soon. In this cold weather, after a high-speed charge, the horses are exhausted and need time to recover. This means that during the coalition's retreat, there will be no cover."
"After a day of fatigue, if they try to move tomorrow, they won't be able to get out of bed. If they leave tonight, it's even worse. Everyone is still in a state of excitement, drenched in sweat, and if the cold night wind hits them, it could be fatal."
"No matter the choice, these two legions cannot retreat without paying a heavy price."
Kavize doesn't say much, just puts on his clothes and instructs, "Stick close to me."
Originally, Count Obiken planned to stay behind to cover the retreat, but his chief attendant knocked him out and sent him away.
Before the coalition could even begin setting up camp, the ground starts to tremble with the distinct rumble of approaching cavalry.
Soon, chaos erupts in the coalition's two camps. With the noble officers nowhere to be found, the soldiers can't organize any defensive lines.
The soldiers of the Silent Battle Axe Legion, along with their logistics teams, scatter like frightened rabbits, driven into a frenzied run through the snowy night by the allied cavalry.
The allied cavalry doesn't need to kill; they aren't bothered to expend the effort.
All they need to do is keep pushing the coalition soldiers, ensuring they don't stop.
The cold will take care of the rest, killing off all the enemies. In such conditions, getting lost, falling behind, or being injured all lead to the same outcome: death.
Henwell's months of running practice finally prove useful.
He manages to keep up with Kavize, who trots on horseback.
In this situation, no one dares to gallop wildly.
The night itself is an obstacle, and the snow-covered ground makes it hard to spot any pitfalls. They need to conserve the horses' energy and maintain their stamina for sustained movement.
Henwell keeps a steady jog, continuously adjusting his breathing to stay calm and focused on the road ahead, avoiding unnecessary thoughts and tension.
Kavize, a seasoned ranger, employs his own set of night-travel techniques, ensuring they maintain the correct direction.
They don't need to go far—just ten kilometers will do. There, Kavize has already prepared a hiding spot where they can rest overnight and continue at dawn, safe from further pursuit by the allied forces.
However, the allied forces are particularly vigilant about mounted soldiers within the coalition. When they spot riders, they typically fire warning arrows to force them to speed up and exhaust their horses.
At this moment, a cavalry squad of over thirty riders notices Kavize's group. Kavize isn't alone; he is accompanied by a few allied noble officers, which makes the allied cavalry see them as a significant target.
The cavalry squad draws their bows and releases a volley of arrows in their direction. Immediately, two unfortunate officers are unhorsed—one struck in the neck, the other thrown off when his horse is hit and panics.
Regardless of the cause, it seems unlikely that these two will survive, and the others show no intention of rescuing them. They swiftly turn their horses, scattering in different directions in an attempt to draw the enemy away.