The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 92
The Calliper army, which had been moving since dawn, was able to enter the foothills of the Delston Mountains before noon.
“Troops, move to your positions!”
The forces took their places according to Delbadova’s command.
There were three main strongpoints in the Delston Mountains this time.
The northwest. The north. And the highlands located in the northeast.
The Calliper army, which had decided to strike these three points simultaneously, deployed 8,000 on the left, 4,000 in the center, and 4,000 on the right.
“Whew!” Delbadova took a deep breath.
Although the forces were similar, the terrain was a major disadvantage. Whether they could lead this to victory or not was entirely up to him as the commander-in-chief.
“There’s no time to hesitate. All forces, advance!”
With a battle cry, the Calliper army infiltrated the mountains.
Barret, the commander of the Western army, watched this sight with a sneer.
“Come on up. I’ll make this mountain your grave.”
He didn’t think of defeat.
This wasn’t arrogance. It was simply because there wasn’t a single factor that could lead to defeat.
He was confident that unless some other variable intervened, the Delston Mountains would never be breached, as there was no way they would lose in tactical combat.
“General! The Calliper army is rapidly pushing up the strategic point on the right!”
It was the highland located on the left for Calliper, and on the right for the West.
Barret laughs, saying, “As expected.”
“Are they trying to quickly occupy the high ground to utilize their archers? What a boring choice, it makes me yawn. Respond as planned!”
However, the momentum of the Calliper army was too intense to be easily blocked.
They had concentrated half of their forces on that point, creating a breakthrough formation as the Calliper army quickly headed towards the high ground.
“Are they going for an all-or-nothing battle? I like that spirit, but it’s a foolish act.”
The moment the Calliper army, which needed to attack all three strategic points, put too much strength on the left, the balance of their forces collapsed.
Barret had no desire to play along with the opponent’s intentions.
If they concentrated their strength in one place, he could simply push down from the other areas.
He sent his central and left forces downwards to attack the Calliper army’s central and right forces.
If the central and right forces couldn’t advance, it would be meaningless even if they managed to capture the left highland.
“This is the end, you continental fools.”
Moreover, even occupying the left highland wasn’t going to be easy.
The Calliper forces trying to climb the highland soon encounter a major obstacle.
The Calliper army, quickly breaking through and heading towards the northwestern highland.
This highland had formed a flat area without trees. This was because the merchants passing through had cleared the trees to make a wagon road.
Therefore, it was a good position to deploy archers.
Delbadova, arriving at the highland with heavy breaths, gritted his teeth at the sight of the Western forces already in position.
“As expected, they’ve already taken position…”
Facing Delbadova, the enemy force’s captain, Fischer Partin, declares, “You’ve done well to come this far. I’ll commend you for that spirit.”
“You’re that spearman from back then. I heard from a prisoner. One of Hanneman’s Five Dragons or Golden Dragon or something. Anyway, it was just a flashy name.”
“Hah, I too think such grandiose names are unnecessary. Being just a warrior is enough. I’m Fischer Partin. State your name, baldy.”
“Delbadova Leguin.”
Soon after, Calliper’s officers followed up.
The cadets including Ruan and Casper, and Delbadova’s adjutants as well.
They burned with fighting spirit at the sight of Fischer. Part of it was to avenge the past humiliation, but above all, it was to achieve military merit.
As Calliper had the advantage in terms of troop numbers, now was the best time to capture Fischer.
“General! Give the order!”
At Ruan’s spirited cry, Delbadova pointed the edge of his axe at the enemy.
“Attack! Make space for our archers to take position!”
“Uoooh!”
The soldiers from both sides entangled and began killing each other.
As it was an area without trees, a fierce melee unfolded.
“Huh!”
Kwakwakwakwak! Fischer swung his spear as if possessed, cutting down the soldiers’ necks. Blood splattered without fail where his spear passed.
“Is this all you’ve got!”
“Your opponent is me! Uraaah!”
Delbadova swings down his two-handed axe with force. Even Fischer didn’t think to fully receive that massive power.
“You’re strong, but…!”
Tik! He deflected the attack by tilting his spear shaft, then tried to stab at Delbadova’s weak point that was now full of openings, but had to step back due to Ruan Chase’s sword attack that rushed in from the side.
“You won’t escape like last time! Haah!”
“Hmph! You’re all just talk!”
Fischer started to receive coordinated attacks. Moreover, even Casper and Delbadova’s adjutants joined in to focus their attacks on Fischer.
As they were all strong individuals capable of using Aura, Fischer couldn’t simply disregard them.
“Protect the captain!”
“Kill them all!”
Fischer’s adjutants joined in to protect him, and a full-scale bloody battle unfolded.
“Guaah!”
Crunch! The axe blade bisects an enemy officer’s body.
“Haa! Haa!”
Delbadova, breathing heavily with excitement, soon sensed killing intent aiming for his temple.
“Huh!?”
Whoosh! A spear tip flies like lightning. Delbadova used the flat of his axe as a shield to receive the attack, but Kwajik! The spear tip, filled with Aura, destroyed the axe blade and pierced Delbadova’s forehead.
It was a close call, if the attack had been 0.5cm deeper, it would have pierced through the bone and into the brain.
Stepping back, Delbadova didn’t even think to wipe the blood flowing from his forehead. He discarded his axe and drew his backup weapon, a sword.
Although the flowing blood covered his eyes, turning his vision red, he glared without concern.
Even Fischer admired this spirit.
“Despite your martial arts skills not being exceptional, your spirit is remarkable. Though you’re an enemy commander, I pay my respects!”
“Hah, I wondered what you were saying. The level of martial arts isn’t what’s important.”
“What?”
“I’m not a martial artist. I’m a soldier! For the success of the operation, for the victory of the army, it’s only natural that this one life isn’t precious!”
Clang!! For the first time, Fischer took a step back.
As Delbadova said, it wasn’t due to the level of martial arts. He was simply overwhelmed by the spirit.
“You…!”
Fischer’s pride was greatly hurt.
In terms of martial arts skills alone, Delbadova didn’t even come close to him. Yet, to be pushed back due to sheer spirit…
“I’ll kill you…!”
From that point, Fischer’s energy transformed once again. His movements became faster and more ferocious.
Delbadova didn’t retreat even as his entire body was stabbed and slashed by the spear tip.
“Don’t be afraid! Work together to respond!”
Fischer became increasingly impatient due to this tenacity. The Calliper side clearly had the advantage in terms of troop numbers.
‘If this drags on, we might lose! If that guy who uses Chester-style joins in…’
And Fischer detected something odd about that point.
‘Wait, why isn’t that guy here right now?’
At first, he thought the man must still be behind. After that, he was too caught up in the melee to notice.
If he hadn’t felt impatient now, he might not have noticed at all.
‘There’s something here! These guys are aiming for something else!’
He quickly turned his gaze to the center and the opposite flank.
Forces that were descending down the mountain to annihilate the enemy. Moving like that ensures no problem even if the left highland is taken.
“Ah…!”
Realizing what the Calliper army was aiming for, Fischer bit his lip hard.
The place he was looking at.
It was the point where the commander Barret was located.
***
Barret was watching the situation optimistically.
The war situation was unfolding according to his thoughts. While Fischer was holding out, forces from other areas were pushing down, putting the enemy in a frustrating situation.
“Even so, it seems Fischer’s side is struggling quite a bit. Is that youngster with the Chester-style he mentioned stepping up? Hmm.”
Just as Barret was about to raise his feather fan to give orders to send support to Fischer’s side, just in case, it happened.
A chill ran down his spine.
“What is this…?”
Barret carefully turned around.
And soon, clang! His guards began to fight with their swords drawn.
“Enemy attack! Enemy attaaack!”
“What?!”
He was so surprised that his eyes widened like a rabbit’s.
It was a mystery how they had managed to flank and come up here, and above all, it was unbelievable that they had figured out his position.
“Hah!”
Swoosh! Ars broke through the guards with a fluid movement and appeared before Barret.
“You!”
A sword in his left hand. A spear in his right hand.
“The youngster with the Chester-style…!!”
“And you must be the commander called Barret. I heard from a prisoner.”
“Ugh!”
Barret hurriedly tried to hide his fan, but his attire was too flashy compared to others to begin with.
“This is why commanders shouldn’t wear clothes that stand out. What’s with that fan? Are you openly advertising that you’re the commander?”
“Qu-quickly, kill this guy!”
As the guards rushed to protect Barret they were dealt with by Dilas and Aggert.
“Don’t let them approach!”
“Urarararat!”
The two cleared the surroundings with quick movements. In addition, a special force of up to 100 men was following behind As.
They were seasoned mercenaries from within the unit that Ars had selected.
Ars had used them to secretly flank the battlefield and ambush Barret.
“Y-you, don’t tell me!”
Only then could Barret notice the trap Ars had set.
It was the part where he had put strength into occupying the high ground on the left.
“You made me send down the central and left armies…!”
“Correct.”
At the point when the central and left armies were sent down, Barret’s main camp where he was located became weaker.
Moreover, as battles were occurring here and there, there were more opportunities to secretly flank.
Ars had aimed for this and proposed one thing to Delbadova in a private meeting yesterday.
[General, Casper’s plan is likely to be too obvious and predictable.]
[Then what do you suggest? We have no other options in this situation.]
[Yes, so I think it would be better to give even more strength. To make the enemy overreact.]
[Overreact?]
[If we over-invest in a point other than the center, the enemy will try to push down in reverse. I will take that opportunity to flank, locate the enemy commander’s position, and take him out.]
[It’s too dangerous.]
[No, it’s a strategy that puts your life at more risk than mine, General. To draw the enemy’s attention, you’ll have to personally lead the vanguard of the left army. Are you okay with that?]
[If that’s the case… There’s no need to worry.]
Barret’s trembling hand moved to the sword at his waist.
“H-how did you figure out my location?”
“I observed the movements of the soldiers and read the flow of the command structure, and it pointed here, you know?”
“Th-that’s impossible…!”
This is mountainous terrain with limited visibility.
Moreover, the nature of mountain warfare is distinctly different from other battlefields and difficult to adapt to. To read the command structure of the units and pinpoint the location in such a place.
‘No, if this guy is that guy, it’s not strange at all!’
At that moment, Barret recalled Fischer’s words.
The one who killed the Three Great General Lexit with mountain fortification tactics.
The rising star mercenary who entered the ranks of the 20 Heroes, filling the vacancy left by Dunan’s death.
“Are you that strategist, Wade…!!”
“My, you talk too much. Aggert, Dilas! We can’t gauge this person’s level, so we’ll take him out with a joint attack!”
Ars decided to launch a joint attack, judging that Barret’s martial arts skills might be exceptional.
However, making that concern look foolish, Barret, who lacked martial arts ability, couldn’t even properly block Ars’ first attack and was helplessly beheaded by Aggert’s sword rushing in from the side.
The death of Barret, the overall commander of the army.
This meant the paralysis of the command structure.
TL NOTE:
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Even the enemies can tell he’s Wade at this point.