83. The Unforeseen Calamity (4)
It was reckless.
Instead of solving the problem with a clever strategy, he proposed to break through the enemy lines and secure space to set up a barricade.
This was not right.
Even Steven, who had devised the plan, felt he needed to dissuade Roman. “It’s too dangerous. Getting through the enemy lines to the city gate is already a difficult task, and enemies are constantly pouring in from outside the city. If we become isolated, we won’t survive. I spoke out of turn. The strategy to set up a barricade is practically impossible.”
Roman Dmitri.
A man Steven had never seen before.
But one thing was certain: he had arrived at the scene even before the existing reserve troops upon hearing the news that the fifth defensive line was in danger.
It was clear how hard he had run.
Even the commander, Baron Bruce, had abandoned the battlefield, but having allies like Roman Dmitri gave Steven a sense of reassurance.
Therefore, he hoped that Roman would not die.
If someone like Baron Bruce survived while Roman died in his place, it would be too unfair.
“I understand what you’re worried about. However, I’m not a fool who would throw away his life on a mission that seems impossible.” Suddenly, the enemy launched a surprise attack from behind.
Roman seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, easily dodging the attack and thrusting his sword into the enemy’s chin.
The enemy trembled.
Just as Steven blinked in surprise, a group appeared beside him.
“Lord!” “Please give us your orders.” Chris and the soldiers.
They were drenched in blood.
It seemed there were no casualties following Roman, but the blood dripping from their blades showed that many enemies had been killed.
Their gazes were like those of beasts.
Seeing the spirits of the battlefield waiting for Roman’s command, Steven instinctively felt there was hope for the reserve troops.
Roman spoke. “From now on, we will clear a path to the city gate.” “Understood.” No one questioned him.
They understood how dangerous this operation was and what Roman intended to achieve through it.
Without a hint of doubt, the soldiers showed their firm resolve to carry out the orders.
Blind trust.
It was admirable.
While the Baron Bruce Steven followed had fled the battlefield the moment the city gate was destroyed, Roman’s soldiers demonstrated their trust in following Roman Dmitri to the end.
How could such a bond be formed? Steven could not comprehend that invisible, sticky emotion with his common sense.
Roman moved ahead.
Noticing that the others were still in shock, he said one last thing. “Focus on your roles. The war is not over yet.” With those words, Roman charged toward the enemy, swiftly cutting down those who blocked his path.
Blood splattered.
A path of blood was opened.
Following Roman, his soldiers also followed without hesitation.
“... Ah!” Steven finally regained his senses.
There was no time to be dazed.
The operation had already begun.
To ensure Roman’s decision was not in vain, he had to play his part. “Squad two, follow me! From now on, you will move the emergency barricade with me!” Steven shouted loudly.
From now on, it was time to risk his life and fulfill his role.
Before heading to the southern front, Roman fell into thought. ‘Is there really a need for me to take risks for this country that lacks patriotism?’ The southern front.
According to the information, the Hector Kingdom was clearly sending signals of war.
The foreign Valhalla Empire had read that signal and warned Roman, but the Cairo Kingdom was completely unaware of the situation they were in.
They were a pitifully foolish group.
To avoid repeating the history of suffering from foreign invasions, they needed to be alert, yet the central government, torn into four factions, could not make the right judgment.
To put it bluntly, Roman could not be considered a citizen of the Cairo Kingdom.
Having lived his life as Baek Jung-hyeok, he had no reason to feel great patriotism for the country of Cairo. ‘There are many ways to avoid war.
If I ally with Marquis Benedict, I will be exempt from military duty, and I could also side with the strong by following the Valhalla Empire.
In the end, war is a game where only the powerless are sacrificed.
Now that I have been recognized for my value in the Cairo Kingdom, I have gained the privilege of being strong.’
The unknown world.
There could be dangers lurking on the battlefield.
However, Roman’s worries did not last long. ‘I cannot bow my head to avoid the danger before me or promise to side with them.’ In his past life, Baek Jung-hyeok had formidable brothers above him.
Among them were some who were great enough to invade the territory of the eldest son, but they could not escape the shadow of the eldest son with just one compromise.
Ordinary people might say it was just a single compromise.
But that was a very important factor in determining one’s will.
With legs that had not knelt, one could stand firm until the end, but the moment one knelt, the body remembered the comfort of submission.
Benedict.
Valhalla.
Chronos.
And the royal family.
The four powers that divided Cairo all looked at Roman, but he had no intention of giving them a clear answer.
Their relationship was such that they could not make requests that crossed the line.
Roman intended to solve the reality that faced him on his own.
Since he had the purpose of ruling from the beginning, he knew that bowing to someone would be poisonous.
Furthermore, he wished to remain as Dmitri. ‘I am heading to the southern front.’ He made his decision.
Difficult background? The reality of a small nation? He did not care about such conditions.
The existence of the Heavenly Demon was born in even more difficult situations and ultimately brought everyone to their knees and reached the peak.
Instead, his blood boiled.
He missed the life on the battlefield.
The endless peace in his later years had not stirred a strong thirst.
Thus, Roman charged into the enemy camp.
It was already a battle with a strong sense of defeat.
Through the completely opened city gate, Hector’s soldiers continuously poured in, and Cairo’s soldiers were completely overwhelmed and hurriedly retreated.
The difference in power was extreme.
One Hector soldier faced two or three of Cairo’s, and the area around the city gate had already fallen into the lair of the Hector Kingdom.
Everyone knew.
The battle was over.
Unlike the soldiers trying to distance themselves from the city gate, Roman turned his back on them and charged at the enemies.
Boom! The first five enemies that charged in were simultaneously split open at the chest.
Roman, drenched in blood splattered into the sky, burrowed into the space filled with enemies.
It was a situation that was far too dangerous by common sense.
Isolated in the enemy camp, Hector’s soldiers attempted to attack from all directions, but Roman did not allow even the attacks coming from the sides.
‘To the right.’ Whoosh! A spear whizzed past him.
Roman grabbed the spear and pulled the opponent toward him, beheading the soldier who came along.
Then, he immediately pushed forward and attacked the enemies.
Crack! It was an overwhelming sight.
Even though he had raised his shield to block, the Hector soldier was split in two like a shield, with the upper and lower halves going in opposite directions.
The counterattacks from the surrounding enemies were ineffective.
Roman continued to advance, deflecting or blocking the enemies’ attacks, and whenever he attempted to strike, death followed.
When he killed twenty, Hector’s soldiers trusted each other and charged.
When he killed thirty, they realized their opponent was stronger than they had thought.
But when he slaughtered over fifty, their expressions turned to fear. “Ugh!” “Someone stop that guy!” Chaos erupted.
Just one man, Roman, was preventing Hector from advancing any further.
The brave soldiers who charged in had already become cold corpses, and Roman continued to kill enemies as if he was still not satisfied.
It was not simply the power of his aura.
Roman had not even fully unleashed his aura, yet he displayed a force that surpassed that of an aura master.
Baek Jung-hyeok.
He learned how to kill from the moment he had no power.
He crushed his opponent’s head with a stone and, if necessary, would stop at nothing.
He had experienced all the trials and tribulations from the bottom to the top.
Now, with absolute power gained, Baek Jung-hyeok could not be stopped by mere soldiers.
A massacre.
The situation of being isolated was not important.
Just as a single wolf cannot be subdued by a flock of sheep, Roman slaughtered the enemies as if it were the most natural thing.
It was not just him.
The soldiers who arrived following Roman were also completely different from ordinary soldiers.
If one Hector soldier faced two or three Cairo soldiers, Roman’s soldiers demonstrated combat skills that allowed them to easily take on five or six enemies alone.
The situation had turned around.
Only thirty men.
The reserve troops were a small number compared to the whole, but their efforts began to change the atmosphere little by little.
And the Hector commander was watching this situation unfold.
The Hector commander, Baron McCleary, who was in charge of the attack on the fifth defensive line, had been confident of victory when they broke through the city gate. “Tsk tsk tsk, pathetic fools.” It was amusing.
Hector had not sent its full strength.
Only a portion of the troops had been sent to the fifth defensive line, and the Cairo Kingdom had been so complacent that they could not withstand even this level of attack.
Their response was foolish, not firing arrows even as the enemy approached, and their defensive weapons were not functioning properly.
The Cairo Kingdom, despite being a war nation, was absurdly pathetic.
‘Unexpectedly, we might break through the fifth defensive line first.’ The initial plan did not matter for victory or defeat.
Just attacking had its significance, and the sandcastle that was Cairo would collapse on its own.
After all, they needed to take all five defensive lines into their grasp.
If they could achieve such results with mere probing, Baron McCleary had nothing to lose.
“Attack! Completely break the fifth defensive line!” He made his decision.
It was a golden opportunity.
He felt confident that they could break the defensive line like this.
At first, the intention seemed to work.
The soldiers pushing into the castle appeared to be occupying the interior, but at some point, a strange sight began to unfold. “R-Run away!” “Fall back!” “Aaaah!” Hector’s soldiers.
They were retreating outside the road.
With pale, terrified expressions, they stumbled backward, and Baron McCleary, with a bewildered face, checked the battlefield.
He still could not properly understand what was happening.
Soldiers were coming out, but from a distance, it did not seem like there were many Cairo soldiers opposing them.
‘What on earth is happening?’ Doubts arose.
At that moment, soldiers began to fall one after another.
As space opened up, a figure was seen fighting surrounded by enemies. “...!” It was truly an overwhelming sight.
The Cairo swordsman was slaughtering Hector’s soldiers unilaterally.
In that moment, Baron McCleary’s eyes met with that man’s.
A chilling gaze that took his breath away.
Thinking it was an illusion since they were far apart, the man suddenly charged toward him.
Blood splattered.
Heads flew off as he blocked.
He closed his eyes and opened them again.
In that brief moment, the man was rapidly approaching.
‘Could he be trying to kill me?’ No. That was impossible.
Logically, it was an impossible thing. “Kill that guy before he goes wild!” “Understood.” The Hector knights stepped forward.
At that moment, Baron McCleary still believed he was safe.