Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters
Chapter 1186 - 22 The Great Alliance Moves Forward (7)

Chapter 1186: Chapter 22 The Great Alliance Moves Forward (7)

Green Valley is burning.

The once lush and verdant valley, with its interconnected fields, has now turned into a Red Valley.

The fire on the South Bank spread to the mountains, refusing to die down and instead spiraling out of control; ashes carried by the wind crossed the Niuxi River, setting the fields on the North Shore aflame as well.

The riverbanks of the valley glowed red from the fire, and the Niuxi River reflected the flames, appearing like molten glass. Even the clouds bore the hellish colors painted by the demons’ jubilation, with an eerily captivating yet terrifying blood river seen from kilometers away above Green Valley Town.

Major Alder Felter combined the only three intact infantry battalions into a "Big Square Formation". As he tried to reassemble the formation, black-clad cavalry emerged continually from the thick fog, launching intimidating charges from all directions at the still-gathering Big Square Formation, aiming to crush the morale of Felter’s troops.

Felter had to exert all his strength to fend off the enemy’s light cavalry harassment, and prevent the Big Square Formation from unraveling by itself.

Fortunately, the black-clad cavalry, wielding only a Paratu sword and riding a short Hurd horse, lacked the decisive ability, and the enemy infantry did not catch up.

Major Felter commanded his troops to fight while retreating, withdrawing to an unknown farmhouse outside the valley.

The farmhouse’s southwest corner had a large barn with half-meter thick stone walls, two stories high, serving as a communal granary for villagers.

Passing by this place in the afternoon, Felter couldn’t help but notice the sturdy and tall structure.

So, when he retreated with the remnants of the three battalions outside the valley, he immediately occupied the large barn.

It was a lean month; apart from some fodder, the barn was empty.

Felter had his men make shooting holes in the barn walls while others dismantled nearby farmhouses to clear the firing field.

The wood and stone removed from the farmhouses were used to reinforce the barn; whatever couldn’t be carried away was set ablaze.

After gaining a brief respite, Major Felter finally found the chance to assess the losses:

The Sixth Battalion stationed at Green Valley Town was completely wiped out—if not for Felter’s cautious nature, the remaining five battalions might have faced the same fate as the Sixth;

The Seventh and Eighth Battalions, positioned at the front of the marching order, were also annihilated; battalion commanders went missing, their structures destroyed, only a few scattered deserters escaped;

The Ninth and Tenth Battalions managed to escape calamity due to their rear positions, but some soldiers took the chaos as an opportunity to desert, and those who stayed were anxious and devoid of fighting spirit.

In addition to personnel losses, Felter’s forces also lost all their supply wagons, along with food, ammunition, and equipment.

Under normal circumstances, Alder Felter might have started considering which era’s war history would become his lifelong research focus.

But as it stands, Major Felter couldn’t think about the future, focusing on surviving the coming night.

The residents of this unknown small farmhouse realized their home had turned into a battlefield and fled overnight with their families.

Standing atop the barn roof, Major Felter could see loaded four-wheeled carriages, livestock, and humans fleeing along the road away from Green Valley. Meanwhile, the fire at Green Valley lingered.

The wavering dim lights almost formed a line, and in the wind, faintly, the cries of children could be heard.

The sight saddened Felter, but soon he had no time for sentimentality.

Perhaps the burning farmhouse attracted enemy attention, as they caught up shortly after Felter ordered the clearing of the firing field.

The sky had turned completely dark; the farmhouse fire temporarily held back the surrounding night’s darkness near the barn.

Yet, in places the firelight couldn’t reach, deeper into the night, the black-clad cavalry emerged from the thick fog once more.

Initially just sparse hoofbeats, more and more cavalry joined the chorus, seemingly executing some mysterious ritual, incessantly circling around Felter’s battalion at the barn.

Eventually, the roaring hooves sounded in all directions around the barn, making it impossible to discern how many enemy cavalry raced through the darkness.

The trapped soldiers in the barn were driven to near madness.

"They are wolves! Not humans! Wolves!" A disheveled soldier threw down his weapon, scrambling toward the barn doors, shouting madly: "I’ve seen wolves! Wolves circle prey! Only wolves circle prey! It’s a sacrifice! Wolves want to offer us as tribute to demons! Run! Everyone save yourselves!"

Needless for Felter to speak, Kadar, guarding the door, punched the crazed deserter to the ground.

Kadar stepped on the deserter’s back, grabbed his hair, gritting his teeth to draw his sword, looking questioningly at the major.

Felter hesitated, shaking his head.

Kadar sheathed his sword into the gap between bricks, signaled his subordinates to bind the deserter tightly, stuffing his mouth with straw.

Throughout the process, the crazed deserter struggled desperately, whimpering incoherently.

Other soldiers’ attention was drawn to the crazed deserter, silently watching Kadar contain him, pondering indescribably.

Major Felter instructed Kadar to isolate the deserter in the barn loft to prevent further morale damage.