Way of Overlord
Chapter 191: First Step

Chapter 191: First Step

In the heart of the city, the contingent of soldiers stands but a fraction of what one might expect.

Their numbers sparse, hardly pose a threat to Aeryon warrior.

Within the city walls, the defenders, despite their valour, grapple with dwindling morale.

The shattered gates serve as a stark testament to their fading resolve; they persist in their defense solely due to their confinement within these walls.

However, amidst this fragile tableau, the gaze must turn toward a particular cohort: the private soldiers, stalwarts in service to the influential magnates and nobility of the realm. It is here that Aeryon scrutiny must linger.

The prevailing Yan empire bears an uncanny resemblance to the twilight era of the Eastern Han dynasty, where the reins of authority lay clasped within the grasp of potent aristocratic lineages.

These familial colossi cast their commanding shadows over the empire’s governance, dictating its course and fate.

Within the echelons of these aristocratic lineages lie soldiers whose prowess often eclipses the might of the Emperor’s own army.

These elite warriors, nurtured and honed under the patronage of influential families, stand as paragons of martial excellence, their skills and training a testament to generations of meticulous cultivation.

Their allegiance, though nominally tethered to their benefactors, transcends mere loyalty; it embodies a fervent dedication steeped in tradition, pride, and a sense of ancestral duty.

Their prowess in combat and strategic acumen often outshines the soldiers conscripted under the Emperor’s banner, rendering them a formidable force within the empire’s intricate power dynamics.

These elite soldiers, honed through specialized training and access to superior resources, is something that Aeryon knows

At least when he is reading the story that is how it is portrayed

The private soldiers of these aristocratic family serve as both a symbol and a practical extension of the aristocracy’s influence and authority, commanding respect and fear in equal measure within the realm.

It is also the reason why the Yan empire collapses

When Aeryon read the book, he notices that the reason why Xiahou Cao, why Jiang Bei, why Dugu Yi could rose and become a warlord that separates the world is because their soldiers are even more powerful than the imperial army.

Xiahou Cao, leveraging the might of his lineage, the stalwart Xiahou family, carved a decisive path amidst the tumultuous era of chaos.

Backed by the unwavering support and resources of his clan, he ascended as a formidable warlord, harnessing not just his individual prowess but the collective might of his family strength.

The support rendered by these powerful clans went beyond mere military might.

It encompassed strategic alliances, economic sustenance, and a formidable network that amplified the warlord’s influence, transforming them into figures who commanded armies capable of challenging the very foundations of imperial power.

it was the synergy between the soldiers nurtured and rallied by these warlords, bolstered by the backing of influential clans, that propelled Xiahou Cao to the forefront of an era defined by chaos and the pursuit of dominance.

Jiang Bei, a scion of the Jiang family that had wielded authority within the Yan dynasty for nearly four centuries, capitalized on the orthodoxy and reverence ingrained within those loyal to the Jiang legacy.

Through the enduring allegiance of those who revered the Jiang family’s lineage and historical rule, Jiang Bei garnered a formidable base of support.

His ascent was anchored in the tradition, legitimacy, and respect bestowed upon the imperial family, fostering a following that rallied around the established orthodoxy upheld by the Jiang dynasty.

Conversely, Dugu Yi’s rise to hegemony carved a starkly different trajectory.

Eschewing conventional routes to power, Dugu Yi relied on sheer, inhuman brute strength, walking a path defined by the unyielding force of arms.

His ascendancy is because of his raw physical prowess, a narrative woven with tales of unmatched strength and martial prowess that instilled awe and fear in equal measure. Through this unparalleled might and a reputation as the strongest warrior in Yan, Dugu Yi forged a path to hegemony, imposing his will through sheer force

Aeryon simply look at the other side of the battle and see that most of the soldiers that are still fighting are being surrounded

He frowned

"There is no need to be too thorough. Kill whoever you can but open a path so that they could run. Focus our men on the elite soldiers of the noble family. If we break them, we break the city final defense. And then we will raid their homes and take all of their wealth"

A call to battle is issued and the roars of the Great Steppe warriors fills the city

...

The once vibrant city of Nurshira, now engulfed in the inferno of conflict, lay shrouded in billowing smoke that clawed its way skyward, a grim look

Even from afar the smoke rises and covers the clouds, the clouds turns dark and the flames is like light that bring moth to the fire

The symphony of chaos reverberated through the air, screams intertwining with the clash of martial prowess, their cacophony seemingly piercing the very heavens above.

Amidst the turmoil, a primal ballet unfolded - the wolves and the dragon, clashed in a ferocious dance of dominance.

Blood mingled with the waters, transforming serene streams into rivulets of crimson, while the once pristine soil now wore a macabre hue, tainted by the visceral aftermath of the clash.

In every corner, the theatre of war unfolded in gruesome detail - a relentless barrage of conflict and carnage.

Death lingered in the very air, an ominous spectre that loomed over the beleaguered city.

Tens of thousands of Steppe warriors surged forth, their relentless charge trampling the earth beneath them, leaving an indelible mark of destruction in their wake.

Nurshira, now lay at the mercy of flames and savagery.

The invaders ravaged the city, incinerating its essence and cutting down all who dared cross their path, leaving behind a haunting landscape of desolation and despair

Today, the people of the Great Steppe take a step forward against the people of Yan, breaking the myth of their invincibility and breaking the mental barrier that the Yan people once planted

For generations, the Yan had woven a myth of invincibility around themselves, a narrative that seeped into the psyche of the Steppe people, sowing seeds of doubt and an illusion of inferiority.

The Yan had made the Great Steppe people believe that they are superior.

Today, that myth ends and Aeryon is determined to make that happen.

Aeryon and his men is now advancing stably toward the centre of the city

Aeryon and Belarion, these two sworn brothers fight against the soldiers of Yan like war gods.

Hundreds of soldiers could not stop them. These two men rode toward the battlefield like a lion ripping a flock of sheep in a sheep pen

And as Belarion and Aeryon fight, instead of becoming weaker, these two become more and more powerful and they are advancing faster and faster, like they are gaining strength with more people they killed

Their horses hooves never stopped and their killing rate become faster and faster.

Their men are infected by this energy and they also become fiercer and braver and it is now that the true terrifying might of the Steppe warrior truly unleashed.

Lead by a lion, every one of them also turning into a lion.

The more they fight, the more they advanced. And they advanced faster and faster, their horses never stopped and their hand never stopped swinging weapon

Any encirclement attempt is quickly broken by a charge by the horseman.

As the battle prolonged, the advantage tilted decisively in favor of the Steppe warriors.

Among their ranks were the agile horse archers, masters of swift manoeuvrability on the battlefield.

Their mounted mobility allowed them to swiftly dart across the terrain, launching volleys of arrows with deadly accuracy, disrupting enemy formations and wreaking havoc amidst the Yan forces.

Even those Steppe warriors without horses embraced a ferocity that bordered on berserk behaviour.

Fierce and unyielding, they hurled themselves into the fray with reckless abandon, heedless of personal safety or the spectre of death.

Each warrior became a relentless force, embodying a primal ferocity that instilled fear in their adversaries.

As the conflict persisted, the inherent advantages of the Steppe warriors came to the fore.

Their adaptability and endurance in prolonged engagements gave them an edge. Aeryon trained them before on how to endure.

And fighting against an army that has already lost its morale and keep losing it’s morale as time passes, make sure that the longer the battle goes, the more advantageous it became for Aeryon forces

With each passing moment, their resilience grew, feeding off the chaos and tumult of battle.

The ebb and flow of combat only seemed to invigorate them further, igniting a fire within that burned brighter with every clash.

Aeryon could feel it

This is the moment where his men would really become a soldier. Most of his warriors, especially the new warriors had not fought such a war

Today would be the beginning of many such battle

And this is like their orientation.

Every journey began with a single stope. Aeryon has a grand ambition but that grand ambition seems far away. So, he must walk toward that grand ambition step by step.

And the first step is usually the hardest one. To train an elite army that could help him sweep the Great Steppe and then the world

This is the first step. And Aeryon feel that today, he is walking that step.

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