Chapter 634: Act 376 – The Valkyrie’s Ride (Part 1)
The city of Bunoan stood like a lonely sentinel on the desolate ground, outlined by the lightning falling from the clouds.
This veteran looked down on the battlefield, nearing its conclusion, where the human armies retreated from the plains like a receding tide. Soldiers rendered incapable of action could only wait for death among the piles of corpses, with the crimson flames on the horizon being the last light in their eyes.
In the expanding slender field of vision, both heaven and earth appeared curved. The entire battlefield was a chaotic ruin, with broken weapons, armor, tattered flags, and the bodies of fallen guards intertwined, forming a peculiar apocalyptic scene.
Even the clouds had turned crimson, and the lightning coiled around like thorns, occasionally illuminating this world and exposing its most terrifying reality to the allied human forces.
From the vicinity of Medaao Village to the edge of the forest, fleeing guards were everywhere. Under the grayish backdrop, the heads crowding together vividly depicted the true portrayal of despair at this moment on the battlefield. The Lady Knight concealed herself behind a parapet, observing the situation outside through the gaps in the battlements. The demon’s offensive seemed to commence from the horizon, with crimson fireballs trailing long tails as they flew across the battlefield, illuminating both the grotesque creatures and her eyes.
She placed one hand on the dark wall, which was riddled with cracks and stained with blood that spread like ripples. The bodies of the officer cadets from the Royal Knight Academy were lined up neatly, as if to maintain their dignity, yet they were ultimately just lifeless shells.
No one had ever experienced such a horrifying war. On the battlefield, whether they were farmers’ sons, artisans’ sons, noble descendants, or the illustrious knights and missionaries, all had found equality in death for the first time, with no distinctions remaining.
Freya even heard someone sobbing softly, those were the civilians hiding in the castle’s basement, including women and children—all the capable men had taken up weapons. But unfortunately, resolute determination could not change the situation. Anyone could smell the scent of defeat in the cold air.
The great edifice was about to collapse.
The Lady Knight clenched her fist with a creak, the metal gauntlet distorting. One name resided in her heart; she firmly believed that he could ultimately lead everyone out of this desperate situation. Just as refugees had lost hope during the escape from Ridenburg, he too had promised them a miracle.
Brendel had been so confident back then, captivating everyone, including her.
“Can’t we hold on a little longer?”
“But… the princess is still ahead, isn’t she?”
A voice came from behind—Bud spoke, her tone filled with sorrow and indignation. The Royal Knights had paid a heavy price; each one resting here was a familiar face from the past. They could accept sacrifice, but they could not accept that all their previous efforts had been in vain.
Compared to that, they would rather die in battle here.
Better than tasting this suffocating despair.
The princess was dead, and Erluin was on the brink of destruction. Everyone felt that sense of despair and helplessness in their hearts, as if the hope and ideals of their lives had just been established, only to face the shattered reality.
It was a feeling of disillusionment.
The tears streaking down Bud’s face were evidence of this; she almost shouted to her commander—Nemeses—as if to wake the Lady Knight up. The princess was still out there; didn’t she notice?
The Lady Knight’s face turned pale as she turned away, the expression reflecting the pain of having been struck. Beside her stood Marquis Baltar, commander of the White Lion army, his body drenched in blood, as if he had just returned from hell.
On the battlefield, Bunoan had formed a long protrusion, like a sharp blade. The two armies guarding this area were undoubtedly the most dazzling entities on the battlefield today. The officer cadets from the Royal Knight Academy and the young men from Duke Toniger stood firm and honorable, while the White Lion army upheld their soldierly honor.
These were the two brightest armies in Erluin’s history, fighting side by side today.
“This is not gambling, Bud,” Marquis Baltar said stiffly. “We are not gamblers; we have made our final attempts, but we cannot put all our chips on the line.”
“Are you treating the princess as a chip?” The red-haired girl stared wide-eyed in disbelief, glaring at the marquis. If it weren’t for them, how would the kingdom have ended up like this?
“Bud, watch your words,” Nemeses reprimanded.
“Senior Nemeses, but the princess is still ahead.”
“Call me Knight Commander, soldier. That was the princess’s choice, but her intention was not to have the kingdom buried with her; that is also her command.” Nemeses replied coldly, as if devoid of any emotion, “The time is up; I must meticulously execute the princess’s orders.”
Bud trembled and lowered her head.
Nemeses looked up, observing the silhouette of the Lady Knight on the city wall. In her memory, this future Valkyrie of Erluin was gentle, even somewhat timid, indistinguishable from the rural girl, but today, she suddenly realized she could no longer see the other clearly.
“Freya?”
“We still have a chance, Knight Commander. If we counterattack Medaao Village and cut off the demons’ escape route, perhaps we can buy some time, can’t we?” Freya’s gaze swept across the battlefield, historic battle examples flashing through her mind.
For this moment, she was no longer that inexperienced girl but the Valkyrie of Erluin. Her thoughts were clearer than ever, almost as if recalling her days at the Royal Knight Academy.
While everyone rested, she alone practiced swordsmanship, all just to catch up with others. While others slept, she read about historically renowned tactics, all for the ideal that Brendel had promised her.
The girl was not smart, nor could she be called a genius, but she held the firmest belief in her heart. Just for Buche, for this land she loved dearly, she was willing to give up everything.
Such ideals were so pure yet inviolable.
She turned to gaze at Nemeses, as if seeking expectation in the eyes of her senior. The protruding Bunoan resembled a blade, with steep terrain and the storm raging, as if everything here could collapse at any moment. But the demons, who had been unable to seize it, were just as much in a dilemma; the protrusion was relative, and they had formed a blade-like extension near Bunoan.
This was their only opportunity.
At the moment when everyone thought the tide had turned against them, the girl stubbornly found this point—practically feasible in theory, but the probability of actual success was meager. It was a clumsy method, and everyone understood that.
But Nemeses knew.
Regardless of whether this plan could succeed, it would at least persuade Wood and the northern nobles to delay their retreat. It was the difference between having failed and having a glimmer of hope; intrinsically it meant nothing, but for a drowning person, it meant everything.
She and the marquis exchanged glances, each seeing the other’s intentions in each other’s eyes. An audacious plan, especially directed at the enemy, was more so directed at their own people.
Both fell silent, seriously watching Freya.
“Do you know what you’re saying, Freya?” Nemeses asked calmly.
Freya nodded.
Nemeses looked at her curiously, as if trying to understand what had given her such confidence to mature so quickly. War often resembled a gamble, with the more stubborn adhering to victory, and now the girl had already shown such potential.
“You understand the consequences. If the allied forces are annihilated here, what awaits this kingdom? Do you truly comprehend the consequences of what you’re doing?”
Marquis Baltar also fixed his eyes on Freya.
The girl from Buche froze for a moment, as if lost in thought. But ultimately, she firmly nodded her head.
Nemeses sighed as she glanced at Bud. The red-haired girl listened in confusion to the dialogue among the three but finally, a smile emerged on the black-haired Lady Knight’s face: “I understand, the plan is approved by me. Regardless of its success or failure, I take full responsibility for the entire plan.”
Freya gasped slightly, staring at the icy Nemeses—herself having just begun to display a hint of wisdom now collapsing back into that simple country girl from Buche.
“Didn’t you hear? Hurry up and prepare!” Nemeses frowned, asking impatiently.
“But, but…” Freya felt she must have misheard, asking incredulously.
“Do you wish to be held responsible for this?” Nemeses couldn’t help but chuckle. “Soldier, you don’t have that authority yet. Who do you think you are? Do you think High Priest Wood will listen to you?”
“But… Marquis?” She glanced at Marquis Baltar beside her.
The current commander of the White Lion army did not respond, merely wiped his bloodied forehead with his hand and shook his head. “Do you think you are the only one who is unwilling, young girl?”
“Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
He gazed at the sky, the crimson flames reflecting in his eyes, murmuring his response. At that moment, Marquis Baltar seemed to see that flag, giving a slight smile.
Erluin might need more than just survival.
There were other, more important things.
Also worthy of protection.
There were some choices about the future; the White Lion was ultimately wrong—
…
(PS: Today, LOL updated S3. I wanted to take a day off because I was a bit exhausted yesterday, but I thought about it and decided to push through. I can keep going, just 3000 words. Hope everyone can bear with me. =3=, muah.) (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendations and monthly votes; your support is my greatest motivation.)
