Chapter 793: The Battle of Tixilan
Tixilan Mountains.
Another autumn had arrived, and the tall birch forest was filled with yellowing leaves. The once tranquil mountains were now teeming with outsiders.
These soldiers of the Empire wore black armor, wielding halberds to clear the underbrush and dead leaves, advancing cautiously through the decaying foliage.
They were subordinate troops under the command of the Right Wing Legion of the Empire, led by the Earl of Black Pine, tasked with clearing out the hidden strongholds in these mountains.
Although Duke Basca, the Supreme Commander, did not demand much from them, only requiring them to control the exits of the Tixilan Mountains, the Earl believed he could do more.
If he wanted to stand out in this expedition, he needed to achieve remarkable feats. He decided to go further and clear out the strongholds of the rabbit-eared tribe in these mountains.
Unlike the main battlefield in the center, which saw daily battles, the fighting intensity in the eastern part of the Right Wing was lower, so the morale of the Imperial army was still decent. They hadn’t suffered major setbacks, and they occasionally caught some animals, allowing them to eat meat, which was quite a treat.
Two days ago, the Earl received a report from his elite scouts that they had found the enemy’s stronghold. After confirming its accuracy, he mobilized nearly fifty thousand troops today to head towards their destination.
“This place is quite nice.”
Riding on a black horse, the Earl spoke to his adjutant beside him.
“In the future, we can build a vacation estate here. Hunting and enjoying the scenery would be great options,” his body swayed slightly with the horse’s movements as he pointed at the vast, empty birch forest, where pale yellow and reddish leaves occasionally drifted down from the branches. Occasionally, faint bird calls echoed in the air.
“Sir is right. Even I look forward to spending my days here in leisure. This quiet forest would make a perfect backyard for a fiefdom,” the adjutant, wearing light leather chest armor and a black cloak, with a long sword at his waist, seemed like an elite-trained commander.
However, in the Empire, peerage was far more prestigious than official positions. Even though he had excellent command skills, he still had to follow the orders of the Earl of Black Pine and serve him because only nobles could afford to maintain such large armies. Without a command, a commander was nothing.
“Haha, no problem. After this great victory, I can arrange a Knight’s Domain for you here, so you can spend your twilight years in peace,” the Earl laughed heartily.
“Thank you, Sir Earl,” the commander then flattered him further.
Ahead of the formation, on the road where the main force was advancing, the ‘Poisonous Hornet Blade Corps’ under the Earl’s command had already been scouting around and acting as sentinels, monitoring the situation in the strongholds in the forest.
The Earl, despite his love for grand gestures, was not without reason. His confidence stemmed from the existence of this elite battalion, which gave him an advantage in intelligence, allowing him to seize the initiative every time. This time, it was just another victory repeating past successes.
Grey Forest Fortress, the rabbit-eared tribe’s stronghold in the middle of the Tixilan Mountains.
A few rabbit-eared warriors patrolled the fortifications, carrying bows and some even holding spears.
Though the war had begun, this fortress seemed unusually quiet, having not been discovered by the enemy. Behind the valley guarded by this fortress lay large orchards and terraced fields planted by Prince Lolan Hill in the past.
The rabbit-eared tribe took this seriously, building a sturdy, large fortress with gray-white stones, housing thousands of people. In case of emergencies, the garrison would light signal fires, and reinforcements would quickly arrive from several large cities behind them.
As the warriors patrolled as usual, two scouts in gray-black uniforms whispered in a hidden grove nearby.
“Have you confirmed the number of troops? The Earl’s forces are approaching.”
“About 3,000 to 5,000 people. The enemy pays close attention to this fortress, so there are many people stationed here. Most are beastmen—rabbit-eared branch—and a few are humans.”
“Huh, how interesting these western countries are, living together with these beastman hybrids. They seem to have forgotten their history.”
The scout was referring to the events of the First Era when humans suffered under the beastman empire.
“Barbarians are like this; not every inch of land is as glorious as the Empire. Take the West Wind, for example. It used to be just a grassland. It got its territory purely by luck.”
“It’s a waste to let such fertile land be inhabited by these people.”
“Just wait. The Earl’s forces will be here soon, and then we can take it over. I’ve sneaked into the valley behind and seen the bountiful orchards.”
“Huh, be patient. We won’t lose anything.”
The two scouts hid among the bushes, continuing to observe the fortress and waiting for reinforcements.
But were the defenders in the Tixilan Mountains really unaware?
On a small mountain top kilometers away, a tiny wooden watchtower blended seamlessly into the surrounding woods.
A slight flutter of wings was heard, and a silver-winged sparrow, about the size of a palm, landed on a branch, with a tiny paper tube tied to its leg.
A rabbit-eared warrior retrieved the scroll, unrolled it, and read the message written in cipher. Trained as he was, he quickly deciphered its meaning.
“Enemy trapped, ready to move.”
After tucking away the scroll, the rabbit-eared ranger flipped off the branch, landing softly on the ground covered with fallen leaves without making a sound.
He then moved towards the back of the mountain, swiftly navigating through the dense forest, arriving at a clearing where about fifty hooded black-clad figures stood quietly, seemingly patient and silent.
“Lord Aliya, the scouts report everything is proceeding according to plan. We can begin the operation.”
Upon seeing the group of black-clad figures, the rabbit-eared ranger half-knelt in salute and presented crucial intelligence.
“It has finally begun.”
The hood slowly lifted, revealing a pair of vivid red eyes, and the outline of rabbit ears could be seen beneath the hood.
Demon Sequence 7 · Bloodstained Executioner, Aliya. This rabbit-eared girl, who once studied the Angel Sequence, had somehow changed her sequence, advancing rapidly in the Demon Sequence. She was now the Chief Judge of the Holy Land’s Judgment Bureau.
She did not become a revered Scepter Priest in the twelve palaces as expected but chose a more secluded and dangerous path.
“Healing cannot save the world. Only by killing can evil be purged, creating a soil where goodness can flourish.”
With this belief, the black-eared girl decided to embrace darkness and become a blood-stained executioner.
Leading this group of demon sequence 5 executioners from the Holy Land, Aliya kicked off, her form resembling a black phantom, gliding into the familiar birch forest.
They aimed to eliminate the elite scout team under the Earl of Black Pine, rendering them blind, and then join forces with the garrison to trap and destroy the entire Right Wing Legion of the Earl.
Black-clad executioners followed closely, spreading out in the forest, moving swiftly and silently like death itself.
Slash—
After a slight sound, a scout hiding in the treetops was sliced open by a slender scythe, blood splattering on the trunk and leaves before rolling onto the fallen leaves.
The slaughter began.
Members of the ‘Poisonous Hornet Blade Corps,’ who were guarding the forest, were killed quickly before they could even scream.
Both sides, skilled in darkness, clashed fiercely upon contact.
After eliminating thirty or so dark agents, the other side finally detected something was amiss, as their comrades did not respond at the designated intervals. The whistle-like bird calls, used for communication, had ceased.
Minutes passed without a response, and the elites of the ‘Poisonous Hornet Blade Corps’ started adjusting. On one hand, they began reporting back to the main force, and on the other, they started gathering to avoid being picked off individually.
Aliya swung her scythe, slicing an enemy in half, a few blood droplets sliding down the blade.
“Have they noticed?”
She looked up, listening to the chaotic bird calls in the distance.
“Accelerate!”
“The enemy must be eradicated here!”
Her crimson eyes burned beneath the hood, their lustrous red color mesmerizing in the shadows.
“Yes, Executioner!”
Behind her, the black-clad figures suddenly dispersed, no longer concerned with noise, rushing through the forest like a giant black net, closing in on the hidden gray sparrows.
Instantly, the sounds of weapons clashing rang out throughout the birch forest—short swords and crossbows, daggers and scythes, sharp friction and sparks filling the air. Then came the sound of blades cutting flesh, accompanied by smooth cuts on birch trees and corpses falling from the canopy.
Blood splattered on the yellowing leaves, and agonized cries and low moans echoed. Both sides fought desperately, trying to kill each other as quickly as possible, regardless of injury or mutilation.
The members of the ‘Poisonous Hornet Blade Corps’ were not amateurs; they were a century-old elite reconnaissance and assassin corps. Each member had undergone solo assassination missions. Despite being taken by surprise by this equally dark opponent, they quickly adapted.
Blocking the black scythes, these assassins retreated swiftly, analyzing the situation based on the constant whistles, constantly adjusting their directions to converge with their comrades.
During the pursuit of these assassin scouts, black executioners encountered various obstacles—daggers flying through the air, crossbow bolts from hidden spots in the forest, and poison needles shot from sleeves.
Casualties began to mount on both sides, but the executioners were individually stronger.
Soon, the members of the ‘Poisonous Hornet Blade Corps’ gathered in a patch of forest, supporting and assisting each other. There were nearly 150 of them, each a sequence 4 elite, with over 30 sequence 5 Poisonous Hornet Assassins. On the other side, Aliya led the black executioners to encircle the forest, despite their fewer numbers, their blood-stained hoods more terrifying.
Less than twenty minutes since the first scout fell, nearly a third of the elite scout team had perished. Yet, in just over ten minutes, they had converged from all directions. Fleeing was futile; the speed of these black-clad figures was extreme, especially with the demonic sequence’s enhancement. Escaping only made them prey. Moreover, their overall strength was not necessarily weaker than these black-clad figures.
Neither side spoke. After a silent second, the battle resumed.
Black and gray figures intertwined in the forest, blades and scythes clashing with sharp sounds and sparks. Occasionally, someone rolled from the canopy, falling lifelessly.
Clang—
Aliya wielded her scythe, deflecting the enemy’s sword, then slashed swiftly, splitting the opponent in two amid shock and fear. Her form abruptly shifted, sweeping away two toxic arrows from different directions.
Beneath her cloak, slender legs emerged, gray boots stepping lightly on the leaves. The agile rabbit-eared girl kicked off the ground, leaping like a flash of light toward the tree canopy where the enemies gathered.
With the rapid swinging of her black robe, the long scythe swept through the air, creating several crimson arcs, shattering the dark blue blades and toxins, sending them rolling to the ground like fallen birch branches.
As the slaughter continued, the hood on her head was blown back by the wind, revealing a pair of long black rabbit ears. The cute appearance brought terror to her enemies.
This blood-stained black rabbit, with her terrifying power, shattered the enemies’ illusions and hopes.
As she roamed through the forest like a grim reaper, the once peaceful forest was now littered with bodies, trunks, and autumn leaves drenched in blood.
Finally, the birch forest fell silent, even the noisy birds overhead quieting.
A few minutes later, several black-clad executioners approached the girl from behind, bowing to report.
“Lord Aliya, everything has been checked. No survivors.”
“Good, notify the arsonists.”
“Yes!”
In the quiet forest, a special arrow whistled into the sky, its unique construction causing a loud noise as it pierced the atmosphere.
Then, sharp arrows rose from distant peaks, the sudden whistling sound bewildering the advancing Imperial forces in the valley. But soon, they realized what was happening.
Burning arrows rained down from hidden peaks, red smoke and flames converging from all sides toward the enemy in the valley.
“Attack!”
“There’s an attack!”
“We’ve been ambushed!”
Various cries of panic erupted. Soldiers looked in horror as the flames spread rapidly through the forest, carrying suffocating heat. Everywhere there were chaotic footsteps, stomping, and running sounds.
“Stop! Follow orders, break through in one direction!”
The commander shouted from atop his horse, but below, chaos reigned. Soldiers were in a frenzy, ignoring the officer’s commands, seeking their own perceived safety. Some even surrendered, hoping the enemy would spare them.
“How… How could this happen? Why didn’t anyone report to me? Where are those ‘Poisonous Hornets’!?”
“Why?” the Earl of Black Pine, looking at the thick smoke and flames engulfing him, disbelief etched across his face, muttering endlessly.
Even on his deathbed, he couldn’t understand why his trusted elite scouts had not reported to him. Had they betrayed him? What a disgrace.
But the Earl’s questions would remain unanswered. That night, he and his fifty thousand-strong army perished in the valley firestorm, along with the main camp behind them being overrun by the suddenly appearing rabbit-eared army. Supplies and provisions were destroyed, and the Imperial army’s Right Wing suffered a devastating blow in this battle.
Black Rabbit, Aliya~
