Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 522 - 96: The End (Part 3)

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After the two forces joined, Colonel Bod took over the command.

The existing troops were no longer sufficient to divide for feint attacks or to conduct an overwhelming siege.

The only feasible plan was to attack through the breach on the west side, the same location where Colonel Laszlo launched his previous assault.

The White Lion had not reinforced the defenders; his reinforcements were probing the southern wall of the main camp.

Outside the southern wall of the main camp, the battle had already begun.

Alpad led eighteen fully organized companies—including the Standing Army, auxiliary troops, and sappers, with the last of the light and heavy Cavalry as the spearhead—thrusting fiercely into the left flank of the barbarians.

If Alpad could rout or block this section of the enemy, then it would be a fight between cripples at the Southern Highlands fortress.

With the addition of Bod’s large unit, the Paratu side still had a chance of victory.

Seeing the situation of the allied troops, Colonel Bod volunteered to take the lead, with his Sixth Legion’s main company as the first echelon.

Colonel Laszlo’s Fifth Legion’s main company and Lieutenant Colonel Robert’s Second Company of the Sixth Legion formed the second echelon.

The troops of Winters were in reserve.

To ensure the impact, Lieutenant Colonel Castor’s Cavalry also participated in the first wave of the attack.

Even with the addition of Bod’s troops, the total force for the second wave of the attack was only about a thousand.

"The battle has started at the camp! There’s no need for us to hide or disguise! We must make our presence known! Strike fear into the barbarians’ hearts!" Colonel Bod, mounted on his horse, passed in front of everyone: "Raise the banners! Light the torches!"

First one, then two torches were lit, with flames quickly spreading, looking from a distance like a giant flame serpent emerging from the ground.

The barbarian sentinels on the Southern Highlands fortress were startled, and for a moment they even forgot to sound the alarm.

It was only when the serpent of fire slowly crawled forward that Winters heard the horn sounds from the hillside.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert’s scare tactics were effective; the fortress was now in chaos.

"[Herde Language] Wake up!" a Herder shouted as he ran: "[Herde Language] The bipeds are coming! At least ten thousand!"

A Herder shouted back angrily: "[Herde Language] Nonsense! Impossible ten thousand, at most three thousand! You’re lying!"

"[Herde Language] My sword! Where’s my sword?"

"[Herde Language] Who took my horse?"

"..."

Some Herders were frantically putting on their armor, while others, holding on to their warhorses, slipped away quietly.

"Uukhai!" The chilling war cry came from the west side of the fortress.

The crude wooden palisade was pulled down, and the black-armored Cavalry stormed into the fort like thunder, followed closely by Bod’s sword-and-shield infantry.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert and Colonel Laszlo observed the battle from a hundred meters away, with their troops also waiting just outside the walls, a hundred meters away.

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

Learning from the last lesson, this time the Paratu People didn’t rush in all at once but ascended the walls in batches.

Colonel Laszlo took a long, hard drag on his last cigarette, as if wanting to inhale everything from the pipe into his lungs.

Then, he knocked his boot heel against the pipe to clean the bowl and passed the pipe to his junior, Lieutenant Colonel Robert.

"It’s yours now."

"For me?" Lieutenant Colonel Robert took the pipe with a muffled voice and asked, "But I don’t smoke. Sergeant Major?"

A rare smile appeared on the corner of Colonel Laszlo’s mouth: "It was a gift from my son; he wanted to learn carving, but I forced him into the military instead..."

Robert was astonished and quickly waved his hands: "I can’t... Ah!"

While speaking, he accidentally moved his wound. His mouth was sweet with blood—obviously bleeding again.

"Charge!" Colonel Laszlo pulled out his sword, fiercely spurring his horse in the ribs, charging at the frontrunners toward the fortress.

The soldiers behind him screamed and charged forward.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert, caught off guard, could only shove the pipe into his jacket and spur his horse to follow.

A hundred meters behind the forces of Robert and Laszlo—beyond the range of musket fire—Montaigne’s unit was on standby.

Winters watched the battle, biting his lip anxiously.

His warhorse Strongrun also sensed Winters’s agitation, pacing restlessly.

Winters had grown completely weary of this war. He no longer wanted to fight for the Paratu People, but deep down he hoped that Colonel Bod, Colonel Laszlo, and Lieutenant Colonel Robert would prevail.

At the same time, Winters closely observed his surroundings, having sent out all his Dusacks as scouts.

Would the White Lion send a second reinforcement? He did not know.

The previous defenders of the fortress were from the Red River Tribe, but he didn’t know about the reinforcements. Apart from his own forces, whether the White Lion could mobilize forces from other tribes was unclear to Winters.

The decision-making process within the Herders was an enigma to the Paratu People.

They didn’t even know who exactly was leading this barbarian army, yet everyone knew of "the White Lion." So much so that "the White Lion" had abstracted from an individual into "the leader of the barbarians."

Suddenly, he heard a succession of hoofbeats from ahead.

"Who goes there?" Heinrich called out sharply.

The approaching rider shouted, "It’s me! Balrog!"

Lieutenant Balrog was one of Colonel Bod’s Centurions.

"The barbarians can’t hold on much longer!" Lieutenant Balrog charged up to Winters, yelling, "Colonel Bod orders your unit to strike immediately! Crush them completely!"

Winters turned around and looked at his warriors: "Do you still believe in me?"

"Long live!" Ish from Ganshui Town, the first to cry out, banged on his breastplate: "Blood Wolf!"

"Blood Wolf!" Even those who weren’t his old subordinates shouted: "Long live!"

Mason said softly, "They’re willing to follow you, even if it’s into hell. Give the order."

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