The Immortal Genius Spearman-Chapter 180

Chapter 180

It was a night of an unusually full moon.

Fatigue from battle.

And exhaustion from marching, combined with tension, made this night especially difficult for the soldiers.

Yet, despite their weariness, they prepared for the battle to come.

In the dead of night, Damian made his way to Hainel’s tent.

“Hainel-nim, this is Damian, vice-captain of the Caion unit.”

He spoke respectfully outside the tent, waiting for a response.

Soon—

“Come in.”

With permission granted, Damian entered.

Hainel, seated inside the temporary tent, greeted him with a smile.

“Heh, you should be resting for tomorrow’s battle. What brings you here at this late hour?”

“There is something I wish to ask.”

“Speak.”

Hainel’s voice was as calm as ever, and Damian hesitated briefly before speaking.

“Why... Did you do that for me?”

His voice was careful.

Hainel tilted his head slightly, puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

It was a vague question, difficult to discern the intent behind.

Seeing Hainel’s confusion, Damian lowered his gaze, appearing almost apologetic.

“I know that you expended a great deal of energy to heal me.”

And because of that—

“Did you not lose a portion of your strength?”

“......”

Damian had noticed a distinct change.

Hainel’s presence, once overwhelming, had diminished compared to when they met at his estate.

Hainel remained silent momentarily before—

Smirk.

“Haha, so you noticed?”

“With such a significant difference, how could I not?”

Despite the serious nature of the conversation, Hainel spoke lightly, to which Damian responded firmly.

Hainel then stood up and spoke.

“But neither Kiaran nor the other commanders noticed.”

“They wouldn’t know how strong you truly are. But I do.”

“Even knowing, it is not easy to perceive such a change.”

Hainel was genuinely impressed.

This meant Damian’s sensitivity to mana had reached a remarkable level.

Sighing softly, Hainel shook his head.

“Hah... It would have been too difficult to fool you, I suppose.”

Then he asked,

“Shall we take a walk?”

“Yes.”

With Damian’s reply, Hainel stepped outside.

The northern imperial lands were cold at night.

Without a word, Hainel walked toward the camp’s outer perimeter.

Some soldiers struggled to sleep.

Others groaned in pain, still recovering from their wounds.

Some trembled from nerves, while others slept soundly, indifferent to the looming battle.

Hainel watched them all and spoke in a low voice.

“Long ago, war raged just as it does now.”

He spoke of the Empire’s conquest.

Damian listened in silence.

“Even back then, the Empire never hid its greed. It sought to claim everything.”

Years of war followed, countless lives lost.

Grief and despair filled those years.

Even after the war ended, its scars remained.

Memories flooded Hainel’s eyes with emotion.

“This war will not end until they have taken what they desire. And this time, they want more than ever before.”

“I believe so as well.”

Damian had experienced firsthand how the Empire trampled across the continent.

He knew their insatiable hunger.

Hainel paused, studying him.

This young man understood such burdens?

“......”

It was rare to see such depth in someone so young.

Intriguing.

Hainel finally said,

“To suppress war, overwhelming strength is needed.”

And that strength—

“It comes from the strong. I believe you have the potential to not only end this war but also lead our kingdom to prosperity.”

“But you are still here, Hainel-nim. You are far stronger than I am...”

“Haha, you flatter me.”

At least, for now.

“But that is not the case.”

Hainel shook his head.

He had already reached his peak.

There was a higher realm, but—

“I cannot reach it.”

His path only led downward from here.

Regret? Perhaps.

“But I will not cling to power in vain. If someone like you can carry on, then...”

This power—

“I would give it willingly.”

“......”

Damian could tell Hainel was sincere.

This was strength earned through decades of hardship.

And yet, he had given some of it away without hesitation.

‘...He truly has no regrets.’

A weight settled on Damian’s shoulders.

But

“Thank you... truly.”

Damian expressed his gratitude with all his heart.

Hainel chuckled, patting his shoulder lightly.

“Haha, I may have just burdened you instead.”

“I will fight with everything I have.”

“That is enough.”

Then, Hainel’s gaze sharpened.

“But it will not be easy. Your opponent is Alexandro.”

“Have you fought him before?”

“Once.”

“What was the outcome?”

At Damian’s question, Hainel smiled bitterly.

He tapped his left shoulder lightly.

“I bear a scar here. It has been over ten years, yet it has not faded.”

That strike had originally aimed for his heart.

Only by twisting at the last moment had he avoided death.

That injury had cost him the battle.

Exhaling at the memory, Hainel finally said,

“The night air is cold. Tomorrow will be a difficult battle... You should rest now.”

Looking at the weary but smiling Hainel,

“...Yes.”

Damian followed him back.

And with that, dawn arrived.

***

The next day, Damian’s eyes held an unshakable resolve.

“All units, gather.”

At his command, the Caion soldiers assembled.

Many were still bandaged from previous battles, but their gazes were sharp, filled with determination.

Damian addressed them.

“The operation remains the same. We will move east of Statznal and infiltrate once the main force engages the enemy.”

But while the plan was familiar, the challenge was different.

Their opponent was Alexandro Falcoz.

‘Perhaps... the strongest man on the continent.’

Even Hainel had warned of his strength.

Damian continued.

“If the main force pressures the enemy, Alexandro will have to step in.”

And the moment the two Aura Masters clashed—

“That is when we move.”

Damian would lead the charge.

Dianal turned to him with concern.

“But are you sure your body is ready? Using aura will be difficult.”

“My recovery is complete. However... I plan to avoid using aura this time.”

After receiving energy from Hainel, he felt his aura reserves had expanded.

But—

‘It’s best to conserve it for unexpected situations.’

Had he not used aura to breach Nardern’s walls—

‘Fighting Piaren would have been easier.’

Though he hadn’t anticipated that battle, he had learned his lesson.

Damian turned to Dianal.

“This time, I’ll focus on breaking the gate. If I push myself, I can do it without aura.”

“Yes, sir.”

Looking at his troops, Damian added,

“We should expect a heavier rain of arrows than ever before.”

Since they weren’t destroying the entire wall, enemy archers would have more opportunities to strike.

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Smirking, Damian asked,

“Anyone afraid?”

“Afraid? Not a chance.”

“Hah, arrows don’t scare us anymore.”

“They feel more familiar than rain now.”

The soldiers responded confidently.

They had trained relentlessly, adapting to enemy archers.

However—

“If the gate takes too long to break, we’ll be exposed.”

“If they pour boiling oil or drop boulders, it could be dangerous.”

“Oil is the real problem.”

Damian nodded.

“Don’t worry. We won’t be stuck at the gate for even a second.”

“Heh, we trust you, sir.”

“The gate won’t stand against his spear.”

Their faith in Damian was unwavering.

He turned toward Statznal.

‘The gate...’

It stood just over seven meters tall.

Neither too high nor low, but problematic nonetheless.

Even if they breached it, the enemy on the walls would remain a threat.

If the Caion unit charged through the narrow entrance, the enemy could rain fire upon them.

Damian turned to Dianal.

“Dianal. If I throw you up, can you reach the wall?”

“No need. I’ll just step on Kyle’s head.”

“Hey! Don’t say ‘head’ like that!”

“Haha! It is the perfect launchpad!”

Kyle scowled while Creon burst into laughter.

Kyle glared at him.

“Your bald head looks easier to step on! Want me to try?”

“Oh? Care to test it?”

As the two bickered, Damian chuckled.

The lightheartedness eased the tension.

He turned to them.

“When I break the gate, you two throw Dianal up.”

Then, to Dianal—

“Once you’re up, clear the enemies on the wall. Keep them busy until we breach the gate.”

“Understood.”

He then addressed the unit.

“Move quickly at the gate. Once inside, form up and engage.”

Damian outlined their post-entry formation.

The soldiers listened intently.

“Paul, once inside, you handle the archers. Position them as needed.”

“...Understood.”

The archers had to remain hidden and provide cover from rooftops and alleys.

Since they lacked detailed maps of Statznal, Paul’s decisions would be critical.

Hearing Damian’s command, Paul nodded gravely.

With strategy set, Damian addressed them once more.

“We are standing at a crucial turning point.”

The Empire had changed its approach to war.

Their unpredictable tactics made it impossible to predict their next move.

‘We must end this battle before the tide shifts again.’

Which made the Caion unit’s role all the more vital.

Damian’s gaze swept over his soldiers.

“Remember, our comrades’ lives depend on us.”

“Yes, sir!”

Their resolute voices echoed.

Then—

Swoosh.

Damian turned toward the main force.

Now, they just had to wait for the signal.

An hour passed.

“...Damian-nim.”

“Yes.”

The main force had begun its advance.