Chapter 207 - Fight to the Death Without Retreat

Chapter 207: Chapter 195: Fight to the Death Without RetreatSwords of Shaosul thrust forth like mighty dragons, each swipe accompanied by a massive onslaught of chilling frost attacking Redfang’s body.

His opponent possessed at least the strength of the Third Transition fifth level, and Redfang’s movements grew slower and slower, his arms and thighs now coated with a layer of ice crystals.

"Squad leader, I’m here to help you!" A commanding shout emanated from the chaos of the melee—it was a member of the Roland Knights, the eldest son of the God’s Grace, Baron Afudun, his scepter gleaming bright, a serpent of fire cutting a path and wrapping itself around Redfang. The warmth of the serpent began to dissolve the ice of Shaosul with ease.

"Thank you," Redfang said, feeling a surge of confidence as he watched the fire serpent’s buffs take effect; he could see the situation clearly, as could Sibo. All he needed to do was to delay, delay until the Empire’s reinforcements could arrive.

"A sealed magic?" Shaosul was not foolish. The fire skill capable of melting his frosty power was undoubtedly of the Third Transition, and the young Afudun certainly did not possess that level of power. Therefore, this spell had to be a skill sealed within by his father, Baron God’s Grace himself.

Baron God’s Grace was a Third Transition Peak master of fire, and this serpent of fire bound to Redfang’s armor provided enough resistance to Shaosul’s ice for him to hold out in battle for a long while.

But Shaosul could not wait that long; he had to break down his opponent’s lines as soon as possible.

"Eibner, come out!" Shaosul bellowed, and moments later, a ghostly white apparition drilled out from beneath the ground, a Roland Knight’s head still gripped in its hand.

"Shaosul, I’m only here to coordinate with you on the master’s orders, not to be your subordinate," Eibner said with haughty arrogance, clearly not holding Shaosul in high regard.

"Help me take down this man," Shaosul said, containing his anger; as privileged guards under the master, the Cold Edge Battalion naturally felt superior to others. Shaosul remembered that now was not the time for quarreling, and he needed to complete the mission given by the master first.

"Useless!" With a flash, Eibner moved swiftly, and Redfang only saw a blur of attacks. Instantly, he felt numerous cutting chills closing in on him.

Eibner, quick as lightning, struck eight times in less than a second. Redfang exerted all his strength in defense but only managed to block the most lethal blow aimed at his heart.

Though Eibner’s attacks were fast, with the serpent of fire’s protection, Redfang did not sustain severe injuries. In other words, Eibner’s swift attacks were weak and failed to penetrate Redfang’s defenses.

"Heh, aren’t you also a waste?" Shaosul sneered from the side, his spear flicking up and piercing the heart of a soldier from the Independent Battalion.

"You’re watching the show? When I return, I’ll make sure to report you to the master!" Eibner’s face flushed red with exasperation at his own attacks leaving only shallow scrapes on his opponent—truly an embarrassment.

"Hmph!" Shaosul threw his long spear, which Redfang blocked only for it to bounce back. Shaosul leapt into the air to catch his spear and, along with Eibner, moved to flank Redfang from both sides.

"It’s over, how could they have two commanders?!" Sibo observed the situation clearly, tearing off his arm bandage, ready to rush out to assist.

"What are you doing?! Didn’t the medic say your arm isn’t fully healed yet? If you act rashly, you’ll really ruin it!" Lu Hong quickly held back Sibo.

"Compared to Redfang’s life, what’s one arm worth?" Sibo shook off Lu Hong and vaulted over the fortifications, charging into the crowd towards Redfang.

Just then, Lord Han emerged from the camp next to Lu Hong and said, "Baron, you should retreat now."

"?" Lu Hong was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"I have already reported the situation to Lord Bo Lang. Upon learning that the Independent Battalion’s reinforcements would not arrive in time, Lord Bo Lang ordered me to lead the Roland Knights’ reserves to retreat," Han Ji said without a hint of emotion.

However, Lu Hong disagreed, rebuking, "Don’t you realize how much trouble our retreat will cause for the Independent Battalion?!"

"I know, but even if the Roland Knights’ reserves held their position, it would not change the outcome of this battle. Besides, most candidates for our Roland Knights are from noble families—their lives are extremely important," Han Ji tried to persuade Lu Hong. "Baron, you have stepped into the circle of the Empire’s nobility. Please, try to see the bigger picture."

"Heh!" Lu Hong scoffed. "If this is what nobility is, I would rather not be a part of it."

"As you wish." Han Ji waved his hand, and a guard from the Shahe family emerged from nowhere: "Lord, what are your orders?"

"Follow Lord Bo Lang’s instructions and immediately lead the Roland Knights’ reserves to retreat from the battlefield. Pull back to the third defensive line for the return preparations," he commanded.

The guard questioned, "But then... the trial for the Roland Knights..."

"A trial?" Han Ji glanced at him dismissively. "If everyone’s dead, what’s the point of a trial?"

"Understood!" The guard saluted and withdrew a green whistle from his belt.

As the sharp whistle sounded, three thousand guards suddenly emerged from behind the Independent Battalion’s position, marching resolutely towards the battlefield.

"Are these reinforcements?!" Seeing the influx of new forces, the desperate soldiers of the Independent Battalion were moved to tears with joy. However, these formidable guards, once in battle, rarely engaged the enemy, instead seeking out members of the Roland Knights to keep by their sides.

Snow Tribe soldiers were unclear about the intent of their opposition at first, thinking it was enemy reinforcements, and started to retreat and regroup under the command of Shao Er Si.

The melee had been disrupted by the sudden arrival of the guards, pulling both sides apart a short distance, and a standoff ensued.

"Are you reinforcements?" Chi Ya was covered in blood, his body bearing dozens of spear wounds deep enough to reveal bone.

"We are here only to follow orders and evacuate the Roland Knights," said a guard, sending a chill through the hearts of the Independent Regiment soldiers.

"What did you say?!" Chi Ya gripped the adversary’s collar tightly, "Say that again?!"

"We are here only to follow orders and evacuate the Roland Knights!" the guard did indeed repeat.

"Are you animals!" It was bad enough that these powerful guards weren’t lending a hand, but now they were actually taking away the Roland Knights, who had been integrated into the Independent Regiment. How were they supposed to hold out now?

"I too am merely following orders from above," the guard struggled free and bellowed, "Retreat!"

"No! I’m not leaving."

"Right, I won’t leave either!"

The Roland Knights, red-eyed from slaughter, showed a trace of valor, but as soon as they spoke out, they were knocked unconscious by the guards, slung over shoulders, and forcibly taken from the area.

"Hahaha, ahahahaha!" Seeing the humans’ absurd actions, Shao Er Si soldiers dropped their weapons to the ground, clutching their bellies in laughter, "You humans are really too amusing. I thought reinforcements had arrived, but I didn’t expect it to be such a reduction in numbers."

Chi Ya ignored Shao Er Si’s taunting, silently watching the shadows of the guards leaving, then wiped the fresh blood from his face and surveyed his exhausted soldiers, saying in a heavy voice, "They’ve gone."

"Commander! What do we do now?!"

"My squad is almost entirely gone!"

"I’m the only one left in my squad..."

The cries of despair behind him made Chi Ya feel increasingly cold inside; he never imagined his own people would stab him in the back at the most critical moment. And that stab was not minor—it completely eradicated his side’s morale.

"Brothers... Brothers!" Chi Ya roared, "The Roland Knights are the empire’s future, their departure is not unjust."

"Yet they shouldn’t have abandoned us!" the soldiers cried out in fury, "This is betrayal, betrayal!"

"Don’t think too much about it now," Chi Ya said gravely, "Whether they leave I don’t care, but what do we do?!"

"We... We..." The remaining soldiers of the Independent Regiment fell into silence.

Xi Bo, enduring the severe pain in his arm, shouted, "We will fight to the death without retreating!"

"Right, we hold our ground! Fight to the death without retreating!" Chi Ya yelled back, and then the millions of Independent Regiment soldiers roared in unison.

"Hold our ground! Fight to the death without retreating!"

Shao Er Si was touched by the spirit of the Independent Regiment and spoke solemnly, "I, Shao Er Si, respect you as warriors and will ensure you are properly buried here."

Chi Ya only responded to Shao Er Si with a thunderous scream: "Kill!"

As two tides crashed together once more, Han Ji also got ready to leave the area. Lu Hong grabbed him, "Han Ji, are you really not afraid of the reproaches of conscience?"

Gently pushing Lu Hong aside, Han Ji said, "Baron Sir, I’d advise you to leave with me. If you wait much longer, it will be too late to leave."

Lu Hong shook his head, "I can’t do it."

"Then I wish you good luck," Han Ji said before passing through the camp and disappearing from Lu Hong’s sight.

"Really... do I have to use it again?" Lu Hong recalled the fear controlled by slaughter, but how could he remain indifferent when the Independent Regiment was marching to its death before his eyes?

"So be it, I hope I can survive this time." Lu Hong took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and once again activated the Bloodthirst Skill.