NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 125: The First Strike
The fortress stood at the center, with the demon forests stretching eastward. Between these two realms, the Tiant Forces—better known as the Golt Armed Trading Company—had established their camp.
Regalo lay concealed slightly southeast of the fortress, positioned closer to the demonic forests than the Tiant forces. His companions were Maya Grimoire, a skilled spear-wielder, and Kairine, a nine-tailed fox spirit adept at illusions.
Maya handled brute force engagements, while Kairine used her illusions to blend them into the surroundings, masking their presence, appearance, and even magical auras.
Regalo's frequent solo scouting missions weren't because he was expendable, but because he was exceptionally capable. Kairine's illusions were so perfect that unless someone was extraordinarily perceptive, neither she nor Regalo would be detected. Only the most sensitive beastfolk or masters of air flow perception could locate a fully concealed Kairine.
"By the way, Lady Euphemia predicted the enemy would start with a powerful spell. What do you think will actually happen?" Kairine mused, almost casually, as if on a leisurely stroll.
The three of them lay just below the ridge of a hill, with Regalo unable to adopt the same relaxed attitude.
"It doesn't matter what we think. Strategy means being prepared for any outcome. If the fortress doesn't make the first move, the enemy will have to act. Whatever happens first will only be known in hindsight," Regalo replied.
Both sides knew too little about each other for any clear tactical advantage. The outcome would be a series of spontaneous reactions, no matter the initial move.
"Do your best, Regalo. I'm here as a guard instead of being on the front lines, so you'd better deliver results, or I'll have complaints," Maya demanded.
"Give me a break. I'm following orders, so if you have complaints, take them up with the commander," Regalo retorted.
"That will only happen if you mess up," Maya shot back.
"Don't put pressure on me. Everyone has a first time, whether it's on the battlefield or elsewhere," Regalo countered.
"Is that from experience? I don't want to hear about your first time, old man—"
Maya's playful banter was abruptly cut off. A brilliant flash of light appeared among the Tiant Forces.
No, it wasn't a portion. It was a single individual who had cast a spell.
An enormous magical arrow.
For an instant, an uncanny silence enveloped the world. Then, a blinding flash forced their eyes shut. The light was as intense as staring into the sun, and the ensuing shockwave threatened to overwhelm their senses.
The low grass around them was flattened in sequence by the expansive shockwave, which continued beyond them to the other side of the hill and possibly to the edge of the demon forests.
A magical arrow was typically the first spell taught to novice magicians—a simple discharge of magical energy as a practice attack. If one couldn't manage this, they couldn't progress to more advanced offensive spells like fireballs or wind blades.
Any magician could cast it. Even Regalo, if he tried earnestly, could produce enough power to gouge a tree. An excellent magician might fire five or ten such arrows simultaneously for suppression.
But this...
'BAAMM!!!'
A massive beam, as thick as fifty bundled logs, shot towards the fortress's upper walls. The impact was so immense that the wall deflected the force outward, creating a shockwave that surged through the surroundings.
Remarkably, the fortress stood intact. For now.
The soldiers at the front lines of the Tiant Forces braced with their large shields, barely withstanding the shockwave, but they weren't in any condition to move immediately.
"This is... incredible," Kairine uttered, awestruck, her usual eloquence stripped away.
But the fact that she could still speak at all impressed Regalo.
'What was that?'
He had never seen or heard of such magic.
If such a spell existed, conflicts would be mere trivialities.
Yet, despite such an attack, the fortress's walls remained unbroken. In Regalo's mind, Euphemia Grimwood's smug smile appeared. She had worn that same smile beside Beast King Randall, before Lord Spade, and even before Brandon Kruger, who had killed Randall.
Mere strength was not to be feared.
People fear the consequences of others' strength.
Nothing had been decided yet.
So, when a second colossal magical arrow was fired, Regalo's heart remained unshaken.
“Hahaha! This is incredible! Such a ludicrously large-scale spell!” Euphemia Grimwood’s laughter echoed as she watched the magical residue scatter across the fortress walls. Volte Claus couldn’t help but smile at her reaction.
They had anticipated the enemy would unleash a powerful spell initially. Given it was magic, the fortress walls were unlikely to be breached. What they hadn’t expected was the sheer magnitude of the enemy’s spell. Some of the ballistae lining the parapets might now be unusable.
Of course, they had removed some ballistae from the parapets in anticipation of such an attack, but reassembling and repositioning them would be a time-consuming task.
As Volte pondered this, the sky lit up once more.
'BAAAM!!!'
It was the only way to describe it. The immense magic was deflected by the walls, causing it to disperse into dazzling fragments. From inside the fortress, it looked like a meteor shower streaking across the midday sky.
“Hahaha! Look at that! They fired a second shot! And the walls are still holding! This is better than we expected!”
“Is the southern lookout secure? How’s Regalo moving?” Volte ignored Euphemia’s laughter and shouted to the baboon beastman acting as their messenger. He wasn’t angry; it was simply impossible to communicate normally in the chaos of battle.
They had left the upper passage of the outer wall unmanned, anticipating the initial attack. While the walls might remain intact, anyone standing there could be killed by the magical backlash alone.
Ideally, the outer walls would have small holes or towers for observing the outside, but this fortress had none. The only way to see outside was to open the gates or look from above.
Thus, they stationed sharp-eyed messengers on the southern parapet and entrusted Regalo and his team on the southeastern hill with signaling. It was a precarious strategy, but one Euphemia and Volte deemed robust.
Before the messenger could respond, a distant explosion rang out.
'Baam!'
Regalo’s explosive magic had been activated.
“Signal received! We’re ready!” the messenger shouted. Volte saw the lookout on the southern parapet lower a banner indicating all clear.
“Open the gates! Lead the charge, Zonda Pauga! Smash through and kill them all!”
Volte’s roar was as much for his own motivation as for rallying the troops.
They might be about to kill former comrades. The Golt Armed Trading Company’s forces weren’t alone on the battlefield; the Tiant Knights were certainly among them. Betraying and killing them was the harsh reality.
The boar beastmen raised their weapons and let out war cries.
Orcs pulled on ropes to open the mechanical gate, shouting commands.
The taurus beastmen, lizard beastmen, and lioness Lapis Kruger all voiced their excitement. They felt no guilt in this fight. Volte envied them slightly, knowing he was sending them into danger.
To protect what must be protected.
That was the common ground between Volte and his warriors.
That’s why they were here.
“Artillery team, assemble the ballistae! Regalo’s done his job, so they won’t fire another mega-spell right away! If we take out their mages with our charge, they’ll never fire again! It’s our turn to unleash hell! Reassemble the ballistae without worry! Catapults to the north and south, fire as soon as the gates open! Don’t miss the signal!”
The gates opened.
"BAAAAAMMM!!! BAAAM!!"
Chaos rippled through the enemy ranks near the hill’s crest.
“OOOOAAARRRGGHH!!”
Someone shouted.
They charged.
Clad in armor, bearing weapons, filled with murderous intent.
“Go on. When you return, I’ll say ‘Welcome back.’”
Euphemia’s unusually quiet words reached Volte’s ears with unexpected clarity.
