Chapter 19: The Vanguard (2)

Ragna sat astride his horse, gazing out at the enemy lines.

The orcs had entrenched themselves, waiting.

Behind their barricades, spears were planted upright, and in the center of their formation, orc cavalry mounted on Komodo Drakes stood ready.

Their preparations were as methodical as any human army’s.

“Go check on Briole,” Ragna ordered.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He and his adjutant rode toward the vanguard, where Briole’s forces were positioned.

Briole, the third prince of Briole, sat tall in the saddle, eyes fixed on the orc encampment.

Poised for the charge, he wore a sword at his waist and gripped a long spear.

Ragna applauded quietly.

“Yuri Briole.”

Yuri turned to look back, his pale cheeks flushed by the prairie wind.

“Your Highness.”

“Are preparations going smoothly?”

“Yes.”

Though still youthful, there was no mistaking the sharpness in his gaze.

Those dark eyes and hair were unmistakably inherited from Fiore Briole himself.

“Well then, how do you feel?”

Ragna asked.

Becoming a knight was a matter of nature. Did this boy truly possess the qualities suited for war?

Ragna smiled, anticipating the battle ahead.

“Nervous? Excited?”

“Neither,” Yuri replied shortly, stroking the mane of his black steed.

“I’m just doing what needs to be done.”

“That’s far more reassuring than empty bravado.”

Ragna placed a hand on Yuri’s shoulder.

“Look behind you.”

Following his gaze, Yuri’s eyes swept over the assembled forces.

The armies of thirteen allied nations stood fully armored, helmets gleaming in the sunlight.

Flags of various designs fluttered above the ranks.

Ragna lowered his gaze to the soldiers’ faces.

They all wore similar expressions.

Their eyelids barely blinked; their lips were dry. Their pupils trembled as if buffeted by the wind.

Such faces rarely endure long. Those who harbor fear inevitably fall prey to the madness of battle.

“And your impression this time?”

“Same as before. No particular feelings.”

Yuri’s tone was dry, like a seasoned veteran accustomed to war.

Ragna tilted his head.

“This is your first battle, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“When the signal comes, what will you do?”

“I’ll charge forward and break through their defenses.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

Ragna chuckled and raised his hand high.

“Then there’s no need to hesitate.”

At his signal, the imperial bugler at the rear took a deep breath and blew a resounding call.

The sound echoed across the plains.

The order to advance.

Yuri bowed his head briefly, then urged his horse forward with steady steps.

Ragna blinked, surprised by the sudden move, watching his back.

“Yuri?”

“I’ll go ahead. We’ll meet again after the battle.”

“Aren’t you going too far forward?”

“I’m leading the vanguard.”

Ragna wasn’t sure whether to smile or try to stop him.

No matter how skilled, a commander rarely charges at the very front.

“Huh…”

As Yuri advanced, soldiers stepped aside, and the knights opened a path.

Soon, Yuri Briole stood at the very tip of the allied forces.

His silhouette etched itself into Ragna’s memory.

Was this reckless bravado—or something else?

Yuri raised his spear high.

“Are you all ready?”

“Yes!”

“Then let’s go.”

His voice was calm, as if setting out for a stroll.

With that, he spurred his horse.

The black stallion reared, neighing loudly.

Then it charged forward.

One by one, the Briole forces around Ragna surged ahead.

A fierce roar mixed with the prairie wind, striking Ragna’s face.

“Indeed…”

The entire allied army advanced.

Ragna watched as Briole’s knights formed a wedge and plunged forward.

Their momentum was strong, but the orcs’ massive shield wall looked equally formidable.

At that moment, someone stepped beside him.

“Your Highness, excuse me for a moment.”

“Mage?”

It was Marilose.

Despite standing on the battlefield, she wore the same elaborate attire as in Valshard—a striking red dress that seemed out of place here.

She extended her staff.

A crystal orb at its tip began to glow.

“The prince of Briole asked me to do something.”

“Magic?”

“Yes.”

Ragna turned his gaze back.

The distance between Briole’s forces and the orc lines was closing.

“As we pass that tree.”

Yuri’s voice came like a signal as they neared a small tree between the two armies.

He raised his spear.

“Now.”

Marilose lifted her staff high.

Ragna could feel a massive wave of magical energy flowing from her like a tidal surge.

Marilose Antre, the mage of Valshard.

Her spell unleashed against the orcs.

A giant fireball appeared in the sky, beginning its descent toward the enemy lines.

Watching the gentle arc, Ragna frowned.

“Cancel it.”

“I’m not sure.”

“It’s too late. If it hits like this…”

“The prince requested it exactly as it is.”

By now, Briole’s wedge formation had nearly reached the orc defenses.

If the fireball struck, they too might be caught in the blast.

Yet Yuri did not rein in his horse. Instead, he increased his speed.

He pushed his spear forward, breaking away from the following knights and surging ahead.

The fireball slammed into the orc barricades.

An explosion roared.

The ground shook; heat surged, igniting flames.

The fire engulfed the area.

Without hesitation, Yuri plunged into the still-burning inferno.

His figure swallowed by flames.

The fire died down, leaving only black smoke.

Through the smoke, a single streak pierced the orc lines, breaking their formation.

“That bastard…”

Ragna let out a bitter laugh.

Marilose screamed in triumph.

Behind them, Briole’s knights crashed through the disoriented orc forces.

---

Just before meeting the orc lines, Yuri lifted his head.

Far ahead, the orc formation gripped their spears tightly.

If he charged recklessly, he’d be smashed against those shields.

He measured the distance.

Closer.

Closer.

When he judged it close enough, he raised his spear.

“Now.”

Suddenly, the plains brightened.

Yuri glanced up.

A massive fireball, conjured from thin air, was falling toward the orc defenses.

It was Marilose’s magic, summoned at Yuri’s request.

Seeing the flaming orb descending, the orc troops began to falter.

“Too close!”

“Hold on!”

“Prince!”

The knights behind shouted, but Yuri did not ease his reins.

Instead, he accelerated toward the enemy barricade, where the explosion was imminent.

The landscape blurred behind him.

The allied army’s fierce cheers pushed him forward.

The distance closed in an instant.

His will transferred to his mount.

The horse, unafraid of the flames, strained its muscles.

The fireball struck the ground.

A flash of light, a sudden expansion of air.

Flames burst forth, and a deafening roar twisted all living things within its radius.

“Ugh…”

Heat washed over him.

Gritting his teeth, Yuri lowered his stance.

Clutching the crystal sword he carried, he summoned mana.

Water magic shielded him and his horse.

“Keep going!”

He broke through the inferno.

The blaze that had swept the ground consumed everything nearby before fading into black smoke rising skyward.

Sparks still smoldered here and there.

Yuri passed the shattered barricades and the charred bodies of orcs.

Orc troops outside the blast radius scrambled to regroup.

But they had no time to prepare for Yuri’s sudden charge.

He struck.

“Graaah!”

The mana-infused impact sent several orcs flying backward, toppling their rear lines.

“Charge!”

Yuri spurred his horse again, which now galloped with wild frenzy.

Orcs tried to block his path, but he refused to turn back.

“Arrgh!”

One orc resisted but was skewered by Yuri’s spear, lifted off the ground.

Yuri flicked the spear’s shaft, hurling the orc’s body high.

He raised his eyes.

The twisted faces of the orc horde all turned to him.

He was alone deep within enemy lines.

If he stayed still, they would swarm him like ants and tear him apart.

But Yuri felt no fear.

The gazes fixed on him slowly shifted—one by one—toward the rear.

The fear was not in Yuri’s eyes, but in those of the orcs.

Yuri raised his spear and shouted.

“Briole!”

A roar answered from behind.

Then came the crack of battle and the orcs’ screams.

Briole’s knights surged forward like a tidal wave.

Yuri laughed aloud.

“Too slow! How long will you keep chasing my tail?”

Orc cavalry appeared late.

Mounted on Komodo Drakes, a group of orcs trampled their own comrades as they charged toward Yuri.

“Graaak, Arakakaa!”

One charged head-on, roaring.

Its massive size made it an easy target.

Yuri immediately hurled his spear.

Mana surged through the weapon, piercing the orc’s breastplate.

The orc toppled, throwing its rider off, while the Komodo Drake shrieked and thrashed wildly.

Chaos erupted among the surrounding orcs caught in the frenzy.

Yuri shifted his horse’s direction, circling around the Komodo Drake as he drew his spear from the body of an orc.

“Keep moving!”

And with that, he charged forward again.

The orc cavalry tried to pursue Yuri, but they were quickly cut down by the Briol Knights who had arrived right behind him.

Yuri ran on, stabbing orcs to death as he went.

Soon, he spotted what looked like the orc commander at the rear.

The brute was huddled inside a defensive formation with his soldiers.

Even after seeing Yuri, he didn’t attack—just glared coldly.

“Hey!”

Yuri taunted, but there was no response.

No matter who he was, even Yuri wouldn’t be reckless enough to charge alone into such an extreme defensive line.

He passed by the leader without hesitation.

“See you later!”

He urged his horse forward.

Nothing stood in his way anymore.

The distant horizon of the plains and the clouds drifting above came into view.

“Haah…”

Yuri took a deep breath.

The cool wind filled his lungs.

“Fun, wasn’t it?”

He smiled, running his hand through his horse’s mane. The horse, stirred by the heat of battle, bobbed its body even as it slowed its pace.

Yuri glanced back.

The orc army had collapsed, and above them fluttered the banners of the Alliance forces.

The disorganized orc troops were being swallowed up by the Alliance. One decisive charge had been enough to turn the tide.

The Briol Knights who had pierced through the enemy lines approached Yuri.

“Why so slow?”

“Your Highness!”

“Any wounded?”

“None.”

“You answer without even looking?”

“If we can’t keep up with you, Your Highness, and then get hurt on top of that, we’d be unworthy knights.”

“Fair enough.”

Raymond rode forward. When Yuri was absent, he led the knights.

“Your Highness, next time, maybe take it a bit slower.”

“You come faster.”

“Well, well…”

Raymond shook his head with a wry smile.

Laurent, standing nearby, bowed deeply to Yuri.

“I’m sorry!”

“For what?”

“My skills are lacking—I dared not keep up with Your Highness. Please punish me.”

“Uh, alright…”

Yuri had given up on Laurent by now.

His loyalty was already beyond Yuri’s control. So he just nodded.

“Try harder next time.”

“Yes, sir!”

Yuri turned his gaze back to the battlefield.

Close-quarters combat raged on.

The Alliance forces surrounded and pressed the orcs, but the orcs refused to die quietly. The madness of war filled the air.

Suddenly, Yuri caught sight of a soldier being cleaved by an orc’s axe.

He narrowed his eyes.

“Extra duty. Volunteers only.”

“Huh?”

Yuri hung his spear on the saddle and dismounted.

Then he drew his sword, slinging it over his shoulder.

“No extra pay. But enthusiasm will be highly valued.”

Only then did the knights exchange glances, understanding his intent.

Yuri didn’t wait any longer.

“Charge!”

He dashed forward immediately.

Laurent followed behind, Jared clicked his tongue and stepped forward, and soon the entire knight squad was running after Yuri’s retreating back.

Raymond stayed mounted, watching the scene unfold from behind.

“Really…”

The sight of the Briol Knights charging into the melee looked, in one way, like a ragtag mob—and in another, incredibly brave.

“I thought he took after His Majesty…”

He had thought so once.

Having witnessed Fiore’s valor firsthand during the last Alliance campaign, he saw a glimpse of it in Yuri.

But now he understood.

They were completely different.

Yuri was unlike anyone he had ever known.

Shaking his head, Raymond let out a soft laugh, dismounted, and began running toward Yuri’s back.