21st Century Archmage

“All of the bridges were destroyed?”

“Yes. The bridges connecting Nerman were all destroyed in a single night.”

“One last desperate struggle, is it? Huhuhu.”

After waking up to a lovely morning in the main foothold of the enemy, Gadain Castle, Duke Yanovis was receiving reports on things that had occurred overnight.

“What is His Highness doing?”

“He has woken up and finished eating breakfast. He is currently preparing to fly.”

“He sure woke up early.”

Up until his encounter with Kyre, Prince Alskane had never experienced a moment of suffering, much less a deadly crisis. He was already preparing to stomp and kill the man who gave him a taste of such unforgettable humiliation and fear.

“Convene all of the commanding officers.”

“As you command!”

The heart of Nerman, Denfors, was only a few hours on horseback from Gadain Castle. Once they finished their morning meeting, they would be able to see Denfors before the days end. Of course, if they attacked with wyverns, they could traverse the distance in the time it took to eat a meal, but there was no need to hurry. They planned on killing their enemies slowly, so very slowly, so as to suffocate all resistance.

* * *

“Have all of the residents been evacuated?”

“100,000 residents from around Denfors are in the castle, and the residents outside the battlefields area of influence are staying in their villages.”

“I feel apologetic towards them.”

Because Nerman met the wrong lord and liege, the territory was turned into a battlefield on a daily basis. I had done my best, but I still felt sorry.

“No, my liege. I heard that there isnt a single resident who thinks ill of you,” comforted Derval with a voice full of sincerity.

“The time of reckoning we waited for is upon us. As you all know, men, from the very beginning, our backs have been against the wall.”

I looked at all the knights gathered in my office. I had gathered all of the flights stationed in Orakk Castle and Fort Ciaris. Right now, the covert was so full of wyverns that not a single place was free.

“Worry not. Tomorrow, we will be able to smile as the victors. This, I promise under my name, Kyre de Nerman!”

“Yes, siiiir!”

“Raise your cups and empty them! These cups are surely filled with the kiss of the Goddess of Victory, Ormion!”

I downed the wine in my upraised glass, an action followed by my knights. I was sure that we would be granted victory, but there was no knowing where the cursed arrows of death fired by the Evil God, Kerma, would fly.

‘I believe in you all.

They would have to put every bit of strength they had into this battle. I filled my eyes with the sight of my knights as they drained their glasses, praying desperately that the gods would allow them to share the next glass with me as well.

* * *

“Line up!”

“Form your ranks!”

“Cavalry, take position on the side!”

Neeeeeigh! Clank clank clank clank!

The colorful blooms of spring were beginning to flower on the wide plains, where Denfors stood, and on those plains was a wave carrying 200,000 men. Putting around 3 km between them, the Laviter Empires 200,000 ground troops were falling into formation, each branch where it should be.

“Weve finally arrived.”

They had reached the central city of Nerman, Denfors, without a single fight. Even from afar, the worn out castle walls looked so fragile that a single charge could crumble them instantly.

“Your Highness, please move to the back. Their new crossbows are said to have a range of about 2 km.”

“How unbelievable. Even a longbow reinforced with magic only has a range of 1 km.”

Having come down from his wyvern, Prince Alskane stared at Denfors from within the army as it prepared to advance. Around a hundred noble knights were lined up behind him, including the Commander.

“What will be our method of attack?” asked Prince Alskane quietly as he glared at Denfors.

“I plan to have everyone attacking with a method you may have already predicted. Skyknights will fire Blessed Spears above the enemy to harass their new crossbows. Once that happens, their crossbows will naturally fire towards the wyverns, and while they are occupied, I will have the infantry and cavalry advance at full speed and go into full-force siege warfare.”

“So you wish to settle things in a single go.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Duke Yanovis showed a smile of satisfaction at Prince Alskanes outstanding insight, which drew praises from the empires great scholars.

“Seeing as they have 100 wyverns of their own, it shouldnt be easy.”

“Please allay your worries. 100 wyverns can be shot down in one round of concentrated fire.”

Kiaaaaaaaaaaa!Kuaaaaaaaaaaa!

As the Imperial Army fell into formation, 300 wyverns filled the sky above, forming a formation composed of dozens of flights in a watertight diamond defensive formation.

* * *

‘Even a swarm of ants wouldnt be that numerous.