As Ryan and his forces retreated toward the capital of Wissenland, Feldorf, the fall of the White Tower City was also announced. This stronghold in southern Wissenland had been the last hope for holding out long enough for Nuln to fully fortify and for the main army stationed at Blackfire Pass to return to Feldorf.
The defenders had indeed done their best. They had armed the city to the teeth, with three regiments of musketeers and dozens of cannons ready to repel most attacks. After a probing assault, the Kurgan forces quickly realized that they would need a massive army to take the city in a short time.
Tamurkhan could not tolerate such delays. He was now in more of a rush than even the Imperial forces. Few knew that Emperor Karl Franz's inability to withdraw from the war in Hochland was due to Tamurkhan's prayers to Father Nurgle. Nurgle had promised his beloved son, Tamurkhan, that the Nurgle champion Deathblade Varnier would deploy from the Brass Fortress to keep the Emperor's forces tied up.
However, in exchange, Nurgle's patience was running thin. His love and expectations for Tamurkhan grew by the day, forcing Tamurkhan to accelerate his campaign.
Faced with the strong defenses, Tamurkhan summoned the Chaos Dwarfs. If their alliance couldn't prove its worth now, what was the point of it?
"Walls?" Grey Prophet Drazhoath sneered as he inspected the city's defenses. "It looks like a child's sandcastle on the plains. We will take care of this, but only because of the alliance. Let me remind you, it's only because of the alliance!"
Thus, the Chaos Dwarfs unleashed their powerful war machines. Dozens of Chaos Dwarf mortars, howitzers, magma cannons, and Chaos Hellcannons fired in unison. Tamurkhan, mounted on his toad dragon, soared through the sky, wielding his massive battle axe to rally the Kurgan army.
The siege began. The war machines of black iron and brass rumbled forward. Beneath the colorful sky, the Imperial troops breathed in fear. The cannon crews also fired back resolutely. The entire earth trembled like a wounded animal. Bodies and cannon fragments were flung into the air by explosions. Waves of terror followed one after another, and with the demonic power amplifying their firepower, the Chaos Dwarfs' cannons quickly outmatched the White Tower City's defenses. Soon, the city's walls and towers exploded, caught fire, and collapsed under the assault of the Chaos Dwarfs' siege engines. The defenders were engulfed in hellfire.
Immediately afterward, the Daemon Riders of Dargan and Tamurkhan's Rot Knights charged. They stormed through the breaches in the walls and the shattered gates, their cavalry fighting a simple yet brutal battle. The Imperial cavalry was vastly outnumbered by the Kurgan riders and was quickly overwhelmed by the Chaos army's tide. The Imperial militia, terrified out of their wits, broke and fled, throwing down their weapons. Plague Ogres and Chaos Giants scaled the walls, smashing the fleeing musketeers and Imperial soldiers and devouring them.
The battle ended swiftly, and White Tower City was set ablaze.
Tamurkhan was pleased with this victory and immediately ordered the march toward Feldorf, followed by an assault on Nuln.
"Nuln! Ludwig's city! It will fall!"
Three days after the fall of White Tower City, Ryan and his forces also retreated to Feldorf.
The gates of Feldorf opened. The city's residents had already begun to evacuate, leaving only a few behind. The streets were largely empty, but under Emilia's strict orders, the city was stocked with supplies. The weary cavalry entered the city to rest, but the Chaos army was right on their heels, advancing toward Feldorf in full force.
"We can rest in this city for no more than two days, and then we must return to Nuln immediately," Ryan said as he dismounted, lifting his wife Sulia down from her horse. "In no more than five days, the Chaos army will reach Feldorf."
"I hope our efforts were worth it," Sulia said, her face weary. The female knight, now at the mid-level of her legendary rank, was still not fully capable of handling her divine armor. As soon as she landed, her body went limp, and she leaned against her husband's chest, breathing softly.
After severely damaging the Chaos Dwarfs' supply convoy, Ryan and his forces had launched an ambush at Gunterburg, defeating the Chaos vanguard led by the Chaos Dragon Knight Aulbach-Gutchewer. This battle forced Tamurkhan to slow his advance, but Ryan's troops had also reached their limit.
"Our efforts will be worth it," Karad said energetically as he dismounted and gazed at the city. "At the very least, we've done our duty. We've saved thousands of lives."
"Ah, that was a good fight!" Blackheart Rip, utterly exhausted, looked disheveled. The mercenary baron's bald head was marked with gray streaks of sweat, dust, and Wissenland's sunlight, forming strange patterns.
The Old Guard had suffered heavy losses this time. The newly formed regiment had only just reached over 800 men, far from the ideal 1,500 Ryan had hoped for. This expedition had cost over a hundred Old Guard soldiers their lives on Wissenland's soil.
"No sacrifice, no victory," Ryan reminded himself of the most important lesson taught to him by Landuin. He regretted the losses but did not regret the decision.
It was already afternoon by the time they arrived in Feldorf. Ryan arranged for everyone to rest and then took Sulia to the castle's guest rooms.
After a brief rest, it was evening when Ryan and Sulia received news that the old Marquis of Wissenland, Ogle-Hock, had arrived in Feldorf with about 5,000 troops.
In the castle hall, Ryan met with Marquis Ogle-Hock.
The old marquis was already quite elderly, his hair completely white. He smelled of sour sweat, likely from his hasty journey back from Blackfire Pass. His eyes were sunken, and he appeared gaunt.
Ryan, Sulia, and Karad entered the castle hall. Ogle-Hock did not rise from his seat upon their arrival. He looked tired, merely raising his hand to signal a younger, sturdy man to greet them. "This is my son, Mario-Hock."
"Greetings, Lord Ryan, Lady Sulia, Lord Karad." The man, a knight in his early thirties, had brown hair and a slightly chubby but muscular build. He puffed out his chest and gripped the hilt of his sword tightly as he greeted Ryan and the others with a composed demeanor.
Karad was puzzled. The Grail Knight wondered why the old marquis hadn't introduced himself or inquired about the battle situation but instead introduced his son first.
Glancing at Ryan and Sulia, Karad noticed that Ryan didn't seem concerned at all. He greeted the marquis' son warmly, while Sulia's gaze toward the old marquis was complex, a mix of pity and respect.
After some brief pleasantries, Ryan addressed the old marquis. "Our defense has slowed the Chaos army's advance, but they are still close behind. In no more than five days, the Chaos army will be at the gates of Feldorf."
"I see," Ogle-Hock replied, his voice tired. His eyes were cloudy, with deep black circles from fatigue and lack of sleep. "I brought back 10,000 men from Blackfire Pass, leaving another 5,000 there temporarily."
"Why didn't you bring them all back?" Ryan asked, holding up his wine glass and observing the old marquis. "At this point, you should have brought everyone back."
"Yes, I should have," Ogle-Hock nodded, then shook his head. "But I didn't."
Ryan narrowed his eyes, opening his mouth to speak but ultimately saying nothing.
A strange atmosphere settled in the hall. Both sides seemed to have things they wanted to say but remained silent. The old marquis squinted as if deep in thought, while Ryan and his companions stayed quiet.
Why did the old marquis leave 5,000 troops at Blackfire Pass? Why did he introduce his son to Ryan first? Why were neither side speaking?
Karad, filled with questions, glanced at Grandmaster Pfizman of the Fire Sun Knights, who responded with a slight shake of his head, also remaining silent.
Finally, Karad broke the silence. "Lord Hock, Feldorf is yours. Do you have a battle plan?"
"A battle plan?" The old marquis' cold voice broke the silence. "What battle plan could I have? Or rather, why should I share my battle plan with you, an outsider?"
"We came a long way to help you!" Karad's chest filled with anger and confusion. He nearly stood up. "At least tell us what the plan is!"
"...You should withdraw to Nuln tomorrow," the old marquis said, lifting his head and staring at Karad. "That's my battle plan. Now you know, Grail Knight. Are you satisfied?"
"Are you not coming with us to Nuln?" Ryan finally spoke, producing a letter.
This letter was personally written by Emilia. The Imperial Duchess informed the old marquis that Feldorf couldn't be held. Even though it was the capital of Wissenland, it couldn't stop the advance of the Chaos army. She requested that Marquis Ogle return to Nuln immediately, stating that only by relying on Nuln's defenses could they win this war.
Ogle took the
letter, glanced at it, and said he understood. "Very well, you will cover the last group of refugees leaving Feldorf tomorrow. I will depart last."
"Agreed."
...I'm the line of those who go first...
The next day, after a night of rest, Ryan and his companions escorted the last group of refugees. Thousands of Feldorf's remaining citizens crossed the fortress bridge of Feldorf. In the late autumn, the wide waters of the Wissen River roared. Due to the Chaos corruption upstream, the river was now murky and foaming.
The refugees were somber, moving slowly across the bridge. The long line stretched for miles as Ryan and his companions stood at the bridgehead, watching the refugees retreat.
"This is the last wave of refugees," Grandmaster Pfizman said, gripping the sword at his waist and looking towards Nuln. "I bet Nuln is already packed."
"They've lost everything, but at least they still have their lives," Ryan nodded, gazing at the overcast autumn sky. "If we save the people but lose the land, we can still regain both. If we lose the people but save the land, we lose everything. As long as there is life, there is hope."
The refugees moved slowly, and Ryan and his companions patiently waited from morning until noon. When the last of the refugees had crossed the bridge toward Nuln, over 5,000 soldiers from Wissenland followed, heading to Nuln to establish a new line of defense under the great city's walls.
"We should retreat as well," Blackheart Rip rode up on his warhorse. The mercenary baron, eager to move on, said, "Lord Ryan, the refugees have all crossed!"
"Yes." Ryan led his 3,000 troops across the bridge as well.
The old Marquis of Wissenland wore a stern expression the entire time. He rode his warhorse and told his son, "Mario, go across the bridge. On my behalf, thank Duke Ryan. Tell him that on behalf of all the people of Wissenland, the former inhabitants of Solland, the residents of Feldorf, and the Hock family, we are forever grateful for his efforts and assistance."
"Yes!" Mario, the marquis' son, suspected nothing. He spurred his horse across the bridge and quickly approached Ryan. Just as he was about to speak, a heavy cannon shot rang out behind him.
"Boom!"
The centuries-old bridge was completely destroyed by the cannon's blast. The bridge's fragments fell into the river, swallowed by the turbulent waters of the Wissen River, sending up a spray of water.
"Father?" Mario turned around in disbelief, shouting across the rushing waters. "Father! Have you gone mad?"
"I'm not mad, Mario," the old marquis replied coldly, closing his eyes in pain. "Give my regards to the Duchess."
Ryan and the others immediately understood what Ogle intended to do. Sulia sighed softly and rode her horse to Ryan's side. "This is his choice."
"No! Father!" Mario desperately urged his horse back and forth at the cliff edge of the broken bridge. "Come over! It's the Duchess's order. You are the Marquis of Wissenland. Nuln cannot lose you!"
"From today onward, you are the Marquis of Wissenland, Mario," Ogle-Hock said coldly from the other side. "Mario, this is the last lesson I will teach you as your father."
"Defending our homeland is our duty as soldiers. Feldorf is the land that gave me life and raised me. I will never surrender this city or this land."
"Tell the Duchess that I, Ogle-Hock, will faithfully perform my duties. I will stand my ground for myself, the Duchess, and the Empire. The future belongs to you, Mario!" The old marquis sighed deeply. "My son, I am the setting sun, but you will be the rising sun of tomorrow. The rebuilding of Feldorf will depend on you. Nuln needs you."
"No..." The marquis' son couldn't accept this. Tears streamed down his cheeks. "No! Father, if that's the case, I'd rather die with you!"
"What is that face of yours?! What are those eyes?!" The old marquis shouted harshly. "Mario, what are those tears worth? You're over thirty years old. Do you think you can defeat Chaos with tears?"
The marquis' son froze, staring at his father, unable to stop the tears. He furiously wiped them away with his hands, shouting with all his might, "I understand, Father! May Charlemagne bless you!"
Karad watched this scene, feeling as if he were witnessing his own past.
The Grail Knight Champion knew that today, this marquis' son had finally grown up.
Just as he had when he lost Ulles.
"And may Charlemagne bless you, my son! Go!" Ogle-Hock gave his son one last, deep look, then turned and disappeared on the other side of the river with his guards.
Three days later, Feldorf faced Tamurkhan and his Chaos army. The old Marquis Ogle-Hock led his 5,000 troops in a desperate defense, fighting to the last man. He fell in battle at the castle gates.
Ogle-Hock and his Feldorf defenders' efforts bought Nuln invaluable time. Their tenacity inflicted heavy losses on the Chaos army, forcing Tamurkhan to halt at Feldorf to allow his battered forces to rest and to give the Chaos Dwarfs time to repair their war machines.
By the time he was ready to march again, Nuln—one of the greatest cities in the Old World, the city of the savior Ludwig, and the southern stronghold of the Empire—was fully prepared for the coming war. Ryan and his companions had returned with crucial intelligence on the Chaos army's war machines and Chaos sorcerers. The Nuln War Council had formulated a detailed battle plan.
The judgment of fate was about to be delivered.
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