"Uwaaahhhhh!"
The soldiers erupted in cheers at Ghislain's generous promise. It felt as though they had suddenly been infused with newfound strength.
As the atmosphere brightened, Ghislain pushed forward with an even bolder proclamation.
"To the families of those who fell in this battle, the same rewards will be given! Furthermore, these conditions will remain in effect until the monster wave is completely over! I swear it on my name!"
"Uwaaahhhhh!"
Once again, a resounding roar of enthusiasm echoed across the battlefield.
The continent had been plagued with relentless suffering for years—droughts, epidemics, the emergence of rifts, the rise of the Salvation Church, and wars against rebels.
Most soldiers had joined the army out of sheer desperation to feed their families, fearing not just their own deaths but the survival of their loved ones left behind.
But now, they were promised significant compensation, with assurances that even their families would be cared for if they perished.
This brought the soldiers a sense of relief.
'If it were any other noble, we wouldn't believe it.'
'But if it's Duke Fenris, it's trustworthy.'
'They say he always keeps his promises when it comes to rewards.'
Ghislain's reputation for rewarding merits generously had spread throughout the entire continent. Indeed, even the smallest acts of valor during wartime were acknowledged and rewarded under his leadership.
And he never reneged on his promises due to a lack of funds. Ghislain, renowned as the wealthiest individual on the continent, had access to an endless supply of food that could feed the entire continent and more.
After all, countless kingdoms had been saved by Ghislain's support.
The mood shifted dramatically. They had already secured victory in the most dangerous area. Moreover, reinforcements from other fortresses would soon join them.
There was no reason to fear anymore.
"Let's just go for it!"
"The first time was hard; the second can't be worse!"
"If there are fewer monsters, we can definitely win!"
Everyone raised their weapons with newfound confidence, their morale soaring high.
Ghislain nodded with a satisfied smile. After all, most problems could be solved with money. And if something wasn't working, it probably just needed more funding.
While Ghislain basked in satisfaction, Marquis Alperen whispered in panic.
"Duke, we don't have that kind of budget in the allied forces' treasury!"
"It's fine."
"No, it's not fine! The finances are strained!"
Though Ghislain always claimed everything was fine, from the perspective of others, it was far from it.
The rewards Ghislain had just promised amounted to an astronomical sum. For most kingdoms, such an expenditure would shake their financial foundations to the core.
Especially now, when all treasuries were stretched thin. Even the spoils from this campaign were intended for stabilization efforts.
But if the commander-in-chief made such promises, the allied forces would inevitably have to share the financial burden.
"We're barely managing to supply provisions!"
Years of drought, epidemics, and prolonged wars had left most kingdoms struggling to secure food.
Currently, over half of the allied forces' provisions came from the Kingdom of Lutania. If Lutania hadn't ramped up production, the war would have ended in defeat for the allied forces.
Yet Ghislain, unfazed, responded with his usual confidence.
"It's fine."
"But... Do you even have that much money, Duke?"
"I am wealthy, but not that wealthy. Hahaha. How could I possibly pay the wages of the entire allied army?"
"....."
"We'll figure it out when the time comes."
"..."
"If we're short on funds, we'll just pay in kind."
Ghislain didn't bother with minor details. Truthfully, he had no idea how much was left in the treasury. Early on, he had personally managed everything, but as his forces grew exponentially, it became impossible for him to oversee everything directly.
Claude might know, but he wasn't present to verify it.
Still, Ghislain remained unconcerned. If they ran out of resources, they'd just take them from somewhere else. There was no need to explain such details; he simply glossed over them.
Marquis Alperen gave Ghislain a doubtful glance.
'He always pulls it off somehow... but his methods are terrifying.'
Too afraid to inquire further, Marquis Alperen chose not to press the matter. He didn't want to know. All he hoped was that the finances would somehow work out.
Thanks to Ghislain's bold declaration, the troops, now in high spirits, began moving swiftly.
With the newly reorganized army joining the fortresses, it wasn't long before most fortresses faced the onslaught of the monster wave.
Kaaaaahhhh!
As the overwhelming horde of monsters approached, the soldiers who had fought on the frontline thought to themselves:
'Duke Fenris is a liar!'
The monsters were swarming like crazy.
***
Ghislain hadn't lied.
The sheer number of monsters had made it hard for the soldiers to make proper comparisons, but the number was indeed less than at the frontline fortresses.
Moreover, Cyclopes no longer appeared. There was no need to worry about their boulder-throwing attacks as before.
Kaaaaaahhh!
Still, the monster wave was far from trivial. The troops stationed at each fortress fought with everything they had.
Fortunately, unlike the frontline, these fortresses sustained minimal casualties. This was because superhumans like Ghislain, mages, and frontline forces had been dispatched to support them.
However, there was one fortress to which no reinforcements were sent. It was believed that this fortress could hold its ground without any assistance.
Kraaaahhhh!
Even as hordes of monsters surged toward them, the soldiers defending this fortress showed no fear.
These were the troops of Lutania, regarded as the strongest force in the allied army.
"Fire!"
At Tenant's command, the catapults were the first to move.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
"Fire!"
As Galbarik echoed Tenant's command, nearly 300 catapults launched boulders.
In addition to the Galbanium catapults from the mobile army, over a hundred large siege engines brought from the expedition were deployed.
Every time the massive number of catapults attacked, hundreds of monsters were wiped out.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sound of boulders crushing monsters reverberated endlessly. Even flying monsters were struck by the airborne rocks and fell in droves.
The sight was incredibly satisfying. Galbarik, who commanded the siege unit, puffed out his chest with pride.
"Our Dwarven catapults are truly the best on the continent."
The Fenris catapults were unmatched in both power and precision.
Moreover, their firing speed was double that of conventional catapults.
Despite this, the machines rarely malfunctioned, making Galbarik and the dwarves rightfully proud.
But their pride was soon tempered with tears.
"I'm so tired I want to die. Look how much weight I've lost."
"We've worked for days without rest, and the war still isn't over. When will it end?"
"If not for that stubborn bastard Alpoi, we could've fled long ago."
"Claude's another problem. It's like he's trying to work us to death."
Though Ghislain set the overall strategy, the dwarves' grievances were directed at Claude and Alpoi, who directly pushed them to their limits.
Still grumbling, the dwarves continued to manage the siege unit.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Against any ordinary human army, such relentless bombardment would have resulted in annihilation.
But the monsters pressed on through the downpour of rocks, their sheer numbers enabling them to advance.
The flying monsters, unaffected by the ground-based obstacles, were the first to reach the fortress.
As they entered range, the archers and mounted archers raised their bows.
The elf Lumina, who commanded them, let out a soft whistle.
Whiiiiiik—
Even amidst the chaos of the battlefield, her whistle pierced through, reaching everyone's ears.
She, born with exceptional communication abilities, grew more proficient in communicating with nature day by day.
Soon, tens of thousands of arrows filled the sky.
Pat-pat-pat!
Kaaaarrrgh!
Flying monsters fell to the ground as their heads and bodies were pierced the moment they entered range.
The modified bows from Fenris boasted exceptional power and range. The flying monsters couldn't even approach the fortress and were killed outright.
Ascon, stationed among the archers, slowly drew his bowstring.
"Huuu... damn it, today I'm going to hit the mark perfectly."
Having always come in last during archery training, despite being an elf, his pride was deeply wounded.
"There's no way I'll lose to some human archer."
It was a matter of elven pride.
Ascon aimed for the largest wyvern approaching.
Creeeak...
Drawing his bowstring, he focused intently. The surroundings were noisy and chaotic, but it didn't matter.
The arrow would ride the wind and hit its target precisely.
A skill only visible to an elf.
Though it took him a bit longer to aim, the devastating impact more than compensated for the delay.
'I can feel the wind.'
His senses guided him. Now was the moment. The wind told him that if he shot now, he could pierce through that enormous wyvern.
'Ride the wind.'
Pang!
Swishhhhh!
The arrow flew on the wind and struck the approaching wyvern with overwhelming force.
Kaaaarrrgh!
The wyvern let out a pained scream as it plummeted to the ground.
"Hoo."
Ascon swept back his hair and smirked arrogantly.
Though he had actually hit a smaller wyvern far from his original target, it didn't matter.
"Damn it, hitting anything is good enough, right, Shibari? Oh, wait, Shibari's not here."
Shibari was down at the stables chewing fodder.
Afterward, Ascon continued shooting arrows indiscriminately. With so many monsters swarming, anything he shot hit something.
And it felt good.
The catapult and arrow attacks killed countless monsters before they could even reach the fortress.
Yet some monsters managed to push through.
Kraaaaargh!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Ogres, trolls, and bugbears—massive monsters—charged toward the fortress, accompanied by a significant number of smaller monsters trailing alongside them.
And more monsters still loomed behind.
It was too early to redirect catapults and arrow attacks closer to the fortress.
Instead, the monsters that reached the fortress were handled by the mages.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Pillars of fire erupted, lightning bolts struck down, and the ground quaked, burying the monsters.
The Lutania forces had a considerable number of mages, most of whom Ghislain had captured as prisoners during their victories in civil wars.
Additionally, Ghislain had bound visiting mages to contracts, ensuring their loyalty.
Those in the Fenris Magic Corps unleashed their mana without reserve, obliterating the monsters.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Kraaaaaargh!
The relentless assault by the Lutania forces rapidly thinned the monster numbers. But even they couldn't kill the endless stream of monsters entirely.
Eventually, some monsters reached the fortress walls. The larger monsters pounded against the walls, while the smaller ones climbed on their backs to scale the fortress.
"Hold the line!"
At Tenant's command, the soldiers raised their shields.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In an instant, a wall of shields was erected. Some monsters fell, unable to find footing.
But others managed to leap over the shields.
Kaaaarrrgh!
Filled with madness, the monsters let out joyous cries, eager to kill the living beings in front of them.
Yet the soldiers behind the shields didn't flinch. They didn't even turn their heads.
They trusted their comrades behind them, keeping their shields firm and focused only on the front.
And that trust didn't betray them.
From behind the shields, countless spears suddenly thrust into the air.
Pat-pat-pat!
Kaaaarrrgh!
Most monsters were skewered before they could penetrate the line. A few that managed to break through were quickly overwhelmed and killed before they could cause any damage.
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
Waiting soldiers in the rear swiftly used long poles and hooks to remove the monsters' corpses.
This kept the frontline soldiers' formation intact and uninterrupted.
Their movements were astoundingly precise and seamless. This was the result of Ghislain's relentless training regimen and the secret to the Lutania forces' strength.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Despite the mages' efforts to hold them back, more monsters continued to swarm below the fortress.
Tenant, observing the battlefield, gave new orders to the mages.
"Leave the center and concentrate attacks on the flanks."
The mages obeyed immediately. With the flanks under heavy assault, the monsters began funneling toward the center.
At that moment, a figure who had been observing the battle leaped from the fortress.
Thud!
Kaaaarrrgh!
The sight of prey presenting itself sent the monsters into a frenzy.
The first to attack was a massive ogre, swinging its club with devastating force. A single blow could have turned an ordinary person to pulp.
But the one who leaped from the fortress was no ordinary human.
Crunch.
Parniel tightened her grip, the veins in her muscular forearms bulging.
Her massive mace swung toward the ogre's club.
Boom!
The ogre's club shattered effortlessly. Before the ogre could even react, Parniel swung her mace again.
Boom!
Crack!
The ogre's side was completely crushed. The blow was so powerful that its thick torso briefly looked deflated.
Unable to even scream, the ogre collapsed, lifeless.
Its ribs had been utterly shattered, and its internal organs destroyed by the force of the impact.
Kaaaarrrgh!
The shockwave from Parniel's strike sent nearby monsters stumbling backward.
She closed her eyes and made the sign of the cross.
"Goddess, today I shall purify all that is wicked. Grant me the strength to banish this darkness."
Flash!
When Parniel opened her eyes again, intense holy power radiated from them.
[T/L: I need your support, dear readers. I will give discount to all those who will buy the rest of the chapters all together, so please support me the reader on my webnovel platform and read ahead chapters on my ko-fi page "RevengerScans" : https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]