Chapter 88: The Silver Stag Army Mobilizes!
Tyrosh, Dionysus Fountain Square
"Ready! Thrust!..."
"Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!..."
Amidst the rhythmic shouts of the heralds, Karnil—a still somewhat dazed Tyroshi soldier—thrust his spear forward in accordance with his training.
"Puchi... Argh..."
Feeling the familiar resistance travel up the shaft of his spear, Karnil knew he had struck true once again.
As a fresh recruit in the Silver Stag Army, Karnil had always been diligent. As long as he performed well, he could earn generous rewards even without rank.
Their commander, Saeraes Moss, was known for his fairness and wisdom, earning the respect of many soldiers. Karnil had always dreamed of one day becoming a commander like him.
"Advance!"
At the order, Karnil and his comrades stepped forward in unison. The squad leader ahead raised his shield, forming the front line.
Karnil stood among the spearmen behind the tower shield infantry. These soldiers of the Silver Stag Army were currently suppressing the slave uprising at Dionysus Fountain Square. Despite it being his first battle, Karnil adapted quickly with the support of his unit.
"Squelch..."
As he stepped forward in heavy boots, something soft gave way beneath his foot. Karnil didn't dare look down—he already knew the streets were littered with corpses.
The shield bearers trampled the fallen, while veteran soldiers behind them delivered finishing blows with short swords. Karnil had heard stories of recruits failing to confirm kills, leading to deadly consequences.
From then on, only veterans handled that grim task.
Karnil didn't look down. He knew all too well—what he stepped on was likely someone's head.
Just minutes ago, he had stepped into the entrails of a man he himself had killed. One glance had nearly made him faint.
"Wuuuu..."
"Halt!"
The remaining slaves were now cornered at the entrance of a temple. With the doors sealed shut from inside, their fate was already decided.
But suddenly—
A series of horn blasts echoed across the square.
Karnil felt a surge of pride. Hundreds of slaves remained, yet they stood no chance against the disciplined phalanx. His unit had cut them down with ease.
Still… their resistance left a trace of unease in his heart.
If they had been properly armed, things might have turned out very differently.
Some City Watch survivors had warned them—among the slaves were dangerous fighters. Entire units had been ambushed in alleyways.
The Silver Stag soldiers, however, scoffed at such claims.
Their training emphasized formation above all else. Break formation—and death was certain.
To them, the City Watch had simply been incompetent.
"Change formation! Reinforce the East Gate!"
At the heralds' command, Karnil's unit pivoted and marched. Their square formation allowed seamless directional shifts.
As he turned, Karnil glanced back at the slaves who had narrowly escaped death.
Lucky bastards… he thought. A moment later, and they would all be corpses.
"Hey, Old Kard! What's happening at the East Gate?"
"Hoo! Hoo!..."
Marching in rhythm, Karnil called out to the veteran ahead.
"Who knows? Probably more slaves causing trouble."
"Yeah, idiots probably think they can escape from there. Don't realize the northern plantations are even worse."
"If it were just a few, they wouldn't call us."
The soldiers laughed quietly. To them, slaves were nothing more than walking merit points.
"Hoo! Hoo!..."
The marching chant continued—a steady rhythm that maintained cohesion and morale.
Soon, they arrived near the East Gate.
And everything changed.
Flaming projectiles rained from the sky. Buildings nearby were already ablaze.
"Those are oil bombs… Are we under attack?!"
"What the hell were the fleet doing?! Sleeping in brothels?!"
"They went to deal with the Lysene fleet, I heard!"
"Stay sharp!"
For the first time, unease spread among the veterans.
Tyrosh had not faced external invasion in generations.
Yet now—an enemy had breached the city itself.
"All units disperse! Squad formation!"
Orders rang out.
Karnil quickly formed a squad with Old Kard and nine others.
"Watch it!"
Karnil nearly froze—but Old Kard yanked him aside.
"Bang!"
A mangled corpse slammed into the ground where he had stood.
Karnil swallowed hard.
The body was charred—half of it completely severed, as if cut by something burning hot.
"Three-headed god, save me!"
"Divine punishment!"
"Arghhh!"
Screams erupted ahead.
A group of City Watch soldiers stumbled toward them—broken, burned, and terrified beyond reason.
Not just fear—
Despair.
Karnil had seen deserters before—but never like this.
These men had seen something far worse than death.
"Move… let's go!"
Old Kard gave the order, though even his voice trembled slightly.
They advanced cautiously.
Then—
"Hiss… hiss…"
A chilling sound echoed from the stairway ahead.
And from the shadows—
A monstrous spider emerged.
As large as a bull.
Its body was covered in thick, bristling hairs, glinting under the light. Its eight massive legs ended in razor-sharp claws that pierced the ground with each step.
"Hiss..."
The squad inhaled sharply.
One strike from those claws—and they would be torn apart.
"Prepare for battle!"
Old Kard shouted.
And despite the terror gripping their hearts—
They charged.
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