The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 150

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front (150)

Gradually, the red light faded as black shadows came rushing in.

The sunset that had covered the battlefield slowly burned black like blood touching the air.

Vast plains.

Belkain, who had been commanding soldiers at the center of the Imperial Army, silently gazed at the battlefield.

Though they had gained the upper hand, too many sacrifices had been made due to the fierce battle.

But then, Claw raised his head to look at the sky.

“It seems darkness will fall soon, Commander.”

“…Give the retreat order.”

As the command he had been contemplating left his lips, Claw nodded and hurriedly relayed it.

“Retreat the troops! Give the retreat order!”

As the command spread, flags soon began waving.

Buuuuuuuuuuuu!

The horn sound announcing retreat spread on the wind.

“Retreat! Retreat!”

“Retreat! Even while retreating, keep track of enemy positions!”

So that no stray blade would find its way into their backs during withdrawal.

As unit commanders shouted at the top of their lungs calling for retreat, soldiers began slowly backing away with shields raised.

“Retreat!”

Dark red dust rose between the flags fluttering in the wind.

Countless soldiers were withdrawing and returning to camp.

Clang! Bang! Bang!

But at the center of the battlefield, right in the middle, a storm was still raging.

Swoooosh!

The spear extending in a straight line barely pierced through empty air.

But as if that wasn’t the end, it extended downward, aiming for Korzan’s side.

“Hup!”

Crash!

Spear and axe.

Every time aura clashed with aura, flashes erupted and explosive sounds burst forth.

The explosions flowing out with impact sounds like giant chunks of metal being torn apart turned everything into chaos.

Crackle! Thud!

Dust clouds rose as the ground shattered, and fragments of destroyed stone scattered in all directions.

But the gazes of the two people at the center never left each other.

“Huu.”

Arteon, who had quietly steadied his breathing, raised Iglis and began preparing for battle once again.

Blood flowed down from various spots on his arms and shoulders, but his eyes remained as firm as ever.

And Korzan, who was facing Arteon, was the same.

His left arm holding the club hung powerlessly, and black blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, but fierce flames burned in his eyes.

Korzan wrinkled his nose bridge and spoke.

“One of us must die here.”

“Obviously.”

Without either taking the lead, both simultaneously rushed toward each other.

Arteon’s spear tip cut through the wind and extended toward Korzan’s left thigh.

At this distance, he could easily launch an attack.

But Korzan, as if he had anticipated that very attack.

“Hup!”

He moved his injured left arm to deflect Arteon’s spear to the side.

Due to his weakened strength, he couldn’t perfectly deflect it, but changing its direction slightly was certainly possible.

And Korzan penetrated through the gap that was created.

“Hraaaah!”

With a cry filled with rage, the axe gripped in his right hand fell toward Arteon’s head.

If only he could split that guy’s head in half and end this fight.

But as expected, the guy wasn’t so easy.

Swoosh!

Movement as if disappearing before his eyes.

Arteon, who had twisted his body to the side and spun quickly, retrieved his extended spear and deflected Korzan’s axe.

‘Ugh…!’

He bit his lips tightly to suppress his groan, but blood flowed freely from the palm gripping the axe.

His palm had been torn.

But…

“Hraaaah!”

Korzan’s arm muscles writhed like an ogre’s.

Ignoring the deflected recoil, he attacked Arteon again with pure strength.

Crash!

The axe that came down like a guillotine struck the ground, creating a tremendous roar.

Thick dust clouds rose, obscuring vision, and eventually the wind gradually cleared the dust away.

“…Damn rat.”

Korzan muttered through gritted teeth.

Avoiding the attack was problematic enough.

‘In that split second…’

While pulling back, he had left a wound on him.

Drip.

Though it wasn’t a deep wound, Korzan snorted like a bull as he looked at the blood flowing from his right forearm.

Then that guy’s figure began to come into view.

From the beginning until now.

That appearance without a single disturbance was shaking even his own mentality, built from long years on the battlefield.

‘…Is he a monster?’

Setting aside skill, how could he remain so detached in a battlefield where life and death hung in the balance?

It was impossible to explain without using the word monster.

“Damn it.”

Korzan straightened his body and raised his axe again.

His breathing was becoming labored, and even mana manipulation was gradually becoming difficult.

But as always, Korzan hid everything and showed no openings.

“…”

“…”

A standoff where each glared at the other.

Only the sound of carefully controlled breathing could be heard, as all other sounds seemed to fade away.

In that moment when time seemed to stop, Korzan’s eyes trembled slightly.

Because even that guy showed not the slightest opening.

If this battle continued…

‘My… certain defeat.’

Korzan gritted his teeth.

But that was the moment.

Buuuuuuuuuuuuu!

Horn sounds echoing from the Imperial Army’s camp.

Along with that, Imperial soldiers were shouting retreat and hurriedly returning.

Arteon turned his head.

“…”

If he could just press that guy a little more, he might be able to finish it.

He considered whether he should stay and finish off that guy.

“It seems like this is as far as we go today.”

Seeing the Silent Spear Unit showing considerable fatigue, he decided to retreat.

If he continued the battle out of stubbornness, it was clear that there would be casualties among his unit members.

Moreover, hadn’t they lost the ability to receive help as allied forces withdrew?

If they became isolated, an irreversible situation could arise.

“Let’s settle this next time.”

Arteon took a step back without taking his eyes off Korzan.

The wind swept by, making both men’s blood-stained clothes flutter.

“Silent Spear Unit! Retreat!”

“Retreat! Follow the unit commander!”

“Retreat! Support the wounded first! Keep watch for enemies pursuing from behind!”

“Fall back! Retreat!”

As Arteon and the Silent Spear Unit quickly withdrew, Korzan remained motionless for a while.

Just…

Clench.

Only gripping his weapon tightly with his blood-soaked hands.

‘If we had continued fighting…’

He lost.

He knew it but didn’t want to admit it.

And…

‘If we don’t hurry and prepare countermeasures, perhaps this war…’

An ominous thought flashed through his mind. But Korzan soon shook his head.

“No, that can never happen.”

No matter how strong their potential was, he couldn’t picture them defeating his side with Lord Krelmuuk present.

It was just that the current situation of failing to stop them at his level was quite troublesome and infuriating.

Korzan looked in the direction Arteon had departed and muttered quietly.

“Next time… you will feel hell.”

He would learn what it felt like to face an absolute wall.

Korzan immediately shouted to the warriors beside him.

“Retrieve Heritikan’s body. We’re going back too.”

Only now did her death seem to hit him.

He couldn’t guarantee what consequences Heritikan’s death would bring, but…

‘When we meet again… the situation will be different.’

Enjoy today’s victory for as long as you can.

Korzan’s footsteps as he turned away continued mournfully.

*    *    *

This battle could be called a victory. However, a heavy tension had settled over Belkain’s Encampment.

“…We still haven’t been able to completely analyze the enemy’s strength.”

“…”

Should we form a reconnaissance unit?

Even saying these words had become frightening now.

Hadn’t most of the soldiers who went out on reconnaissance from here lost their lives and never returned?

As Claw remained silent in his position, Belkain leaned back in his chair and let out a deep sigh.

However…

“Have you checked?”

“No such signs have appeared yet. However… suspicious circumstances have been detected, so I’ll investigate a bit more before reporting.”

“Do that.”

The conversation was brief, but the meaning contained within was heavy.

Though they had gained the upper hand, a strange flow had emerged from the very first day the Belikezel expedition began.

“Surely… they’ll show signs again.”

If they moved at predictable timing, it wouldn’t matter.

But those guys always started their work at the most crucial moments, in the most important places.

That’s why they had to find them before this war deepened further.

“If we fail to do so, we must remember that it could be us who return home bleeding.”

“I’ll hurry as much as possible.”

Claw answered with a calm expression.

But the sweat drops seeping into his clenched fist were proof that he too understood how important this matter was.

And at the same time.

Scrape!

Arteon sharpened Iglis’s blade on the whetstone he had.

Those two guys he fought today.

No, one was dead, so now he only needed to think about one.

‘Surely…’

He must have known he was being overwhelmed.

Yet his eyes remained unbroken.

Because the Kar Tribe were excellent warriors?

‘No…’

It wasn’t that kind of look.

Surely he was anticipating a deadly situation, so his spirit was breaking.

But even so, his eyes seemed to have something to believe in.

In his past life, for over ten years, he had repeated fights of killing and being killed while watching those guys.

He could see right through what they were thinking just by their eyes and expressions.

“Does this mean there’s someone who can… overwhelm someone like me who fought today?”

Otherwise, there was no way to explain the basis for that guy’s eyes and expression when looking at him.

Moreover, even if that wasn’t the case.

‘I should prepare anyway.’

Surely today’s defeat would make them come out with sharpened blades tomorrow.

Perhaps even more blood would flow than today.

Scrape.

In the dark night.

The sound of the spear blade being sharpened quietly echoed around.

And then, someone approaching Arteon.

Arteon turned his gaze to look there.

It was Grain.

Seeing him approach with a somewhat stiff expression, Arteon paused and straightened his back.

Arteon asked.

“Did you find them?”

“…Yes.”

If he hadn’t been certain, he wouldn’t have known.

Even Grain hadn’t expected it to be true, but.

“I checked everything you asked me to confirm, Arteon… and there were guys who matched.”

“There must have been many units… finding them this quickly means they’re in a unit near us, right?”

“Yes.”

As Grain nodded, Arteon let out a small breath and stood up from his seat.

These damn bastards.

As long as guys who absolutely couldn’t let this war end in victory were mixed in, the blood shed by allied forces would only increase.

But still…

“Already starting to sneakily raise their heads… they’ve crossed the line.”

Killing intent flowed through Arteon’s eyes.

“Keep looking into it. When we have more accurate details, then….”

I’ll cut off heads first and report later.

At those words, Grain simply nodded silently.

And so the night, shrouded in deep darkness, was passing by.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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