Chapter 188 – Counterattack (3)

Two hours ago, Roman Dmitry received a report on Kronos’s movement from the scouts. He spread out a map in the conference room.

Tak.

Swish.

“As expected, the Kronos Empire chose to retreat. We sent scouts to check if it was a trap, but they couldn’t find any strange movements of them luring us in. The enemies are currently moving through the plains and through the passages marked here. Because of the overgrown terrain, the enemy needs to prepare for the attack of pursuers but they are maintaining a rather loose formation.”

“They are completely off guard.”

“Yes. The Kronos Empire is clearly aware that they are not safe. So it’s only natural for them to form a tight formation, but they must have completely ruled out that we would pursue them.”

It was an obvious disregard. Outside the walls was a space where there was no need to be afraid of Cairo. Cairo had been invaded several times but regardless of the outcome, Cairo had never sent a pursuit team. And both sides knew it well—the fact that Cairo was just barely enduring its forts to survive, and that they would be unilaterally massacred by the Kronos Empire if they walked out.

So they organized a pursuit team. It was necessary so they could show them that they had changed.

Roman said,

“Our plan is simple. The enemies are keeping a long line as they move, so we plan to divide our forces into two and attack the middle and rear at once. If we cut the middle, the enemies will wander, and we will have a chance to devour the back and the front, and then we can reduce the number of enemies before they can respond.”

“…it’s a good plan, but the problem is when will the troops get isolated.”

It was Baron Noel. Roman’s words were just the possible outcome if things go as planned.

“If the enemy resists, the plan goes wrong. The troops attacking in the middle will become isolated, and that is a chance for them to reverse their attack on us. Wouldn’t it be better to join forces and attack right from the rear? If the enemies unite and respond, it will turn into an all-out war from then on, but a safe hit-and-run strategy can avoid extreme situations. Our goal is easy. Even if we don’t annihilate them, causing enough damage should show them what we mean.”

“No. That will not be enough.”

In this plan, he didn’t want half-baked results. They had to show what would happen to them if they touched Cairo.

“With this attack, we must obtain a record that can be called a great victory. To do so, attacking from both sides is necessary, and it is important to break the ranks of the enemy with a surprise attack. Just like what Baron Noel said, it is true that there are risks involved, but from the moment we open the gates and step out, we have to take some risks.”

And Roman Dmitry firmly added as he looked at the people in the room,

“I will take on the attack in the middle. Undoubtedly, based on the strength that they showed, they can’t withstand our attacks. Their carelessness and the move that we have never made until now will plunge Kronos into the abyss.”

Everyone nodded. If it was Roman Dmitry, the leaders of the Western Front decided to follow him.

When the sun rose in the middle of the sky, the plan started. Count Vandenberg’s men, who followed through a shortcut, hid in the bushes and waited for the signal.

Pung!

Pung!

The flares burst into the sky, and Count Vandenberg drew his sword.

“Everyone attack!”

“Attack!”

“Wahhhh!”

Swish.

Tatatak!

It was a surprise attack. Seeing Cairo’s soldiers rush at them, Kronos’s soldiers hurriedly pulled their weapons with shocked faces. However, they had no choice but to be helplessly overpowered by an attack they did not prepare for.

As soon as they collided with Cairo’s men, screams were heard, and Kronos’s soldiers felt like they couldn’t do anything.

Puak!

“Kuak.”

One soldier of the Kronos Empire widened his eyes. As he coughed up blood, he looked at the sword lodged in his stomach.

That was just the start. Cairo’s soldiers quickly dealt with the enemies with their numerical advantage, and it was easy to block and drive their swords into their enemies’ bodies. In an instant, living beings that had just been alive became rags.

Since their swords were unable to pierce their enemies’ chain armor, Cairo’s soldiers held their enemies’ heads and decapitated them. It was the brutality of war.

Every part of the ground was dyed red, and it seemed that Count Vandenberg’s forces had completely taken control of the rear.

However…

“You bastards! Your opponent is Cairo! Do not fall for their tricks!”

A knight of the Kronos Empire shouted. He infused aura on his sword and charged at Cairo.

From that point on, the atmosphere changed. The empire’s army, which was unsure what was going on and was stepping back, was calmly responding against the soldiers of Cairo, who were flooding in like crazy.

Gradually, Kronos had the upper hand. When a similar number of soldiers clashed with them, Cairo was overwhelmed.

Kronos’s and Cairo’s soldiers showed a great difference. If the soldiers of Kronos fought aggressively, the soldiers of the Cairo Kingdom were mere ragtag troops who only knew how to fight within the walls.

They only gained momentum with the surprise attack for a brief moment. When Kronos regained their balance and showed their true form, Cairo was back to feeling weak.

At the same time, Count Vandenberg showed his outstanding strength. He used his 4-star aura and slashed the enemies, but then he noticed that things were taking a strange turn.

‘We will be at a disadvantage at this rate.’

The momentum they held was decreasing. The carelessness of the empire wasn’t arrogance. They were confident in dealing with Cairo no matter what formation they took, and this was proof of that.

Count Vandenberg felt impatient. Realistically, it would be right to end it now and retreat the troops, but the plan was to hold on until the end.

Roman Dmitry was attacking the middle. He was in a situation more dangerous than him, with two sides of the enemy’s troops possibly attacking him. Yet he had drawn his sword, so Count Vandenberg wasn’t going to step back from this fight.

“Do not back down! Show them the power of Cairo!”

The battlefield was bloody. Count Vandenberg fulfilled his duty as the commander.

At that time, Roman Dmitry led the troops to the middle. Unlike the struggling forces in the back, a one-sided massacre happened in the middle.

Swish!

Aura exploded. Roman Dmitry’s sword continuously splattered blood. He rushed to the front and cut down dozens of people at once, and soldiers following him showed the same results.

It was not just a simple victory by a surprise attack. After clashing a couple of times, Kronos’s men were shocked.

Puak!

The soldiers of Dmitry were equally as powerful as the empire’s army. And the enlisted soldiers who followed Roman Dmitry showed outstanding performance among them.

Kang!

Kakang!

He was just a normal soldier. An unknown soldier raised the aura on his sword and pushed back a knight from the Kronos Empire.

They couldn’t help but be shocked. They were sure that the man was dressed as a soldier, yet he was pushing people back with aura on his sword. It was the power of the Asura technique. Those who followed Roman learned how to use aura one by one, and now even ordinary soldiers have also broken down the wall.

Cut.

The knight’s head was cut off. An ordinary soldier was able to defeat a knight.

“This is insane!”

“Stop! Stop them!”

The Kronos Empire’s troops were strong, but Dmitry’s soldiers were beyond normal.

And that wasn’t all. The key figures like Chris and Kevin displayed overwhelming power, and they quickly reduced the number of enemies.

Count Vandenberg’s worries were useless. He thought that Roman would be in danger, but he was the one handling the situation best.

He had an overwhelming force. He was cutting people down, and he opened up a path.

‘… what is this?’

It was a confusing situation, and one person was more shocked at what he saw.

Rodwell Dmitry, who cut down an enemy, looked shocked. It made no sense at all.

There was a saying in Cairo, “Go to the capital if you want to be successful.”

When Rodwell moved to the capital, he came to know why people said it. It was a whole new world. Unlike the rags on the borders, there were guards, a system, and tests for giving them a worthy name. Everyone was right.

Rodwell was called a genius, but to really succeed, he needed to make a name for himself in the capital. And that was his last memory of Dmitry. He was at the level of the capital, yet beings who had not been able to chase after him now showed a shocking sight in front of him.

Puak!

“Kuak!”

It was Dmitry’s soldier. The soldier with a normal face was pushing back the army of the Kronos Empire and drove his sword through their hearts.

The soldiers of the empire were known to be strong. From what Rodwell remembered, it was normal for Dmitry’s level to be unable to stand up to the empire’s troops, but they were now struggling with just one of Dmitry’s soldiers.

The soldier didn’t seem special either. None of them were even wearing any special uniform—just the uniform of Dmitry—yet they were not being pushed back.

And that wasn’t all. Chris, Rodwell remembered him. Dmitry’s genius turned into a monster in a span of a couple of years.

Flash!

Puak!

Chris splattered blood. The knights of Kronos rushing with their auras were no match for the man, and he kept taking people down.

A gap in his memories rose. The ordinary-looking soldiers and even Chris—they were all different from what Rodwell remembered. Since he was a member of the Dmitry family, he couldn’t understand all of these changes.

And the one who stood out the most was Roman Dmitry. His power wasn’t shocking but astonishing. He proved why he was given the title of the Greatest Sword in Cairo.

“You are my younger brother. If you follow me into the battlefield, I will show you what it means to live as a Dmitry. In exchange for Roman Dmitry’s younger brother losing his eye, the Kronos Empire will have to sacrifice countless lives.”

Roman’s words lingered in his mind. He wasn’t sure what he meant back then, but now he did. The Dmitry family was entirely different. The family, whose name was known only on the borders, was completely changed by Roman Dmitry.

He couldn’t understand how it happened. What was certain was that what was in front of him was the truth, and while he was on the Western Front, Dmitry went through many changes. It confused him.

He wasn’t sure how to handle this situation. Rodwell went to the battlefield with one of his eyes covered, but there was no role that needed him there. It was then…

“Chris!”

“Yes!”

Far away, the troops of the empire were pouring in. Due to the fact that it was a surprise attack, the soldiers who were around the middle flocked.

Roman slashed the enemies as he said,

“From now on, divide the troops into two as planned. You lead the troops and head to the rear. While you help Count Vandenberg there, I will block Kronos’s army from coming this way.”

It was a reckless plan. Rodwell wanted to stop them. But those who gave the orders and those who accepted them fought. They all wanted to take the risk.

“Alright. Group 2, follow me now!”

Chris backed off.

And after that, Roman stayed there, attacking the enemies.

Rumble!

Roman’s aura exploded and he threw himself at the enemies that were flooding in.