Chapter 77


    “Full advance, charge!”


    “Uwaaahhh!”


    “Charge!”


    At Acar’smand, the soldiers of the Iren Kingdom roared loudly as they began their charge forward.


    They moved swiftly in their signature triangr formation, maintaining impressive speed without any disruption to their ranks.


    ‘As expected of a regr army,’ Damian thought.


    Even at that speed, their formation didn’t waver.


    Watching the approaching Iren Kingdom soldiers, Damian spoke.


    “Remember, all of you, stick to what you’ve learned. Don’t get swept up by their momentum and overextend yourselves!”


    “Yes, sir!”


    “Don’t worry about us!”


    Their voices boomed in unison.


    The soldiers kept Damian’s words in mind, repeatedly recalling their training.


    ‘We are the shield… we are the shield…’


    They would do nothing else.


    Their sole duty was to halt the approaching enemies and hold the line.


    The archers positioned in the rear would handle the offensive.


    It was a battle n with clear roles: defense and attack.


    The soldiers assigned to the front lines, tasked with defending, swallowed hard, their nerves on edge.


    “They’reing… They’reing…!”


    The enemy’s faces became visible in the distance as they drew closer.


    The defending soldiers braced themselves, gripping their shields tighter.


    Then, just as the enemy entered a critical range—


    “Fire!”


    The voice of the third squad leader rang out from the rear. With thatmand—


    Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!


    The fifty-strong archer unit unleashed their arrows, raining down upon the advancing Iren Kingdom soldiers.


    Swoosh! Swoosh!


    Acar’s eyes widened as he watched the arrows arc through the sky.


    He frowned and shouted, “Didn’t they say there were no archers?!”


    “Th-that…!”


    Lieutenant Manuen struggled to hide his shock.


    “Everyone! Raise your shields and block those arrows!”


    Acar urgentlymanded, knowing they couldn’t afford to be exposed to the arrows any longer.


    Thud! Thunk!


    “Arghhh!”


    “Aaaghh!”


    At Acar’smand, the soldiers hastily lifted their shields in defense.


    But only the frontline shield-bearers hadrge enough shields to cover their entire bodies.


    “Argh!”


    The rest of the soldiers were equipped with only small, round shields that barely protected their bodies.


    “Cover your vital spots with your shield! Guard your head and chest!”


    Acar yelled as he deflected iing arrows with his sword.


    The soldiers hunched over, trying their best to protect themselves as instructed, but…


    “Ugh!”


    “Argh!”


    They could only defend their vital areas, leaving their arms and legs vulnerable.


    Naturally, injuries began to mount.


    Seeing this, the soldiers of the Baroque Kingdom’s Makstri unit cheered.


    “We got them!”


    “Archers, reload quickly! Fire again!”


    The third squad leader, pleased with their sessful attack, shouted again.


    ‘They won’t have expected us to have archers. We must inflict as much damage as possible in this first battle.’


    ‘Just as themander said!’


    Most of the Iren Kingdom soldiers only carried small, round shields.


    While these could protect their vital spots, they weren’t enough to cover their whole bodies.


    “Ready!”


    “We’re ready!”


    Once the archers had reloaded, the third squad leader pulled back his bowstring and yelled.