The footsteps echoed.

From the rear of the Presial Kingdom’s army, Prince Absab struck the ground again with his spear, and another shockwave of air spread toward the Imperial army’s camp.

Although the shockwaves were merely a distraction—despite containing a small residual amount of demonic energy—they had served their purpose well.

At the front of the Imperial Army’s vanguard, preparations were already underway for a possible attack by the vanguard of the Presial Kingdom’s army, which was advancing slowly.

Lord Miller and Lord Danev were the ones who grew most anxious at the sight of the Presial army’s movements, because they had been considering a possible retreat and ultimately had to continue the surprise attack, which had already turned into a disadvantageous open-field battle.

The heaviest casualties on the battlefield had been suffered by those with low power ranks.

However, some humans with medium power ranks had also fallen, particularly in the armies of the lords of the Presial Kingdom.

"What are they up to?" Lord Miller asked, anger welling up inside him.

A few seconds later, the answer came to him as he recalled the look Prince Absab had given him.

"They sent us to our deaths," was a somewhat misguided response.

King Sition cared only that the attack succeed; whether those two lords with treacherous tendencies died was merely a side effect.

Lord Miller clenched one of his fists tightly; now he felt both fear and anger.

Another who was feeling similar emotions was Lord Danev.

"Because of that damn pig, I’m going to die here," thought Lord Danev, cursing Lord Miller.

One of the commanders standing nearby stepped closer and asked Lord Danev:

"My Lord, shall we retreat? If this continues at this pace, we will all be annihilated."

Lord Danev looked at the vanguard of the Presial Kingdom, which was advancing with noticeable slowness.

"Shit, shit," Lord Danev cursed inwardly, thinking about what would happen to him if he retreated at that moment.

"My Lord!" another concerned commander approached.

"Hold your ground!" Lord Danev shouted, believing there must be some reason for the Presial Kingdom’s army to be advancing, and also out of fear of possible punishment.

Lord Miller, whose sole concern was saving his own life, ordered the commanders surrounding him to instruct the deputy commanders to direct the remaining Low-Power-Rank forces to protect the rear guard’s retreat.

The order was given, and Lord Miller, along with his trusted commanders and elite forces, began to retreat.

...

On the battlefield, great warriors emerged just as others fell.

"Attack! These damned heretics must die!"

"Their forces are growing weaker by the minute."

The Imperial Army’s formations were well-organized and began to advance more easily, killing more and more enemies in their path, especially on the right flank.

...

"Hold your positions; don’t be afraid," shouted a deputy commander who had served under Lord Miller.

Deputy Commander Rellington, a man who looked to be in his thirties, was of ordinary appearance, with dull brown hair that was neither long nor short, beige skin, and a slightly thin build. He wore a black tunic with the Miller House logo on the right shoulder.

Deputy Commander Rellington held his staff aloft as he levitated using wind magic. Blood trickled from his nose, and his head throbbed with mild headaches that grew more intense as he strained to use his mid-tier staff to direct the soldiers covering Lord Miller’s retreating troops.

"Fight to the end!" exclaimed Deputy Commander Rellington, and the soldiers under his command were filled with courage as they watched their deputy commander push himself to the limit and beyond.

"Damn it, I think I’m going to die here," thought Deputy Commander Rellington as he watched the gem on his staff begin to crack; even so, he continued to lead his men, though he sometimes coughed up blood.

Although it seemed glorious that he and his soldiers were holding out a little longer than the forces of the other deputy commanders in Lord Miller’s troop, reality was reality.

Imperial soldiers armed with axes, spears, swords, and more began to slaughter the remaining forces that had stayed behind to cover the rear.

"If I’m going to die, I’ll die casting a powerful spell," Deputy Commander Rellington raised his staff as he began to channel his own mana to conjure five green magic circles.

At that moment, an assassin leaped out of the shadows and headed toward the deputy commander.

"Deputy Commander!" some of his soldiers shouted.

He closed his eyes, accepting his fate.

Cut!

Blood!

Blood covered his face, and the murderer’s head rolled across the floor.

On the left flank, Lord Danev watched as his troops fell and the enemy closed in.

...

The imperialist deputy commanders were mingling with the attacking imperialist soldiers.

Bang!

An imperial deputy commander, clad in silver armor over his dark clothing, saw his halberd blocked by two daggers, and a demon appeared at his side wielding a sword—but the demon’s sword was blocked by the dagger of one of the assassins hired by the empire; however, a third demon appeared and fired a blowgun, whose dart embedded itself in the deputy commander’s neck.

The deputy commander felt horrible sores and painful blisters begin to appear on his skin and body, poisoned by the potent demonic venom.

Two of the demons fled into the shadows, but the demon wielding the sword was pursued by the assassin who had parried his blade.

Bang!

Bang!

The sword and daggers clashed fiercely.

The demon was a fifth-rank demon (peak level), and the human assassin was at the fifth spiritual core (mid-level); yet the demon had no advantage because he was surrounded by enemies, so he kept trying to escape while moving swiftly and dodging some attacks from other imperialist soldiers.

By then, the deputy commander was already writhing in pain; his appearance had become hideous, and some of his blisters were bursting, releasing a foul-smelling liquid and leaving gruesome holes in the wretched man’s flesh. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

...

"I never thought I’d be glad to see some demons," thought Lord Danev, who wasted no time in ordering:

"Support the demons."