Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke-Chapter 103 - Annihilation on the Battlefield

103 Annihilation on the Battlefield

All eyes turned to him as he raised a hand, his expression calm and unreadable.

"There’s no need for that."

Bernhardt frowned. "What? But if no one stays behind, we’ll—"

Cedric ignored him and pointed beyond the river.

"Look over there."

The assembled lords turned their heads.

And their breath caught in their throats.

William’s eyes widened slightly, recognizing the crimson banners fluttering in the distance.

They belonged to an elite force, one that stood above all others in the Empire.

"The Red Wing Knights."

The Emperor’s personal guard.

The strongest order of knights in the Empire.

And they were charging toward the battlefield.

"Why the hell are they here!?"

The shock was not exclusive to the allied forces.

King Erich of Krefeld stared in disbelief at the approaching Red Wing Knights, his voice cracking with anger.

"Why has the Imperial Guard ventured all the way to the border!? No, more importantly—how did they get here so quickly!?"

"Your Majesty, this is no time for questions! We must withdraw immediately, before they reach us!"

Erich’s eyes flashed dangerously at the title.

"Your Majesty?"

It had been months since he declared independence, yet they still called him that?

The noble who had spoken paled as he realized his mistake, hastily correcting himself.

"F-Forgive me, Your Highness—I misspoke—"

"No, let it be," Erich muttered, his voice laced with bitter amusement. "For centuries, we’ve been reduced to vassals—trampled underfoot. I suppose old habits die hard."

"That wasn’t what I meant—"

"I am not running."

"Your Highness!"

"Silence!" Erich roared. "The Imperial Guard may be formidable, but they are only a handful of knights! Do you expect me to retreat from a mere squadron!?"

No matter how fearsome their reputation, they were still vastly outnumbered.

Withdrawing now would only fuel rumors that Krefeld had cowered before the Empire’s might. But if he defeated them here, the entire continent would recognize Krefeld’s strength.

"We will crush the Red Wing Knights and capture the First Prince! Ready the troops!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

A surge of confidence spread through Krefeld’s soldiers.

The Red Wing Knights might have been legendary, but Krefeld’s own Royal Guard were among its elite. If the numbers were equal, the outcome might be uncertain—but with more than ten times their forces, how could they possibly lose?

From the front of the Red Wing Knights, a quiet chuckle escaped from beneath a polished helm.

"They actually think they stand a chance? These rebels truly don’t understand their place."

His voice was light with amusement, utterly devoid of concern, despite their overwhelming numerical disadvantage.

"Prepare formation. Activate the Fangs of the Dragon."

A low, resonant hum filled the air.

A faint red haze rippled across the Red Wing Knights in unison, flickering along their armor and weapons. The intricate runes engraved into their steel began to glow—dimly at first, then bright enough to be seen from afar.

And the moment the radiance peaked—

"Charge."

A crimson blaze exploded forward, slicing straight through the heart of Krefeld’s army.

William and the rest of the allied command stood frozen, their mouths slightly open in stunned silence.

Even the most powerful cavalry charge should have lost some momentum upon impact. But the Red Wing Knights tore through the enemy ranks as if they were made of parchment, splitting their formation apart like a blade through flesh.

This was not just overwhelming power. This defied the laws of physics.

"Magic—"

William’s sharp gaze flickered across the battlefield.

It wasn’t a spell cast by a mage—it was engraved into their armor and weapons.

An ancient legacy, said to imbue even ordinary steel with the might of adamantine. Something he had only heard in passing, but seeing an entire knight order wield it? The result was terrifying.

"Now I see why the Imperial Court fears mages so much."

They understood the true potential of magic. And because of that, they feared it more than anyone else.

But this wasn’t just about raw strength. The Red Wing Knights had already turned, preparing for a second charge.

Once again, they tore through Krefeld’s cavalry as if they were nothing.

"This is insane... this is... impossible—!"

Erich barely managed to choke out the words.

He might have understood if this had been infantry crushed beneath superior horsemen. That would have been humiliating, but comprehensible.

But these were cavalry, and yet they were being butchered like foot soldiers.

"Your Majesty, we must retreat! We have to get you out of here—!"

"No... No, this can’t be happening... My elite forces, reduced to nothing...!"

"Forgive my disrespect, Your Majesty—but we must go! Now!"

His closest retainers grabbed him, dragging him from the battlefield as the last remnants of Krefeld’s formation collapsed entirely.

But the Red Wing Knights did not pursue.

As their crimson glow faded, the rippling aura around them vanished into the air.

William narrowed his eyes. So, it doesn’t last long...

It made sense. If such overwhelming magic could be maintained indefinitely, no army in the world could stand against them.

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As the Red Wing Knights reformed, they turned toward the allied army.

Their leader, still clad in full armor, stopped in front of the First Prince—but did not dismount. Instead, he simply removed his helm.

"I’m relieved to see you all safe."

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, the nobles paled, their faces draining of all color.

Bernhardt was the first to react, immediately dropping to his knees.

"Before the Emperor of the Empire, and the rightful heir of the Great Dragon’s bloodline, we humbly offer our greetings!"

"What? The Emperor?"

A ripple of shock ran through the younger nobles and the heirs acting as proxies for their houses.

William was among them.

In all his past lives, he had never once seen the Emperor’s face.

"W-We greet Your Majesty!"

One after another, the imperial nobles fell to their knees.

William followed suit, bowing swiftly.

Only after a long moment did the Emperor dismount, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight.

"We are still at war. Why do you kneel for pleasantries instead of keeping watch? Protocol can wait until we’ve crossed the border. Rise."

The quiet command carried more force than a hundred shouted orders.

One by one, the nobles rose.