Han and Hale led the army as they continued to retreat, and their pace did not slow down even after they had crossed the main battlefield because the danger had not truly passed yet.

The remaining human army moved forward in a long and broken formation, and every step they took carried exhaustion, pain, and loss. Smoke still lingered in the distance, and the faint echoes of battle followed them like a shadow that refused to fade.

Han walked at the front, and his armor was covered in dust and dried blood while his grip on his weapon remained firm. Hale moved beside him, and although his posture was steady, the fatigue in his eyes could not be hidden.

For a while, neither of them spoke, but the silence eventually broke.

"That guy," Han muttered after a long pause, and he let out a breath while shaking his head.

Hale glanced at him and nodded faintly.

"Yeah."

Han rubbed his face and looked ahead at the retreating soldiers who were barely holding themselves together.

"He really held back an entire army... and a Divine Knight..." he said, and disbelief still lingered in his tone.

Hale exhaled slowly.

"He is a menace Han.Don’t compare yourself with him," he added quietly.

For a moment, both of them went silent again as that fact settled deep within them.

Han let out a dry laugh.

"We were worried about him," he said, and there was a hint of self-mockery in his voice.

Hale’s lips curved slightly, but his eyes remained serious.

"Turns out we were the ones being saved."

Behind them, the soldiers moved in scattered groups, and some supported the wounded while others stayed alert with weapons ready. Even though they had escaped, no one truly relaxed.

Han’s expression grew heavier.

"Still, this war..." he muttered.

Hale nodded slowly.

"It’s getting worse."

They had seen it clearly, and the enemies were no longer acting alone.

"Thankfully our rear is protected well..." Han said, trying to sound confident.

Hale gave a faint nod.

"I wonder what will be the next development. Would the Emperor send more troops, or will the conquest be halted?" he asked.

"It might be halted, but it will be very hard to swallow the grievances," Hale replied, and then he closed his lips.

They had marched out with millions of troops in the beginning, but after conquering several provinces and facing continuous battles, the number had dropped to seven hundred thousand, and now only one hundred and fifty thousand had managed to retreat.

Even among them, many were not frontline fighters but support units who handled supplies, medical care, and battlefield cleanup.

A sigh escaped both of them.

They could not help but think about Ethan.

Was he alright?

As for General Aaron, with a Divine Knight appearing on the enemy side, the chances of survival were low.

Even Divine Knights were not invincible.

Those who had seen enough knew the truth.

Only those in the Ascension Realm had true security, and everyone else could fall at any moment.

"Let’s not be sad. I am sure the future will be hopeful," Han said, trying to lift the mood.

Before they could continue a sharp sound cut through the air.

WHOOSH!

Han’s head snapped upward instantly.

"Incoming!"

The next moment, a barrage of projectiles rained down from above.

BOOOOM! BOOOOM!

Explosions erupted across the retreating formation, and the ground shook violently as soldiers were thrown into the air while screams echoed all around.

"AAAHHH!"

"Ambush!"

"Take cover!"

Chaos spread instantly.

Hale turned sharply, and his expression darkened as he looked toward the horizon.

"Beastmen..."

From the hills and surrounding terrain, figures rushed forward rapidly.

Massive bodies covered in fur, sharp claws gleaming, and glowing eyes filled with killing intent.

The Beastman tribe rushed down the trenches trying to surround them.

They did not hesitate, and they charged straight into the weakened human formation while attacking with brutal force.

"Hold the line!" Han shouted as he stepped forward and blocked an incoming strike.

CLANG!

The impact pushed him back slightly, but he stood his ground.

Hale moved immediately, cutting down one Beastman before turning to defend another group.

"Form ranks! Don’t scatter!" he shouted, but his voice struggled to reach everyone in the chaos.

The formation broke apart quickly.

Wounded soldiers fell behind, and others tried to regroup, but the sudden ambush had thrown everything into disorder.

Beastmen roared wildly.

"Kill them!"

"Don’t let them escape!"

Their voices were filled with ferocity, and their attacks were relentless.

Blood spilled everywhere.The retreat had turned into another battlefield.Han gritted his teeth as he fought and glanced around.

"Damn it... what the fuck is going on?"

"Where is the rear guard army? The fuck is Lucien doing!"

"That bastard..."

Hale’s expression hardened as he saw more enemies pouring in.

"They planned this too..."

The realization struck both of them at the same time.

This might be another trap.

And this time, they were already exhausted.

Han and Hale exchanged a brief look, and then they moved forward together, deciding to engage directly and reduce the enemy numbers as quickly as possible.

But just as they stepped forward a voice echoed across the battlefield.

"Where do you think you are going?"

"Do you think you are the only ones?"

The next moment, four figures shot out from the surroundings, and their presence alone caused the air to grow heavy.

Mythic rank.

Han and Hale froze for a fraction of a second, and a chill ran down their spines.

The pressure rose instantly.

The Beastman forces tightened their encirclement, and the human army, already weakened and disorganized, began to crumble under the mounting pressure.

The situation was spiraling out of control once again.And to make it worse,they didn’t have Ethan with them now.

The pressure in the air changed the moment those figures stepped forward, and it was no longer just the weight of battle but something far heavier that pressed down on everyone present.

Han’s grip tightened around his weapon, and his tired eyes sharpened as he sensed it clearly.

"Mythic Knights..." he muttered under his breath.