After The Battle

The battle ended, and Ange stood in place, leaning on his shield and gasping for breath. They had fought from night until morning, and the Foul Spirits' reinforcements had also been annihilated. Ange was drenched in the Foul Spirits' black and red blood, mixed with his own crimson stains. His iron armor was covered in deep dents, a testament to the battle's ferocity and brutality.

Ange was utterly exhausted, his Qi force nearly depleted. Each breath felt like it took all his strength, his chest heaving violently. His arms trembled, barely able to support the heavy shield and sword. His weary eyes scanned the battlefield, filled with the corpses of his comrades and Foul Spirits.

Images of his fallen teammates flashed through Ange's mind, his heart heavy with grief and a profound sense of helplessness. He knew that his survival was nothing short of a miracle.

In the distance, the first light of dawn began to spread across the battlefield, dispelling the darkness of the night. Ange felt a glimmer of hope. Though his body was at its limit, he mustered his last ounce of strength to stand firm.

Slowly, other surviving warriors began to gather, equally scarred but with resilience and defiance in their eyes.

Commanders quickly issued orders for the Cavalry Regiment and two other Infantry Regiments on standby to immediately form new defensive lines, anticipating further enemy attacks. Warriors from the Logistics Regiment became busy, carefully carrying the wounded back to the encampment with swift and orderly movements.

On the battlefield, warriors from the Logistics Regiment also had to eliminate any remaining enemies. Any Foul Spirits not yet dead were dispatched without hesitation, ensuring no threat remained. Those comrades still alive were assigned escorts back to the encampment for emergency treatment.

Ange, completely spent, was finally placed on a stretcher after the battle. His comrades carefully carried him, his consciousness fading, the world around him becoming increasingly blurred. Eventually, Ange succumbed to exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.

While Ange rested, the Logistics Regiment swiftly cleared the battlefield. The Foul Spirits' corpses were all burned on-site, while the human warriors' bodies were identified one by one and then cremated together, their ashes collected.

The battle report was quickly compiled. Nearly 3,000 Foul Spirits were eliminated, but the human warriors paid a heavy price. Over 1,500 warriors were killed in action, and more than 1,000 were incapacitated due to injuries. Over 1,000 more were severely wounded and temporarily unable to fight.

Among those incapacitated, many suffered severe physical damage and struggled to survive on the battlefield. With extremely rudimentary medical conditions on the front lines, it was estimated that many critically injured warriors would not make it. To make the report appear less grim, these critically endangered warriors were not counted among the deceased, despite their slim chances of survival.

While such numbers could temporarily mask some of the brutal truth, every commander knew in their hearts that these sacrifices and pains were real. Behind every name was a living soul and a warrior's dream. These figures also served as a wake-up call to the commanders, reminding them that future battles must be more cautious and meticulously planned.

Soon, the battle report was submitted to the Duchy and the military headquarters.

After this engagement, the Foul Spirits became even more wary of humans and temporarily ceased their attacks.

The human commanders decided to withdraw the frontline back to the canyon entrance, as it was easier to defend. Effective defenses could not be established in the open plains.

Ange awoke from his stupor. The Logistics Regiment warrior tending to him quickly handed him a cup of water. Ange took it, feeling as if he had found an oasis in a desert, and drank greedily until his body was sufficiently rehydrated before slowly stopping.

Ange took a few breaths and asked the warrior about the aftermath of the battle. The warrior shook his head, stating he wasn't aware of the specifics. Seeing this, Ange didn't press further, understanding that everyone was busy and information might not be transmitted promptly.

He looked down at himself, noticing that the bloodstains had been wiped away, though some stubborn smudges remained on his skin and in the crevices of his armor. He understood that in these conditions, no one would have the time or energy to give him a thorough cleaning. He silently accepted this reality and nodded gratefully to the warrior.

Looking around, Ange saw many equally exhausted and wounded comrades receiving basic treatment and rest under limited conditions.

During his unconsciousness, Ange's Qi force had recovered somewhat. He sat up on the bed and began to meditate, controlling the Qi force within his body to restore it.

With each circulation of Qi, Ange's body gradually recovered.

Once he felt no discomfort, Ange got out of bed and headed towards the mess hall. His first priority was to fill his stomach.

Ange ate four whole loaves of bread, a whole piece of meat, and a large bowl of soup.

Full and satisfied, Ange stretched, feeling a long-lost sense of contentment. He decided to visit the various infirmary tents to find his comrades, especially Jada. He hadn't noticed their condition during the battle, which filled him with worry.

Ange's 36th Infantry Regiment was one of the hardest-hit units. Under the fierce onslaught of the Foul Spirits, many comrades who had not reached Level 1 Warrior status couldn't withstand the attacks. Even those who survived were mostly severely wounded. The vast majority of warriors had their arms torn off or suffered other serious physical injuries.

Entering the infirmary tents one by one, Ange witnessed a scene of devastation. Comrades lay on makeshift beds, some unconscious, others enduring excruciating pain, while medical personnel did their best to treat each wounded soldier. Ange's heart was filled with mixed emotions as he searched for familiar faces. Finally, in a corner, he found Jada.

Jada's right arm was heavily bandaged, clearly a severe injury, but he was conscious. Seeing Ange approach, Jada managed a weak smile. Ange tightly gripped Jada's left hand, feeling his comrade's strength and resilience.

"Are you alright, Jada?" Ange asked softly, his voice full of concern.

"Still alive, that's good enough," Jada replied weakly. "How about you, Ange? I heard you fought fiercely."

Ange nodded, a flicker of determination in his eyes. "We all have to endure. There's still much to do." He knew these words were not just for Jada, but for himself as well.

They held hands in silence, as if conveying their mutual strength and hope through this simple gesture.

Not seeing any other comrades, Ange anxiously asked Jada about their condition. Jada's expression turned grave as he told Ange that the 36th Regiment had suffered heavy losses in this battle and the Regiment Commander had decided to retreat once reinforcements from other infantry regiments arrived.

Ange was surprised. "They're going to retreat on their own initiative? Will the commanders agree to that?"

Jada explained, "Each infantry regiment is jointly controlled by the Duchy and the Regiment Commander. The Commander has significant autonomy. Moreover, the 36th Regiment's achievements in recent battles have satisfied the Commander. He believes we need to preserve our strength for future engagements. The warriors of the 36th Regiment also support the Commander's decision."

Ange somewhat understood why the warriors supported it. After listening to Jada, he realized the entire 36th Regiment was now less than half its full strength.

Ange nodded thoughtfully, his initial surprise gradually replaced by understanding. He realized that as an infantry regiment commander, one had to make difficult trade-offs between preserving the lives of soldiers and continuing to execute missions.

What Ange didn't know was that the 36th Infantry Regiment was established with Richard, the Regiment Commander's, own funds. The Duchy provided logistics, but all the soldiers' equipment and pay were covered by Richard. With such heavy casualties, withdrawing promptly was the wisest choice.

Especially since, during this period, the 36th Infantry Regiment had earned over 3,000 military merits. According to the Duchy's merit system, Richard's noble rank and fief could be elevated by one level. As per regulations, only two-thirds of the magic crystals obtained in battle needed to be submitted, allowing Richard to keep 1,000 magic crystals. This 1,000 magic crystals was a considerable profit. After paying compensation to the fallen soldiers and replenishing new personnel, a significant amount would remain.

For Richard, this support mission had far exceeded his expectations. Not only had his infantry regiment preserved its strength, but it had also gained higher status and more resources within the Duchy. In this situation, withdrawing was not only about preserving his unit's strength but also about better capitalizing on future opportunities.

Ange was unaware of these internal details, only feeling the impact of Regiment Commander Richard's decision. However, through Jada's account, he gradually understood the deeper reasons behind the retreat. This gave him a deeper understanding and respect for his commander. He knew that in war, every decision required balancing multiple interests, and Richard had clearly achieved this.