Sauron's Retreat: The First Battle Victory
"Fire!"
Karl's roar exploded above the musket array!
The four Firearm squad, totaling forty Musketeers and forty muskets, which had been ready to fire, pulled the triggers almost simultaneously!
"Bang! Bang bang bang bang!!!"
A deafening roar violently tore through the air once more! Forty blinding orange-red tongues of fire spewed from the muzzles, instantly forming a deadly net of fire!
Thick smoke billowed up like a solid wall, almost completely obscuring the entire formation!
The deadly volley of lead bullets swept across the short distance of a few dozen steps at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, crashing heavily into the group of Sauron Berserker who had just broken through the defenses and were now indiscriminately hacking and slashing!
"Pfft! Pfft! Clang! Crack!"
A series of chilling, mixed sounds suddenly erupted!
The lead bullets struck the thick plate armor, producing a piercing metallic twisting and cracking sound!
Even the fine plate armor that the Sauron were so proud of was utterly ineffective against the high-speed lead bullets fired from muskets at such close range!
The armor plates were easily pierced, torn, and deformed!
The bullet pierced the flesh, drawing out a cloud of blood and fragments of shattered internal organs!
"Ugh--!"
"My armor...!"
"No--!"
Screams and incredulous exclamations instantly drowned out the noise of the battlefield!
The once invincible Sauron Berserker were struck as if by an invisible giant hammer, and more than ten of them fell instantly!
Some had huge bloody holes exploded in their chests, some had their helmets blown off and their brains splattered, and some had their limbs broken by the violent kinetic energy, screaming and rolling on the ground!
Tokel felt a sudden jolt beside him, and warm, sticky liquid splashed all over his face!
He turned his head in horror and saw that his comrade-in-arms, who was wearing the heaviest full plate armor and was known for his strength, had a hole the size of a bowl in his chest, and blood was gushing out like a fountain!
The comrade looked down at his wound in disbelief, a hissing sound coming from his throat, before his heavy body collapsed to the ground, splashing up a cloud of muddy blood!
Even a seasoned veteran like Tokel, who had seen countless battles and was used to death, felt a chill run down his spine and felt terrified when faced with such an efficient and brutal method of slaughter as a volley of musket fire!
This is not a duel between warriors, this is blatant destruction!
But he was, after all, a seasoned veteran who had survived countless battles. He quickly recovered from his shock and knew that fear was useless at this moment. His only hope for survival was to escape the deadly range of fire immediately!
"Retreat! Retreat quickly! Raise your shields to protect your back!" he roared hoarsely, simultaneously raising his massive shield to protect his vitals, and staggering yet incredibly fast, retreating towards the gap he had come from!
Invag, who was in command at the rear, watched helplessly as his most valuable Berserker fell like wheat under the volley of musket fire, and his heart ached so much that it almost bled!
Each of these Berserker is an absolute core member of the legion, cultivated with enormous resources, and is the foundation of Invag's status and influence in the military!
With such a huge loss at once, he simply won't be able to explain himself to the Corps Commander and Leader Harald when he gets back!
An overwhelming sense of regret welled up inside me.
He regretted not heeding the warning unease in his heart, and regretted not decisively ordering the Berserker to support the light infantry's orderly retreat after the failed probing. Instead, he was blinded by anger and greed, and ordered a full-scale attack, which resulted in sending his precious elite troops into the enemy's carefully prepared death trap!
"It's over...it's all over..." Invag's face turned deathly pale; he finally understood everything.
The Broomflower Guard and their meticulously constructed defenses were a tough nut to crack that his mixed force, lacking offensive capabilities, could not possibly break through in a single day!
He abruptly turned to look at Unag not far away, and found that the other man's face was also ashen, and his eyes were extremely solemn, clearly having reached the same conclusion.
Their eyes met, and they instantly reached a tacit understanding.
"Sound the bugle! Retreat! Retreat the entire army!" Invag practically gritted his teeth, squeezing out this humiliating but unavoidable order from deep within his throat.
"Waaaaah--waaaah--"
The low, urgent sound of retreating horns finally replaced the fervor of the attack, echoing mournfully through the Sauron Army.
"Retreat! Alternate cover! Retreat quickly!" The frontline officers shouted the orders at the top of their lungs.
The Sauron Berserker, caught in a riot of gunfire and panic, were granted a pardon.
Tokel and the surviving veterans suppressed their fear and shame, demonstrating the qualities expected of an elite force.
Instead of scattering, they quickly rallied, using their giant shields to protect their rear, maintaining a relatively intact formation, and began to painstakingly and gradually disengage.
Brendan was experienced and knew the principle of not pursuing a defeated enemy, especially when facing these well-equipped and well-organized Berserker. A rash pursuit would only cause unnecessary casualties.
He decisively ordered the pikemen to hold their ground, clear out the remaining enemy forces that had stormed into the position, and reinforce the defensive line.
But he would never let the enemy retreat so easily!
"Musketeers! Front rank, loaded! Aim—fire!"
"Back row! Aim—fire!"
Taking advantage of the perfect opportunity presented by the retreat of the Sauron Berserker, their slowed pace, and their backs to their own side, the Musketeers unleashed two more deadly volleys!
Lead bullets mercilessly pierced the Sauron ranks from behind, causing casualties among more than ten Berserker before finally forcing them to retreat in disarray from the effective range of the muskets.
Meanwhile, on the west side of the defensive line, the battle for that small stone fortress had entered its most brutal and bloody stage!
Sauron's two hundred infantrymen, relying on their numerical advantage and bravery, successfully breached the outer defenses of the fortress after suffering heavy losses!
The banners of the Broomflower had long been cut down, and in the courtyards and lower corridors of the fortress, soldiers from both sides were engaged in a fierce battle, fighting for every room, every corridor, and every staircase!
In the confined space, long weapons were difficult to maneuver, and the battle turned into the most primitive close-quarters combat and hand-to-hand fighting!
Roars, the dull thuds of swords piercing flesh, the wails of the dying, and the sounds of corpses falling echoed and amplified between the stone walls.
Every inch of land was fought for, stained with blood; behind every door, a deadly battle could erupt.
The Sauron soldier charged upstairs in a frenzy, while the defenders fought desperately, relying on the corners of the stairs and the doors and windows of the rooms.
Often, a Sauron soldier would be pierced by several spears thrusting from different directions as soon as he charged up the stairs, while a defender would be struck in the eye by a stray arrow as soon as he revealed himself to throw a stone...
Just as the attacking Sauron infantry sensed the defenders' strength waning and the tide of victory beginning to turn in their favor, poised to completely capture the bloodied fortress—
The bugle call to retreat sounded like a bucket of ice water being poured over one's head, echoing mournfully from the direction of the main position!
"What? Retreat? We're about to take it!" a blood-covered Sauron Army roared in frustration.
But orders are orders! Despite their reluctance, the bloodthirsty Sauron infantry had no choice but to try to escape the quagmire of close-quarters combat and retreat out of the fortress at great risk.
The fortress defenders, who had been struggling and suffering heavy casualties, would not let go of this opportunity for a desperate counterattack!
"They've retreated! Fight your way out! Drive them back! For Carnford! Kill!" the garrison commander cried out hoarsely, but with unwavering hope.
The surviving Broomflower defenders, like wounded beasts, unleashed their last ounce of ferocity and courage, charging wildly at the retreating enemy from the rooms, the stairs, and every corner!
Swords slashed down from behind, piercing the necks of Sauron soldier, while spears pinned enemies retreating to the doorway to the frame!
Several panicked Sauron soldier were even pushed off the ramparts of the city wall, falling with shrill screams into the rubble below!
The Sauron ' retreat instantly turned into a catastrophic rout!
Under the defenders' fierce counterattack, they left behind dozens more corpses before finally escaping the stone fortress that had swallowed countless lives in a sorry state.
A blood-soaked Broomflower soldier struggled to climb to the highest watchtower of the fortress, picked up the Broomflower banner that had been cut down and stained with blood, and with all his might, planted it back on the crenellation!
The tattered yet still fluttering flag seemed to proclaim a partial victory in this fierce defensive battle!
"Long live! Long live Carnford!!"
"We held on! We held on!!"
Inside and outside the fortress, all the surviving Broomflower defenders, seeing the flag raised again, erupted in a deafening cheer, a mixture of relief, exhaustion, and ecstasy!
Although his voice was hoarse, it was full of indomitable will and the pride of victory!