Hammond decided to take the initiative, and the order to attack was issued.
The War Elephant Legion was the Holy See's trump card. Moreover, the elephants were in poor physical condition, so they were not committed to battle at the start.
The regular army went out first. Infantry advanced, cavalry swept around the flanks, and archers provided support. The Holy See's tactics were very traditional.
Gabella first sent out cavalry to deal with the Holy See cavalry attacking from the side. The cavalry of both sides became entangled in a chaotic melee, dust billowing as they fought fiercely and evenly.
A short while later, the Holy See infantry attacking from the front drew close to the Gabellan formation.
The crossbowmen in the imperial army raised the strange crossbows in their hands, seemingly intending to use ranged fire to slow the Holy See army's advance.
The soldiers on the Holy See's side had plenty of experience with this. They raised their shields one after another to cover their fronts. This was an effective method of countering ranged bow and crossbow fire. Even longbowmen on the other side could not easily pierce the thick shields in their hands.
Webster, the Holy See's deputy commander, frowned sharply as he watched from behind. He saw that the robed figures interspersed among the crossbowmen in the local army formation suddenly raised their wooden staffs as well. The red crystals set into the staffs seemed to have grown even more vivid.
An ominous premonition rapidly swelled in Webster's heart.
He instinctively touched the amulet hanging against his chest, wanting to pray to the Heavenly Father.
When Webster raised the amulet, he suddenly froze. Cold sweat broke out all over his body.
The amulet had already turned pitch-black, as though it had been soaked in ink.
A