An Unexpected Clash

The cold wind howled, swirling up bursts of snowflakes.

The vast wilderness was gradually covered in white, and under the cover of wind and snow, the distant mountain peaks could only be vaguely seen in outline.

The Anzeta Great Wasteland, known as the "Land of Extreme Cold," has finally entered its long and cruel winter. At this time, all living things on this barren land are doing their best to survive.

The climate in the the North is always so unpredictable; the wind and snow soon dissipated, leaving only a blanket of frost on the ground.

On the snow-covered road, thousands of soldiers were making their way forward with difficulty, wrapped in thin cotton-padded clothes, like a black river in a white world, leaving a long trail in the thick snow.

"Quick! Everyone behind, keep up!"

"Let's hurry on our way while the weather is good!"

Viscount Faruq Edson, riding his horse, brandished his whip and shouted at his men.

He was also a nobleman belonging to the Bosque Duchy, and at the request of Grand Duke Leo, he led his family's private army to the battlefield.

However, he did not bring many knights with him, but instead brought a lot of serfs of varying quality as cannon fodder. Knights were the foundation of their family's existence, so how could they be easily wasted?

Looking down at the thick snow at his feet, Viscount Faruq couldn't help but spit and complain:

"Damn this weather."

"I don't know what Grand Duke Leo is thinking, to start a war at this time."

The decision to start the war at the onset of winter was made by the Northern Nobles of the "Anti-Red Dragon Alliance" after much discussion.

Many in the Embers of the Burned Kingdom's army have the blood of a fiery Red Dragon flowing through their veins. However, in the cold climate of Anzeta, their vitality is greatly reduced, and they may even suffer casualties as a result. The tenacious Scania People seem to be able to endure the cold winter better, which is why Grand Duke Leo calls it the "Winter Offensive".

The noble armies from all over the the North began to mobilize, gathering at the borders of the Bosque Duchy, the Fano Duchy, and the Embers of the Burned Kingdom, preparing for a desperate battle against the evil Red Dragon Kingdom. However, these nobles claimed to be "giving it their all," but how much they could actually contribute was unknown.

For example, the Edson Family sent their neglected second son and assigned him a ragtag army.

What is that?

Faruq looked up and saw several blurry black dots in the sky.

The squire beside him suddenly changed his expression, as if he had remembered some terrible rumors.

"My lord, it might be... yes, the Red Scale Conqueror."

"How is that possible!"

Faruq was immediately filled with fear and trembled all over.

He only wanted to earn some merit on the battlefield, and he would consider it a success if he could reach the garrison and send these cannon fodder to the battlefield. He never expected to encounter such danger! The reputation of the Red Scale Conqueror had spread far and wide in the the North. It was said that they were a group of monsters riding Wyvern, who would come with a terrible dragon roar, bringing fire and death to their enemies.

The squire reminded him, "Sir, they seem to be just scouts."

"Ah, that must be it. These Red Scale Conqueror are not targeting us."

Faruq wiped the sweat from his brow and forced a smile as he spoke.

Those few small black dots actually flew overhead, hovering in the air, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

"Phew, thank goodness."

"My mission is accomplished once I get these cannon fodder to the front lines."

We'll be there soon.

Faruq murmured to himself in a voice only he could hear, constantly praying to the gods in his heart.

Once they pass through the pass ahead, they will soon reach their destination, where he can stay in the safest tent and finally relax completely.

However, reality is often not as we wish.

"Buzz—"

All that could be heard was a piercing shriek from above.

Faruq looked up in panic, his eyes filled with fear of the unknown, and saw metal spheres falling from the sky.

What is that?

"It's going to fall!"

"Get out of my way, don't block my way!"

"Do you want to die?"

His "army" was thrown into chaos. These cowardly and fearful people crowded together, making a ruckus and even causing a stampede. It is unknown how many lives were lost in the chaotic crowd.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, with a thunderous sound, the metal spheres exploded in mid-air.

Clusters of flames fell from the sky, like a divine punishment of "fire rain".

The firelight was reflected in Faruq's pupils, and he murmured to himself:

"O gods!"

After the metal sphere slowly landed, a massive fire engulfed everything.

Everywhere there were cries of agony and screams. The cotton-padded clothes of the soldiers were on fire, and even those who managed to escape had no will to fight anymore.

This is the latest achievement of the Armory of the Embers of the Burned Kingdom — the Incendiary Bomb, which can cause great damage to the enemy. However, this inhumane method has been condemned by some scholars in the country.

After a round of Incendiary Bomb bombing, the soldiers were fleeing in all directions.

Faruq was lucky; he managed to remove and discard his burning clothes in time, surviving the "rain of fire," and fled towards his destination on his terrified horse.

"Damn it, what a terrible enemy."

We must get out of here!

However, just as he was about to pass through the pass, the mottled current and countless murky eyes appeared before him, and a noisy sound like barking dogs arose—it was the army of Kobold.

"Aww~~"

The largest and most Dragonification Degree Kobold leader let out a howl, his head thrown back. He was Gold Tooth's thirty-third child, though considering Gold Tooth's womanizing ways, his birth order might be even lower. However, he was clearly not highly regarded and was assigned to lead a cannon fodder legion.

"They're just a bunch of Kobold."

"They can't catch me."

Faced with the menacing Kobold, driven by a strong will to survive, Faruq suddenly pulled on the reins and, with a riding skill he could hardly do under normal circumstances, abruptly turned his horse around.

But the Kobold behind them let out sinister laughs, raised their worn-out muskets, smeared some oil from the ammunition packets, and loaded them in.

"Bang!"

"Bang! Bang!"

Amidst the chaotic gunfire, wisps of smoke rose from the muzzles of the guns.

These Kobold were not well-trained, and their outdated firearms were inaccurate, often sending bullets flying everywhere.

However, their advantage lay in their sheer numbers. Dozens of muskets fired simultaneously, managing to hit Faruq three or four times from a hundred meters away, riddling his back with bullets and causing him to fall from his horse and roll several times on the ground.

Even in death, the viscount could not understand why he had been killed by a group of Kobold from a distance of over 100 meters.

"I killed him!"

"A Kobold said excitedly."

"Get out of here! I was the one who killed him! I shot him in the heart!"

Another Kobold shoved him and cursed disdainfully.

And so, the Kobold wrestled together, emitting angry barks like dogs.

Finally, the tall, strong Kobold stepped forward, lifted the Kobold up with one hand, and stared at them with a sinister grin.

"Now, do you know who killed this Human Noble?"

"Of course it's you."

The Kobold curled up and answered weakly.