On the way here, Taipal had already learned from Colonel Fraser's warning that the Pioneer Legion soldiers stationed here might have suffered heavy losses. But it wasn't until he heard the report from the student players who had reached the battlefield ahead of them that he realized just how serious the situation was.
The battle had only been going for two hours, right?
How had they already lost four-fifths of their soldiers?
Even if most of the defenders had been rookies, Taipal couldn't imagine their casualties being this high. What astonished the new-player village chief even more was the soldiers' fighting spirit.
"They're not players. They only have one life, yet they're still fighting with casualties this bad? Damn, there's something strange about the Pioneer Legion."
As his horse galloped, Taipal pieced together what they knew so far and spoke to his colleague, Uncle Fuding, through a whisper channel.
"If this is the kind of enemy the Bosia Confederacy had to face in the Ten-Year War, then I can understand why Transia lost despite its people being so fiercely warlike. Just thinking about having to fight opponents like these in the future gives me a headache."
"Don't worry. This definitely isn't normal."
Uncle Fuding was older, after all, and remained composed.
He replied with the air of a seasoned general.
"I don't think they didn't want to run. I think they had no way to break out. The gnolls have surrounded the area with their skeleton army. No matter which way the soldiers fled, they'd only end up captured. And the Pioneer Legion is strictly disciplined. They're the last defenders of Banks City. If they ran, the city would be done for.
"With all three factors combined, it's no wonder they're fighting such a brutal delaying action. Still, these losses