The Battle at the Blockade

After thinking it over for a long while, Hamilton finally decided that the army would continue advancing sixty li to the southwest the next day. They would then send out scouts to observe the demons' movements and make their next plans once they had a clearer picture of the situation.

Most of the lords agreed with this idea. Only two young nobles, who had inherited their titles not long ago and were eager to seize the chance to make a name for themselves, voiced their dissatisfaction.

But the two of them were outnumbered and had little influence. After a few arguments, they gave up.

The next day, the army broke camp and marched straight toward Dusk City.

Hamilton had thought it impossible to encounter a demon army near the Agma Hills, but the situation turned out somewhat differently.

The army had advanced less than forty li when it ran straight into a small group of rebels and a large force of demons.

According to the scouts, there were fewer than two hundred rebels, fleeing north in a sorry state. They were covered in blood and had clearly been through a brutal battle.

There were more than ten thousand demons, over eighty percent of them cannon fodder. They trailed behind the rebels in scattered groups.

If the scouts' report was accurate, the rebels had fought the demon army and, after being defeated, were now trying to retreat north to Marseille Fort.

Two hundred rebels and nearly ten thousand demons?

The lords and nobles were thrilled when they heard the news. They had nearly thirty thousand troops now—how could they pass up a chance to earn glory?

Before Hamilton could issue an order, the young Earl Richard rode out with his men and requested permission to fight. "I'll take my men to