Chapter 250
Demacia is also ready to launch its first cavalry charge.
After about five minutes of preparation time, a war drum resounded through the sky.
"Charge--!" Thousands of cavalrymen charged forward, and the earth trembled.
Countless shield infantrymen began to advance, followed by the siege squads, and then the ranged units behind them all drew their bows.
Once the Demacia cavalry entered firing range, the Noxus soldiers on the city walls began their first round of "purge".
Heavy crossbows capable of wounding dragons fired at the cavalry regiment, while a barrage of ordinary arrows and magical bombardments continuously attacked the melee units further back.
In an instant, blood splattered across the earth.
The neighing of warhorses mingled with the wails of soldiers, and corpses pierced by crossbow bolts stood on the ground like some kind of religious statue, a scene of extreme bloodshed.
The Demacia soldiers drew their Petricite, but most of them were hit head-on by area-of-effect magic before they even reached the city walls. Even those who didn't die lost an arm or a leg, and their painful cries echoed throughout the city.
Driven by a thirst for blood and battle, Darius led several small squads of the Trifarix Legion toward the enemy. Though surrounded, they held their own, displaying a skill akin to "taking the enemy general's head from the midst of a thousand soldiers."
In just the first direct confrontation, the Demacia army suffered heavy losses.
Seeing this Tianna was stationed at the rear, gritted her teeth and prepared to send out a second legion to launch an attack.
But at that moment, she suddenly experienced a blackout – yes, a physical blackout.
She suddenly felt as if she had been plunged into darkness, as if the sun had been plucked from the sky.
Just as she thought there was something wrong with her eyes, she heard the surprised exclamations of countless soldiers—she realized that everyone had gone blind.
It felt like it had suddenly gotten to midnight.
It was so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
But what about the Noxus army...?
They seemed unaffected.
Darius suddenly stopped his killing spree and stood still for a moment, lost in thought.
Then, he loudly issued a second order, "Capture all Demacia soldiers alive on the battlefield!"
He understood why the Demacia suddenly seemed to go blind—in fact, they were also affected to some extent, feeling that the surroundings had become much darker, but not to the point of being completely blind.
He knew whose handiwork it was... This dark and eerie magic was mentioned in the letter.
This is Mr. Chen Ce's intention.
"Those who disobey will be beheaded on the spot! Those who surrender will be captured alive!"
After capturing Fossbarrow, Ashe and Sejuani originally planned to continue south and conquer other towns, but plans seem to have changed.
They spent two days sorting through their "spoils" in Fossbarrow and were preparing to continue their journey when scouts brought urgent intelligence that a large Demacia army was rapidly approaching.
According to intelligence from scouts, the leading general is named "Garen Crownguard," which is the same name Chen Ce mentioned in his previous letter.
The general named Garen did not immediately start fighting. Instead, he cautiously sent a message first, seemingly indicating his intention to negotiate.
But...
Why negotiate?
"That's quite a number..." Ashe gazed at the approaching Demacia army with her extraordinary eyesight, marveling at the sheer number of soldiers covering the hillsides.
Although reluctant to admit it, their marching skills were indeed far superior to those of the Freljord Alliance warriors... Their army was well-organized, with very clear boundaries and functional divisions between different troop types, making them a pleasing sight to behold.
In contrast, the warriors of the Freljord Alliance were less organized—one might even say somewhat chaotic? But there was no way around it; after all, they hadn't worked together for very long and hadn't received any systematic military training before.
But it's not a big problem.
Because the warriors of Freljord possess stronger physiques and an even more unbreakable will.
The harsh winters and blizzards of Freljord couldn't defeat them, so why should they fear those Demacia who only train in their ivory towers?
Moreover, the numbers on both sides are not even in the same order of magnitude.
The Demacia army is indeed numerous, but compared to the Freljord Alliance, which numbers tens of thousands... well, it's only a fraction of their size.
They are stronger in individual combat and outnumber them several times over. So what if they are slightly inferior strategically?
This was destined to be a war with no suspense whatsoever.
"No negotiations, let's prepare for war." Sejuani waved her hand, ordering her warriors to burn the negotiation letter sent by Demacia.
Ashe, standing to the side, had no objections, only adding, "Don't mention Chen Ce's name to those Demacia, otherwise it's up to you."
"Yes!" An Iceborn bowed deeply and then quickly descended the city wall.
Below the city walls lies their "ultimate weapon" --
Thousands upon thousands of hungry, giant ice beasts.
Lissandra's generous sponsorship.
The Demacia cavalrymen were as insignificant as livestock in their presence.
Once these icy behemoths are released, the warriors probably won't need to lift a finger.
"I just hope they'll surrender soon..." Ashe yawned lazily, completely disregarding this sure-win war.
"Chen Ce would rather have prisoners of war than corpses."
Late at night, Tianna's army began to rest, and those terrible Noxus mercifully did not pursue them out of the city.
The makeshift camp had nearly ten thousand brightly lit tents, but the deathly silence in the air was particularly pronounced.
Nobody wanted to talk anymore.
The soldiers' initial ambition and lofty aspirations were completely shattered in the first round of combat.
The cavalry regiment and the first shield line were completely wiped out... The ranged units didn't inflict much damage on those damned Noxus either... The casualty ratio was over ten...
This was almost a foregone conclusion... the soldiers of Demacia were destined to lose...
When dawn breaks, will they willingly throw their lives away or wait for the Noxus to arrive? The first round of fighting resulted in the loss of nearly a fifth of their forces; what about the second?
I don't even dare to think about a third round... because there might not even be a third round at all...
That's terrifying... those bloodthirsty Noxus...
Besides...
The terrifying dark magic that suddenly made all Demacia soldiers "blind"...
That one move... wiped out the first wave of charging soldiers instantly...
The battle, which had initially held some hope, became a foregone conclusion after that dark magic spell...
They were already outnumbered and outgunned by the enemy, and now the enemy possessed terrifying, almost divinely inspired black magic... How were they supposed to fight them...?
An atmosphere of despair permeated the Demacia camp.
Grand Marshal Tianna was equally heavy-hearted.
She sat in the tent with her brows furrowed, racking her brains but unable to come up with any brilliant plan to win—not even a way to get through the next morning.
She already has plans to withdraw her troops immediately.
But if that were to happen... it would be tantamount to handing over the eastern half of Demacia. Such a policy of "non-resistance and inaction" would severely damage morale, not to mention public opinion...
But... if we don't retreat, are we just going to throw our lives away in vain?
No... no... no...
"Gods, what should I do...?"
In this desperate moment of being caught between a rock and a hard Tianna, who had never believed in gods, could only pray to the heavens.
She closed her eyes, reflecting on everything that had happened over the past few weeks... Even now, she still couldn't understand how things had come to this.
Did it begin with the wizards' rebellion? Or with that damned Eldred's unauthorized actions?
Or... should we start by offending Chen Ce?
Why is that...?
Why would Noxus and Freljord suddenly join forces to attack Demacia...?
Tianna is on the verge of a breakdown.
But the next piece of information completely devastated her—
A trusted aide strode into the tent, his voice equally somber as he slowly reported, "The wyvern riders have brought urgent intelligence... the army led by the Garen Swordmaster has suffered a crushing defeat..."
Tianna waited in a daze for a long time, but nothing followed after the words "utter defeat".
This means...
Demacia has suffered a complete defeat...
After the report was finished, the confidant quietly left, and the lonely night became the last straw that broke the camel's back.
Tianna slumped back in her chair, feeling a sudden wave of dizziness... After a long while, she let out a heavy sigh.
She has decided to withdraw her troops.
If we don't go back soon... not only will Fossbarrow and the eastern territories be lost... but Great City might be difficult to defend...
Now we're starting to gather all the troops; who knows...
Perhaps we can still preserve a Great City...
At least...
At least the country won't perish...
At least the country won't perish in its own hands...
"Gods... please guide me..."
Tianna stood up with a look of despair on her face, her whole being radiating deep exhaustion.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the most desperate thing in the world; there is only something more desperate.
Chen Ce suddenly appeared in her tent—standing right in front of her.
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency Grand Marshal, but this time the gods are probably not on your side."
"Chen Ce..." Tianna no longer had the strength to be angry; she could only shake her head bitterly. "May the angels protect Demacia..."
"No, the angels are on my side." Chen Ce smiled.
Then he drew a long sword from his waist.
A golden holy sword, radiating an aura of majesty that compels mortals to kneel in reverence.
Tianna.
But it looked very familiar... She began to recall... from an ancient book she had read in her childhood...
She finally remembered a portrait.
The origins of the two Kayle... they originated from a divine sword that fell from the sky... that sword, upon landing in Demacia, immediately split in two, with each of the two Kayle wielding one...
That sacred aura... yes...
Yes...
That is...
The one in front of me...
"Looks like you've already guessed it? Not bad, saves me the trouble of explaining it again." Chen Ce smiled and released the divine sword from his hand. Its sharpness caused it to fall freely to the ground and pierce directly into the earth.
"The Kayle Kayle and Morgana have given me their swords... Yes, they are on my side."
"..." These words made Tianna immediately close her eyes.
A moment later, she collapsed suddenly as if all her strength had been drained away—kneeling on both knees.
Her haughty demeanor finally crumbled at this moment, and she became as humble as a pitiful slave.
Without a word, she began to remove her armor, until she was left with only a close-fitting corset.
Just like last time.