It's five o'clock in the morning and it's still dark. The troops, reserves and religious forces in the central position were all defeated. Some of the infantry, cavalry and artillery columns that remained organized broke through the blockade, passed near Teutoburg, and retreated to the towns to the south. They threw all kinds of useless things into the fire to form roadblocks. The thick smoke irritated people's eyes and also caused a lot of trouble for the enemy's pursuit.
It was very cold at this time and it was dark everywhere. The officers hurriedly drank tea and had breakfast, and the soldiers chewed dry bread, stamped their feet hurriedly, gathered opposite the bonfire to keep warm, and then put away the remaining documents, cargo sheds, tables and chairs, wheels, and barrels, everything that could not be Everything he took with him that he didn't need was thrown into the wood pile and burned together.
Griffith gathered around more than 3,000 people from more than 100 different units, with few seriously wounded and no senior troops. After repelling Beamon, the orc army that intercepted them was stunned and unable to stop them from retreating south. They retreated along the road to the west, and the main force led by the prince and several other defeated armies retreated to the south on different roads.
Ace and Desai, who were sent out for reconnaissance earlier, also had to come back and join together. Together with a large group of retreating cultists, they were attracted by the faint signs and found their way back.
The two fronts of the Clan Alliance have merged and used all available troops to pursue the retreating Bajeran army.
Several small enemy units kept interspersing and outflanking the rear of Beyelan's army, preparing to block the retreat. For a while, Griffith saw an enemy army marching parallel to them a few hundred meters away, but the two sides did not attack each other and moved southward in eerie silence.
Griffith led the cavalry squadron to the rear and ordered everyone to march quickly, preparing to cross the river before the enemy, find a favorable terrain to set up camp, or retreat to Odessa.
On the second day, that is, at dusk, some scattered people escaped and joined together. Nearby towns also received news of the defeat, and many refugees suddenly appeared on the already chaotic roads.
No one could find anything to eat. The military supplies have been lost, and only the remaining biscuits and dried fruits are supported. There should be food in the nearby towns, but most of the food had been taken away or buried by the refugees, and a hasty search only found a small amount of rations.
There were also rows of large cars blocking the road. The wealthy local squire wanted to escape with his property, but the road was blocked tightly.
…
On the third day of the defeat, the entire northern part of Odessa was in decay. According to some soldiers who escaped from the central front, the situation there was even worse. The main force of the clan alliance pursued the prince and General Maximus closely, without giving them any time to establish their positions.
Under such circumstances, the defeated troops on each road did not dare to stop, lest nearby friendly troops would retreat if they stopped, which would expose their flanks and be surrounded by the enemy.
The correct plan should be to order a part of the army to counterattack, regardless of the cost, to buy time for the army to regroup and for reinforcements to arrive. But the question is, who will do it? Anyway, I won’t go.
Griffith walked towards Krista's tent carrying a small bowl of oatmeal that he finally found. He has already given everyone a chance to break through, so there is no need to push himself every time.
He poked his head into the tent. Krista was much luckier than him at the back. When she was not marching, she was praying for everyone and listening to what was said.
Thanks to her, although the defeated army lacked food, lost a large number of weapons, and was on the verge of collapse at any time, its mood stabilized little by little.
"I confess, I..." Low sobs came from the tent.
Gil de Ace, who was on the battlefield for the first time, was repenting of his sins: "I can save him. There are not many orcs chasing him nearby, so I can. But, I...I don't have the face to be under the command of the captain. Fight.”
Krista listened to the confession of the young third-level team leader, comforting him and encouraging him with gentle words. After the repentant little sergeant left, Griffith entered the camp and patted the girl on the shoulder.
That holy and solemn gesture returned to Krista again. She sat there quietly, nodding to the people who had reunited across life and death, with pearly tears hanging on her cheeks.
"Eat some." Seeing her appearance, Griffith felt heartbroken.
"Yes," the girl responded softly. She took a small bite and then stopped eating. "Leave it for the wounded."
Amid everyone's fear and expectations, she became an Anjou girl again and an idol in the occult sense.
Griffith's heart ached as if it was about to be torn apart.
Arrangements were made on the battlefield, and Beyelan suffered a crushing defeat. Of course, it doesn't matter if you fail once, and Beyeland lost many battles. Looking on the bright side, Odessa's losses in this defeat were even greater. The believers of the Holy Light bore the brunt of the attack, and they did not have a strong core leader when they were defeated. The two auxiliary legions suffered heavy losses.
From a mystical perspective, this defeat had a greater impact on the prince, the Holy Light, and Odessa. Their reason and belief inevitably began to disintegrate and collapse after witnessing Beamon and experiencing tragic losses.
The real conspiracy has not yet been launched...
Griffith and Krista came to the temporary headquarters side by side with a solemn heart. Sonia gathered with nobles and officers of all sizes, waiting for him to come back to make up his mind.
The atmosphere here is so solemn that it's dripping with water. The map is full of enemy movement and outflanking arrows, and anxiety is written on everyone's face. Sonia looked left and right, wanting to do something but not knowing how to start.
Really, isn’t it just a defeat? It’s nothing compared to the spiraling vortex of conspiracy around Krista! Seeing how nervous everyone was, Griffith couldn't help but laugh again.
"Ha ha ha ha."
Everyone raised their heads and looked at him in surprise. Cruella made a face: "Griffith, why are you laughing?"
"I laugh at the lack of resourcefulness of the orcs. If we divide a small force, march day and night, cross the river in front of us, and intercept us while waiting for work, it will be really difficult. Everyone, we will build a bridge to cross the river tomorrow morning, and we will have no worries. !”
Before he finished speaking, a scout rushed in:
"It's not good! The orcs have occupied the ferry on the other side of the twenty-mile river. We, we can't get across!"
It was so quiet in the headquarters that you could hear cold sweat dripping down.
Did this group of greenskins fly over? Griffith felt a tightness in his chest and almost vomited a mouthful of blood. Cruella quietly raised two fingers to Dedeus.
There was no choice now.
The pursuers from behind may arrive at any time, and they must cross the river as soon as possible.
Griffith organized the Storm Squadron and the few remaining combat units to advance through the night, preparing to seize a ferry. But the orc army had secured the other side of the river, preventing them from rebuilding the bridge across the river.
He could only stop his tired army and led a group of light cavalry upstream. He found an area where the river was narrow and the water flow was slow, where he could build a temporary bridge.
In the red east, fragments of dense blue-purple clouds were blown away by the wind, and the sky became brighter and brighter. The curly grass growing on the road in the forest looks even brighter due to the moisture of the night rain; the low-hanging birch branches are wet, swaying in the breeze, and scattering crystal water drops slantingly. .
Griffith and the cavalry closely following him rode along the road between two rows of birch trees. Everyone's faces were getting thinner from exhaustion and hunger.
The forest here is very quiet, and shadowy shadows appear and disappear in the woods, peeping here in the darkness.
Enemy, is it an enemy? Griffith held his lance tightly. In order to avoid being discovered by the enemy, he only brought a small group of light cavalry with him for this reconnaissance. If he encountered a large group of enemies, he might not be able to resist it based on the current state of the army.
The shadow is getting closer and closer, ready to attack at any moment.
"You retreat, I will come to the rear." Griffiths rode at the end, instructing the cavalry to leave quickly.
The thorns and grass on the ground suddenly grew wildly at a speed visible to the naked eye, ignoring the obstruction of blood energy and trapping the horses' hooves like ropes. The light cavalry were taken aback, and the team suddenly became confused. They were eager to break free, but the big trees around them came to life, swinging their huge trunks and branches to beat them.
Elf? This is a commonly used ability among elves, right? ? Griffith almost rolled off the saddle in fear.
A muscular black panther suddenly appeared from the shadows. Every movement it makes exudes an elegant and deadly aura, as if it is a born shadow hunter. The Black Panther slowly approached Griffith and suddenly disappeared out of thin air.
Extraordinary creature! Just as Griffith was about to meet the enemy, another huge beast rushed out of the woods and pounced on him.
This is a giant brown bear, unimaginably fat, with sharp front paws glowing with light blue, and its huge body and strong bristles are extremely powerful.
Griffith clashed with the giant bear, and a heavy blow came from the blood thorns, almost knocking his lance away. The brown bear roared, its giant claws swiped faster and faster, and the howling wind sounded as if it would be seriously injured if it just brushed the edge.
At the same time, the panther emerged from the shadows again and lunged at the horse's legs.
Griffith pulled out the cold light and swiped it with his hand. The electric current knocked back the giant bear, and the black panther also flickered and retreated under the light. However, they immediately adjusted their posture and attacked again.
Griffith turned the horse and walked away, but the horse's hoof seemed to have taken root on the ground and was entangled in thorns and could not be pulled out. He jumped off his horse and fought on foot to meet the enemy, holding a gun in his right hand to sweep at the brown bear, and holding a sword in his left hand to resist the black panther.
New energy immediately surged in the forest, and a group of thorns quickly grew and bound towards Griffith's feet.
No, it shouldn't be, well, this is the front line, it's impossible! Seeing this power from nature, Griffith's eyelids couldn't stop twitching. He spread his blood energy and swept it away, and the thorns that were rolled up immediately lost their vitality. He pulled out a smoke bomb made of gunpowder and dust crystals and threw it to the ground. He emerged from the smoke and threw a blood spine at the giant bear, piercing its hind legs and nailing it to the ground.
The Black Panther roared and bit Griffith's neck, but the would-be knight was as dry as dirt and wood.
The real Griffith emerged from the smoke, grabbed the Black Panther by the back of the neck, and kicked its lower abdomen with his knee. The big cat howled and flew away, rolling on the ground unable to get up.
Meteor-like light whizzed through the forest, hitting Griffith's shield and breaking into pieces of light.
The would-be knights burst into the woods like cannonballs. There was a tall female elf hidden there. When she saw him rushing towards her face, she screamed in panic.
Griffith gave her a kick, and the elf immediately flew out and hit a tree, fainting.
Griffith stepped forward slowly, picked up the elf mage and looked at it. She has a very delicate appearance, a slender figure, a little thin, and her face is pale from pain. He quickly looked around and found no one else, and then he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hahahahaha, you scared me!"
Looking at the ability of this thorn entanglement, I thought it was Galadia coming. Behemoth or ambushes, in front of me, Griffith, they are just chickens and dogs, not worth mentioning. As long as Galadia doesn't come, I have nothing to fear between heaven and earth! There is nothing to be afraid of!
He was smiling with his face twitching, and a silver blade patted his shoulder.
"Griffith, why are you laughing?" Galadia, dressed in military uniform, appeared silently from the forest and tilted her head towards him.
"Of course, of course it's because I knew you were coming," Griffith almost knelt on the ground, "I, I am happy, extremely happy!"
