They ca out through a hidden passage near the gate, avoiding the visible path, holding onto ropes as they carefully descended the steep slope close to the cliff.
On the side of the rocky mountain, in a location where the enemy couldn't easily attack, about fifty soldiers huddled together, awaiting orders.
Among them were mana users, and there was even one noble magician.
After a while, the eastern gate of Jihan will open and the troops that pour out will begin to engage Hardion.
At that mont, we strike at their rear and cause confusion.
And if possible, get rid of that damn catapult.
'How stupid. How could you be relieved just because the mountain path was blocked?'
The soldiers of Tumarius laughed at Hardion's camp, which had retreated far away to avoid the onslaught from the high ground on the mountain.
You seem relieved that you've only blocked two visible paths, but you're not stupid.
There's no way that's the end, right? Of course you've created a secret passage.
Everyone gulps, feeling nervous.
The desert nights were cold enough that steel armor was acceptable, but to reduce noise and make climbing mountains easier, tal armor was worn only as a breastplate. Instead, the troops were well-ard with thick, tough gambesons and leather armor. Even if it was a small detachnt of troops striking the unguarded rear of Hardion, this was a force that could not be ignored.
Suddenly, a loud roar was heard from the east, and lights spread across the sky as if sothing was burning.
"Let's go."
At the sa ti, the special forces began descending the rocky mountain along a narrow and steep path. The road winding around the rocky mountain and heading south seed, at first glance, hard to believe that anyone could pass through it. Since only a ledge about a span high stuck out, everyone had to press their whole body against the wall and slowly descend, one step at a ti, while catching their breath.
"Co down carefully."
The sturdy warrior who had descended earlier caught the soldiers and brought them down safely. Judging by his great strength compared to his size, he was clearly a mana user. Finally, with the wizard safely down, they quickly began to move east, clinging to the rocky mountain.
"We are opening the eastern gate and fighting from the front to attract Hardion's attention. If we delay any longer, the damage will accumulate. We must launch a surprise attack as soon as possible."
"Let's start off with a bang."
"..."
At the whisper of the warrior leading the special force, the wizard glared at him with a distorted face, clearly showing his displeasure. He was so dissatisfied with being dragged into this dangerous operation that he wanted to run away at any mont. However, since he only knew how to use fire magic, there was no way for him to safely return to the castle without the help of others. No matter what, they had to complete the mission and return together.
The air was filled with the noise and lights of an approaching battle and the sll of blood. The wizard advanced safely under the warrior's protection, and soon, the southern end of Hardion, where the fighting was taking place, was clearly visible.
"Get their attention with one big shot. Knock on the south and attack to capture them while you flank with us and aim for the enemy's center, the catapult."
"Fuck, I know. Shut up. Don't make lose my mind."
"..."
The warrior frowned at the wizard's words but said nothing more.
He would love to just blow this cocky bastard's chin off, but wizards were so rare that he couldn't do anything about it.
***
The wizard snuck through the soldiers and pulled out a necklace he had hidden inside his clothes. It was made by stringing together many red garnets. There were so many small, rough garnets, almost like raw stones, that it was almost disgusting, but the ones with large, pretty grains were too expensive to buy. Whenever he had money, he bought small garnets one by one and strung them together. This was the result.
The wizard, although sowhat a jerk, was serious about magic. After all, this necklace, which was a magic catalyst, was nearly all of his wealth.
"Phew..."
The wizard let out a long sigh. His breath was so hot that the soldiers nearby stepped back, afraid of being burned.
"Damn, night isn't my ti..."
The wizard grumbled and chewed his lips. For a fire wizard born and raised in the desert, magic was the light of the sun that set the earth on fire. Magic was a thing of willpower, so at night, the fire wizards of Tumaris could only exert half their usual power.
Despite his grumbling, the wizard steadily raised his mana. In his mind, he visualized the sun, a ball of fire that burned everything.
Instead of casting a large spell imdiately, he lit a small fla and held it in his hand. His palm beca searing hot, and the pain of the burn spread terribly. Heat, the pain of burning, the light—these were the forces that drove his fire magic at night. The wizard would burn his own body to feel the fear and power of fire, making his magic stronger in the dark.
Even the warrior, full of complaints about the wizard, kept silent as the man burned his hand for a stronger blow. Slowly, the wizard opened his burned hand and glared at the fla within, inhaling deeply.
'Now.'
The wizard nodded, and the warrior began to move, in sync with the magic that followed.
"Turn around!"
Pubber pubber!
"Ahh!"
Soldiers trying to run out into the downpour of arrows fell in a hurry. The warrior, giving orders, glanced toward where the arrows had rained down. Nearby, archers leaped out from under the ground, covered with cloth or sothing similar, and nocked their next arrows.
"Shoot!"
"Phuhuuuuu!"
The warrior shouted, holding the wizard in his arms to protect him, while the wizard unleashed his magic toward the southern end of Hardion's army. Flas shot out, forming a round ball instead of dispersing or fading. It surged forward, consuming mana.
"Stop it!"
"Hmm!"
An earth wizard stationed at the southern end of Hardion's formation rose from a hole in the ground, struggling to get up as though weighed down by an invisible load. A spurt of dirt, mixed with gravel, surged upward like a wave, heading toward the ball of fire.
Kwarrr!
"Kkaaaah!"
The defense ca a bit too late. The spells collided dangerously close to Hardion's formation, scorching a 20-ter area with a huge explosion. Soldiers caught in the blast burned to death without a chance to scream, while those outside the range were thrown back by the shockwave, falling in heaps. Gravel flew in all directions, injuring soldiers on both sides.
Yet, the chaos passed quickly, and the fighting resud.
"Damn it! Stop the enemy!"
The warrior ran westward along the wall, carrying the wizard on his back as Hardion's soldiers rushed in. He used his body to shield the wizard while fending off attackers, risking his life.
"This damn thing! I'm going to die because of this stupid operation!"
"If you want to live, shut up and keep going!"
Running at full speed, the warrior shouted at the wizard, who was preparing another spell. The knights of Hardion pursued, slaughtering Tumaris soldiers in an instant.
"Ouch!"
Suddenly, the warrior stopped. Breathless, the wizard saw a fierce cavalry charge ahead of them, spears aid and ready.
"Damn it. This is the end."
"That's not the end! Run away quickly!"
"Where do you think we can run from here? Let's hit them hard one last ti and go together."
"..."
The wizard was silent for a mont, contemplating the warrior's words.
"Co down."
The warrior carefully set the wizard down.
"Surrender! Surrender!"
"...what?"
The mont his feet touched the ground, the wizard raised both hands and ran toward the charging knights.
The wizard had a precious body. If he surrendered, he wouldn't die—he might even live as a magic slave for the rest of his life.
That's how most wizards were.
It was those who trusted them who were wrong.
"You son of a—!"
The warrior drew his sword belatedly, but the wizard had already run far away. Fighting alone against the rushing enemy, he was brutally killed, unable to last even five seconds.
"Surrender! Surrender! I'm a wizard! No, I'm a wizard! I'm a wizard!"
The wizard, kneeling and begging for his life, was beaten to death. Hardion's knights prepared for any eventuality, stripping the wizard naked, wrapping him in cloth, and carrying him back to Hardion's formation. They stripped him to prevent any hidden magical tools from being used.
"Just hold on a little longer! The special forces are attacking from behind!"
Jihan's troops, blinded by the fire magic from the south of Hardion's formation, believed the operation was working well. Because of the torches spread across the dark night, they couldn't see what was happening beyond the formation.
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