The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations - Chapter 283
Chapter 283: I Didn’t Come Alone (1)
Gillian gazed at the pursuing troops of Desmond’s Army before him with a weary expression.
“They’re really relentless…”
Over several days, Gillian, alongside his knights, had launched numerous ambushes. Initially, Desmond’s Army had been caught off guard, fumbling and flailing in confusion. However, their responses gradually became sharper and more robust.
As a result, the ambushes became less effective with time. Lately, instead of launching attacks, they had been preoccupied with fleeing from the relentless pursuit of Desmond’s troops.
Gillian turned around to look behind him.
In the distance, thousands of cavalrymen were advancing slowly.
Although they were called a pursuit team, their numbers totaled a staggering 3,000—a force comparable to the military strength of an entire territory, mobilized solely to capture them.
“To think they could deploy such forces…”
These opponents were no pushovers.
The pursuit team had split off quickly from the main army, cutting off every potential escape route for the Fenris forces.
Like hunters driving prey into a corner, they had chased the Fenris troops all the way here.
Gillian exhaled deeply.
“This might be the end…”
The place they stood was an open plain. From here to the heart of Fenris territory, there were no forests or mountains to provide cover.
The enemy had moved faster than anticipated, sacrificing initial casualties to corner them completely.
There was no longer any room to run. The only option left was to fight head-on.
“Prepare for battle.”
At Gillian’s low command, the knights and soldiers raised their weapons. They all bore faces darkened by exhaustion.
When they had fled the fortress, they hadn’t even managed to secure proper rations, let alone horses. In such a state, they had fought relentlessly without rest, leaving everyone injured and drained.
Even the soldiers, whittled down to less than half their original number due to repeated skirmishes, remained fierce in spirit.
Despite their fatigue, the fire in their eyes was undimmed. It was clear they were resolved to take down as many enemies as they could.
Gillian smirked bitterly as he continued.
“Form a circular phalanx.”
The formation began to shift into a ring. To prepare for the cavalry charge, they raised their spears and shields high.
With no fortifications or advantageous terrain to rely on, they had no choice but to fend off the enemy’s attacks with their battered bodies.
While the Fenris troops formed their defensive line, Desmond’s forces completed their encirclement.
Baron Hutton, leading the pursuit team, looked at the Fenris troops with a delighted grin.
“At last, we’ve caught those damned rats.”
The ambushes led by Gillian had been swift and devastating, forcing them to slow their advance just to defend themselves.
But Desmond’s forces hadn’t been entirely at the mercy of Gillian’s tactics.
Though it had come at great cost, they had finally maneuvered the Fenris troops into the situation they desired.
All that remained now was to unleash the fury they had been holding back.
Baron Hutton unsheathed his sword and declared, “Finish them.”
Desmond’s forces began tightening their encirclement, gradually closing in on the Fenris troops.
Gillian stepped forward, shielding his front with his shield, and shouted, “They’re coming!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, dozens of fireballs shot out from Desmond’s ranks.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Gillian gritted his teeth, using his shield to block the spells. The other knights did the same.
This level of magic wasn’t a major threat. Without Willow, the 6th-circle mage, in their ranks, Desmond’s forces’ magic was manageable.
Whizz!
Along with the spells, countless arrows rained down from Desmond’s lines.
The Fenris soldiers knew these arrows wouldn’t cause much harm. Their sturdy armor and dispelling magic offered sufficient protection.
It was clear that the enemy’s goal was to gradually drain their stamina and mana.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With each attack from Desmond’s forces, the circular phalanx shook violently. All the Fenris troops could do was huddle together like a turtle and endure.
After some time, the ranged attacks ceased, and Desmond’s cavalry began to advance.
The Fenris troops, battered from the earlier barrage, looked utterly drained even before the clash began. Of course, it wasn’t just the prior assault; their prolonged exposure to the harsh outdoors had already pushed their bodies to the limit.
Thud, thud, thud!
As Desmond’s cavalry approached, the Fenris knights couldn’t help but laugh.
Lucas, who usually maintained a stoic demeanor and prided himself as a “genius of spearplay,” finally let his honest feelings show.
“Honestly? I thought about running midway. Those bastards are no joke. They’re on a whole different level compared to the ones we’ve fought before.”
“Hah, coward. I figured you’d chicken out.”
“Well, now that it’s come to this, let’s take as many of them down with us as we can. The Lord will avenge us.”
Yes, the Lord would surely avenge them. Their Lord was not the kind of person to let a grievance go unanswered.
That belief allowed them to smile, even in the face of death.
Boom!
Finally, the two armies clashed. The knights of Fenris skillfully evaded the cavalry charge, countering by taking down both the horses and their riders.
The soldiers with spears initially managed to fend off the cavalry effectively.
But the enemy numbers were overwhelming. There simply weren’t enough of them to stop the wave of advancing cavalry.
Boom!
“Aaaah!”
The next wave of Desmond cavalry smashed into the Fenris soldiers, scattering them.
While the Fenris soldiers had impressive armor, they were not as agile as the knights. They bore the full brunt of the cavalry charge.
In just two collisions, the Fenris circular phalanx was completely shattered.
“Get up! If you stay down, you’ll die for real!”
“Stay focused!”
“Just hold out a little longer!”
The Fenris knights fought valiantly, cutting down the surrounding cavalry, but the battlefield had already devolved into chaos, and their disadvantage became increasingly apparent.
Unlike the narrow paths of the fortress they had once defended, enemies now poured in from all directions. The Fenris knights began to exhaust their last reserves of strength.
Whirrr―!
This would be their final battle. If they were going to die anyway, they had to take as many enemies down with them as they could.
Boom!
The Fenris knights fought like berserkers.
The word “rampage” seemed inadequate to describe their ferocity.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
No one held back. Each warrior exuded a relentless, murderous intent, determined to kill even one more enemy.
Gillian was no exception. He abandoned his shield, gripping a battle axe in both hands.
He swung it mercilessly at the enemies around him, heedless of the wounds he sustained.
Crunch! Crack! Boom!
The approaching Desmond soldiers were crushed, reduced to bloody remains. Their screams filled the plains.
“Aaaah! These monsters!”
“Push harder! They’re exhausted!”
“This ends today! No more of these damned bastards!”
Desmond’s forces were just as driven by desperation.
Because of these opponents, they had been forced to undertake reckless maneuvers, unable to sleep properly. They had lost countless comrades and endured days of terror.
Now that the chance to end this nightmare was within reach, there was no room for fear. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be considered elite soldiers.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Aaaah!”
“Waaaah!”
Screams and battle cries echoed as the battlefield descended into madness.
Both attackers and defenders were consumed by the frenzy of battle, focused solely on killing the enemies before them.
But such a state could not last indefinitely. As time passed, Desmond’s Army’s momentum grew stronger, while the Fenris forces weakened further.
“Kh…!”
Thud.
A Fenris knight who had been fighting madly suddenly collapsed, letting out a bitter laugh.
Though his face was hidden by his helmet, the inside was soaked with the blood he had coughed up.
Thud.
Another knight fell.
And it wasn’t just the knights. Most of the soldiers had long since fallen, their bodies twitching faintly on the ground.
Their sturdy armor had saved their lives for now, but the accumulated impact and exhaustion left them unable to rise again.
“Get up! Stand and kill more of them!”
Gillian alone continued to shout as he slaughtered the approaching enemies.
His wild rampage made it difficult for Desmond’s soldiers to approach him.
But even they quickly noticed something was wrong with the Fenris troops’ condition.
“These bastards… Are they finally out of energy?”
“No, something’s really off about their state.”
“Is there some other issue?”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
As Desmond’s soldiers hesitated and withdrew slightly, the Fenris knights, who had been holding on by sheer will, began collapsing one by one.
They were falling on their own now, making further attacks unnecessary. Desmond’s forces halted their assault and simply maintained the encirclement.
Eventually, most of the Fenris knights either collapsed or sank to the ground, their helmets dripping blood.
Seeing this, Gillian, too, let his arms hang limply, as if his strength had drained away.
He was the only one still standing among the Fenris forces.
Gillian looked sorrowfully at the knights who lay bleeding and coughing up blood, murmuring to himself.
“Get up… Get up and fight some more…”
His face seemed to have aged years in just a few days. The fierce light in his eyes had dimmed. He now resembled a weary and dying lion.
Ssssshhh.
Desmond’s Army’s formation parted, and a man walked out from the ranks.
“Baron Hutton…”
Gillian gripped his axe once more. Though his trembling hands barely held on, he was determined—this man, at least, must die by his hands.
If he succeeded, it would reduce the losses for his allies in future battles.
Baron Hutton unsheathed his sword slowly, his gaze still cold and arrogant.
Without hesitation, the two men swung their weapons at each other.
Boom!
With just one clash, Gillian staggered and retreated. He was far too exhausted to block Baron Hutton’s powerful strikes.
Boom! Boom!
“Urgh…”
Each collision left Gillian injured and reeling.
Baron Hutton wasn’t in perfect condition either, but he had received proper treatment and ample rest. Compared to Gillian, his physical state was leagues better.
Clang!
After a series of attacks, Gillian could no longer hold on and dropped one of his axes.
Crash!
The other axe, insufficiently imbued with mana, shattered under the next blow.
Screeech!
Baron Hutton’s sword mercilessly tore through Gillian’s breastplate.
Thud.
Staggering as blood gushed from his chest, Gillian finally collapsed to his knees.
Breathing heavily, Gillian looked up at Baron Hutton with weary eyes, confused as to why the man hadn’t delivered the killing blow.
Baron Hutton, holding his bloodstained sword aloft, finally spoke.
“Gillian.”
“…”
“Though you are a mere mercenary, it would be a waste to kill you in this war. I’ll give you one last chance. Surrender.”
“…I refuse.”
Baron Hutton’s eyebrow twitched. He couldn’t comprehend it.
“Why? Aren’t you a mercenary? Why are you risking your life for Count Fenris? Is that kind of contract really worth so much to you?”
“It’s not about the contract.”
At first, Gillian had followed him out of gratitude for saving his daughter. It was only right to repay that life-saving debt with his own.
He had been prepared to lay down his life from the start, believing it a fair exchange for his daughter’s safety.
But as he stayed by Ghislain’s side, his perspective began to change.
Ghislain was unlike anyone else.
A noble who cared nothing for social rank or status.
A man who, though not a mercenary, acted more like one than anyone else.
A figure who saved his territory multiple times with uncanny wisdom.
A leader who always prioritized protecting others over his own desires.
A visionary who accomplished what everyone deemed impossible.
The longer Gillian served him, the more deeply he was moved by Ghislain’s character.
At some point, Gillian no longer saw Ghislain as merely a benefactor who had saved his daughter. He came to regard him as a true Lord—someone worthy of his absolute loyalty.
And so, betraying Ghislain was never an option for Gillian.
This was neither repayment for a debt nor the binding terms of a contract.
It was loyalty.
Gillian had found someone he deemed worth risking his life for—a true master deserving of his devotion.
Admittedly, Ghislain could also be whimsical and unpredictably entertaining at times.
Thinking of this, Gillian found himself smiling unknowingly.
Baron Hutton, seeing Gillian’s expression, was utterly baffled. He couldn’t understand why someone like Count Fenris would inspire such loyalty.
“Why?! Why do you follow that whelp? Do you truly believe Count Fenris can conquer the North? Do you really think he can triumph against the ducal families?”
“If it’s the Lord, he will succeed.”
“Ridiculous! That’s nothing but the delusion of a naive child! A dream that will never come true!”
“The Lord’s dream…”
Gillian lifted his head again, meeting Baron Hutton’s gaze.
This time, his eyes were calm, serene. He spoke as if uttering his final breath.
“…is my dream.”
“You insolent…!”
Baron Hutton raised his sword high. Though he wanted to end it, something held him back—a lingering sense of regret.
“So be it.”
He had no choice. As much as it was a shame, Gillian had to die. Convincing him was clearly impossible.
Resolving himself, Baron Hutton swung his sword down.
Whoosh!
Clang!
Suddenly, an arrow shot through the air. Sensing it, Baron Hutton raised his sword to block—but the arrow shattered the blade and pierced his chest.
“Gah!”
Clutching his chest, Baron Hutton staggered backward several steps.
Desmond’s soldiers around him froze in shock. Despite his injuries, Baron Hutton was an elite knight. How could he have been wounded by a mere arrow?
Even Gillian, who had faced Baron Hutton’s strength firsthand, was incredulous.
Who could land such a precise and devastating shot on someone this skilled?
No… there was someone. One person in the North could achieve this.
A figure whose depth of skill was immeasurable.
A man who grew stronger with each passing day, like a monster.
Gillian’s heart began to pound violently.
With each beat, the sound of galloping hooves grew louder, shaking the very ground.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
There were no horns, no shouts—only the powerful pounding of hooves echoed across the plains.
Slowly, Gillian turned his head to look back.
“Ah…”
The sight he had longed for unfolded before him.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
The vast plain was filled with banners of the Red Wolf. The owner of those banners was everything to Gillian—his last remaining hope and his final dream.
And the one he had waited for, more than anyone else…
“Gillian!”
With blazing red eyes, he charged faster than anyone else towards the battlefield.