The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations - Chapter 285
Chapter 285: I Didn’t Come Alone (3)
Baron Hutton hastily raised his sword to block Ghislain’s downward strike.
Clang!
“Ugh!”
In that moment, an overwhelming pressure surged toward him. Baron Hutton tilted the blade slightly, allowing some of the force pressing down on him to flow past.
Bang!
However, he couldn’t deflect all of it. His feet slid slightly, and the ground beneath him cracked. His eyes widened in disbelief at the sheer power behind the attack.
‘What in the world…?’
He had merely blocked a single strike. Yet, his sword had almost broken again. No—if he hadn’t let the force flow past, his bones might have shattered alongside his sword.
The power he had felt when deflecting arrows paled in comparison. An uneasy realization began to creep into his thoughts.
Rumble!
Ghislain continued pressing his sword downward. The blade in Baron Hutton’s grip gradually tilted under the unrelenting pressure.
At this rate, his head would soon be split in two.
Ghislain’s crimson eyes gleamed as he laughed, his expression that of a devil reveling in battle.
A chill ran down Baron Hutton’s spine.
‘This… This isn’t the strength of a high-ranking knight!’
The intelligence reports had estimated that Ghislain’s strength was at the early stages of a high-ranking knight. This conclusion was due to the lack of prior instances where he had demonstrated exceptional physical prowess.
Even assessing him as a high-ranking knight was generous, based only on the rumors of his feats during the Cabaldi War.
Baron Hutton had shared the same assumption. Although he’d sustained injuries, his experience and higher proficiency in martial arts led him to believe that maintaining composure would allow him to prevail in battle.
But this strength… it was absurd!
‘This can’t be! Something must be wrong!’
At that moment, Ghislain suddenly withdrew his strength and raised his sword. The sudden shift caused Baron Hutton’s weapon to jerk upward as if chasing Ghislain’s blade.
Whoosh!
Clang!
Baron Hutton, twisting his arm awkwardly, barely managed to deflect Ghislain’s next strike. Seizing the moment, he quickly retreated.
‘A contest of strength won’t end well for me. That guy’s power is monstrous.’
His opponent’s youth granted him both vigor and unyielding strength. Additionally, Ghislain had just arrived on the battlefield, meaning his mana reserves were still abundant.
Baron Hutton initially planned to use skill to outmaneuver him. But Ghislain left him no time to breathe, relentlessly pursuing him with his sword.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their blades collided repeatedly, sending sparks into the air.
Baron Hutton struggled to gain the upper hand. Over time, he found himself increasingly on the defensive, barely able to evade or block Ghislain’s relentless onslaught.
Yet, despite the ferocity of the attacks, Baron Hutton’s swordsmanship never faltered. He deflected every unpredictable strike from Ghislain’s blade, biding his time to exploit even the smallest opportunity.
Ghislain noticed and smirked, finding it amusing.
“Not bad. If it weren’t for your injuries, this could have been an interesting fight.”
He meant it. A warrior of Baron Hutton’s caliber was rare to encounter outside the ducal families of the Ritania Kingdom.
However, Baron Hutton’s injuries from his fight with Gillian and the arrow wound hindered him from fully showcasing his abilities.
Even so, he was someone not easily defeated with a second-stage core.
‘So this is why he could face Gillian.’
Despite being physically inferior and having less mana, Baron Hutton’s swordsmanship alone was enough to earn him the title of the greatest swordsman in the North.
“But I can’t afford to show mercy on the battlefield.”
Ghislain wasn’t interested in dragging this out, even if the opponent was intriguing. There was no point in dueling an injured opponent.
Taking a deep breath to dispel his regret, he adjusted his grip on his sword.
Even while injured and on the defensive, Baron Hutton showed no signs of wavering. He held steady despite the overwhelming strength and speed Ghislain brought to bear.
Against such an opponent, relying on skill alone would draw the fight out.
The solution was simple.
Overpower him with even greater strength and speed.
Zing—!
Ghislain’s third-stage core activated, causing his crimson eyes to burn even brighter.
“Let’s start again.”
Baron Hutton was a warrior deserving of facing an attack from the third core.
Boom!
Each swing of Ghislain’s sword now sounded like a thunderclap. The already immense power became even greater, leaving Baron Hutton visibly shaken.
‘H-how can he possess such strength?!’
Crash!
Ghislain’s strikes were unbelievably fast and powerful. Each block caused Baron Hutton’s stance to falter, and the impact churned his insides.
Boom! Boom!
Crack.
Baron Hutton’s sword began to crack after only a few blocks. Even though he had concentrated and fortified it with mana, the blade couldn’t withstand the force.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ghislain’s attacks only grew faster with time. Baron Hutton gritted his teeth, barely managing to block them. But each block felt as though every bone in his body was on the verge of shattering.
The belief that Ghislain was at the level of a high-ranking knight was a definite misconception. Not only had the intelligence reports fallen short, but even the exaggerated rumors about him didn’t come close to describing his true strength.
He was an opponent that couldn’t be defeated unless one was in peak condition. No—perhaps even at his best, Baron Hutton wouldn’t have been able to win. Ghislain’s skill was undoubtedly above his own.
‘I… I must retreat.’
If he wished to survive, he had no choice but to abandon the honor he had spent his life building.
Baron Hutton tried desperately to find a way to escape. However, Ghislain’s relentless sword hounded him, refusing to let him slip away.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each clash of their swords tore up the ground and sent dirt flying. The two moved so quickly that no one could follow their movements with the naked eye.
Count Desmond’s knights and soldiers flinched instinctively. They knew they should rush in to save Baron Hutton.
“Guh!”
Blood began to drip from Baron Hutton’s mouth. Even though he was only defending, the accumulated impacts had started to break him down from the inside.
His forte, calm and composed swordsmanship, was now useless. The explosive increase in Ghislain’s power and speed left him with no choice but to focus solely on blocking.
The fact that Baron Hutton had lasted this long was entirely due to his exceptional swordsmanship.
But even that endurance was coming to an end.
Crash!
A deafening impact echoed as Baron Hutton’s sword shattered. His mana simply couldn’t withstand the overwhelming strength.
“Th-this can’t be…”
Whoosh!
The now-weaponless Baron Hutton tried to retreat, but Ghislain’s sword was faster.
Crunch!
A sickening sound of breaking bones followed, and Baron Hutton’s right arm fell to the ground.
“Aaaargh!”
At the same time, Count Desmond’s knights sprang into action.
“Save the Baron!”
Their faces were filled with desperation.
The duel was effectively over. If a third party intervened during a duel, it would tarnish Baron Hutton’s honor, but that was a concern for later. Saving his life was their immediate priority.
However, before they could reach him, Ghislain’s sword swept horizontally, severing Baron Hutton’s neck.
Slice.
Thud.
The head of one of the North’s strongest warriors, Baron Hutton, fell to the ground and rolled lifelessly.
The charging knights of Count Desmond froze at the sight.
“B-Baron Hutton…”
“Baron Hutton is dead…”
“How could this happen…”
Desmond’s soldiers were left stunned, their faces blank with disbelief. But Ghislain didn’t allow them to wallow in shock.
Calmly extending his sword, he gave a single command.
“Wipe them out.”
Zing—!
The armor of the waiting Fenris knights began to glow.
Over 300 knights and 1,000 cavalry charged forward.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
As the Fenris army surged toward them, Count Desmond’s knights shouted in panic.
“Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!”
They unsheathed their swords, trying to brace themselves against the advancing Fenris forces. But Ghislain reached them before the Fenris knights did.
Slice!
Ghislain’s third-stage core was still fully active. Infused with overflowing mana, his sword sliced cleanly through the neck of a nearby knight.
Not satisfied, Ghislain turned and began attacking indiscriminately.
Boom! Boom!
“Aaaaargh!”
Desmond’s soldiers’ formation crumbled as Ghislain tore through their ranks.
Everyone targeted the now-closed Ghislain, but this only further disrupted their formation. Knights and officers shouted desperately, trying to restore order.
“You fools! Hold the line!”
“Block the front! Block the front, damn it!”
“Get a grip!”
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Amidst the chaos, the Fenris knights stormed into the disarrayed Desmond army.
Crash!
“Aaaaargh!”
The morale of Desmond’s forces had already plummeted after Baron Hutton’s death.
With Ghislain wreaking havoc and destroying their formation, they had no hope of stopping the sudden onslaught of 300 knights and the charging cavalry.
Boom! Boom!
Some knights and soldiers put up a fight, but the momentum that had been broken never returned. There was no commander to bring order to the situation.
Desmond’s pursuit force crumbled far too quickly, almost pathetically.
“Retreat! Fall back for now!”
“Regroup with the main force!”
“Escape however you can!”
At the urging of quick-thinking knights, Desmond’s forces began to scatter in all directions.
If they stayed any longer, complete annihilation was inevitable. It was better to have even one more survivor regroup with the main army than for everyone to perish.
Fortunately, more than half of the pursuit force consisted of cavalry, allowing the survivors to flee the battlefield at high speed.
As the Fenris knights and cavalry started to give chase, Ghislain waved his hand and shouted.
“Enough! Stop! Don’t pursue them further!”
The Fenris forces were far fewer in number compared to Desmond’s army. Scattering their troops unnecessarily could put them at risk if they encountered Desmond’s main force.
“So many managed to escape,” Ghislain said, laughing as he watched Desmond’s soldiers scatter.
It seemed about half of them had survived and fled. While he was slightly disappointed that more had gotten away than expected, it wasn’t enough to bother him.
After all, they would meet again. And next time, he planned to utterly crush them.
“Woooo! We won!”
“Our lord really is incredible in battle!”
“That’s our lord for you!”
The knights and soldiers raised their weapons and shouted in celebration. Although they hadn’t fought the enemy soldiers for very long, it was all thanks to their lord having defeated Baron Hutton that victory came so swiftly.
By rescuing Gillian and easily driving back the enemy in the first encounter, morale naturally soared.
Wearing a triumphant expression, Ghislain made his way toward Gillian. As he passed, the troops parted to form a path for him.
Gillian, who was standing with the help of medics, looked at Ghislain with eyes full of gratitude.
He was truly an extraordinary person. To arrive and instantly kill Baron Hutton, completely turning the tide of battle… Ghislain possessed something far greater than just skill.
“My lord…”
“Gillian!”
Ghislain said no more and simply approached, spreading his arms to embrace Gillian tightly.
The two men stood silently in that position for a long time, and the soldiers around them watched in a solemn silence.
After some time, Ghislain stepped back and spoke gravely.
“Honor those who fought for the domain with their lives, and those who sacrificed themselves.”
Snap! Snap! Snap!
Everyone raised their weapons and saluted.
The forces of Stonehaven, led by Gillian, had risked their lives to defend their domain. They were worthy of the highest honor and the admiration of all.
After a moment of silence, Ghislain, seemingly wanting to lighten the mood, smirked and said jokingly to Gillian.
“What happened to you? Did you get too old and weak?”
At Ghislain’s teasing, Gillian laughed. Though his words were jesting, the warmth in his eyes was unmistakable.
Feeling a lump in his throat, Gillian struggled to respond.
“…I’m fine.”
“Fine, my ass! Take Gillian and the wounded back to the castle immediately. I’ll handle the rest.”
At those words, Gillian’s face took on a contemplative expression, as if he had just realized something. He asked cautiously.
“My lord… How did you even get here?”
“I figured this would be the place you’d retreat to if you kept getting pushed back. Isn’t that obvious?”
Ghislain, a veteran of many battles, knew that if the pursuit force had been chasing Gillian, they would choose this spot as the optimal place to surround him.
Understanding this, Gillian nodded. Of course, someone like Ghislain would be able to deduce that much.
But that wasn’t the important part. In a trembling voice, Gillian asked the real question on his mind.
“My lord… Does your presence here mean… that everything is ready?”
Ghislain answered with a confident expression, without a trace of shame.
“Nope.”
“…What?”
“Oh, come on. How could I have everything ready already? Even I am not that amazing.”
“T-then why did you come here?”
With a casual expression, Ghislain replied.
“I handled it roughly. Or maybe adequately? Hmm, at least the bare minimum.”
Gillian felt dizzy at Ghislain’s almost dismissive explanation. Weren’t they risking their lives to buy time for more preparation? Hadn’t their sacrifices been for that purpose?
“R-roughly…?”
“Hey, it’s just a figure of speech. Do you really think I’d leave things half-done? Thanks to you, the minimum preparations are finished. But if I’d spent any more time preparing, you’d all be dead by now. So I came as soon as it was ready. Perfect timing, right? Man, I’m good.”
Ghislain’s self-praise barely registered in Gillian’s ears.
“W-why would you do that? No, this isn’t right. Our forces alone can’t defeat Desmond’s army. You needed more preparation—”
“And let you all die while I prepare?”
“Even if it meant all of us dying…”
“What good would that do?”
“…”
“What’s the point of perfect preparation if Gillian and the others end up dead?”
It wasn’t that Ghislain had rushed in completely unprepared. That would have been suicide. But he couldn’t just abandon Gillian and the others, either. So he had compromised with the bare minimum preparation.
“My lord…”
The wounded soldiers and Gillian looked at Ghislain with eyes full of emotion. If he had chosen to, he could have sacrificed them and used the time to better prepare for the war.
But instead, Ghislain had given up that advantage to save them, knowingly putting himself in greater danger.
Of course, sentimentality aside, reality remained unchanged.
Snapping back to his senses, Gillian hurriedly spoke.
“Understood. We’ll discuss this later. For now, we need to leave this place quickly.”
“Why?”
“Desmond’s main force is nearby! Count Desmond is no fool. He’s probably already aware of the situation here and preparing to surround us—”
Ghislain interrupted Gillian, turning to glance behind him.
“Looks like we’re already too late.”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In the distance, the sound of Desmond’s massive army approaching shook the ground with every synchronized step.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
And it wasn’t just the front. Armies were closing in from both flanks. The soldiers who had fled earlier had likely already rejoined the main force, and Desmond’s army had formed a formation that encircled Ghislain’s group.
Ghislain smiled widely at the sight.
“Finally, we meet again, Harold Desmond.”