Author's Note: 5400 words in one sitting.
No one in the Empire tried to estimate the size of the Army of Chaos because there was no need to. The dark mass of Barbarian raiders and Barbarian riders connected from one side of the horizon to the other. A low rumbling dirge blew the air apart, and the rumbling of drums and the coarse hymns merged into one.
The believers of the Four Gods of Chaos were so happy that they almost went crazy because the fated moment was about to arrive. They would spread the true civilization to the South and let the cowardly and ignorant Southerners experience the true power of the Four Gods of Chaos.
When the Army of Chaos began to enter the firing range, the Empire's cannons began to fire together. Hundreds of mortar cannons, cannons, and hellstorm rocket launchers let out a roar that drowned out the howls of the Barbarians. The shells exploded in the midst of the Army of Chaos, reaping lives.
The two flanks of the barbarian marauders rode on the carrion warhorses and tried to circle around, but the Empire's advantage of stabilizing the frontline showed itself. The musketeers of Hawke and Nuer worked together to kill these barbarian cavalrymen one after another, wiping out most of the barbarian cavalry.
Karl-franz noticed that the Barbarians had no discipline or command at all. They just charged blindly. Only one out of one or two hundred Barbarian raiders would make it to the front of the Empire's formation. Before the Barbarian's battle axe could land on the Barbarian's shield, the Empire's well-trained spear or halberd would have pierced through the Barbarian's body.
"Well done. That's the way to fight." In the heavy rain, the Emperor clenched his fists. His face was filled with worry and relief. Karl-franz knew that if the battle continued like this, the Empire would win. The Army of Chaos did not seem to have a leader. They were just charging recklessly into the Empire's formation.
The Emperor was a little worried. Was the Eternal Chosen God not here? If the Eternal Chosen God did not appear in the Army of Chaos, then even if they could wipe out the Army of Chaos, it would only be a temporary solution.
The first wave of the Army of Chaos seemed to have no battle plan at all. There was no strategy to win the battle. They just charged straight into the middle of the Empire's army. This was exactly what the Empire wanted. With the support of the Empire's wizards and the cannons, the Northmen paid a huge price.
After three hours of continuous fighting, Rick and his men withstood every charge of the Northerners in front of Karl Franz's main army, but they also paid a very high price. The spears and halberds were directly deflected by the strong muscles of the Northerners, and the soldiers holding halberds were chopped to the ground by axes or crushed under the slobbering mounts. The tall and burly northern barbarians, who were like wild beasts, forced their way into the crowded army, and the sound of chopping and roaring filled the air.
Wave after wave of attacks did not scare the Empire. They knew that their Emperor was with them today. Five entire regiments had been wiped out, but not a single Rick took a step back. Not a single Rick laid down their weapons and begged for mercy. The warriors of the Heartland of the Empire had fought to the very last moment. Their Emperor was very proud of this.
At this moment, the Empire's tactic worked. As Marshal Rick Helberg gave the order to charge, the lances and iron hooves of Rick's Praetorian Guards swept across the Chaos army. The Empire was annoyed that Helberg was so accurate that he did not even have time to give orders. At the same time, he immediately ordered the great swordsmen to cooperate with Helberg's actions. The six hundred great swordsmen of the Empire advanced together. These peerless warriors wielded two-handed greatswords and spun their exquisite blades in the midst of the barbarians, cutting everything into pieces.
The counterattack was like a heavy blow from a hammer, crushing the vanguard troops. As a champion of Chaos fell under Helberg's Rune Teeth, the vanguard troops of Chaos began to collapse. The people of the Empire cheered for victory as if they had already won the war.
This was indeed a victory to be proud of. 30000 barbarian corpses lay on the battlefield. The Ricks had also paid a price of 5000 casualties. The casualty ratio of 6: 1 was enough to make the people of the Empire proud.
"Not enough!" The Emperor, who was standing on the city wall, immediately signaled for the army to focus. The Chaos army was like a vast ocean. The Empire had only defeated the first wave.
The battle was still going on. The first wave of Chaos attack was just a brainless charge by a large group of Nosikas and Kurgans. The appearance of the second wave of Chaos army meant that the real battle had begun.
The Chaos Champion Lord Akorak – Raven had appeared, the bandit of the Ninth Wasteland. This Warlord Nozka had just been promoted to the Chaos Champion Warrior yesterday because he had killed all the Warlords of the other eleven tribes. Akorak had offered the heads of the Warlords to Khorne, his meticulous schemes to Tzeentch, his rotten heart to Nurgle, and the art of killing to Pervert.
The gods of Chaos were very satisfied and promoted Akorak to the Chaos Champion Lord. He commanded a huge Army of Chaos.
There was almost no time to rest. The central army of the Empire was attacked crazily again. They had to hold on. Only by holding on and waiting for the predetermined plan to arrive could the Empire see the dawn of victory.
On the left wing of the army, the army of Kurfürst Marius had already begun to exchange fire with the Chaos Army. They had distracted part of the Chaos Army. At the same time, Marius ordered the cavalry to continue to wait. He had to confirm that the Eternal God had really appeared.
On the right flank of the army, General Meck's carefully designed artillery and musket positions were effective. The Army of Chaos suffered heavy losses under the overwhelming artillery bombardment and hail of musket barrage. Volten and Huss were at the frontline personally. The light of Charlemagne's twin-tailed comet shrouded Volten's entire body. The crazy ascetics waved their two-handed flail and shouted all kinds of curses and holy words. They directly clashed with the northern berserkers. Lunatics against lunatics, the Empire was not at a disadvantage.
Looking at Volten's glorious miracle, everyone believed that Charlemagne and the Empire would be together on this day.
Helberg enjoyed the slaughter. Although Marshal Rick was unwilling to admit it, he was very clear subconsciously that only slaughter could slightly reduce his despair and the burden of darkness. It could slightly relieve his neurotic state for more than a year. The Rune Tooth was as sharp and invincible as ever. He chopped off the heads of the northern leaders one after another and pierced the sharp blade into their helmets.
Chaos was defeated. Helberg laughed. He enjoyed the cheers of the Imperial Guards Rick and kept telling himself that the Empire would definitely win this battle.
The marshal then ordered the Imperial Guards Rick to withdraw and not pursue the remaining soldiers of Chaos. Once the cavalry got excited, they would easily lose control. The Empire's tactics were successful, at least for now. The rear of Chaos was defeated by the front army. The heavily-armored Chaos Warriors had a headache killing the fleeing soldiers. Helberg seized the opportunity and ordered the Imperial Guards Rick to attack the shield wall of the Chaos Warriors from the flank. The Chaos Warriors fell to the ground one after another, killed and slaughtered.
A huge Nurgle demon appeared on the battlefield. It was Gurug-Ath! The demon that was defeated by Volten and Vlad! It was back again!
Lightning flashed on the horizon in the north. The jagged spears were sickly and green. A sigh seemed to pass through the earth, as if it was rolling uneasily from the bottom of the earth. The rotting swamp bubbled, and thousands of yellow smoke rose into the sky. The echoes of screams echoed on the battlefield. The cheers of the Imperial Guards Rick disappeared. It was as if the ground was vomiting. They boiled out of the soil, emitting a turbid smell and steam-like hissing sounds.
Tiny vicious monsters rushed out of the mud. First, it was the thin vanguard of Nurgle with horns on his head. Then, it was the Rotten Warriors and the Pustules Warriors of the Nurgle demons. The core of the demons, the plague carriers and the bearers, appeared one after another.
The charge of the Imperial Guards Rick was delayed by these Nurgle demons. They were like a muddy pond. Not only did they make the knights unable to exert their advantage, but they also blocked the charge that was sure to succeed. The lances pierced deeply into the bodies of these powerful enemies and sank into the torso of the Nurgle demons. However, they could neither cause damage to the Nurgle demons nor banish them. These Nurgle demons laughed and directly crushed the plate armor of the Imperial Guards Rick with their bodies. They reached out and pulled out the flesh and blood of these Empire elites from the gap in the armor.
Helberg watched with his own eyes as his Imperial Guards Rick fell into the muddy pond one after another. The marshal roared angrily and rushed over on his horse. The Rune Tooth in his hand burst out with brilliant divine light, dazzling the Nurgle demon Gurug-Ath. The dwarf runes on the Rune Tooth were extremely bright. The sword pierced through the demon's flesh and blood and into its arm.
Gurug-Ath roared in pain. It was banished more than a year ago and was still very weak now. The child of a loving father was fighting desperately to regain the favor of Nurgle. The demon was severely injured by the Imperial Guards Rick, but it did not affect its counterattack. Gurug-Ath sent Helberg flying from his mount with a punch. Marshal Rick fell into the swamp unconscious. The Imperial Guards Rick were suddenly in a mess.
Karl-franz's expression changed drastically when he saw this. The Emperor finally could not help it. He ignored Ludwig's advice and roared. The roar of the Gryphon Death Claw brought the Empire's judgment. The Gryphon flew into the sky with a deafening screech, carrying its master to rescue Helberg. The Emperor seized the opportunity. The Dragon Tooth instantly cut open Gurug-Ath's head. The Death Claw tore apart the demon's skin and threw one of its hands into the air.
Another wave of the Chaos army was defeated. The people of the Empire saw the dawn of victory.
On the right flank of the battle line, Charlemagne's chosen one, Volten, was also fighting with all his might. When Charlemagne's army saw an opportunity, they immediately launched a fierce attack under Volten's lead. The ascetics and fanatics who held the two-tailed Comet Flail madly advanced with only bloodlust and fanaticism. In this army, Volten's body was burning with the fire of heaven. The power of the two-tailed Comet Flail drew two long trails along the divine hammer Gail Maraz. Every time Volten moved, holy light would illuminate the earth, encouraging the determination of the Empire's army.
The Noska Berserkers of the Skalinses and Bell Pines were horrified to find that Charlemagne's army was even crazier and more bloodthirsty than they were. In a direct battle, the Barbarian Berserkers were actually no match for the cowardly Southerners!
The ascetics swung their chains and smashed the shields of the Skalinsians and the Bell Pines into pieces. Then, they smashed the corpses of the Barbarian Berserkers into pieces. A Chaos Champion tried to stop Wo Teng's attack, but Wo Teng simply raised his hammer and smashed the Chieftain's shield into pieces. Then, he smashed the Chieftain's skull into smithereens. Seeing this scene, the Northmen were intimidated by Wo Teng's bravery. They abandoned the Chaos and Tribal flags that symbolized honor and fled in fear.
The Skalinsians and Bellsonwoods were defeated. Volten's plan had succeeded, and Charlemagne's army continued to charge forward. The joy of victory enveloped everyone, until the faraway sound of a horn was heard.
The flag of the Eternal God's Chosen slowly flew over. An entire army of Chaos' Chosen Warriors entered the battlefield. In the middle of them was a Chaos Lord wearing a helmet with two horns on his head.
Echane's adjutant, the Conqueror Keron, had arrived!
Seeing the flag of the Eternal God's Chosen Warriors, everyone in the Empire thought that the Eternal God of Chaos, Echane, had finally appeared. Volten urged Charlemagne's army to continue their advance. The fanaticism of the Whips helped them deal with the Skalinses and Bell Pines' Marauder Warriors. However, their fanaticism could not help them deal with the Chaos' Chosen Warriors who were charging towards them.
Armor penetration was ineffective. Facing the Chaos' Chosen Warriors, the Sons of Niflaister, who were covered from head to toe in heavy armor, Charlemagne's army's pig-charging tactics were ineffective. The flail could not hurt these Chaos' Chosen Warriors at all. All they could do was produce the sound of metal clanking.
The cold Niflaister's warriors did not say a word. They did not praise the great actions, nor did they make any vows. No matter what they sacrificed to the Chaos Gods, they remained silent. In the silence, Keron's personal guards withstood the attacks of Charlemagne's army, chopping the ascetics and fanatics into pieces. Axes and greatswords reaped the lives of Charlemagne's army like harvesting wheat. More than half of Charlemagne's army of two to three thousand were lost in just a few rounds.
Volten and Luther Huss fought to the death. Volten could even knock down a Chaos' Chosen Warrior with a single strike of his hammer. However, they were unable to break through the enemy's defense line and reach the Eternal God's Chosen Warriors. Volten let out an angry roar. He waited impatiently. Why was the other side of the pincer attack that Marius had promised not here yet?
At this time, on the left wing of the army, the cavalry of Marius and Ivan the Griffin Duke had encountered a huge problem!
Thirty to forty Nurgol's Chosen Warriors in green rotting armor blocked their path. These Nurgol's Chosen Warriors wore grayish-green rotting armor. Their bodies were full of pox, boils, scabs, and rotting sores.
These Nurgol's Chosen Warriors emitted a rotting aura. Flies also surrounded them. Even the weapons and war machines were distorted by the energy of the subspace. Now, they were powered by the sick magic of Chaos. They flashed with green energy and oozed gangrenous pus. Neither the half-griffin knights nor Marius' Knights of the Golden Fleece could break through their defense. Marius roared and charged around with his runic teeth. Ivan the Griffin Duke waved his silver griffin sword. Both of them were doing their best.
The half-griffin knights only made the Nurgol's Chosen Warriors stagger a little when they crashed into them. The muskets and cannonballs only made them feel some pain, but they could not make them yield.
In the middle of these Nurgol's Chosen Warriors, Tyfons, the Master of the Hive of Pestilence and the son of Mortarion, was waving his giant scythe.
Tyfons' movements were slow and elegant. The giant scythe was enlarged by the length of the shaft, turning into an unstoppable shadow of a blade.
The thin edge of the blade carried blue sparks as it hissed in the air. Everything it encountered was wiped out by the all-around heavy blow of the scythe.
Tyfons kept the edge of the blade sharp, but most of the time, the Soul Reaper crushed the enemy instead of cutting. With a nimble strike, he waved the blade in a circle and cut into a defense line made of welded armor plates. It cut through the mithril as easily as cutting through flesh. Two Knights of the Golden Fleece were instantly cut in half.
Ivan the Griffin Duke's mount, the Calamity of Beasts, was kicked away by Tyfons. The Master of the Hive waved his scythe again, and three half-griffin knights were cut in half along with their half-griffin knights.
"Charge! Charge! "Marius fought fiercely. The Kurfürst screamed.
More than half of the Knights of the Golden Fleece fell in a pool of blood.
An entire brigade of half-griffin knights was wiped out! But Marius and Ivan still could not break through the defense line formed by Tyfons and his Death Guards!
On the left flank of the Empire, the army of the Empire had already begun to crumble. Marius' troops were few in number to begin with. When the cavalry and infantry were stopped in their charge, defeat was only a matter of time!
Emperor Karl-franz was still fighting hard on the Death Claw. He noticed the failure of Marius' plan. Neither Volten nor Marius could break through the central position of Chaos from the side. They could not bring Volten to the Eternal Chosen One.
The emperor's heart was full of pain.
They fought with their backs to the wall, but they failed. Their last gamble was over. Now it was time to pay the money they lost.
They lost. They lost completely.
Did I fail? Karl-franz looked at the chaotic battlefield. The army of the Empire was still stubbornly resisting.
Did I fail? The emperor heard Schwarzhammer's voice. The old man was rushing over with the Inner Circle Guards. He signaled the emperor to retreat to Tara Beheim and leave this place to him.
No! I can't fail here! The Empire can't be destroyed here!
Karl-franz regained his spirit again. The emperor of the Empire signaled the Death Claw to continue forward. He ignored Schwarzhammer's request and let the Death Claw rush into the most dangerous place to attract the most attention.
Fight! Until the end!
He would personally charge until dawn!
The twenty Inner Circle Guards saw the emperor's determination. None of the Inner Circle Guards questioned the emperor's decision. Even if they were in hell, they would still follow Emperor Karl-franz!
A second ago, the shield wall of the Warriors of Nurgle seemed indestructible.
A second later, these people were like wooden walls that had been smashed. A large hole was forcefully dug out by the Emperor and the Rick Inner Circle Guards.
At this moment, Karl-franz suddenly felt something. He looked to the east of the battlefield. Behind him, the last trace of sunset drowned in the Black Forest. Night had fallen.
On the hillside in the east, a powerful Demigod, the Lord of Death, appeared on the hill riding an undead warhorse.
"Vlad Von Castein." Karl-franz looked at the person with a complicated expression.
Under the dark night sky, the bone horse, red armor, and white hair pulled the reins. The undead warhorse raised its front hooves. The Lord of Death looked at the situation on the battlefield and nodded approvingly.
Lich King Akerman in a black robe appeared behind Vlad Von Castein. Akerman narrowed his eyes and looked at the battle. He said politely, "The Charlemagne Empire is isolated and helpless."
"No, with me here, they are not isolated and helpless." Vlad Von Castein unsheathed the Bloodthirsty Sword and immediately gave the order. "Finally, it's time to show our existence."
"Sylvania!" Hundreds of Black Knights walked out and lined up. Dozens of undead legions and hundreds of Sylvania flags appeared.
"For Vlad, for Von Castein!!!"
The undead roared to the sky, and the blue soul fire rushed into the sky.
The Battle of Huff Wind Root was far from over.
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