UWTD 369: Unification (IV)

Two weeks passed, and news of forts and lords surrendering to the Saxons kept rolling in. Artoria’s army was halfway into the march on the port town that Vortigern used as their main camp.

News from inside came out that the Barbarians pillaged the city and civilians of everything. They killed and ravaged anything in front of them like mad beasts.

In the two weeks, Artoria’s army grew to 17,000. But the Saxons grew from 50,000 to 60,000 in number. Not counting the lords that surrendered and civilians forced to fight. They now faced the army after a month-long march.

“Vortigern has forcefully conscripted civilians and defeated knights in his army. 70,000 soldiers. That fucking bastard.” Kay cursed, looking down at the army in the open grassland outside the port city.

“We can’t let such people stay in power.” Even Bedivere’s expression turned bitter this time.

“Let’s show these people what we can do,” Kay smirked and donned his helmet.

Behind him and Bedivere stood an army of 12,000 men. Outnumbered, but they had many elites who heard of Artoria’s will to destroy the invaders. The Lord of Cornwall, and King Lot of and Orkney came with their units too.

“Are you all ready to show these damned barbarians their place?” Kay shouted, riling up the army.

“Yeah!” Even if outnumbered, not one of Artoria’s men shrank back in the face of the overwhelming army. Their spirits rose high.

“Then charge these damn vermin!” Kay led the army down.

Thousands of footsteps, clanking armours, huffing horses, and the collective heat generated from that intense moment filled the summer day.

The Saxons’ frontline, made of conscripted citizens and defeated soldiers, stepped back in fear of that frenzy. In their eyes, Artoria’s army looked much scarier than the Saxons behind them.

“Stop faltering, you piece of trash.” The commanding officers shouted. He kicked one of the few and hacked three men in one swing. “I’ll kill you if you run!” he roared.

They had no choice but to face the charge from the army head-on. However, the clash of shields wasn’t as rough as they expected, but gentle pushes. There were no attacks from the sharp spears either, and their confused attacks bounced off their armour.

“Why are they at a standstill?” The commanding officer, a six and a half feet tall, muscular man, asked. They had given the front liners cheap equipment so they could tire the soldiers out, but they didn’t expect the clash to last this long.

“I don’t know. Our arrows aren’t helping either.” The overseer of the archery units added. “Also, I can’t spot their damned leader, that little girl they were harping about.”

“Yeah, that little bitch. They were talking like she was some force of nature. But in front of an army this strong, she doesn’t have the guts to rush in alone.” The general gaffed. “She only does that cause of the weaklings on this island.”

Their laughter deepened as the stalemate on the frontline continued. But a report came from the left flank.

“G-General, someone attacked our left flank!” The soldier said, covered in sweat. “They took out an entire company in a minute.”

“How many?” The general asked, thinking that a small elite force had shown itself.

However, the soldier gulped before answering. “Only one.”

The death cries of the soldiers and tremors reached the General from the flank. He looked over to the left and saw bodies flying everywhere. “What is the world…?” and between that storm of blood was a young girl in silver armour.

One swing of her sword took ten men. She cut through their flank alone, without a horse or a backup. She rushed in like a bull to a red color. No fear of getting surrounded, no fear of getting besieged. Just pure power and destruction.

“G-General from the right!” Another soldier came. “A knight is charging in with a force of 5,000!”

“Holy hell…” The general saw a devastating sight on the other end, too.

Two blonde knights who wielded golden swords on each end. They cut through his men like butter. Without a doubt, the knight on the right wasn’t as strong as the one on the left. But he had his force that divided the army.

“These bastards are trying to isolate the frontline soldiers! Stop them!” The stalemate finally clicked in the general’s head. His opponents wanted to save the conscripted civilians.

However, he had realized it too late. No, his opponent was unusually fast. Artoria in servant form, and Gwain under the noon sun with his force. They cut through the flanks at supernatural speed and precision.

While the soldiers behind Gwain kept Saxon soldiers at bay, “Let them through.” Bedivere ordered to shielders to let the conscripted soldiers through and circled them to pincer attack the unprepared mages and archers behind them.

“Charge these bastards!!” Kay led the charge to slaughter the isolated archery unit.

Bedivere took command of the army in the back and led them into a frontal assault. He appeared weak. His girly appearance made him look like an easy target, but anyone who thought that ended up without a head.

On that battlefield, Kay, Bedivere, Gwain, and every single soldier of the army felt a flow of never-ending power. No matter how much they swung their swords, their arms didn’t feel tired. No matter how much they ran, their legs always had more in them. It felt otherworldly.

And the one who made this possible stood in the back, watching the battle in its entirety. Adam liked Artoria’s plan. It coincided with his and would spread her infamy and benevolence. Today, a war god and merciful ruler would be born on this battlefield. And no one in the land would dare challenge that person.

The unfortunate soul who became the stepping stone for this person came out in the open, too. “So, it is you, huh? The one who is helping that brat.” Vortigern approached Adam without a sound.