The battle raged on within the background as Sicilia went for a silent stroll by the woods on her horse. Though she would describe this stroll as ‘peaceable,’ she knew that saying such a factor be could be nothing greater than mendacity to herself.

Within the hours that handed, she would usually hear the roars of artillery-fire within the background whereas different sounds generally heard in battle sometimes cropped up.

Hopefully, every little thing was going in keeping with Erika’s plan.

The plan in query being primarily based on the ‘defeat intimately’ or ‘divide and conquer’ tactic; a tactic which utilised a big fraction of 1’s personal power so as to eradicate smaller parts of the enemy’s forces in remoted battles quite than confronting your entire bulk of the enemy without delay.

In different phrases, the Omega Corp’s Dragoons will elimate the remoted incoming reinforcements whereas they have been nonetheless unprepared and earlier than they might rendezvous with the vanguard forces.

On high of this, gatling gun divisions which have been supplemented with Omega infantry battalions have been positioned in potential escape routes to chop down any retreating crusader corporations.

Nonetheless, that does not imply that each one crusaders have been caught by the gatling gun emplacements. Typically Sicilia would even come throughout lone deserters within the forests. In fact, she promptly silenced them whereas they have been nonetheless exhausted earlier than she looted their our bodies.

Whereas looting might look like a petty act, Sicilia had no qualms with such a notion. There was no cause for her to concern herself with such issues. If a possibility arises for Sicilia to learn in any manner, form or kind, she is going to take that chance so long as the dangers have been low sufficient. It was so simple as that.

Why else would she even be right here within the first place?

However, Sicilia nonetheless had a mission to finish. Whereas Erika could also be an impressive commander, she lacked tact when it got here to extra… ‘private’ duties.

In actual fact, the present scenario of the 2 women was proof of their distinction in skill-sets. Erika was off commanding the battle whereas Sicilia was on a mere ‘looking journey.’

Quickly sufficient, Sicilia caught sight of her goal.

A determine using a horse at breakneck speeds.

And it could appear that, the determine was additionally using proper in the direction of Sicilia.

However most significantly, the determine would not appear to have observed Sicilia’s presence but.

How handy…

For the primary time since briefly parting methods with Erika, Sicilia spoke with real pleasure in her voice.

“Caught you.”

As Sicilia’s mouth curved right into a faint smile, she bought off her horse and crouched down behind the bushes. She then unslung her musket from her again and ready to fireside. Nonetheless, this wasn’t any bizarre musket. It was a ‘rifle’ which as its title would counsel had rifling.

Particularly, this was the ‘V-23 Redblack Rifle,’ as a substitute of the ‘V-22 Redback Rifle’ which was the usual difficulty musket for Drussian Dragoons. As its title would counsel, the V-22 was inferior to the V-23 in all points excluding price effectivity.

Even gatling weapons have been simpler to supply after they have been in comparison with the V-23 rifle. As such, solely a choose few people have been gifted with the possession of such a unbelievable weapon.

The closest weapon mannequin when it comes to rarity to the V-23 was the V-18 schlange pistol which was reserved for officers of the Imperial Military solely and even then the distinction in rarity between the 2 fashions was nonetheless by a big margin.

What made the V-23 more practical than its V-22 counterpart was that it contained ‘true rifling’ and have been all breach-loaded quite than front-loaded. Such upgrades was what made the distinction in each its effectiveness in addition to its time and manufacturing prices.

And now Sicilia was about to show simply how efficient it was.

It did not matter how briskly her goal was transferring.

So long as Sicilia remained composed, she knew that she is going to succeed.

If one have been to ask Sicilia what was the one factor she knew about human beings she would give them the identical reply each time.

‘Normally, people are too predictable for their very own good.’

And her goal simply proved her assertion.

For Sicilia wasn’t on the lookout for her goal in these forests.

As a substitute, she was merely ready for them.

As her goal continued to attract nearer, she lifted her rifle and aimed it in the direction of her goal.

Instantly after, Sicilia took a deep breath as she steadied her purpose.

Then she pulled the set off.

…

“The place the hell are our reinforcements? It has been almost an hour for the reason that final battalion joined up with us. What’s taking them so lengthy?”

It was no secret that Stefanie’s persistence was beginning to run skinny. How may it not? Her forces consisted of greater than 60,000 troopers whereas the Drussians solely had a meagre 20,000 males at their disposal.

Stefanie glared on the knight by her aspect as she lifted her voice.

“And the way the hell have we not we crushed these Drussians but?! There’s solely 20,000 of them! 20,000! We’ve got been receiving reinforcements for your entire battle! We even have artillery! They do not even have artillery! So inform me! How have we not crushed these damned Drussians but?”

The knight that Stefanie glared at, a feminine knight named De glanced round nervously earlier than she responded.

“We all know that however it could appear the Drussians have been extra devilish than we initially thought. It doesn’t matter what, they at all times ensured that their place was secure from artillery hearth. Proper now, their place on the other incline of the hill is stopping our cannons from having a transparent shot.”

Stefanie noticed De sigh to herself earlier than she continued.

“Then again, our cavalry can shut in them however with the usage of their sq. formations, we at all times give you even or detrimental trades. We simply cannot break by their traces. The one cause why we have been even in a position to transfer up was as a result of they have been slowly retreating.”

“I do know and that is what’s irritating me!”

Stefanie could not assist however grit her tooth collectively as she spoke in a raised voice.

“They’re making an attempt to carry out for reinforcements whereas making an attempt to tire us out! There is not any doubt about it! That should be their plan! In any other case why would they be so obstinately preventing a shedding battle? It simply would not make sense?”

“Though I’ve a foul feeling about this. I can not presumably deny or refute any of your factors your highness.”

In response to De’s reply, Stefanie discovered that she was in a position to settle down and decrease her voice as she spoke.

“It would not matter. We nonetheless ought to have round 180,000 incoming reinforcements, even when Drussian reinforcements do arrive, we will nonetheless outmatch them in numbers. It would not even matter if their objective is to tire out our present forces, we will simply cycle them out with our reinforcements.”

“Your highness, over there! Within the horizon. It might appear that our reinforcements arrived.”

Stefanie felt her coronary heart fee decelerate the second she heard the random knight’s remark.

With a relieved sigh, Stefanie turned her consideration in the direction of the horizon to look on the silhouette of the incoming reinforcements. With that very same sense of aid in her voice, Stefanie let loose a remark.

“What the hell took them so lon-…”

Just for her to right away realise that one thing was incorrect.

The primary discrepancy was the truth that the ‘reinforcements’ seemed to be already deploying their artillery regardless that they have been effectively out of vary of the Drussians.

As a substitute, it appeared as in the event that they have been aiming the artillery at Stefanie’s place.

The second discrepancy was the uniform of these ‘reinforcements.’

They have been wearing purple. The primary color scheme of the Imperium of Drussia.

These weren’t Stefanie’s crusaders…

These males have been Drussians.

“These aren’t our males! Shortly! Name our reserves into motion! Do not go away our rear uncovered!”

Stefanie was the primary to react. Inside moments she was already issuing orders whereas the knights and nobles round her have been nonetheless in a daze.

“The place are our cavalry! I need these artillery taken out this immediate! I need these artillery taken out befo-“

Increase!

Increase!

Increase!

But it surely was too late.

Quickly, explosions of dust and rock kicked up into the air, taking the lives of anybody unlucky sufficient to be within the goal zone. Inside moments, Stefanie witnessed the morale and composure of her commanding officers shortly disappear.

Like madmen who’ve been alone on an island for too lengthy, she heard them mutter random sentences to themselves.

“We have been outflanked? However… However how?”

“Unattainable! That is unattainable! This has bought to be a dream proper?”

“Our reinforcements… Why are our reinforcements firing at us!”

“We have been forsaken… God has forsaken us!”

“I will not die right here! Watch me! Witness me! I’ll return ho- guuaghhhh!”

In fact, Stefanie didn’t admire this sight within the slightest. Though in useless, Stefanie nonetheless tried her finest to rally collectively her complete military. She has performed an excessive amount of for this to fail now.

“Come up with your self! You are nobleborn! You dare shame your birthright! Struggle! Stand and figh-“

“Your highness!”

Nonetheless, she was interrupted by De who swiftly grasped Stefanie’s wrist.

“Please! You have to flee!”

“Flee?! I can not presumably flee! Not once we’re this near victory!”

Stefanie could not assist shouting on the knight, she simply couldn’t consider what she heard from De. Nonetheless, De remained composed regardless of the dire scenario round her as she spoke.

“Your highness please… Please take into consideration what your father would have wished.”

“What my father would have wished?..”

Stefanie was stumped the second she heard De’s response. However, De nonetheless continued talking.

“Would your father wished you to die pointlessly in battle? Or would he quite have you ever survive… and maintain the royal bloodline alive.”

“He… he would have… rattling it!”

Stefanie knew that she could not disagree with De. With a heavy coronary heart, Stefanie gave what was principally probably her ultimate order to De.

“Win this battle for me.”

De stayed silent for a second earlier than she responded.

“As you want your highness.”

The second that Stefanie heard De’s response was the second she kicked her horse into full velocity to flee from the battle, shortly leaving the sounds of explosions behind her.

After who is aware of how lengthy of using at breakneck speeds, Sicilia has rode right into a forest.

She rode and rode before-

Bang!

“Neeiiiigh”

Stefanie’s warhorse screamed in ache earlier than it threw her of its again.

Inside moments Stefanie was sliding throughout the dust of the ground earlier than she lastly stopped.

After spitting out dust, Stefanie shortly sight of what was almost definitely the perpetrator.

The determine was a lady wearing prime quality purple clothes and armed with a musket that had smoke emanating out of its barrel.

Nonetheless, essentially the most distinctive factor concerning the girl was her silver hair and purple-violet eyes.

“Silver hair… purple eyes… you are a Dunnwal… you are a member of Drussian royal household!”

The smile that was already on the determine’s face grew wider when she heard Stefanie’s shout.

“I am flattered, I am glad you observed. I am Sicilia Gella Dunnwal, the older sister of Emperor Maxwell.”

“Aha… ahaha… ahahahahahahahaha!”

For some cause that not even Stefanie knew, she started laughing. Laughing to herself to be extra particular. One way or the other, someway, Stefanie was performing earlier than she was even considering. Quickly, she opened her mouth to let loose her chilly voice.

“You recognize… I used to be starting to assume that I’ll by no means style the sweetness of delivering divine justice onto you detestable Dunnwals. Though… I have to admit that it was Maxwell’s head that I actually wished.”

As Stefanie mentioned this, she felt an expression that was each a smile and a scowl develop on her face as she reached for the hilt of her sword.

“However I suppose the top of his bitch of a sister will just do as effective.”