When the infantry of both sides clashed, the Imperial cavalry roamed along the flanks, preventing the royal army from spreading its formation further.

The cavalry, split into two units of 4,000 each, didn’t even need to charge.

-Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud-

“What is that sound... oh no!”

“My head... it feels like it’s going to split...”

The colossal sound of hoofbeats seemed to come from all directions, reverberating through the bodies of the conscripted soldiers and unsettling their already fragile morale.

“C-Cavalry!”

“Are those... monsters?”

“We’re supposed to fight those?”

When the massive cavalry—armored head to toe and standing over three meters tall on their steeds—came into view, the inexperienced conscripts panicked. Their mere presence inspired terror.

“Ahhh!”

“Move! Get out of my way!”

“I’m moving inward! Let me through!”

The Imperial cavalry circled like herding wolves, and the soldiers tasked with holding the flanks pressed themselves inward to avoid getting any closer to the imposing riders.

“The enemy is advancing!”

“Oh no...!”

The advancing infantry on both Imperial flanks compounded the pressure on the royal soldiers, accelerating their retreat inward.

“Attack the center!”

“What are they doing? Why are they going that way?”

“Move! I’m going too!”

Guillaume’s command to concentrate all forces on the center only added to the chaos, and the conscripts fled toward the heart of their formation without hesitation.

Having completed their first objective, the Imperial cavalry moved leisurely to the rear of the royal army to prepare for their charge.

“Sir Roland Berry, take command of the left flank cavalry.”

“Understood.”

“For the King!”

“Charge!”

Unable to watch idly, Damien split his force of 3,000 cavalry into two groups and moved them toward the Imperial cavalry on each flank to draw their attention.

The movement of the royal cavalry, seemingly aimed at the thinner sides of the Imperial infantry, prompted some Imperial cavalry to change direction. Damien and Roland responded by hurling spears and arrows to bait them further. For the royal cavalry, who were outnumbered and outclassed, luring some of the Imperial cavalry off the battlefield was their best option.

“The enemy cavalry is heading this way!”

“Good, lure them away while retreating!”

Assessing the size of an enemy force on the battlefield is notoriously difficult, and splitting a large cavalry unit to pursue targets is rarely feasible. Damien and Roland anticipated that at least half, if not more, of the Imperial cavalry would pursue them. Confident in their superior speed, the royal light cavalry planned to lead their pursuers away from the main battle.

But the Imperial cavalry was under Viktor’s command.

“...Damn it.”

Only about 1,000 Imperial cavalry pursued each group.

“Return to the battlefield! Move!”

Damien’s cavalry, initially considering turning to fight the smaller force, abandoned the idea. Even at that reduced size, the difference in armament made a direct confrontation impossible.

The royal cavalry attempted to bait more Imperial cavalry by moving toward the infantry, but the Imperial pursuit was precise, pinning the royal riders in place instead.

“...Damn.”

Realizing too late that the roles had reversed, Damien and his men were powerless to change the outcome.

“Charge!”

“For the Dragonia Empire!”

“Waaaaah!”

The remaining 6,000 Imperial cavalry struck the flanks and rear of the royal infantry.

“The enemy cavalry is attacking our rear!”

“Charge! Break through the front!”

Guillaume, believing their only escape lay through the thinner enemy lines ahead, roared for his soldiers to charge. But this only hastened their downfall.

“Forward! Quickly!”

“Farther forward? How?”

“Just go! Keep going!”

The royal soldiers, attacked from the flanks and rear, pressed inward to escape the onslaught.

“Waaaaah!”

“Reinforcements have arrived! Hold the line!”

The Imperial reserves reinforced their center, halting the royal army’s advance. 

“The flanks are under attack by enemy infantry!”

“The flanks? Useless fools!”

With cavalry aiding the destruction of the royal army’s wings, the Imperial infantry began striking the sides of Guillaume’s forces. The stretched-out royal center, now resembling the neck of an hourglass, was steadily encircled.

“Move! Get out of my way... ahhh!”

“Watch your weapons!”

“Don’t push! Please, stop pushing!”

Pressed by the Imperial cavalry at their rear, the royal soldiers were crammed together, unable to maneuver.

“Why are you stopping? Keep pushing through! The enemy is at their limit!”

Guillaume and his officers tried to rally their soldiers, knowing that failure to break through would lead to disaster. But the royal army’s charge slowed to a crawl.

“Where are they? Where did they go?”

“Ahhhh!”

“There are enemies on all sides? Where is our army?”

The royal vanguard, attempting to break through the Imperial center, was now surrounded on three sides. This broke their morale instantly.

“Don’t lose hope! The enemy is about to—ugh!”

“Count Berto!”

“Count Berto has fallen?”

“No! Stop! Protect the count!”

“How do we...?”

“Attack! Avenge the count!”

Morris, who had been leading the vanguard, was struck by an arrow and fell from his horse. Without his guidance, the royal army descended into chaos.

“Count, are you all right?”

“Ugh... fetch my horse!”

“...Yes, sir.”

Morris miraculously survived, but it no longer mattered. The royal army was completely disorganized, incapable of maintaining their assault. The advancing vanguard stalled, and the encroaching Imperial forces tightened their encirclement.

“Stop! Everyone, stop!”

Guillaume’s voice failed to reach his soldiers.

“I don’t want to die! Ugh, I’m being crushed! Don’t step on me!”

“Save me!”

“Stop it! Stop! Aaaagh!”

The conscripts, panicked and retreating, trampled over their comrades, further destroying their formation. Central troops were stabbed by friendly weapons or crushed by the fleeing masses.

“There’s nowhere to run now! Fight!”

“If you want to live, kill the enemy!”

Desperately, the royal commanders tried to rally the remaining soldiers. But the Imperial forces didn’t give them a chance.

Certain the royal army had lost its will to fight, Viktor’s cavalry adjusted their formation, creating a narrow opening at the rear of the encircled forces.

“It’s a trap! Don’t retreat!”

“Please, let me out!”

“Move! I’m going through! Get out of my way!”

“Anyone who retreats will be cut down! Stop!”

“I don’t want to die... Mom! Mom!”

Thousands of royal soldiers surged toward the narrow exit, ignoring commands and shoving each other through the gap. The disorder spread like wildfire.

“Don’t charge blindly!”

“Go! Move faster! I’ll kill you if you block me!”

“Let me through first! You don’t have a family to worry about, right?”

“Everyone, out of my way! I’m going to live!”

The already chaotic formation collapsed entirely as soldiers trampled each other in their desperate bid to escape.

-Crash! Stab!-

“Argh!”

“The enemy is fleeing! Now’s our chance!”

“Charge!”

“Waaaaaah!”

The Imperial soldiers, holding the line with great effort, finally unleashed their pent-up fury, tearing through the fleeing royal troops.

“I... survived...”

-Bam!-

“For the glory of the Empire!”

“Waaaaaah!”

Even those who escaped through the gap were struck down by waiting Imperial cavalry.

---

From the center of the carnage, Guillaume watched the slaughter in stunned silence. The officers were scattered, trying to maintain control, leaving only Antoine by his side.

“This... this isn’t real. It’s a dream. It must be a dream.”

“Your Majesty?”

Muttering in shock, Guillaume trembled as he pulled off his crown and royal cape.

“Bring me a helmet! Quickly!”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty...”

Grabbing a soldier’s helmet, Guillaume donned it and mounted his horse, galloping toward the gap in the encirclement. Antoine hurried to follow.

“Your Majesty! Where are you going?”

“Don’t follow me! If I survive, the kingdom still has a future! Fight to the end to stop them from advancing!”

“...Your Majesty.”

“Ugh! Get out of my way! Move!”

With no regard for the soldiers trampled beneath his horse, Guillaume fled toward the gap.

But as he approached, a group of Imperial cavalry intercepted him.

“Are you Guillaume Châtillon?”

“What the—?”

-Thud!-

“Ugh!”

“The enemy king, Guillaume Châtillon, has been captured!”

The Imperial cavalry, acting on Viktor’s orders, subdued Guillaume.

“Guillaume Châtillon has been taken! Cease this meaningless resistance and surrender!”

The Imperial forces, having routed the royal army, finally called for their surrender.

“...We surrender.”

Antoine’s declaration marked the end of the battle between the Empire and the Kingdom of Brotan.