***Arc 8 One Who Spread Death, Chapter 180 Alberinea's Black Flag***

*One ken = approximately 1.8 meters. 50 ken is 90 meters.

Unicorn → Rhinoceros-like creature.

"Kuku, as expected, we can’t recover huh. It feels like I've been punched in the nose."

"...Is this a situation where you can laugh?"

From atop the elephant, Orugan looked at the dejected soldiers as he watched the Suiko and Krische disappearing into the battle lines beyond, with a strange look on his face.

He raised his voice in an attempt to rebuild morale, but the soldiers were still in a state of confusion――no matter how Orugan words were spoken, they were not getting through.

That gigantic body was not only used to intimidate the enemy, but also served as a spiritual support for the soldiers.

During the Gulshan Civil War, this beast mowed down the battle lines and shattered forts, making a great contribution to the victory of the rebel army.

The soldiers were very excited about Alcazaris' departure, and were excited thinking that Alberan was not their enemy.

For that reason, the impact this way of death had was tremendous.

The shock to the soldiers' spirits was probably even greater than the death of their brave commander.

"Did you imagine that she would follow her words through? Haha, that huge body sank with a single throw of a spear from that distance. There can't be a more hilarious situation than this."

However, Orugan laughed happily.

The deadly beast was easily defeated, and yet there was still power in his eyes.

"I already said from the beginning that, if you can imagine it, you should reserve it you know."

Zalvaag replied exasperated.

"I wish they'd at least target us. That would have been better."

"...Please give me a break, commander. This is not something I can handle."

The elephant jockey told them with a look of heartfelt hate.

It doesn't matter if it's Orugan or Zalvaag, there's no way a jockey sitting on top of an elephant could avoid that.

The rider pulled the elephant's ears from the reins and made it walk toward the main camp through the gaps in the ranks.

"Don't be so rude. That's just a show."

There's nothing particularly clear.

However, the very act of giving the opening greeting means a fair fight.

After that, it was a tacit agreement and etiquette that the battle would begin only after both generals had returned to their respective positions.

The reason why armies were placed one ri apart from each other was because this was the limit of the effective range of the small trebuchets and crossbows normally used in field battles.

It would be difficult for them to fire at each other effectively, and it would give an impression to allied soldiers that they were despicable for the damage they caused.

No matter what, an attack would not normally be launched at this timing, which has only disadvantages――but it would be a different story if a mere individual were to attack with a javelin from a ri away.

Even if it is praised, there was no one who would criticize it as despicable.

Of course the enemy was the enemy, but there were no soldiers here who would be angry about a pre-emptive attack from a ri away.

The key was the atmosphere.

If it's a weapon made with that purpose in mind, it might be cowardly, but if it's a warrior's personal skill, even though it's an enemy, they can't help but say it's brilliant.

Even more so if it could be done with just one throw.

"However, they sure did it. The enemy's morale was at its highest, and our morale plummeted――the enemy had gained a mental advantage. What is the enemy aiming for, Zalvaag?"

"...Of course it will be a breakthrough. With that much excitement, there is nothing we can do. Soldiers with increased morale will stand up to the elephants."

There is no beast stronger than a war elephant to deal with frightened soldiers.

The mere sight of their bodies lashing out in front of them could devastate enemy soldiers who look up at them with a single breath.

However, if the opponent offsets fear with enthusiasm and maintains a certain level of calm, the elephant is by no means an invincible creature.

Still, the advantage will not change――

"If it’s me, then I would aim at the hole that Alcazaris fell through. The morale of the soldiers is at its lowest, and the elephants around them are also scared."

"...That's a reasonable line."

The Gulshan army was 55,000 led by Kilrea on the left wing against the Garhka army.

Then, 30,000 led by Elkar on the right wing against the Alberinea army, and placed 20,000 of Orugan’s main army behind them on the boundary between the two armies.

Alcazaris was placed on the left wing of Elkar’s army, and would have originally destroyed the right wing of Alberinea's army.

However, now that it has been lost, the left wing of Elkar's army has become their weak point.

It was quite possible that it would be overtaken.

The Alberinea army had its left wing completely entrusted to the fortified city of Nakria, so there were only two corps on the front of the battle.

However, there was one corps in reserve in their rear.

It was thought that they would definitely use that force to break through this single point.

If so, the worst case scenario was that two corps, of nearly 10,000 troops, could avalanche into the rear of Elkar's army.

――It should not be underestimated.

"......It is hard to believe that the other side is the real target. If they go from the front, they will find Elkar's main camp. If they’re busy with that side, they won't have any strength to take down our main camp."

It was too aggressive and inconceivable for the enemy to pass Elkar's main camp in the center of the right wing and aim for Orugan’s main camp.

The battle front of the Alberinea army was two corps, the right wing and the left wing, but Elkar had also placed troops on the right wing, right in front against Nakria.

There were no elephants or highly mobile beasts, but there were 5,000 troops.

If the left wing of Alberinea's army was going to break through the center, this force would aim at its flank. And the other side should also have understood that.

It would be impossible to break through the center while being targeted in the flanks, and Elkar was not a weak general.

He was a general with the ability and experience to invade other countries on his own.

It would be foolhardy to aim for Orugan by defeating him head-on, and the enemy left wing forces would be aiming to stall him at best.

Considering the situation, it was reasonable that the enemy's aim was to break through to a single point with the right wing.

"That said, it’s useless for me to think about it. It's Elkar's playground. ...Just to be safe, the main army will prepare themselves for a breakthrough on Elkar's left wing. Zalvaag, if the enemy breaks through, it's your playground. Fun isn’t it?"

"...There's no reason to be happy. Let's pray that General Elkar will stop the breakthrough."

He said with a sigh and turned his sight toward behind the enemy line.

Zalvaag stared at the main Alberinea army camp.

As Orugan had read, the Alberan army could not afford to not take advantage of its morale.

Alberan's first move was to advance the entire army.

However, the Garhka army did not advance in single file, but in order from the left wing――the entire army drew a diagonal line, set an angle, and showed a tentative stance against the Kilrea army, which attempted to bypass the right wing.

Naturally, even though morale had fallen, the Gulshan army didn't just stand there and accept it.

The entire army was propelled in front of the beast, which consisted of elephants, earth dragons, and unicorns.

Normally, the situation would be at the stage of shooting at each other――of course, an exchange of arrows began between the Kilrea army and the Garhka army, but that didn't happen between the Elkar army and the Alberan army.

Elkar's army's vanguard has 60 elephants. Earth dragon 30, unicorn 20.

In order to exert maximum effect on them, the infantry had to strike without a pause when the elephants disrupted the enemy vanguard.

Speed was vital, and to achieve this, it was necessary for the infantry to advance in time with the beast's legs.

If the archers were brought forward, the timing of the replacement would cause a disruption in the formation.

And if the replacement delayed the movement of the infantry, there was a danger that the beast would rush out.

Although they all had thick hides, the rain of arrows that poured down on them was still a sufficient threat.

The riders were not as sturdy as they were, and after all, they were beasts――they were not fighting for honor or a cause. They instinctively get frightened by the danger of a downpour of arrows.

If the opponent concentrated their arrows on a beast that stands out, it would not even succeed in the initial charge, and skirmishers, who did not form battle lines like archers, were their weakest point.

There was also the possibility that the beasts in the vanguard would be beaten to death one-sidedly.

Here too, even if they bought out the archers and disrupted them, the opponent would be in a skirmish state where they keep a wide distance between each other.

It cannot be a fatal blow, and the damage in a shoot fight will naturally be greater on their side, which would lose the beasts.

Therefore, if elephants and other beasts were placed in the front line, the best defense was to attack.

A simple all-out assault would produce the greatest effect and limit their losses.

If there were infantry in line right behind the elephants, the enemy would have no choice but to withdraw their archers quickly.

As mentioned earlier, the formation will always be disrupted at the time of the change.

And in the face of a war elephant and a line of soldiers, a loss of control is fatal――the enemy needs to avoid this above all else, and if faced with an all-out attack, they would inevitably become passive.

A giant beast is something that in itself gives it an overwhelming advantage in a head-on collision.

What was needed to control them was not elaborate schemes or tricks, but courage and boldness.

The ultimate and best thing to do was to force their way through a rain of enemy arrows with simple and clear brute force, and pry open the enemy's lines with the pure frontal combat power of that force.

The morale of the Gulshan army has dropped significantly, and the morale of the Alberan army was at its highest.

However, once they are able to engage, this gap in morale would likely narrow once again.

The general on the right wing of Gulshan's army, the giant Elkar, thought so and told his soldiers to just fight as usual.

They had never lost in a head-on collision.

With this difference in morale, it was possible to reach a stalemate even by using war elephants, earth dragons, and unicorns, but that said, a stalemate was more than desirable.

If the two sides could simply cut each other down, there would be no need to think about anything.

Victory would naturally roll their way due to the difference in military strength.

Just like the laws of nature.

A strong force is required to make something move again once it has stopped.

Once they stop, they push against each other――if there’s no outside forces, they wouldn’t be able to destroy and break through the battle line, and the opponent wouldn’t have any more strength to take action from there.

If they could prevent the initial attack, they win.

This battle was that simple.

However――

"...That's strange. Why isn’t the enemy shooting their arrows?"

A seven-shaku superhuman physique.

A rugged armor and helmet with only an elephant symbol engraved on the chest and center of the helmet.

Looking out over the battlefield from atop an elephant, Elkar had a frown on his already grim face.

The Alberinea army in the front only advances the battle line, and did not even show signs of arranging archers against their beast soldiers.

"...Aren't they planning on making the most of their morale? Or are they going to let it go to the back like Garhka did?"

Even if one didn't compare him to Elkar, he probably had a small stature for a man.

Naikul, the adjutant――looked at the Alberinea forces in front and replied.

In the past, Garhka was able to respond to a lead-on charge by elephants by creating a gap in the battle line with a spectacular formation change――brilliantly parrying the charge.

Although they were trained war elephants, they were still just beasts.

Contrary to its appearance, it is a timid herbivore, and if an opening is created and it is guided, it will instinctively choose to run away.

Avoid hitting the spear head-on.

It was a Garhka who had fought against elephants many times――even though he was an enemy, his command was superb.

There was no doubt that he had shared this way of dealing with elephants, but....

"If it's two, it's probably the former. It’s because the elephants were so prominent that time. But this time, the elephants aren't the only beast, and the infantry is right behind it. They can't use such big moves."

If they tried to flush the elephants out in this situation, they would be crushed in the line of battle by the infantry and earth dragons following them through the gap that had opened up.

"However, pushing them in based on high morale...if that's the Garhka army, that doesn't seem like a bad idea, but how many people over there actually know about elephants?"

"...At the very least I won't choose that. It's a reckless gamble."

If it's a Garhka army, a simple head-on collision was an option.

Veteran soldiers who have long held back the invasion of Gulshan in the south.

They were used to dealing with beasts, and if their morale increased that much, there was a good chance they could tear through the battle line along with the elephants and earth dragons.

However, the opponent was the army from the center of the kingdom led by Alberinea.

The way she defeat Alcazaris with a single throw――It was certain that Alberinea was an extraordinary warrior, and of course the army she leads was also elite.

However, this was only a matter of being the elite when dealing with people.

There were not many people who could demonstrate their full potential when facing a beast they have never seen before.

If this was a head-to-head battle based on high morale, it was quite a gamble.

"But, as expected, there's no sign of them moving. they seem serious."

Even while they’re talking, the distance was shrinking.

Gambling――However, he didn't have any feelings of disrespect.

The soldiers of the kingdom's army were different from the soldiers of Gulshan in the first place.

Strong soldiers equipped with uniform equipment and thoroughly trained.

If one were to compare ordinary soldiers without beasts, their abilities would be superior.

If they were to succeed in this gamble, there was a good chance they would advance through the battle lines.

"Flag bearer, have your right wing take a detour maneuver! Strike the enemy's flank!"

"Sir!"

"On top of that, bring the entire main force forward. Get all the reserves ready to move!"

Elkar raised his voice and saw the elephant he was riding begin to move and looked forward again.

In the distance, he looked closely at the Alberinea army and frowned.

"...A chariot? In that position?"

It would only be if they were on top of the elephant.

The enemy army, divided into left and right――he turned his attention to a strange chariot that was blending in with the battle line on its left wing.

"Two horses...but considering it's a chariot, there's no archer either. It looks like just a cart though."

"Either is fine...but why would they mix something like that into the battle line?"

A cart covered with cloth was behind it, and two horses were pulling it.

It was unnatural for a cart to be placed in such an intrusive place, and the same would be true for a chariot.

It was an antique from a time when there were no stirrups――when chariots were not able to be fought properly on horseback.

Even if they were to bring it out now, the operation would not be much different from that of cavalry.

It used to go around from both wings.

Why would they be mixed in with the line of battle?

Rather than puzzling――it was eerie.

"Messenger, I found a strange carriage or chariot of unknown purpose among the enemy in Central Dalton. Tell them to be very careful!"

"Ha! I'll repeat it!"

"No need! Go now!! Tell His Excellency this too!!"

Elkar ran the message as he shouted――the echoes were thunderous earthquakes and battle cries.

The war elephants were about to attack.

Elkar looked up again, then.

"――That is"

Beyond the elephants that had begun to charge forward.

While he took his eyes off the elephants for a moment, the black banner of a crescent moon skull was fluttering countless times from the enemy battle line.

And appearing as if oozing out from it were soldiers in black armor.

Between the Bagil third corp and the Kolkis second corp.

Aleha looked up at the sky as he advanced with his soldiers, squinting at the wind of the battlefield.

The enemy was a large army of over 100,000.

There was an army of 30,000 in front, and this was only half of it.

Originally, it would have been a reckless attack.

When Aleha was a general, he would have thought that a head-on collision was ridiculous.

――However, for Krische Christand, this was not a gamble.

"Wow, I feel like my crotch is shrinking, Aleha-dono."

"I'm the opposite, Squad Leader Zaka. My whole body is excited to be entrusted with the spearhead of a battle like this."

The handsome young man laughed.

The squad leader, who was wearing an eyepatch over his left eye, smiled back at him and answered happily.

"I remember the battle in the Dragon's Maw. The enemy was a large army, and we were at most 100 men――Krische-sama accompanied us and we continued to fight for a week in the mountains of Bernaich."

He traced his left eye over his eye patch and closed his eyes for a moment.

"No praise, no support. Compared to that, this is quite a luxury. Above all, it's good that today is the end."

"It's good to think positively. ... It's one way of thinking."

"...?"

Aleha looked at the elephant in front of and told Zaka.

"On the battlefield, people first feel the fear of death, but death is simply the result of failure. What you should think about is how you will succeed. What you should always envision is your ideal self, and then look at how you should be in order to reach that ideal."

Aleha continued with a wry smile, distorting his good looks.

"If you think of yourself as a soldier, it's good to be positive. That's how I got closer to my ideals and rose from corporal to general. ...Kuku, though as you know, in the end that turned into arrogance, and General Christand and Krische-sama broke that long nose.''

"...I have a hard time responding to that."

Zaka said exasperated.

Stories of superiors' failures were difficult to respond to.

"Well, in short...When you put yourself on the battlefield, the stake is your life, no matter if the enemy is strong or weak."

Aleha's cheeks lifted with madness in his eyes.

"The more powerful the enemy, the greater the honor of defeating it. Don't you think that if the stakes are the same either way, the more powerful the enemy, the better?"

"...It's rude to say this to your superior, but you're crazy."

Zaka laughed, but Aleha neither blamed nor denied it.

"Kuku, in the first place, soldiers are the ones who risk their only lives for uncertain things like glory and honor. Do you think such people are sane?"

"I don't think so. I've become very aware of it these days. I'm sure the quality of a soldier is determined by how crazy they are."

Zaka said, gesturing behind him with his thumb.

"Should I be happy or sad to be able to fight under a commander who is more intelligent than anyone else? I sometimes wonder about that."

"Of course, you should be happy from the bottom of your heart. ...It's a crazy environment, and if you’re not crazy, wouldn't it be your loss?"

"Indeed.… Is it about time?"

"Ahh, it's about time."

The distance from the enemy's vanguard――war elephant was less than 100 meters.

If there was an archer, it was completely within range, and within the range from which the war elephants could start their charge.

Aleha has fought throughout the western part of the Holy Empire as a soldier of the Holy Empire.

Naturally, he has experience fighting not only with the kingdom but also with Gulshan, and he knows more about how war elephants move than anyone else in Alberinea army.

"Let's act as guides for all the soldiers on this crazy battlefield, Squad Leader Zaka."

"Ha! Bogs, come forward! Raise the banner!"

In response, he raised the flag that had been put down.

A large bell rang from behind, and at the same time, the war elephant in front changed its stance from walking to running.

――That was the signal.

Aleha jumps forward, followed by five members of Zaka's squad.

All of them, except for the flag bearer, were holding two spears.

Aleha, danced in front of the battle line, followed by the others.

Throwing the spear in the left hand, and reversing the spear in the right hand.

His body accelerated to the limit like a beast――his upper body flexed as if he were slamming his heel into the earth.

"...!"

The distance is seventy ken.

A hand-to-hand spear that is faster than an arrow is shot out from the springs that was his body.

There was a whirring noise, and the destination was the war elephant――the base of its nose between its eyes.

The gap in the skull――the spear that accurately penetrated the nasal cavity, completely damaged the inside of the head with just one throw, killing it instantly.

The giant body fell down and fell to the ground, scraping away at the ground.

"Hunters of Alberinea, come forward! Elephants like them are just mere targets――teach those stupid beastmasters about the battles of Alberinea!!"

Aleha howled, and the flag bearer waved the banner.

Two hundred warriors appeared one after another from the battle line, roaring in response.

Wearing the same black armor, each carrying a spear, all galloping faster than horses.

Then, they threw the spear in their hand into the elephant in front of them――and once again the Alberan army erupted into loud cheers.

They weren't just javelin-throwing skirmishers.

A special javelin-thrower made up entirely of magic possessed.

The hunters of Alberinea――what they fired was a deadly weapon that could be called a magic spear.

The complete opposite of their cheers.

Countless elephants screamed in pain from the Gulshan army.

Even from a distance of 50 meters, the spear that stuck into its body was deep.

The Gulshan soldiers woke up in an instant from the frenzy of the all-out assault, and showed fear at the black-clad monsters in front of them.

They have not forgotten the existence of Alberinea, who felled Alcazaris from a run away with a single throw.

There was also the presence of a black flag with a skull and crescent moon waving there.

And even now, many of the same flags were hoisted in front of them.

The soldiers had forced their hearts, which had once been broken, to become enthusiastic.

When they see the war elephants falling down one after another with the sound of countless wind noises, once they wake up from their frenzy, all that remains was fear of the unknown.

The transcendence Alberinea's magic spear did not end with just one throw.

An army of deviants who could easily shoot and kill war elephants from a distance of 50 ken.

To them, everything before them seemed like a monster beyond comprehension.

――There's no way they can compete with monsters like this with twice as many people.

Such thoughts seep into their minds and rise to the surface.

"Don't slow down! The elite are few, we can crush them with the difference in numbers!! Don't be afraid to move forward!!"

Even so, excellent commanders who remained calm and had the ability to analyze the situation raised their voices.

But in this situation――there was no way the soldiers would believe that.

Alberinea was not the only one who felled Alcazaris.

The commanders tried to assuage their fears, saying that it was all about individual valor, and that they had the upper hand in this battle.

"Gh――h!?"

The reality in front of them believed that.

Alberinea wasn't the only one.

Even war elephants and strong beasts were no match for Alberinea's army.

These beasts have always taken the lead and mowed down enemy lines.

As long as they had that, they would never be defeated in a head-on battle――their confidence, the basis for it, had been fundamentally destroyed.

Some of them, disrupting their steps to run away in fear, were pushed and fell down.

And the dead bodies of the war elephants that had become obstacles――the disorder in the battle line spread to the entire army.

Once the army had its heart broken, it was no longer an army.

They completely lost the ability to move forward and lost control.

"All forces――begin the assault!!"

And in the face of them, the kingdom's crest depicting a sword thrust to the heavens――a huge assault flag was flown, and the battle cry indicating the assault sounded louder than ever.

As if replacing the footsteps of the missing elephants, they shook the earth and approached.

All the soldiers in Gulshan's army finally understood.

A head-on collision, and who will be able to control it?

Who would be the one to be overrun?

――The black flag of Alberinea was waving in front of them.