CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 51: BLOOD RACE OFFENSIVE

Safro Kingdom, on the western sea.

A terrifying fleet was sailing south along the coastal cliffs.

No matter how you looked at it, this fleet didn’t look normal. The surfaces of the ships were covered in red flesh-like membranes and some skeletal decorations.

On the sails, a blood-red emblem was unashamedly emblazoned there.

A blood-red bat.

This was the newborn symbol of the Blood Race Kingdom.

The fleet sailed close to the cliffs, using the towering cliffs to conceal their tracks.

Until the team stopped under a cliff tens of meters high.

The entire Safro Kingdom had three ports, with two on the eastern side of the kingdom. The eastern terrain was much flatter and lower, with more deep-sea ports adjoining the sea.

As for the west, apart from a barely passable small port at the northern tip, the rest were high sea cliffs above the sea level.

No mention of ports, there wasn’t even a barely usable landing place.

"General, we’ve arrived."

On the flagship, a Blood Race Knight clad in blood-colored armor, half-kneeled before a tall knight and said.

The tall knight stood up, his stature over two meters, a certifiable small giant.

Wearing heavy blood-colored armor, adorned with flesh-like membranes and some bones. Two skull-like shoulder guards fastened on his shoulders.

A full suit of heavy armor and his heavy steps made the entire ship resound with each step he took.

He went to the foredeck and gazed at the cliff.

Muttering to himself, "I understand him. He might be a steadfast human, a good lord. But he definitely does not make a good general.

I taught him when he was young, but unfortunately, his thinking is not flexible, he doesn’t understand the battlefield’s adaptability, and his ability to respond to sudden changes isn’t strong.

I’ll use this surprise attack to teach him that his human pride is worth nothing."

The Blood Race Knight called the general was none other than Martin, the most formidable knight under the founding monarch.

He was now the Blood Race General of the entire kingdom.

Whom he spoke of was exactly the Count.

"Initiate the action."

He single-handedly lifted his enormous giant sword and pointed toward the cliff.

"Ya! Ya!"

A sharp shout, and immediately, from the fleet of eight large ships, a large number of giant bats flapping their wings emerged.

Each of their leg talons clutched a Blood Race soldier, carrying them toward the cliff.

Repeating this, except for some necessary crew members managing the ships, all the Blood Race soldiers on board were transported up the cliff.

Seeing it was about done, Martin stomped heavily on the deck, and a pair of massive bat wings unfurled behind him.

A fierce flap, bringing a scarlet whirlwind.

Dragging the tall knight, he flew up the cliff.

...

One day later.

Lake City Military Camp Command Station.

A knight burst through the door and rushed inside.

The commanders inside, discussing something, turned to look at him.

The Count opposite the door looked at the knight.

His armor was already twisted, with numerous scratches, and some wounds on his body had scabbed over.

His urgent entrance.

This wouldn’t be good news.

"Count, my lord, our retreat, our retreat has been cut off."

Hearing this, the Count frowned, feeling something was amiss. He slammed the table and stood up.

This news was worse than he thought.

"What? Explain clearly!"

Beside him, Ichard also frowned, or rather, the news made everyone in this command room look solemn.

"The road to the Cohen Kingdom has been blocked."

"What’s going on?"

"A Blood Race army appeared suddenly from nowhere and rushed out. All our defensive positions were facing possible attacks from the north by the Blood Race.

Faced with a sudden assault from the western coast, we were utterly unprepared. When they charged at us, they were already within a hundred meters.

Our forces were scattered, and Stonefist’s troops were also repelled, retreating back into the fortress."

The knight below quickly summarized the series of events leading to their defeat.

"How could this be? I remember there being a cliff over there, tens of meters above sea level, right? Did they use some kind of teleportation magic?" The bearded knight Udo couldn’t help but ask.

After speaking, he looked towards the woman named Yara sitting in the corner.

Yara glanced at him: "There can’t be such teleportation magic, or at least it’s impossible here."

This kind of large-scale war teleportation spell is not something that can be used so easily, nor is it a technology the Safro Kingdom possesses.

If they had this ability, they might as well teleport directly to Lake City; wouldn’t that solve the problem even better?

"So, the Prince was right? Our retreat really has been cut off?" the Count’s adjutant murmured.

As soon as he spoke, the entire command room fell silent; they all remembered the matters they discussed here a few days ago.

At that time, no one believed the Fourth Prince’s words, nor did anyone believe that their retreat would be cut off.

Blake, who rarely spoke and stood next to Ichard, turned silently to look at his father.

Ichard’s face was grave: "I didn’t consider everything thoroughly. We must act now; otherwise, we’ll be buried in Lake City."

The Count snapped back to reality and slapped the table, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Since our retreat is already cut off, with our current forces, it’s unlikely we’ll break through the blockade.

Do you have any ideas now?"

The Count looked around at everyone.

"Should we scatter and break through?"

"Have you forgotten the Blood Race’s scouting methods? Even if we could avoid them, there are those werewolves who catch the scent of blood."

"Perhaps there are still Blood Race troops in front of Gray Mountain Fortress. How do we break through? Even if we did, I doubt Stonefist’s men would dare to risk opening the gate."

"Then do we scale the mountains? Enter Cohen Kingdom directly?"

"Heh, I believe you won’t make it over. You might die before you even get there."

They continued discussing, and Ichard sighed and said: "If we want to avoid being surrounded and trapped in Lake City, we must abandon this city.

The frontal pressure is already suffocating us. If more Blood Race troops attack us from the flanks, we will have no chance.

Once we’re trapped in Lake City, we are doomed."

Upon hearing Ichard’s words, everyone present grew solemn, realizing this was the only option.

"So, we need to retreat to Riverbend Town?" Blake, who hadn’t spoken much, suddenly asked.

His father Ichard glanced at him and nodded.

"That’s right, we can only retreat there."

The Count looked heavily at the map, the entire command room had already become silent, and everyone was watching him.

No matter how it turned out, the Count had to give the order. If he wasn’t willing, aside from persuasion, they could only defend with all their might.

Or become deserters; if truly resolute, there would likely be no shortage of deserters.

He continued to stare silently at the map.

Witnessing this, no one knew what to say.

After a while, Ichard approached the knight, suddenly kneeling on one knee before the Count.

"My Lord, my strategy has failed. Take the remaining soldiers and retreat to Riverbend Town. Organize a retreat."

The Count looked at the map and didn’t speak, having prepared for so long, yet when the crisis truly erupted, it proved utterly useless.

Years of developing the territory, a city, and this small region had painstakingly built a full-armored knight order.

Along with so many half-armored soldiers.

Yet before the Blood Race troops, they could only barely withstand the pressure of the vanguard.

Let alone hold on to a piece of land, to resist the main force.

But he was only dispirited for a moment, before recovering, and he pounded the table heavily.

"Order all soldiers to retreat to Riverbend Town in an orderly fashion. Blake, you take Rein and Kecha ahead, have Jonel prepare."

Blake accepted the order and walked straight out of the command center.

Back at the military camp, he took Rein and they left.

"Blake, where are we going? Are we launching a surprise attack on the Blood Race?"

"You fool, don’t you see it’s just the three of us? How would we go on a raid? More like rushing to our deaths."

"Alright, enough talk. We’re heading back to Riverbend Town," Blake said as he rode his horse.

"Back to Riverbend Town?"

"Haven’t we just arrived on the front lines a few days ago? I haven’t even killed many of those damned creatures yet."

Blake nodded: "Things are as the Prince expected, everyone must retreat to Riverbend Town. We’re going ahead to issue orders so those in Riverbend Town can prepare."

"Even though we were prepared, hearing this news is really hard to accept."

"Really? I actually think the Prince is amazing, understanding strategy better than the general. And he’s still at the rear, without as much information as us."

Blake couldn’t help but nod as well, wondering how Kana had foreseen this so early.

"But it’s good; I haven’t thanked the Prince for his rewards." Rein took out a few gold coins from his pocket and said with a smile.

Kecha couldn’t help but grin brightly too, indeed the Prince was generous.