The Duke's Eldest Son Escaped to the Military

The Duke’s Eldest Son Escaped to the Military (110)

Translator: ChubbyCheeks

38 Lion Castle Fortress’ Bloody Battle! (1)

At Iron’s command, the artillery fired all of the cannonballs towards the monster corps while the airships dropped all of the remaining bombs on the ship. In just an instant, the area in front of the Lion Castle Fortress had turned into a hell of explosions.

The ground split and exploded and green blood splattered here all over the place. At first glance, they might look like they have achieved some great results. But, Iron’s expression did not even ease one bit, in fact it even hardened further. Even the soldiers did not cheer anymore.

“Monster corps…”

Iron mumbled as he looked at the completely different appearance and aura of the monster corps from earlier when the dire wolves attacked.

Despite the constant bombings and cannon shells falling down on them, the buffed monsters continued to advance. Of course, there were a lot of monsters who died from the explosions but compared to the bombs that they have poured out, the damage that they had dealt with was quite pathetic. 

“Do… Don’t stop shooting!”

“They’ll reach the guns’ range soon! Stay alert!”

The officers began to shout at their soldiers as soon as the monster corps began to move forward again after stopping for a while from the cannons and bombs’ baptism of hell. 

Thankfully, the troops that have been guarding the other gates arrived one after the other. The first to arrive were the troops under Silver Lions’ deputy commander Silverstein’s command. They were then followed by the troops under Kaiden and the troops under Regiment Commander Zukov. 

Since the enemy had gathered in one place, it was only right for them to gather all of the troops that they could. So they all gathered here at the northern gate. The troops that gathered in this place and settled down began to fire thousands of magic bullets at the monster corps that entered their firing range. 

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Thousands of magic bullets continued to rain down and target the orcs that were leading the swarm of monsters. However, instead of pausing, the orcs just covered their faces with their arms and continued to run like crazy. Although the magic bullets stuck to their skin, it was impossible for these bullets to kill them thanks to the buffs that they had received earlier.. 

―Uwoooo!

Suddenly, one of the orcs lifted a red flag up in the sky.

As soon as the flag was raised, red energy began to flow out to all the orcs. With the red energy overflowing in their bodies, the orcs’ morale and fighting spirit began to increase. The orc commander’s cry also temporarily increased the power of all the orcs. 

“I’m so fucking tired of these bastards…”

A curse unknowingly went out of Iron’s mouth when he saw the orc commander’s skill, something that he had experienced countless times back in his previous life. 

“Get ready for battle!”

Just when Iron shouted his orders so his men could prepare to face off and greet these bastards that wanted to climb over the wall, Zukov called out to Iron. 

“Lieutenant Colonel Iron.”

“Yes.”

“I think it’s weird.”

“What do you mean?”

Iron tilted his head at him as Zukov carefully looked at the monster corps. 

“I can’t see any goblins.”

Iron’s eyes widened at Zukov’s words. He thought that they were hiding among the huge monsters but it seemed like they weren’t. The goblin troops were completely invisible. There was only one reason why the goblins could not be seen despite confirming with their own eyes that the goblin shaman sorcery was activated. 

“Special troops?” 

“I think so.” 

“Of all times, why now…” 

Zukov spoke firmly after seeing the flustered expression on Iron’s face. 

“They’re most likely aiming for the eastern gate.” 

Iron pondered for a moment at Zukov’s words before nodding his head. 

There was a high possibility that some of them had joined the monster corps and left for reconnaissance while they were busy bombing the monsters endlessly. And once they collected enough information about the fortress, they would realize that the most vulnerable area in the Lion Castle Fortress was the eastern gate where the territorial forces were gathered. 

“I’ll only bring some of the Northern Army and the territorial forces with me.” 

“You should take the knights.” 

Iron told Zukov to take the knights.

The goblins were known for their sneak attacks so it would be difficult for the inexperienced soldiers to deal with them. On the other hand, the knights would be able to sweep away the goblins with their overwhelming force. 

“It will be hard to endure here without the knights.” 

Zukov looked at some of the soldiers from the territorial forces and the Northern Army stationed by the wall. 

“Taking away those who have already settled down would only lead to confusion.” 

“…Will that be really alright?” 

“I’m a person who participated in a lot of battles. Please trust me just this once.” 

Iron smiled bitterly when Zukov smiled and said that to him. 

“I’ll send you support as soon as things get better here.” 

Zukov nodded bitterly at Iron’s words. Iron and Zukov were both experienced commanders and they knew full well that the situation would not improve. 

“Let’s have breakfast.”

“I won’t be late.”

Iron and Zukov shook hands as they bid goodbye to each other. This might be their last farewell so all they did was look at each other with bitter smiles before moving urgently once again. Zukov moved to stop the goblin’s special troops while Iron did his best to fight and defend the northern gate.

There were orc units who had survived from the baptism of the bombs and cannon shells and reached the bottom of the wall and had started climbing. Some of the high-leveled orcs from their units began to jump up high to slam their axes on the walls. They used the axes as footholds to help them climb up the walls even further. The knight began to move as soon as the high-leveled orcs began to climb. With just a simple blow from the knights’ swords, the orc warriors that tried to climb up the walls fell down one by one.

If someone saw this, they might get the impression that the army was in a good situation. However, the night was still long and the war had only just begun. The monsters would continue to attack the fortress until the sun rose to the sky. Just like that, a fierce and bloody battle began in the Lion Castle Fortress’ northern gate.

Iron pulled out his sword himself and did not order anyone else when he saw the surviving dire wolves begin to climb the walls while the trolls and the ogres joined in on the orcs’ assault.

While a fierce battle began at the northern gate, the Northern army troops and the allied territorial forces led by Zukov were able to arrive at the eastern gate after moving hurriedly.

“We’re not too late. Settle down and prepare for the goblin’s attacks!”

With acting captain Zukov giving out orders, the Northern Army troops and the allied territorial forces began to move all at once.

Zukov also gathered the guards protecting the streets of the Lion Castle Fortress and roamed around the streets near the eastern gates to plant bombs all over the walls and some buildings while giving out guns to the soldiers in preparation for the war in the eastern gate. They also set up some traps in the eastern gate to greet the goblin’s attacks. This was to make sure that these clever bastards would get confused if they ever found a gap and squeezed through the fortress. 

Zukov had served for a long time in the Northern Army and was already sick and tired of seeing and experiencing these monsters’ habits. Although he was not very talented in swordsmanship and was not that innovative when compared to Iron, the experiences that he had gained did not go anywhere.

He might not be an outstanding talent when compared to other officers but he was still a person who climbed the ranks of a Colonel after experiencing many wars. Of course, he failed to climb to the general rank and failed to get that star due to his lack of abilities but even though he had been stuck in the colonel rank, his age and long experience of commanding had reached a level that could not be easily countered by the goblin’s sneakiness. 

“The goblins!” 

“Bow your heads and make sure to shoot at them!” 

“Yes, sir!” 

The Northern Army troops and the allied territorial forces began to shoot at the goblins from the walls at Zukov’s orders. 

Clank!

The magic bullets rained down on the goblin troops. However, the goblins did not only block the bullets, they also shot out their poison needles with the strength that had been enhanced with sorcery. The needles flew at an incredible distance and hit the wall turning it into a dark color. 

Ting! Ting!

With the sound of the goblins’ needles flying over, several of the inexperienced soldiers, who raised their heads, got hit by their poisonous needles. However, Zukov skillfully blocked some and quickly ordered his men.

“Don’t pay attention to the soldier that has been attacked by the poison needle! Focus on the battle!” 

It was a heartless command. However, they were in the middle of a battle and they did not have any time to pay attention to each and every soldier’s well-being. Some of the soldiers quietly sent down the soldiers attacked by the goblins’ assassin-like attacks to the medics down the wall while the remaining troops focused on dealing with the goblins. 

―Kiriiik!

“Push down the bastards who come up the wall. Don’t even think about killing them. Just focus on dropping them!” 

Zukov shouted his orders loudly in response to the goblins’ actions. 

But the goblins were monsters. No matter how small they were, it was still close to impossible for the soldiers of the allied territorial forces to deal with the movements of the goblins that had been strengthened by sorcery and magic. 

“Don’t give up!” 

Zukov encouraged his soldiers with an incredibly loud voice that was uncharacteristic for someone his age. However, it was still difficult for them to completely overcome the difference in numbers with just their forces. 

In the end, the goblins were able to pierce through their defenses in the ramparts and enter the Lion Castle Fortress one by one.

What the goblins wanted to do was to create chaos inside the fortress to distract the main force that was dealing with the monster corps at the northern gate. Zukov knew what they wanted to do and he had no intention of letting them stir up chaos in the Lion Castle Fortress. 

Bang! Bang!

―Kiyeeeek!

Dozens of goblins splattered from the sudden explosion of one of the buildings near the walls. However, since they were reinforced and had received buffs, those who were a bit further away from the range of the explosion still remained alive. That was when the guards came out and killed them. The goblins became flustered when the pre-installed traps and the hidden guards suddenly appeared and attacked them inside the fortress. 

“Do you think I don’t know about your shallow moves?!” 

Zukov’s anger burst out as he took the sword himself and killed the goblins. Cutting down the goblin with his mana strengthened sword proved that despite his age, he was still active and strong. 

However, it was still difficult for Zukov and the meager number of Northern troops to fully respond and stop the poisonous needles flying from all directions as well as the all-rounder skills that the goblins were showing. 

“Is this where I’m going to die?” 

Zukov muttered to himself as he looked at the swarm of goblins. 

Since they were known for their cleverness and slyness they only revealed their main power once Zukov had revealed all of his hidden cards.

The goblin champion and goblin sorcerer.

They climbed up the wall with the goblin warriors and looked arrogantly at Zukov. Zukov couldn’t help but burst in anger once again when he saw the contempt in their gazes. 

“Come! I will stop you even if I die here!” 

The goblins rushed at Zukov after hearing his outburst. A small number of Northern Army troops also immediately stuck to him and fought the last battle of their lives just to make sure that they would be able to stop the goblins. 

But with the goblin champion and the goblin sorcerer, the power of the goblins became stronger. 

Even if Zukov and the soldiers were equally strong, it still proved hard for them to win against them in this chaotic situation. In the end, the troops in the eastern gate died one by one under the goblins’ assault and they slowly started to collapse. 

“Ugh! You bastards… you can’t go!” 

Zukov, the person with the highest level in swordsmanship, burst into anger once again and held on to the goblins until the very end. 

Most of the soldiers deployed in the eastern gate were either dead or heavily injured. Even the gate was already half-opened. In that situation, the only ones preventing the advance of the goblins were Zukov and the guards deployed inside the castle fortress. 

The goblin champion looked at Zukov, who stood still without giving up despite the officers and soldiers around him falling down one by one, in exhaustion as he tried to end him with a slit of his throat. 

Then, at that moment, a dozen knights arrived at the eastern gate under the orders of Iron. 

“Regiment Commander Zukov! Are you alri…!” 

One of the knights hurriedly cut off the goblins as he approached Regiment Commander Zukov. He rushed forward to check up on Zukov, who was bloodied and bruised, but he couldn’t help but stop in his tracks.

There, he saw a brave veteran with his eyes opened, glaring at the goblins that he stopped until the very end.

***

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