Chapter 32 There is nothing to be afraid of anymore!
At five o'clock in the morning, it was still dark. The troops, reserves and religious regiments in the central position were all defeated. Some of the infantry, cavalry and artillery columns that remained organized broke through the blockade, passed near Teutoburg, and headed south.
The towns retreated. They threw all kinds of useless things into the fire to form roadblocks. The thick smoke irritated people's eyes and also caused a lot of trouble for the enemy's pursuit.
It was very cold at this time, and everything was pitch black. The officers hurriedly drank tea and had breakfast. The soldiers chewed dry bread, stamped their feet hurriedly, gathered opposite the bonfire to keep warm, and then put the remaining documents in the cargo shed.
Tables, chairs, wheels, barrels, anything else that could not be taken away and not be used was thrown into the wood pile and burned together.
More than 3,000 people from more than 100 different units gathered around Griffith. There were almost no seriously injured people and no high-level troops. After repelling Beamon, the orc army that intercepted them was stunned and unable to do anything.
To prevent them from retreating south. They retreated along the west road. The main force led by the prince and several other defeated armies retreated south on different roads.
Ace and Desai, who were sent out for reconnaissance earlier, also had to come back and join together. Together with a large group of retreating religious sect members, they were attracted by the faint signs and found their way back.
The two fronts of the Clan Alliance have merged and used all available troops to pursue the retreating Beyelan army.
Several small enemy troops kept weaving in and out, outflanking the rear of Beyeland's army, preparing to block the retreat. For a while, Griffith saw an enemy army marching parallel to them a few hundred meters away.
, the two sides did not attack each other, but moved southward in eerie silence.
Griffith led the cavalry squadron to the rear and ordered everyone to march quickly, preparing to cross the river before the enemy, find a favorable terrain to set up camp, or retreat to Odessa.
On the next day, that is, at dusk, some scattered people escaped and joined together. The nearby towns also received news of the defeat, and many refugees suddenly appeared on the already chaotic roads.
Everyone could not find anything to eat. All the military supplies had been lost, and they were only supported by the remaining biscuits and dried fruits. There should be food in nearby towns, but most of the food had been taken away or buried by the refugees. A hasty search found only
Not much rations left.
There were also rows of large vehicles blocking the road. The wealthy local squire wanted to escape with his property, but the road was blocked tightly.
…
On the third day of the retreat, the entire northern part of Odessa was in ruins. According to some soldiers who escaped from the central front, the situation there was even worse. The main force of the clan alliance was chasing the prince and General Maximus closely, without giving any chance.
Time to establish position.
Under such circumstances, the defeated troops on each road did not dare to stop, for fear that if they stopped, nearby friendly troops would retreat, which would expose their flanks and be surrounded by the enemy.
The correct plan should be to order a part of the army to counterattack, regardless of the cost, to buy time for the army to reorganize and for reinforcements to arrive. But the question is, who will do it? I won't go anyway.
Griffith walked towards Krista's camp carrying a small bowl of oatmeal that he had finally found. He had already given everyone a chance to break out, so there was no need to push himself up every time.
He poked his head into the tent. Krista was much luckier than him at the back. She was either marching, praying for everyone, or listening to what was said.
Thanks to her, although the defeated army lacked food, lost a large number of weapons, and was on the verge of collapse at any time, its mood stabilized little by little.
"I confess, I..." Low sobs came from the tent.
Gil de Ace, who was on the battlefield for the first time, was confessing his sins: "I can save him. There are not many orcs chasing him nearby, so I can. But, I...I don't have the face to be under the command of the captain."
Fight."
Krista listened to the confession of the young third-level squad leader, comforted him and encouraged him with gentle words. After the penitent little sergeant left, Griffith entered the camp and patted the girl on the shoulder.
That holy and solemn posture returned to Krista again. She sat there quietly, nodding to the people who had crossed life and death to reunite, with pearly tears hanging on her cheeks.
"Eat some." Seeing her appearance, Griffith felt heartbroken.
"Yes," the girl responded softly. She took a small bite and then stopped eating. "Leave it for the wounded."
Amid everyone's fear and expectations, she became an Anjou girl again and an idol in the occult sense.
Griffith's heart ached as if it was about to be torn apart.
The battlefield arrangements have been launched, and Beyelan suffered a major defeat. Of course, it doesn't matter if it fails once. Beyelan was defeated in many battles. Looking on the bright side, Odessa suffered greater losses in this defeat.
The believers of the Holy Light bore the brunt of the attack. They did not have a strong core leader during the defeat, and the two auxiliary legions suffered heavy losses.
From a mystical perspective, this defeat had a greater impact on the prince, Holy Light and Odessa. Their reason and belief inevitably began to disintegrate and collapse after witnessing Beamon and experiencing the tragic loss.
The real conspiracy has not yet been launched...
Griffith came to the temporary headquarters with Krista solemnly. Sonia, nobles and officers of all sizes gathered together, waiting for him to come back to make up his mind.
The atmosphere here was so solemn that it was dripping with water. The map was full of enemy movements and outflanking arrows, and anxiety was written on everyone's face. Sonia looked left and right, wanting to do something, but not knowing how.
Get started.
Really, it was just a defeat. It was nothing compared to the spiraling vortex of conspiracy around Krista! Seeing how nervous everyone was, Griffith couldn't help but laugh again.
"Ha ha ha ha."
Everyone raised their heads and looked at him in surprise. Cruella made a face: "Griffith, why are you laughing?"
"I laugh at the orcs' lack of resourcefulness. If we divide a small force and march day and night to cross the river in front and intercept us while waiting for work, it will be really difficult. Everyone, we will build a bridge to cross the river tomorrow morning, and we will have no worries.
!”
Before he finished speaking, a scout rushed in:
"It's not good! The orcs have occupied the ferry on the other side of the twenty-mile river. We, we can't get across!"
It was so quiet in the headquarters that you could hear cold sweat dripping down.
Did these greenskins fly over? Griffith's chest felt tight and he almost vomited a mouthful of blood. Kurala quietly raised two fingers to Dedeus.
There is no choice now.
The pursuers behind you may arrive at any time, and you must cross the river as soon as possible.
Griffith organized Storm Squadron and the few remaining combat troops to advance through the night, preparing to seize a ferry. However, the orc army had already defended the other side of the river, preventing them from rebuilding the bridge across the river.
He could only stop his tired army and led a group of light cavalry upstream. He found an area where the river was narrow and the water flow was slow, where he could build a temporary bridge.
In the reddish east, fragments of dense purple clouds were blown away by the wind, and the sky became brighter and brighter. The curly grass growing on the forest road looked brighter due to the moisture of the night rain;
The branches of the low-hanging white birch trees were wet, swaying in the breeze, and scattering crystal water drops slantingly.
Griffith and the cavalry closely following him rode on the road between two rows of birch trees. Everyone's faces became thinner due to exhaustion and hunger.
The forest here is very quiet, and shadowy figures appear and disappear in the woods, peeping here in the darkness.
Enemy, is it an enemy? Griffith holds his lance tightly. In order to avoid being discovered by the enemy, he only brought a small group of light cavalry with him for this reconnaissance. If he encounters a large group of enemies, the current state of the army may not be able to resist it.
.
The shadow is getting closer and closer, and will attack at any time.
"You retreat, I will come to the rear." Griffiths rode at the end, instructing the cavalry to leave quickly.
The thorns and grass on the ground suddenly grew wildly at a speed visible to the naked eye, ignoring the obstruction of blood and trapping the horses' hooves like ropes. The light cavalry were startled, and the team suddenly became confused. They were anxious to break free, and the big trees around them
But he came to life and beat them with huge tree trunks and branches.
Elf? This is a commonly used ability of elves, right? Griffith almost rolled off the saddle in fright.
A vigorous black panther suddenly appeared from the shadows. Every movement of it exuded an elegant and deadly aura, as if it was a born shadow hunter. The black panther slowly approached Griffith and suddenly disappeared out of thin air.
Extraordinary creature! Just as Griffith was about to meet the enemy, another huge beast rushed out of the woods and pounced towards him.
This is a giant brown bear, unimaginably fat, with sharp front paws glowing with light blue, and its huge body and strong bristles are extremely powerful.
Griffith clashed with the giant bear, and a heavy blow came from the blood thorns, almost knocking his lance away. The brown bear roared, and the swings of the giant claws became faster and faster, and the howling wind seemed to be heard just by grazing the edge.
Will suffer serious injuries.
At the same time, the black panther emerged from the shadows again and rushed toward the horse's legs.
Griffith pulled out the cold light and swept it with his hand. The electric current knocked back the giant bear, and the black panther also flickered and retreated under the light. However, they immediately adjusted their posture and attacked again.
Griffith turned the horse and ran away, but the horse's hoof seemed to have taken root on the ground and was entangled in thorns and could not be pulled out. He jumped off the horse and fought on foot to meet the enemy, holding a gun in his right hand to sweep at the brown bear, and holding a sword in his left hand to resist the black panther.
New energy immediately surged in the forest, and a group of thorns quickly grew and bound towards Griffith's feet.
No, it shouldn't be, well, this is the front line, it's impossible! Looking at this power from nature, Griffith's eyelids couldn't stop twitching. He spread his blood energy and swept it away, and the thorns that came around immediately lost their vitality.
.He pulled out a smoke bomb made of gunpowder and dust crystals and threw it to the ground. He emerged from the smoke and threw a bloody thorn at the giant bear, piercing its hind legs and nailing it to the ground.
The Black Panther roared and bit Griffith's neck, but the would-be knight was as dry as dirt and wood.
The real Griffith emerged from the smoke, grabbed the black panther by the back of the neck, and kicked his lower abdomen with his knee. The big cat howled and flew away, rolling on the ground unable to get up.
.
Meteor-like light whizzed through the forest, hitting Griffith's shield and breaking into pieces of light.
The would-be knight burst out like a cannonball and rushed into the woods. There was a tall female elf hidden there. When she saw him rushing towards her face, she panicked and screamed.
Griffith gave her a kick, and the elf immediately flew out and hit a tree, and fainted.
Griffith stepped forward slowly, picked up the elf mage and looked at her. She had a very delicate appearance, a slender figure, a little thin, and her face was pale from pain. He quickly looked around and found that there was no one else.
, and then he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hahahahaha, you scared me!"
Looking at the ability of this thorn entanglement, I thought it was Galadia coming. Behemoth or ambushes, in front of me, Griffith, they are just chickens and tile dogs, not worth mentioning. As long as Galadia
Come on, I am fearless in heaven and earth! There is nothing to be afraid of!
He was smiling with his face twitching, and a silver sharp blade patted his shoulder.
"Griffith, why are you laughing?" Galadia, dressed in military uniform, appeared silently from the forest and tilted her head towards him.
"Of course, of course it's because I knew you were coming," Griffith almost knelt on the ground, "I, I am happy, extremely happy!"