Tharic:
"My Emperor, after Bren's unit finishes their task, what will we do?"
Aeth:
"On the day of battle, we will position the entire army along this ridge marked on the map. Although the army will appear as thirty thousand in total, each commander will lead a ten-thousand-strong cavalry division. I will command the central ten thousand. You, Tharic, will take the left wing, and you, Skarn, the right wing. After the fortress walls collapse, we will launch the first assault with arrows, crossbows, and catapults. During this time, we will already be entering the battlefield. Warrior units with no walls or defenses will advance. Although the battle will begin simultaneously, the left and right wings will push forward and encircle the enemy from both sides. I will advance directly toward the enemy from the center. Once the enemy is trapped in an inescapable encirclement, we will crush them all and, without stopping, advance straight toward the fortress with all cavalry. From the moment the battle begins, everyone must act swiftly so that no traitor escapes. Is the plan clear to everyone?"
Tharic, Skarn:
"It is clear, my Emperor."
Aeth:
"Begin operations immediately. Brief and prepare the army."
Tharic:
"We will execute the orders at once, my Emperor."
Aeth (thinking):
Good thing I once read in my own world how great commanders conquered impregnable fortresses without firearms. Who can say that history never comes to one's aid?
On the day of battle, shortly before the fall of Eryndor's walls…
Bren:
"My Emperor, the fortress walls are ready to be destroyed."
Aeth:
"Tear down the walls at my signal."
Bren:
"Understood, my Emperor!"
Watching the events unfold from the nearby mountains was Nexella.
Nexella:
"How long do you intend to stay here?"
Valdor:
"Forgive me, my queen, but I was worried about you, so I followed you here. I am ready to accept punishment, my queen!"
Nexella: "Valdor, you thought I wouldn't see you. I've been feeling your aura since the day you left the palace. There's no need for any punishment. But if you do something stupid like that next time, you won't be able to escape my wrath!"
Valdor: "Forgive me, my queen, I will not make such a mistake again!"
Nexella:
"This man is truly fascinating. How will you conquer walls that even dragons once couldn't overcome?"
Valdor:
"That would be nothing but foolishness, my queen. What our powerful race could not accomplish, these humans could never—"
At that moment, a powerful sound shook the earth. Nexella and Valdor staggered for an instant. Before their eyes, walls that even the mighty dragon race could not destroy were reduced to rubble in a single moment by miners—beings with no warrior power or combat strength.
Nexella:
"What kind of hell is this!?"
After the walls collapsed, Aeth raised the sword in his right hand forward and shouted with all his strength.
Aeth (shouting):
"Attaaack!"
Before the army began its advance, catapults and crossbows opened fire first, exactly as planned. After some time, the massive cavalry army charged along the predetermined line. Witnessing this, the people of Eryndor fled away from the fallen walls toward the city center.
Eldrin and the court nobles froze in terror before the scene unfolding before them.
Once the catapult and crossbow volleys ended, Eldrin ordered his army to attack. The troops emerging in disarray through the shattered fortress walls were immediately struck by arrows fired from the cavalry units. The units that managed to regroup and enter the battlefield were then encircled according to Aeth's planned tactics.
At that moment, Aeth charged directly into the disorganized ranks on horseback and began cutting down everyone who stood in his path.
Before long, the Chaos army completely annihilated the armored units. As they drew closer to the fortress, the castle archers began raining arrows down upon the army. At Aeth's signal, crossbow units opened fire against the archers. Since the high ground was under Aeth's control, the crossbows easily neutralized the archers entirely.
With Aeth at the forefront, the entire army entered the fortress.
A bloody battle erupted against the palace guard units that stood in their way. These palace guards were armored warriors possessing warrior auras.
After advancing to the center of the battlefield on horseback, Aeth dismounted and drew his second sword, engaging in combat.
At that moment, Aeth realized something.
Even though these warriors possessed combat auras, they were still nothing more than wretched beings before him. These warriors were not strong enough to excite him. Aeth began cutting down the aura-bearing armored warriors one by one as if they were nothing.
He swung his swords across the battlefield with such mastery that the sound of clashing blades became music, and his battle a dance.
Killing his enemies with expert precision, he advanced toward the palace while fighting. In truth, this battle was extremely simple for him. He was someone who had fought fearlessly and professionally in battlefields where fast projectiles and terrifying weapons turned everything into hell.
The absence of such projectiles on this battlefield allowed him to move even more freely.
In other words, the moment these warriors stepped onto the battlefield against Aeth, the battle was already over.
NOTE: "If you enjoy the story, consider adding it to your library to support the author."