Fear took root in the eyes of the soldiers defending the walls. 50 years since the war ended.

It stemmed from the fear of directly experiencing the war they had only heard about in stories.

Aden, who was checking the soldiers with his eyes while adjusting the battle lines, turned and approached Benjamin.

He, who was on horseback, saw Aden coming down from the wall and slowly dismounted.

“They all have fear in their eyes.”

“It can’t be helped.”

Benjamin rolled his eyes slightly at Aden’s words and shook his head while examining the soldiers’ complexions.

“With the 3rd gate so ruthlessly pushed back, they can’t help but be steeped in a sense of defeat. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but they all think they’re going to die here. The clan that once valiantly roamed the plateau engaging in battles has long since disappeared.”

Aden, who had been silently watching the soldiers positioned on the wall, ran his hand through his hair.

When his eyes reached the sky, dark clouds rolling in from afar filled his vision.

“They’ll launch an attack this evening.”

“Are they mad enough to try scaling the walls in the rain?”

“The cannons will demolish the walls, so that won’t be an issue. We’re no longer in an era where a little rain prevents lighting the cannons.”

Benjamin let out a low sigh at Aden’s words and nodded his head gently.

Aden, who had been silently watching the gradually darkening sky, turned his head.

As he surveyed the outer fortress engulfed in silence and stillness, Aden bit his lip firmly with a low breath.

Rain fell. The drizzle that started before nightfall soon turned into a downpour, narrowing visibility.

The cannons, lined up since before the rain began, were aimed precisely at the walls.

The long barrels of the cannons, ready to bombard the walls at a moment’s notice, gleamed ominously.

The soldiers, quietly holding their breath waiting for orders to be issued, were already soaked by the downpour above their heads, their boots, helmets, and armor growing heavier, but not one of them moved.

As darkness fell, the surroundings were enveloped in pitch blackness, with only the sound of rain audible and nothing visible.

At that moment, the sound of ignition rang out in the sky, and simultaneously, the cannons let out a harsh roar.

As more than 20 cannons fired their shells towards the walls in unison, the area once filled with the sound of rain was now colored with commotion.

Once again, with the sound of ignition, cannons were fired from the opposite side, events occurring simultaneously.

The massive and solid outer fortress wall.

The walls of the Kan clan, built to prevent external intrusion, had maintained their grand majesty for 50 years, but as dozens of cannons pounded them, they slowly began to crumble.

“It’s strangely quiet.”

Jeffrey, who had been silently watching this scene, narrowed his eyes.

With this much cannon fire, one would expect a response, but not even a single catapult stone flew from beyond the walls.

He had expected to see the same desperate struggle here as at the 3rd gate, but it was quieter than anticipated.

“Do they intend to let it be breached like this.”

They had enough cannonballs to demolish the walls and then some.

If they planned to endure until the walls crumbled, it would be nothing but good for them, but would that Aden really just watch this happen?

“How are the rear defenses?”

“We’ve made thorough preparations to counter any attacks from the rear or flanks, just like before.”

It was a response that clearly recognized the reason for the vanguard’s annihilation.

Jeffrey nodded his head, lifting the corners of his mouth, then looked towards the walls.

What will you do, Duke? Will you just take this beating? Or will you launch a surprise attack with a separate force like before?

Whatever it was, he had no chance of winning left.

Back or sides. No matter where he struck, it would ultimately lead to death.

A rumbling sound echoed. It was the moment when the cannonballs finally completely demolished one side of the wall.

Jeffrey’s eyes flashed as he hurriedly instructed to pour more cannon fire, and the soldiers began to advance gradually according to their commanders’ orders.

“They won’t last through tonight.”

Jeffrey left a simple observation with a cool smile.

Along with this, cannonballs rained down again, and holes were punctured throughout the walls.

The advancing soldiers further breached these holes and entered.

Simultaneously, the sounds of clashing weapons, screams, and shouts rang out. The outer fortress had fallen.

He, no longer needing to watch this battle, turned to return to his tent.

“E-Everyone retreat! Retreat-!”

It was then that the commander’s scream-mixed order burst out.

The moment Jeffrey looked back at the battlefield, the sky seemed to weep, and then lightning struck.

In the instant the surroundings shrouded in darkness brightened, the sight of cavalry charging towards them filled their vision.

“It’s a trap! Retreat quickly!”

The cavalry, appearing from who knows where, ignored the soldiers trying to enter through the breached walls and charged towards the cannons.

Their numbers were too great to be called a separate force, at least in the thousands.

At the majestic sound of hoofbeats heard only after the cannon fire subsided, the soldiers regained their positions in fright and raised their spears, but once the battle lines were disrupted, it was difficult to restore them in a short time.

Eventually, the cavalry that reached right in front of them instantly struck the front lines.

The cavalry, weaving through the formations in the darkness, indiscriminately slaughtered the soldiers, and the cannons were destroyed, sometimes misfiring and hitting their own troops in the process.

“The cannons… protect the cannons!”

Jeffrey, who had been watching this scene in a daze, hurriedly shouted.

If all the cannons were destroyed, even if they crossed the outer fortress, they couldn’t demolish the solid black walls of the Black Barrier.

Even if they brought more cannons from the capital, it would take time.

“Protect the cannons with your lives!”

“Secure the cannons!”

The commanders echoed his voice, but human voices were unlikely to be heard over the fierce rain, and flags were invisible in the darkness.

Meanwhile, only the sounds of soldiers dying echoed all around, leaving Jeffrey gritting his teeth in frustration.

“Wh-What should we do?”

Vex, flustered, looked at Jeffrey with a confused face and asked.

Jeffrey, not having any suitable strategy for this situation, maintained his expression of dismay.

“…To think they would attack head-on like this.”

And in the middle of this night with pouring rain.

Making them guard the rear and sides, easily conquering the outer fortress to induce complacency, and then striking the front.

This absurd tactic, not found in any military manual, was unfortunately the perfect answer at this moment.

“Your Highness, you must escape!”

The commander urgently suggested that Jeffrey retreat. The cavalry had somehow reached right in front of them.

Thinking that he too could get caught up in that attack if he stayed, Jeffrey frowned and immediately turned around.

“Argh!”

But at that moment. He felt a scream close by, followed by a huge shadow cast in front of him through the darkness.

Simultaneously, the lightning striking from the flashing sky dispersed the shadow, clearly revealing who the opponent was.

“Where are you going, Crown Prince? Didn’t you come all this way just to see me?”

“Duke…!”

Seeing Aden’s arrogant, god-like figure standing in the middle of the battlefield, Jeffrey felt his heart drop.

As he retreated, soldiers under orders rushed at Aden.

The sight of him wielding a huge spear and sword with both hands on horseback was admirable even though he was an enemy.

Every time his weapons swung, soldiers scattered like pieces of paper.

“Escape, Your Highness! Quickly!”

The commander shouted urgently while drawing his pistol.

The moment he took aim at Aden, the long spear Aden was holding flew and accurately pierced the commander’s head, sticking into the ground.

Witnessing this, Jeffrey, thinking he could no longer stay here, hurriedly turned and fled.

The Crown Prince fleeing with screams, Aden trying to kill him, and soldiers blocking the way.

The night on the battlefield, full of screams and the scent of blood, grew ruthlessly darker.

When Angar arrived at Ludmila’s house, he was met with the sight of her busily packing her belongings.

Surprised, Angar stared at the scene for a moment before sighing as if he had expected this, and approached her.

“Are you planning to go to Lord Aden?”

Ludmila didn’t give a complicated answer or deny it. She just silently continued packing.

When he witnessed firsthand what he had suspected from her request to borrow a horse, a bitter sigh escaped his lips.

“Please don’t go. He wouldn’t want that.”

“……”

“Lord Aden wishes for Ludmila to live peacefully here. Don’t you know that?”

Angar had received orders from Beressa in advance to keep an eye on Ludmila and prevent her from returning.

He intended to make Ludmila stay here, even by force if necessary.

However, whether she knew his intentions or not, Ludmila focused on packing her belongings, and finally tied the last bag.

“Even if you return, it will be difficult to meet him. The Black Barrier will be surrounded by the central army, and you can’t break through to get inside. If by chance you’re caught by the Crown Prince while trying to enter, the situation will spiral out of control.”

His pleading voice, hoping she would heed his words, seemed to reach her as Ludmila, who had been silent until now, slowly raised her head to look at Angar.

“Lady Ludmila. Please calm down……”

“I’m not going back.”

“Pardon?”

Surprised by her calm response, Angar’s eyes widened.

Ludmila asked the strong men she had called in advance to load her luggage, then looked at Angar.

“I know that even if I go back, I won’t be of help and might actually make the situation worse. So I’m not going back.”

“Then……”

Where are you going? Surely you’re not thinking of running away somewhere else? While his thoughts were stuck in bewilderment, Ludmila looked at him intently and raised her chin.

“I have a favor to ask, Sir Angar.”

“What……”

“Please provide me with a reliable person. Someone who is good with a sword and rides well.”

Even in chaos, there is a way out.

Ludmila, colored with hope rather than despair, slung her bag over her shoulder.

“And a fast horse as well.”