Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 155

The Crisis of Yodong Fortress

1

As the sun set, the area around Yodong Fortress fell eerily silent, as if the fierce battle from just hours before had never happened. The Yemaek soldiers of Yodong Fortress piled firewood on the ramparts and lit fires in various places.

“The enemy might launch a night raid. Do not let your guard down!” a soldier shouted.

“Yes, General!” came the reply.

After issuing orders to his lieutenants, Commander-in-Chief Eulji Deok-mun, still uneasy, went to see Princess Sohye. Princess Sohye was currently managing the fort’s alchemists.

“Your Highness, is the Jamyeonggo [Mystical Drum] functioning properly?” he asked.

“Do not worry. The drum will sound as soon as the enemy attacks,” she replied.

Yodong Fortress possessed a mystical alchemic artifact called the Jamyeonggo. It was an object that would automatically sound a drum when an enemy approached. That morning, when the main force of the Song Empire army launched a surprise attack, the Jamyeonggo had alerted them, allowing them to thwart the assault.

“Preventing a night raid is important, but monitoring the Song army’s movements is also crucial,” Sohye stated.

Eulji Deok-mun nodded in agreement. “I was just about to ask for the help of the goblin warriors brought by the Royal Consort. I heard some of them are skilled in infiltration…”

He was interrupted mid-sentence. Suddenly, the Jamyeonggo began to sound.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The expressions of the two changed instantly upon hearing the Jamyeonggo.

“It seems the Song army is launching a night raid,” Eulji Deok-mun said.

“I will go and repel them immediately,” Sohye responded.

Eulji Deok-mun hurriedly left and issued a battle order to the entire army. As the signal for assembly rang out, not only the soldiers on guard but also those who had just returned to their barracks to rest were dragged out.

“Ugh… what’s going on?” one soldier grumbled.

“It seems the Song army is launching a night raid,” another replied.

“Those damned bastards. Don’t they ever sleep?” a third soldier complained.

The Yemaek soldiers hastily armed themselves and prepared to face the enemy. However, strangely, there was no movement from the Song army’s camp. Just in case, they thoroughly searched the entire ramparts and the fortress, suspecting that some disguised troops might have infiltrated, but they couldn’t find a single enemy soldier.

“Sir, there are no enemies anywhere,” a soldier reported.

“Damn it, it seems the Jamyeonggo is malfunctioning,” a low-ranking officer grumbled, turning to leave.

Suddenly, the ground seemed to heave, and something popped out of the earth.

Kekeke!

“Wh-what is that!” the startled low-ranking officer exclaimed, drawing his sword. However, the monster that emerged from the ground was faster. It lashed out with lightning speed, and the officer, along with the soldiers accompanying him, all had their necks snapped and died.

“What’s going on?” a squad patrolling nearby came to investigate the commotion. What appeared before them was a dark-faced monster with glowing red eyes. And there wasn’t just one or two of these monsters. They were crawling out of the ground in droves.

“E-enemy attack… Kuaaaak!” a soldier screamed.

Kikikikiki!

Another group of soldiers became cold corpses, collapsing onto the ground. Hundreds of monsters that had crawled out of the ground scattered in all directions. Soon, screams began to echo from all over the fortress.

“What in the world is going on!” Eulji Deok-mun, who was in the command center, raised his voice at the sudden commotion. The adjutant, sweating profusely, reported what he suspected. “It seems the enemy has dug tunnels and infiltrated disguised troops.”

“Tunnels! There was no sign of the enemy digging tunnels!” Eulji Deok-mun exclaimed. Just in case, they had been watching the enemy camp from the watchtower since the afternoon. Moreover, tunnels couldn’t be built in just a day or two. With the enemy’s main force launching an assault today, it was impossible for a tunnel to reach inside the fortress.

“But that’s the only explanation for the current situation,” the adjutant replied.

“Hmm… whether they are disguised troops or whatever, repel them immediately! Do not move in small groups; patrol in groups of at least one hundred,” Eulji Deok-mun ordered.

“Yes, General,” the adjutant responded.

“And do not let your guard down, as the enemy outside the fortress might take advantage of the chaos to attack,” Eulji Deok-mun added.

Contrary to Eulji Deok-mun’s concerns, there was still no significant movement from the Song army’s main force. Meanwhile, casualties continued to rise within the fortress. The only good news was that they had identified the identity of the invading enemy.

“General! The ones causing chaos in the fortress are Jiangshi [Chinese hopping vampires]!” a soldier reported.

“What! Are you saying the Song army is using Jiangshi!” Eulji Deok-mun exclaimed.

“Yes, the Jiangshi were definitely wearing the Song Empire’s uniforms!” the soldier confirmed.

“Those damned, thunder-struck bastards!” Eulji Deok-mun and his generals were furious. When they first heard from Jo Won-rak that they should be wary of Jiangshi, they had been skeptical. Both Song and Yemaek had cultures that respected the dead. But now that Jiangshi had appeared and were wreaking havoc inside and outside the fortress, they couldn’t help but be enraged.

“Wipe out the Jiangshi immediately!” Eulji Deok-mun ordered.

“The Special Forces, the Royal Guard, and the goblins from the north are already taking action. More importantly, shouldn’t we inform the capital of this fact immediately?” an officer asked.

“The adjutant is right. Send an alchemic telegram immediately!” Eulji Deok-mun agreed. Upon his order, the adjutant hurriedly went to find an alchemist. However, he returned shortly after, looking pale.

“General! They say they cannot send an alchemic telegram,” the adjutant reported.

“What do you mean?” Eulji Deok-mun asked.

“They say the energy is blocked as if there are walls all around…” the adjutant explained.

“Then send a messenger! Light the beacon fires so that nearby fortresses can see them!” Eulji Deok-mun ordered. Soon, a messenger was sent through a secret passage in the fortress, and the beacon tower was brightly lit. However, no matter how long they waited, there was no response. The messenger did not return, and no fortresses in the vicinity lit their beacon fires. Meanwhile, the situation inside Yodong Fortress became even more dire. A giant corpse puppet even appeared from somewhere and began to rampage through the fortress. The Special Forces, the Royal Guard, and even the fairies from the northern continent tried to stop them, but as the number of Jiangshi exceeded ten thousand, it became uncontrollable.

“Kuaaak!” a soldier screamed.

“Where did all these things come from!” another cried.

“Stop them! Stop them!” a third yelled.

The number of Yemaek soldiers currently in Yodong Fortress was 50,000. Even if they combined the Special Forces and the Royal Guard, which consisted of martial artists, the number did not exceed 5,000. Princess Sohye and the alchemists, along with the northern fairy tribes, were helping, but it was not enough to stop the scales from tipping.

“General! We can’t hold them back!” the adjutant reported. Eulji Deok-mun, who had been frowning deeply at the adjutant’s report, made a decision.

“There’s no other choice. Mobilize the soldiers from the ramparts,” he ordered.

“But they are…” the adjutant hesitated.

“If the Jiangshi occupy the fortress, Yodong Fortress will be as good as captured anyway. Quickly suppress the Jiangshi first, and then have them defend the ramparts,” Eulji Deok-mun stated. Upon his order, a significant number of soldiers guarding the ramparts were mobilized for suppression.

2

“Kekeke! They’ve finally moved,” Guigokja, who was observing Yodong Fortress from the dark sky above, said with a sinister smile. Everything was going according to plan, and it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Yodong Fortress fell. Yodong Fortress was a rare iron fortress that had been attacked by the Song Empire army several times over the past few hundred years. However, with its double and triple ramparts and the help of nearby fortresses and castles, it had never been captured. From the Song Empire’s perspective, it was truly a wall of lamentation. However, Yodong Fortress, unable to receive outside help due to the alchemic barrier and the Jiangshi, was nothing more than a rat in a trap, not an iron fortress.

“Now, shall we start moving the chess pieces in earnest?” Guigokja said, snapping his fingers. At that moment, fireworks appeared in the air, exploding and illuminating a part of the darkness. Seeing this, Gwan Chang gave an order to the Song army.

“Advance, everyone!” he shouted.

“They say advance!” the soldiers echoed.

Drum! Drum! Drum! Drum!

“Waaaaaaaah!” the Song army roared. As the drums signaling the advance sounded, the Song army, which had been waiting in the darkness, began to swarm towards Yodong Fortress like ants. The number was even greater than what the Yemaek army had faced during the day. The entire army of 600,000 was launching an attack all at once.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

At the forefront of the Song army were the Gigantes [Giant humanoid war machines], who had fled with their tails between their legs during the day. Their goal was to break down the fortress gates and create an entry point.

“The steel giants are coming!” a soldier yelled.

“Attack! Attack!” another shouted.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The cannons on the ramparts, including the Cheonja Chongtong [Heavenly Cannon], fired to stop the Gigantes. However, since it was night, which limited visibility, and half of the artillerymen had left to suppress the Jiangshi, they could not effectively stop them. Eventually, some of the Gigantes that reached the fortress gates swung their war hammers and battle axes, breaking down the gates.

“T-this is a disaster!” an officer cried.

“Stop them! Stop them at all costs!” another shouted. The officers and soldiers guarding the gates shouted in panic. They hastily set up a defensive line behind the gates with shields and Saemundocha [Mobile barricades]. However, they didn’t think that would be enough to stop the steel giants.

“Kekeke. Do you think you can stop us with that?” a mercenary rider mocked.

“Your courage is commendable, but you all need to step aside!” another rider yelled. As expected, the mercenary riders, who had approached the defensive line with thundering footsteps, began to swing their arms, and the soldiers who had formed the defensive line were swept away along with their shields.

“Ugh!” a soldier groaned.

“Kuaaak!” another screamed.

“Kekeke. You fools! Do you know why Gigantes are called the core weapons of war?” a rider laughed.

“It doesn’t matter if thousands of you come at us!” another rider boasted. The mercenary riders began to rampage as if to erase their humiliation from the day. Just as the fortress gates were about to be completely breached,

“How dare you!” a sharp voice was heard from inside the fortress, and at that moment, a thunderous sound echoed from the sky as a lightning sword fell.

Kwarururung-!

“Eek! Everyone, be careful!” a rider yelled. The riders, who had experienced it once before, were startled and scattered in all directions. However, one slow-moving rider was hit by the lightning sword and was half-destroyed.

Boom!

“Wow! It’s Princess Sohye!” a soldier cheered.

“Princess Sohye, hooray!” another shouted. Her appearance instantly boosted the morale of the Yemaek army. Sohye pointed the sword in her hand at the Song army that had gathered outside the gates and declared, “As long as I am here, you will not be able to step inside!”

“Hmph, is that so?” a voice that seemed to mock Sohye’s declaration was heard from the air.

“Who is it? Reveal yourself immediately!” Sohye shouted. At her shout, a man appeared from the darkness in the sky. Dressed in a flamboyant scholar’s attire, he was young and was none other than Guigokja.

“Kikikik! I heard that one of the princesses of Yemaek is very skilled in alchemy, but today I see that she is also good with words,” Guigokja said.

Princess Sohye frowned at the sticky and gloomy energy emanating from the opponent. “Did you create the Jiangshi and the giant corpse puppets?” she asked.

“That’s right. The world calls me Guigokja,” he replied.

“Gui, Guigokja!” An expression of shock appeared on the confident face of Princess Sohye. Guigokja’s notoriety was that high. There was no one among those who studied alchemy in the southern continent who did not know his name. As a descendant of the Guigok Clan, he was as famous for his outstanding skills as he was for being a madman. He became even more famous five years ago for demanding 100,000 gold coins from the Song Empire’s imperial family. And now, such a madman had appeared on the battlefield between the Song Empire and Yemaek!

Sohye’s face hardened. It wasn’t just because of the name Guigokja. The alchemic energy she felt from her opponent seemed stronger than her own. A warning bell rang in her head, but she did not back down. ‘If I retreat, I won’t be able to stop the steel giants anymore!’ she thought. If that happened, the numerous Song soldiers would rush in through the gates. ‘I must stop them!’ she resolved. If Yodong Fortress fell, the next would be an open field. There were a few fortresses and gates, but they would not be able to stop the numerous Song soldiers. Having made up her mind, Sohye glared at Guigokja with sharp eyes.

“So you’re that madman Guigokja. Good. I’ll take this opportunity to get rid of you too,” she declared.

“Hahaha! What? You’re going to get rid of me?” Guigokja mocked.

“Yes. Disturbing the peace of the dead and turning their corpses into weapons! I will never forgive you!” she exclaimed. She was furious. An alchemist should strive to understand the principles of all things and use their power for the sake of the world. Of course, there were selfish alchemists who used their power to satisfy their own desires. However, Guigokja was an individual who had committed atrocities far beyond that scope. She could not forgive him, even in the name of an alchemist. Having erased her fear and fueled her anger and fighting spirit, she launched a preemptive attack on Guigokja. She bit her left pinky finger to draw blood, wrote characters on a talisman she had made, and then threw it into the air.

“Oh, Heavenly Emperor Hwanin [A deity in Korean mythology]! Have mercy on this girl and vanquish this treacherous man. Thousand Thunder!” she chanted.

Kwarung! Kwarurururung!

The talisman burst into flames, and countless bolts of lightning, like a bolt from the blue, were generated and flew towards Guigokja. This was the most powerful technique among the Thunderclap (雷霆霹靂) alchemy that Sohye frequently used, to the point where each bolt of lightning could destroy a Gigante.

“Oh ho! You’re quite skilled, using Thousand Thunder,” Guigokja said, grinning despite the numerous bolts of lightning flying towards him. “But this is not enough to stop me!” The moment the lightning reached right in front of him, Guigokja took out a gourd from his sleeve and lightly waved it.

Shuuuuuuk!

But then, an astonishing thing happened. The lightning bolts that had been flying towards Guigokja were all sucked into the gourd. “W-what is this!” “Hehehe. This, the Chaos Bottle, was created by the founder of the heretical cult 5,000 years ago. It has the ability to absorb all arcane attacks.” Princess Sohye’s face turned crimson at Guigokja’s smug words. Guigokja sneered at her and held out the gourd. “And it not only absorbs, but it also has the ability to return them even stronger.” Kwarurururung! The lightning strike that shot out from the Chaos Bottle poured down on Sohye. The powerful lightning strike, which seemed no different from a lightning dragon, illuminated the entire Yodong Fortress as if it were daytime. The shockwave from the deafening roar spread across the ground, blowing away the roof tiles and indiscriminately knocking down soldiers from both countries who were fighting on the ramparts. “Kuh… I won’t be defeated by this much!” The powerful lightning strike obliterated the watchtower, and even the gate and the surrounding walls collapsed. However, Princess Sohye endured, even though her arcane power was almost depleted. “Hmph, she’s quite resilient for a princess of a nation.” The moment Guigokja, sneering, flew leisurely in front of Sohye, she disappeared from his sight. ‘What?’ It was at that moment that Guigokja flinched. Thwack-! With the sound of leather being pierced, a blade protruded from his chest. Sohye, who had appeared from behind at some point, had stabbed Guigokja’s heart with her sword. Guigokja’s expression twisted in pain as he coughed up blood. “I-incredible. To have already mastered… Cough! The Wind Lord Sect’s teleportation technique at that age!” “It’s because you were careless.” “No, you were the one who was careless.” The moment he uttered those words, Guigokja’s face, which had been distorted in pain, returned to normal. ‘A trap?’ Sohye’s heart sank, and at that moment, she felt an immense heat in her palm. Startled by the pain that felt like her hand was about to burn, Sohye looked down. And there, her beloved sword was melting away. “Ah!” She hurriedly pulled her hand away from the sword and stepped back. Guigokja, who had transformed into a giant fire dragon, charged at her. Whirr! If she were to be devoured by the fire dragon, her entire body would be burned. Sohye hastily gathered her remaining arcane power and used teleportation. Thanks to that instantaneous movement, she managed to avoid Guigokja’s attack. However, Guigokja, who had already returned to his original form, appeared right in front of her and grabbed her neck. “Kuh-euk!” “How should I deal with you, Princess? Should I crush your neck bones as they are? Or should I smash your head and scatter your brains everywhere? How should I kill you to make the Yemaek [An ancient Korean tribal confederation] bastards lose their spirit?” “You vile fiend!” The last words were not uttered by Sohye, because it was the voice of a young man filled with rage. Guigokja turned his head towards the direction of the voice and, after examining the person for a moment, wore a surprised expression. “Oh, who do we have here. Isn’t it the traitor Prince Jo Won-rak?” “Shut your mouth, you bastard! Release the Princess right now!” Jo Won-rak rebuked him, aiming his bow at Guigokja. Currently, Zhuge Hui and his guards were scattered here and there, fighting the Jiangshi [Chinese hopping vampires], so they couldn’t help him. Nor was he someone with any special martial prowess. Nevertheless, Jo Won-rak did not back down. He didn’t want to be a pathetic man who ran away, leaving his partner behind. Even if he died, he intended to die here with her. “Tsk, tsk, overflowing spirit doesn’t translate to power.” Guigokja, having thrown Sohye aside, rushed towards Jo Won-rak. However, the moment he tried to grab Jo Won-rak’s neck, a sharp blade flew from the side and cut off his hand. Slice! “Kuaaak! W-who is it!” “I’d say it’s someone who wants to give power to overflowing spirit.” Guigokja’s expression changed completely at the familiar voice. He knew it was coming, but it arrived much faster than he had expected. “Luke de Rakan…!” Guigokja gritted his teeth and spat out the name of one person. The descendant of the hero who had conquered the Northern Continent, and the King of Symphonia. The tip of his sword, which had appeared through the darkness, was pointed at Guigokja. 3 The Muklin Ghost Cavalry and the Symphonian Expeditionary Force had been running without any rest or sleep since they left Ungseong. Surprisingly, they succeeded in covering a four-day distance in less than two days. When they arrived near Yodong Fortress, they could see that the fortress was under attack, even though it was the middle of the night. The sound of metal clashing against metal, various shouts and screams, and even bizarre sounds that could not be considered human. Flames were rising everywhere, but it didn’t seem like the fortress had been captured yet. It was a relief, but it was precarious, and it seemed like it would be captured soon if things continued like this. In particular, a familiar dark energy could be felt near the gate. ‘I should go first.’ Luke decided to go first, even if it was just to catch the one emitting that dark energy. So, he spoke to King Biryu. “The situation inside the fortress seems precarious, so I will go ahead.” “I ask you to do so.” “Your Majesty, what about us?” Shirley, who had been listening from behind, asked in surprise. Luke shrugged his shoulders and said, “Follow me if you can, and if you can’t, follow King Biryu’s orders.” Having said that, Luke leaped into the sky and flew straight towards Yodong Fortress. Several war mages who had mastered flight magic followed him. “Tch! He should have taken us with him.” “That’s what I’m saying.” When Shirley and Leonard grumbled, Hwangbo Seong scolded them sharply. “We’re on the verge of battle, why are you talking so much nonsense! Hurry up and prepare for deployment!” Hwangbo Seong was the next highest-ranking person in the expeditionary force after Luke. At his words, the two hurriedly ran to their Gigantes [Giant humanoid war machines] and boarded them. Even if they participated in the battle without their Gigantes, they could display terrifying power as Sword Masters. However, their true power was unleashed when they were with their Gigantes. Thump! Thump! Thump! As other riders also began to board, dozens of Gigantes began to rise from the trailers, one after another. “The Divine Army, hurry up and prepare for battle!” “Understood!” At Hwangbo Seong’s command, the warriors wearing blood-red headbands drew their swords and spears in unison and responded. The Divine Army was composed of warriors from the Song Empire who had been taken prisoner in naval battles and had defected to the Symphonian Kingdom. Only some of them had come on the trailers. The Symphonian Kingdom’s army did not have enough transportation to carry them all. Therefore, Luke had only brought a thousand of the most skilled warriors among those who had defected first, and ordered the rest to follow after Zhuge Soha had secured transportation. ‘They are full of energy. Well, they did come on self-propelled carriages, so it’s understandable.’ King Biryu, who had glanced at the Symphonian Expeditionary Force, turned his gaze towards the Muklin Ghost Cavalry and gave an order. “All troops, align!” The formation had been greatly disrupted by the run here. In order to inflict a major blow on the enemy, it was necessary to have a proper formation first. At the King’s command, the Muklin Ghost Cavalry soldiers began to reorganize their formation into an arrowhead shape. It was a wedge formation, with the strongest and most skilled riders in the Muklin Ghost Cavalry at the sharp point. Clack! Clack! Clack! Even though both horses and men were quite exhausted from the long journey, the formation was quickly completed. Once the formation was complete, King Biryu opened his mouth in a booming voice. “Today, we stand here to make history, and to protect our history! Sons of Yemaek, who have inherited the blood of Hwanin [A deity in Korean mythology]! Will we allow those vile fiends to trample on our land!” “No, we will not!” “We will never allow it!” Powerful shouts erupted from all over. The conflict between the Song Empire and Yemaek had continued for nearly a thousand years. Wars to determine the ruler of the eastern part of the Southern Continent had occurred roughly once every hundred years, and both sides had suffered great damage in the process. The Muklin Ghost Cavalry, the main force of Yemaek, was born out of such conflict and struggle. This unit, composed of the most skilled warriors among the Jo-ui Seonin [Elite warriors of Yemaek] and the five tribes that made up Yemaek, served as the pillar and guardian of the nation. As such an elite force, the pride and dignity of the cavalrymen were extraordinary. “Drive out the Song army!” “Wipe out the enemies!” Biryu smiled at the warriors’ cries and drew his sword, saying, “Sons of Yemaek! Let us run together with me, save our compatriots in danger, and crush the enemies so that they will never dare to covet our territory again!” “Waaaaaaaah!” “All troops, charge- Ugh!” King Biryu, who had given a short but impressive speech, took the lead and began to ride his horse. Then, the ten thousand Muklin Ghost Cavalrymen also spurred their horses, following behind him. “We charge too! Don’t fall behind the Yemaek army!” Thump thump thump thump! At Hwangbo Seong’s command, a hundred Gigantes and the Divine Army began to run towards Yodong Fortress all at once. The empty trailers and Iron Mages were left behind. There was nothing for them to do even if they followed, as their combat power was weak. Dududududu! The sight of ten thousand Muklin Ghost Cavalrymen running, shaking the earth, was spectacular. But at some point, black light began to emanate from the magically treated armor and horse armor of the cavalrymen. The Muklin Ghost Cavalry’s signature technique, ‘Muklin Overflowing Energy,’ had been activated. The activated Muklin Overflowing Energy merged into one. It was like a giant dragon with black skin. The dragon was a sacred beast of the Southern Continent, and its appearance and personality were very different from the dragons of the Rodisia Continent. Kuaaaaaaaa! The moment the black dragon seemed to open its eyes wide and roar, the morale of the Muklin Ghost Cavalry soared. Conversely, the Song Empire army, their target, was thrown into chaos. “Grand Commander! It’s a disaster, Grand Commander!” Kwan Chang, who had been leisurely watching the siege from the rear, frowned at the messenger’s cry, which was like a scream. “What’s all the fuss about?” “The Muklin Ghost Cavalry… the Muklin Ghost Cavalry is charging!” “W-what?” Kwan Chang’s complexion turned pale at the unexpected bad news. He had expected the enemy’s reinforcements to come, but this was too fast. Moreover, it was the Muklin Ghost Cavalry, notorious for their rising momentum! “What the hell were the scouts doing!” “They were concentrating on the attack on Yodong Fortress, so…” “Enough! Quickly establish a defensive formation, quickly!” At Kwan Chang’s urging, the generals moved the units that had remained in the rear to respond. However, it took time for the orders to be delivered and the formation to be reorganized. Before the defensive formation could be fully established, the Muklin Ghost Cavalry crashed down like an angry wave. Kwaaang-! Crack! “Kuaaaak!” “Keek!” The Song Empire soldiers were sent flying into the sky or trampled under the hooves of horses and turned into a pulp by the charge that rammed them with their horse armor. “Only death awaits those who block my path!” “Die!” Every time King Biryu, who was at the head of the Muklin Ghost Cavalry, and the Sword Master-level warriors swung their swords, hundreds of Song Empire soldiers fell like straw. “Hiiiik! Run away!” “They’re the Muklin Ghost Cavalry!” The rear units that were trying to form a defensive formation were broken through in an instant. Immediately after that, even the reserve units that were waiting to take over Yodong Fortress were crushed like tofu in succession in front of the Muklin Ghost Cavalry. The somewhat intelligent generals hurriedly urged their soldiers to counterattack, aiming for the flanks or rear of the Muklin Ghost Cavalry. However, what appeared before them were a hundred giant steel giants. Thump thump thump! “Sweep them away!” “Uwaaaaaaak!” The Gigantes that had charged in each swung their weapons or flailed their arms and legs, sweeping away the soldiers. It was as if their entire bodies were weapons, and it was on a different level from the movements of the Rodisian mercenary riders they had seen in the siege battle earlier. The Song Empire army truly tasted the combat power of a real Gigante, and its terror. It was more than the Muklin Ghost Cavalry, if not less. “T-this!” When the enemy army pushed into the command headquarters in an instant, Kwan Chang even threw away his baton and ran away. He ignored the pleas and shouts of several generals behind him and focused only on spurring his horse. His figure, running away particularly quickly even in the darkness, was clearly visible to King Biryu, who was at the head of the Muklin Ghost Cavalry. “Where do you think you’re going!” Biryu quickly strung his bow and fired it at Kwan Chang. Swoosh- Thud! “Keok!” The arrow that flew through the air pierced the back of Kwan Chang’s head. Before he could even think about what had happened, his body fell to the ground. It was the futile death of the commander-in-chief of the Song Empire, who had set out with great ambition to conquer Yemaek. “The enemy’s leader is dead!” “Kwan Chang is dead! The Song army, surrender now!” “Those who surrender will not be killed!” At King Biryu’s cry, the warriors who followed him seized the opportunity and began to shout together. The morale of the Song army, which had been attacking Yodong Fortress, plummeted at the sudden voices. “What? The Grand Commander has fallen in battle?” “Then we’re in big trouble!” The atmosphere was already chaotic during the siege, as the rear was being attacked by the Muklin Ghost Cavalry. They had continued the siege, thinking that the units in the rear would be able to defend well since there were many of them. But now that they heard that their commander-in-chief had fallen in battle, their morale could not help but melt like snow. In the end, the offensive of the Song Empire army, which had occupied more than half of Yodong Fortress, began to noticeably weaken.