Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 439

For the Empire, McLaine’s invasion was a complete surprise.

This news was a shock, especially for Jippen Trey. He was the commander of the Empire’s Eastern Second Army Corps. People thought he would soon lead the First Army Corps.

Moreover…

“The main forces from Kyle Castle and the northern and southern fortresses are heading towards our army corps’ base! They’re heading towards the Second and Third Army Corps, and the First and Sixth Army Corps!”

“These madmen! They’re rushing to their doom!” The enraged Jippen roared.

“If they’ve come out, we’ll crush them. Gather the troops! I’ll show them how pointless their victories are, victories that they only won because of magic and bad luck! Request reinforcements from Lusphelheim!”

“The enemy is advancing unusually fast. They’ll probably attack before the forces from Lusphelheim arrive!”

“What!?”

The Eastern Army Corps had already been cut in half after the defeat in the McLaine War. Even if they gathered all their troops and combined them with the forces of the Dongik Royal Palace, which now had no owner, it would barely be five army corps.

“What about their forces!?”

“The fortress troops heading towards the First and Sixth Army Corps are about 50,000 to 60,000 strong. The McLaine forces coming to Lupen number 30,000, and about 50,000 troops from other minor countries are heading towards the Third Army Corps’ base.”

“Ha…?” His head throbbed.

The First, Third, and Sixth Army Corps were just remnants without commanders.

He had ordered new soldiers to be recruited in each base to rebuild their size, but there wasn’t enough time. It would be lucky if the new soldiers didn’t get in the way. They were facing forces two to three times their size with only 20,000 troops.

But something bothered him.

“The guys coming this way are only 30,000?”

It was a strange number.

Why send the smallest force to where he was, where the army was still strong?

Was it a sacrifice, or a risky gamble?

If they ignored the allied forces, met the forces with the Third Army Corps, and then joined the others…

“That’s because their king, who is believed to be an Aura Master, is with the army coming here.”

…Bloody hell.

Jippen immediately threw out his counterattack plan.

“All Eastern forces, including us, and all the army corps in the bases, retreat to Lusphelheim. Gather the forces of the Dongik Royal Palace there!”

“Your Excellency, that’s overstepping your authority…”

“I’ll take responsibility. Shut up and do as I say!”

“Yes! Understood.”

“I’ll fight in Lusphelheim, where we have more soldiers.”

They might not have the red stones, their greatest weapon, but the Empire had rapid-firing crossbows.

Crossbows were not as good at hitting enemies from low ground to high ground. Just as they had used walls to defend against knights, now they would use them again.

‘Just hold out until His Majesty the Emperor returns from conquering the West.’

This was a cautious plan, compared to his angry roar when he first heard the news.

But anything was better than dying.

Jippen had spent his life fighting, but he was the Empire’s army corps commander. He would protect his pride, but he wasn’t stupid.

At least, that’s what he thought.

Even when he joined all the forces under his command in the fields three days from Lusphelheim a week later.

“Our Imperial Army is well-trained.”

Allies filled the fields. The army, lined up as the sun set, looked organized.

Jippen Trey’s assistants nodded at his pleased smile.

“That’s right. The Empire’s military discipline is still strong.”

They were surprised that the forces of the First, Second, Third, and Sixth Army Corps, coming from different places, had gathered so perfectly on the way to Lusphelheim.

But the smile didn’t last long.

A grim voice cut through the tense silence. “The enemy… they’re only half a day away.”

Another knight, his face pale and sweaty, added, “And they’re pushing hard! They’re right on our heels!”

Inside the largest tent, the command tent pitched in the muddy fields for the night, the highest-ranking knights, their faces etched with worry, stared at Jippen. The flickering lamplight cast long shadows on their grim faces. Jippen’s own face tightened. His jaw clenched. This was happening too fast.

“…Leri. Where is Logan McLaine now?”

At that grim tone, the assistant Leri’s face turned pale, as if he had remembered something bad.

“…He’s estimated to be half a day away from our main force.”

As soon as he said that, a wave of ice seemed to wash over the tent.

Bang!

“Damn it!! A trick…? A trick? An army of thousands? Against our Great Ares Imperial Army!?”

The answer to Jippen’s angry shout came from outside the tent.

– Y-Your Excellency!

A knight rushed into the tent, sounding desperate.

“The enemy is suddenly marching faster!!”

At that news, everyone’s face in the tent turned to stone.

“The sun is setting soon?”

“At this hour!?”

“Everyone, pack up the tents! We’re retreating, even if we have to stay up all night! Tell Drexler and Bering to leave Lusphelheim right away!”

As Jippen shouted, the Imperial Army began to move quickly.

“Well done, Damian. Leave the rest to me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Haha.”

Damian’s face, as he answered with a smile, looked pale.

And for good reason.

A commoner without Force or Mana had endured for over a week with only short naps, commanding hundreds of thousands of troops. He had also been analyzing the enemy’s reactions through spies and giving instructions for every small movement.

Logan sent the exhausted Damian back with a guard knight, then looked around again.

Flutter.

Several riders were approaching, as if they had planned it.

“Your Majesty, I’m glad you’re well.”

“Yes. Thank you for your concern.”

From the right, his master, who looked healthy again, smiled and spoke.

“It’s been a ‘really’ long time, Your Majesty.”

“…I’m sorry I haven’t been able to see you more often, Father.”

“No, Father. Brother, no, Your Majesty, was also badly hurt.”

“So, it’s even more infuriating……. Ahem, since Your Majesty is busy, I’ll visit you more often in the future.”

“Father!”

On the left, his father and younger brother, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, were putting on a funny show.

“The female soldiers have finished their inspection. The dropout rate is even lower than the main force.”

“The magic corps is still ready. You can march right away.”

His wife and Victoria, who had inspected the female soldiers and the magic corps, reported. Next to them, Tir nudged Victoria’s robe and rubbed his face against it.

“Woof!”

Victoria’s face, which had been tense, softened slightly as she saw Tir. He raised his head as if to tell her to trust him, or not to worry.

Tir, with his nose in the air, trotted to Aileen, wagging his tail and jumping up and down.

Until Aileen stroked his head and tickled his belly.

‘When he’s like that, he’s just a puppy…’

Logan looked at him, surprised, but then he saw something even more surprising.

“Long time no see, skinny. You seem to have gotten even thinner; does ‘it’ even work properly in the morning?”

“You haven’t changed a bit, have you? Still acting like a fool, even as a commander! And in front of the King!”

Two men, old rivals from Grandia, forgot all about greeting Logan. Instead, they started arguing and grabbing each other’s shirts. They hadn’t seen each other in years, but old habits die hard.

Burdel and Viktor watched the arguing men. They shook their heads and made a “tsk tsk” sound with their tongues, showing they were annoyed. When they saw Logan looking at them, they quickly bowed.

Then, another man stepped forward. “Greetings, Your Majesty,” he said, bowing deeply. “I am Latin Lawrence from Teronun. I honor you, the Sun of McLaine.”

An Aura user of advanced years, with a middle-aged face, dismounted and bowed deeply, showing the utmost respect.

“Uh… Greetings, Your Majesty,” said another man, clearing his throat. “I am Gustav Clement from Teronun. I bow to you, Overlord of the East.”

This man was a mage from the old Caron Kingdom, now part of Teronun. He had been angrily looking at a woman named Aileen, but when Logan looked at him, he jumped and quickly bowed his head. He showed just as much respect as Latin Lawrence, who was known as the ‘Iron Wall’.

But Logan wasn’t really listening to the formal titles. One phrase stuck in his mind and made him think.

“‘Overlord of the East,’ he thought. ‘Is that really me?’

He looked at the huge army in front of him. It was true, he had brought together the strongest warriors from all over the East. He was their leader.

‘It’s not wrong,’ he thought, ‘but it’s not enough.’

Logan spoke quietly, but with force, as if talking to himself. “To truly deserve that title, I need to deal with the Empire first.”

He felt his resolve harden. ‘First, Luthspellheim is the main goal. But before that…’

‘I need to catch those fleeing soldiers from the Eastern Legion. Those cowards.’

*Clang!* The sound of steel echoed as Logan drew his sword. His face was set with determination. He raised the sword, its point shining like fire in the light of the setting sun.

Every eye turned to him. The huge army became silent, waiting.

Then, Logan’s voice boomed across the field, like thunder. “We will catch those fleeing invaders within a day! They will pay for stepping on McLaine land!”

His roar was so powerful it seemed to shake the very ground beneath their feet. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers felt it in their chests.

“Follow me!” Logan shouted again, his sword pointing forward.

“WAAUGH!” The army roared back, a wave of sound that answered their king.

With a torrent of shouts, the McLaine army began to advance.

The army had been marching for almost two weeks, always behind the fleeing enemy. They were exhausted. But they remembered the last battle, the friends they had lost, the horrors they had seen.

Anger and revenge burned hotter in their hearts than tiredness. It pushed them forward.

And then, they would hear Logan’s voice in their heads.

[Left side, you’re falling behind. Keep up!]

Even when they were about to drop from exhaustion, the King’s voice in their minds snapped them awake.

It felt like he was right next to them, shouting in their ear.

Every soldier straightened up instantly. A cold feeling of being watched went through them.

‘The King is watching me!’ they thought.

This feeling of being watched was stronger than any energy drink. It was like magic. Some soldiers even felt their tiredness disappear because of the faint power in Logan’s voice.

Adding to this, healers from the Healer’s Guild walked among the soldiers, gently touching them and using their holy powers.

“May the gods give you strength…” they whispered, as a warm, golden light flowed from their hands into the tired soldiers.

This was the last order from their Saintess, who had disappeared. Her blessing was still with them, giving the McLaine army the will to keep going.

Even with all this help, marching all night had made the soldiers even more tired. But they knew the reward was close.

As dawn broke, they saw them. Enemy soldiers, looking even more worn out than they were.

“There they are!”

“Imperial soldiers!”

The pain of the long night vanished. Suddenly, their shaking legs felt strong again, fueled by pure anger.

“All troops, forward!”

Then, Logan, their king, the strongest warrior on the continent, took off running. A bright golden light burst from him as he moved to the front of the army.

“WAAUGH!”

With a roar that shook the sky and the ground, the entire McLaine army charged. They ran as one towards the fleeing Imperial soldiers.

“Fight back! Fight back!” Ziphen Trai yelled, his face white with fear. He turned his horse around and lifted his lance.

The lance, his trusted weapon for years, felt heavy and clumsy in his hands. But he had to believe in it. ‘Even if he’s an Aura Master… I have to try.’

Deep down, he knew it was hopeless. But if he let fear take over, he would break.

“Knights, with me! We will stop their charge!”

Ziphen screamed and charged forward, his personal knights following him.

But then, chaos exploded around him.

*BOOM!*

“AAAAH!”

“Help me!”

Soldiers were blown apart by explosions. And then, a rain of black arrows fell from the sky. *Tap tap tap tap!*

“Fire back! Fire!” Ziphen shouted.

“KRAAAH!”

“ARGH!”

“Run…!”

Ziphen watched in horror as his soldiers became human pincushions, falling to the ground. They were too tired, too disorganized to fight back properly. The Imperial Army’s discipline had broken completely during the long retreat.

In the middle of the chaos, a voice, cold and clear, cut through the noise.

[I found you.]

It was Logan’s voice, in Ziphen’s mind. Ziphen’s eyes widened in panic. He saw a golden figure on horseback, moving towards him faster than anything he had ever seen.

“Oh no!” Ziphen cursed.

It was too late to run. Fear choked him, but he pushed it down.

‘I am Ziphen Trai, master of the Great Spear!’ he thought desperately. ‘Even an Aura Master can’t beat me in a charge!’

He knew it was a lie, but he had to try. He spurred his horse forward, towards the golden light.

*WHAM!*

Ziphen’s horse, surrounded by a red glow of aura, leaped forward like an exploding rocket.

*Thud thud thud.*

“I am Ziphen…!”

Ziphen, a red blur, crashed head-on into the golden blur that was many times faster.

*KABOOM!*

There was a flash of light, and then… nothing. Ziphen was gone, vanished in a spray of blood across the battlefield.

“The enemy commander is down!”

Logan’s voice roared across the field, making the Imperial soldiers lose all hope. The battle was already lost, but this was the final blow.

“The commander!”

“Run for your lives!”

“AAARGH!”

Ziphen didn’t see his army break and run. Maybe that was a kindness. The Imperial Army, the army he had given his life to, was destroyed.

The war between McLaine and the Empire grew hotter, fueled by the destruction of the Empire’s best legions.