chapter 27

On the road between the Rosen Army camp and the city of Trost.

In the tall grasses on the side of the road.

"Sir, are you sure that this is the road that leads to the nearest large settlement between the Rosen base camp?" a man who was wearing a dark green cloak was crawling up to another man, who was wearing the same clothing as him and asked.

"Yes, I'm confident- there, look! The courier is here." the superior of the man told the other.

"We're taking out the horse first, deal with the man later." he gives the signal to inform the rest and then pulled out a crossbow and take aim at the moving horse.

*****

The battlefield where the current Rosen army and the Evergreen army has lined up to meet one another.

On top of the hill stood, Vandal, his father Erik and Conner.

"So they have arrived…." Erik comment as he watched the enemy facing them.

"It seen like the trebuchet that has been harassing our army on their first invasion has been completely destroyed on this one." Vandal told Erik.

"I have to thank Leonard for that, who knew he had it in him," Erik said.

"Don't you think that the enemy looks somewhat desperate today?" Conner added.

"Yes, Leonard is once again the cause of their desperation, if it wasn't for him, they wouldn't have to face such a situation- either to get kill on the battlefield or starve to death while waiting for emergency rations to be transported." Erik reminded him.

"I never knew the kid could be so cruel…." he then added in a somewhat proud tone.

"He reminded me of you when you were in your prime, your grace." Conner complimented him.

"That's my boy!" Erik laughed loudly.

Vandal who listened to two grown men on the side, suddenly had a shiver running down his back.

"You should see him during his mini interrogation lesson!" that's what he wanted to shout out, however, he chooses to remain silent, leaving the two men alone in their happy time.

"Alright happy time is over, look-they're sending out their infantry first to charge."Erik then pointed out to the other two.

"Vandal, I'm sure you and your troops are now quite familiar with the new weapon that I sent over right?" Erik turned around to ask him.

"Yes father, I already distributed it all to the troop, and I have to say, I was quite impressed by it efficiency, it doesn't require much skill to use- and has quite a bit of power behind them as well…" Vandal continued on about how great the weapon was.

"Enough, bring out the crossbowmen units to meet the infantry, let them have a taste of what we have to offer." Erik quickly gave the order.

*****

In the battlefield, the Rosen infantry was currently marching toward the Evergreen army ranks formation, the face of the marching knight was dark and weary, showing that their morale was low.

"...brace for it youngster...this might be your first and final battle." an old Rosen soldier told the younger as they marched toward their enemy, the Evergreen kingdom.

"What make you say that?" the young knight asked the old man.

"Just guts feeling...now pay attention, you don't want an arrow going through your eye socket right?" the old man told him.

"Wait...what are they doing?" the youngster noticed something happened in the rank of the Evergreen army, they were splitting to create a path for the range units.

"Are they a bunch of fools? Letting the archer go as the vanguard?" the youngster sneered.

However, after he said those words the sky darkened with arrows launched by the Evergreen army.

"Shield up!" the old knight roared out and raised the shield, he thought that the arrow would bounce off his metal shield, however, he was dead wrong, the bolt actually punctures it and went into his arm.

"arghhh!!!" the old man let out a gruntle of pain, the same goes for all the other knight who used their shield to block as well, some were even unfortunate enough to get a bolt going through their brain.

"How is it possible for an arrow to have such a penetrative power?! Are they all high-level warrior?! BULLSHIT!!!" the young knight yelled out- after he said those words another volley of arrows has once again darkened the sky and coming straight for them.

Anguished scream of pain and cry sounded through the entire battlefield.

*****

"Just as expected, not bad…" Erik who was viewing the battlefield from the distant commented on the pain and suffering that he has wrought upon his enemy.

"Your grace, I believe that it would be a wise decision if we were to produce more of these weapons and train more troops to use them, it could be a change in the tide of war," Conner suggested.

"That goes without saying, we will find more craftsman to produce it once this is all over." Erik nodded.

"Father, don't you think that the downside for the crossbows is too great? It could only be fire once, but it needs some time to reload for another shot, during that time the enemy could make a quick charge for us." Vandal told him.

"That's why we shall use the volley firing tactic," Erik told him.

"Volley firing tactic?" Vandal questioned.

"Yes, it's when we lined up the crossbowmen into three rows or more, the one in front will fire first, then headed to the back of the line and reload- while the second row will unleash their volley- this process could put a lot of pressure on our enemy." Erik clarified.

*****

In the Rosen army camp.

Leonard was sitting up in a high position, viewing the battlefield as a spy.

"Oh~ look like someone actually know of the Volley Firing tactic...not bad." Leonard compliments his own side for using such an ingenious tactic with a weapon such as a crossbow.

"Hey, Leonard! You saw something amusing?" a logistic member of the army who was working below asked him.

"Yeah, it's quite a mess down there!" Leonard told the man.