Grahtos's pincher's attack from behind managed to catch Perseus completely and utterly off guard.
The king perhaps did not even think such a possibility existed.
In fact, when the first sword strike had begun to hit them, some of the mercenaries had even cried out not in horror but pure unbridled rage, "Bastard! The enemy is in the front. What are you doing?"
Yes.
They initially thought that this group of men had gotten confused in the darkness and was hitting their own men.
And it took them a small while to even realize what was really happening.
And what was a horrifying realization was that!
When the men was able to at last clearly see the 'blundering fools', their rage instantly melted away like wax, as if they were hit by a terrifying flame of fear and shock.
The blue armor, the unique helmet, and the telltale sword and shield formation, all pointed to only one answer.