The War (Part 1)

The plan had worked as expected, and the number of barbarians had decreased, offering a glimmer of hope to Stahl in this dire situation. Now, the soldiers' numbers were somewhat balanced, giving Henry a fighting chance.

A loud thud echoed as the soldiers swiftly removed the wooden supports, revealing the world outside the walls. It was a scene of utter devastation, resembling an area ravaged by heavy bombing. Numerous craters marred the ground, impeding the barbarians' progress and forcing them into narrower paths. The snow had turned crimson, and white steam kept rising from the ground.

As a result of the craters, the barbarians had split into ten groups, each led by a powerful warrior, a leader, who had shielded them from the explosion. Henry's gaze shifted among these leaders, finally settling on two of them, who had necklaces adorned with four teeth around their neck. They were his enemies.

"This is a situation I can't avoid" - Henry thought, taking a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, using the handle of the sword as an anchor - "It's a matter of them or me. I have to accept that."

The idea of ending someone's life didn't sit well with him. In his previous life, he couldn't even muster the courage to stomp on a rat in his kitchen, let alone take a human life. However, he understood that in this world, killing was a tool necessary for survival. Because of that, he had to set aside his ideals and live the way of the North. It was either him or them and he was going to survive, no matter what.

"FIRST BATTALION!" - Henry's commanding voice rang out from atop the walls, reaching the awe-struck soldiers who had been witnessing the aftermath of the explosion - "MOVE!"

In response to his order, the soldiers moved with precision and unity, matching their steps while maintaining a tight formation. The frontline soldiers held their wooden shields high, allowing the ones behind them to fit their spears through the small gaps, forming a phalanx, a war formation masterfully used by the Roman Empire to conquer Europe's lands.

The First Battalion of Stahl, normally under Luther's command, was responsible for maintaining the kingdom's stability, hunting down bandits and protecting the lands from outsiders' incursions. Although they numbered only four hundred, they were the most highly trained force in the kingdom, with all members at least in the Second Stage. Due to their strategic importance, the First Battalion was the only unit fully equipped with chainmail armor and well-crafted weapons.

Despite the objections of the other two Generals, Iosif and Olaro, Luther had agreed to Henry taking command of the First Battalion. It was the kingdom's orders and although Luther's still had some doubts about the changes, he still decided to trust him. Henry's plan was clear: eliminate the weakest group of barbarians quickly, creating a gap to encircle and defeat the remaining forces.

Henry descended from the walls and stood before the battalion, his confident gaze instilling faith and confidence in the soldiers. The burning sword in his hands seemed to be like a symbol of hope, which would never be wiped out.

"Forward!"- Henry commanded and led his troops outside the walls, under the watchful eyes of the barbarians, who still hesitated to approach the city after the explosion.

As they marched forwards. Henry glanced behind and noticed that, despite their intense training in the phalanx formation over the last two days, the soldiers still slightly struggled to move in perfect unison. Some occasionally stepped ahead of others, leaving gaps in the shield wall that the enemy could potentially exploit. However, Henry had no time to address this issue now.

"For now, I just need to end this quickly" - Henry murmured, determined to conclude the battle as swiftly as possible, his eyes locking into the two figures ahead, who seemed to be prepared to fight.

The First Battalion kept advancing like a massive tortoise through the battlefield, with Henry at the forefront, resembling the head of this great creature. They passed by the craters, where remnants and pieces of barbarians could be seen, some slightly buried in the snow outside or laying inside the craters. Their bodies were destroyed. The soldiers couldn't help but cast awestruck glances at Henry's back, which seemed as formidable as that of a mighty dragon.

At that moment, Luther's voice resounded from behind the wall, signaling another battalion to follow in Henry's path but heading toward a different part of the battlefield – "MOVE!"

(Edited)