Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 428: The Southern Front (4) Wilhelmina’s Ambush

Chapter 428: The Southern Front (4) Wilhelmina’s Ambush

The chaos of battle erupted as the engineers activated their traps, the sound of mechanisms clicking and heavy thuds reverberating through the narrow pass. Concealed pits opened under the feet of the Varzadian soldiers, their cries cut short as they plunged into the depths, impaled on stakes hidden beneath the earth. Spiked barricades shot up, blocking escape routes and herding the enemy into even tighter clusters, creating an inescapable nightmare.

Wilhelmina stood atop the ridge, her eyes sharp, her presence commanding as she shouted her orders. Her voice cut through the cacophony, clear and resolute. "Keep them bottled in! Don’t give them room to breathe! They need to feel the pressure from every side!"

The archers moved with precision, releasing volley after volley of arrows that rained down upon the disorganized enemy. Each arrow struck true, finding its mark among the confused soldiers below. The narrow confines of the pass amplified the chaos, their once-disciplined formation devolving into frantic attempts to push forward or retreat. The sheer number of arrows blotted out the sun for moments, the shadows cascading over the panicked enemy below.

Belle, positioned at the center of the ridge, felt the pulse of energy coursing through her veins as she commanded the mages. With a gesture, a series of shimmering fireballs shot out from their hands, exploding in a roar of flames among the Varzadian ranks. The blasts were relentless, each one shaking the earth beneath them. The enemy stumbled, many of them engulfed by the searing heat, their screams mixing with the battle cries of the Astellian defenders. The inferno caused thick smoke to rise, obscuring vision and adding to the sense of disarray.

Nearby, Xena worked tirelessly alongside the engineers, their makeshift barricades forming an impenetrable wall. The traps that she and her team had placed worked to perfection. Men were brought to their knees, clutching at wounds as they tried to escape the spikes that now protruded from hidden barriers. The barricades were reinforced, layered with spikes and sharpened stakes, ensuring that even if they managed to approach, they would find no safety.

"Keep pushing! Reinforce the flanks!" Xena yelled, her eyes blazing with determination. She moved like a whirlwind, ensuring the defensive measures remained intact and providing encouragement to those around her. Her hands were covered in grime and sweat, but she didn’t falter. They all felt the weight of what was happening; they could not afford to let their ambush falter. Not with Lyan and his forces still advancing towards the border. The stakes were too high, and Xena’s voice carried a resolve that inspired the defenders to dig deep.

Suddenly, there was a shift in the enemy’s movements. The Varzadian commander, a tall man with a helm adorned with a red plume, was trying to rally his forces, shouting commands over the noise. His voice, filled with desperation, rose above the din. "Reform! Push through! They can’t keep this up forever! Regroup on me!" He gestured wildly, trying to bring some semblance of order to his crumbling lines.

Wilhelmina’s eyes narrowed as she spotted him, her thoughts racing. "We need to cut off their head before they regroup!" she thought. She turned her head towards Belle. "Belle, can you target their commander? We need to break their morale! We can’t let them get back on their feet!"

Belle nodded, her eyes locking onto the enemy leader. She muttered an incantation under her breath, her hands weaving intricate patterns as she drew upon her magic. The air around her seemed to shimmer, crackling with energy, and suddenly a bolt of energy shot forth, streaking across the pass like a comet. It struck the commander squarely, blasting him off his feet and sending him crashing to the ground. His plume, once a beacon for his soldiers, now lay crumpled and covered in dirt.

A cheer rose up from the Astellian troops as they saw their enemy commander fall, their morale bolstered by the sight. The Varzadian soldiers, on the other hand, hesitated, their lines faltering. Confusion spread like wildfire, their focus shattered, and the once fierce determination in their eyes was replaced with fear and doubt. The sight of their leader lying motionless created ripples of panic among them.

Wilhelmina seized the moment, her voice carrying over the battlefield. "Charge! Break them now while they’re disoriented! Give them no time to recover!"

The Astellian forces surged forward, pouring down from the ridges into the narrow pass. The infantry moved with ruthless precision, their shields raised, their swords striking with purpose. The Varzadian forces, already reeling from the relentless assault, were unable to withstand the sudden charge. Their lines broke, their soldiers scattering in panic, their cries growing more desperate as the Astellians closed in. The chaos was absolute, and the once-organized ranks of the Varzadian reinforcements were reduced to a frenzied scramble for survival.

Captain Gareth, leading a contingent of Light Cavalry, took the opportunity to sweep around the edge of the pass, flanking the Varzadian forces and cutting off any potential escape routes. The cavalry moved swiftly, their lances striking down fleeing soldiers, ensuring none could escape to regroup. The ground shook under the pounding hooves of the cavalry, and the Varzadian soldiers found themselves crushed between the advancing infantry and the unyielding cavalry. Their screams of terror echoed in the narrow confines of the pass.

Wilhelmina watched as the battle unfolded, her heart pounding in her chest. The Varzadians were breaking, their forces crumbling under the relentless assault. She knew they had to press their advantage, to ensure that this ambush would not only be a success but a decisive blow to the enemy’s reinforcements. There could be no survivors to tell the tale.

"Mages, keep the pressure up! Don’t let them regroup! Press them harder!" she shouted, her eyes scanning the battlefield for any signs of resistance. Belle and the other mages unleashed a barrage of spells, fire and lightning arcing through the air, striking down any Varzadian soldier who dared to stand and fight. The thunderous roars of the spells echoed off the ridges, mingling with the screams of the dying.

Meanwhile, Xena and the engineers moved quickly to dismantle the barricades, clearing a path for the Astellian infantry to push forward. Xena’s eyes were fierce, her hands moving with practiced precision as she worked. She directed the engineers with sharp commands, ensuring they moved with efficiency. "We can’t let them have a chance to recover. Keep pushing! Tear these down and make way for our forces!" she called to the soldiers around her.

The Astellian forces surged forward, their momentum unstoppable. They moved like a tide, crashing over the Varzadian reinforcements, pushing them back further and further until there was nowhere left for them to run. The Varzadian soldiers, once so confident in their numbers, now found themselves overwhelmed, their spirits broken. They fell one by one, their cries for mercy drowned out by the clamor of battle.

Belle, her face flushed from the exertion of using so much magic, looked towards Wilhelmina. Her hands trembled slightly, her breath ragged, but there was a triumphant fire in her eyes. "They’re breaking! We have them! Their morale is shattered!"

Wilhelmina nodded, her eyes never leaving the battlefield. "No mercy. Make sure none of them escape." Her voice was cold, her determination absolute. This was war, and they couldn’t afford to let even a single enemy soldier return to report what had happened here. They had to ensure that this victory was complete, that their enemies were left with no option but defeat.

Captain Gareth and his Light Cavalry continued their sweep, cutting down the last of the fleeing Varzadian soldiers. The pass was littered with the bodies of the fallen, the air heavy with the scent of blood and smoke. The cries of the dying mixed with the victorious shouts of the Astellian soldiers. The Astellian forces stood victorious, their cheers echoing through the narrow pass, a sound that carried with it the promise of more battles to come—but also hope. Hope that they could push back the invaders, hope that they could win this war.

Wilhelmina took a deep breath, her gaze softening as she looked over her soldiers. They had done it. Against the odds, they had managed to hold off the Varzadian reinforcements and protect Lyan’s advancing forces. But there was no time to rest. She turned to Captain Gareth, her voice calm but urgent. "Gather the men. We need to regroup and prepare for whatever comes next. This was just one fight, and there will be more."

Gareth nodded, his expression serious. "Understood, Lady Wilhelmina. We’ll be ready." He moved off, his voice ringing out as he began to issue orders, the soldiers quickly moving to carry out his commands.

Wilhelmina then looked at Belle and Xena, her eyes filled with pride. "You both did well. This ambush wouldn’t have been possible without your efforts. You saved countless lives today."

Belle gave a tired but satisfied smile, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "We did what we had to do. Anything to keep Lyan and the others safe. We can’t let Varzadia think they can just march in and take what’s ours."

Xena grinned, wiping sweat from her brow. "They won’t know what hit them. They’ll think twice before trying something like this again."

As the soldiers began to regroup and tend to the wounded, Wilhelmina’s thoughts turned to Lyan. She hoped that their efforts here would be enough to give him the advantage he needed. The battle was far from over, and she knew that Varzadia would not take this defeat lightly. They would regroup, they would come back stronger, and they would be seeking vengeance. But for now, they had won a crucial victory, and that was enough. For now, they had shown that Astellia would not fall easily, that they would fight for every inch of their land, and that they would not be broken.

____

Farther ahead, Lyan’s forces continued their advance, the distant sounds of battle reaching them on the wind. Lyan’s heart pounded as he listened, his eyes narrowing as he turned to Alice.

"That has to be Wilhelmina’s ambush," he said, his voice filled with both concern and resolve. "We need to be ready for anything. If she’s engaging reinforcements, there could be more coming our way."

Alice nodded, her expression serious. "I’ll double the scouts and ensure we’re not caught off guard. If more reinforcements are on their way, we’ll be ready." She turned in her saddle, gesturing to the nearby scouts, her voice carrying with authority. "I want eyes on every flank! Report back at the first sign of movement!"

Lyan looked at his soldiers, their faces filled with determination. They had made good progress, and with Wilhelmina holding the line, they now had a chance to push forward, to take the fight to Varzadia on their terms. The wind carried the scent of smoke from the distant battle, and Lyan’s grip on his weapon tightened. This was their moment, and they couldn’t let it slip away.

"Listen up, everyone!" Lyan called out, his voice carrying across the ranks. "We keep moving, but we stay vigilant. This is our land, our people, and we will not let Varzadia take it from us. We fight for Astellia, for our families, for each other! Stand firm, stay strong, and remember why we fight!"

The soldiers responded with a resounding cheer, their voices filled with determination. Lyan turned back to Alice, his eyes meeting hers. "Let’s make sure Wilhelmina’s efforts aren’t in vain. We press forward, but cautiously."

Alice gave a fierce smile, her eyes gleaming with the fire of battle. "We’ll make them regret ever challenging us. They have no idea what they’re up against."

With renewed determination, Lyan’s forces moved forward, the tension of the upcoming battle hanging in the air like a storm cloud. Every step they took was a step towards reclaiming their land, towards defending what was theirs. The fight was far from over, but they were ready. Ready to face whatever Varzadia had left to throw at them. Ready to show the world that Astellia would not be conquered.