Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

As the battle progressed, more and more orcs came out of the opposite tunnel, replacing the dead orc warriors.

With the unending number of monsters, the allied army was also starting to accumulate fatigue and the number of casualties on their side increased.

“My lord, the mercenary unit has lost a third of their men and a Knight from House Achumbre has been killed in battle!” A warrior reported the situation with a grim voice.

Alaric nodded upon hearing this. The death of those men fell heavily on his shoulders and as the commander of this army, he had to take responsibility for their deaths.

“Bring their bodies here,” Alaric instructed.

“What about the half-eaten corpses?” The warrior asked hesitantly.

Some warriors had been eaten by the enraged orcs and some were almost unrecognizable.

“Retrieve what’s left of them. If there’s no body to retrieve, then bring their armor or weapons!” Alaric wasn’t new to this.

“Yes, my lord!” The warrior quickly left after getting his instructions.

At this moment, the lords were starting to get nervous. More of their warriors had been killed and they couldn’t stomach these losses anymore.

“My lord, shouldn’t we send the main force now?” Lord Smith Heinrich cautiously asked.

Alaric shook his head without looking at him. “It’s not time yet.”

Lord Smith furrowed his eyebrows. The casualties were piling up and it was starting to affect the overall morale of the troops.

Just as he was about to say something, Alaric muttered. “I understand your concern, Lord Smith. I know what’s going on. However, sending the main force ahead of time won’t do us any good. The orc lords haven’t joined the battle yet and we only managed to kill less than a fifth of their numbers.”

Lord Smith took a deep breath.

Before coming here, Alaric told them about the existence of orc lords in this settlement. If that were true, then things would definitely get more dicey.

Lord Smith took a deep breath. With a determined look on his face, he uttered. “Then allow me to participate in this battle.”

He was an Elite Knight and a particularly strong one at that. It was apparent in the intense aura he exuded which even surpassed that of Henry’s.

Hearing this, Alaric was taken aback.

“There’s no need for you to endanger yourself, my lord.” Alaric was against his idea.

Baron Smith shook his head. “I have made up my mind, my lord. I can’t watch this any longer. I have to do something!”

Alaric stared deeply at him. When he saw the determination in the baron’s eyes, Alaric knew that he couldn’t stop him.

With a deep sigh, Alaric relented. “Alright, but you must be careful, my lord. If you sense that something is wrong, then you must retreat immediately.”

“I understand.” Baron Smith nodded.

“I will assign you with the infantry unit. You will serve as the deputy commander and follow Henry’s orders.”

“Thank you, my lord!” The baron saluted.

“You may join their formation.” Alaric waved his hand, indicating for him to go.

Just as he was about to leave, an old voice drifted into their ears

“If you’re going, then this old man will go too.”

Alaric and Baron Smith stared at Baron Argus in surprise. They didn’t expect that this stubborn old man would actually join the battle.

“What’s wrong? Do you think this old man will hold back you young ones?” Argus snorted, seemingly annoyed by the lack of response.

Alaric shook his head. “Of course not, my lord! But… are you sure?”

Baron Smith was an Elite Knight in his prime years so Alaric wasn’t that worried about him, but Baron Argus was another matter.

This old man was a peak Knight, but he wasn’t the formidable warrior that he was anymore. Age had caught up with him and it had affected his battle prowess.

Seeing Alaric’s hesitant face, Argus smirked. “Look at you hesitating. A commander has to be prepared to sacrifice his men. Lord Alaric, you have a good heart, but that is your greatest weakness.”

The old man tapped his shoulder and added. “Remember this…”

“Sometimes, you need to sacrifice a thousand soldiers to protect a million lives.”

The old man’s words resonated deeply in Alaric’s heart.

In that instant, he remembered the scenes in his past life during the civil war between the crown prince and the second prince.

He had made many questionable decisions that killed his subordinates.

He is right. Sometimes, sacrifices are necessary.

It took a moment to gather his composure.

After calming himself, Alaric’s eyes flashed with resolve. He stared deeply at the old man and nodded. “Since you have already expressed your intention, then I won’t hold you back, my lord.”

“You will be the second Deputy Commander under Sir Henry.”

Having gained his permission, the old baron grinned and saluted. “Thank you, my lord!”

“Please be careful, you two.” Alaric reminded them once more.

The two barons nodded before they headed toward Henry’s infantry unit.

…

Dylann was part of the infantry unit and when he saw his father reporting to Henry, he was stunned.

“Dad?”

As if hearing his voice, Baron Smith turned his head and smiled at him.

Dylann was at the center of the formation and he couldn’t leave without permission from his squad leader.

He immediately called his superior. “Sir Rigor!”

Rigor raised an eyebrow when he heard someone calling his name, but when he saw that it was Dylann, his face eased up. “What is it, Lord Dylann?”

He had twenty soldiers under him and Dylann was his deputy squad leader.

“Sir Rigor, I will leave for a minute. I just need to speak with my father.” Dylann uttered with an urgent tone.

Rigor followed his gaze and saw Baron Smith chatting with Henry. “Alright, but you must hurry.”

“Thank you, sir!” Dylann was overjoyed. After saluting Rigor, he rushed to his father’s side.

“Da- ehem! My lord! What are you doing here?” Dylann stared at his father with an inquisitive look.