Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1446: The Illusion of Victory ( 1446 )

Guranjar gritted his jaw, his knuckles whitening as he fought to control his fury. He crossed his arms, his voice cold and measured.

”Don’t be too arrogant, Kurashan. Without my mage unit, those enchanted armors your precious magic knights are wearing would be nothing more than expensive scrap metal. Who do you think maintains the enchantments on those tower shields? Who reinforces the barrier wards on your cavalry’s barding? Who ensures your cannons don’t explode in your own faces when fired? You may command the soldiers, but my mages are the ones keeping your entire army functional. If I decided to withdraw my support, your ’invincible’ heavy cavalry would be cut down like common infantry.”

Kurashan smirked, his confidence unshaken. ”Hah! Just you watch, Guranjar. My leadership and strategy will bring us victory today. Soon, Lord Zurakan will see who truly carries this army. And when I deliver the head of an Armand prince to his feet, I’ll make sure he knows exactly who deserves the credit. You can keep your mages and your ’essential support.’ I’ll take the glory.”

Guranjar’s eyes narrowed dangerously. He slammed his staff against the battlement floor, the impact sending a shockwave of mana rippling outward. He turned to his mage unit, his voice booming with authority.

”Mage unit! Prepare to launch the strongest Meteor Shower toward the enemy! We’ll show this arrogant fool that our magic far surpasses his precious weapons!”

Kurashan raised his palm, barking orders to his soldiers. ”Magic Archer unit! Ready your explosive arrows! Cannoneers! Fire! Musketeers! Shoot!”

The cannons roared to life, sending explosive shells arcing across the battlefield. They slammed into the clear pool, detonating with thunderous blasts, sending water and debris flying into the air. Several pekko riders were thrown from their mounts, screaming as they were caught in the explosions.

The Armand riders scrambled, trying to return fire with their Glocks, but the magic knights raised their tower shields, blocking the counterattack with ease. The bullets sparked harmlessly against the enchanted barriers.

Kurashan’s grin widened as he watched the chaos unfold below. ”Don’t let them scatter! Fire! Let them taste our new bullets!”

”Yes, Commander!!!”

The musketeer unit, now emboldened by their apparent success, fired their enchanted bullets toward the scattered pekko riders. More riders fell, some struck in the head with clean, fatal shots, others losing limbs and screaming in agony as they tumbled from their mounts.

The ground was littered with fallen pekkos, their massive bodies lying still, feathers stained with blood. The magic archers released their explosive arrows, sending more chaos into the ranks of the scrambles riders.

Kurashan’s grin widened as he watched the destruction unfold. ”You see that, Guranjar!? Hah!? That’s how you handle those so-called strongest Armand pekko units! Now look! Open your eyes wide! This is what real warfare looks like! Not your fancy spells and chanting!”

He barked another order. ”Cannoneers! Reload and fire! Don’t give them a moment to breathe!”

Guranjar gritted his teeth, his fury boiling over. He raised his palm upward, channeling his strongest skill. A massive magic circle appeared in the sky, crackling with fire and lightning, the air itself trembling under the weight of the spell. He smirked, glancing at Kurashan.

”This is how an ultimate attack is done! Meteor Shower!”

Countless fire meteors, crackling with dark lightning, rained down from the sky, slamming into the area where the Armand pekko riders were scattered. Explosions erupted across the battlefield, the ground shaking violently as flames and debris consumed everything in their path.

Kurashan gritted his jaw in anger before turning to his captain.

”Jakon!”

”Yes, Commander!?”

”Where is my Heavy Cavalry unit? Are they prepared yet!?”

Jakon saluted, nodding crisply. ”Awaiting your command, Commander. As planned, they will move in once the infantry attack ceases, and they will take over from there.”

”Good! Don’t let these old fools hog all the glory!” Kurashan pointed toward Guranjar’s mage unit, his voice dripping with disdain. ”Look at them, wasting their mana on over-the-top spells while my soldiers do the real work! They’re just showboating while we secure the victory!”

He turned back to the battlefield, raising his voice to a roar. ”Soldiers! Let them feel the wrath of Lord Zurakan’s best and strongest army!”

”Yes, Commander!”

Meanwhile.

In the distance.

The real clear pool remained undisturbed. Buddy, who was floating lazily, tilted his head, and the Armand pekko riders looked on in confusion.

”Cuquawked?” (Why are they shooting at an empty plain?)

Javier let out soft chuckled, sipping wine from a delicate crystal glass, enjoying the sight of the enemy unleashing their full might on a vast, empty field where the illusion of his army stood.

One of the Armand officers moved his pekko next to Javier, glancing at the distant scene before speaking.

”Your Highness?”

”Hmm?” Javier turned his gaze toward him, taking another sip of his wine. ”Yes?”

The officer hesitated before asking, ”What are we waiting for? The enemy is unleashing everything they have on an empty field. Shouldn’t we strike while they’re distracted?”

Javier smirked, pointing toward the distant explosions and blasts happening on the empty plain. His finger moved casually, tracing the line of the battlement before he spoke.

”Ah~ I just want them to taste their own victory first. Let them believe they’ve finally defeated Armand. Let them think they’ve accomplished what no one else has ever done. Because the moment they realize the truth, the look on their faces will be priceless.”

He paused, his smirk widening.

”Besides, this gives us time to rest and enjoy a nice meal. Tell the troops to break out their packed meals and take a break. We’ll move when they’re at their most confident and least prepared.”

Just as the officer was about to say something, a series of explosive cannonballs streaked toward them, their fuses hissing as they cut through the air.

”Your Highness! Incoming!” the officer shouted, his voice sharp with urgency, barking orders to the riders behind him. ”All units! Mana rifles up! Target those shells and shoot them down! Don’t let them...”

But before he could finish, Javier raised his palm in a calm, lazy gesture. The officer’s words died in his throat, his hand frozen mid-signal as he stared at the prince.

Every rider hesitated, their mana rifles half-raised, eyes darting between the incoming shells and their prince. The explosive cannonballs struck an invisible barrier just before reaching them, detonating harmlessly in midair. The shockwave rippled outward, but not a single fragment touched the riders.

The officer blinked, lowering his hand slowly. ”Your Highness...?”

Javier shook his head, lowering his hand. ”Ah... that thing? I put it up after the mages launched that Bottomless Swamp. No way I’d let them get a single shot at us~”

He reached into his dimensional storage and pulled out a neatly wrapped meal, unwrapping it casually while still seated on Buddy.

”Just eat your food while staying mounted on your pekkos and enjoy your meal. The barrier’s got us covered. ”

( End Of Chapter )