In the front of all those men, a bearded man riding a horse, screamed at the soldiers trying to raise their moral but failing miserably.

Facing them, the greatest threat in hundreds of years. An enemy that defeated plenty of their allies and neighbors.

This battle would decide the fate of his nation. To try to prevent the Empire’s victory, he used almost all of his fortune to hire mercenaries, buy new equipment and to fund the training of soldiers.

Even so, opposing his expectations, the mercenaries didn’t come the way he thought they would come.

This was because of the knowledge of the existence that the Empire was. They were too great of a foe to win against. Only a few took the contract. These few were mainly desperate for money, or maybe seeking excitement from war.

Of the thousands of expected, only a few hundred showed up. This, of course, only lowered the soldiers motivation.

Actually, the chaos in the ranks increased, and the advance of the Imperials didn’t help one bit.

From the thundering steps to the shine in their armors. A experience so terrifying,that they screamed louder to hide their fear, trying to proof to their ancestors and gods, that they were worthy.

Of course, there were others who weren’t so thrilled to prove their valor.

“Shit! Why did it have to come to this?”

“Fucking Empire, why couldn’t they just leave us alone?”

“Why didn’t I just leave?”

Many thoughts would run through their heads, mostly filled with fear.

But even though most were afraid, some were in pure bliss.

Because “Carstvo” was a barbaric kingdom, quite similar to the warriors of the sea, Vikings, there were many who would enjoy battle. Because of this, many warriors would come to the nation, looking for amusement, or even fame.

In the middle of some of these war-seeking men, a boy. Anyone who’d look at him, could see how out of place he was.

In midst screams and cheers of excitement, one of the men turned towards the youngling with a bright expression.

“Get ready, boy! This battle’s gonna be quite the fun challenge!”

“Hm... Must say, quite young aren’t you?”

In return, the boy responded with silence.

With the brightness on his face dimming, the man questions the boy.

“You don’t talk much, do you?”

“I prefer to not speak with lunatics who seek death.”

The man furrowed.

“A annoying little shit, aren’t you. You better watch your back, you never know.”

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He then leaves the side of the teen, while cursing him.

With the armies closing distance between each other, the confusion continued to escalate.

Unfortunately, the boy, who was smaller compared to the rest, was getting pushed around and couldn’t understand the situation.

The sound of the soldiers, the clank of shields and weapons, muffled the voices of certain commanders who were trying to lead the assign troops.

Then it came, from someone nearby.

“Watch… rows!”

His voice was cut by other sounds close by, so few heard it. But those who understood it, reacted fast. Crouching and covering themselves with a shield or someone next to them.

The boy confused in what to do notices many looking for cover, after he looks at the sky.

His eyes caught the image of a darker sky, a black rain. With every drop, someone collapsed.

As he began to understand the reason for this, he hide behind a man in front of him. Right after he made such move, an enormous weight was felt in his back. The man fell on top of him, covering only his upper body.

He tried the move the body, but failed to do so. The man was still alive, though barely. The blood flowing from his mouth slid his chin and drop in the boy’s forehead.

The kid, began panicking, and hysterically trying to push the body. And as he struggled, a sharp sound lands near him. This was followed by intense pain on his leg.

After a while of screaming and being unable to remove the giant man’s body, footsteps closed in and two hands pulled the body.

The pressure having been removed, a feeling of freedom emerges. And with it a hand.

“You alright?!”

A man using a double-horned helmet, stretched his hand at the boy, who in turn grabbed it.

“The arrows stopped, we need to organize our forces or we won’t make it. Get your leg fixed, break the arrow, but don’t try to remove it.”

The boy hesitated.

“What are you looking at, do it now!”

After a few seconds, he seated on the floor, grabbed the head with one hand and with the other hand grabbed right next to his leg. He then made pressure with the first hand and broke the head. The repeated the action on the fletching of the arrow.

He then stood up and looked around the battlefield.

The Empire had only used archers, and too many had already died. About five hundred had perished in a matter of seconds, and about a hundred had been severely wounded.

Of course, this wasn’t the end of it.

A sound resounded far away, more specifically, the hooves of horses.

The carstvanians looked in terror as five cavalry battalions charged towards them.

“Shit, Imperial Cavalry! Everyone, grab a spear or any long-reach weapon!”

This man who seemed experienced in combat, was a mercenary who had led a known, and now disbanded band. So, he knew he could use his influence to organize the soldiers.

“Hurry!”

The man screamed his lungs out, in order to move the men.

The Empire’s cavalry divided themselves, the leader of the first battalion would lead the first, fourth and fifth battalions, while the leader of the second battalion led his own and the third battalion.

The largest coalition, charged at the extremity of the barbarian army, and by doing so, they scrapped the lateral defenses.

The other two battalions, charged in the middle of the army.

While the cavalry attacked, the Imperial infantry prepared to also charge.

“Joh! The enemy cavalry is heading right toward us!”

“I know! Do you have the spears ready?”

“”Yes!””

They all affirmed.

“Okay, press the spear on the ground, so that it won’t budge! Prepare yourselves men!”(Joh)

“”Yes!””

The boy also had readied a spear, and as the horses closed in, he strengthen his determination.