Chapter 120: Rebellion

Before the messenger could even deliver the order to the vanguard, the Dragonfang Ridge cavalry suddenly turned on their comrades from Fengsui City, slaughtering them without warning. Then they wheeled their horses around and charged straight toward the central army where Legovis was stationed.

“What’s going on?!”

Though the situation erupted suddenly, Legovis quickly realized the truth: there was a hidden rebel force within his own army.

It was clear that nobles secretly supporting the Third Prince had pretended to send troops under the First Prince’s banner, only to betray him as soon as they reached the battlefield, throwing Legovis’s forces into chaos.

Damn it! This had to be White’s scheme!

“Form anti-cavalry ranks! Quickly!”

Legovis urgently shouted his command to the central army. 

“Archers, fire freely at the front!”

The anti-cavalry formation meant shield-bearers braced in the front row, while spearmen stood behind, thrusting their long spears forward.

Normally, cavalry would never dare recklessly charge such a formation.

But because the vanguard’s betrayal had taken him completely off guard, Legovis failed to notice the greater danger—behind him.

“Your Highness! Floodwaters at the rear!”

A knight’s panicked cry rang out, warning Legovis.

“What?!”

He turned his head, only to see a towering wall of water, seven or eight meters high, surging toward them. The wave carried with it a mass of rocks and mud, roaring closer by the second.

It was a large-scale spell—Mud and Sand Deluge—conjured by the combined efforts of water and earth magicians.

One crashing wave could bury countless soldiers alive in silt and stone, suffocating them to death.

So there were rebel magicians hiding in the rearguard as well—seeking to crush the central army in a pincer strike!

“Scatter! Quickly!” 

Legovis bellowed to the rear.

But it was already too late.

The first wave slammed down, instantly scattering the central ranks. Soldiers panicked, many of them swallowed and entombed by mud and debris.

The chaos prevented the archers from firing even a single arrow. The anti-cavalry formation was never properly set.

Legovis, being at the front of the army, avoided the worst of the impact.

Even so, the sudden, devastating magic had thrown the central army into disarray. Order disintegrated. No matter how loudly Legovis shouted, almost no one obeyed commands.

The central ranks were filled not just with the knights and soldiers sent by nobles supporting the First Prince, but also masses of hastily conscripted peasants and adventurers turned mercenaries.

Most of them had only joined for the chance to loot the capital when it fell. At the start, they had seemed obedient—but once chaos erupted, any discipline vanished.

On the left flank, things were no better. A great magic attack rained down upon them as well—Lava Inferno fell from the skies, shocking Duke Marcus’s son and his troops into disarray.

At that exact moment, the vanguard cavalry charged ferociously toward them.

With the central army unable to mount an effective defense, the enemy cut them down like farmers reaping wheat.

Legovis was forced to spur his horse aside to avoid being trampled in the cavalry’s charge—otherwise, he would have fallen right there.

Wooooh—!

From across the battlefield came the long, blaring horn of attack.

White had clearly been waiting for this exact moment, and decisively gave the order for a full assault.

At the same time, the son of Marquis Layman, commanding the right flank, wheeled his forces toward the center to press the attack.

Before the charge, he raised his weapon high and shouted to his soldiers:

“Forward! Whoever captures the First Prince alive shall receive the king’s greatest rewards—titles and wealth beyond measure!”

Seeing the right flank army charging toward him, Legovis finally realized who the true traitors were.

So it was you, Marquis Layman of Dragonfang Ridge—you had already thrown your lot in with White!

“Damn it! Damn you, Marquis Layman!”

Spitting onto the ground, Legovis glared viciously at the oncoming right-flank forces.

Gripping his long halberd, he felt an urge to charge alone into the fray, to cut down Marquis Layman’s son with his own hands.

“Your Highness!”

A knight on horseback blocked his path with his weapon, urging him: 

“In our current state, this battle is as good as lost. We should retreat. As long as you live, there will still be a chance to rise again.”

Hearing this, Legovis exhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm down.

“You’re right—we retreat!”

With no other choice, Legovis led a band of knights, breaking northeastward to escape the battlefield.

To the south, White stood surrounded by a guard of knights, observing the battle from the rear.

His forces had already broken into the enemy’s lines, crushing them with unstoppable momentum, cutting down the routed soldiers like wheat before the scythe.

The defeat was certain. The enemy scattered in all directions, completely devoid of fighting spirit.

Seeing Legovis’s army collapse so utterly, White couldn’t help but reveal a cold, sinister smile.

Elder Brother, in sheer strength, I may not be your equal. But when it comes to wits—you can’t match me. Do you have any idea how much I prepared in secret for the throne you’ve long desired?

Just then, a rider galloped up from afar.

“Your Majesty!”

The soldier dismounted quickly, dropping to one knee before White and reporting anxiously:

“Urgent news from Jinwei City!”

“Speak.”

“A force has marched from the Eastern Domain, declaring support for the Crown Prince’s succession. They’ve already clashed with Jinwei’s garrison on the eastern outskirts.”

“Oh?”

So, even the nobles of the East had chosen to interfere in this struggle—yet on his brother’s side. A pity.

“Whose army is it?” 

White asked again.

“They claim to be the united forces of Linshui City and Dongsheng Fortress.”

Linshui City and Dongsheng Fortress, is it…?

White quietly committed those names to memory, making a silent vow in his heart. Once matters here were settled, he would make sure the lords of Linshui and Dongsheng paid dearly.

Hmph. You’ve only yourselves to blame for choosing the wrong side.

With that thought, White called out softly: 

“Knight of the Gale.”

“At your command!” 

Replied a mounted knight at his side.

“You will return to the capital. Gather the remaining garrison and send them to reinforce Jinwei City.”

“But…” 

The Gale Knight hesitated.

“Do not worry. Victory here is already mine. Leaving the capital’s garrison idle serves no purpose—better that they fight against the other rebels.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Gale Knight finally accepted the order, departing with the messenger to return to the capital.

Meanwhile, even as the battle raged on the Fertile Plains, trouble stirred at Fengsui City.

Seizing the opportunity—while Legovis had drawn away most of the defending forces—Marquis Layman led a long-prepared hidden army to join forces with Count Hogan inside the city. Together, they breached the defenses with ease, seized control of Fengsui City, and occupied Duke Markarth’s castle.

Inside the castle hall, Duke Markarth found himself surrounded by Dragonfang Ridge soldiers. His eyes locked onto the two noble leaders at the forefront.

With a dark scowl, he rebuked them: 

“Count Hogan, Marquis Layman—how dare you betray the Crown Prince!”

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