Chapter 115: Chapter 108: Cracks in the Coalition

(Now continuation of the fight)

The battlefield remained silent after the bombardment.

The silence came from shock.

Smoke drifted slowly across the frozen valley while burning fragments of shattered shields lay scattered over snow blackened by fire and blood.

The heavy infantry assault had collapsed completely.

What was supposed to be the coalition’s answer to Elarion’s rifles had instead become a massacre.

Thousands of elite soldiers— men equipped with massive steel tower shields and reinforced armor—

had marched confidently toward the northern trench lines believing themselves protected.

And then the artillery began firing fragmentation shells.

After that—

Everything became chaos.

The frozen valley below Elarion’s defenses looked horrifying now.

Broken shields littered the battlefield like wreckage after a storm. Bodies lay everywhere between craters torn into the snow. Entire formations had vanished beneath explosions.

The surviving coalition soldiers retreated in scattered groups while medics desperately searched through smoke and debris for wounded men still alive.

Some heavy infantrymen had survived rifle fire only to die from steel fragments tearing through exposed gaps in their armor. Others had been crushed beneath panicked retreating formations after explosions shattered discipline.

And worst of all—

The assault failed without even reaching the trenches.

High above the battlefield, coalition banners whipped violently in freezing winds outside the central command pavilion.

No officers spoke loudly anymore.

No one celebrated future victory.

The atmosphere throughout the southern encampment had changed completely.

Fear had entered the army.

The kind soldiers carried after witnessing warfare they did not understand.

Inside the massive command tent, dozens of nobles and commanders gathered around the central war table beneath dim lantern light.

The atmosphere felt suffocating.

No one argued. No one boasted.

Several commanders still carried soot and blood across their armor after returning from the battlefield personally.

Kassian Valcriox stood near the table silently observing casualty reports while other nobles whispered among themselves uneasily.

Finally one older commander spoke quietly:

"...Final numbers?"

A clerk near the edge of the tent swallowed nervously before answering.

"Current confirmed losses exceed six thousand."

Silence.

Even hearing the number aloud felt unreal.

Six thousand men.

Most of them elite heavy infantry.

Destroyed in less than an hour.

Another noble slammed his fist against the table angrily.

"That shouldn’t have happened."

But no one answered him.

Because everyone present knew the truth.

It had happened.

And nobody understood how to stop it.

One younger commander finally muttered:

"The rifles alone were manageable."

Several others nodded reluctantly.

That much was true.

The shield formations had actually performed reasonably well against rifle fire during the early advance.

Many bullets failed penetrating the reinforced tower shields directly.

Casualties remained limited initially.

Then the artillery opened fire.

And everything collapsed.

A senior cavalry lord rubbed his forehead slowly.

"...Those shells."

Another commander nodded grimly.

"They detonate above formations." "Fragments strike from every direction."

"Shield walls become useless."

"And tight formations make casualties worse."

The realization disturbed everyone present deeply.

Because traditional battlefield doctrine now worked against them.

Every instinct drilled into noble armies for generations:tight discipline,grouped formations,shield concentration,organized advances all became liabilities under Elarion’s artillery fire.

One noble finally whispered what several others already feared.

"...We don’t understand this war."

Silence followed again.

Because no one could deny it anymore.

Kassian slowly lifted his eyes toward the battlefield map.

"Then we adapt."

His voice remained calm.

But everyone inside the tent understood even Kassian now felt pressure.

Because the war was no longer proceeding according to noble expectations.

Not even close.

The nobles representing Duke of Marrowind finally stepped forward beside the map table.

"We discuss solutions." "Now."

Several commanders immediately began speaking.

Strategy One: Full Mana Cavalry Assault

A southern cavalry lord pointed toward the northern trench sectors aggressively.

"We deploy the mana cavalry directly."

Several nobles looked toward him.

The commander continued confidently.

"Speed solves the artillery problem." "Fast-moving elite cavalry can cross killing zones before sustained bombardment begins."

Another commander nodded slowly.

"Mana armor would resist rifle fire better than ordinary infantry."

"And cavalry mobility reduces clustered casualties."

For several moments the proposal gained support around the tent.

Then Kassian spoke.

"How many cavalry?"

"Three thousand."

"And terrain?"

Silence.

The cavalry lord hesitated.

Because everyone knew the answer.

Snow-covered uneven ground. Trenches. Razor wire. Hidden artillery coordinates.

Terrible cavalry terrain.

Kassian continued calmly.

"You propose charging elite cavalry through frozen kill zones while artillery observes from elevated terrain."

The commander said nothing.

Another noble quietly added:

"And if hidden explosives exist?"

Silence deepened further.

Because nobody knew how many weapons Lucien still concealed.

The proposal died immediately afterward.

Strategy Two: Night Assault

Another commander stepped forward quickly.

"Then we attack at night."

Several nobles looked toward him.

The man pointed aggressively toward the map.

"Darkness reduces rifle accuracy." "Artillery spotting becomes harder." "Confusion favors aggressive assault forces."

That idea gained far more support initially.

Several commanders nodded thoughtfully.

Until another officer quietly interrupted:

"...And what if Lucien expects that?"

The room paused.

The officer continued carefully.

"He already predicted shield formations." "He already mapped artillery ranges." "What if the trenches are prepared for nighttime assaults specifically?"

Nobody answered immediately.

Because that possibility felt disturbingly likely.

Then Kassian added another problem.

"Night assaults create formation confusion."

The noble frowned.

"That affects both sides."

"No." "It affects attackers."

Kassian pointed toward the trench sectors.

"Lucien’s men remain stationary within prepared defenses." "Our forces advance through unfamiliar terrain under darkness while artillery coordinates are already measured."

Another commander slowly nodded grimly.

"If units become disorganized in razor wire sectors..."

He didn’t finish the sentence.

The proposal weakened immediately.

Strategy Three: Long-Range Mage Bombardment

One noble mage commander stepped forward afterward.

"Then allow the mage corps handling authority."

That gained attention instantly.

The mage pointed toward the battlefield.

"Direct magical bombardment." "Long-range firestorms." "Precision destruction against trench sectors."

For the first time during the meeting—

Some optimism returned slightly.

Because magic remained the coalition’s greatest traditional advantage.

Several nobles nodded quickly.

"Yes." "Burn the trenches."

"Destroy artillery crews."

"Collapse fortifications."

The mage commander straightened proudly afterward.

Then another older mage quietly spoke from the back.

"...And their artillery?"

The optimism vanished again.

The older mage stepped forward slowly.

"Stationary mages become ideal artillery targets."

Silence.

The mage continued calmly.

"To cast large-scale bombardment effectively, our corps requires stable positioning."

Everyone already understood where this discussion led.

Fixed mage formations.

Visible mana signatures.

Artillery coordinates.

The older mage sighed heavily.

"Lucien’s cannons outrange safe casting distance for sustained bombardment."

The proposal collapsed immediately afterward.

Strategy Four: Encirclement

A northern noble finally pointed toward the western mountains.

"Then stop attacking directly."

Several nobles looked toward him.

The duke continued:

"We encircle Elarion instead." "Cut roads." "Starve them."

This proposal immediately gained traction.

At first.

Because compared to frontal assaults—

It sounded reasonable.

Kassian folded his arms thoughtfully.

"Continue."

"We establish mountain strongholds around northern trade routes." "Prevent coal movement." "Prevent steel transport." "Force Lucien into attrition."

Several nobles nodded slowly.

Then one logistics commander quietly spoke.

"...In winter?"

Silence.

The officer pointed toward the map.

"These mountains already strain our supply lines." "Extending forces deeper into isolated terrain weakens our army."

Another officer added grimly:

"And Elarion controls interior roads already."

That mattered enormously.

Lucien’s forces operated near their supply centers.

The coalition did not.

A prolonged mountain encirclement risked exhausting southern logistics first.

The room fell silent again.

Strategy Five: Mass Infantry Wave

Eventually frustration overtook caution.

One furious noble slammed his fist against the table.

"Then overwhelm them through numbers."

Several commanders frowned immediately.

The noble continued angrily:

"No formation concentration." "No shield walls." "Just mass assault across the entire line."

Another commander looked horrified.

"You’re suggesting feeding infantry into artillery."

"Yes." "Eventually their ammunition depletes."

Silence.

Then one older general spoke quietly:

"...And how many soldiers die first?"

No answer came.

Because everyone understood the reality.

Tens of thousands potentially.

Maybe more.

And even then—

No guarantee existed the strategy would work.

The proposal was rejected almost instantly.

Hours passed afterward.

Strategy after strategy emerged before collapsing beneath reality.

They discussed:

tunnel warfare,

smoke cover assaults,

rotating infantry advances,

dispersed formations,

false retreats,

armored wagon screens,

mage-enhanced shield barriers,

siege towers,

counter-battery fire.

Every idea encountered the same problem eventually.

Lucien adapted too quickly.

And nobody fully understood everything Elarion possessed yet.

That uncertainty poisoned every discussion.

Finally one exhausted commander muttered quietly:

"...What else is he hiding?"

Nobody answered.

Because that question haunted the entire coalition now.

They already discovered:

rifles,

explosive shells,

advanced trench systems,

hidden artillery efficiency,

and unknown manufacturing capabilities.

What remained unseen?

More weapons? Stronger artillery? Hidden reserves?

Nobody knew.

And that uncertainty created something worse than battlefield casualties.

Doubt.

Kassian remained silent throughout much of the discussion.

But internally—

Even he felt it extreme pressure.

Because this war no longer resembled ordinary noble conflict.

Lucien had changed the battlefield fundamentally.

Traditional warfare assumptions kept failing one after another.

And every failed assault strengthened Elarion psychologically while weakening coalition morale further.

Eventually one noble spoke the thought many secretly feared most.

"...What if we can’t win conventionally?"

The tent became completely silent afterward.

Several commanders immediately looked away.

Others stared at the battlefield map without speaking.

Because saying those words aloud changed everything.

For the first time—

Real doubt entered the coalition leadership itself.

Then suddenly—

Laughter echoed faintly from outside the tent.

Not nearby but distant,deep And almost thunder-like.

Several nobles stiffened immediately.

Because they recognized it.

Aurethar.

The dragon’s laughter rolled faintly across the mountains from somewhere high above the battlefield.

Mocking.

Amused.

Watching.

And somehow—

That distant laughter unsettled the coalition commanders more than artillery ever had.

The dragon’s distant laughter slowly faded into the freezing night winds outside the command pavilion.

But the silence afterward felt even worse.

Because every noble inside the tent understood the implication.

Aurethar was watching.

Watching the coalition fail repeatedly. Watching thousands die. Watching southern commanders struggle against Lucien’s defenses.

And apparently—

The dragon found it entertaining.

Several nobles visibly looked irritated after hearing the laughter echo through the mountains.

One younger lord muttered bitterly:

"...That beast mocks us."

Another commander answered grimly:

"He can afford to."

Nobody disagreed.

The atmosphere inside the tent continued worsening as more casualty reports arrived throughout the night.

Additional wounded soldiers died in field hospitals. Entire heavy infantry companies ceased existing operationally. Several shield regiments had lost more than half their officers.

Even morale among veteran troops had begun dropping noticeably.

Scouts reported increasing anxiety spreading throughout the camps after witnessing artillery effects personally.

Many soldiers no longer feared merely dying.

They feared dying without ever reaching the enemy.

That distinction mattered.

A great deal.

Near the center table, Kassian remained staring silently at the battlefield map while commanders continued arguing around him.

"We cannot keep feeding infantry into those cannons."

"Then what?" "Retreat?"

"That would destroy coalition prestige."

"And another failed assault won’t?"

Tension flared again immediately.

One noble finally snapped angrily:

"We outnumber Elarion several times over." "How are we losing initiative to one northern city?"

No one answered directly.

Because everyone present already knew the truth.

Lucien’s army no longer behaved like a normal city force.

Another commander pointed toward the trench sectors.

"The problem is discipline under fire."

Several nobles looked toward him.

The man continued:

"Ordinary infantry breaks formation before reaching engagement range." "The artillery and rifles destroy cohesion first."

Another general slowly nodded.

"That much is obvious."

The commander leaned forward over the table.

"Then stop using ordinary infantry."

The room quieted slightly afterward.

The commander pointed toward several coalition reserve markers farther south.

"Elite knight formations." "Master-ranked warriors." "Mana-enhanced assault units."

Several nobles immediately frowned.

One objected instantly:

"You want to risk high-ranking knight bloodlines against trenches?"

"Yes."

"That’s madness."

"No." "This war already abandoned normal battlefield logic."

That statement silenced several commanders.

Because unfortunately—

It was true.

The commander continued carefully.

"Elite knights possess superior mobility." "Grand knights can withstand artillery shockwaves." "Master-ranked warriors maintain formation discipline under suppressive fire."

Another noble slowly crossed his arms.

"You’re suggesting concentrated breakthrough assaults."

"Yes."

The officer pointed toward a narrow trench sector east of the battlefield.

"We stop relying on mass infantry advances." "We use small high-quality penetration forces."

Several commanders began considering the idea seriously now.

Because unlike ordinary soldiers—

Elite knight formations could:

react faster,maneuver independently,survive rifle fire better and potentially close distance before artillery completely shattered momentum.

One older commander finally asked quietly:

"...How many grand knights do we still possess combat-ready?"

A clerk immediately answered.

"Five coalition grand knights remain operational."

Several nobles visibly relaxed slightly hearing that.

Grand knights represented terrifying battlefield assets individually.

Warriors capable of:crushing cavalry formations,surviving direct magical bombardment and slaughtering ordinary infantry by the hundreds.

Against traditional armies—

One grand knight could decide entire battles.

Another noble stepped forward quickly.

"If a grand knight personally leads the assault—"

"—supported by master knights and elite infantry," another continued.

"—then artillery becomes less effective."

"Smaller formations reduce shell efficiency."

"And trenches lose their advantage once breached."

The discussion intensified rapidly afterward.

For the first time all night—

The coalition commanders finally found a strategy not immediately collapsing under criticism.

Kassian remained silent longer than everyone else.

Thinking.

Evaluating.

And finally he spoke.

"Risks."

The tent quieted immediately.

A senior commander answered carefully.

"If the assault fails, elite casualties become severe."

Another added grimly:

"We also expose irreplaceable knight assets."

"And if Lucien possesses additional hidden weapons..."

That possibility lingered heavily over the room again.

Still—

Compared to previous strategies—

This plan held merit. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

One cavalry lord finally muttered:

"...At least grand knights can survive artillery better than shield infantry."

Another nodded slowly.

"And elite assault groups move faster through trench sectors."

"Rifle fire becomes less decisive at close range."

"Once melee engagement begins, Elarion loses technological advantage."

That statement gained significant support throughout the pavilion.

Because despite everything—

Many nobles still trusted traditional martial supremacy ultimately deciding battle outcomes.

And grand knights represented the peak of that belief at least in normal battles.

Eventually Kassian straightened slowly beside the map.

"Then we adapt accordingly."

The room became completely silent.

The Duke heir of Valcriox pointed toward the eastern trench sectors calmly.

"No mass infantry assault."

His finger moved across the battlefield.

"No shield wall advance."

Another marker shifted.

"We launch concentrated penetration strikes."

Several commanders leaned closer immediately.

Kassian’s voice remained cold and controlled.

"Grand Knight Ser Aldric will lead the assault personally."

That announcement visibly changed the atmosphere.

Because Ser Aldric was not merely powerful.

He was infamous.

A battlefield monster even among grand knights.

The commander continued:

"Three master knights accompany him." "Twelve elite knight detachments support the breakthrough."

Additional unit markers moved onto the battlefield map.

"Mana-armored infantry advances behind the penetration force." "Once trenches are breached, the main assault follows."

Several nobles slowly nodded afterward.

For the first time since the heavy infantry disaster—

A direction existed again.

One younger commander still looked uncertain.

"...Will this truly work?"

Nobody answered immediately.

Finally Kassian spoke quietly.

"It must."

Silence followed again.

Because everyone present understood the truth hidden beneath those words.

The coalition could no longer afford repeated disasters.

Another failed assault— especially involving elite knight casualties—could fracture the entire campaign.

Outside the pavilion, freezing winds swept through the southern encampment while soldiers prepared for another offensive they no longer fully believed in.

And high above the battlefield—

Far across the mountains—

Aurethar watched the coalition camps below with glowing golden eyes.

The dragon remained sprawled across a frozen ridge while Kieran silently rested nearby against shattered stone.

For several moments Aurethar observed increased movement across the southern lines.

Then slowly grinned.

"Oh this should be interesting."

Kieran glanced toward him briefly.

"What now?"

The dragon’s grin widened further.

"They finally stopped charging normal soldiers directly into cannons."

Silence.

Then Aurethar laughed deeply.

"Took them long enough."

The dragon looked back toward the coalition camps below.

"Now they’re sending the expensive people."

Author thoughts-i am thinking of releasing normal Chapter within 1500-2000 words range and the one with special moments be of more than 2500-3000words if you like this change plz drop a comment. Thank you for your support.