"God be with us, God be with us, God be with us, God be with us!
　"God be with us!　God bless us!　God bless us, God bless us, God bless us!　Victory to us!

　The Battle of Apathea began with a volley from the Lemurian longbow troops.

　The Lemurian army's longbow troops began the battle of Apatia with a volley of arrows from a distance of over 200 meters, far beyond the range of the crossbow troops.

　What?　You can't ...... expect arrows to reach you from that distance?
　What do you think of our new weapon?

　The arrows of the Lemurian army quickly destroyed the crossbow troops of the Foulds army.

　d*mn it, let the crossbow troops fall back. ...... Infantry, forward!

　Coward decided that if they continued to shoot at each other, they would only be beaten one-sidedly, so he moved the crossbow troops to the rear and sent the infantry forward.
　Seeing this move, Hercule also retreated, letting his longbow troops shoot arrows, and moved his infantry forward.

　The first to clash was the left flank of Foulds, led by Coward, and the right flank of Lemuria, led by Darius.
　Both sides protruded from the formation, so they naturally collided first.

　It's okay if we win here and now, right?　Your Majesty.

　Darius grinned and pushed the left flank of the phallus with his skillful command.
　He concentrates his elite Lemurian infantry on the right flank and forcefully destroys the left flank.

　This was the first part of Hercule's strategy.

　But Coward was not to be outdone.

　"As expected of the world-renowned Lord Darios. But ...... I am also the general known as the Spear of Sasan VIII. I will not let you break through so easily.

　The infantry of Phallus was weak, inferior to Lemuria in spear length, and exhausted from being dragged around day after day, but ......
　Coward's skillful command barely prevents the onslaught of Darios.

　Even Darios was impressed by this.

　"Well, ...... you're good. How about this ...... one?

　Darios gives the order to the rightmost halberd unit.
　Then the halberd squad moves like a single creature and begins to attack the left flank of the left flank of the phallus.



　Diagram of the right flank of Lemuria (left flank of False)

↑(Phallus forces being pushed in)
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→→

　↑(Lemurian forces pushing in)



　If you can't push them in by force, flank them with halberd units.
　This is Hercule's Strategy #2.

　It was a move that was impossible for ordinary generals and soldiers, but Hercule believed in the abilities of the elite Lemurian infantry and Darios.

　And he lived up to his expectations by flanking the enemy.
　But ......

　I've seen that move coming. ...... I've prioritized the leftmost flank with the strongest soldiers possible and instructed them to respond if they are flanked.

　If you know in advance that you're going to be flanked.
　If you know in advance that you're going to be flanked, there are plenty of ways to deal with it.

　Darios and Coward's command abilities are almost equal.
　Thus, the movements of the right wing of Lemuria and the left wing of Phallus were stalemated.




　Meanwhile, the cavalry of Lemuria's left wing, led by Edmond and Karolina, and the cavalry of Phallus' right wing were engaged in a fierce battle to the death.

　"Eligos!

　Karolina's sword sliced through the Phallus cavalry one after another.
　Karolina's sword sliced through the phallus cavalry one after another. No matter what armor they wore, there was nothing that Karolina's eligos couldn't cut.

　But ......
　There were too many of them.

　The difference in strength between the Lemurian left flank cavalry and the right flank cavalry of the army of Phallus was more than double.

　"Andromarius!

　Edmond also took weapons and armor from the enemy one after another, and swung his sword to cut through the enemy.

　Thanks to the efforts of Carolina and Edmond, the Lemurian cavalry was barely able to fight the Foulth cavalry.

　After a certain amount of fighting, they looked at each other and turned on their heels.
　The well-trained cavalrymen turned to follow them and retreated as if fleeing.

　Just as they are about to catch up, the Lemurian cavalryman turns and fights again.

　Edmond and Karolina were given only one role by Hercule.
　To remove the cavalry from the battlefield.

　They're not told to win.

　All they had to do was buy time.

　The biggest advantage of the Lemurian Empire's heavy cavalry (cribanarius) is that they use their weight to charge. ......
　The most important advantage of the Lemurian Empire's heavy cavalry (cribanarius) is that they use their weight to charge, but they lose mobility, making them unsuitable for a fight like this.

　That is why they fought in a light form, without any armor other than the minimum.

　Carolina led the lighter heavy cavalry (cribanarius) to catch the enemy's medium cavalry (cribanarius) and light cavalry, while Edmond flanked and distracted the enemy.
　After some fighting, retreat again.

　Edmond and Karolina repeated this over and over again to buy time.

　


　On the other hand, Galfis, the right flank cavalryman of the Lemurian army, and Shaheen, the left flank cavalryman of the Fahls army, were fighting more fiercely than Edmond and Karolina.

　"Amon!

　The spear of Galfis, clad in scorching flames, attacked Shaheen.
　It's not that I don't like it, but it's not that I don't like it.

　A normal human being would be blown away and turned into charcoal with a single blow.



　But ......

　Crossell!

　Shaheen's great sword, covered in ice, flicks Galfis' spear.
　Ice and fire collide, creating a vapor mist.

　Crocell, the Great Spirit of Ice and Learning. He is ranked forty-ninth in the hierarchy, and is a duke.

　He is a contracted spirit of Shaheen.

　Like Galfis, Shaheen also uses multiple spells, and their speed and strength are almost equal.

　Shaheen, the Sword of Sasan VIII, and Galfis, the Raging Fire.

　There is no winner.
　But ...... Galfis' goal is not to win or lose.

　It is to keep Shaheen stalled.

　After a certain amount of fighting, Galfis turns on his heel and retreats.
　Shaheen pursues him.

　If Shaheen ignores Galfis and changes direction to attack the flank of the Lemurian infantry, ......
　If Shaheen ignores Galfis and changes direction to attack the flank of the Lemurian infantry, Galfis will immediately turn around and come to strike Shaheen and his men in the flank.

　Knowing this, Shaheen must pursue and defeat Galfis.

　"Stop!　Galfis Galleanos!　Don't run away forever!
　Don't keep running! Shaheen!

　Once again, Galfis stopped running and started to fight with Shaheen.
　As if on cue, the battle between the Lemurian cavalry and the Foulth cavalry begins.

　If I could, I would fight them head on, not like this!

　Galfis strikes with all his might.
　But Shaheen is able to block it.

　"Then why don't you just run away?

　Then he strikes back, unleashing a god-speed slash at Galfis: ......
　But Galfis avoids it.

　"Hmph!　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.　I'm not sure what to make of this.
　Of course not!　That's what war is all about!

　The back-and-forth battle between Galfis and Shaheen continues: ......




　At the same time, Hercule was commanding the center, sweat forming on his forehead.

　(Both wings still have it ......, but I don't know how long they can hold it. Darios' attack on the enemy's left flank failed ......, as did the frontal push and the maneuvering of the halberd troops to get around it.

　Already, two of the three plans that Hercule had prepared have failed.
　There was no choice but to bet on the last one.

　(...... I never thought I'd be forced into such a tightrope battle because of some woman.

　But Hercule had a smile on his face.

　Hercule was enjoying himself.
　He was enjoying this last minute situation.

　Walking the tightrope between great victory and great defeat.

　"...... First battalion, three more steps back. Second battalion, two more steps. Third battalion, too far back. One step forward.

　With exquisite command, Hercule was gradually driving back the infantry in the center.
　In order to keep the formation intact, and so that the enemy would not feel any discomfort.

　Little by little, little by little: ......

　And ......

　Tell ...... Oskar. The center is ready. The rest is up to you.

　A messenger horse ran from Hercule to Oskar.




　...... I see, I see. Tell the king that I will bring him victory.

　Oskar said to the messenger and then returned to his command.

　A fierce battle is raging between the cavalry on both wings.
　And the battle between Lemuria's right flank Darios and Foulds' left flank Coward.
　The battle for the center infantry.

　The battle between the left flank infantry of the Lemurian army commanded by Oskar and the right flank infantry of the Phallus army was calm and uneventful.

　Of course it was.
　Because the main battlefield of this battle was the right flank infantry (from the Lemurian army's point of view) and the cavalry on both flanks.

　This is what everyone thinks when they see the battle plan.

　...... Well, that's what they make you think.

　The reason why Hercule concentrated his forces on the right flank instead of the left, and why he put the obscure Oscar on the left flank and the famous Darius on the right is ......
　The reason for this is to divert Coward's attention to the right wing, not to ...... send forces to the right wing and settle the matter on the right wing.

　The magician raises his right hand to focus the attention of ...... the audience on his right hand.
　There are no seeds or tricks in the right hand, ...... but the seeds and tricks are hidden in the left hand.

　The reason why Hercule made it seem as if he was putting all of his efforts into the right wing ...... was to hide the capabilities of the left wing, especially Oscar.



　"Listen, Oskar. The enemy doesn't know what you're capable of. That's why the right-wing generals of the army of Fars are no match for you. And Coward, distracted by Darios, is unaware of the right wing. ...... The number of troops is almost even. Then it's down to the generals and the quality of the soldiers. The quality of the soldiers is superior to us. All that is left is for you to defeat the commander of the right wing infantry of the Fals army. ...... The most important thing in this battle is your movement. Give me the same strength you gave me when you broke through my siege. If you do, ...... this battle will be ours to win.





　Oskar remembered Hercule's words.
　I have joined the rebellion, and you expect so much from me, and you have entrusted me with such an important task.

　It would be disloyal not to answer.

　"All troops!　All troops, this is a counterattack!

　Following Oskar's order, the battalion commanders began to move.

　The Lemurian army, which had saved its strength and stored it up, attacked the Phallus army, which had been fatigued by the long march and the long battle.

　Thanks to Oskar's skillful command, the left flank of the Lemurian army moved smoothly, and part of it came around the flank of the right flank of the Phallus army.

　The general of the Phallus army was unable to keep up with the sudden attack.

　The halberd troops that had moved in immediately attacked the right flank of the Phallus army.
　And ......

Second diagram

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　Oscar loses some soldiers on the flank of the right flank infantry of the Farrus army.
　He continues to push further and applies a strong blow to the right flank of Farrus.

　Then ......

The third figure







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　The right flank infantry of Fars' army crumbles in a flash .

　"Heeeeeee!
　What the hell is going on?
　The flank's collapsing!
　Get out of here!

　Hold on!　Don't run!

　The vice-admiral leading the right flank of Foulds' army somehow managed to hold off the soldiers in a state of confusion and tried to maintain his formation.
　But his efforts were unsuccessful, and the right flank infantry of the Phallus army crumbled like the teeth of a comb.

　That man is the enemy general!　Seize him!
　"Ohhhh!

　At Oskar's command, the soldiers attacked the vice-general.
　The halberd troops of the Lemurian army defeat the guards one by one and capture the vice-general.

　The right flank of the Phallus army completely stops functioning after the commander is seized.

　Furthermore, the Lemurian longbow troops attack.

　And ......

Figure 4


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　The winner is decided.