Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

The rolling torrent of iron advanced southward amidst shouts and neighing horses. The dazzling gleam of his armor was enough to strike fear into the hearts of any enemy. This was his spear, this was his sword, this was his will, this was the will of the empire.

………………

"You have to be very careful with this. It must be carefully wrapped in soft straw, and there can't be the slightest bump or scratch... Never mind, I'll do it."

"Don't touch that bottle. The liquid inside is poisonous. Even a little bit spilled will burn your flesh. Carefully wrap it with the frame over there. Yes, just like that. Remember to put it on carriage number 3. There's a latch at the very back, which is used to secure the frame."

"Quickly bring the carriage over. Is the cushioning inside properly laid out? Very good, just like that."

The nimble and meticulous women of the medical team were moving swiftly around Talina's room and laboratory, carefully loading various instruments and vials onto the carriages. A large contingent of soldiers guarded them, all fully armed and ready for action. The gleaming spears flashed with a blinding sharpness in the sunlight, and the polished, oiled armor plates even scattered tiny specks of light on the surrounding ground. Although they were motionless, everyone knew that anyone who dared to cross the line would be captured on the spot.

This level of protection was comparable to that of Tersolius's guard; no one could approach without permission, ensuring absolute safety and stability. Even as other camps were engulfed in smoke and dust, things here remained orderly, slow, and meticulous. To move a delicate instrument, several people moved it inch by inch, unwilling to speed up even a little.

Of course, Talina didn't trust anyone else to handle the most dangerous and precious things, so she still did it herself.

Chapter 295 The Eve of Destruction (3)

This is an ordinary little town, barely the edge of a town, with a few nicely built and sturdy brick and wood houses, and a small market with some craftsmen and artisans selling bread, vegetables, charcoal, and other things that might be available. Other than that, there is nothing special about it.

Farmers from nearby villages would bring the vegetables they grew to sell here in exchange for some money to buy what they needed from the artisans here. They would argue heatedly over every single copper coin, and would also shrink back and lower their heads when all the neatly dressed people passed by.

Every now and then, people bring their cattle and horses here to sell. In most cases, it's the last-ditch effort of people who can't survive, hoping to make a little more money so their families can get through the winter.

There are very few types of meat available in this place. Beef and mutton are expensive and can only be bought by the wealthy and respectable. Pork, which has a strong odor, and chicken, which is easier to raise, are much cheaper and can be eaten even by the poor.

The hustle and bustle here felt unfamiliar. The mud on the ground was made even stickier by the constant footsteps of pedestrians, faithfully adhering to the soles of every boot and straw sandal, drawing wave after wave of complaints... Overall, it was still a place where one could survive.

Rumors from the north can often be heard in the taverns here, but most people don't care. Earning money for the next day's meals is the most important thing for them, and they can't afford to waste their time on irrelevant things. Only those drunkards who spend all the money they earn every day have the leisure to ramble on about the northern empire's attack.

This is the norm in this era. Information usually doesn't flow faster than a horse. A person may never leave their town or village in their entire life. Even if a city in front of them falls, the villages and towns behind them may not receive any news for a month.

Things have been much better for them lately—the lord has somehow neglected this tax collection, which has made the people here feel very fortunate... That terrible vampire not only doesn't forget, but in the past he would send people to urge them several days in advance, and he would always find some excuse to take more from them, even if it's just a piece of dried meat.

Although it's unknown whether they'll be extorted for more money later, everyone is at least grateful for now, and many who didn't raise enough money are genuinely happy that they won't be whipped.

The people in charge of dealing with potential saboteurs and troublemakers were five or six militiamen carrying iron clubs. They weren't the lord's soldiers; in fact, everyone hoped those soldiers wouldn't show up, otherwise the people here would be in for a lot of trouble.

They can only deal with petty thieves and weak bandits. If there are even slightly more thieves, they will scatter like birds and beasts. Therefore, the residents here can be described as well-trained and know very well when and how to protect their property and lives.

Located on the very edge of town, there was a wooden watchtower. The entire town chipped in to hire a quick-thinking fellow to stand there and watch for any movement in the distance—and it proved to be well worth the money, as they were saved from disaster several times because of timely warnings.

A bald dog was wading through the mud, trying to lick up the scraps of meat that had fallen beside a butcher's stall, a behavior that usually only earned it a disgusted kick from passersby. But the bits and pieces of blood and bone it was stuffing into its mouth still kept it entertained.

Suddenly, the skinny dog's ears perked up alertly, and it nervously turned its limbs from side to side, its wet, furry paws leaving messy marks on the nearby dirt... The hesitation didn't last long; the clever creature darted out from beside the butcher stall, quickly weaving through the gaps between the houses and disappearing into the bushes beside the town.

The alarm sounded much later than the dog's. After a while, panicked shouts came from the north. In an instant, everyone was busy as if their clothes had been set on fire. The butcher, who was cutting meat, deftly threw the meat into the wooden basin. Working together with his woman, they cleared the stall in the blink of an eye, even moving the large wooden plank on it into their home.

The vegetable vendors and other merchants were equally efficient, packing up their goods with dazzling speed and hurriedly disappearing into the houses next door. In no time, the once bustling street was deserted—at this point, running away was no longer a wise idea; finding a place to hide was more important.

The last one to hide in the tavern was the messenger. This quick-witted and slender young man was clearly the most clever and agile person there. Like a fish, he darted through the narrow doorway, which could only fit two hands.

Before anyone could recover, they felt the relentless, thunderous sound of horses' hooves pounding against their hearts and tearing at their lungs, causing them to gasp in panic and scream as they scrambled into darker corners.

Some of the braver ones peeked through the crack in the window and saw the distant view, then immediately described it to the others, trembling:

"There's yellow smoke! It must be cavalry, and quite a few of them. I saw their banners..."

"Don't just stand there staring blankly! What does the flag look like? Which lord is it?!... Ephesus, protect us! I hope they're not after us. Even if they are, robbing us for a bit of money is one thing, but please, don't kill anyone..."

The observer seemed to hesitate for quite a while before turning around, frowning, and saying:

"That's a red flag with golden tassels and a two-headed eagle painted on it... It looks quite imposing, much more so than the flags of those lords, and it's beautifully woven."

…………

Silence fell over the small tavern, where a dozen or so people sat facing each other, bewildered. After exchanging glances for a long while, a middle-aged woman serving drinks finally asked someone a question:

"What kind of flag is this? I've never heard of any lords in the area having a flag like this..."

The others shook their heads, their eyes filled with confusion and astonishment—they couldn't understand how an unfamiliar flag could appear near their home. What were those people doing there?

It wasn't until a still-drunk voice came from beside them that they realized what was happening...

"...Ugh... Hmm, what's going on? Why is it so noisy? I think I heard someone say something about a two-headed eagle... Isn't that the symbol of the Empire? Their national symbol is the double-headed eagle."

A drunkard swayed as he got up from the table. At his waist was a rather nice-looking one-handed sword, its brass hilt engraved with scrolling floral patterns. However, due to lack of maintenance, it had developed some rust.

This man had wandered from the north and was said to be an old soldier who had served a lord in the past. After spending his last penny in this place, he took a job as a guard. He would spend the whole day drinking and sleeping soundly, and then at night he would be full of energy to do his job—guarding the store gate.

He never talked about his past, nor did he speak to the other drunkards. He simply slept all day and worked all night, so the others weren't even familiar with his voice. At this moment, they all turned to look at him.

What are you talking about?

The tavern owner stammered these words, his voice filled with fear and weakness, a sense of foreboding filling his voice.

"I meant a two-headed eagle... no, what did you see?!"

The veteran was rubbing his eyes, wiping away the dried eye discharge, when he suddenly realized something and his whole body stiffened.

In that instant, he regained his aura, which was completely different from that of ordinary civilians. He swiftly pushed aside everyone who was blocking his way, then walked to the window, carefully opened a crack, and looked out at the distant road.

Everyone watched the man cautiously until he slowly turned his head, a bitter smile appearing on his face.

“I suggest you pray to God now, so you won’t have nowhere to go after you die… That’s the Empire’s army, we’re all doomed… Alright, I’ll go first.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he returned to his chair, curled up, and muttered to himself, just like his actions just now—swift and decisive, without any hesitation... even in waiting for death, he was more resolute than others.

The others didn't react at first, until the sound of hooves grew louder and louder, sweeping in like a storm, before they realized what it was... Then desperate cries and screams immediately rang out, making the veteran, who had just calmed down and prayed for himself, frown. But in the end, he chose to keep his eyes closed and continue with his task.

The sound of horses' hooves suddenly stopped, as if a storm had crashed into a heavy cliff, ceasing completely in the blink of an eye, making the desperate cries of the people sound even more piercing.

This continued for a while until they realized something seemed to be changing, when a loud noise came from outside:

"All people living on this land, come forth immediately! Come and witness the laws of the Empire! Any hesitation or disobedience will be considered resistance and hostility!"

The tavern owner was certain that everyone had heard what the other had said... because he could no longer hear any more wailing; everyone had shut their mouths... but no one dared to go out.

"Everyone, get out of your rooms immediately! Anyone who continues to disobey will face the consequences!"

The conversation was filled with an unsettling undertone, like swords being polished on a fine whetstone, subtly revealing a bloody stench.

People don't know what this means, but they instinctively feel fear and unease... just like when a sharp dagger is pressed against the back of a person's heart, they instinctively realize that it threatens their life...

While the others were still hesitating, a bright light shone in from outside, accompanied by the scraping sound of the door hinges. Everyone looked at the veteran in surprise—he simply pulled the door open.

The scene outside also came into everyone's view—about twenty fully armed elite cavalrymen were stationed in the market they had just left. They were covered in gleaming silver chainmail, with cloaks tied around their shoulders and bright helmets on their heads. Sharp and fine swords and gleaming spears were held in their hands, while exquisite and powerful horn bows and dozens of fine arrows were hanging behind their saddles.

Even during this brief stop, the cavalry maintained their tacit formation, never hindering or colliding with each other. At a glance, the veteran was certain that if needed, they could immediately scatter like a pack of wolves, spreading death and fire here.

The one who spoke was an officer whose helmet was decorated with bright blue feathers, and who, unlike the other cavalrymen, had a pair of brass plate shoulder armor that protected him all the way to his elbows. His cloak was also embroidered with some eye-catching patterns.

Seeing that someone had finally opened the door, many cavalrymen focused their attention there. Their cold, aggressive gazes made the veteran instinctively reach for the sword at his waist. At the same time, he prepared to duck behind the door if the enemy decided to attack, to avoid being riddled with arrows in an instant.

The situation was better than he had imagined. The cavalrymen showed no intention of making a move, and none of them reached for the horn bows in their saddlebags. They simply looked around, seemingly waiting for something.

"Are you crazy? Why did you open the door? We'll all be killed!!"

A woman was wailing at him almost at the top of her lungs, while the old soldier glared at her indifferently.

"What good do you think hiding behind this broken door will do? They can kill us all anytime they want. We might as well listen to them and go out to check. Alright, you guys shouldn't hide anymore, or we'll really anger them..."

After saying that, he shook his head and walked out, following the gaze of the cavalry officer until he reached the head of the officer's horse.

"Why are you alone? Call the others out; we don't have that much patience."

A sharp spear rested on his shoulder. The other man's eyes were hostile, and he could even feel the cold steel against him, but the old soldier showed no sign of panic, instead offering a fawning smile.

“I’m the one in charge here, sir. Please forgive these unruly country bumpkins. They’re so scared that they don’t dare to come out, so I came out to check the situation.”

Chapter 296 The Eve of Destruction (3)

Silence is a potentially deadly thing—he realized this deeply at this moment.

The spear resting on his shoulder remained, and the man's gaze remained icy, seemingly deeply displeased with the others' decision to remain indoors. In this situation, it wouldn't be surprising if the spear pierced his throat, given that the man had already issued two warnings, which had been met with defiance. Soldiers like this were never known for their patience… rather, the fact that the man was still maintaining a minimum level of restraint was already quite surprising.

Under normal circumstances, the enraged soldiers would quickly subdue the local people with their blades and blood, making them realize their predicament and ensuring they were as docile as sheep before doing what they wanted, which was nothing to the soldiers.

His fingers kept wanting to reach for the sword at his waist, a honed instinct that made him want to get away from the dangerous situation... but his reason was screaming at him not to move—drawing the sword would only lead to his death, and would not bring him any safety.

He could feel the officer's gaze, hidden beneath his helmet, scrutinizing him and making a cold, impartial judgment. This process was incredibly long and agonizing for him.

After an unknown amount of time, finally, the cold, heavy metallic touch on his shoulder disappeared, and the dangerous spear was returned to the buckle beside the saddle.

"You look like a man who knows how to use a sword, and you're quite courageous. Good, you'll be the mayor of this town from now on. Go and gather all the residents of this town here. I don't want you to miss even a single child. Do you understand?"

The man lowered his head instinctively. In that instant, it was as if he had received an order from his superior. The unquestionable, resounding tone made his nose feel like it was filled with the smell of blood again, and he was transported back to that horrific place filled with entrails and dismembered limbs.

He hesitated for only a moment before realizing he had to do something. He immediately nodded and bowed in agreement, then turned around and rushed into the tavern, kicking, hitting, and cursing everyone out. He even grabbed a snotty-nosed little kid by the collar and threw him into his parents' arms.

Then he selected a few men from the crowd and loudly ordered them to call out their neighbors as well. In this way, the newly called men would join them under the bandwagon effect. As their numbers increased, their efficiency also increased. Soon, the entire town's population was gathered in the square, huddled together in fear under the watchful eyes of the cavalry.

To be honest, the current scene looks very ominous, and no matter how you look at it, something feels very wrong. After all, it's exactly the prelude to those infamous massacres—they are first gathered in the square, then ordered to hand over all their belongings, and soldiers will ransack their houses. After everything is looted, a bloody game ensues, a brutal massacre that no one can escape, leaving only burned corpses and houses, and the ghosts of the dead accompanying the red-eyed crows in the night.

The veteran was already mentally prepared for that, and to be honest, he didn't care much... After all, even hiding in the house couldn't guarantee safety, and might even provoke these guys faster. It was better to gather everyone here, so if anything happened, he could find an opportunity in the chaotic crowd... If he was really unlucky, he would just die anyway, and he was already prepared for it.

Others wept and lamented in fear and anxiety. Parents hugged their children tightly, men shielded their wives behind them, and the elderly hung their heads listlessly, awaiting their fate.

"Well done, you're quite quick-witted. I thought you'd waste more time, but it seems you're indeed a capable guy."

The officer nodded with satisfaction at the veteran, then lowered his head and asked:

“Tell me your name, town administrator. From today onwards, you are.”

The veteran swallowed hard.

“Ba Tosar, sir.”

"Very good, stand here and wait. I have a new task for you later."

Having said that, the officer yanked the reins, causing his warhorse to leap out from the crowd, reaching the very front amidst the screams of women and children, ensuring everyone could see him. He then reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a book printed on unusual paper:

"People of Hols, this land now belongs to the Empire. You have a new ruler, and the glory of the Empire has descended upon this land. I have brought swords and laws. Accept the swords, and I will make you loyal to your former country!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the cavalrymen raised their lances in unison, their sharp tips reflecting the sunlight. This once again triggered panicked screams and shouts.

"Choosing the law means that you acknowledge the rule of the Empire, are willing to become citizens of the Empire, abide by the laws of this country, follow our morals and all norms, and fulfill your duties and obligations... Now, make your choice immediately."

People were terrified, but their survival instincts led them to immediately choose the most suitable option. However, the various voices were mixed together, making it impossible to hear anything clearly, until a man's clear and loud voice rang out from among them:

Long live the Empire!

Suddenly, the sound stunned not only the townspeople, but even the cavalry hesitated for a moment. Then, everyone else reacted and began to shout along with him:

"Long live the Empire! Long live the Empire!"