Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

Tarina manipulates a series of dangerous objects, her only protection being a white handkerchief covering her mouth and nose. It looks fragile, but the blue light flowing from it is enough to ward off these terrible poisons.

Through a series of processes such as distillation, mixing, and catalysis, the final product is gradually being produced. Amidst the crisp clinking of glass and metal, the terrible bitterness appears in this small wooden house.

Finally, the product was placed in a glass bottle no longer than a little finger. Inside, a beautiful liquid of alternating blue and red colors was slowly flowing, even shimmering with tiny sparkles, as if it had been cut from the Milky Way at the moment when dusk and night intertwined.

The deceptive nature of this liquid is almost unbelievable. Anyone who sees it for the first time would think it is some kind of magical and effective medicine or a precious and unique treasure, without realizing that even a tiny drop of this substance, invisible to the naked eye, can easily cause terrible consequences.

With a serious expression, Tarina picked up her staff and cast several blue flashes on the small glass bottle before putting it into her bag. Then she hurriedly pushed open the door and left the hunter's cabin in the forest.

Outside the gate stood dozens of fully armored cavalrymen guarding the area, while hundreds more spread out around to guard against any potential approachers. They swiftly departed, traversing hills and slopes, eventually merging once more into the rolling torrent of iron.

The only function of this liquid is to cause horrific destruction to living organisms. It can instantly end the life of any strong life form. Perhaps it won't be needed today, but its existence is ultimately necessary.

For the best archers, its role is self-evident; once it pierces a creature's body, even the strongest beast cannot resist.

Arrows were flying everywhere on the battlefield, and it was becoming increasingly unsafe for her. Of course, this was when she was close to the front line. The battle lines of both armies stretched for miles, and the rear was still relatively safe. Otherwise, Tersolius would not have allowed her to stay here.

Beneath the black double-headed eagle banner, Talina met up with the others and, amidst their curious gazes, pulled out the small bottle:

"This is the final product, sir... As far as I know, there is no poison in the world more potent than this. As long as they continue to use the same methods, it will definitely work."

Tesorius glanced at it with some curiosity:

"It's so beautiful it's almost eerie, but I believe it's threatening enough to match its beautiful texture. It shouldn't penetrate the skin, right?"

"No, sir. I have specially adjusted the proportions in the formula. Unless it comes into direct contact with flesh or mucous membranes, even a tiny pinhole can have terrible consequences. But otherwise, as long as it is not in contact for a long time, there will be no problem."

"Then there's no problem. Let's deal with the arrows as soon as possible..."

Thessalius looked up at the sun in the sky:

“I guess they should be making their next move soon, but it doesn’t matter if they aren’t. I still have plenty of patience to spare on this point.”

........................

The heavy oak barrel was pried open, but instead of pickles, cured meats, or ale, it contained a luminous, pale purple liquid with tiny, wriggling things resembling corn silk.

The stench emanating from the iron cage beside them was overwhelming. That horrible smell would deter any normal person, or even without the smell, just a glance at it would be enough to make a brave warrior retreat.

The man in black dipped his wooden spoon into the bucket and stirred it slightly, like cooking porridge. He then stuck his fingers in and pulled out two wriggling white worms, which he then tossed into his mouth and chewed like noodles.

The sticky stirring and sloshing sounds came from his mouth. It was unclear what he had tasted, but a satisfied expression appeared on his face. After stirring it again with the wooden spoon, he went to the cage.

The enormous creature in the cage was now restrained, its limbs locked by blood-stained chains and clamps. A silver funnel hung from it, with a leather tube extending down to the bottom of the beast's throat.

He scooped out a large spoonful of liquid, then carefully poured it into the funnel. He meticulously observed the translation of the experimental question, and finally confirmed with satisfaction that there were no abnormalities... He continued scooping out spoonful after spoonful until the wooden bucket was completely emptied before finally stopping.

At this moment, the sunlight filtering through the trees has begun to shift westward, and time is passing...

I've been incredibly busy these past few days.

It's almost Chinese New Year, and the author has been incredibly busy these past few days. Today, he went to our county town to buy a bunch of things needed for the New Year, and didn't get back until almost midnight. Tomorrow, he still has to visit all his relatives to wish them a Happy New Year -_-＃, and he also has to host a feast... So he's taking a break today and tomorrow to finish up all the things he needs to do for the New Year.

By the way, Happy New Year everyone! Thank you for your support of this book! ( '▽` )

Chapter 335 Battle (3)

One last addition: each monster is now full of energy. Their bodies, stitched together by evil technology, bulge with thick muscles, but instead of roaring and howling like ordinary beasts, they occasionally emit unbearable hissing sounds like insects. Their tentacles occasionally extend outwards, snatching up anything edible around them.

Almost every soldier or general doubted the effectiveness of these iron cages in restraining these monsters—the iron bars might be enough to control the strongest beasts, but for these heavily armored monsters with chains attached to their hands, they were nothing more than objects that could be bent and destroyed with a few heavy blows. Perhaps the reason they didn't appear outside was simply because they didn't want to come out.

Just hours ago, many generals were secretly worried and disgusted by the appearance of these monsters among them. But now, many have changed their minds and even begun to look forward to it... Without actually facing the Imperial Legion head-on in the open field, they would never know how much pressure they would be under.

Although their current losses are very minor, many formations have already begun to waver. After all, the inability to fight back and the constant attacks are enough to discourage anyone. They can only listen to the sounds of crossbow bolts and stone projectiles hitting the barriers and flesh, waiting blankly and anxiously.

They awaited the next order, and also hoped that these monsters could break through the Imperials' endless steel defenses, allowing them to triumph and escape this stagnant and anxious situation.

Many people could see that the moment was not far off... The Empire's long-range firepower was fierce and sharp. If they continued to hold their ground, they would only be attacked. In any case, they had to break the deadlock with an offensive.

When an incredibly foul stench suddenly spread, and a huge figure appeared beside them with the scraping of heavy iron plates and the clanging of chains, everyone knew that it was about to begin.

They have been completely suppressed in long-range combat with engineering weapons. So far, half of their ballistae and catapults have been smashed to pieces, and a few unlucky guys around them have also suffered injuries of varying degrees. But the Empire will not be able to crush them in this way. What will truly determine the outcome of this war is a real battle until one side is covered in blood and retreats.

........................

Samir sat fully armed beneath his banner, surrounded by a dense array of guards clad in brass scale armor. Generals and nobles awaited him, taking advantage of the high ground to have a clear view of the battlefield below.

They appear to be in the most advantageous position, but this position is not giving them any advantage at all... at least not for the time being.

Finally, in the tense atmosphere, Samir stood up:

"Let your monsters lead the charge, Your Majesty. Let them storm the Imperial heavy infantry's lines. My soldiers will follow behind. If they are truly as powerful as you say, then before the sun sets today, we will see the Imperials fleeing in disarray, leaving behind corpses."

Standing to the side, Julius nodded slightly, showing no reaction to the arrogant words... displaying a cold pragmatism, and then gestured with his eyes to the man in black robes beside him.

"And you all, now it's time to act on your oath. Lead the most elite part of your army and follow behind those behemoths. When those big guys tear through the defenses, you must immediately follow and launch a swift attack to completely crush those panicked enemies."

The nobles and generals nodded in agreement. Before receiving their orders, some of them glanced at the old man to Samir's left. Once the old man nodded, they too took their orders and left.

“Adanso, you will follow closely behind with the remaining half as a reserve force. You will receive my orders when needed, but until then, I want you to ensure they are in good order.”

"Yes, my lord!"

The tall, thin general accepted the order and set off, his helmet gleaming in the sun. He quickly made his way to the ranks of the army below, amidst the dust kicked up by his horse's hooves.

“Iprah, Sadom! I entrust you with an important responsibility—each of you will lead ten thousand tribal cavalry. I need you to threaten the flanks of the Empire, disrupt their formation, and attack their weak points when necessary… The judgment of the timing is up to you.”

"As ordered!"

"Yes!"

Two more groups of people hurriedly left, reducing the number of generals remaining. The rest continued to wait anxiously, while the old man from the Abathelis family kept his promise and handed over command completely to him without any interference.

He didn't know what the other party's intentions were, but at least for now, he was sincerely grateful for this decision... He could hardly imagine the consequences of internal strife within the army at this time.

"As for you, maintain your formation and hold your positions on this high ground and hillside. The Imperials will soon be within range. At that time, I need you to welcome them with a barrage of arrows that will keep them from even raising their heads!"

Everyone roared in agreement, and for a moment they were all filled with righteous indignation. After their commander officially gave the order, the army was finally ready to launch an attack and face the enemy, who outnumbered them.

........................

Fine arrow shafts made of birch wood possess the right amount of elasticity and toughness, preventing them from being easily damaged under relatively low weight. This allows the force to be accurately transmitted to the finely forged steel arrowhead, enabling it to pierce flesh and penetrate armor.

Now, these barbed, sharp arrowheads are being dipped one by one into a beautiful liquid, emerging from the bottle with a dazzling array of colors, both dangerous and mysterious.

Tarina was giving instructions to each of the carefully selected archers—they were all sharpshooters, the cream of the crop, and only they could accomplish this task… Among them, the mountain people made up a full third.

"You must never touch these sharp arrows, not even with your fingers, and do not smell them. They are the most dangerous toxins available, enough to easily kill you."

The archers carefully placed the poisoned arrows in a small leather pouch, making sure to keep it separate from their own quivers, to avoid attracting the most terrible toxin through foolishness and carelessness.

After doing all this, they dispersed under the leadership of their captains and gathered into the massive army formation—they would ensure that there were enough men to deal with whatever approached from which direction.

The cavalry had been waiting for quite some time. Their warhorses had even begun to nibble on the grass out of boredom, but the cavalrymen did not slacken their efforts and maintained their initial discipline. Among them, a knight wearing a white lion cloak and a winged eagle helmet was leisurely tapping his blade, listening to the crisp metallic clang.

…………

Suddenly, a thunderous and magnificent sound came from afar, followed by a rapid cheer that rolled across the ground. At that moment, Thesolius raised his head:

"here we go."

Chapter 336 Grinding Mill (1)

Tersolys!

Boom! — The sound of a sword striking a shield.

Tersolius!! ... Tersolius!

Boom! — The sound of spears striking the ground.

Tersolius! Lead our sword!

The archers cheered in unison, the cavalrymen restrained their warhorses, and the heavy infantry, in their tightly packed lines, pounded their armor with a thunderous sound that shook the heavens and the earth. Swords, axes, and halberds gleamed and danced in the sunlight, like the shimmering light emitted by fish crowding together in a river.

Everyone was calling out to him, all the soldiers were waiting for his orders, every flag was moving forward with his will, and every sword was being wielded at his command. Even though the enemy outnumbered them considerably, no one felt fear. They firmly believed that victory belonged to the glorious Imperial Legion.

They will advance, they will fight, they will rout, they will tear apart... They will ravage the enemy, they will achieve victory, but they will not accept shame as their own.

They are calling upon their commander, begging him to show them the way, to give them orders, to grant them permission, and to tear the enemy apart like a pride of lions.

This is precisely when a man is at his most triumphant, and he will unhesitatingly devote himself to and carry out his will.

A heavy infantry group of 15,000 men stood in tight formation, like an impregnable wall. Any enemy would be crushed against it. At this moment, under the orders of their general and officers, they were advancing steadily, their heavy iron boots trampling the plain before them, crushing every blade of grass into the soil.

Five thousand archers lined up in front of them, proceeding to their designated positions under the command of the officers. Colin calmly and collectedly directed them, ensuring the ranks were orderly and arranged according to the pre-arranged plan.

This was surprisingly simple for her—the Imperial Army was perhaps the easiest army in the world to command; they rarely questioned orders as long as the source of the order was approved by them.

They would strike the enemy head-on, weakening their charge with a dense rain of arrows, causing them to suffer heavy casualties, their formations to break apart, and their utter defeat in the deadly barrage of arrows.

The ballistae and catapults never stopped firing, but some of them had already begun to advance slowly with the help of craftsmen and auxiliary soldiers. They would occupy the forest that the auxiliary soldiers had cleared for the enemy, where the higher ground would provide them with better firing angles, allowing them to wreak havoc in the enemy's attacking ranks.

The sound of iron hooves trampling the earth was like a storm. Tens of thousands of elite imperial light cavalry spread out from both flanks, ensuring the absolute safety of the army's flanks. They also saw the dust billowing up like a sandstorm from the opposing formation.

—Those were tribal cavalrymen recruited from the Asel nomadic tribes. Their equipment was mostly inferior, and their organization was loose. Only their chieftains received decent armor. Although they outnumbered their opponents by a full two times, the cavalrymen mocked them, their chaotic formation, and their beggar-like armor. They did not believe that their numerical advantage would allow their opponents to achieve anything.

Finally, accompanied by the imposing and majestic presence of the armored cavalry, Tersolius personally led 2000 heavily armored cavalry as a final decisive force to hold the rear. Their silence was more terrifying than any battle cry, and the mere moment they were mobilized had already terrified countless enemies, keeping them completely focused.

A massive, bloody battle is about to unfold across a vast plain stretching for miles, inevitably spilling countless drops of blood onto the soil and giving birth to countless souls. The atmosphere of war will be incredibly intense here.

..............................

The soldiers huddled together in fear, keeping a distance of about three meters. This was enough to make them feel safe and to satisfy their subtle curiosity, without being too far away to see clearly.

The stench-filled behemoth was now clad in heavy iron plate armor. This armor was forged so crudely that it looked as if someone had whipped the blacksmiths, forcing them to finish it in a short time. It had no shape whatsoever, and was like beetles stacked one on top of another, spreading from the monster's back all the way to its claws.

Some of the armor plates would even shake violently with movement, striking other parts to produce a crisp metallic clanging sound. The only thing connecting these heavy objects to the other parts was the rough, tanned, hard cowhide.

The most terrifying thing was the three thick iron chains connected to its thick right claw and the huge chain ball at the end. Each chain ball was the size of a normal human head and covered with more than a dozen thick, sharp short spikes... No one would doubt how threatening these things were. No matter how thick the armor was, it would be impossible to stop such a terrible attack.

There were 15 such monsters. Besides those with chains strapped to their arms, there were others with huge iron hammers and heavy blades. But without exception, one thing was certain: these were definitely not things that humans could handle.

A hunched figure in a long black robe stood before the monsters. Strangely, they used neither whips nor bells, nor any other obvious means of driving them away. Their only action was to approach and then wriggle beneath their hoods.

Some soldiers nearby watched this scene with chills down their spines. The bizarre sight before them could only remind them of venomous snakes writhing beneath the tents…

The monsters with twisted, bloated, complex, and bizarre limbs seemed to understand something. Their tentacles trembled along with them, and then they slowly moved their bodies, adjusting their direction and silently advancing in one direction, towards the direction from which the imperial army was pressing in.

Their terrifying weight left deep footprints on the ground with every step they took. The bizarre and horrifying bloody armor sank into the loess soil with each step, leaving a long and eerie trail on the ground. The bulging, deformed muscles shimmered with a greasy and pale eeriness through the gaps in the armor, reminiscent of maggots wriggling in rotting flesh.

The men in black silently followed behind the monster, dragging their blackened and dirty robes like beggars as they walked across the battlefield where thousands of troops had gathered.