Real Mount and Blade Game

"Does a tree-type monster trapped in one place really think I'd be stupid enough to stay here and fight you in close combat?"

Shen Mu wore a mocking smile, as if watching a trapped beast's futile performance.

He slowly raised his left hand, his voice like the grinding of cold metal, clearly piercing through the clamor of the battlefield and the deafening, agonizing roar of the ancient war trees:

"All troops, listen to my command—retreat!"

"Evacuate the core area of ​​the village and establish an outer blockade!"

The command was concise, clear, and carried an unquestionable authority.

boom!
Like the receding tide, or like an unseen hand guiding a torrent of steel.

The solid barrier formed by the Holy Tree Knights led the way, protecting Shen Mu as he moved backward with steady and rapid steps.

Upon receiving the order, the Swadian heavy cavalry and Khergit horse archers, who were clearing out the remaining enemy forces and preparing to besiege the treehouse, showed no reluctance to continue fighting.

The heavy cavalry's wall charge instantly transformed into a tight and orderly echeloned retreat, while the Khergit horse archers, like agile hyenas, galloped back, suppressing the sporadic resistance from the writhing tumors in the ancient tree trunks that were trying to spew venom or entwine vines.

Bandak's heavy infantry phalanx turned in unison, as if guided by an extension of their own limbs.

The front-line soldiers retreated with shields, providing cover for the rear-line soldiers carrying siege ballistae to quickly move away.

The heavy ballista wheels left deep ruts on the scorched earth and ruins.

The ancient tree of war had reached its climax in its struggle.

"Roar—!!!"

The deafening roar was filled with extreme pain and raging fury that had been completely ignored.

A massive, branch-shaped bone claw, over thirty meters long, carrying immense force and a nauseating stench, swept fiercely toward the very last soldier in the retreating Bandak infantry phalanx!
The wind howled fiercely, and the air was forcibly torn apart, producing a loud bang!
"Raise your shields—!!"

Bandak's pupils contracted, and he roared hoarsely.

The heavy, fan-shaped shields instantly coalesced into a wall!
boom! ! !
Click!
The giant claw slammed against the edge of the shield wall!
The terrifying impact instantly shattered and deformed more than a dozen shields, and more than a dozen soldiers were sent flying backward, spitting blood, like stones hit by a catapult, and were slammed hard against the burning broken wall behind them, their fate unknown!

But the power of that giant claw ended there.

After the initial attack, trapped by its massive, heavy body and roots deeply embedded in the burning foundation, it was unable to pursue further.

More trouble lies ahead.

Chi Chi Chi -!
A series of sharp, piercing sounds rang out, like the hiss of venomous snakes!

Dozens of tough vines, thicker than an adult's arm, dark brown in color, and covered with fine barbs, sprang wildly from all parts of the ancient war tree's trunk, like whips that had been given life!
These vines had an attack range far exceeding that of the giant claws, instantly covering the core attack zone that the Deherim Legion had just escaped!
Puff puff!
Whoosh—bang!

The vines, like spears, pierced through several Swadian light infantrymen who were retreating too slowly.

Or it swept across like a giant whip, sending several Khergit horse archers, both men and horses, flying backward, coughing up blood, as they tried to parry with their scimitars!

"Get away from the root zone! Quick! Its whip can reach a hundred meters away!"

Bestur's voice pierced through the chaos; his Khergit experience allowed him to instantly assess the danger distance.

The cavalrymen accelerated their retreat once more.

However, once the soldiers accelerated to a distance of 150 meters or even 200 meters, the wildly waving vines, like venomous snakes that had lost their target, thrashed about in mid-air with loud "whoosh-smack!" sounds, but could no longer reach any of the Deherim soldiers.

Deherem's legions retreated in an orderly fashion, to within about two hundred meters of the core attack zone of the Ancient Tree of War, and quickly reorganized their defenses.

The infantry squares erected shields and spears on the outside.

The heavy cavalry formed a reserve charge on the flanks.

What made the ancient war tree, which was struggling painfully at this moment, feel most threatened were the siege ballistae that had been pushed to the front of the formation, as well as the massive number of archers and crossbowmen, including Rhodok snipers, who occupied the surrounding ruins and high ground!
The Khergit heavy horse archers didn't even need to dismount; they positioned themselves just outside the maximum range of the vines, ensuring their safety while providing cover from arrows at any time.

Fatis, Bandak, Rezarit, and Bestur almost simultaneously rode their horses to the command position beside Shen Mu.

They stared at the colossal creature, its massive claws and vines flailing in vain amidst the raging flames and ruins, uttering a helpless, furious roar, and their expressions were strikingly similar—

Instead of feeling solemn, it was a sense of relief and ease, even with a hint of playful exhilaration.

"Ah."

Fatis’s voice, tinged with a metallic chill beneath his helmet, conveyed an unmistakable ease: “A… giant wooden target? Yang Di’s final act of madness was to turn himself and his pitiful fortune into a training ground for our army.”

"Well said, Sir Fatis!"

Bandak responded in his signature booming voice, vigorously wiping away the ash and bloodstains from the crossbow's trajectory with a thick cloth, grinning to reveal his white teeth: "This is much easier than besieging a fortress! Our crossbows can finally do something worthwhile, instead of having to listen to those bastards' dying screams! Look at that big wooden body! Tsk tsk, a good target, a really good target!"

He patted the heavy ballista body beside him, which had just been refurbished, and the metal emitted a dull echo.

Rezarit's heavy armor still bore traces of blood and dust from the charge, but his sharp gaze swept over the struggling ancient war tree, his voice steady and confident: "My lord, a single volley of crossbow fire will severely damage its trunk's vitals. Archers will concentrate their fire on its energy nodes and 'head' area; its wood is far less strong than a magically enhanced city wall, destruction is only a matter of time. Bestur's mounted archers are agile enough to clear out any remaining soldiers clinging to the tree who attempt to break free."

He seemed to be analyzing a tactical sand table model, rather than a roaring giant.

Bestur gently stroked the mane of his restless warhorse, his eyes gleaming with the light of a steppe hunter: "It danced for us in its own fiery grave? What a foolish and pathetic prey. My lord, my quiver is full of men; I'll make sure it's covered in 'decorations' until it can't even dance a single vine anymore!"

He let out a short, mocking laugh, characteristic of the Kujit.

A relaxed atmosphere permeated the generals.

The behemoth before them was indeed terrifying, but it had fatal flaws—its enormous size, its pitifully slow speed (practically impossible), and most importantly, it was completely within the absolute range of their powerful long-range firepower.

All its struggles turned into a desperate futility and a performance of impotent rage.

Even a sturdy castle can be attacked, but what about a huge target that can only stand still and be attacked?

For the well-trained and well-equipped Deherem Legion, they were the perfect "hunting" target. Shen Mu's gaze swept over the generals who were chatting and laughing easily and had already begun assigning tasks, and the cold smile on his lips deepened.

He no longer looked at the doomed monster, but instead cast his gaze toward the burning sky in the distance, as if that was where he truly cared about things.

"Bandak."

"Yes, sir!"

"Your ballistae are the vanguard. Order the archers and crossbowmen to fire freely! Bestur, your men keep a close watch on those annoying vines."

Shen Mu's tone was as calm as if he were ordering dinner: "Make the fire burn even brighter. This forest... needs a new master."

The order was issued as a verdict.

Om-!
The taut crossbow string emitted a terrifying low hum, followed by a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air!

boom--!
Like the deafening roar of a battering ram striking a city wall!

Almost simultaneously, a rain of arrows, accompanied by sharp whistles, obscured the sky, like bloodthirsty locusts swarming towards carrion!

The massive body of the ancient war tree, imbued with pain and destructive intent, was instantly enveloped by a deadly storm of steel!
The rockets, wrapped in tarpaulin, were ignited in a dense array, igniting their twisted and deformed surfaces and waving vines!
The heart of the burning wood elf village became the execution ground for a colossal monster.

Meanwhile, Deherim's iron and fire were calmly and ruthlessly carrying out the final execution.

"Swish swish swish——"

Arrows and crossbow bolts flew like countless locusts, rushing rapidly towards the ancient war tree that was still roaring.

This is a magnificent sight created by the long-range archers and ballistae intertwined within the encirclement already formed by the Deherim Legion.

The ballistae continued to emit a dull, angry roar.

The Khergit horse archers of Bestur, meanwhile, used a precise rain of arrows to drive burning rockets into the massive trunk of the ancient war tree.

The combined barrage of Rhodok crossbowmen and other archers transformed the heart of the burning village into a vortex of steel and fire, the final symphony of war playing for the twisted and grotesque monster.

The ancient war tree's wailing and furious lashes, its massive bone claws and stretching vines, were confined to a mere two hundred meters of the scorched earth's core, futilely tearing through the air and burning ground, unable to reach the well-prepared Deherim army.

Shen Mu, atop the sacred tree steed, cast his deep gaze over the colossal creature struggling in the sea of ​​fire, which appeared to be composed of decaying ancient wood and pitch-black venom.

Flames licked its gnarled skin, and thick smoke billowed up, blotting out the sun, but the monster's enormous size and tenacious vitality meant that it would take time to completely destroy it.

However, this time was entirely under Shen Mu's control—

This is simply a process of waiting for the result.

At this moment, the scene outside the Wood Elf village and amidst the ruins was even more chaotic and tragic.

Apart from a few scattered remnants of loyal Wood Elves who frantically charged toward the Legion's defenses only to be instantly riddled with arrows or trampled underfoot, there were far more Earth humans fleeing like headless flies.

They are ordinary residents, laborers, or even lower-level dependents who have been coerced or taken in by the Green Leaf Group.

The war horns, the burning villages, and the terrifying ancient tree that seemed to have stepped out of mythology had already crushed their last will to resist.

Screams, cries, and children's wails mingled with the crackling of flames and the roar of ancient trees in the distance, creating a scene of apocalyptic escape.

Many people, with their families and simple belongings, blindly rushed into the dense, dark forest on the edge of the village, completely disregarding the dangers lurking in the forest.

Others huddled trembling behind half-collapsed wooden huts or burning piles of debris, their eyes filled with nothing but terror and despair.

Shen Mu shifted his gaze from the ancient war tree scorched by flames to the chaotic, fleeing humans of Blue Star, who were like frightened birds.

His face showed no pity, only a calm scrutiny, as if he were assessing an asset about to be recycled.

Deherim needs these people, this workforce, and more humans from Earth to pray for faith to sustain its operations and become the cornerstone of its future journey.

These people are readily available resources.

“Rezarit”.

Shen Mu's voice was calm yet extremely penetrating, drowning out the roar of battle not far away.

Rezarit, who was commanding the Swadian heavy cavalry to stand by on the flank and watching warily for any possible sporadic incidents that might break out from the fire, immediately spurred his horse forward upon hearing the voice: "My lord!"

Shen Mu pointed to the chaotic figures of Blue Star humans running and hiding in the ruins: "See those people? Those are the people Deherem needs. Act immediately. Gather your riders, and also draw some heavy infantry from Bandak to assist. Don't chase those who have disappeared into the forest, but gather those Blue Star humans hiding in the ruins or remaining on the edge of the village, too afraid to move. Tell them to give up futile resistance and escape; those who surrender will receive Deherem's protection. I grant you the authority to use force to deter and imprison them when necessary, but avoid unnecessary killing. The target is living people—living people who can work and migrate. Understand?"

A knowing glint flashed in Rezarit's eyes beneath his helmet.

As one of Shen Mu's most experienced commanders, he instantly understood his lord's intentions.

This is the first step after the war: to clean up the mess and consolidate resources.

"Yes, sir! Prioritize capturing the survivors, use force as a secondary measure, and complete the assembly."

His voice was firm and clear as he accepted the order without hesitation: "Those terrified lambs need the talons of a griffin to bring them back to the flock."

Rezarit pulled on the reins, and the Swadian horse reared up with a long neigh.

He drew his sword and pointed it to the sky, his resounding command drowning out the clamor of the battlefield:

"First, Third, and Fifth Cavalry Squadrons, follow me! Third Infantry Battalion, coordinate the operation! Target: Earth's human survivors inside and outside the village—"

"Drive them away, assemble them, and contain them! Subdue anyone who resists or attempts to charge! Move out—!"

In an instant, hundreds of elite knights, clad in heavy plate armor and wielding lances or longswords, began to move under the leadership of Rezarit.

Instead of launching an attack, they adopted a coercive approach, like sheepdogs, driving and surrounding the disoriented survivors in groups. (End of Chapter)