Berserk: The Prophet

"Infantry, form ranks!!"

"All cavalrymen, dismount immediately to engage the enemy! All ranged units, move to the center of the formation and begin reloading!"

Almost the instant the ambushers surged out from both sides, Trunks immediately gave the order, and everyone, including himself, took immediate action. The infantry moved the fastest, and three or four rows of Barkley's heavy infantrymen instantly formed on both sides, stacking their black double-headed eagle-shaped shields to defend against the incoming arrows. Barkley's heavy crossbowmen were crouching in the infantry square, loading ammunition, with only their shields on their backs to protect them from the arrows that would pass through the shield wall.

Ignoring the horses, they could only pat their rumps to let them run away for a while; whether they survived or not was up to fate. The knights formed a scale armor formation with their shields. The knights who had followed Trunks for many years quickly formed their formation before the crossbow bolts of the Serpent Cult warriors could fire. The arrows struck the shields with a clattering sound.

The screams of soldiers being hit by flying arrows came from nearby. Most of those soldiers would not live much longer. After all, it was not in the style of the Serpent Cult not to coat their weapons with venom. Even if they did not die from the venom, the ulceration and infection of the wounds would lead to sepsis and kill them.

"shooting!!"

Trunks took advantage of the lull in the enemy's ammunition to issue orders. Barkley's ranged units consisted entirely of crossbowmen. The rain did not have a significant impact on the crossbowmen, but shooting from low to high was still at a disadvantage. Judging from the number of crossbow bolts, the enemy's total number was no more than a thousand. Perhaps they should take the opportunity to attack. However, the enemy clearly wanted to fight a war of attrition. After all, the trees on both sides provided enough space for maneuvering. But just standing there and being worn down was also a very difficult thing to endure.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh" "Click click"

The sounds of arrows piercing through the rain and flying out, along with the sounds of crossbow bolts being changed, echoed in my ears. Then, another volley of arrows came. The soldiers in the front ranks dragged back their wounded and fallen comrades. Shields were stacked and changed, gradually filling the gaps left by the previous person.

Trunks frowned as he pondered whether to launch an offensive to force the Serpent Cult members back. The sound of hooves trampled through the muddy ground as several hundred of Barkley's heavy lancers under Isos charged towards the Serpent Cult members.

Are all the people from the capital idiots? This heavy rain won't end anytime soon. Horses can't even stand properly on the muddy roads, and the rainwater will even affect their vision, let alone charge.

“There are more people on the other side, Trunks. I can tell their steps aren’t very coordinated. There are probably more than a thousand of them charging this way from the woods.”

Seranti's ears were very sensitive; even amidst the noise of rain and arrows, he could sense the unusual changes.

"Could they be villagers who were coerced by the Serpent Worship Cult?"

Trunks frowned. It was too late to call them back now. He could only watch helplessly as the cavalry, whose horses were already falling and who were even wounded by arrows, charged into the enemy camp.

"Ahhhhh!!"

"Believe in the Serpent God, and you will gain eternal life! Charge forth, warriors, for the favor of the Serpent God Azdakha! Countless riches and glory lie ahead!! Hiss..."

Accompanied by a seductive female voice, a group of villagers with bloodshot eyes, equipped with tattered gear, sprang out from behind the Serpent Cult warriors. Their pitchforks and clubs did little to harm Barkley's heavy cavalry, but they did manage to halt their advance. Then, something terrible happened.

The mob dragged the heavy cavalrymen off their horses bit by bit, beating them with pitchforks and clubs, trampling them underfoot in the most primitive way, as if they had lost their minds. Although the heavy cavalrymen desperately swung their swords, they gained little. At the priestess's call, the Serpent Cult warriors in green robes went into a frenzy as if they had been injected with chicken blood, and nearly half of them uncontrollably joined the ranks of those annihilating the cavalrymen.

“Good opportunity, Wilder. You and I will each lead half the army to repel the Serpent Cult.”

"understood."

Wilder nodded and immediately went to gather the Holy Dragon Knights.

"Infantry platoons 1 and 2, crossbowmen platoons 1 and 2, and the original heavy cavalry will charge with me. All other units will charge with Wilder!!"

Trunks's bright red armor stood out even in the rain, especially his golden halberd, which was also recognizable in the rain. All the soldiers from Pence immediately assumed an attack stance and followed Trunks's lead in a charge.

From afar at the stronghold of the Serpent Cult, Saintess Reis observed every movement within the crystal ball. Her lips, painted with a deadly purple hue, curved upwards in a smile. Then, with her eyes rolled back, she began chanting a new incantation around the crystal ball, together with the numerous priestesses below.

The priestesses on the edge of the battlefield suddenly seemed to be manipulated by Reis. Their eyes rolled back abnormally, and black lines climbed up their faces like giant snakes crawling and writhing on their pale skin, blending into their snake-shaped helmets and exuding an eerie aura.

"The sleepless who perished in their homeland, the devourers of the Serpent God's power, the anthem of the empire's fall is about to begin! Answer the goddess's call!!" (Serpent Cult words)

"kill!!"

The moment Trunks' army charged into the ranks of those who had fallen into the Snake Cult, blood splattered freely into the rain, nourishing the soil alongside the raindrops. The blood-stained golden halberds bloomed in the rain, carving crimson flowers and relentlessly reaping the lives of those whose souls had already fallen.

A clean, uniform slit in half!

As Trunks brandished his weapon, the surrounding soldiers instinctively made way for him, leaving him an open space to wield his weapon.

Seranti's attention was focused on Grin. In close combat, he switched from shield to scimitar in his left hand. Against non-heavy armored enemies, the dual blades were exceptionally efficient at reaping kills. Several shadows flashed by, and before the enemies even realized what had happened, they were clutching their throats and dying in the northwest in a daze.

Thranduil's long, pointed ears, hidden beneath his hood, caught the chanting of several Serpent Cult priestesses and pinpointed their location. It was too late to aid Wilder now; he could only deal with the priestesses on one side as quickly as possible.

"Trunks, I can hear their location. We need to deal with them quickly. The priestess has already started chanting a spell."