Berserk: The Prophet

"Boom!" "Thump!" "Rumble!"

"—!!"

Smoke billowed everywhere as catapults blasted huge craters into the city walls, sending countless fragments of stone flying in all directions.

"The enemy is in complete disarray! Where are the siege echelons? Charge! Begin the siege!" Gambino commanded his troops with great order.

"call out--!"

Sparse crossbow bolts continued to rain down from the city walls, several striking the shields of the soldiers charging ahead with dull thuds. But this did not halt the advance; the soldiers shouted, carrying ladders, their steps growing ever more rapid.

The siege ladders advanced rapidly, approaching the towering city wall under the cover of shields, and six heavy siege ladders were gradually set up on the wall.

"Artillery, blast the city gates open!!" Gambino shouted at the top of his lungs.

The artillerymen moved swiftly, skillfully adjusting the angle of the cannons and loading gunpowder in one fluid motion. Then, Gambino gave the order: "Fire!"

A flash of light, followed by a deafening bang that made people's eardrums ache, and the cannonballs roared towards the city gate like wild beasts unleashed.

The city gate shook violently under the fierce attack, and the huge bolts were loosened. But the city gate was sturdy, and the first round of cannon fire only made it teeter on the brink of collapse, not completely fall down.

"One more round, increase the firepower!" Gambino immediately issued the order upon seeing this.

The second round of shelling followed immediately, with two shells hitting the city gate precisely.

"Boom—" The city gate finally succumbed to the pressure and collapsed, raising clouds of dust.

"Heh..." Gambino sneered. After working so hard for so long, he could finally hand in his work.

Clad in flexible, lightweight, and sturdy lamellar armor, he stood outside the hastily dug trench, waving his right hand: "Alright! Listen up! It's business!!"

"Jewelry and valuables, first come, first served!!"

"Go ahead and take as much as you like!"

Guts' upper body was covered by a pieced-together suit of steel armor, gloves, and a helmet.

This was his first time participating in such a life-or-death battle, and at only 9 years old, he couldn't help but feel nervous, gripping the two-handed greatsword that was more than enough for an adult.

"Kid, don't push yourself too hard!" Uncle North, who was on good terms with Gus, said.

"Just do it properly. If you die, you'll have nothing left." North's eyes showed more sympathy and concern.

In short, he didn't want to see this kid die on his first battlefield experience.

After all, his younger brother was so young...

“…!!” Guts adjusted his helmet one last time upon hearing this.

"Hey, Guts!"

Gambino glanced back at Guts one last time, his eyes looking at someone who might die there at any moment.

"This is your first time on the field! Do your best!"

Gus's eyes grew even more determined; he was determined to do his best!

"Charge!!" Gambino's sword was pointed straight at the castle ahead, and countless soldiers and mercenaries, including Guts, charged forward one after another.

"Click," "Click," "Pfft—"

The sounds of swords clashing and flesh being pierced were incessant; everywhere was a struggle between life and death, and blood was splattered everywhere.

The soldiers guarding the city also arrived at the city gate one after another to block the huge gap.

Gus followed the crowd as they surged through the city gates. The acrid smell of gunpowder and blood mingled together, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

As soon as he stepped into the city, a longsword came flying at him. Gus's heart tightened, and he instinctively raised his greatsword to defend himself.

A loud clang made his arm go numb and his hand throb with pain.

Fortunately, Guts managed to block it, and pressed on!

Gus sheathed his sword and slashed upwards at the almost fully armed soldier.

Wearing chainmail with a robe and a helmet that looked like an iron can, the soldier was left almost unprotected except for the gap around his neck.

Even though his opponent was just a child, the soldier didn't dare to relax at all and unleashed a sword technique called "Thunderbolt from a Clear Sky".

"clang--!"

Another round of sword fighting, seemingly without any progress, when the soldier, taking advantage of the gap in his strength, thrust his sword at Guts's two-handed sword, aiming straight for Guts's head!

The blade itself is not the only part that can cause harm!

"!" Gus's eyes were sharp, and he subconsciously turned his head to avoid being stabbed in the face.

The next moment, Guts' helmet was knocked off by the thrust of the longsword, and his body fell backward as if he had lost his balance.

The soldier was about to press his advantage and close in, but Guts's greatsword remained as powerful as ever. In other words, he didn't even have time to react when all this happened!

Immediately afterwards, Guts's two-handed sword slit open the soldier's throat!

Instantly, blood gushed out.

The soldier wearing the eagle-beak helmet fell to the ground and died on the spot, his life ending in tragedy in the Northwest.

Gus was panting heavily; what a close call! He had almost lost his life.

Just as he got up to continue fighting, a heavy hammer struck him directly in the back, sending him flying.

A massive, armored soldier wielding a flail approached Guts, giving him no time to react before stomping his fifty-yard-long foot on Guts' left leg, rendering him immobile.

"Hey-!"

The burly soldier swung his deadly meteor hammer, ready to smash Guts' head, and a piercing sound of flesh piercing through blood echoed.

A sharp sword pierced straight through the soldier's most vulnerable throat from behind, and drops of blood splattered onto Gus's face.

"...Gambino!!"

Guts, like a young animal just emerging from its den to hunt, cried out Gambino's name with gratitude.

"Your back is completely unguarded!!"

"This isn't sword practice. Even if you kill someone, don't just stand there in a daze."

After a brief but intense battle, the city gate area had been captured, and Gambino calmly gave Guts instructions.

"Hurry up and finish your work so you can collect your paycheck." After saying this, Gambino continued towards the main city.

Gus also picked up his helmet again; having already experienced killing once, he now had ample experience and confidence.

dusk.

Although the smoke of battle had not completely dissipated, the officers accompanying the troops at Camp Gambino had already begun distributing the spoils of war.

The equipment on the dead soldiers was to be recycled; the real profit was the money bags looted from the corpses.

The mercenaries and conscripts have now mostly cleaned up the battlefield and removed their equipment. Those who need to rest are resting, and those who need to bandage their wounds are bandaging them.

Everyone lined up one after another in front of the officer in charge of distributing the bounties, receiving their wages according to their contributions in the war.

North was pointing out to the right of the lord's minister in charge of distributing military pay who had killed how many enemies and how much reward they should receive.

Gus was also in line to receive the bounty.

"...Next."

Gus received his share of the bounty—a small, heavy bag of silver coins.