Berserk: The Prophet

————North of the Dordore Mountains————

The castle near the southern fortress was a poorly defended fortress, with only a single layer of walls. The bishopric and the city were located in one place, and the lord's residence was nothing more than a small wooden castle.

...The Fierce Bear Regiment and the conscripts are all in position.

"fire--!!"

With Gambino's command, the fuses of the three cannons, which used cobblestones as ammunition, were lit, and with a "bang," a breach was made in the already weak city wall.

"Gold and silver treasures, first come, first served, go and take as much as you like!!" Gambino was full of confidence in this battle, purely for the purpose of plundering this place to boost the morale of his army.

"kill--!!"

The thunderous roar of the cobblestones crashing through the city walls still echoed through the mountains, while the elite warriors of the Fierce Bear Legion surged into the breach like a tidal wave, their faces still bearing the fanaticism for wealth and the thirst for killing.

The sound of iron boots clattering over gravel mingled with the rising and falling battle cries, startling the white doves perched on the corner towers of the city walls.

"Damn it!! Bring me...my armor, quick!"

As early as when the Fierce Bear Legion appeared at the castle's watchtower, the lord here ordered his servants to change his armor, making him wear three layers of armor from the inside out.

The inner lining, cotton armor, chainmail details, and outermost plate armor make it no exaggeration to call it super heavy armor. I wore the armor for a full forty minutes, providing protection that was practically armed to the teeth.

"M- ...

Alvino inserted his fingers into the indistinguishable steel arm armor, listening to the vice adjutant's chattering report, when suddenly he heard a muffled sound of the outer wall cracking.

Faster than expected, those crudely constructed stone walls couldn't even withstand a single round of artillery fire!

He stared at his terrifying reflection in the bronze mirror, his breath condensing into white mist in the narrow viewing hole. His gauntlets slammed heavily against the oak wardrobe, causing the flame of the wall lamp to flicker violently.

"Go and push the barricades from the North Gate to the Bishop's Square!" He grabbed the deputy general who was kneeling on the ground and could not stand up because his legs were too weak.

"Have the nuns take the sacred objects and my son out of the city through the secret passage, and tell the blacksmith to bring out all the weapons!!" Before the words were finished, the sound of breaking wood and the screams of the people came from downstairs, mixed with the crackling sound of the fire.

Alvino's heart skipped a beat: it was a warehouse storing kerosene!

As he rushed into the courtyard via the spiral staircase, he saw three soldiers from the Fierce Bear Regiment carrying burning pine torches, swarming in through the collapsed side door.

The leader's leather armor was stained with soot, and his axe was aimed at the old servant who was trying to close the door. "Pfft—!" Blood gushed out, and the old man fell straight to the ground, dying in this chaotic world.

The veins on Alvino's forehead bulged as his heavy fist, equipped with arm armor, slammed solidly into the man's temple, splattering brain matter and bone fragments onto the brand-new plate greaves.

"You bastards!!" He raised his heavy two-handed combat pickaxe and with a sweeping motion, he smashed the throats of several nearby soldiers.

Clearly, those chainmail neck guards failed to stop the sharp and highly penetrating hoe tip.

"Didn't your employer tell you that the giant wolves of the Dordore tear out people's throats when they bite?"

More footsteps surged from the direction of the square, and at least twenty infantrymen rushed into the courtyard with spears in hand, but stopped in their tracks when they saw the silver wolf insignia on his armor.

—That was the "Iron Throat" emblem that terrified many barbarian tribes in the nearby mountains thirty years ago, and it was now shining brightly in the firelight.

Alvino's battle hoe was still dripping blood when he suddenly heard a child crying from the cathedral.

It was his youngest son, who was only six years old! Thick smoke, carrying sparks, swept in with the wind, staining the silver wolf relief on the dilapidated stone building blood red.

Twenty spears gleamed coldly in the torchlight. The leading soldier's Adam's apple bobbed, yet he forced himself to shout, "Kill him! Iron Throat is old!"

The soldiers charged forward with renewed vigor, only to be met with the sharp clang of battle picks piercing armor!

With a roar, Alvino swung his battle shovel with such force that it tore through the air and slammed it precisely into the face of the front-line soldier.

In the instant bone fragments flew, he dodged the spear aimed at his ribs, his plate gauntlets grazing the shaft and sparks flying. Using the momentum, his combat pick swept across, cleaving the second enemy's calf through armor and flesh. Amidst screams, his iron helmet turned towards the trembling enemy ranks.

“Thirty years ago,” his voice, metallic and hoarse like a wild beast, a trapped animal fighting desperately, “when I was eating barbarian hearts raw on the snowy mountains, you were still babies suckling at your mother’s milk!!”

Before he finished speaking, three javelins suddenly came flying from his left. Alvino spun around and swung his hoe to parry, and amidst the sparks flying, he glimpsed Gambino's fierce bear banner rising from the breach in the wall.

At the same time, a loud crash of breaking wood came from the direction of the cathedral. Alvino's pupils contracted sharply—through the thick smoke, twelve elite members of the Fierce Bear Legion were frantically ramming the cathedral doors with a massive, sharpened log.

"Get out of my way!!"

Alvino wielded his battle hoe with all his might, and twenty soldiers fell one by one. Unless Alvino's armor shattered or he was exhausted from fighting, no one could harm him in the slightest!

He must buy time for his youngest, last son!

"Aaaaaah!!" Alvino was like an enraged old wolf; his tall stature, even in his old age, could not conceal his former extraordinary ferocity!

The elite troops of the Fierce Bear Clan immediately engaged in battle!

"Protect the lord!" The lieutenant's roar came from the depths of the fire, but was instantly drowned out by the sound of arrows piercing the air. Several armed veterans responded, all of whom were old comrades-in-arms of Alvino.

Despite their overwhelming numerical superiority, they were making a desperate, death-defying struggle!

Even if it's just for one more minute...

Alvino thought to himself, throughout his life, he had done his best to serve the Juda Empire, conquering barbarians, fighting infidels, and funding the fight against Midland!

Who would have thought it would end like this? All three sons perished in the Battle of Grant, and even the youngest son was destined to perish in the flames? And now, he himself was going to die in this civil war in Judas!

Guts followed in Gambino's footsteps, fighting one enemy after another, while he could only keep up with Gambino and guard against the enemy behind him.

The tall, steel-plated tin can naturally caught Gambino's attention.

The one-sided battle, fueled by the gathering of the lord and castle soldiers, escalated into a fierce melee!

Alvino also spotted Gambino, who had been commanding the warband. Although he didn't recognize the unknown mercenary, he was certain that his combat abilities were not weak.

After all, mercenaries are like a pack of wolves, and the leader is always the strongest one!

Gambino met Alvino's gaze and grinned smugly: "Heh, a customer!"