Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 851 - 75: Trap

Beside Admiral George, a Holy Knight dressed in a simple military uniform was fiddling with a delicate hand crossbow. Its entire body was a bright gold, shimmering brilliantly, giving off a sacred aura that made one want to worship it.

But if you looked at it for too long, within that gold seemed to hide a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, exuding a pungent smell of blood, and the ears would echo with waves of resentful roars. It had been enshrined in the church for nearly half a century, yet it did not change the nature of this lethal weapon.

This was the "Dragon Slaying Holy Artifact" that Marshal Julian had promised him, a recompense given to the English by the Ottomans during the Crimean War.

The Ottomans, who once dominated the Mediterranean and several times threatened Vienna, causing the Habsburg Family’s Emperor to flee, have now declined to the point of trading even their life-dependent Divine Artifacts.

Admiral George smirked. No wonder they were called the sick man of the Middle East. Did they not even expect their Imperial Family to produce another Emperor capable of taming a Demon Dragon?

"Why not make a move? That was a perfect opportunity!"

Quebec Division Commander, Major General Andrew, said angrily, "My soldiers are here to achieve honor, not to be cannon fodder!"

A single blast of Dragon Flame had wiped out half a regiment, causing more losses than when attacking enemy bunkers. If the enemy’s Demon Dragon continued to rampage, no amount of lives would be enough to fill the gap.

"Major General Andrew, you do not understand the intricacies. Our target is not that Demon Dragon, but a more massive single-headed Ancient Dragon. This three-headed creature appeared on the Mexico battlefield, judging by its size, it’s only just reached adulthood."

"The enemy has more than one dragon? Those lucky Texans, where did they get so many Dragon Knights to aid them?"

George shook his head, thinking to himself, not just Dragon Knights, the enemy also has French Holy Knight volunteers, including even the Grand Master of the Knight of Radiance in the Holy Knight Order.

This information he did not intend to casually disclose, to avoid escalating the situation. The French wanted to use the Texans to wage a proxy war, unaware that our side also intends to test the mettle of the increasingly renowned French army.

"The enemy is waiting for us to make a move. The existence of the Dragon Slayer Crossbow is a top-secret, and there is only one crossbow arrow. It can only be used against that Great Demon Dragon."

"Even if we cannot use this Holy Object, we should at least send in the Royal Mage Corps!"

Admiral George shook his head: "Major General Andrew, my reasons for acting this way are my own. If you have any complaints, feel free to question Marshal, ask him to assign you the dragon-slaying task."

Andrew glared at Admiral George: "Thank you for the reminder, I will!"

George inwardly sneered. He didn’t believe anyone would actually want to take on the task of slaying the dragon at this point. The Casters, like the Dragon Slayer Crossbow, were prepared for that Great Demon Dragon.

How much Dragon Flame could that three-headed young dragon even release, even if squeezed dry?

One strike from the Great Demon Dragon was more destructive than all it could unleash.

He couldn’t help but recall the soldiers who died in the Battle of New Naples, exhaling a complex and long sigh—for more people to survive, these losses were deemed necessary.

...

Enrique was jolted awake by a bump.

The mountain path was rugged, but the two Wolf Race warriors carrying the stretcher seemed very familiar with it, walking with ease. Many seemingly impassable areas, they traversed as if on flat ground, but some jostling was inevitable.

"Where is this?"

His voice was very weak, but the Wolf Race warrior carrying the stretcher heard him immediately and replied: "On the way to take you back to the city. We thought you were all sacrificed, but Mr. Losa said there was a survivor on the battlefield."

"The first battery... I’m really the only one left."

Although he had speculated, Enrique still felt a stabbing pain in his heart at that moment.

"Yes."

The Wolf Race warriors kept their emotions in check. They were also shocked by the terrifying scene on the battlefield. This ordinary soldier was lying there leaning against a flagpole, the only living person on the entire field.

"You’re all heroes."

"No, it’s not us, it’s them."

Enrique’s voice was somewhat weak. Tears streamed down his face: "They were all braver than me, only I was the most cowardly. That’s why I survived, and it shouldn’t be this way."

A Wolf Race warrior softly comforted him, "Don’t talk, brother. What you should do now is not overthink, but go back to the city, have a warm meal, take a hot bath, then get a good night’s sleep and live well for them."

Enrique was silent for a while, then spoke, "I’m not really hurt, right? I didn’t take a bullet, just got shocked by the enemy shells a few times. Could you take me to the second battery? I want to continue fighting."

The Wolf Race warrior was speechless for a moment, then said softly, "You don’t even know how many ribs you’ve broken. You’re just an ordinary person and have done all you can. The rest of the fight should be left to others."

"But I don’t want to go back to the city. All my comrades’ families are there, and I don’t know how to face them."

Enrique sobbed quietly. He hated his own cowardice and his current behavior, which was nothing like a Warrior, disgracing the reputation the first platoon had forged in blood. But he couldn’t stop himself.

He thought of the cook’s pendant which held photos of two blonde women inside, one being his wife and the other his daughter.

He also recalled the squad leader often saying, after the war ended, they should visit his family’s orchard to taste the oranges and berries his mother grew. That diligent old woman must also be in the city, eagerly waiting for her child to return, right?

The two Wolf Race warriors fell silent. They understood this emotion, but precisely because they understood, they knew just how pale words of comfort were right now.

...

"The enemy only sent the Iron Duke into action. They must have more than one trap, but perhaps they feel that Ladon’s presence is too light to expose them, so they did not make a move."

Losa dismounted from the dragon and spoke to Juliano and others who had been waiting.

His intuition was sharper than Ladon’s. Among the enemy camp, he keenly sensed a familiar yet strange aura, bringing him an unprecedented sense of threat.

"In the future, I will continue to ride Ladon into battle, to see exactly how patient these Brits can be."

"That’s too dangerous."

Juliano’s expression was stern. He understood that having a Giant Dragon in battle could reduce their losses significantly, but the outcome of this battle rested almost entirely on Losa. Without the threat of the Demon Dragon, intercepting the enemy’s Floating Fleet solely with their Casters was absolutely impossible.