Deep within the forest, Cuba hid with nearly all the revolutionary army members from the Oro City area among the woodland. The southeastern region was naturally mountainous, and as long as they concealed themselves deeply, no one on the main road could see what was inside. This group of over a thousand people comprised all the revolutionary army members secretly dispatched to the Oro region. Except for those who had entered the city to rescue trapped comrades at the Earl's mansion, everyone else lay in ambush here.
"Captain, they're coming. It's the Earl's men," a voice came from the dense forest.
"Shh, keep quiet. Quickly signal the others to get ready and wait until they're in range before we move." With Cuba's command, the surrounding woods began to echo with bird calls, almost identical to real birds—this was the revolutionary army's special method of communication. Once a call sounded here, another would respond after a moment, followed by layers of calls farther away, like a chorus of birdsong, signaling that everyone was prepared.
The first group of people approached along the mountain path. The one at the front was likely Count Sean Vigor, his clothes the most ornate among them, easy to spot.
"See that guy in the fancy clothes?" Cuba said to the person beside him.
"I see him."
"That should be Count Sean Vigor. According to the plan, our comrades mixed into their ranks will find an excuse to halt the column. We'll seize that moment to charge out. Once they're distracted, those comrades will strike the Count first. Even if he doesn't die, he'll be gravely wounded. Then we can press the attack and charge straight into Oro City," Cuba outlined the predetermined plan.
This was, of course, the ideal scenario. Cuba had accounted for any changes. If the Count's guards were too strong, his goal was to force them back and seize the supplies; if that failed, he'd burn everything. Either way, it would benefit him most.
As expected, the column stopped at the mountain path's entrance, and the Count, who had been leading, dismounted and moved to the rear.
"Get ready, we—"
Hmm? Before Cuba could finish, the Count in the ornate clothes suddenly vanished!
How? Where he had just walked, now everyone wore identical attire.
Bang! A gunshot rang out, and someone in the column fell to the ground.
"I've been waiting for you to make a move for a long time. I didn't expect you to be so cautious, only showing yourselves now," Sean said, looking at the few people with hostile affinity. He had noticed them since the column set out, but they were outside the city then. They dared not act rashly, and with so few, Sean hadn't ordered their capture or even told his guard captain. Until now.
The few stared at him in shock, probably wondering how their disguise had been seen through.
"Attack!" Without time to think, seeing their comrade down from close-range fire, the revolutionaries had no choice but to counterattack.
"Protect the Count!" Joseph and Asrant reacted quickly—these were the revolutionaries hiding in the column.
Sean stepped back slightly, and a dozen men instantly surged in front of him. Whether city guards or personal guards, all participants in this operation were carefully selected, with Order levels above 4. Except for the militia used as filler, the regular troops were highly ranked.
"Charge! Damn Vigor is in their midst. Kill him! Avenge our fallen brothers!"
"Charge!" Voices erupted from the surrounding woods.
Earlier, Sean had seen warnings of being watched in his vision, with about six or seven hundred notifications. Now it seemed there were even more.
"Protect the lord!" Asrant's voice came from the guard.
But before he finished, an explosion blasted through the crowd, scattering the clustered soldiers with a powerful shockwave. If not for their high levels granting strong defenses, many would have been injured.
Sean grabbed Asrant beside him. Joseph had already led a charge into the enemy ranks, but with more revolutionaries pouring from the woods, he had to pull back and regroup.
"My lord!"
"Asrant, take your men and charge that way to divert their attention. I suspect the enemy leader is over there."
"But my lord, I must protect your safety!" Asrant insisted.
"I'll change into common clothes to avoid standing out. They don't know who I am. Crowding around me will only draw their attention. Leading a counterattack is the best way to protect me," Sean said.
"But—"
"That's an order!" Sean repeated firmly, seeing his hesitation.
In battle, there was no time to think. As they spoke briefly, another barrage of magical projectiles flew in, some exploding at their feet, the shockwaves making Sean's ears ring.
"Don't hesitate. Go. I can protect myself."
The blast seemed to jolt Asrant awake, and he reluctantly nodded.
"Take care, my lord!"
Sean nodded, watching him lead about a hundred men to counter the revolutionaries charging down from the woods.
The enemy had about a thousand, while Sean's side totaled over three thousand. Even discounting the militia used to lure the revolutionaries, there were still around two thousand—roughly double the enemy. A skirmish of a few thousand already felt crowded; he wondered what a battle of hundreds of thousands would look like.
With no one beside him, Sean tried to break out of the melee to avoid magical damage.
Suddenly, a warning of a targeted attack appeared in his vision.
He dodged to the side.
At the same moment, a shout came from his flank as a weapon swung toward him.
He turned, chambering a round.
Vulnerability. Bleeding.
Bang! The gunshot rang out, and the charging enemy staggered back, clutching his chest.
He didn't fall.
Magic Proficiency: 303. Sean noted the enemy's level and health—one shot had taken 400 HP, but this man's Order level was nearly 5, almost a full level above Sean's.
Blood streamed from the hand pressed to his chest, the effects of Vulnerability and Bleeding taking hold.