For a good five minutes the first and the second legions had the absolute upper hand in battle as the Crimson shadow soldiers that had attacked them from the flanks could not handle the fully prepared and shielded Bloodfall soldiers.
As Assassin's their speciality was in taking their enemy by surprise.
Even within large battlefields their preffered method of attack was to lurk through the blindspots and take advantage of ensuing battle between two people to kill the opponent unaware.
But their choice of weapon in daggers, short swords and knives proved to be ineffective when facing shields, longswords and spears against men who saw them coming clearly and were prepared for fight.
Although faster, the crimson shadow soldiers found it difficult to create an opening against the on-guard Bloodfall soldiers who through sheer numbers outnumbered them and killed them at the slightest opening.
The battlefield was a swirl of combat and chaos and the Mercenary gods knew that to turn the tide of the battle in their favour they needed to let the Frostwolf Marauders enter the fray.
The earthen ridge that Ravan had created was undoubtedly tricky to handle. If they tried to circle around it, the giants would need at least 5 more minutes to do so after which they would enter the battlefield through a very narrow point of entry that could be easily defended.
To solve this issue Vas, commander of the Frostwolf Marauders, stood before the earthen ridge that Max had erected and began chanting a spell.
His icy blue eyes glimmered with resolve as he lifted his hands towards the sky. A loud chant rumbled from his chest, in the ancient tongue of the Frost Giants.
[Glacial Bridge]
A colossal bridge of frost and ice began to form above the ridge, a spectral path stretching across the formidable obstacle.
Max, observing the unfolding events, took action. His hands plunging towards the earth, he tried to use the move he knew was the bane of all bridge type constructions.
[Tectonic Eruption ]
Suddenly, the ground beneath the ice bridge rumbled violently, as jagged rocky spires attempted to pierce through the ice. But Vas was prepared. His eyes glowed brighter, and he thrust his club forward, chanting once more.
[Frost Ward]
An aura of intense cold radiated from the giant club, strengthening the ice bridge against the rocky assault. The rock spires broke against the reinforced ice, unable to penetrate.
Gritting his teeth, Max launched his second attack.
[Fire compression] + [ Inferno ]
Since earth type move had proved ineffective he decided to melt the structure down outright as a whirlwind of fire formed around his hands, hurtling towards the ice bridge.
This time, Donatella stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips. He made a swift hand gesture, uttering the words, [Crimson Counter]
The swirling fire was met with a blast of dark crimson energy, neutralising it instantly.
Gurdan, who had been waiting, stepped forward, using his own move-
[ Predator's Grace]
A gust of powerful wind, almost solid in its intensity, swept over the battlefield, clearing away the remnants of the fire and rock.
The bridge was intact, the Frostwolf Marauders began to cross.
Currently his troops were not facing towards the direction the Frostwolfs were crossing from.
He had made them pivot and face the flanks to counter the Crimson shadows and should the Frostwolfs make it across then his Bloodfall clan would be mauled in battle.
" RETREAT! "
" FALL BACK ! "
Max shouted the order to retreat on-top of his lungs. He could have waited a while and took the fight deeper, but that would have piled losses on his side.
By this point he was convinced that the enemy Mercenaries were bound to give his forces a chase, which was why he was decisive in his orders to fall back.
The captains within the first and second legion repeated Max's orders as the two legions slowly but surely began disengaging from battle.
[ Earthen Wall ]
Max brought up countless Earthen walls between his forces and the Mercenaries to give them enough room to fall back as he fled towards the East.
Away from both the fort and the northern battlefront.
" DON'T LET THEM RUN! CIRCLE THEM AROUND AND CUT OFF THEIR PATH OF RETREAT " Gurdan shouted as Vas and Donatella issued new orders to their respective legions to pursue the running Bloodfall troops.
Little did they know, this was exactly what Max had hoped for.
********
( Meanwhile DarkSorrow )
DarkSorrow had lost over half the third legion in his attempt to delay the March of the Ocean Leviathans.
Despite being under heavy enemy fire, DarkSorrow gave his men the best fighting chance as he managed to pile heavy losses on the enemy side as well despite them having Natasha to lead them.
Only when he was sure that his battle lines had thinned to the point where they could no longer put up a strong struggle did he issue the order to retreat as he vacated the western Battlefront and started to flee down south. Away from both the battle and the fort.
" Don't let them run away! Chase them ! " Natasha ordered as she followed Gurdan's instructions before the fight started to not let a single Bloodfall soldier escape.
Unaware of the situation unfolding on the central battlefield up north, Natasha was only focused on doing her part which was not to let any Bloodfall clan troops escape from the west or south.
Her job did not include destroying the fort or the orb, and she believed that Gurdan and the rest would do so anyway.
Little did she know that by following DarkSorrow and his third legion down south, she was playing straight into the hands of the waiting Elites.
With both DarkSorrow and Max falling back and the Mercenaries on both fronts giving chase, The strategy that Rudra had devised had reached its climax point.
The only thing left now was for the Elites to join the fray and turn the battle on it's head.
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/// A/N - Chapter 7/20, hope you all enjoy! ///