Returning to the earth city, Augart was still somewhat shaken, his back already drenched without him realizing it. He hadn't felt this terrified even when venturing into the lion's den; it was only upon returning that the fear set in, leaving him filled with regret.
Footsteps sounded behind him. Augart composed himself before turning around. Seeing Hecaster, he smiled, "Hecaster is here."
Hecaster quickly bowed, "Your subordinate greets the General!"
Augart seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood, shedding his usual icy demeanor. He led Hecaster to the city walls, gazing at the countless army tents spread out below. "Hecaster! This is a critical moment. You must be extremely vigilant and pay close attention to the enemy's movements. These next two days may be our only chance to break through."
Hecaster blinked slightly, looking at Augart, and asked, "General, I have a matter I do not understand. I beg for your guidance."
Seeing Augart gesture for him to continue, Hecaster went on, "When our army was first besieged, the three armies were eager to fight, yet you refused. Now our army is weary, and you wish to break through. What is the meaning of this?"
Augart was clearly surprised that Hecaster, despite his youth, would ask such a sharp question. He was momentarily stunned, praising him inwardly before finally smiling, "As expected, the son inherits the father's spirit! It seems I must look upon the young general with new eyes!"
He then withdrew his gaze, his eyes becoming even deeper.
"The people of the northwest are fierce and impatient. Although time has passed and our army's morale is wavering, they will be even more uneasy than us. I have already spread word that we are willing to surrender to the barbarian army. Coupled with the earlier message that our army intends to develop in the northwest, the barbarian army will certainly lower its guard. Then, breaking through will have a much greater chance of success."
Hecaster listened to Augart's words and suddenly understood. "So the General already had a brilliant plan. Hecaster was too hasty."
Hecaster's face was filled with shame. He found it amusing to think of himself constantly wanting to lead troops into battle, and his respect for Augart deepened.
Augart's military strategy was indeed superior, while his own preference for brute force was merely a lower-level tactic.
Augart, unaware of Hecaster's thoughts, instructed his subordinates, "Issue an order: we sleep armed tonight, ready to break through at any moment!"
Hecaster, along with the other generals, responded with a chorus of assent and departed.
Gazing at the fiery western clouds, the setting sun touching the horizon, the afterglow like blood, could tonight be the turning point?
Gisde was laughing heartily when he suddenly felt his foot tighten. A sense of alarm struck him, as if something had tightly gripped his leg. He instinctively glanced down and saw a blood-stained hand clenching his calf.
Before he could react, a terrifying force surged, lifting him high into the air. The strength was immense, instantly rendering him powerless. His cry seemed to be torn asunder in the void as he was flung away.
Gisde's face slammed into the ground. Before he could process what happened, a powerful force from his leg yanked him up again. The wind whistled past his ears, and he felt his center of gravity shift drastically higher. As the upward force continued, another immense force slammed him down again with a loud thud. Gisde felt his face hit something, his vision obscured by blood and dirt. His eyes ached, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
Immediately after, thudding sounds continued. Gisde gradually lost consciousness as a blood-soaked man, like a demon from the depths of hell, repeatedly slammed him, battering him into an unrecognizable pulp. He lay still, like a mess of rotten flesh.
People didn't even have time to cry out or attempt a rescue. The world fell silent, save for the dull thuds.
No one spoke. If the scene moments before had been shocking, it was now soul-chilling.
No one dared to intervene in the demon, now unrecognizable, as he unleashed his pent-up fury. The intense killing intent and overwhelming malevolence had completely stripped these humble ordinary people of their courage to resist.
After an unknown duration, Gisde's face was so mangled that it was impossible to recognize, resembling a ball of blood smeared with mud.
Bejes also seemed to have reached his limit, panting heavily. His movements had clearly slowed. After a few more perfunctory blows, with two solitary thuds echoing, only Bejes's heavy panting remained.
As if he had expended all his strength, Bejes could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground, his fate uncertain.
The entire scene was eerily quiet. After a long pause, Bejes's subordinates timidly crawled over to check his injuries.
Seeing that he still had a heartbeat, they silently carried him back. Gisde's men did not impede them. They listlessly approached the pile of mangled flesh. Gisde was clearly dead. They individually, like walking corpses, lifted him onto a stretcher and woodenly carried him back to the main camp.
"What? Gisde is dead?"
Upon hearing the report, Karur's jaw nearly dropped.
"Bejes betrayed me!"
Karur pounded his chest in anguish.
Seeing the situation, a subordinate general, still oblivious to the gravity of the matter, scoffed, "My King, Gisde is just a mere individual. What's the big deal if he's dead?"
Noticing the chilling glint in Karur's eyes, the subordinate general dared not speak further.
Karur said hatefully, "You understand nothing! At a time when we should be united against a common enemy, Gisde's death will lead the barbarian king to believe that I, Karur, am insensible to the times. How can he then spare troops to help us? Now, no one will be our human shield!"
He sighed at the end, his face etched with evident melancholy.
A subordinate of Bejes timidly said, "My King, Lord Bejes lost an eye and is still unconscious. You..."
He had intended to ask if Karur wanted to visit, but seeing Karur's expression, as if he wished to flay Bejes alive, the words died on his lips.
Karur was slightly taken aback. He knew that Bejes had clashed with Gisde and that Gisde had been defeated, but he hadn't known that Bejes had also suffered such severe injuries.
"Lost an eye?"
The officer, seeing this, quickly bowed, "My King, you may not know, but Gisde's attacks were incredibly vicious. Even though Lord Bejes had already been knocked to the ground, Gisde did not spare him, and gouged out one of his eyes. If not for this, Lord Bejes would not have accidentally killed him. I think Gisde deserved to be beaten to death!"
Karur sighed again, clearly no longer concerned about Bejes killing Gisde.
"His death is deserved, but it would have been better if it had happened a few days later."
Suddenly remembering something important, he said abruptly, "What is the situation with Gisde's troops now?"
A subordinate general, who hadn't considered this angle, realized the seriousness of the situation and urgently said, "Your subordinate will dispatch people to inquire immediately."
Karur nodded. Before the subordinate general could leave, Karur had already picked up his cloak. "Let's go take a look together!"
The assembled generals followed Karur out of the military tent.
When Karur and his entourage arrived at Gisde's camp, Gisde's contingent had already begun to withdraw, though a portion remained, still in the process of leaving.
Hearing of Karur's arrival, the remaining generals were terrified and bowed in greeting.
Karur said amicably, "Are the generals departing?"
The generals exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. Karur heaved a sigh, lamenting, "Gisde's untimely death is a great sorrow to this King! Ah! Bejes is truly hateful!"
At this point, he raised his head, his spirits lifting, and announced loudly, "Rest assured, all of you! I have already dismissed him and am investigating him! This is an extraordinary time, and we are in need of capable individuals, so it is difficult to execute him now. Once the war is over, I, Karur, will ensure justice is served for everyone."