Lord of the Rings: Warriors

"How bad is it?" Lavian asked Holin, his face dark and grim.

"To be honest... the Crusaders are essentially finished. The archers and bowmen have suffered heavy casualties too. 

But the key issue is the Crusaders—those still breathing are fewer than a thousand…" Holin spoke with visible discomfort. 

Having just tallied the battle losses, he alone fully grasped the devastating price the soldiers of the Nyx Duchy paid to stop those cursed war chariots. 

Of the three thousand Crusaders, fewer than a thousand remained standing, while the enemy had left only around a thousand corpses in the field. The most terrifying part? 

This was only the first wave of the enemy's assault. Whether another wave of pursuers was on the way remained uncertain.

"Take care of the wounded, burn the bodies of our fallen soldiers, and retreat quickly!" Lavian gave the painful order. 

They no longer had the resources to provide their fallen comrades with honorable burials. 

To prevent the desecration of their bodies by the enemy, Lavian had no choice but to command their remains to be burned.

"Understood…" Holin paused before gritting his teeth and turning away to relay the order.

"My lord, the situation is worse than we feared!" A knight rode up to Lavian at full gallop.

"Speak. I can take it," Lavian mustered his composure.

"The remnants of the Crusaders are in complete disarray. Almost all the officers have perished, including Commander Rockfrey, a Tier 3 Berserker. 

The highest-ranking officer we've been able to find is an apprentice warrior..."

"That's the best news I've heard all day," Lavian said with a bitter self-mockery, though his expression turned heavier than ever.

Most of the Crusaders were ordinary men, but each squad of ten was led by a professional soldier. 

Three hundred warriors and apprentice soldiers, under the command of a Tier 3 Berserker, formed the backbone of the army. 

Naturally, these officers had stood at the forefront during the battle, shielding their men from the enemy's onslaught. 

In the first clash alone, nearly 90% of the Crusader officers were wiped out. By the end of the battle, only a handful of them remained alive.

"This is too devastating. We need to put an end to this senseless war. We chose the wrong war at the wrong place and time..." Lavian sighed deeply.

"We've lost this crusade..." the knight lamented, his expression bleak.

"Lost? Ha! At this point, I just hope the surviving duchy soldiers can retreat in one piece. Winning or losing is no longer my concern," Lavian said with a bitter smile etched across his weary face.

"Lavian, sir! The fires have been lit, and all portable supplies have been packed!" Holin returned, his tone low but efficient.

Ironically, the enemy's abandoned war chariots had become crucial for transporting the wounded and provisions of the Nyx Duchy's retreating Crusaders.

"Let's leave this blood-soaked, tear-stained battlefield!" Lavian watched the distant flames consuming the remains of their fallen comrades.

"Retreat!" Holin barked at the few remaining officers.

The depleted force began to march away from the battlefield, their movements still disciplined despite the groans and curses that punctuated their ranks.

"Wow! This ship is pretty big!" Jessiava exclaimed with exaggerated enthusiasm. 

At the Carrock ferry, Lance and his companions were bidding farewell to the druid leader, Beorn, while they led their horses onto the waiting ship in an orderly fashion.

"..." Lance rubbed his temples. Having seen Gallen's ships, these two-tiered wooden vessels failed to impress him. 

To him, any boat that could carry his army downstream was a good boat.

"Stop daydreaming! Let's move!" Lance grabbed Jessiava, who was about to burst into poetic song at the riverside.

"Hey! That's rude!" Jessiava puffed out his cheeks in mock indignation.

"My apologies, Your Highness, but time is tight. I'd like to be back before summer if possible! I can't afford to waste any more time on this journey," Lance said, knowing full well about Rynar's plans for the Moria Expedition.

As a key figure of the Zaltarion Kingdom, Lance couldn't bear to miss the chance to fight alongside his liege.

"Fair enough. In that case, time is indeed of the essence," Jessiava relented, realizing his current position left no room for stubbornness.

"Thank you again, Beorn! We deeply appreciate your help!" Lance offered a heartfelt bow. Without this steadfast druid faction guarding Carrock Ferry, he'd be struggling to cross the river.

"No need to thank me; you paid for it, after all!" Beorn joked, tossing the coin pouch on his belt playfully.

"Hahaha! Until summer, then!" Lance waved goodbye.

"Oh, one more thing. Take these with you!" Beorn hurried up and pulled several small bottles of blue liquid from his bag.

"What's this?" Lance asked, recognizing the crude magic potion bottles but unsure of their exact use.

"These are dispel potions I brewed myself! Barely classified as advanced potions, they'll ward off most mid-tier magical beasts!" Beorn said with a hearty laugh.

"Ha?" Lance stared at him in astonishment. This druid was no ordinary one—his secondary profession was an alchemist! 

If Riverguard had a proper alchemist, Lance would be overjoyed. While Dylan was a scholar, the difference between an alchemist and a specialized potion master was significant. 

Alchemists, being more combat-oriented, couldn't match the purer effects of potions crafted by dedicated potion masters.

"Thank you for your generosity! May the Dragon God bless you!" 

Lance gave Beorn an elegant noble bow, fully aware that the gold he spent renting the boats was a pittance compared to the value of the potions in his hand.

"Don't overthink it! I brewed them when I had nothing better to do. These potions aren't overly expensive.

Although you're traveling by water, it's not entirely safe. These will help you avoid most aquatic beasts..." Beorn explained earnestly.

"Thank you again!" Lance nodded firmly. After all, even the cursed River Running had its aquatic Watcher. It wouldn't be surprising if the vast, wide river hid a few surprises of its own.

"Alright, lads! Are you ready? Let's set sail!" Lance's booming command prompted the hired sailors to adjust the sails and get the ship moving.

"Stay vigilant! Watch for any threats from the water!" Lance reminded his men.

"Yes, sir!" The rangers responded in unison. With their exceptional vision, they were perfect for keeping watch.

"Off we go!" The group cheered, leaning over the ship's railings with joyful anticipation.

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