Our horses' pace quickened. We both hurried towards the position where Iris's troops were located. Word was that they were surrounded by the combined forces of Grandmaster Eoche.
King Majagada only equipped us with 15 additional knights from the Order of Ludanes, who had betrayed their previous allegiance and sworn loyalty to Majagada. Even though my illness hadn't really subsided and healed, I would still come to her rescue.
"You are only 17 people, and that knight order's ambush force has 1000 men." God 999 appeared behind me. "I want to see you slaughter the enemy with my own eyes."
"You have the power of two gods, right? 999 & 111, don't lose." After saying that, the god vanished. After riding for an hour, we found Iris's troops. It was true, they were surrounded on all sides.
I stopped my horse and surveyed the situation. They consisted of archers, a few dozen knights, and the others seemed to be just armed villagers. One of the knights approached me.
"What are we going to do?" he asked.
"Break through their blockade and rescue your comrades," I replied.
"Forgive me for speaking so boldly, Envoy of the Gods, but I doubt your leadership," he retorted.
"I-it's nothing. Besides, I lack real combat experience and have only defeated monsters so far," I said. "What do you think we should do?"
"My suggestion is that you two cause a ruckus and create panic. Then the rest of us will exploit the opening to widen the escape route," the knight replied. "Atmaja taught us that courage and patience will pave the way."
"Cause a ruckus towards their mounted archer line with Kuti?" I scanned the battlefield, looking for a high place for Kuti to use her abilities to aid this battle.
"There's no high ground f-for you, Kuti. Your arrows' range will be shortened," I said.
"Let's try it. Thomas, try attacking their rear. But be careful, you're still not fully recovered," she said, preparing her bow. She dismounted her horse and took a stance to fire her arrows.
I rode alone towards the enemy archer line. They were unaware of my presence. I readied my mace and unleashed my full strength. I smashed into the rearmost ranks of the enemy archers, then jumped down from my horse and activated my ability.
I raised my mace high, drawing several enemies closer to me, then slammed my mace into the ground, sending them flying. Kuti saw my signal and fired hundreds of arrows with her ability. I used my shield as an umbrella to avoid getting hit by her arrows.
Our presence shocked the unified ranks of the knightly order. The other archers tried to swarm me and unleash their arrows. My reflexes activated, deflecting them all before I crashed into the circle of archers attempting to encircle me.
I gripped my mace tightly and spun it clockwise, creating a miniature tornado to strike the enemies. "Just give up! Ten thousand of you wouldn't make a difference against a divine emissary!"
When the other soldiers saw the chaos I was creating in their rear lines, they began to retreat in fear, especially those who were just armed civilians. The knights, acting as their officers, tried to organize their troops.
Kuti's rain of hundreds of arrows made them think we had arrived with a large force, it seemed. Now, the 15 Ludanese knights charged forward, wreaking havoc on the fleeing enemy ranks. I called for my horse, and it appeared, coming close to me.
I remounted my horse and quickly organized everyone to gather around me, except for Kuti. He was still focused on firing hundreds of arrows at the enemy to make them run.
I approached the Iris troops. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw me coming. The enemies who were still attacking them began to retreat upon seeing our arrival. But we stopped them and captured them. I searched for Iris's whereabouts, but I only found Atmaja and Romanova.
"Where's Iris?" I asked.
"Princess Iris is dueling with a Holy Man named Dahlan," Atmaja replied. "She's on the right side. After restoring the line, we'll head there."
I immediately rode alone towards the right side of the battle. There, 50 elite Majagada knights were fighting 50 knights from the Ilm Empire. Iris and Dahlan were also visibly dueling.
"Charge!" I shouted. "Finish them all off without mercy!"
I saw Iris looked exhausted fighting Dahlan. Had Dahlan already enhanced his abilities? Just by helping people and killing monsters? Seeing me arrive, Iris smiled happily and signaled me not to interfere.
I diverted my attack towards the knights who were fighting. My mere presence turned them fearful and hesitant after they saw their comrade's ribs crushed by my mace.
Iris shattered her greatsword into two. Dahlan used his keris and charged at Iris. Iris should have the advantage since the reach of a greatsword is greater than a keris, which could be classified as a dagger. Iris seemed to be baiting Dahlan to attack, wanting to observe his keris techniques.
My beloved was only parrying and retreating a few steps, breathing heavily. "How long have they been dueling?"
"Since the beginning of the battle," a knight replied. "But I'm sure Princess Iris will win. That's her fighting style. She observes her opponent before retaliating."
"B-but with that labored breathing?" I asked.
"That Saint named Dahlan must be quite strong to be able to match Princess Iris's stamina," the knight beside me replied.
"No, she's gathering her energy. Seems like she wants to show off her strength," said Kuti, who had now joined me. "Romanova only has minor injuries, Atmaja has some bruises and a few sword cuts."
"Gathering strength?" I asked.
"Look at her swords," Kuti replied.
The two swords in Iris's hands, which she was using to parry, slowly began to glow. After both blades of her greatswords were glowing, Iris smiled demonically and unleashed her counterattack. Powerful magical energy erupted from her swords.
999 appeared beside me. "That is the blessing of X to the descendants of Majagada. If you can learn it, it will help you in the Saint Tournament. Absorbing the opponent's energy, magic, and abilities, then releasing it with power equivalent to a demon slayer."
"No wonder my energy was so easily drained when I dueled her. So that's what it was," Kuti replied.
Iris raged and returned Dahlan's attacks with a barrage. Dahlan's face, which had shown victory, now transformed into fear. His keris could not protect him and was shattered by the swift slashes of Iris's two swords.
Dahlan jumped back and tried to escape. Iris shouted, "Thomas, Kuti, catch him!"
I nodded and gave chase. I matched Dahlan's running speed because I was using a horse. "Hello Dahlan, we meet again."
"Y-you've certainly grown stronger. But not as s-strong as us." I used my mace to strike his back, and an arrow from Kuti hit its mark, embedding itself in his calf.
Dahlan fell sprawling to the ground and went silent. I caught him and sat on him. "So, it's a reunion again, huh? Too bad Rosa's missing; last I heard, she was in the neighboring kingdom."
"Oh, hey old friend. I thought I could defeat that woman. Turns out I lost," he said.
"I even lost t-to her." I said, lying. "That's why I was forced to submit to Majagada."
"Will my fate be the same as yours after this?" Dahlan asked.
"Depends on h-how you behave," I replied.
"You still stutter, huh?" Dahlan mocked playfully. "But you guys better run if reinforcements come here."
"Didn't you see ou-our actions, Kuti's and mine? Your troops on the left, center, and rear fled when they fought me," I said.
"It seems you won't change your mind even if I tell you there's a way back to our original world," Dahlan said. "Could you get off me? I'm having trouble breathing, geez!"
"No, I-I'm comfortable here. Kuti is too, we were even promised a prosperous life here by King Majagada," I replied. "In this world, he and I aren't looked down upon. In our original world, my life was v-very miserable."
Iris and Kuti approached, carrying a special rope. I stood Dahlan up and helped Iris tie his hands. Kuti pulled out his arrow that was stuck in Dahlan's leg. "Long time no see, traitor. You should have joined us in Majagada."
"You know this person?" Iris asked.
"Yes. He's our friend. He was supposed to serve the God 999 as a divine messenger, but he strayed and served another god," Kuti answered. I knew Kuti was lying and trying to make our stories align.
"In that case, I'll just kill him here," Iris said, preparing her sword.
"Don't!" we both exclaimed.
"The Ilm Empire would value him highly. We can use him as a bargaining chip to withdraw Ilm forces from the upcoming battle," Kuti suggested. "Especially since the Ilm Empire suffered the most casualties in the recent battle, while the united Order of Knights only lost their archers and militants."
"How many Ilm troops are you leading, Dahlan?" Kuti asked.
"It was just a thousand and fifty earlier," Dahlan replied. "Looks like they're all wiped out, huh?"
"We counted 850 casualties from your side," Atmaja joined in. "What should we do with Princess Iris and the enemy soldiers who surrendered? Most of them are civilians who were forced to be armed by the Knightly Order, along with some Ilm troops."
"Imprison the Ilm troops and bring them back to Ludanes. As for the civilians, have them swear before me that they will not fight against Majagada again. Tell my father to use this man named Dahlan as a bargaining chip to get the Ilm to withdraw," Iris ordered.
I sneezed once more. My fever was rising again, and I shook my head. Dahlan looked at me with astonishment, "What's wrong, Thomas?"
"Ah, no-nothing. I-I just have a slight fever," I replied, breathing heavily. Then I sneezed uncontrollably. Kuti approached me and gave me a handkerchief to wipe my snot.
"You're going home with the group of prisoners, darling." Iris approached me and pressed her forehead to mine. "You're burning up, go home. Thank you for coming to save me."
"I thought today I was going to experience the same thing as my first battle at Smaranova Bay. Turns out not, thank you." Iris smiled and kissed my cheek. "Kuti, come with me, Romanova will go home to take care of him. I will change my tactics against them later."
"Okay," Kuti replied and helped me onto my horse.