Although Alexander and the entire empire were determined to resist the tide of death to the death. But the spread of death did not stop at all. The Hawke Empire was retreating steadily, and shocking battle losses came from the front line every day. Countless fresh lives disappeared silently in this battle. Some of them were middle-aged fathers over fifty who joined the army to support their families; some were enthusiastic young people who wanted to serve the motherland; and some were helpless. A rogue soldier who has no one to rely on and can only lick his blood with his sword. No matter what their origins or stories are, their ending is the same - dying heroically in the battle against the tide of death heading north.
Countless death notices flew to their homes in the north like snowflakes. The civilians of the Hawke Empire cried bitterly because of the loss of their loved ones. Some of them accused the empire of incompetent command of the battle, while others scolded the empire's senior officials for only hiding behind the soldiers. trembling. But more civilians have lost their loved ones and inspired the blood flowing in human veins. They did not even accept the death benefits paid out by the empire in full, because they knew that the empire had done its best.
Some soldiers wrote letters to their families and mentioned that their supreme commander, Alexander, had not slept a wink for more than a week in order to stem the tide of death. Not only did he work hard day and night to deploy troops and generals, but he also took the lead. In many battles, he was at the forefront of the battle. Some soldiers mentioned that they once witnessed Alexander rushing into an endless sea of corpses without hesitation in order to save a besieged ten-man combat team, and using his body of light to forcefully fight a way out for that combat team. Bloody road.
"His Royal Highness Alexander only brought back me, Cole and Turan in the end. And for our three dead lives, His Highness was stabbed more than twenty times. Praise the Holy Light. If His Highness did not have the blessing of the body of light, I am afraid that he On the way into the sea of corpses, we would be overwhelmed by the zombies. After we returned to the military camp, we were in shock. After half an hour, Cole was the first to come to his senses. He took us and prepared to thank His Highness together. But When we walked out of the medical area and inquired, we found out that His Highness went into battle again without taking a breath after rescuing us...
I really don’t know how your Highness managed to persevere.
Father, mother, His Highness Alexander is the best general I have ever seen, and a leader for whom I am willing to sacrifice my life. If one day, your son really sacrifices to stem the tide of death, please do not accept the pension from the empire, do not blame the empire, and do not spit on His Highness the Prince. You just need to tell others what kind of general His Highness is, you just need to tell others how your son died in battle, and you just need to tell others how proud you are of your son's bravery!
I cursed you when my son was too bad and my second elder kicked me out of the house and forced me to join the army. But now, I am really grateful to you for giving me a chance. My son never thought that he could become the support of the empire like he is now. Joining the army is the best thing my son has done in the past twenty-four years!
For the empire! For home!
—Chris Sadie, the Unfilial Son”
This is an ordinary letter home written by an ordinary imperial soldier named Chris to his parents. The lower right corner of the letter is stained with some blackened blood. When the soldier's parents read the letter, tears once again soaked the thin piece of paper. Because this letter home was sent to my parents along with the death notice.
The person who came to deliver the letter was a strong man who was several years older than his son. He was the Cole mentioned in the letter.
"This is the death pension from the empire. It's a hundred gold coins in total. Please take a look at it." Cole took out a money bag from his worn backpack. He always lowered his head, as if he had no face to see his comrades. same as parents.
But the two old people did not move. Chris's father, a middle-aged man who was also the mayor of the town, wiped his wet eyes, then took a deep breath and said: "My children have already said that I hope we don't want the empire." The pension, this is his last wish, you can keep it, you have worked very hard these years, so just think of it as a reward for you."
"I absolutely cannot ask for this money!" The strong man raised his head as if he was insulted, but when he saw the mayor's majestic gaze, he couldn't help but flinch.
"Relax, young man, I don't mean to insult you. If you don't want it, then just give it back to the empire. After all, the empire needs money more than us." The mayor patted Cole on the shoulder. Cole had already joined the army. For many years, the smell of blood on my body seems to be something that cannot be washed away. But the mayor, who was nearly fifty years old, turned a blind eye to this. He looked at Cole, and then said: "My son, he fought bravely, right?"
"Yes! He is very brave! If it weren't for him, I'd be afraid..." Cole seemed to be eager to prove something, but at this point, he suddenly murmured: "I will die too... He is protecting me, dead… "
"I've been beating him and scolding him for so many years, but I didn't expect that he finally made me look at him with admiration." The mayor showed a proud smile from the bottom of his heart. He paused, then took a deep breath and waved his hands and said, "Okay. You must still have a lot to do, right? There’s no need to waste time with us two old guys, let’s go!”
Cole responded, but still stood there without moving.
The mayor gave Cole a strange look and asked, "Is there anything else?"
"First... sir..." Cole hesitated, but the guilt on his face was substantial.
"If you have anything to do, just tell me."
"Sir..." Cole stammered: "I, I... I have... one more thing... I... I want to recruit troops from your town... from your town... You are the mayor, I need to get Your consent.”
"What did you say?" The mayor was stunned for a moment.
thump!
Cole seemed to have collapsed and knelt in front of his comrades' parents. This tough guy, whose hands were stained with countless blood and who killed people without frowning like he was chopping melons and vegetables, suddenly burst into tears. As he cried, he said loudly: "Yes, conscription." ! Captain of the second squadron of the second squadron of the fourth corps of the first legion of the Hawke Empire, the tenth-level warrior Tyne, the deputy captain the ninth-level ranger Ike, the intermediate physician Elena, the seventh-level warrior Deng, and the sixth-level warrior Chris... "
Cole read dozens of names in succession without pausing. He remembered each person's name, occupation, and rank clearly, as if Cole had engraved these things on his heart. Because Cole knows that his memory may be the only proof of their existence...
"The above personnel..." Cole took a deep breath, and then said loudly: "All of them have died heroically! Only one eighth-level soldier, Cole, of the second squadron of the first army, the fourth corps, the second squadron, survived. Now Cole I have received the order from the commander of the Fourth Corps to return to my hometown to recruit troops. I hope that the men in my hometown can take up arms and defend their homeland! Brothers on the front line... Brothers on the front line can't hold on anymore!!!"
"Asshole!" The mayor kicked Cole and knocked him upside down. He shouted loudly: "How can a soldier cry and cry? What kind of behavior is he in?"
"Uncle... they are all dead! They are all dead!" Cole said while crying: "Chris was fighting alongside me two minutes ago, and two minutes later he became a zombie! I finally lost my position and ran away. I barely survived! I am a coward!"
"Then find me the dignity and glory you threw away." The mayor grabbed Cole's collar with one hand and lifted him up: "Your comrades all died heroically, but they didn't do it just to see you show off like this. You died because of your ugly appearance. Tell me! Are you a warrior?"
"yes… "
Snapped! A loud slap in the face.
"louder!"
"Yes! I am a soldier of the empire. I fight for the empire and my homeland!"
"Very good! Then wipe your tears and follow me! There are many men in the town, and they are not cowards!" The mayor pushed Cole away.
"Old man..." Chris' mother, who had been silent, spoke.
"If even my children have sacrificed their lives to protect our homeland, then as a father, what reason do I have to shrink back? More than twenty years ago, I was able to follow the late king to conquer the Hawke Empire. More than twenty years later, I also I can follow His Highness Alexander to protect the Hawke Empire. Let me take back... our child's body!" The mayor did not look back, but his voice was full of unparalleled determination.
"I know. In fact, what I want to say is just to be careful on the battlefield." The wife wiped her tears.
"Well, don't worry, I will bring our Chris back." The mayor left without looking back, because he didn't want the woman to see him crying.
The wife looked at this figure from behind and couldn't help but feel a little dazed. More than 20 years ago, he also left himself so resolutely, joining the army with great ambition and preparing to make contributions. More than twenty years later, he left again as resolutely as before, and she also believed that this time he would fulfill his promise and return safely as before. Because he has not changed for more than 20 years. This man has always guarded this town and this family by keeping his word and doing what he said...