“W-W-What the hell is thisss!”
Barbat screamed, looking at the unbelievable sight before him.
The common soldiers of Dust, strengthened by “Maten,” suffered a great impact when they were slammed hard into the ground upon falling, and many of them died.
Those who were still alive had lost consciousness across the board, indistinguishable from the dead.
Even the Satella-Class, who possessed a body tougher than Dust and resistance to Magical Power, were stiffened as they fell, some having lost consciousness.
“Ugh, guh… Your Highness, are you unharmed!”
Nephthys, collapsed on the ground, called out to Barbat.
“Tch! What the hell happened! Explain it, Nephthysss!”
Unable to contain his anger at the sight of his incompetent subordinates, Barbat roared at Nephthys, leaking Magical Power.
“I-It seems we were subjected to “Intimidation” by a Stella-Class!”
Nephthys’ body was stiff, and she answered with a pained expression.
Her words were faltering, which only increased Barbat’s irritation.
“Hah?! This is “Intimidation”!?”
“…Y-Yes, this stiffness… I believe it is undoubtedly “Intimidation”.”
Certainly, judging from the result, it resembled the phenomenon that occurred when a noble used “Intimidation.”
Nephthys concluded that it was “Intimidation” by an opposing noble, but Barbat stubbornly refused to believe it.
“No way! I was certainly using “Magical Power Detection”! There wasn’t a trace of a noble anywhere! Besides, I had cast “Maten” on these soldiers! There’s no way my “Maten” would be peeled off by mere “Intimidation”!”
Barbat couldn’t believe what was happening before his eyes and raised a frantic voice.
“Maten” was a magic that enhanced physical abilities, strengthened mental fortitude, and granted magic resistance to others.
Therefore, “Maten” was highly compatible with “Intimidation,” which sent out waves of Magical Power.
From Barbat’s perspective, what Nephthys was saying was like saying scissors could beat rock in rock-paper-scissors.
“…H-However, in reality, there’s no other way to see it than that the “Maten” has been dispelled. Not even being able to grasp the enemy’s location, staying here is the worst possible course of action.”
Nephthys advised the wildly agitated Barbat.
And she began to knead her Magical Power, trying to shake off the numbness from the “Intimidation” as soon as possible.
When the body was numb from receiving “Intimidation” from a noble, one only needed to circulate enough Magical Power to negate the Intimidation’s Magical Power.
However, with the intense “Intimidation” from earlier, she felt as if the “doors,” the Magical Power generation organs within her body, had been locked, and she couldn’t knead her Magical Power well, leaving Nephthys perplexed.
“Then what the hell are we supposed to do in this situation!”
Along with Barbat’s frantic scream, he unconsciously directed the “Intimidation” Magical Power at her, making Nephthys feel like she couldn’t catch a break.
“Ugh, it can’t be helped. Let’s retreat to Bangwall Fort with those who can still move!”
“Do you even realize what you’re saying, Nephthysss! Can we even retreat now! If I don’t take Ulgool’s head, I’m finished!”
Enraged by Nephthys’ passive suggestion, Barbat grabbed Nephthys’ hair with his right hand and suspended her in the air.
“Hah… Guh…! B-But, our army has already suffered devastating damage. T-The culprit who caused this tragedy might still be lurking somewhere! Let’s retreat.”
Nephthys, tormented by the pain of having her stiff body forcibly moved by Barbat and the damage to her hair roots, urged Barbat to retreat.
“No, Nephthysss! Give the order to the entire force right now! We’re heading to Fort Ronchant as is within half an hour! Anyone who doesn’t get up will be abandoned here!”
“Guh…!”
Barbat pressed his hand against Nephthys’ abdomen and forcibly poured Magical Power into her.
Nephthys felt the numbness in her body fading away.
It seemed that the lock on the “doors” had been released by the flow of Stella-Class Magical Power.
Barbat released Nephthys’ hair and walked away somewhere, looking displeased.
“Haa… Ugh, I couldn’t persuade him.”
Released, Nephthys sighed as she stared at her own hair, falling out miserably.
Barbat, in that state, wouldn’t listen to anyone, no matter what they said.
In that case, she had no choice but to reorganize the troops and head to Fort Ronchant within half an hour.
However, there were several unnatural things.
“Why isn’t the culprit pursuing us? Could it be that they ran away? Afraid of His Highness? No, that can’t be…”
It was too unnatural that nothing had happened after incapacitating an army of ten thousand.
That’s why she couldn’t help but be wary of the culprit who was probably still lurking nearby.
“In the first place, who are they? What’s their purpose?… No, there’s no time to think. Right now, I have to secure as many comrades who can move as possible.”
Nephthys cut off the thoughts that were about to engulf her and poured Magical Power into each of the conscious military officers.
Nephthys’ mind could never have conceived that the culprit was a mere twelve-year-old guardian who had sniped them from over fifty kilometers away.