Ominous Prophecy
1025 Words
"Shhh~ Karakapapa, the wrath of the Demon King will bring catastrophe upon the Lizardmen!"
An elderly Lizardman prophet, his scales mottled with age, warned the Lizardman chieftain—Karakapapa. He appeared eccentric, shaking a bone vessel in his hand as he darted around, issuing his forewarning.
"Prophet... I don't understand."
Karakapapa furrowed his brow, addressing the prophet before him. He spoke with a mix of anger and confusion: "Spring arrived three days ago, yet there's been no movement from the Demon King's domain. I doubt they have the capacity to deal with us."
Under the watchful eyes of dozens of Lizardman tribal leaders, the prophet remained silent, offering no response to the chieftain. Instead, he continued to scurry around the hall, peering into the small holes of the bone vessel he held.
The vessel resembled two bowls fused together into a spherical shape, adorned with three or four small holes of varying sizes. When shaken, it emitted a crisp sound, suggesting some filling inside striking against the interior.
"Prophet!!"
Amid Karakapapa's furious outburst, the enigmatic prophet halted in the center of the hall. Glancing into the small holes of his vessel, his face suddenly contorted with shock.
Thud—the Lizardman prophet collapsed to the ground, his face a mask of astonishment. The aged seer murmured to himself: "It's over, all over. It's too late now, hahaha! Wahahahaha!!"
"......"
"What are you talking about, Prophet!"
Karakapapa's irritation was palpable. Gripping his staff, he struck it forcefully against the ground. Under the gaze of the surrounding leaders, his serpentine eyes gleamed with a fierce light as he commanded: "He's lost his mind! Guards, take him away!"
Obedient to their chieftain's orders, the Lizardman guards immediately entered the hall, dragging the laughing and crying prophet away... More precisely, they hauled him off.
Clutching his divination tool tightly, the prophet offered no resistance. He allowed himself to be dragged along the ground, his eyes fixed intently on the small holes of his instrument.
"......"
Seemingly perceiving something, he momentarily froze, then released his grip on the divination tool without hesitation. Lifting his head, he gazed at Karakapapa...
His eyes held the look one gives to the dead.
Prophets often glimpse the most futures in their final moments, for the World Tree, the omniscient deities, and the ancestors know...
Such prophecies are unspeakable.
Whether out of pity or as a final gift, in the instant before death, they are granted visions of more futures. So, what did the Lizardman prophet see before Karakapapa executed him?
......
A speck of crimson starlight danced, accompanied by indistinct entities...
A black tide followed closely, swirling into a vortex capable of devouring all.
——————————
The assembled headless horsemen led the vanguard, moderating their pace to accommodate the infantry. Yet, the foot soldiers were not lagging far behind.
Wherever the headless horsemen passed, the ground manifested mana apparitions resembling wailing souls. Stepping upon these symbols, the rest of the troops could march swiftly.
The [Path of the Underworld] summoned by the army was enveloped by translucent, bluish ghostly figures, covering the formation's periphery. The rapidly advancing monsters truly resembled an army emerging from the depths of hell.
"Clop, clop, clop~"
As they neared the Lizardman territory, the headless horsemen, under their leader's guidance, accelerated their pace, eventually breaking into a full gallop. The [Path of the Underworld] enhancement was deactivated once the trailing forces could no longer benefit from it.
Though the mana consumption wasn't excessive, conserving energy whenever possible remained prudent.
This was all part of Ira's prearranged plan. While he excelled as a [Consul] adept at improvisation, he equally valued the importance of pre-battle [strategy].
The utilization of cavalry in this world was somewhat... rudimentary?
Not exactly; perhaps at times, it lacked flexibility, failing to maximize its advantages.
Ira didn't entirely agree with the "full-scale charge!" cavalry tactics...
He believed that cavalry, with their mobility, should engage in skirmishes or flanking maneuvers.
Like hawks circling and waiting for the opportune moment to strike, they could intermittently tear chunks from their prey.
However, from a broader battlefield perspective, such overwhelming momentum tactics weren't entirely flawed...
At least, these strategies, posing significant threats to the Empire's rear mage units, left the Empire with little means of resistance.
Formations would be disrupted, and morale utterly shattered.
The vast expanse of dark iron cavalry charging fearlessly at full speed was a spectacle unseen even in Ira's previous world...
After all, not all horses are created equal.
Thus, Ira resolved to adopt more flexible tactics in varying situations...
Though he lacked the talents of a marshal or general, his extensive knowledge and experience allowed his command abilities to be remarkably impressive.
"Timing should be just right."
Ira smiled as he spoke. He had previously shared his plan with everyone...
It was straightforward, almost absurdly so, yet undeniably effective. In fact, it was less of a [plan] and more of a sheer display of overwhelming force leading to an overpowering tactic...
Moreover, Ira had identified a crucial point.
"Actually, the Lizardman populace hasn't inclined towards betrayal."
Satania seemed to have gleaned some insight. Watching the headless horsemen carrying construct components speeding ahead, she remarked: "We can leverage this..."
"Mm~"
Nodding, Ira recounted a tale to Satania, explaining: "In any kingdom, when a general leads his troops in rebellion, marching towards the capital, he wouldn't directly tell his subordinates, 'I'm going to betray the nation.'"
As Satania pondered, seemingly recalling something, Ira continued, guiding her: "Those soldiers are often deceived by claims of 'Defend the King! Suppress the traitors.' By the time they realize the truth, there's no turning back."
"If that general had initially declared, 'I've decided to rebel,' his deputies would have likely beheaded him that very night to claim rewards...
When necessary, you can exploit this."
"......"
"Ah, I see."
With understanding dawning on her face, Ira couldn't help but appreciate Satania's perceptiveness and attentiveness as a student...
In contrast to a former pupil who often argued back.
That one frequently accused Ira of being long-winded and nagging...
Perhaps it was just a rebellious phase.
Quite nostalgic.
- Writer
