With a grim expression, he arrived at the temporary knight assembly area, where the knights who were previously clamoring fell silent.

"Prepare for battle!" Looking somber, Nidesar's purple-bronze face had almost turned matte black. "Satisfied now?"

"There's no satisfaction or dissatisfaction in this. Aren't we all just following your command?" Jinhe Town's Archbishop laughed mockingly, arms crossed over his chest.

Nidesar wasn't swayed by the Archbishop's trash talk, but he firmly imprinted the old coot's face in his memory.

The arrow is already on the bowstring and must be released, even if he felt the battle would be tough or risky, he could only push through.

Nidesar wasn't unfamiliar with being forced into battles, but each encounter made eating crap seem pleasant by comparison.

Though unwilling, Nidesar began brief pre-battle troop deployment.

From Gale Castle, a total of 10,800 soldiers of the Ibe Knight Army were amassed.

The cavalry included 400 Extraordinary Knights, among them 150 Square Banner Knights, 250 Squire Knights, and 1,000 Attendant Knights, plus 300 Nikosaks.

The infantry consisted of 4,000 Night Guards, 900 Armored Soldiers, 1,100 Archers, and 3,000 Farm Soldiers.

"These 11,000 men are divided into three armies: left, center, and right, led by commanders Nidesar, Zelaken, and Domenico!"

Standing on the mound, Nidesar watched the beastman cavalry rushing back and forth in front of the formations, his brow furrowing.

"Rally a few troops of Extraordinary Knights and drive them off; don't pursue them deeply."

To smoothly mobilize the troops, about ten Extraordinary Knights led nearly a hundred attendants charging at the armed beastmen.

Under the directives of the three commanders, the flow of people moved slowly and chaotically.

Formation after formation began to unfold amid the loud, disorderly footsteps, and the crisp clashing of weapons echoed in the ear.

Under Nidesar's arrangement, this army slowly formed up in front of Black Mountain.

Located southeast was the right-wing army led by Domenico, consisting of 100 Square Banner Knights, 100 Squire Knights, 500 Attendant Knights, 200 Armored Soldiers, and 2,000 Farm Soldiers.

Facing them was the southeastern ridge, the steepest part, but from this configuration, Nidesar only had one demand of Domenico: do not let the Salvation Army rushing downhill overrun them.

The position of central army commander, Nidesar naturally wouldn't delegate to Jinhe Town's Archbishop.

That position was held by his trustful Zelaken, leading 150 Squire Knights, 200 Attendant Knights, 1,100 Archers, 2,000 Night Guards, 500 Armored Soldiers, and 1,000 Farm Soldiers.

The Night Guards and Armored Soldiers formed a 50X50 formation, with the addition of Archers precisely forming a Deng Jia'er Array.

The left-wing army was personally commanded by Nidesar, leading 300 Nikosaks, 2,000 Night Guards, 200 Armored Soldiers, and 300 Attendant Knights.

The Night Guards and Armored Soldiers constituted a 25X88 offensive column.

The left-wing army faced the relatively gentle northwest side ridge of Black Mountain. In the sunlight, one could visibly see at least four companies stationed there.

Nidesar resolved to first take down one company of the rebel forces, then have the central and right-wing knights charge.

If the central-right forces were choked, he would calmly persuade them to withdraw, executing the original plan.

If the central-right forces were lucky, able to suppress these rebels, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate them now.

However, in Nidesar's own understanding, just considering the kick-shell gun's performance, fighting a positional battle against these damned rebels meant enduring hardship.

"Remember, when I attack, suppress their center with arrow barrages, preventing their troop mobilization. Do you understand?"

"Understood," Zelaken nodded emphatically.

With tactics conveyed, Nidesar mounted his horse, galloping towards his left-wing army.

Initially, his left-wing army didn't align with the others, even upon reaching the battlefield, standing quite far from the central-right forces.

Primarily, this was to prevent these damned idiots from recklessly colliding with his formation.

Contrary to those garbage armies, Nidesar always believed that although the army boasted over ten thousand men, 8,000 were merely burdens.

Only elite troops could determine the outcome of wars.

Heading to his left-wing army, on the grass-littered plain, two thousand Night Guards wearing simple leather or armed clothing, their sweat soaking their worn attire.

They held spears and simple wooden shields tightly, their steps disorderly and uneven, occasionally tripping due to nerves.

In stark contrast were the two hundred Armored Soldiers standing on the perimeter, with longswords around their waists, carrying battle axes or two-handed swords on their shoulders, mostly donning mail or cuirasses.

The mail shimmering under sunlight, with subtle dark red rust or bloodstains visible between armor gaps.

Each step they took made a piercing metal clashing sound.

However, in Nidesar's view, they moved clumsily, bodies uncoordinated, except for knowing a few breathing techniques, utterly worthless.

Even among the elite infantry of the Ibe Army, there was a stark contrast to the Nikosaks.

These bronze-skinned heavy lance riders stood solemnly on the side, wearing red linen surcoats over armor, while their tall warhorses snorted disdainfully at the passing infantry.

"White ghosts, humph!" Imperial People's pale skin were always the source of Nikosaks' ridicule.

Amid scattered steps, Black Mountain slowly closed in on the advancing armies.

From afar, Nidesar saw the central-right forces already aligned, finally exhaling, turning to rally the left-wing into formation.

But just as he turned, a sharp whistle pierced through the air.

Nidesar immediately sensed danger, especially within this breath was mixed the cheers of Ibe Knights.

As soon as the Ibe Knights cheered, Nidesar laughed.

Unlike Harvin, knights experienced with Black Snake Bay forces, those from Gale Castle or other Ibe Plains interiors mostly subdued farmers.

These knights engaged in security battles daily cheering facing formal troops, meant only one thing—trouble.

Instinctively, he turned his head, seeing the cuirassiers already drawing their bows, arrows raining like droplets toward the central army knights.

At this moment, they instead found courage, arrows clanking on thick armor, they charged against the cuirassiers.

"Retreat!" Urged Grush, finally heard by the cuirassiers.

Yet seven or eight couldn't retreat in time, having their chests pierced by lances, cryingly falling to the ground.

Among the rest knights started loudly praising, the front row's Extraordinary Knights of the central army, at Zelaken's enraged curses, detached and chased the cuirassiers.

Clearly, this was a cavalry taboo—reckless charge!

"Charge, kill!"

In Nidesar's incredulous glance, Domenico's battle flag of the right-wing stormed at the forefront.

Before him no cuirassiers or enemies could be seen! They simply saw the central army charging and followed suit!

The central army knights charging unhemmed him, though increasingly intense, yet unexpected was having experts.

"March faster, march faster!"

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