CHAPTER 329: CHAPTER 22: ROME AND THE GERMANIC PEOPLES

Under the astonished gazes of the audience, both sides slowly withdrew to the iron gates in their respective directions.

"Is that Crown Prince Henry really formidable?"

"His level isn’t bad. I estimate his combat power could be equivalent to a level twenty Hans."

If it were a full-force battlefield engagement, Losa could dispose of Crown Prince Henry in a matter of blows. The mere strength of flesh and blood is simply not enough to bridge the gap between mortals and wizards.

This is also the reason why Losa has always been reluctant to allocate too many attribute points to power.

Jeanne said seriously, "That’s quite good indeed. How do we fight?"

"Just hold back a little, and also refrain from displaying excessive power, prioritizing the safety of our soldiers."

"Don’t worry, I understand these things perfectly."

Whether in a knightly tournament or a duel between knights, the rules often include "no use of witchcraft," a rule that has existed even in a former life without witchcraft.

In this world, due to the limited understanding of supernatural power by secular lords and the lack of reliable methods to detect the use of witchcraft, they all resort to judgment based on common sense.

In other words, if you seem to be using witchcraft, even if you’re not, it’s considered as having used it.

Or, even if you used witchcraft, but the means were very subtle, naturally no one would say anything.

This is also the reason why Losa didn’t have Furinjira and Chelina participate in this duel.

Losa came to his own soldiers.

"Sire, we all saw it. You fought excellently. That little prince was no match for you at all."

"Is it our turn to take the stage next?"

Losa nodded and said, "That’s right. Our opponents are the Walking Knights under Crown Prince Henry and their attendants. The opponents are not easy to deal with, but I believe that you won’t be any weaker than them."

His tone paused slightly, then continued, "But this battle is not for me. We are merely fighting as ’mercenaries’ for the Empire’s Barcelona. Therefore, you need not be bound by your oath of loyalty to me and feel compelled to participate."

"Ha, sire, you don’t need to say anything more. We all know what you want to say."

The standard bearer, wearing a bear skin cloak, revealed a cheerful smile: "This is equivalent to Constantinople in New Rome. I remember that fat predecessor named Titus Pollo who bragged every day that he and his comrades had killed a dozen gladiators in Rome, claiming it was the greatest honor of his life."

"Hahaha, our enemies are not just a dozen, and our comrades are not just a dozen either."

"Sire, you always bring us victory, and we believe it will be the same this time."

Someone quickly added, "And not just victory. To be honest, sire, we now have land and estates, but we still lack a gentle and lovely wife. Don’t laugh at me, but I’d like to buy a Persian female slave as a wife. I’ve heard they are both gentle and capable, just a bit pricey."

"The Empire’s Barcelona is much more generous than you, so our Eagle Banner Brigade is bound to make a fortune this time. Once back, those arrogant fools who always boast about being your personal guard will be green with envy."

Losa was slightly stunned; perhaps he was overthinking things.

He felt it inappropriate for soldiers loyal to him to risk their lives in an arena for the Empress’s bounty, purely for entertainment.

But as they saw it, it was both an excellent opportunity to gain honor and make the name of the Eagle Banner Brigade resonate throughout the Empire, and a chance to earn the rewards promised by the Empress, which equaled several months of their salary.

Losa smiled, "Then let’s take the stage, standard bearer. Raise the Eagle Banner and show these presumptuous knights that without warhorses, fighting on two legs, they’re only fit to lick our boots."

"Exactly, let those Germanic barbarians tremble under the Eagle Banner!"

"Pah! You fool, most of us here, including our lord, are the Germanic barbarians you’re talking about."

The veterans burst into laughter and quickly formed into a rectangular formation, heading towards the yet-to-close iron gate.

...

"It’s the Eagle Banner!"

"A replica?"

"No, I don’t know. It’s too far away."

In the audience stands, some nobles, dressed in white toga cloaks, stood up in surprise. If it weren’t for the absence of flags emblazoned with "SPQR," they might have thought it was a legion of the Ancient Empire, traversing the long river of time.

Even on their march, the meticulously organized Eagle Banner Brigade quickly reformed into a horizontally arranged rectangular phalanx upon entering the arena.

The black double-headed eagle cloaks fluttered in the wind, while the imperial red helmet crown, which in the past was worn only by officers of Centurion rank or higher, or the long-disbanded Imperial Guards, gleamed brilliantly.

On the opposite side, Crown Prince Henry and his soldiers entered the arena as well. They were a group of fully armed Walking Knights, clad in various colored cloaks, along with their attendants.

The crests on their attire were a myriad of colors, with helmets adorned with feathers of peacocks, swans, and other birds. The formation was loose, with some wielding long halberds or war axes, and only the knights in the front line still using a combination of shield and knight’s sword.

Losa, Prajna, and Jeanne were scattered throughout the ranks.

He stood in the front row of the formation, holding a spare square shield of the Eagle Banner Brigade, protecting it in front of his chest, and advanced slowly in a crouched position.

The command of this battle was not in the hands of any one person, but instead was led by the only Centurion wearing a red horizontal helmet crown in the formation.

He blew a sharp whistle, directing the phalanx to advance slowly.

From the viewing platform.

Count Leopold said with a thoughtful expression, "Is this a phalanx of the Ancient Empire? I’m really curious, is this an army trained by Count Losa, or is it a newly established army of your Empire?"

Anna retorted, "Are those two things contradictory? They’re both Losa’s soldiers and the Empire’s warriors."

There are various reasons why the Empire abandoned the heavy infantry of classical times, but mobility was undoubtedly one of the most important factors.

In battlefields increasingly reliant on cavalry, heavily armored, expensive sword and shield infantry didn’t outperform cheaper, spear-wielding expendables in their primary task of "holding the line."

They also couldn’t, like heavy cavalry, appear at the right time on the right battlefield and strike at the enemy’s weakest spot.

However, these shortcomings were insignificant when facing the enemy’s troops, which were essentially just armored heavy infantry dismounted.

"Losa, remember our wager."

Crown Prince Henry shouted energetically, holding a bastard sword with both hands.

As the command flag was lowered.

The opposing Walking Knights began advancing slowly, employing the same tactics they used on horseback—forming a tight formation and making small steps at first, before charging as they drew closer.

"Heavy spears!"

The Centurion spat out the whistle he held in his mouth, and the phalanx, also advancing slowly, instantly stopped and drew out one of the two javelins they carried—heavier and more suitable for piercing armor.

Thunk—

One by one, the javelins pierced the front-line knights’ shields or bodies with tremendous force.

Although the chain armor could withstand arrows, it was no match for these heavy javelins, which easily ripped through the defense and embedded into their flesh.

Even the shields were easily penetrated, either stabbing into the arms of the knights behind or hanging on the shield, making the previously usable shields suddenly much heavier.

They had no choice but to discard these shields.

"Charge, get up there, and break those turtles’ shells!"

Crown Prince Henry yelled, anger making him hurl profanities.

These Walking Knights were his battle-hardened elites, cultivated by magic potions, his most trusted and relied-upon subordinates, prepared for consolidating his future throne.