After two weeks, both sides began to gather their armies again, and eventually both sides issued a general emit to mobilize their forces.


    Meanwhile, the border viges in Franburg were quickly evacuated. As people tried to migrate to safer ces, Lord Holger of Franburg ordered his armies to line up at the border.


    Lord Holger''s army was around 5,000, while Lord Wilfried''s army was close to 10,000. War was imminent, and Holger urgently needed gold to fortify his defenses.


    Of course, the easiest way was to seize the property of all Erntestadt citizens living on hisnds, put them to work in collection camps, and take them as ves.


    Thus, Holger was able to temporarily increase his army, incorporating at least 2,000 men and bringing his total force to 7,000.


    Before Lord Wilfried''s armies set out, Sir Nics had received orders to capture the strategic point of Howenswerg Hill in Franburg.


    The main Franburg army was still further behind and would set out soon. Lord Wilfried, seizing the opportunity, wanted to capture some strategic locations early.


    Howenswerg Hill was quiterge and posed a nightmare for both cavalry and infantry. Behind the hill stood a strategically significant fortress, Howenswerg Castle.


    If the castle couldn''t be captured, Lord Wilfried would face significant difficulty in the war, and his logistical supply lines could be severed at any moment. However, if Sir Nics could capture the hill, the situation would change.


    From the hill, artillery could even strike at the castle. Any attack from the enemy would give Erntestadt an advantage.


    Having been promoted to the rank of Major, Sir Nics, following Lord Wilfried''s orders, was about to move with his 400-man unit to seize the strategically important hill on the Franburg border.


    Erntestadt hadpleted its preparations for war, but Franburg only had 200 men for defense. This was a critical opportunity for Sir Nics.


    The Erntestadt army approached the Franburg border over several days, infiltrating quietly. They spent the night in silence and, early the next morning, began advancing toward their target hill.


    "Commander, the preparations areplete. We can attack at any moment."


    "Understood, you may take your position." Sir Nics said sternly. The soldier saluted and left, soon after new orders came for the troops.


    As Sir Nics carefully surveyed his soldiers, he climbed onto a high rock to scan the surroundings. They had approached the hill, but they needed to prepare before entering the area where the Franburg soldiers had set up their camp.


    "Our vantage point is good, but stay alert!" Sir Nics warned his team. "Franburg will not be willing to lose this hill. We could face a counterattack in a few minutes. Everyone, take your positions!"


    The soldiers, under theirmander''s orders, began swiftly climbing the hill to seize it. Some teams advanced along narrow paths between the rocks, while others slowly ascended the steeper slopes.


    Meanwhile, the bordermander of Franburg, Sir Edwin, had set up a smallmand post and, taking advantage of the hill''s height, began observing the movements of the Erntestadt army. They, too, realized they were about to be attacked, but how long could Franburg''s small force withstand Erntestadt?


    The difference between the two armies was vast. The Franburg soldiers were both stunned and panicked. They were far behindpared to the elite Erntestadt troops. After all, they had only been farmers a week ago.


    After a while, Sir Nics saw the first squad advancing toward the hill. He quickly contacted one of his soldiers: "Have you seen the enemy on the hill?"


    The soldier replied briefly: "Yes, sir. There are few of them, but they seem ready. They are gathering."


    Sir Nics thought for a moment. Then, he gave a firm order: "Fall back! Slowly, let''s surround them carefully. The more cautious we are, the fewer casualties we will have. Everyone, take your positions!"


    Erntestadt soldiers, following Sir Nics''smands, began to move in unison. They surrounded the hill and advanced to encircle the enemy. Within minutes, Franburg''s defensive line became clearer. Sir Edwin looked at the iing army with anxiety and hesitation.


    "Archers, fire!"


    As the archers quickly fired arrows at the advancing Erntestadt soldiers, some of them fell. However, the Erntestadt army continued its march without losing discipline.


    At that moment, one Erntestadt soldier stealthily moved behind a rock and crept just beyond the positions held by Franburg''s soldiers. He signaled, and the entire unit began to move quickly. The battle erupted suddenly.


    The first arrows were shot toward Franburg''s small defense unit. Several soldiers fell. The others, unprepared for a stronger assault, were caught off guard. Sir Nics surged forward, drew his sword, and shouted to his soldiers: "Forward! We must take this hill!"


    Sir Nics quickly passed through the ranks of enemy soldiers. Wherever he went, Franburg soldiers fell. As blood flowed from his sword, screams echoed from the small battlefield.


    "Ahh!!" Sir Nics swung his sword and simultaneously struck down three Franburg soldiers before advancing toward Sir Edwin. Seeing Sir Nicsing toward him, Sir Edwin drew his sword with determination and met Sir Nics''s blow.


    "Damn barbarian, get off ournd!" Sir Edwin yelled angrily as he aimed for Sir Nics''s throat. Sir Nics easily blocked the attack and, with a powerful kick to Sir Edwin''s stomach, sent the enemymander flying backward.


    "Give up, your men are too few and weak to defeat us," Sir Nics said firmly. Sir Edwin spat on the ground and red at Sir Nics. "We will never surrender. Fight like a knight, and die like a knight!"


    Sir Edwin quickly recovered and attacked again. Meanwhile, the Erntestadt army was systematically destroying Franburg''s forces. The oue of this battle was clear. On one side were farmers; on the other, experienced infantry and archers.


    Erntestadt soldiers pushed forward. Franburg''s resistance weakened as they were outnumbered. The stones of the high hill had be even more slippery due to the intensity of the fight.


    Everyone was approaching each other with nearly deadly hatred. The battle quickly descended into chaos, with no clear distinction between friend and foe.


    The agonizing screams echoed so loudly that even the watchers from Howenswerg Castle were anxiously watching as the hill was taken from Franburg.


    After a five-minute battle, the Franburg soldiers began to retreat quickly, breaking their formation. Sir Nics swung his sword, bringing a Franburg soldier to the ground, and turned towards the others. Meanwhile, Sir Edwiny on the ground, bloodied.


    With the death of theirmander, the Franburg soldiers began to retreat and abandon the hill. Sir Nics, sensing the approach of the 700-strong Castle Garrison towards him, ordered his soldiers chasing the fleeing enemy to stop.


    "Stop!" Upon hearing Sir Nics''mand, the Erntestadt soldiers obeyed and halted, while Sir Nics continued. "Move to the wall right ahead, half of the archers to the right, and half to the left!"


    As the Erntestadt infantry braced their shields on the ground, the archers quickly divided. While the archers took their positions, the infantry advanced rapidly up the hill. Sir Nics raised his hand quickly and gave orders to some of the archers.


    "Archers on the right, prepare. Archers on the left, wait for the signal to fire!"


    The enemy infantry was still out of the archers'' range. Sir Nics prepared himself seriously. One minute... two minutester, as the infantry drew nearer, a tense silence engulfed everyone.


    When the enemy infantry quickly entered range, Sir Nics gave themand. "Left group, archers! Fire!"


    Suddenly, a rain of arrows descended upon the enemy soldiers. The Franburg soldiers paused for a moment, lifting their shields above their heads to protect themselves from the arrows.


    "Right group, archers, fire!" Sir Nics ordered sharply. The archers fired again, this time with fewer losses, and the enemy infantry began to slowly advance upwards.


    "Infantry, break the shield wall and charge the enemy! Surround them from three sides!" As soon as the infantry broke the shield wall, they began descending. The Erntestadt infantry, surrounding the enemy, managed to break their shield wall.


    "All archers! Fire!" At Sir Nics''mand, the archers released another volley of arrows, bringing down more enemy soldiers and causing further losses.


    By this time, the Erntestadt infantry had already shed with the enemy. Although the enemy had a numerical advantage, Sir Nics'' military strength was still superior.


    "Don''t retreat! Keep pressing!" Sir Nics shouted as he ran forward. The fighting between the soldiers grew fiercer. Sir Nics'' graceful sword hummed as it swiftly passed through the throats of dozens of soldiers, increasing the losses on both sides.


    Erntestadt lost at least 72 men, while Franburg suffered at least 250 casualties. Though not an absolute victory for the battle, it was still a significant triumph.


    "The enemy is retreating!"


    "Good, archers, fire again!" Sir Nics quickly ordered, and began to withdraw his infantry in an orderly manner. Apparently, the reinforcements sent to retake the hill had failed.


    "Archers, eliminate the rest!"


    As the archers'' shots wiped out some of the remaining enemy soldiers, the back line left behind losses. Meanwhile, the support army returning to the Castle had faced failure.


    "Everyone, dig graves and start burying the bodies before they decay!" Sir Nics ordered, relieved. As his eyes fell on Howrnswerg Castle, he sighed, and a serious look appeared in his eyes.


    "We must be careful, they may attack us day or night." Observing therge and vast castle, Sir Nics thought about how to avoid their intense assaults.


    From the castle, a constant stream of attacks could beunched in shifts. In the end, they would remain safe inside the castle, but Sir Nics and his soldiers would not.


    Despite this being a major problem, Sir Nics hadplete faith in his soldiers. Killing those Franburg bastards and fighting for his homnd was something Sir Nics longed for.


    "I may die here, but if I die without creating a river of these bastards'' blood, I will regret it," Sir Nics said, bloodied. He would never forget the earlier assault. The price for the fallenrades would be paid sooner orter.