Chapter11: First Encounter with Alva

The Mengla Mountains.

　　The Mengla Mountains stretch from southeast to northwest between the cities of Memphis and Razih. Memphis is located at the southern foot of the southeastern end of the Mengla Mountains, while Razih is located at the northern foot of the northeastern end. The Mengla Mountains block the moisture from the north, causing it to gather on the northern slopes, turning them into mountain forests; the Mengla Mountains themselves become a desert, with scarce rainfall.

　　The Saran tribe controls all the cities and lands north of the Mengla Mountains, including Razih, Housen Fulger, Thebes City, and Maidani Fortress. All caravans entering the heartland of Asele through the "Eastern Gate" must first pass through the Salan tribe, which is wealthier than the tribes located in the heartland of Asele.

"Miss, the scouts report that the army led by Emir Adram has not broken through the encirclement, and Emir Adram's whereabouts are unknown. The two armies led by Lagaya and Patir have already occupied Laqih." We have lost," said Parla, the weathered bodyguard.

"How many are left?" Alva sat cross-legged on a dead tree stump in the forest, his armor covered in bloodstains and knife marks, even his helmet lost.

"Only over fifty can still fight after breaking out. A detachment of Southern Empire soldiers is hot on our heels from the rear. It should be the forces of Faust of the Oronos family of the Southern Empire."

"Ha ha, come and avenge Nifon if you dare. Everyone retreat toward Memphis City." Alva stood up and led the remaining soldiers through the mountains and forests.

As they passed a hill, arrows rained down from behind.

"Dodge! Everyone take cover!" But several more soldiers fell to the ground.

"Everyone prepare for battle! Archers, wait until they come closer before firing!" Alva shouted from behind an oak tree. Alva's troops were stuck on a gentle slope. To cross the mountain ridge, they would have to climb the steep slope ahead, but the steep slope was being closely watched by imperial archers. Alva's troops were trapped on the gentle slope.

　　Several soldiers from the Southern Empire were killed by arrows after charging into the slope. The soldiers behind them no longer dared to move. Both sides were at a stalemate.

"Sir, I'll take a few men to hold them off. You go ahead," the personal guard who had watched Alva grow up said, his face solemn.

　　He knew this was inevitable. In decades of battlefield combat, he had never felt such anxiety. This might be the last remnant of the entire tribe. The scars on Parla's face were clearly visible, his hands calloused from gripping the long spear, and his robe was in tatters.

"Uncle Parla, let's go together," Alva said, his eyes red and his body exhausted.

　　"Miss, you are the last hope of the Sarran tribe. I have followed Adram since my youth, conquering these cities. I never dared to hope I would see you grow up, but now you have. This is the extra time the heavens have granted me. Go, gather your strength, and reclaim the lost lands. Never trust other tribes." Uncle Pala led several seasoned veterans down the slope. Arrows whistled through the tangled foliage.

"Uncle Pala, come back!" Alva shouted, then charged forward with her weapon.

Uncle Pala and the veterans guarded the entrance to the slope. Soldiers charging up the slope were impaled by Uncle Pala's spear.

Pala and his men engaged in fierce combat with the Southern Empire soldiers charging toward them. Spears collided with shields, and swords scraped against armor.

Pala's leg was pierced by a spear, causing him to kneel on the ground. Just as the Southern Empire soldiers raised their swords to strike, they were struck down by a javelin from the slope.

Alva and the others helped several veterans to the back of a large tree. "We probably won't be able to leave today. Faust's archers are targeting the steep slope we're retreating down. It's better to fight them head-on than to leave our backs exposed to them."

Pala sat on a pile of rocks and sighed.

A dozen Mamluk axe soldiers guarded the entrance to the slope, repelling wave after wave of Southern Empire soldiers charging up.

The standoff lasted until midnight. The moonlight shone faintly through the forest, illuminating the rocks on the steep slope.

Faust's soldiers ceased their attacks, using infantry to guard the exit down the slope and archers to watch the steep slope leading up. He intended to trap these Asele natives on the gentle slope.

Below the slope, Faust's troops had gathered around campfires, with soldiers patrolling with torches.

The Southern Empire's soldiers below the slope taunted and provoked them.

"Soldiers of Asele, if you capture Alva and hand her over to us, you will be free..."

"You cannot cross this mountain. Only by dying can you ensure that no force from the Sarran tribe can resist us..."

Suddenly, an arrow pierced the temple of the captain who was speaking. The remaining arrows rained down on the soldiers of the Southern Empire.

The Southern Empire soldiers who couldn't dodge in time were all killed by the precise arrows from afar. Arrows flying from the southwest slope pierced through the backs of the Fostot troops. The three groups formed a slanted triangle, with Fostot's troops at the bottom.

The soldiers at the exit of the gentle slope had their formation disrupted by the arrows and didn't bother with the Asele people on the slope, only looking for cover.

Seeing this, the soldiers of the Sarran tribe no longer held back, rushing down the gentle slope. Their Mamluk battle axes swung swiftly, using the arrows from afar to clear the Southern Empire soldiers in front of them. People on the southwest slope slid down the slope with the terrain, wielding their weapons and rushing toward Faust's camp.

The sounds of battle from both slopes echoed off the mountain walls, rising and falling, never ceasing.

The Southern Empire soldiers could no longer judge the number of enemies, only feeling outnumbered, and fled down the mountain. Those who ran slowly or were tripped by rocks and trees were killed by the giant axes and arrows coming from behind. Seeing the tide had turned, Faust rode with several bodyguards toward the mountainside in the direction of Lazih.

The soldiers looted the battlefield, selecting weapons that suited them.

"Old man, your luck is always so good," Nadim mocked Parla.

"I owe you another life. If you hadn't come, the entire Sarran tribe would have been wiped out," Parla said.

"Miss, we're too late," Nadim said to Alva.

"Not too late. You're the only group that returned from recruiting soldiers." Alva nodded at Nadim.

Pala shouted, "Everyone, hurry up and clean up the battlefield. Pick up the armor and weapons that suit you, and the dinars that belong to you. We'll withdraw from here in fifteen minutes!"

The soldiers rummaged through the weapons on the ground.

"You really want dinars more than your life! Can't you pick up some weapons and armor?" Zana shouted at Rada, who was rummaging through the pockets of the corpses.

"Don't worry, I'll handle the dinars, and you guys protect me. I'll make sure you all have enough dinars to marry a wife," Rada said, continuing to rummage through the pockets of the corpses.

"You've really come a long way. Now you don't even gag at the sight of a pile of corpses," Ramto muttered beside him, wiping the blood off his double-handed sword.

"If we get a few more of these opportunities, we'll be richer than landlords. Selling just one set of armor could buy us several acres of land,"

"That's for sure. I just don't know where to sell it," Wahhan chimed in, removing the armor from the corpse.

"How many sets can you carry? As long as you can carry them, you can sell them in town."

"Is that so? You little girl know quite a lot," Wahan said without looking up. "Don't just stand there, help me pull. The food in the Southern Empire is too good; everyone is so well-fed."

Wahan finally stripped off the armor, stood up, and looked at the girl helping him pull the corpse, "Your diet isn't bad either; your butt is so big."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he was kicked hard in the face and sent flying. Wahan clutched his abdomen and knelt on the ground. Lamtuo and the others quickly stood up and rushed forward. "I'm fine, I'm fine," Wahan immediately raised his hand to stop them. "We'll settle this another day…" Just then, there was a loud slap as he was struck across the face.

Lam Tuo, Bog, and the others stared in shock at Wahan, who was holding his face, muttering, "He sure talked a lot today."

The girl turned and left, no longer paying attention to this group of peasants.