Surrounded by countless soldiers, the sixty men of Baron Sura’s heavy-armored Senior Infantry Personal Guard were terrified.

The cruelest war they had ever experienced was the Battle of Zhiluo, where they had followed Baron Sura, and even then, they had only served as a support unit on the right flank.

Normally, they fought bandits or mercenary bands and deserters who acted like them. Most of their time was spent bullying serfs and tenant farmers.

They couldn’t understand. Their opponent was a new Baron, while their own lord was an established Baron whose title had been passed down for nine generations. How could they be so completely crushed in both the quantity and quality of their forces?

’Damn it, why does almost every enemy soldier have armor! Did they inherit the armory of an Imperial Legion?’

"Torches! Torches! Use fire arrows!" shouted an officer who, having experienced the Battle of Tianyin, had been promoted to skilled archer.

The defensive walls were made of earth and stone, but the fort’s main structure was built of wood. They could just burn it down!

"Wait!"

Just as the archers were looking for something to use as kindling, a powerful voice stopped them.

A tall, imposing Warrior clad in heavy armor and wielding a massive Execution Axe charged toward the fort’s main gate at an astonishing speed.

The soldiers could feel his terrifying presence, as if his every step made the ground tremble slightly.

The Heavy Armor Soldiers guarding the fort tightened their grip on their spears, bracing for the coming impact.

He leaped up suddenly, lashing out with a powerful kick that struck a Heavy Armor Soldier’s shield dead center.

The kick contained immense power; even the sturdiest shield could not completely absorb such a massive impact.

The Heavy Armor Soldier was sent flying backward, knocking over the man behind him and creating an opening in the spear formation.

The surrounding soldiers stared at the Warrior in terror, unable to comprehend how someone could perform a flying kick while clad in Heavy Armor.

’What kind of monster is this? A Forbidden Army Strongman?’

Several soldiers immediately thrust their spears at the Warrior, but aside from chipping off a few scales of his armor, they failed to inflict any damage.

Henry was jabbed by several spears. Though he wasn’t injured, he still felt the sting of pain.

Henry let out an angry roar and charged into the enemy ranks, his Execution Axe slashing left and right like a tempest.

The battle-axe flashed. Each blow landed with thunderous force, throwing the Heavy Armor Soldiers’ formation into disarray. They were unable to withstand Henry’s ferocious assault.

Seeing Henry’s valiant charge, the Senior Infantry and the officers of the Skilled Infantry immediately launched an all-out assault.

They quickly drew armor-piercing weapons from their belts, gripping their sharp-pointed Nail Hammers.

"Charge!" At the command, the infantry surged toward the fort like a tidal wave.

The Senior Infantry swung their Nail Hammers like they were playing whack-a-mole, viciously smashing the joints and helmet gaps of the Heavy Armor Soldiers.

Every strike was unerringly accurate, and even sturdy armor could not withstand such targeted attacks.

Even if the enemy wore three layers of armor—Cotton Armor, leather, and iron plate—so did Henry’s men. Baron Sura’s Personal Guard had no advantage whatsoever.

The battle grew more intense. Henry’s Execution Axe carved a bloody path through the enemy ranks.

The enemy formation held for a mere thirty seconds before being completely shattered. They tried to counterattack with hand axes, but to little avail, as each man often had to face three or four attackers at once.

The Senior and Skilled Infantry coordinated seamlessly; some drew the enemy’s attention while others seized the opportunity to land a fatal blow.

Their attacks were relentless, crashing against the enemy’s defense line like one wave after another.

Most were knocked to the ground, their throats crushed. Others were pinned down, their vulnerable groins brutally smashed by Nail Hammers.

Hearts were broken, and so were balls.

The three most efficient ways to kill an enemy: the face, the throat, the groin.

Finally, with a final series of chops, the fort’s gate splintered open.

Henry and his infantrymen poured inside, rushing into the fort’s interior for the final showdown.

Baron Sura, his Honorary Knights, and his Attendants were prepared for a last stand. They knew that once the gate was breached, they would face a battle for their very lives.

This was especially true for the nobles under his command. Unlike Baron Sura, they were not protected by Imperial law, which gave nobles the right to have their lives spared in battles against other nobles.

The interior of the fort was somewhat cramped, which restricted the movement of Henry’s army.

The Honorary Knights were clad in gleaming armor, wielding Long Swords and shields, a crazed look in their eyes.

Every Warrior trained in the Martial Arts knew it was best to work oneself into a rage before engaging in close combat. That way, even if they were struck, they wouldn’t instantly lose their ability to fight.

The Attendants, meanwhile, gripped various weapons, prepared to lay down their lives for the Baron in this struggle to the death.

In Caladia, Attendants were those closest to the nobility. They often enjoyed a noble’s favor and were their constant companions.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Henry and his soldiers fanned out, using the pillars and walls inside the fort for cover. They formed three-man teams and began the fierce melee.

Vasco roared, viciously smashing his sharp-pointed Nail Hammer into the gaps in an Attendant’s armor.

Each strike was accompanied by the sharp clang of metal on metal and the Attendant’s pained groans.

The Execution Axe in Henry’s hands moved like an extension of his arm, each swing unerringly striking an enemy’s vital points.

His movements were swift and precise, each attack brimming with power and speed.

’I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but I feel like my strength and Endurance have been enhanced ever since that nightmare I had. They should be even higher than what my status panel shows.’

’Was I really blessed?’

Though Baron Sura’s Honorary Knights were valiant, their advantage quickly vanished before infantrymen who were equally well-armored and fighting in groups of three to five.

Because this was indoor close combat, they had no horses! The advantage of the Knights and Attendants was greatly diminished.

Not only did Henry’s Execution Axe sever an Honorary Knight’s arm, but in the middle of a dodge, he also managed to punch out Baron Sura’s front teeth.

Baron Sura lay on the ground, his face covered in blood, his eyes filled with fear and rage.

’How is he so strong?!’

Soon, the infantry used their numerical advantage to completely suppress the counterattacks from the Honorary Knights and Attendants.

After just a few short minutes, the only enemy left inside the fort was Baron Sura.

"Die!"

Watching the frenzied Baron Sura, Henry sidestepped an attack from the man’s Hand-Half Sword and kicked him squarely in the hip.

SCHLICK!

Henry raised his Execution Axe high and brought it down in a swift chop. An arm thumped onto the floor.

"AHHHH!!!!"

Baron Sura collapsed in agony, his eyes filled with resentment and despair as he let out a piercing howl.

With Baron Sura’s fall, Henry had won this war of revenge with overwhelming superiority.

Henry found a chair and sat down, the wood creaking under his weight. He handed his Execution Axe to one of his men, a down-on-his-luck Knight.

"Have the physicians come and bandage him. I don’t want a nobleman dying by my hand outside of a proper duel."

A few physicians quickly ran in and began to treat and bandage Baron Sura.

The other soldiers immediately began searching the fort for grain and other supplies.

However, the villagers and serfs from the affiliated villages and farms were likely all gone.

After the walls collapsed, the first enemies Vasco and his men had encountered were serfs and villagers armed with wooden spears.

"Henry, you’re going to dominate the steppes..."

Henry looked at Sura, whose face was pale and lips purple, and teased, "Don’t sell yourself short, Baron Sura. You may have lost everything, but at least you’re still alive, aren’t you? Perhaps the steppes will hear a new legend: the tale of the one-armed nobleman?"

Sura stared blankly at the ceiling and said in a sorrowful tone, "They will regret this. My fate today will be their fate in the future."

Henry didn’t refute Sura’s words, because he was thinking the exact same thing. For now, he had to be mindful of the Emperor, but who knew about the future.

Henry had a small flaw: he couldn’t stand ugly borders on a map. Once his domain grew to a certain size, he would inevitably start plundering the titles and lands of the surrounding nobility.

"Is this the Emperor’s will?"

Henry turned to look at Sura, puzzled. "Why do you ask?"

"You’re just a new noble who rebuilt your domain through some trickery. How could you possibly have such an elite army? Fully armored... Are these soldiers from an Imperial Legion?"

Henry looked at the half-dead Sura and didn’t bother to explain.

If Baron Sura knew that the "elite soldiers" he was talking about had been mere serfs just a month ago, his mind would probably shatter.

As for the armor, that was just a case of incredible luck.

Ever since Sebastian issued that hunting mission, Henry had never been short on arms and armor.

He even had the good fortune to be marching through the Gray Forest when a Viscount suddenly dropped dead, allowing him to inherit the man’s entire Private Army.

’Indeed, to have two great gods—perhaps even three—looking out for me alone... I’m truly blessed.’

"You’re overthinking things. A domain like yours isn’t even worthy of His Majesty the Emperor’s notice. Do you know? On the west coast, there are Barons with a net profit of thirty to fifty thousand Dinars a month. And you?

In the entire eastern steppes, only a few Counts and Directly Affiliated Marquises draw His Majesty the Emperor’s attention. Oh, and perhaps me." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

With the physicians’ help, Baron Sura sat up and asked, "Then why did you lead an army to attack me? Just because I forcibly conscripted your village?"

Sura couldn’t understand this behavior. ’What was the point?’ It was just one village. All he had done was take the serfs and grain.

Henry nodded seriously. "That’s right. I hate it when people mess with my villages, even if it’s just conscription. In my eyes, waging war on you was nothing more than putting down a group of bandits."

A determined glint flashed in Henry’s eyes. He stood up, walked over to Baron Sura, and looked down on him.

"Sura, don’t you get it? This was never just about one village."