Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 178. The King's Game of Chess I

As they were making their way through the thick and dense forest, one of the scouts suddenly let out a loud whistle. The sound echoed throughout the forest, causing all the soldiers to quickly stop in their tracks. The whistle was the signal that indicated that the enemy had made their move, and it was time to prepare for the upcoming attack.

Angel, who was riding alongside Rose, quickly scanned the area. While Frost signaled the soldiers to get into formation. The horses were swiftly arranged in a tight circle, their hooves stamping the ground nervously as they sensed the tension in the air. The soldiers unsheathed their swords and readied their shields, the sharp glint of their weapons reflecting the light of the darkening sky.

Rose's heart was pounding with adrenaline as she tightened her grip on her whip. The memory of her father's death still burned fresh in her mind. She was eager to finally face her on the battlefield and seek revenge for his death.

Again, the scout's sudden whistle echoed through the dense forest, its melodic tone signaling that the enemy would come from the hill.

Frost, who had been leading the charge, quickly issued a command. "Take cover and prepare to attack!" he shouted, his voice ringing out loud and clear.

With practiced precision, the soldiers moved quickly, seeking out hiding places among the trees and rocks. Their years of training and experience allowed them to act with lightning speed, readying themselves for the impending battle.

As the soldiers moved, the sky was suddenly filled with a rain of arrows. The deadly projectiles whistled through the air and headed straight toward the troops. But almost none of them hit the soldiers. The rebels, who had taken their positions on the hill near them, let out a battle cry as they launched their first wave of attacks.

However, Euphorion's army was not caught off guard. As the arrows flew towards them, the archers among the soldiers aimed and began to pick off the rebels one by one. Their expert marksmanship was impressive, as each arrow found its mark, striking the rebels down with deadly precision. The rebels' cries of rage and pain echoed through the forest as they fell to the ground, defeated.

Meanwhile, Angel and Rose had taken cover behind a large tree trunk. He simply hugged Rose, shielding her from the arrows that flew past them, and looked calm despite the chaos and danger around them.

Despite the arrows that whizzed by their sides and the screams of pain from the rebels, Angel remained as steady as a rock. As the hum escaped Angel's lips, he tilted his head slightly and gazed at Rose. She was staring at him with a mixture of disbelief and wonder, and he couldn't help but smile.

"You look tense," he said in a soft, calming tone.

"We're in the middle of a battlefield," Rose replied, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration. "Of course, I'm tense." Her eyes were fixed on Angel, and she seemed to be questioning his serenity. He was so calm as if he didn't even care about the chaos surrounding them.

"I understand," Angel said, nodding his head in agreement. He turned his gaze to the battlefield and watched as his soldiers fought off the rebels. "But they're just small fry. I have spies everywhere. There's nothing to worry about."

Rose's eyebrows rose in surprise. "This is one of your tricks again, right?" she asked, clearly having an inkling of what he was up to.

Angel's lips curled into a confident smirk. "Bingo," he said, his voice filled with pride.

"What did you do to them?" Rose asked, eager to know the details.

"Not much," Angel replied, shrugging his shoulders. "I just ordered my spies to poison their food." He spoke in a casual tone as if he was discussing something trivial. "The rebel camp was very strict, so my spies couldn't bring strong poison there. So, they just gave them some light poison. It caused headaches, flu-like symptoms, and stomach aches. With such a weakened state, my soldiers should be able to easily defeat them."

Her lips were tightly pressed together. She couldn't quite decide whether she should be pleased or annoyed with herself. Angel had taken care of everything with ease and efficiency. He was a capable man, and it made her feel somewhat useless.