The duchy's vanguard consists of two legions. Interestingly, Henwell has some history with them. One is the Third Legion, nicknamed the Silent Battle Axe. During the Fire Eyes siege in the War of the Six Kings, it was nearly wiped out.

  Technically, Henwell served as an auxiliary for this legion. After the war, the legion was rebuilt, with significant improvements in both weaponry and personnel quality. Its numbers have also expanded from around seven thousand to a full ten-thousand-strong standard legion.

  The other is the Fourth Legion, where Fabio's older brother served before falling in the Wilderness City conflict. This is also a fully staffed, ten-thousand-strong regur legion.

  Both legions distinguished themselves in the War of Alliances, executing several brilliant campaigns. They are the duchy's elite main forces, deployed as the vanguard to intercept Henwell's army as soon as possible.

  Despite traveling light, the legions are still a step behind Henwell. Crucially, they are unaware that Henwell has already captured the two border fortresses. Now that Henwell have encountered them, he has no intention of letting them go peacefully.

  Rawkins, commanding the right fnk, immediately organizes his troops, preparing to confront the duchy's elite legions. The opposing side, without wasting words, forms up for an assault, eager to show these provincial noble armies what a regur army is made of.

  However, the two legion commanders soon sense something is amiss. Despite the Peace Haven forces appearing somewhat disorganized from their march, they quickly form ranks with surprising speed—faster, even, than the duchy's troops.

  The opposing forces have already advanced a hundred meters by the time the duchy's legions manage to complete their formation.

  Next, Gevana and Ay each lead a battalion, spreading out from the fnks of the right-wing army, creating the appearance of an encirclement maneuver. Meanwhile, Dominic, commanding a ten-thousand-strong legion, begins maneuvering towards the direction from which the duchy's legions arrived. They're clearly aiming for a decisive annihition!

  The commanders of the two duchy legions are furious, feeling underestimated.

  How dare these provincial noble armies think they can wipe out two elite legions?

  Just because they've beaten some noble forces from Ogiro, they think they're invincible?

  They've faced Ogiro's troops too, and found their strength to be nothing special. What they fail to realize is that Ogiro's forces, as guest troops, wouldn't be fighting at full capacity.

  People often get trapped in their own perceptions, unable to see beyond them.

  Soon, both sides are within archery range, and the skirmishers begin exchanging volleys. But the duchy’s legion commanders quickly notice that their archers seem to be outmatched.

  Henwell's forces are equipped with infantry-operated, lob-firing heavy crossbows, which have a greater range than direct-fire bows. The bolts are longer, with heavier heads, and when they arc down, their penetration is fearsome. They've even been fitted with fletching to stabilize their flight.

  The duchy commanders can only watch as their soldiers endure two volleys before their own archers can return fire. All the officers of the two legions are simmering with frustration, believing that the enemy merely has a range advantage. They think that once the infantry engage in close combat, their own troops will have the upper hand.

  However, when the two forces csh, they are horrified to see their soldiers being cut down in rows, as if they were mere bdes of grass.

  Realizing the dire situation, the commanders immediately attempt to disengage their troops, pnning to regroup and re-engage with heavy armor.

  However, Gevana and Ay's battalions have already maneuvered to their fnks. Gevana's battalion excels at advancing in formations of three hundred, using archery, while Ay's specializes in weaving through enemy lines with hundred-man phanxes.

  The Fourth Legion finds itself too preoccupied with defending its own fnks to support the Silent Battle Axe Legion. The duchy commanders, increasingly armed, are now contempting a retreat, sending distress signals to the rear fortresses. In response, a few thousand troops emerge from the nearest fortress, forming ranks.

  The duchy commanders recognize the familiar speed of the formation and feel a sense of dread. When the Henwell standard is raised among the advancing troops, they can't suppress a groan of despair. They're doomed! It seems the enemy truly has the capability to annihite them here.

  The two legion commanders consider raising their banners to decre their identity as duchy forces, requesting a ceasefire. They hadn't dispyed any insignia upon arrival, as their mission to eliminate a fellow duchy's knight lord was an open secret, yet unspoken and certainly not to be made public.

  Raising their banners would signify surrender and a complete withdrawal from the siege operation. Embarrassing as it might be, it's preferable to total annihition.

  Henwell, aware of this early, knows he can't afford the reputation of crushing the duchy's regur legions. However, he understands that to ensure the success of this operation, he must inflict significant damage on both sides. The best strategy is to strike at the elite forces.

  With this in mind, Henwell has already sounded the cavalry charge. Led by Arnold, over six thousand cavalrymen charge into the enemy's ranks before they can decre their identity, delivering a devastating blow.

  The next day, the battle results are tallied. The Silent Battle Axe and the Fourth Legion suffer over eight thousand casualties, with nearly ten thousand taken prisoner, and just over a thousand managing to escape.

  Henwell deliberately allows these survivors to flee, as many are noble officers, some from the Noble Alliance and neutral factions. Given the gestures of goodwill from these factions, Henwell isn't inclined to completely annihite them.

  After all, Henwell's aim is to establish his authority, not to massacre. It may sound contradictory, but upon reflection, it makes sense. If everyone is killed, who would be left to spread tales of his might? Fear can be contagious, and it needs a source to spread from. People often ck fear for things they cannot grasp.

  Many would find it hard to believe that Henwell shattered two elite legions head-on. Thus, firsthand accounts are necessary to convince others of his strength. Since the War of the Six Kings, these two legions, rebuilt with vast resources, now face the prospect of losing their designations once more.

  As for the nearly ten thousand prisoners, Henwell isn't pnning to return them to the duchy. Nor does he intend to integrate them into his own forces, as most hail from the central part of the duchy, too distant from Peace Haven.

  However, Henwell has pns for them. His future father-in-w, Count Marcus, shows interest, and in the west, Fabio wouldn't refuse them either. They could also be handed over to Arius in the future. For those particurly stubborn soldiers, Henwell might sell them to other countries.

  Ultimately, Henwell seeks one outcome: these seasoned veterans must never again become his adversaries.