Bruno fell, but the war raged on.

After Bruno’s defeat, the Inner Energy shrouding Leahdon’s army vanished.

Of course, Chining—drained from the battle—could no longer blanket all of Baha Balm’s soldiers with his own Inner Energy.

The greatest shift on the field was morale.

After Chining slew Bruno, Baha Balm’s troops surged with fighting spirit. Facing Leahdon soldiers thrown into chaos by their general’s death, they charged with the vigor to take on five foes each.

Seeing Leahdon’s disarray, Chining decided to press the advantage.

“Break for me!!!”

He snatched a long saber from the ground and hurled it toward Leahdon’s nearby banner.

The blade spun gracefully, slicing cleanly through the pole.

*Crack!*

The banner crashed down.

The standard-bearer stood frozen, bewildered.

Without their guiding flag, that unit scattered like a directionless swarm.

Military banners weren’t just symbols of faction or morale boosters—they were vital for command. Troops followed their flags.

Witnessing Chining behead a general and topple a banner, Baha Balm’s soldiers roared with renewed fury. Their battle cries nearly shattered the enemy’s courage.

Soon, Leahdon’s army collapsed into full retreat.

Under Baha Balm’s ferocious assault, Leahdon’s lines crumbled, defenses shrinking by the minute.

Victory’s scales had tipped decisively toward Baha Balm.

Kane saw this clearly.

Watching from the rear, he understood better than anyone: the tide was irreversible.

When he’d gambled everything to seize Windward Fortress, he’d burned his boats.

Their supplies couldn’t sustain a full retreat back to Leahdon.

The enemy commander had outmaneuvered Leahdon’s cavalry perfectly.

Kane knew his own troops’ weakness: without horses, Leahdon’s cavalry were worthless. In close combat, infantry would slaughter them.

Five thousand elite Leahdon cavalry—annihilated. The entire nation barely fielded ten thousand. Half their strength, gone.

Kane already foresaw his fate upon returning to Leahdon. After declaring independence, the nation desperately needed to expand its power. This battle’s losses would cripple them.

He alone would bear the blame.

Worse… Bruno was dead.

One of Leahdon’s top generals—his A-Rank prowess unquestionable. Few could defeat him.

That meant the enemy commander was at least A-Rank.

Kane had underestimated them. On the battlefield, that was a fatal error.

As commander, he had to shoulder his duty. Even if death awaited him, he’d save as many soldiers as possible. He couldn’t sacrifice them all.

Better to die covering their retreat here than face execution back in Leahdon.

“Order the retreat! Fall back to Leahdon!”

The command raced through the ranks.

Watching Leahdon’s tide-like withdrawal, I sighed in relief.

Honestly, if the fight continued, even victory would cost these eight thousand men their lives.

Glancing at the soldiers still standing on the battlefield, I managed only a wry smile.

Fewer than a thousand remained.

Five thousand had fallen in the defense. Baha Balm’s strength was gutted—too weak for another battle.

“Halt Chining’s pursuit. Don’t press a fleeing enemy.”

“Aye!”

The standard-bearer signaled the order.

Chining rallied the survivors to search for wounded comrades.

Most had fallen to grievous injuries. Swift aid might yet save some.

War was cruel. Countless lives extinguished in moments.

Only those who’d lived it truly grasped how human lives were as fragile as grass blades.

The defense of Windward Fortress ended. Both sides paid dearly: Baha Balm lost nearly 5,000 dead and 2,000 wounded; Leahdon suffered 12,000 dead and 10,000 wounded.

Baha Balm—victorious, but bitterly so.