Chapter 540: Battle is over; First Defeat for Beatrix!
Chapter 540
The moment Dame had ordered his men to take the pills, the flow of the battle instantly shifted. As all of them consumed the pills, their Dantian instantly replenished and they began fighting with renewed vigour.
It was as if they had not been fighting for minutes on end already. Their movements carried a fresh surge of energy, their strikes more brutal, their speed sharper, and their will unbroken. It truly felt like they had been reborn on the battlefield. This sudden change of tides stunned the opposite side, who could only watch in disbelief as their forces were gradually being pushed back.
The men they were facing, who had moments ago been sluggish and weakened from exhaustion, now moved with speed surpassing their current Yun stages. The pressure was overwhelming. The tide had completely shifted to Dame’s side, and now Beatrix’s men were rapidly falling. The Noxarian faction still suffered some losses of their own, but compared to what had been expected, the damage was minor—insignificant even—especially when weighed against the progress of the last few hours.
Seeing what was going on, and realizing that the battle she had been so confident about was slipping away, Beatrix was stumped. Her mind spun with disbelief and frustration. She had charged into this fight convinced it would be an easy victory. To think that the situation had turned against her was unacceptable.
"You gave me a chance earlier," Dame said in a heavy tone, his face calm and unyielding, "which is why I’m going to give you one now. Gather your men and leave while you still can. Because I assure you, I can do this all day."
’That’s a complete lie! I can’t do this all day!’ Dame cursed inwardly. ’I’ve got no more than two minutes and a few seconds before my Ki completely runs out. If she refuses to back down now, I’ll die here without question. Please, Beatrix, just agree. Don’t make me push further than this.’
His expression, however, betrayed nothing. He stood stoic, his gaze cold and composed, as if his energy reserves were still overflowing.
Beatrix on the other hand clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms as her fury built. She watched her men struggle, watched them fall one after the other, and her heart sank.
’Damn it! I don’t want to retreat. This is not me! It would be the first time in my life I’ve ever retreated from a battlefield. My reputation will be tarnished, people will question my strength, my name will carry the shame of this moment. But if I don’t retreat now, my men—my people—will be slaughtered completely. They trusted me to lead them into battle. If I let them all die, what kind of leader would I be?’
She grit her teeth so hard her jaw trembled. Her eyes flashed with both rage and grief as she weighed the choice that ripped her pride apart. Finally, she exhaled deeply, her shoulders sinking ever so slightly.
With a sharp motion, she slowly sheathed her sword.
"Fine. We will leave for now. But mark my words, Dame, this is not the end. I will return stronger, with more men, and when I do, you will regret this." Beatrix’s glare burned into him.
"And I’ll be waiting to put you back in your place—again." Dame grinned widely, his tone carrying mocking confidence.
"Guys! We are retreating for today!" Beatrix shouted to her side.
"Don’t give chase. Let them go!" Dame roared to his men, his voice cutting across the battlefield. Instantly, the clash between both forces ceased. The battered warriors stopped, gathered their fallen, and began their retreat.
Beatrix herself didn’t move immediately. She stood there for several seconds, watching her men slowly limp away, dragging bodies and carrying the dead with sorrow etched across their faces. Only when the very last man was gone did she start to step back, retreating one step at a time. Her sharp gaze never left Dame. Even when she had put ten metres of distance between them, her eyes remained locked on him. Then, at last, she turned away.
"This isn’t over." She muttered under her breath before sprinting into the distance.
The moment she disappeared, Dame’s men erupted in cheers that shook the very air. Some dropped their weapons and hugged each other, crying tears of relief and joy as they realized they had survived what should have been their end.
Dame stood rooted where he was, staring at the battlefield with a long sigh of relief. His lips curved into a faint smile.
’Thank you, Supreme Magus. Even though you are not here, you unknowingly and indirectly helped me win this battle. Because of you, my life was spared today. For this, I am forever indebted.’
"Three cheers for Young Master Dame!" one soldier shouted with everything he had left.
"Hip, hip, hooray!" they all bellowed in unison, their voices carrying into the skies.
"Three cheers for the Supreme Magus!" another added.
"Hip, hip, hooray!" The roar of their voices resounded again, bringing a deeper smile onto Dame’s exhausted face.
He turned to them, his eyes firm. "Gather the fallen. We head back immediately."
His men obeyed without hesitation, moving quickly to collect the dead and wounded. Within minutes, the battlefield was cleared. Together, they began their march back, carrying both victory and sorrow with them.
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Two of Dame’s men, quicker on their feet, sprinted ahead of the rest. They raced back to spread the good news across their lands, eager to tell the tale of how their young master had turned the impossible into reality.
Within ten minutes, half the Noxarian faction, along with Dame’s father, had already heard of the news, and they were shocked to the core.
They could hardly believe it. Dame and his men had actually managed to defeat Beatrix and force her into retreat.
The moment Dame and his men stepped foot back into town, cheers erupted all around. The news had already spread like wildfire across the entire city, reaching even the most distant ears.
But there was one detail that stuck out more than anything else. The warriors had taken a strange pill that boosted their speed and strength in battle, and it was said that these pills were crafted by none other than the Supreme Magus.
The moment the people caught sight of Dame and his returning men, they rushed forward, swarming around him with excitement. But just as the crowd pushed closer, they froze when he lifted his head and swept his gaze across them.
That brief moment of silence ended when a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Tell the whole city! Dame Grimvale has returned victorious and won the battle not only with the strength of my men, but also with the help of the Supreme Magus!" Dame declared boldly, his voice ringing across the street. He began moving forward, his grin widening as he caught the expressions of awe reflected in the crowd.
The same faces that once looked at him with disdain for being the weakest of his father’s children were now staring at him with reverence. The same mouths that whispered insults and mocked him behind his back were now shouting praises. They no longer saw the weak and insignificant son of Grimvale. They saw a warrior, a leader, a man who had brought victory when no one believed in him.
And soon, those very mouths would be the ones carrying his accomplishments across the entire faction.
’Supreme Magus, by the time you return, you’ll discover that your name has become legendary in the Noxarian faction. I hope you are well, wherever you are. Thank you once again for indirectly helping me secure this victory. Take care, for the future still awaits us both.’ Dame thought inwardly, clenching his fists tightly as if to etch the moment into memory.
In a swift motion, he dispersed from the crowd, leaving behind the buzzing chants and admiration. Before vanishing from sight, he ordered his men to rest, recover, and ensure that the fallen were buried with proper respect.
With this victory, both Dame’s name and that of the Supreme Magus spread like wildfire across the faction. Whispers turned into stories, and stories turned into legends.
Would this unexpected fame bring Grey trouble upon his return? Or would it turn into a favor that opened new paths for him?
Only time would tell.
We shall see when he comes back here.