Outside the ruins of the ruined fortress of Severcro, all the fallen soldiers were lying flat on the stacks of wood in the earthen pit, dressed in brand-new military uniforms, holding a wooden sword in both hands on their chests, and lying there peacefully, as if asleep, as if preparing for a trip, a long journey.

The soldiers who were selected to perform the ritual waited around the pit with torches held high and solemn expressions. All the soldiers stood there silently outside the pit, holding their helmets without saying a word. In spite of the victory, in spite of his own survival, in spite of such a joyous moment, there was still a sense of sadness in his heart at the sight of the many robes that were about to leave him forever.

On the pile of wood on the east side of the pit lay the corpses of some of the fallen soldiers, all dressed differently from the other fallen soldiers—all hunters from the Silent Forest, and it was obviously impossible to bring their bodies back to the Silent Forest for burial, and to be able to die with all the soldiers, Bode was already satisfied with this arrangement.

Dressed in sacrificial robes, the god of war sacrificed Kaisuo, walked from the crowd with a solemn face, as if an elder comforted a child, stretched out his right palm to the dead soldiers, closed his eyes lightly, and sang the ancient ritual in a low voice, his voice was low and deep, and the rhyme was long, as if it was a ripple spread out on the sea, as if he was weeping, and as if he was blessing the dead, and making a final prayer for their way forward after death.

Theodore and all the commanders of the trip—Salard, Aaron, Terenus, Bran, Bod, and Pabriuk, stood at the front of the procession, watching the priest of Kaisso, who was praying in a low voice—and the flames were blazing and crackling on the butter torches, as if in response to the chanting of the sacrifice.

"Why cremation?" Bran, who was standing beside Theodore, watched quietly, and whispered to his "His Majesty the Human Emperor", his sapphire-like pure eyes slightly watery: "Is this a Roman custom?"

"It should be said...... It's some, but it's not all. Theodore wanted to smile, but found that he couldn't. The deep voice in my ears made my heart tremble: "Flame has the divine power to purify everything, no matter what merit, filth, glory, and shame there are in life...... It will all be wiped out in the flames, everything will disappear, and everything will be returned to the world. ”

Then, after being completely purified, the person can be reborn. When Theodore said this, a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Completely pure, without any contamination." From the soul to the body, everything is pure and spotless. ”

"That must be a very happy thing, isn't it?" Bran seemed to laugh, smiling slightly self-deprecatingly, "something that many people crave, but dare not get—a pure soul, a body untainted by any darkness." ”

"When this war is over, you will be crowned Emperor - a new Emperor, a new Empire. It's really exciting. Bran glanced at Theodore, "Are you ready, ready to get that supreme right?"

"If I hadn't, I wouldn't be standing here. Theodore calmly replied, "If not, the one who holds the Radiant Cross." It should be someone else, right. ”

"If that's the case, I'll support you unreservedly - all because of Helena, of course, not just the Radiant Cross. Bran lowered his head. The corners of his mouth curled slightly: "And you, you must also promise me a condition, my respected 'His Majesty the Human Emperor'." ”

"What conditions?" Theodore's eyes twitched suddenly: "I believe that this price must be ...... It won't be cheap. And it's hard for me to do it. ”

"No, no, no, it's not like you're going to have to pay too much. Bran glanced at him triumphantly, "You'll know then, as for now...... Please allow me to keep it confidential. ”

At this moment, the priest of Kaisso slowly stopped his long voice and slowly turned his head to Theodore behind him. Gladly satisfied, he took a step and walked to the pit, took the torch of a soldier in his left hand, and held the black hilt of the sword tightly, and the radiant cross, which was brighter than the sun, was pulled out little by little, and the light shone on the earth.

First Terenus, then Salald, they also slowly knelt down on one knee, and the entire huge coalition army was like a wave, bending their knees in the same direction and humbly bowing their heads.

Looking at the figures lying on the woodpile, Theodore seemed to have the familiar ballad in his ears again, and couldn't help humming:

"The hometown is behind you, and the world is in front of you

How long the road is, and how hard it is

Through the dark shadows

Meet the edge of the night

Until the night sky is full of stars

Fog and shadows, dark clouds and darkness

will all be gone

It's all gone

Dissipate the ......"

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The wind was fierce, the leaves were flying, the angry waves were crashing against the embankment, the howls of death echoed in the air, the earth-shattering cries, the screams of terror, the high-pitched ...... This is the Kwyn River!

Almost as Mesimus had thought, the tight phalanx of the militiamen holding the first array was torn to pieces in an instant, like a tower hit by a lead ball thrown by a trebuchet, and even the spears and shields could not stop the inertia of the orc warriors from charging.

Trampling, assassinating, slashing, and roaring madly the orc warriors were imposing, and desperate screams and screams were constantly heard from the first phalanx, and in the face of the seemingly invincible orc warriors, the panicked peasants couldn't even hold their guns tightly, and kept trying to move backwards and dodge. But there was no room to move in the tight formation, and he could only watch as the heavy spear mixed with iron tore apart the shield in his hand and poke a hole in his body!

"Hold your ground, stay in formation—don't panic! don't panic!" shouted the knights and knights in charge of commanding the peasants, large and small, brandishing their swords in a desperate attempt to reunite the almost frightened men around them, but their equally cowering steps and bloodless faces were not convincing at all, and the originally neat line became chaotic under the agitation of the orc charge.

"Roar, roar, roar, !!!!" The excited orcs unleashed their terrible power in the crowd, screams accompanied by blood flying, and the panicked fleeing fellows could not escape the fate of death, heavy spears pierced their faces and smashed their ribs, and the savage orcs suddenly became impressionist painters - but they painted only with thick blood and crunchy bone slag.

The knight of Aimo, who was standing in the second column, looked pale and trembling as he looked at the chaotic militia array in front of him, and the sword in his hand kept shaking. Although he knew that the enemy was powerful, the terrifying and almost invincible strength was beyond his ability to think.

His heart was beating faster and faster, and the screams in his ears and the howl of the beast full of pleasure made him fall into an ice cave. For a moment, Aimo even felt lucky that he was standing with General Mesimus, with the mighty Roman legions, the best veterans, and that he was safe. The sense of ease in that moment made him feel deeply ashamed, deeply ashamed of his timid heart.

Turning his head, General Mehemus beside him was expressionless, calm as if he was asleep, and then looked at the other Roman soldiers around him, his calm expression did not seem to be on the battlefield at all. Aimo was a little stunned and a little angry, anxiously waiting for Mesimus to give the order to attack, but the other party did not take any action, almost allowing those murderous and bloodthirsty orcs to slaughter the people of the Kwyn River!

"General Mehimus!" Aimo looked at the lord beside him with an excited expression, he wanted to roar at him, plead with him, beg him to let the elite Roman legions hold off those terrible orcs, but reason told him that he should be patient, the general was right, the sacrifice of the Kwyn River was necessary, to bring the charging orc army to a standstill, to be dragged down, into a fierce battle - their sacrifice was not useless.

But the other self made him want to vent the anger in his heart, and for a moment Aimo even wanted to rush out by himself, but his feet seemed to be enchanted and he couldn't move - Aimo couldn't tell whether it was really enchanted or the cowardice in his heart made his legs weak.

"Can't wait, kid. A gentle smile appeared on Mesimus's face, and he drew his sword from his waist with a fierce roar, and the fierce roar made Aimo even think that it was a lion standing beside him:

"Roman legions - defensive array!" "Mehemus's face is hideous: "All ready-to defend the eagle banner!"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!!!" The originally loose veterans raised their shields, stood in a T-shaped step, and put their swords behind the shields with their swords, waiting for the next order.

General Paulus, the eagle standard-bearer of the 1st Wing, held aloft the eagle banner in his hand, the emblem of the Roman legions, made of pure gold so that no one could fail to notice the sacred banner.

"Mars, the great god of war, thou art the master of military strategy, the roar of chariots resounded through the sky, and spears pierced the sky through the sun. Mehemus chanted aloud: "Son of Mars, Romans, advance!"

"Romans, !!! forward"

The young Knight of Elmo finally breathed a sigh of relief, his body and mind seemed to be blessed by Mars, and he was full of strength, and he followed Mehemus with a firm step and shouted loudly and solemnly:

"Romans, forward!"

(Thanks to DreamMak's magic cake (although I still don't understand what this thing does) for the reward! I am very happy to say that there is a reward~ so ~ subscribe ~ recommend ~ ask for a monthly pass ~) (to be continued ......)