diskusbooks Chapter 254 Barbarians and Madmen 2
Chapter 254 Barbarians and Madmen 2
After Eric led his Wolf Pack warriors out of the command room, he did not act rashly as Titus had feared. Instead, he quickly arranged for his men to assist the outpost garrison in establishing a defensive line. Although the Wolf Pack warriors were rough, their combat experience and tactical skills were impeccable. They skillfully helped the garrison reinforce their fortifications, set up firing positions, and establish sentry posts at key locations.
Eric, accompanied by a few trusted warriors, arrived at the stronghold's tavern. This was a place for the soldiers to relax; though simple, it held a touch of warmth amidst the flames of war. As soon as Eric entered, he loudly called to the bartender, "Bring me a few barrels of the finest ale! We'll drink to our hearts' content today!"
The other warriors in the tavern raised their glasses in greeting when they saw Eric. The Wolf Pack warriors were known for their hearty and generous spirits, and their arrival made the atmosphere in the tavern even more lively. Eric took a large mug of ale, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp, then laughed loudly, "Good wine! Now that's more like it!"
His trusted warriors also raised their glasses in celebration, filling the tavern with laughter and merriment. Although Eric enjoyed mocking Titus, he knew in his heart that this battle required everyone's effort. He simply wanted to ease the tension and allow his men to relax.
Meanwhile, Russell and Celestine were also busy at the stronghold. Russell checked the defensive line and found that the Wolf Pack warriors were indeed diligently assisting the defenders. He said to Celestine, "Although Eric is sharp-tongued, his actions are quite reliable."
Celestine nodded and smiled. "That's how the Wolf Pack warriors have always been. They may be rough, but they never hesitate to fight."
Titus stood atop the highest point of the stronghold, overlooking the entire battlefield. A complex emotion flickered in his eyes. He knew that Eric's sarcasm was merely a facade; in reality, the Wolf Pack warriors were still fighting for a common enemy. He took a deep breath and murmured, "Perhaps I should have trusted them a little more."
As night fell, the stronghold's defenses were largely complete. Although the Wolf Pack warriors had drunk quite a bit, their vigilance remained undiminished. Eric stood on the stronghold's wall, a mug of ale in his hand, his gaze fixed on the distant darkness. His trusted warrior approached him and whispered, "Captain, what do we do next?"
Eric took a sip of his drink, a smile playing on his lips. "Wait. The Dark Eldar won't sit idly by; they'll definitely launch an attack. What we need to do is wait for them here, and then teach them a lesson they won't forget."
The trusted soldier nodded, then asked, "What about Titus...?"
Eric waved his hand, interrupting him: "Titus is a good warrior, but too rigid. We don't need to follow his orders, but we can't completely ignore him either. We need everyone's strength in this battle."
Eric's trusted warriors understood his meaning and retreated. Eric remained standing on the city wall, his gaze fixed on the distant darkness. His heart was filled with fighting spirit; he knew the real battle was about to begin.
Meanwhile, Titus stood on the other side of the stronghold, gazing into the distant darkness. His heart was also filled with fighting spirit. He knew that regardless of internal conflicts, they shared a common enemy. Only by uniting could they achieve victory in this brutal battle.
A night breeze swept through the stronghold, carrying whispers from afar. The Dark Eldar forces were gathering; their attack was imminent. And the warriors of the stronghold—whether Deathwatch, the Wolf Pack, or Kashejin and the Sisters—were all ready.
The price of arrogance has been paid; the battle to come will be a fight for survival.
…………
Karl Bloodblade's recovery speed was truly astonishing. In just a few days, his wounds had healed by more than half. Although the scar on his chest still ached slightly, he could move freely. He stood on the training ground of the stronghold, a training battle axe in his hand, a hint of fighting spirit in his eyes. He knew he had to recover his combat strength as soon as possible to prepare for the upcoming battle.
However, just as he was preparing to begin training, a commotion caught his attention. He turned to see a group of Blood Knights confronting the Wolf Pack warriors. The atmosphere was tense, and their words were laced with hostility.
"You barbarians, all you do is drink and cause trouble, you don't know anything about real combat!" a Blood Knight warrior sneered.
"Ha! You lunatics, you keep shouting about fighting for the Emperor, but you can't even save your own lives!" a Wolf Pack warrior retorted without backing down.
The exchange escalated rapidly, quickly turning from verbal conflict to physical altercation. Blood Knight warriors shoved Wolf Pack warriors, who retaliated without hesitation. The training ground erupted into chaos, a cacophony of fists and shouts filling the air.
Karl frowned, but he didn't immediately step forward to stop them. He knew that the conflict between the Blood Knights and the Wolf Pack was long-standing; their personalities and fighting styles were completely different, making conflict inevitable. He glanced at Eric standing not far away and noticed that the other was also coldly observing the melee.
Eric crossed his arms, a faint smile playing on his lips. His gaze held a hint of amusement, as if he were watching an amusing performance. He didn't stop his soldiers, letting them vent their emotions.
Carl walked over to Eric, and the two stood side by side, silently watching the melee on the training field. Carl said, "Your men certainly have a lot of energy."
Eric smiled and replied, "Your men aren't bad either. Looks like they've all been holding in a lot of anger and need to vent."
Karl nodded, his gaze still fixed on the melee on the training field: "As long as they don't use weapons, a fight is fine. At least it can bring them to their senses."
Eric shrugged. "Exactly. Fists are safer than swords, at least they won't kill anyone."
The two men stood there silently, watching their soldiers resolve the issue with their fists. The melee on the training ground lasted for more than ten minutes, until both sides collapsed to the ground, exhausted and panting heavily, their faces covered in bruises and blood.
Carl and Eric then stepped forward. Carl said coldly, "Have you had enough? If not, I can spar with you myself."
Upon hearing their company commander's words, the Blood Knight warriors immediately fell silent, lowering their heads and daring not to utter another sound.
Eric laughed and said, "Alright, guys, get up now that you've vented! Don't lie on the ground like women!"
Upon hearing their captain's order, the Wolf Pack warriors struggled to their feet. Although their faces were covered in wounds, their eyes were still filled with fighting spirit.
Carl glanced at Eric and said calmly, "It seems our men need to be taught a lesson."
Eric nodded and smiled, "That's right. However, this melee has also made them realize how tough each other's fists are. In the battles to come, they should understand the importance of cooperation even more."
Karl didn't refute, knowing Eric was right. While the conflict between the Blood Knights and the Wolf Pack couldn't be completely eliminated, at least after this chaotic battle, both sides understood each other's bottom lines.
“Let’s go,” Karl said, turning away from the training field. “We have more important things to do.”
Eric watched Karl's retreating figure, smiled, and then followed him. The two walked side by side towards the command room, preparing to discuss the next battle plan.
The soldiers on the training field watched their two captains' retreating figures and breathed a sigh of relief. They knew the melee was over, and the real battle was about to begin. For the Emperor, for victory, they had to put aside their prejudices and unite as one.