Arslan Senki

Book 3: Chapter 3 (2)

"It's Sindhura's war elephant troops!"

Even the Parsian army, which was known for its bravery, could not help but gasp.

Before this, the Parsian army had fought dozens of battles with Sindhura's army and had an overwhelming advantage in both cavalry and infantry troops. When encountering tough battles, the Sindhuran army would use war elephant troops at strategic times. Even the invincible King Andragoras avoided head-on clashes with the war elephant troops.

Moreover, before the battle had started, Gadhevi ordered his men to mix drugs into the food of the elephants. Under the effect of the drugs, the elephants became extremely violent, like a living murder weapon.

The people who were responsible for keeping the elephants were fiercely opposed to putting drugs in the elephants' food. They have always loved the elephants like family. The fact that the elephants were poisoned by the drugs and became nothing but a killing tool was too much for them to bear.

However, the cold of the season made the elephants cower and not move at all. From Gadhevi's standpoint, the elephants that could not be used because of the cold were simply useless. Gadhevi himself had drawn his sword and killed an elephant handler that had objected to the drugging. This was a warning to the others. Thus, the most violent war elephant force in the history of Sindhura was born.

The wildly running elephants shook the air and the earth.

The Parsian army began to run away.

They fled as if they had no more desire to fight. This was entirely the result of Narsus' plan and Bahmans skillful command.

The war elephant troops chased the fleeing Parsians.

This was the effect of the drug. The sight of the fleeing men made the herd red with rage, and they had to chase them down and trample them before they would stop. The fierceness was beyond the control of the handlers.

"Stop! Slow down!"

The soldiers shouted from the backs of the elephants, but the herd did not hear them. Rather, the herd, which had previously been gentle and docile, had gone completely mad. They were thirsty for blood, and just ran like mad.

Thus, the Parsian army cleverly let the war elephant troops stand out from the other troops and succeeded in disrupting the enemys formation.

"Bahman is really an experienced veteran of the battlefield."

Daryun murmured at Arslan's side. Narsus gave a signal to the soldiers and had ten stone-throwing carts advance to the front of the line.

Instead of huge stones, those ten carts fired lances dipped in venom, and fired thirty of them at a time. With ordinary arrows it was impossible to penetrate the elephant's skin, so it was necessary to use the strong force generated by the stone-throwers to launch their weapons. From the day hed decided to fight with Sindhura's army, Narsus had been sketching designs for the manufacturing of this weapon.

When the war elephant troops were approaching with disorderly rolls of smoke, Narsus raised his hand abruptly.

Three hundred lances flew straight out from the ten stone throwing carts. A moment after these lances disappeared in the sand and dust, the sound of harsh roars suddenly echoed through the clouds.

The herd's advance was halted. Their huge bodies were pierced by the lances, blood flowing, struggling, and roaring madly. The more violently the elephants moved, the more toxins flowed throughout their bodies. The roars turned into wails. A second wave of three hundred lances was launched at them, and the elephants began to fall.

The giant elephants shook the earth as they fell down. Bang Bang Bang Bang it sounded as if drums were being beaten. The elephants handlers were thrown to the ground, crushed by the elephant's body and legs, and let out miserable screams. Several small mountains of flesh were instantly piled up on the ground, and the smell of blood filled the air.

"Daryun!"

Arslan turned his head back, and the black knight who stayed by his side nodded as if he understood everything. He kicked his horse's belly hard and leaped into the middle of the battlefield.

Daryun's horsemanship could be said to be divine. The black horse matched the rider's skill, wandering through the herd of elephants still tumbling with pain. Passing between the trunk, tusks and legs, it plunged straight ahead towards the white elephant of the enemy's commander, Prince Gadhevi.

The throne was placed on the back of the white elephant, and Gadhevi, who was sitting steadily on it, could not help but tremble all over when he saw the figure of Daryun, who was charging majestically towards him.

"Kill the black knight!"

Gadhevi shouted from the back of the white elephant.

The cavalrymen at Gadhevi's side drew their longswords at the sound of the voice, and went towards the single fearless Parsian soldier.

The weapon in Daryun's hand was a halberd brought from the land of silk, Serica. At the end of the long handle were three blades, which had three functions: thrusting, cutting and sweeping, suitable for use in chaotic battles.

Daryun swung the halberd quickly from side to side on his horse. Only the screams of men and horses could be heard all around him as severed heads and arms danced about in mid-air. The warriors of Sindhura's army seemed to be tossed away from Daryun's body one by one.

"Get out of the way! Don't get killed for nothing!"

The inside of Daryun's cloak was bright red, so red that it shone as if it was not part of this world. The handle of the halberd was immediately moistened with blood, and Daryun broke through the encircling defence. He looked up at the huge body of the white elephant and asked pointedly.

"Prince Gadhevi?"

The white elephant prince did not answer. He suddenly could not make a sound and could only draw the sword at his waist in the midst of a dazed consciousness. The scabbard and hilt were studded with precious stones, obviously overly decorated, yet the blade was still made of steel.

"Crush that guy with the elephant!"

Gadhevi lashed the back of the slave soldier controlling the elephant with his whip. He let out a groan of pain while still having no choice but to do as the prince ordered. Daryun watched this scene from his horse.

"His Highness Arslan would never do such a thing."

Daryun thought as he steered his horse around the back of the white elephant. Suddenly, there was a thunderous roar in the air.

    "Ah"

    The huge trunk of the white elephant bending in mid-air suddenly knocked away Daryun's halberd and threw it high into the air. Suddenly, Daryun's hands were empty, and there was no way to compete with the elephant.

After rebalancing his startled black horse, Daryun took the longsword from his waist. At this time, the white elephant let out a violent scream and aimed its trunk for Daryun's head.

"Daryun!"

Arslan called out, sounding rather frightened.

Farangis and Gieve simultaneously raised their bows from their horses and set up their arrows. For a moment, both reflected each other in their sight. One laughed pleasantly, the other pursed his lips, and both shot their arrows at the same time.

The two arrows flew out and pierced into the left and right eyes of the white elephant.

The blinded white elephant let out a roar of anger and pain. It waved its huge trunk and stamped at the ground with all four feet, trampling the soldier by its side. The unfortunate soldier's flesh was split open and his bones were completely shattered. The white elephant, which had lost its sight and balance, made a sound like hundreds of drums and fell down.

Daryun leapt lightly from his black horse, drew his longsword, and landed on the huge body of the still shaking white elephant.

For Daryun, it was his first time attempting anything like this. However, he did not lose his original bravery. He stepped onto the back of the elephant and swung his sword at the terrified Prince Gadhevi.

After only one round, the jewel-encrusted sword of Gadhevi was out of the owner's hand and flew into the air. Gadhevi himself fell off his jeweled throne and prostrated himself on the elephant's body, struggling to escape from the sword of his too-powerful enemy.

Daryun's sword forced its way up.

Just then, a soldier leaped onto the back of the white elephant. He swung his sword in a flash and struck at the head of the dragon.

Only Daryun could instantly turn his head back, blocking the other's fierce sword. However, even Daryun could not keep his balance on the back of the elephant that was swaying left and right. He tried to counterattack, but his body swung around and fell backwards, rolling off the elephant's back to the ground. He turned and immediately jumped up again.

The rider who forced Daryun to roll off the back of the elephant was not as stubborn as he was. Rather, it was a lucky thing that his right hand was left free because of the loss of his sword. He watched as the rider reached out his right hand, grabbed Gadhevis hand, and pulled him onto the horse. He let Gadhevi sit on the back of the saddle, kicked hard with both feet, and once again rushed into dust-filled clouds.

It was only a matter of seconds. The change of events was so unexpected and so swift that even several of Arslan's immediate subordinates simply watched in amazement as it happened without taking any action. However, when she remembered what was happening, Farangis immediately drew her bow. The sharp tip of the arrow aimed straight at the back of the fugitive. Just at this time

"Don't shoot! That's Jaswant!"

Arslan's voice stopped Farangis' movement, and Jaswant's figure immediately disappeared into the whirlwind of sand, dust and fighting. Farangis shook her head gently and put down her bow. Her green pupils kindly looked at the young prince, and she smiled.

"This is the second time Your Highness has helped that man. I hope he is grateful to you.

Arslan did not deny it and smiled faintly. At this time, Daryun returned on his black horse. Arslan rejoiced that he had returned safely, and Prince Rajendra galloped over in high spirits, just at that moment. As the war elephant force had been routed and the commander had fled, the entirety of Gadhevis army collapsed and the battle was won.

"Prince Arslan, thanks to you, we have won a great victory, I can't thank you enough. All that is left is to chase after the fugitive Gadhevi and take the capital of the country, Uraiyur."

"Victory seems to be close."

"Ah, my brother in arms! The day when justice will be restored to the country of Sindhura is not far away. I will never forget your kind assistance, and I will still ask for your help more often in the future."

This man really knows how to turn the tide. Gieve, who was riding behind Arslan, couldn't help but laugh.

"Gieve does not seem happy to be looking at himself in the mirror!"

Farangis said a rare joke, and Gieve also showed a rare startled expression and spat out a sentence.

"I think I am at least more decent than that guy."

Hearing these words, Narsus, who had been keeping silent, laughed patiently.

"Yes! Im sure Prince Rajendra must be thinking the same of you!"