The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

The sudden shout from the man startled the soldiers on the dock.

What was happening?

The sorceress didn't retreat either. She chuckled softly and pulled out two massive pistols from beneath her coat. Dual-wielding the firearms, she smiled and said, "Don't underestimate Councilor Garon. We can do more than just cast spells."

"Follow his orders, follow the knight's orders, prepare to engage!" Fortunately, not all the soldiers on the dock were slow to react.

Lauritz, the chief guard assigned by Villard to assist Ryan with the investigation, was present. Hearing Ryan's command, he immediately signaled the soldiers to follow the order.

"Understood!" About forty guards were on the port, and they quickly formed ranks. The archers, around ten in number, positioned themselves at the front, bows drawn and arrows nocked, ready to shoot at the first sign of the enemy. Behind them were ten soldiers with shields and spears, their shields set up with gaps between them to allow the archers to retreat before engaging the enemy.

Next were the swordsmen, the main combat force, wearing breastplates and wielding standard long swords and shields.

The speed at which the guards formed up impressed Ryan. This world did not afford the luxury of peace, and soldiers, especially those in local lord's armies, had to be ever-ready to defend against threats from the wild and forests. Even the most foolish lord knew to ensure their soldiers' combat readiness, as it was their lifeline in this dark world.

The sea churned, and soon, hunched figures emerged from the water. They were bent over, moving on all fours, with sharp horns on their heads, resembling a cross between cattle and horses, charging towards the port.

Water ghouls!

These creatures lurked in streams, rivers, and beaches. Cunning and brutal, they hid in water when facing armies or powerful individuals, waiting for nightfall or weak passersby to emerge and slaughter travelers or livestock, devouring them mercilessly.

The continent teemed with such monsters: ghouls, undead, water ghouls, beastmen, greenskins, and various forbidden creatures in the depths of the forests. During the Great Chaos, humans were merely food for these monsters, akin to pigs and dogs.

Even after Emperor Charlemagne led humanity to rise and establish an empire, humans' physical strength paled in comparison to greenskins and beastmen, their intellect and magical affinity to elves, and their technology to dwarves.

What had allowed humans to climb from being mere livestock to their current status?

Ryan watched the soldiers form their tight ranks, a slight smile on his lips.

It was strict military discipline, solid formations, unyielding faith, and sincere unity.

And above all, a love for life.

"Steel, gunpowder, and faith, these are the three foundational elements that keep the Empire standing today."

—Savior Ludwig

Guard Chief Lauritz drew his standard long sword, the cold blade raised high: "Soldiers, it's time to fight! Thrust with your spears, block with your shields, slash with your swords. Long live Nord!"

"Long live Nord!" the soldiers shouted in unison.

"I am Kingdom Knight 'Warhammer' Ryan. Soldiers, today I fight alongside you! Let our swords drink deep of the enemy's blood!" Ryan wielded his hammer with both hands, standing on one side of the formation. "Ready, aim!"

The archers drew their bows tight. Crossbowmen also readied their triggers.

Dozens of water ghouls had fully emerged from the sea, crossing the shallows with horse-like faces, long claws, and gleaming fangs, issuing strange roars.

"Fire!" Ryan swung his warhammer, naturally taking command. Lauritz had no objections; he was merely an officer, not even a noble. Ryan was a high-ranking knight and a noble of the realm; it was normal for him to assume command.

"Swish, swish, swish!" A volley of arrows flew towards the water ghouls, instantly turning the ones in the front into pincushions, their screams echoing as they fell. Yet the remaining ghouls showed no fear, ruthlessly pushing aside or even tearing apart their fallen comrades. Their stench and the odor of blood slowly permeated the cold air, reaching Ryan's cold nostrils.

As the first volley ended, the guards quickly prepared for a second shot.

By now, a dozen water ghouls lay dead, yet the survivors were undeterred, howling and roaring. There were an unusually large number of them. In the second volley, another dozen arrows claimed more ghouls' lives, but they still didn't stop advancing.

"Melee combat!" Seeing the ghouls approaching faster than anticipated, Ryan judged there was no time for a third volley and ordered the soldiers to engage in close combat.

The water ghouls swarmed the pier. Despite their tension, the guards showed no fear. The spearmen formed a phalanx, the swordsmen a line, their shields protecting themselves and their comrades. Behind the shield gaps, the spearmen's lances protruded, ready to strike. The soldiers' breath condensed in the cold air, revealing their anxiety.

The archers drew their swords and retreated into the formation. The forty soldiers formed two lines, with a few archers and crossbowmen on the dock continuing to shoot.

"The battle has begun," Ryan muttered as a water ghoul charged at him, its foul breath making him nauseous. Ryan swung his hammer, smashing the ghoul's shoulder with a resounding crack.

"Crack!" The sound of bones breaking. The ghoul was sent flying, knocking down three others before it lay motionless.

Ryan didn't spare it a glance. He grabbed his hammer with his right hand and swung upwards, smashing another ghoul's jaw, its head exploding in a shower of blood and brains.

The Kingdom Knight's prowess shone like the sun, boosting the morale of the dock's defenders. In just a few seconds, five ghouls were reduced to pulp under his hammer.

"Hooray for Lord Ryan!" the soldiers cheered, their spirits high. The ghoul tide crashed against the formation. The first wave was impaled by spears or smashed into the shields and then cut in half by swords.

A ghoul with a grey face slammed into an iron shield. Chief Guard Lauritz bashed its head with his shield and then skewered it with his sword. Green blood splattered on the iron blade, but he had no time to clean it as more ghouls rushed forward.

The clash of shields and bodies echoed across the battlefield. The ghouls were too numerous. Often, soldiers couldn't retrieve their weapons from the ghouls before the next wave attacked, forcing the line to slowly retreat.

"Ahhh!" The first casualty occurred. A young soldier on the edge of the formation was knocked down by a strong ghoul. Its claws pierced his shoulder, and he screamed in agony as his shield wavered. The ghouls pounced, ready to tear him apart.

"Take this!" Suddenly, the ghoul on top of him was sent flying. The newcomer swung a warhammer, splattering green blood everywhere. The young soldier looked up to see Lord Ryan! Gritting his teeth against the pain, he said, "Lord Ryan..."

"Get up, there's more to fight!"

"Sir, behind you!" The young soldier spotted something and yelled in warning.

"What?" Ryan felt a weight on his shoulder and realized a ghoul had leaped onto him, its fangs aiming for his shoulder.

"Bang!" Just as Ryan was about to act, a pistol shot rang out. The ghoul's head exploded, and it slid off Ryan's shoulder.

In the distance, the sorceress elegantly held up her smoking pistol, her sweet lips blowing on the hot barrel. "Ryan, watch your back~"

"...Understood." Ryan wanted to say the ghoul's teeth couldn't pierce his skin but chose to thank her instead before rejoining the fray.

He was still in his dress uniform! That outfit was expensive!

With the first casualty, the human line was forced to retreat, resulting in more injuries. Lauritz's forehead was sweaty. Three soldiers were down, and there were hundreds of water ghouls attacking the port, with more emerging. The guards numbered only forty. Even with militia reinforcements arriving, they were just eighty to ninety men, and the militia's effectiveness was questionable.

Ryan held the left flank. The Kingdom Knight's overwhelming strength stabilized the battle. Each of his moves killed at least one ghoul. His golden hammer left no survivors. Even in the face of a siege, Theresa's firearm support was deadly to the ghouls, with about ten of them shot in the head.

The right flank wasn't faring as well. The soldiers were slowly pushed back. The ghouls' strong bodies continuously slammed into the shields, and the soldiers' physical strength wasn't enough to keep holding their shields up against the relentless attacks. Once an arm was injured or numbed, the line was at risk!

Ryan reacted quickly, his left hand glowing with electricity. He slammed his hammer into the ground, sending arcs of lightning into a dozen ghouls, charring them. A particularly strong ghoul roared and charged, but Ryan's hammer shattered its chest, scattering its body parts.

Another fifty militiamen arrived from the dock's street. Wearing old, rusted armor and carrying simple spears, short swords, and scimitars, their eyes showed fear and determination. Their morale was low, and their equipment was poor, but they would fight to defend their home!

The line stabilized again. The militia formed a phalanx, their spears piercing the ghouls. Green blood splattered everywhere. The disorganized ghouls, lacking coordination, were pushed back by the advancing human formation, forcing the battle line to shift towards the shoreline.

"Victory is within reach!" Lauritz shouted, slicing a ghoul in half with his sword. The soldiers and militiamen had shown remarkable combat skills today. He couldn't help but feel grateful to Ryan, who was fighting at the front line. The Kingdom Knight's display of power was the backbone of their morale.

This was the reality of warfare in the age of cold steel, especially in this world of sword and sorcery. A commander's leadership and prowess were the soul of an army.

"Boom, boom, boom," came the sound of a bell ringing from the direction of the town.

It was the assembly bell for the army. Villard was gathering the troops! Hearing the bell, even Ryan couldn't help but smile. The water ghouls, unable to break through, started to lose their morale. These cunning creatures feared Ryan's formidable strength. After several failed charges, they began to retreat. The smaller ghouls, unwilling to continue the fight, started to back away. These sly creatures wouldn't keep charging to their deaths.

"Cunning beasts!" Theresa muttered, lowering her pistol. The special mercury bullets from the Garon Council were expensive, and seeing the situation under control, the sorceress decided to conserve her ammunition.

At that moment, a group of people arrived at the dock—members of the Blood Axe Mercenary Group! Led by their captain, Boris, who charged into the fray with a bloodstained axe. His deputy, Vilt, wielding a greatsword, led the mercenaries behind him. With their assistance, the ghouls were driven into a complete rout. The remaining ghouls wailed and fled back into the sea. The young mercenary Banda approached Theresa.

"Miss Troviak, are you alright?" Banda asked.

"I'm fine," the sorceress replied, her eyes fixed on Ryan, who was still fighting at the front.

The Kingdom Knight fought like a war god, having already slain countless ghouls. He stood at the forefront, his presence overwhelmingly powerful.

Inspired by Ryan, Banda sought out a less crowded spot and steadied his stance. Under Vilt's tutelage, his skills had improved. Banda charged forward, gripping his sword with both hands, and decapitated a ghoul with a powerful swing.

Before he could celebrate, a roar echoed across the battlefield.

"Roar!!!" A massive ghoul, towering over the others, appeared. Muscles bulging, eyes red, and wielding a large spiked club, it smashed a lone guard into pulp with a single blow. The ghoul's roar rallied the other ghouls around it.

"It's the Ghoul King! The Ghoul King is here!"