Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Chapter 1317

Alec arrived to report the casualties from the first battle: 356 dead, and 1,732 injured.

The mood among the officers immediately plunged back to the freezing point.

They had been tasked with defending the city, with archers stationed on the walls. But even with their defensive advantage, the Sandorians had managed to deploy their siege ladders and hurl stones, causing so much loss of life and injury.

This wasn't even a full-scale siege the Sandorians were simply testing their strength and the teamwork of the Southern Frontier Army.

It was clear that the Sandorians understood the situation. They weren't rushing to deploy their full forces. Instead, they were playing a psychological game, careful not to provoke a decisive battle just yet.

The Southern Frontier Army, despite their diminished morale, would fight fiercely once their lives were at stake.

But if these probing attacks continued, the casualties would steadily rise. Ultimately, the psychological toll would break the Southern Frontier Army's will to fight.

At this point, discussing battle strategies seemed pointless. Everyone's spirits were so low that they couldn't muster the strength to even consider another fight. It would be a futile sacrifice.

come up with a new plan. Even if the court decided to

the soldiers tomorrow. We need to write a speech to rally their spirits. We can't let this go on

both hands, wiping off a layer of dust mixed with dried blood. It wasn't his blood, but the blood of a soldier who had been standing beside him, struck in the head by a stone from a

especially terrible

we give. The marshal is gone, and no one has been ordered to take his place. Everyone believes the Hell Monarch has been killed. Unless he appears

a moment

escaped. The soldiers no longer believe victory is possible. To them, stepping into battle now is just walking to their deaths. If the Sandorians keep up these smaller-scale assaults, our troops' morale will be

glanced at Louis, his hesitation evident. "Do you think His

Highness were still alive, he would have sent word to calm the troops. But there's been no word from him

"I don't think we should be so pessimistic. His Majesty

they were far from the Southern Frontier, they understood Salvador's temperament

sit in the council, to maintain the illusion of control and keep the scheming nobles at bay, all while solidifying his own position. The next day, Louis and Timothy called together the original Southern Frontier Army, the Hell Monarch Army, and the Sinclair Army. The three armies gathered in the training field, standing in formation. The mass of soldiers was so dense that it seemed to stretch endlessly, much like before. But upon closer inspection, the difference

sharp and their voices thundering, now there was no fire in their hearts. Their eyes

the gaps between the ranks. He spoke passionately of the

but the cheers he had once stirred up were nowhere to be heard. Instead, there were only a few scattered, lackluster shouts,

"Pull yourselves together! What's this pitiful display? Are