I only wanted to retire, but I ended up becoming an extremely popular character.

Chapter 114 Why didn't you say so sooner!

Although the soldiers of the empire were unwilling, military orders were absolute, and they could only grit their teeth and watch the enemy go away.

Axel retreated quickly under the cover of his personal guards, the wound on his side throbbing with pain as he ran.

He glanced back at the figure in the distance, covered in blood yet still standing tall.

The young Imperial lieutenant was being supported by the soldiers around him, but Zi Guang still stared intently in his direction.

"The Empire's lieutenant—" Axel murmured to himself, etching that young face into his memory: "The next time we meet, I won't give you any more chances."

The Holy Kingdom's army, like the receding tide, quickly disappeared into the dusty wilderness.

All that remained on the battlefield were corpses, broken weapons, and the gradually subsiding smoke.

Spinter, supporting the swaying Zod, looked at his pale face and the wounds covering his body, and said in a deep voice, "Medic—!"

Zod opened his mouth as if to say something, but only managed a weak gasp.

The medics quickly stepped forward to treat Zod's wounds.

The medical staff were skilled and efficient, cleaning, disinfecting, and bandaging in one go.

Fortunately, although Zod's wounds looked horrific and covered his entire body in a haphazard manner, none of them were fatal.

Even the deepest cuts were just skin lacerations, without damaging the internal organs.

More than the wounds on his body, Zod was suffering from the depletion of his physical strength.

In the fierce battle with Captain Axel, he first repeatedly used the "Shadow Step," which put a great strain on his body.

After mastering "Potential Unleashed", he then used "Shadow Step" while in the state of Potential Unleashed.

That is also an ability that consumes a great deal of physical strength.

The battle with Axel had wasted some time, and Captain Spent was very worried about the situation in Segner.

They didn't have much time to rest on the spot.

Therefore, Captain Spinner directly ordered Cassius to carry Zod, who had not yet recovered his strength.

Along the way, Captain Spent told him everything that had happened after Zod left.

"Colonel Xavier has decided to withdraw troops."

These words struck him like a thunderbolt. Zod jerked his head up, his eyes flashing with undisguised shock and joy: "You mean—Colonel Xavier has decided to withdraw the troops?"

Immediately afterward, Zod cursed inwardly, "Why didn't you say so sooner! Do you know how I got here from Sahlrom? I was almost killed twice."

If he had known that Captain Spent would bring reinforcements, why would he have led his hundred or so men to charge against Lieutenant Patrick and Captain Axel, whose forces outnumbered them several times over?

He almost lost his life in those two battles.

Even now, thinking back on it sends chills down Zod's spine.

If there had been even the slightest mishap at that time, he would have long since become an unnamed corpse on the battlefield.

If Captain Spent had been there, why would those two battles have involved such great risks?

He could have comfortably stayed behind Spente and provided safe support, engaging in a "just two-on-one" battle with Captain Spente. Wouldn't that have been wonderful?

At the very least, the battle with Lieutenant Patrick will proceed very smoothly.

However, since it had already happened, he couldn't say anything more.

Those near-death experiences, those moments of struggling on the edge of life and death, are finally in the past.

Zod could only suppress these thoughts in his heart, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor on his face.

"Yes." A relieved smile appeared on Captain Spent's lips. "Perhaps, it's all thanks to you."

"Me?" Zod paused for a moment, pointing to himself, his mind racing as he recalled his conversation with Colonel Xavier.

He quickly denied it: "No, I think your words were the biggest factor influencing Colonel Xavier's decision. You mentioned 'political ideals' and all that—"

Spinter refuted Zod's denial: "No, you underestimate Colonel Xavier."

He continued, his voice tinged with bitterness, "Colonel Xavier can see things much better than I can. He just—has never wanted to admit it."

""

He paused, casting the light into the distance, as if speaking to Zod, or perhaps to himself: "Imagine, as a pure soldier, all you should be thinking about is winning victory after victory for the Empire."

"The scheming in the halls of power and the infighting between factions are not things that a soldier like him should concern himself with."

"At the very least, we should work together to defend the interests of the empire and fight against foreign enemies."

"But now, he too has to weigh his own ideals, the interests of his legion, and the interests of the empire, just like those parasites of the empire."

"We may not be able to understand the hardships Colonel Xavier faced."

Spinter turned his gaze to Zod: "But for a professional soldier who values ​​honor more than life, making such a decision is sometimes more difficult than dying on the battlefield."

"My words, which were like a wake-up call, were probably not enough to make Colonel Xavier make such a decision so easily."

Zod lay on Cassius's back and nodded, seemingly understanding.

To be honest, what Captain Spent said was still a bit profound for him, a stranger who just wanted to survive.

He remained silent for a moment, then couldn't help but ask the question that had been lingering in his mind: "Then—what exactly made Colonel Xavier decide to withdraw the troops?"

It couldn't possibly be what Zod said before he left: "If we lose land but save people, we can save both people and land," could it?

That was just a piece of advice, something I said casually.

How could a veteran like Colonel Xavier change his lifelong beliefs because of just one sentence?

"He sees hope for the future in you young officers."

Captain Spent's gaze fell on Zod, his tone filled with undisguised admiration: "Especially your extraordinary courage and vision, and your forward-thinking strategic vision."

He paused, then nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing with Colonel Xavier's assessment.

Zod felt extremely uncomfortable under that gaze. He opened his mouth, but didn't know how to respond.

"No—I—um—" He was speechless for once, and even looked away somewhat awkwardly.

To be honest, where did he get the courage and vision?

All he wanted was to live!

From beginning to end, all he did was try to survive one more day on this damned battlefield.

Those so-called "heroic acts" were nothing more than instinctive reactions driven by the will to survive.

His so-called "foresight" was simply that he was more afraid of death than others, so he started planning his escape route earlier.

Just before coming to the city of Sarlom, he was preoccupied with figuring out how to escape.

He would never have returned to this hellish place if he hadn't been forced to flee.

You really overestimate me.

Don't have any expectations of me; you will all be disappointed.

Zod was internally ranting, but on the surface he could only maintain an awkward yet polite expression.

He secretly resolved that if he could return to Goldberg alive, he would apply for retirement this time, or be transferred to the rear to be in charge of logistics, no matter what.

In short, we must never go to the front lines again.

This battle with Captain Axel further solidified his resolve to retire.

As long as we remain on this front, we will eventually encounter someone stronger than Axel.

Those monsters who have mastered "potential overload", those level three or even level four "Hakuzans", those who are hosts of the Berklein Egg - the powerful are as numerous as the clouds.