[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system":3,"chapter-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-109":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Exiled Duke's Lottery system",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1366817,1809,"Chapter 109 - 102: The First Assault","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-109",109,"\u003Cp>Dawn came cold and gray over the western frontier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow drifted slowly across the valleys while freezing winds howled through the mountain passes separating the southern coalition from the trenches of Elarion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And across those valleys—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first true assault began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coilation army camps erupted into movement before sunrise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trumpets echoed across the frozen plains while officers rode between infantry formations shouting final orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thousands of soldiers assembled beneath fluttering noble banners:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>shield infantry,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>spear formations,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>sword detachments,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mana-supported heavy troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground itself seemed to move as lines upon lines of soldiers formed across the valleys below the northern trenches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them stood cavalry reserves and battlefield mages while siege crews prepared another bombardment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infantry would advance first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the command ridge overlooking the battlefield, southern nobles observed confidently through polished spyglasses while servants poured heated wine beside roaring braziers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most still appeared relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday’s bombardment and artillery exchanges had reassured them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elarion’s cannons seemed slow. Their trenches defensive. Their rifles unimpressive from long range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One younger noble smirked while watching the infantry lines form below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once the trenches are breached, the northerners collapse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another nodded confidently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They hid underground yesterday because they feared open combat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cavalry commander laughed openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And today we drag them out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several nearby officers chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of them truly understood what waited ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Kassian Valcriox remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ducal heir stood near the edge of the ridge studying the northern trenches carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence bothered him,something just doesn’t felt right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trenches looked calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That feeling returned once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feeling that Lucien was not reacting to the battle—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was controlling it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far across the battlefield inside the underground command bunker, Lucien calmly studied the advancing coalition formations alongside Malen and Cedric.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enemy infantry assault confirmed.\" \"Estimated strength twenty thousand.\" \"Mana cavalry remains in reserve.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric folded his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They still think this is only a probing attack.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien’s gaze remained fixed on the battlefield map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They believe our rifles are inaccurate.\" \"They believe our artillery lacks discipline.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint coldness entered his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let them keep believing it,some illusions are best kept illusions\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orders spread quickly through the trenches afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hold fire.\" \"Wait for command.\" \"No premature volleys.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instructions confused several younger soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy army already filled the valleys below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One nervous rifleman whispered while gripping his weapon tightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re getting closer...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, an older veteran calmly adjusted ammunition pouches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger soldier swallowed nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They outnumber us ten to one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The veteran looked toward the advancing coalition formations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That only means more targets.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the southern army began advancing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trumpets roared across the valleys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thousands of infantry marched forward beneath raised banners while shield formations tightened into organized assault lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow crunched beneath boots. Officers shouted commands. War drums echoed through the mountain air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The advance looked overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rows upon rows of soldiers moved steadily toward the trenches like a dark tide spreading across the white snowfields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the southern ridge, nobles watched proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One commander smiled while observing the silent northern trenches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No rifle fire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another laughed softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They hesitate again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coalition infantry continued advancing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hundred meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still no shots came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hundred fifty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The southern formations visibly relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officers began shouting more aggressively now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forward!\" \"They fear engagement!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infantry accelerated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some soldiers even started cheering as they marched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They truly believed the northerners lacked courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the trenches, Elarion riflemen waited motionlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many breathed heavily now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy looked terrifying at this distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faces became visible. Armor details. Banners. Officers shouting commands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still Lucien did not give the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen finally glanced toward him inside the command bunker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re close.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric slowly grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because now he understood completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien wanted maximum devastation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At seventy meters—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The southern infantry broke into full assault pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shield walls lowered. Officers drew swords. War cries echoed across the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many genuinely believed victory was seconds away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien spoke calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trenches exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thousands of rifles thundered together in one perfectly timed volley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound slammed across the battlefield like the sky itself had cracked apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front coalition lines vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Men dropped across the snow so suddenly that soldiers behind them kept running forward for several steps before realizing entire sections of the formation had collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shield bearer near the center line spun violently as bullets shattered through wood and steel together before he crashed face-first into the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another soldier lost nearly half his jaw in a spray of blood before collapsing backward into the men behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A coalition officer raising his sword to shout another order suddenly jerked violently as multiple shots tore through his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fell without even finishing the sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the second volley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More men dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bodies slammed into the snow while shattered formations stumbled into confusion almost immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screams erupted across the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shields up!\" \"Keep moving!\" \"Forward!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the rifles did not stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reload. Fire. Reload. Fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trenches moved like one machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The southern assault faltered almost instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entire front sections collapsed beneath concentrated volleys while surviving soldiers struggled desperately to maintain formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One infantry banner disappeared completely after nearly every nearby soldier fell within seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spear formation advancing along the western flank suddenly broke apart when a coordinated volley ripped through three rows of men together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood sprayed across the snow. Bodies crashed into one another. Wounded soldiers screamed while clutching shattered limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And still—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The firing continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One coalition soldier managed reaching the razor wire zone ahead of the trenches before suddenly becoming entangled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He screamed desperately while trying to pull free—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then three rifle shots struck him almost simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body went still hanging against the frozen steel wire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another group attempted pushing through beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A volley tore through them at nearly point-blank range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One man’s shield exploded apart as bullets punched through the wood and into his torso.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another soldier stumbled several steps with half his face missing before collapsing into the snow beside the trenches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The killing became horrifyingly fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the southern command ridge, the nobles stared in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One officer lowered his spyglass slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What in the gods...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another noble’s face had gone pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That rate of fire...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More volleys thundered across the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infantry formations below were no longer advancing properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were collapsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One battlefield mage stared toward the trenches in visible confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That isn’t possible...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian’s expression darkened immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence earlier had never been fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien intentionally waited until the enemy entered killing distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panic began spreading through the assault formations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officers screamed desperately trying to restore discipline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forward!\" \"Advance!\" \"Do not stop!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But men kept dying too quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some soldiers attempted charging faster toward the trenches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others instinctively slowed beneath the relentless fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both reactions proved disastrous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faster troops reached razor wire kill zones sooner. Slower troops became stationary targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One coalition captain tried rallying his men personally near the center advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Push through them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rifle volley struck seconds later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain’s body jerked violently as bullets tore through his throat and chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He collapsed backward into the snow while blood spread rapidly beneath him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His soldiers broke almost immediately afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the trenches, Elarion riflemen continued firing methodically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first many younger soldiers had trembled with fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some stared almost numbly at the devastation ahead of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One young rifleman fired into an advancing shield wall and watched two men collapse instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier blinked in stunned silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, the older veteran calmly reloaded again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t stop firing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another volley crashed outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More bodies fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battlefield became chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wounded coalition soldiers crawled desperately across blood-covered snow while retreating infantry crashed into advancing formations still trying to push forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officers shouted conflicting orders. Banners disappeared. Shield walls shattered apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And every few seconds—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another coordinated volley tore through them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally panic reached the southern command ridge itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One noble stared horrified toward the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The casualties are too high!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another snapped back angrily:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re only riflemen!\" \"Push through!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even he no longer sounded confident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this no longer resembled ordinary battlefield losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entire formations were being erased before even reaching the trenches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several commanders began arguing openly now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Retreat the infantry!\" \"No!\" \"Continue pressure!\" \"They’re close to breaking!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian suddenly snapped toward them:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at the battlefield!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ridge fell silent afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the battlefield answered clearly enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bodies covered the snow between the coalition army and the northern trenches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broken formations stumbled backward in panic while wounded men screamed across the frozen ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And every time survivors attempted regrouping—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another rifle volley ripped through them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Retreat horns sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long desperate calls echoed across the valleys while surviving coalition infantry began withdrawing chaotically toward southern lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The retreat itself nearly became another massacre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Elarion riflemen continued firing steadily into the retreating formations until officers finally ordered ammunition conservation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the trenches gradually fall silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smoke drifted slowly across the battlefield afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The valley between the armies had transformed into a field of corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broken banners lay half-buried in red snow. Wounded soldiers cried out weakly across the frozen ground. Abandoned shields and weapons covered the battlefield everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And from the northern trenches—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers of Elarion watched silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the southern ridge—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Th atmosphere was grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One noble stared blankly toward the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Those are not normal rifles.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody answered him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because every commander present had finally realized the same thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The war they came expecting—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did not exist anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>",1602,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.730Z",1,"novelbin.me","6366d9460bf4be9babb8036a8d3dbef563f75318e911d1d1ac1c7469a6bb0a6a","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-110","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-108",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]