The 70,000 cavalry led by Bayatur and the 200,000 legionnaires commanded by Sextus met on the Thessalian plain near Larissa.
It was a place where they could move freely no matter how many armies came, as the land was wide open for tens of kilometers.
Bayatur was not intimidated by the majestic presence of the Roman army that he saw in the distance.
On the contrary, he felt a thrill when he saw the Roman army’s formation that filled the plain.
He was happy to see that the enemy looked almost three times as many as his own army.
The fact that the Roman army was large meant that most of the forces defending Greece were gathered for this battle.
If he crushed the enemy here, the Greek cities that were besieged would not be able to hold on any longer.
Bayatur ordered an immediate charge as soon as he saw the Roman army that had spread out in a wide formation at a considerable distance.
The flow of this battle was already perfectly drawn in his head as soon as he saw the enemy’s camp.
“Follow me! If you don’t lose sight of my tail, we will win this battle!”
As he dashed out like lightning, 70,000 cavalrymen launched a simultaneous attack.
“Uaaaaaa! Let’s go!”
The hooves of the Hunnic warriors trampled on the green grassland, and their shouts shook the plain.
The Roman army, which had been waiting in line and watching the enemy’s movements, was caught off guard.
They were too far from their common sense to attack without even forming a proper formation as soon as they appeared.
“Those stupid barbarians! The enemy is coming! Prepare for battle!”
They had not even built a camp, let alone formed a formation, and the distance between them and the enemy had narrowed too much while they were flustered.
Surprisingly, the Hunnic elites seemed to be attacking in a haphazard manner, but they had formed a certain line in no time.
The Roman archers hurriedly shot their arrows, but they could not draw their bows more than twice because of the distance problem.
The Hunnic light cavalry, who easily dodged the arrows shot by the Romans in a mess, shot arrows at once at the Roman left-wing cavalry.
“Kraaak!”
“The enemy’s entire force is breaking through our left wing!”
Sextus and his generals, who had been following the textbook formation, realized their mistake too late.
They were used to the traditional horizontal formation versus horizontal formation situation and placed their soldiers as usual.
They even divided their cavalry, which was only 30,000 at most even with their allies, and placed them at both ends.
It was no wonder that they could not stop the enemy’s cavalry that pushed into their left wing in an instant.
Moreover, after exchanging arrows only once, it was clear that there was a huge difference in skill between the two sides.
The cavalry led by Bayatur were elites among elites who grew up in the prairie where fighting was everyday life and had been rolling around on the battlefield ever since.
On the other hand, Sextus’ army consisted of soldiers who had been hastily gathered to prepare for the Hunnic invasion.
He had lost more than half of his elite soldiers who had followed him from the beginning in the successive civil wars with Gnaeus and Caesar.
That’s why he placed experienced soldiers in the front line for his army’s morale, but it turned out to be a big mistake.
This was not so much due to Sextus’ lack of ability as a pure tragedy caused by his lack of experience.
He had never fought a proper battle with nomadic people before, so he had no choice but to stick to the textbook.
Only Caesar could come up with an optimal formation without much experience.
“The enemy’s left wing is faltering! Break through and slaughter them mercilessly!”
The 10,000 heavy cavalry led by Bayatur pushed into the gap created by the Hunnic archers’ concentrated fire on the confused Romans.
At the same time, the light cavalry who had put away their bows and switched to scimitars followed behind them.
Pwook pweok!
“Aaargh!”
“Get back! What are you other units doing? Hurry up and support us!”
The Roman left-wing cavalry was easily melted by Bayatur, who began to focus on attacking the enemy’s rear line with weak armor.
The inexperienced recruits and allied soldiers with poor equipment were his main targets.
Even if it was 200,000 versus 70,000, 70,000 cavalrymen were not fighting against 200,000 soldiers at once.
Only those on the left wing and those who hastily turned their direction in the center could properly respond to the enemy stretched out horizontally across 200,000 soldiers.
Moreover, as Bayatur persistently attacked the allies and the rear recruits, the soldiers were engulfed in panic.
Bayatur was like a wolf who instinctively knew where the enemy’s weak point was and bit it. Wherever he went, the formation collapsed and a path was created.
“Pull yourselves together! Don’t break the formation and stand your ground calmly!”
Sextus, who had been in the center and hurriedly crossed over, tried to command the soldiers, but it was too late.
The elite soldiers he had placed in the front line tried to approach the enemy, but the allies who were attacked by the Huns had completely lost their will to fight.
The allies, who had become worse than nothing, caused the line to crumble uncontrollably.
“Help me! I don’t want to d*e!”
“They said we just had to support them safely from the rear. This is not what they promised!”
As they stumbled around, as many soldiers died from being trampled or stabbed by their own side as from being hit by the Huns’ swords.
Sextus made a bold decision in the face of the damage that was growing out of control.
If he had been his old self, he would have been helpless and watched the front line collapse, but now he was different.
‘I can’t rely on the allied soldiers anymore. It would be better to abandon them and reorganize the line…’
He quickly made up his mind and ordered his generals to restore the crumbling formation.
Meanwhile, the cavalry on the right wing went after the tail of the Huns on their own initiative, in a desperate attempt to save the left-wing cavalry that was collapsing.
Their frantic minds made it impossible for them to make a cool-headed judgment.
“Idiots! Who told you to move on your own? Wait for the order!”
He shouted urgently, but the cavalry had already gone far away, raising dust.
Bayatur, who had been ravaging the Roman left wing and rear, immediately withdrew his troops when he saw the cavalry from the right wing coming towards them.
Sextus could only watch as the Roman cavalry that had lost their heads chased after them.
Bayatur stopped his retreat and suddenly changed direction when he judged that there was enough distance between the Roman cavalry and infantry.
The Hunnic cavalry that followed him also split into three groups in an instant and surrounded the Roman cavalry that was rushing in.
It was a different level of horsemanship and troop management.
Too late, the Roman cavalry realized that they had fallen into a trap.
The Hunnic cavalry were skilled in killing, as if they were machines.
Moreover, the Thessalian plain was a vast plain that stretched for tens of kilometers, with no place to hide.
If 70,000 cavalrymen chased them with determination, no one could survive.
“How could this happen… How could this happen…”
Pompey and Gabinus felt like they were having a nightmare.
They had started the battle with a three-to-one advantage in numbers, in their most confident situation.
But in an instant, their cavalry was neutralized and their formation was completely shattered.
There was nothing they could do to continue the fight.
It was not a matter of winning or losing, but of avoiding annihilation.
“Sextus, you have to get away!”
“You have to escape to Demetrias as soon as possible and plan for later!”
Despite their desperate persuasion, Sextus did not turn his horse around.
He just looked at his subordinates who were bleeding and dying with bloodshot eyes.
He wanted to tear his heart out, which was beating like crazy.
He finally understood why Marcus had emphasized not to engage in a turning battle on the plain.
If he had just defended himself and waited for Caesar and Marcus’s main force, he could have driven away the enemy.
But his greed ruined the war.
He should have kept his cool and held his ground, no matter what the clients said.
But it was too late to regret what had been spilled.
He couldn’t blame anyone else for the defeat, since the other commanders had fought and died bravely.
But he was responsible for defending all of Greece.
This defeat would hand over all the Greek cities to the Huns, and endanger Rome and Asia Minor.
How could he take responsibility for the lives of 200,000 people who trusted and followed him?
‘There is no way to atone for this defeat. So…’
He made up his mind and gathered all the remaining cavalry while ordering the army to retreat.
“All troops, run away without looking back. Those who have enough strength to reach Demetrias, go there. The rest, go into the mountains and forests where the enemy cavalry can’t chase you!”
The order was not properly delivered to the collapsing army, but at least everyone got the gist of it.
But Sextus himself did not flee on horseback like the other officers.
Instead, he carried the flag that symbolized the commander-in-chief on his back and desperately encouraged his soldiers from behind while blocking the enemy’s pursuit.
The elite soldiers who had been loyal to him since Pompey’s time also read his will and stayed with him.
Sextus did not bother to tell them to flee.
Gabinus and Pompey sensed that they could not dissuade their lord.
Sextus restrained the two men who wanted to stay with him and handed his sword to Gabinus.
It was the sword he had inherited from Pompey, the one he had cherished as his life.
“I cannot let this sword, which symbolizes invincibility, fall into their hands. Please deliver this sword to Marcus. In return, Gabinus, may I borrow your sword?”
Gabinus could not say a word as his throat tightened and he unbuckled his sword from his waist and handed it over.
Sextus calmly received the sword and delivered his last words, which would be his will.
“The defense line of the Peloponnesian mountains cannot be held with our current forces. Do not try to stop them at Demetrias, but go straight to Athens and defend it.
As soon as you arrive in Athens, mobilize the fleet and support the defense of all the Greek cities that have not yet fallen with supplies.
And tell the Greeks this. It is the last will of their patron Sextus. I am sorry that I could not protect them with my abilities.
But Rome will never abandon them. Hold on and rise again. Rome does not fall. From this moment on, their patron is Marcus Mesopotamius.”
“Sextus… what do you mean…”
“If you meet Marcus, please tell him that I entrust him with everything, even though it is presumptuous.”
With those words as his last, Sextus led his men to the rear of the retreating allies.
It was not simply to atone for his defeat with his life.
He had to save as many of his men as possible and hand them over to Marcus.
And the more time he bought here, the more time he could give for the safe departure of the fleet to Asia Minor.
He would sacrifice his life to preserve a spark of hope for the future.
That was the only way Sextus could take responsibility for his mistake.
“Let’s show them the pride of Rome!”
The elite soldiers who were ready to give up their lives exchanged their new equipment with other soldiers and took off their armor.
It was an act of determination not to give any advantageous spoils to the enemy.
Sextus drew his sword and advanced, recalling the beautiful view of Rome that he would never see again.
‘Come to think of it, I forgot to ask him to take care of my wife in my absence.’
He did not regret it.
He had made his choice and decided to face the fate that resulted from it.
It might be a bit irresponsible, but he was sure that Marcus and Caesar would somehow take care of Rome’s future.
Rather, it might be better for Rome’s future to hand over everything to Marcus.
So maybe in a few decades, this would be a positive choice.
The only thing he regretted was that he had tarnished his father’s name.
‘But at least I have people to be with.’
His life was full of regrets and sorrows, but he did not regret it.
Sextus and his men who had renewed their resolve held their ground until the very end, resisting the pursuit of the Huns without retreating.
But no matter how hard they fought with their lives on fire, there was a limit.
At the entrance of the valley leading to Demetrias, the Roman army that was fleeing could not shake off the pursuit of the Huns any longer and allowed them to approach.
“Are there even half left…”
The proud men who had helped their allies retreat until the end were now reduced to a few hundred.
Sextus looked at Bayatur who was getting closer and closer with a defiant smile on his lips.
He did not feel any fear even facing death.
He stepped forward and drew his sword.
“I am Sextus, son of Pompey Magnus! I will show you the pride of Rome!”
There was no hope of repelling the enemy and retreating now.
Then all he could show them was his spirit.
Bayatur did not understand what he was saying, but he understood his intention well enough from seeing him coming at them with only a few hundred men.
“The commander stays behind until the end to open a way for his men… I respect that meaning. I will take your life myself.”
Bayatur also got off his horse and responded properly to Sextus’s resolve.
Clang!
With just one exchange of blows, Sextus’s body flew far away.
Even if he had been wearing armor, it would have been split in half along with his sword by such a blow. It was not a coincidence that he had survived thanks to his excellent steel sword.
Bayatur was not only the best strategist, but also the strongest warrior who could not find a match on the plains.
Sextus never had a chance to touch even a hair of his from the beginning.
“Khh… You’re a monster.”
His arms twisted as if his muscles were tearing and his legs trembled just from crossing swords with him.
It was an overwhelming strength that reminded him of Spartacus, whom he had seen in a gladiator fight long ago.
But Sextus clenched his teeth and endured.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
The difference in skill between them was so great that the outcome could have been decided in a few seconds.
But Sextus fought on, bleeding from every exposed part of his body, rolling on the dirty ground in a disgraceful manner.
“If you don’t k**l me! You won’t get past here! Don’t run away, you invaders!”
Bayatur’s face showed a faint admiration at the roar of Sextus, who glared at him with bulging eyes.
He didn’t need an interpreter to understand what he was saying.
It was not easy for anyone to show such a transcendent performance, even if they were prepared to d*e.
But the insurmountable gap in power and skill could not be easily narrowed.
Clang!
With a sharp sound of metal, Sextus’s sword broke and flew into the air.
Thud!
At the same time, Bayatur’s scimitar pierced Sextus’s chest.
“···Kuhk!”
With a final scream, Sextus’s eyes began to blur.
Bayatur, who was sure of the end, tried to pull out his sword, but Sextus grabbed his arm with his last strength and swung his half-broken sword with his right hand.
Swoosh!
A strand of Bayatur’s hair fell to the ground as he leaned back slightly.
Just a strand of hair, just that much of a result, but Sextus smiled satisfied and opened his mouth.
“My… ability did not live up to my father’s greatness. He… if he were still alive, would you dare… to invade us?”
He closed his eyes with a relieved expression as he muttered to himself.
Bayatur nodded slowly as he heard the word ‘Pompey’.
“Pompey son. A fitting end for the bloodline of the great emperor.”
He calmly expressed his admiration and looked at Sextus’s corpse lying on the ground, then turned away.
“Collect his body and send it to the Romans. He fought like a warrior until the end, so we should at least show him that much respect.”
“What about the pursuit?”
“We’ve killed enough. And we need to collect any useful equipment from their corpses, so let’s take some time to regroup.”
“I will follow your command.”
Unlike his subordinates who were ecstatic after their victory, Bayatur was still coldly analyzing the situation.
In fact, this battle was one that he thought he would win from the start.
The really important thing was what to do next.
Rome would not easily hand over Greece, the core economic zone, to the Huns.
After this battle, Rome would surely come out with a full-scale war that would stake their fate.
Bayatur had an intuitive sense of who he would face next.
The news of the annihilation of the special forces that he had heard when he returned to Sinagachar for a while had hurt him more than he could admit.
He couldn’t buy enough time as he had hoped, so he would soon confront Rome’s strongest force.
‘The sea I longed for. Let’s decide who is the real winner here.’
The only opponent who had inflicted a perfect defeat on him when he was immature and didn’t even deserve his mercy.
He waited for his revenge.
His eyes were filled with an uncontrollable fighting spirit as he looked at the past.
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