The Almighty Lord Caspian novel Chapter 544

Caspian sensed a shift in the morale of the men around him and seized the moment to assert his influence.

"As soldiers, your priority is to obey orders, and while you serve under Quinton, you must follow his command. But with the King and myself, Caspian, standing before you, you have a choice to abandon the shadows for the light!

"As the Diatoranian God of War, I declare Quinton stripped of his rank. From this moment, he's no longer a high-ranking officer but a traitor, guilty of the most heinous crimes!"

In a complete panic, Quinton, who had once thought his 200-thousand-strong army invincible against Caspian, realized he had underestimated his opponent's strategy.

"Do not let Caspian bewitch you!" Quinton roared in fury. "I am your commander, and your loyalty lies with me. Defy me, and you die!"

Intimidated by Quinton's rage, his men fell silent. No one dared to oppose him. Despite the unrest, Quinton's loyalists hesitated to act.

Quinton noticed the unease and continued, "Our nation teeters on the brink of destruction, surrounded by enemies. You'll face death without my leadership and our alliance with the Filren."

Caspian countered, "Your duty is to defend our homeland, even if it means death in battle. To turn a traitor is to bear an eternal mark of shame. It's not too late to redeem yourselves."

Seizing the opportunity, Balthazar added, "Brave warriors of Diatoran, I, your King, assure you that I will absolve you of your past actions once you renounce your betrayal."

These words stirred the rebels once more, causing Quinton to descend further into desperation.

"Silence! Do you truly believe the King will forgive your treason? You have no choice but to stay with me or face death by my hand before the King and Caspian even have a chance to spare you!"

The rebels wavered, torn between their actions under Quinton and the promises of Caspian and Balthazar.

The fear of betrayal and the prospect of death loomed large.

"Why hesitate?" Caspian's voice boomed. "Balthazar himself has offered forgiveness. As the Diatoranian God of War, I vow to spare your lives if you but turn back."

Despite his confidence in defeating Quinton, Caspian knew the stark difference in their forces' sizes meant a battle would lead to many unnecessary deaths, not to mention the risk to Balthazar's safety.

It was a strategic move to win their hearts and minds.

Dilemma reigned among the rebels, unsure of whose command to follow.

"The King's word is absolute. Do you not trust me?" Balthazar challenged. "With hundreds of thousands of soldiers here, what is there to fear? The time has come to choose. Stand with me and the Diatoranian God of War, or follow a traitor to your doom."

Many swayed as Balthazar spoke—their loyalty shifted in whispered discussions.

"Quinton is merely a general, but I am the King of Diatoran, and the Diatoranian God of War is among the foremost of our nation's mighty warriors! Is the choice not clear?"

Balthazar's words resonated deeply, causing a significant stir among the ranks. Soldiers began whispering and discussing among themselves.

How could they not recognize the stature and authority of their king and the Diatoranian God of War? Their words carried far more weight than Quinton's threats.

However, they had served under Quinton, and figures like the king and the Diatoranian God of War were almost beyond their reach.

Traditionally, the direct command of a superior general was something that could not be easily disobeyed.

"With Quinton's forces now in disarray," Caspian commanded, turning to Macy, "it's time for us to act. Macy, lead a team of elite warriors to rescue the King while I take Quinton's head."

"At once!" Macy responded without a moment's hesitation.

Then, to her elite guards, she said, "Form up! We strike to save our king!"

"As one!" the guards replied, their voices echoing with resolve.

Seeing his control slipping away, Quinton bellowed, "Attack! Kill Caspian and his followers!"

Quinton knew he could delay no longer.

Once battle ensued, neither Balthazar nor Caspian could sway the hearts of his army.