Reincarnated as an Energy with a System
Chapter 1741: 1741: Fortress of Loss

There were 15 other people in total that followed Ning’s group in 3 different carts and wagons. There were more that could have followed, but they seemed scared of the bandits that would be at the fort.

It was almost a certainty at this point that they were going to be there.

Ning walked for a bit alongside the other newcomers, trying to gauge the situation of the area on the other side, as well as the situation of the war.

A few of those people, including the man that had talked to Ning’s group at the start, had either had their family go to war or had lost them in it.

Some of them talked about the horrible situation they had been put in because of the war. How the famine had begun spreading all throughout their lands after food shortage hit them hard about 6 years ago.

They had recovered, but things weren’t the same just yet.

These people had stories to tell and Ning listened to them.

When the sun finally began setting in the western region, Ning and the group settled down for the night. Everyone put in a bit of work to the community stew that was going to be cooked, helping around with what one needed.

Ning didn’t teach anyone but Shara how to fight that day. It just didn’t feel right with so many others around. After the training was over, they returned to the camp where they got a bowl of stew and began eating.

“How far is the fort again?” Ning asked.

“If we leave at sunrise, we should reach there by midday,” one of the men answered. “The fort itself is on top of a small hill, and the pathway crosses next to it, going into the river. It’s a strong fort.”

Ning nodded along with the man’s words.

“Wait,” Matthew suddenly said. “This fort, it wouldn’t happen to be the Fortress of Loss, would it?”

“Oh, yes. That is the name it goes by,” the old man said. “We just call it the old fort.”

“Fortress of Loss?” Ning asked. He felt like he had heard that name somewhere, but he wasn’t entirely sure.

“Wait, the one where the Emperor had his first loss?” Romus asked. “We’re going there?”

“Is there something special going on with the fortress?” Shara asked, curious by everyone’s expression now.

“Emperor Volter, the one who expanded the empire to be what it was, only faced one major setback during his entire 25 years of conquest. It was around here,” Matthew began explaining. “The Emperor had many necromancers in his army who made strong legions of soldiers. And every time he was done with a battlefield, there would be enough corpses to add to his legion.”

“Around 10 years into his conquest, when he had taken over the Marsh and Olvia regions, he was making his way toward the northern area. By that time, the others were wary of the situation and understood that they needed to fight, so they lay a trap right here.”

“It is said that the Emperor lost a major portion of his army that day, even nearly dying himself. He had to run away with what soldiers he had. It took him an entire year to gather more soldiers before he attacked again, finally winning.”

“He never lost another battle after that, not at the very least to this degree. So this one loss is all that the history books ever remember.”

The others who listened to Matthew’s words were awed by the knowledge he spread. They were very surprised by the information, going so far as to even ask a few questions, which the man quickly answered based on what he knew.

“What did they do?” Ning asked. “How did the Emperor lose the first time, quite badly at that, but not the second time around. What changed?”

Matthew shrugged. “I don’t think anyone other than the royal families knows that information,” he said.

“I do,” Mari said from the back, making every head turn her way.

“You do?” Matthew asked.

“Yes,” she said. “It’s not much, but there was a bit about that battle in the lessons I was taught. It’s a lesson every noble was taught.”

“What is it?” Ning asked.

“They were caught off-guard by some strong power,” Mari said. “It’s unclear what that power was, but records speak of them losing a large chunk of one of their strongest armies right at the start, which led to them losing the rest of the battle.”

“Losing their army?” Ning asked.

“Yes. I don’t mean as in that army lost a battle right at the start. It is said they were just… gone, no longer on the battlefield. The nobles are taught to always be prepared for the unthinkable, lest you end up as the lost legion.”

“The Fortress of Loss is called as such because they lost here, but also because they lost some of their strongest soldiers back then,” Mari said. “The Emperor back then was so angry afterward that he destroyed the fort with all of his power and denied anyone from taking residence there.”

“It is a great strategic place to have a fort and yet the Emperor never let it be used as that afterward,” Mari explained.

Even Matthew was surprised by her information now. Had he gone through his life normally as a noble, he might’ve learned that as well. But as it was, he hadn’t known any of that. He was fascinated by the new information just as much as everyone else had.

“That is to say…” Ning spoke. “Not a single human is supposed to have taken residence around the fort.”

“No,” Matthew said. “Many have tried, but it is said that misfortune fell upon them. Afterward, it was left as is. This entire area was deserted.”

“I see,” Ning said. “Sounds like the perfect place for the bandits to take residence in. I’m starting to believe they really might be there.”

“I believe so too,” Matthew said. He turned around toward the others and said, “Boys! Rest well. We will be fighting a battle tomorrow.”

The soldiers cheered in excitement.

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