 Along the way he came across and defeated a large force of 20,000 Celtiberians near an unspecified town of Iliturgi.The enemy lost 12,000 men, the town was seized and all the adult males were killed.Marcus Helvius then reached Cato's camp, sent the escort back to Hispania Ulterior and returned to Rome only two months after the return of his successor (Quintus Minucius).