novelraw Chapter 60
Chapter 60
“You, you, who are you…?”
Fear and doubt crossed Yarve’s face.
The muzzle that had been aimed at him shifted to his horse.
Bang-!
Neighhhhh!
With a desperate scream, the horse collapsed forward.
At the same time, Yarve was also thrown to the ground.
“Aargh!”
He was in immense pain.
Khan stomped his front hooves onto the ground.
Thud!
“……!”
Yarve, startled awake, cowered and remained still as if dead.
After a moment, a cold voice, devoid of any discernible emotion, spoke again.
“Kneel.”
Yarve quickly knelt.
To survive, pride was unnecessary.
With his head pressed firmly to the ground, he waited for the words that would follow.
Arthur glanced at him, then looked around.
The tide of battle had already turned, but the enemy Knights’ resistance was formidable.
Moreover, another danger was approaching the House of Count Julius.
This was no time to delay.
Arthur stared at the shotgun and thought for a moment.
‘If my prediction is correct…’
He drew Mana into his hand and envisioned the K-1.
The Benelli M4 then melted like ice, transforming into the shape of a K-1.
“Just as I thought!”
Arthur’s eyes flashed as he pulled the trigger.
Tatatatatatatat!
His allies were mixed with the enemies, but he eliminated only the foes without a single mistake.
“Ugh…”
Every time a gunshot rang out, Yarve covered his ears with both hands, trembling in fear.
Several minutes passed like this.
The endless silence choked him.
‘What’s happening…’
He cautiously raised his head.
He met a chilling gaze right in front of him.
“Huk!”
Startled, he quickly slammed his head back to the ground.
Grrrrr.
Ron bared his fierce fangs, growling as if ready to tear something apart. Drakan stroked Ron’s head, and he soon quieted down.
“Count Yarve.”
A voice as cold as ice pierced his heart. Golden armor—it was him.
Yarve, trembling in fear, raised his head.
“If you want to live, raise your head and answer my questions. If you hesitate or your answer isn’t what I want…”
Arthur looked at Drakan, who then tugged on Ron’s mane.
Grrrrr!
Ron bared his fangs again, emitting killing intent.
“Huk!”
Yarve trembled, terrified.
Arthur met his eyes and asked, “Is this all the force you brought?”
“Y-yes…”
“The ones you sent to the Count’s family are the Apos Mercenary Corps, aren’t they?”
Yarve’s head nodded slightly.
“Skevin.”
“Yes, sir!”
Skevin, who had been waiting behind, approached him.
“Return to the castle and deal with them.”
“Yes, sir!”
Skevin bowed respectfully, then turned to the Phoenix Knights and shouted, “We’re returning!” With him, the Knight Order swiftly rode towards the Count’s family estate.
Arthur watched the departing Phoenix Knights and spoke.
“Drakan.”
“Yes, sir!”
Drakan also bowed respectfully.
“You’ll stay here and clean up.”
“Understood. What about this one?”
Drakan looked at Yarve.
“Don’t kill him, bring him.”
Arthur, turning Khan towards the Count’s family estate, continued, “Kill the rest.”
With that chilling command, he galloped towards the southern mountain range.
***
“What should we do?”
“Let’s wait a little longer.”
Bukas nodded at Alteon’s words.
The Apos Mercenary Corps, who had arrived at the House of Count Julius by way of the southern mountain range, waited for orders from above.
Normally, they should have received contact from the main camp before sunrise, but there had been no word.
Alteon, who had given instructions to Bukas, returned to where his comrades were waiting.
“Where’s the Captain?”
“He’s inside. But why aren’t we moving? The sun will be up soon.”
“I don’t know either.”
Alteon shook his head and moved further inside.
Upon reaching the center, he found a man draped in a bear hide like a cloak, drinking from a flask.
Standing before him, Alteon felt dwarfed.
“Captain.”
The man, with a sword scar running from his left eyebrow to the corner of his right mouth, wiped his lips with the back of his hand and looked up. His gaze was utterly chilling. An ordinary person would feel their heart constrict just by looking at him.
“Still no contact. What should we do?”
“What ‘can’ we do?”
The man took another swig of alcohol, then continued, “A slave just does what their master tells them.”
“Don’t use that ‘slave’ word.”
“Why? Don’t you like hearing it?”
“It’s not that…”
Alteon retorted curtly, but the man met his eyes and said firmly, “Just think of your family. Then everything becomes acceptable.”
“I know that, but…”
Just as Alteon made an awkward expression.
“Captain!”
Someone came rushing from behind.
It was one of the sentries they had posted at various points along the mountain path as a precaution during their movement.
He stood before the man, panting.
“Huk, huk, huk.”
The man frowned slightly and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Count Yarve’s forces were annihilated!”
“What?!”
The man shot to his feet.
Count Yarve had led over a thousand Knights.
And there was even a 5th-class mage.
Yet they were wiped out?
That was absolutely impossible.
Wasn’t the opponent a Count’s family known to barely maintain its lineage?
A major variable that could change the tide of war must have emerged.
“What about Hazan?”
“I don’t know.”
“Return to the main camp and find Hazan. He absolutely must not die.”
The man’s face hardened.
As his command fell, the members moved in unison.
Alteon said to one of the members, “Deliver the message to Bukas too.”
“I’ll go.”
Just as someone was about to run towards the House of Count Julius.
“We’ve been discovered!”
Bukas shouted as he rushed over.
“……!”
Everyone’s eyes widened, and their gazes collectively turned to the man.
“Hmm.”
The man put knuckles on both of his fingers.
“We’ll sweep them away and go.”
Alteon also grabbed the mace he had been carrying on his back.
Far from being flustered, the other members pulled out their weapons with chilling smiles.
Then they focused their attention beyond Bukas.
A moment later.
A group was approaching with fierce momentum.
At the forefront, Dark and the Devil’s Corps, along with Hellot and Linda, were visible.
Following them, over a hundred Knights and Giant Wolves charged, exuding a brutal Aura.
The Apos Mercenary Corps’ eyes widened.
“What is that?”
“What kind of monstrous dog is that big!”
One of them exclaimed, eyes wide.
“It’s a Giant Wolf!”
‘What did he say!’
Fear appeared on everyone’s faces.
One of the monsters they had only heard about had appeared before their eyes. The rumors about followers of devils seemed to be true.
‘Monsters…’
Everyone recoiled in fear.
Dark quickly scanned their surroundings, noting their reactions.
Most were Sword Expert-level, and some were very strong.
Especially from the massive, muscular man who resembled an Orc warrior, an immense power could be felt.
‘He must be the leader.’
Dark kept a close watch on him as he spoke to Hellot.
“This won’t be easy.”
“Indeed. I’ll take him, and you take the rest with the Knights.”
“Yes.”
As Dark gripped his dagger tightly, Linda observed the Apos Mercenary Corps with sharp eyes.
They wore light leather rather than armor, and each seemed agile.
It was highly probable they were similar in nature to the Lannister Knights.
If so, they would be tricky opponents for armored Knights.
‘Roughly 200. The troop count is almost double, but…’
With the Giant Wolves and the Phoenix Knights assisting, there was a good chance of victory. Linda stepped forward.
“We’ll take them.”
“What?”
Hellot frowned slightly.
With a troop difference of almost double, they should have been pooling their strength.
“They smell like us. Their style is completely different from anyone you’ve faced so far, so they won’t be easy to deal with.”
Dark nodded, seemingly agreeing with her words.
“Block their escape routes so they can’t flee.”
“Understood.”
Hellot gestured to the Phoenix Knights.
The Knights immediately split left and right, swiftly moving behind the enemies.
At the same time, Linda shouted, “Shasha!”
Roar!
Among the Giant Wolves, the one with grayish-white fur barked loudly and charged at the enemies.
The other wolves also bared their fangs and claws, charging in unison.
Roar!
“They’re attacking!”
“What in the world are those things!”
“They’re just monstrous dogs!”
Alteon burst out from the group, swinging a massive mace at the Giant Wolves with all his might, like a baseball bat.
One of the charging wolves couldn’t dodge.
Splat!
Its head exploded like a bursting watermelon.
Seeing this, the Lannister Knights erupted in fury and charged.
“Kill them all!”
They thrust black spears at the enemies.
Not to be outdone, the Apos Mercenary Corps also charged forward, unleashing attacks.
Clang!
The two groups clashed.
“Aargh!”
“Die!”
They attacked each other mercilessly, and the scene instantly turned into pandemonium.
“You sons of bitches! Come at me!”
Every time Alteon swung his mace, Giant Wolves died.
Linda shouted, “Shasha!”
The grayish-white furred Giant Wolf darted forward.
She swiftly mounted its back and raised her spear to shoulder height.
It was the same stance the Lannister Knights adopted when forming a wedge formation.
Alteon, who had been pummeling Giant Wolves like stray dogs with his mace, spotted her charging with fierce momentum from the front.
“What’s a woman who should be home doing here, meddling!”
“I’ll tear that mouth of yours.”
Linda, exuding killing intent, thrust her spear.
Not to be outdone, Alteon also swung his mace with all his might.
Spear and mace clashed.
Bang!
“Ugh!”
Linda reeled back from the impact, falling backward.
Alteon also took two steps back from the spear’s power.
“What?! Who is this woman?”
A look of bewilderment was clear on his face.
Meanwhile, Linda, who had been thrown to the ground, sprang up as if unfazed and picked up the spear that had fallen beside her.
Far from being surprised, her eyes blazed with fighting spirit.
Yet, she was secretly astonished seeing Alteon casually wield such a massive mace.
‘What incredible strength.’
There was only one way to subdue an opponent who relied on brute force: neutralize them with speed.
Linda glared at Alteon, searching for an opening.
After a moment, finding a gap, she darted forward and thrust her spear.
Flash!
It flew like a bolt of lightning.
But Alteon, without even blinking, parried the spear with his mace.
Clang!
Sparks flew with a metallic sound.
Linda caught the rebounding black spear with her other hand and, with both hands, thrust it again with all her might.
Wham!
It flew even faster than before.
“Go home and raise your kids!”
Alteon gripped his mace tightly and swung with all his strength. Just before it collided with the spear! The spear suddenly vanished.
“……!”
Whoosh!
As the mace cut through the air, the spear shot towards his chest.
“Damn it!”
Alteon quickly raised his other hand.
Bang!
He was thrown backward.
“Ugh…”
He barely managed to block it with the iron gauntlet on his wrist, but a massive impact was felt.
The pain made it impossible to move his hand.
“Damn it!”
“Take this!”
Linda thrust her spear with all her might.
The spear, wreathed in a faint blue Aura, was the fastest and most intensely powerful attack she had unleashed so far.
“This woman!”
Alteon’s face contorted.
It seemed too late to block with the mace.
He decided to block with his iron gauntlet again and counterattack.
Just as he extended his numb left wrist forward.
A powerful presence was felt from behind.
‘This is!’
Thud!
A colossal man appeared before them as if falling from the sky—the strongest warrior of the Horkamun Tribe! It was Blizan, the Commander of the Apos Mercenary Corps.
“How dare you!”
He punched towards the incoming spear.
Zap- Crackle-.
The lightning-wreathed fist and spear collided.
Boom!