The slight tremors of the ground, caused by the pounding hooves, reverberated through Horner's very soul. He sensed the swift approach of the enemy, and beside him, Tyrion, ever perceptive, noticed the deep shadows darkening his commander's expression.
-"Commander..."
Tyrion called out, his voice edged with anxiety.
Horner's brows furrowed, and the corners of his mouth turned downwards in a grim line. He spoke in a low, foreboding tone:
-"They will catch up with us soon."
Tyrion frowned, the gravity of Horner's words weighing heavily upon him .He knows well Horner's ability to sense the surroundings, since he was beside him in recent years,.
The horses struck the ground with fierce determination, their speed increasing as the screams of men grew louder.
-"Damn, they are faster than I expected,"
Donelle muttered through gritted teeth, the situation slipping beyond her carefully laid plans.
-"Do not fret, we shall increase our pace,"
Edgar said firmly, his resolve unyielding. He turned to the leader of the knights and continued,
-"Keep up with our speed."
-"Will the prince be alright? ... could be this our end,"
panic beginning to seep into his voice.
-"It will not be our end..."
Edgar declared with a voice that resonated with unshakable authority.
-"...We will protect him. Return to the right of the carriage.
Horner to the defense!"
Edgar's command was resolute, shaking the very air.
Horner took the reins and turned the horse around, while saying to Tyrone
-"Tyrion, take the lead!"
-"Got it"
Horner left Tyrion to guard the front, the urgency of the situation pressing upon him.
-"Let's hurry up!"
Horner urged.
-"Got it!"
came the collective response.
Despite the peace in which the prince was, he could not help but notice the sudden change in the speed of the carriage, it began to shake slightly, a feeling of suffocation overwhelmed him.
He automatically peeked through the window from Edgar's side, his eyes caught sight of Donelle, his eyes sank into her as he noticed her strangeness.
Donelle, who in his eyes had the face of a porcelain doll, with a cold, fixed expression that did not change, seriousness and caution rose on her features, those sleepy eyes became sharp, and her smooth forehead was carved with wrinkles of worry and her fangs became clear as she bared,
-"What made her make those expressions?"
Suddenly he woke up from his contemplation of her and realized
-"Isn't she supposed to guard the rear? Did something happen?"
He turned to look out the other window to see the knight commander terrified, his eyes widened despite the force of the wind, he could see his pupils had shrunk so much that his eye had turned completely green, he was clenching his teeth so hard that they were about to break, he turned towards the heir, without blinking, his lips moved, the heir couldn't hear him well but he understood what he was saying
-"Sir... Don't worry, we will protect you ..."
Suddenly, Horner felt an imbalance of mana in the air, an ethereal disturbance that pierced the atmosphere with extraordinary speed.
A shiver ran down his spine, raising goosebumps on his skin, a visceral reaction to the unseen peril.
His breath caught for a moment, and his eyes widened, reflecting both alarm and determination. With a swift, almost instinctual movement, he turned his gaze to the right of the carriage.
-" ...Your highness... I'm here to ...Ughhhh—"
His words were cut off as an iron arrow pierced his skull, its head emerging grotesquely through his eye. The commander fell of the horse and crushed beneath the thundering hooves.
The prince, paralyzed by shock, stared out the window, his mouth agape, unable to comprehend the swift brutality of the scene.
Horner was also shocked.
He hadn't even the time to alert Edgar to the strange disturbance in the atmosphere when the attack revealed itself before his very eyes.
-"The knight commander has fallen!"
One of the knights screamed in panic.
The prince's body shook violently as the soldier's screams pierced the chaotic air. His eyes, wide with terror, darted about as he raised trembling hands to clutch his hair. His breaths came in ragged, shallow gasps, and a primal scream tore from his throat.
-"I mustn't die, I mustn't die..."
he shrieked, his voice raw and desperate, echoing his overwhelming fear.
He went into a hysterical state of screaming, the only person he trusted, who could protect him was dead, the soldiers around him heard him sobbing
-"It's over"
-"We're going to die"
The knights became like flocks of sheep who lost their shepherd.
-"He's gone completely crazy, now these knights have lost two masters instead of one"
Horner, eyes ablaze with urgency, addressed Edgar.
Edgar took a deep breath, steeling himself, then spoke with calm authority,
-"Listen, knights. If you wish to survive and protect your heir, follow my orders. Do not panic. The enemy aims to break our defense. Gather yourselves and fight for your kingdom."
A tense silence followed, broken only by the resolute voice of a knight,
-"For the kingdom!"
-"For the heir!"
-"For survival!"
The mercenaries' shouts of encouragement reignited their fighting spirit.
In the midst of the cheers, Edgar cast a worried glance behind him, the weight of their predicament pressing heavily upon his shoulders.
He approached Alvis, the leader of the convoy, who was preoccupied with navigating their path to evade the relentless pursuit of their enemies. Alvis's brow was furrowed with a mix of stress and fear as he pored over the map before him. His concentration was abruptly shattered by Edgar's voice.
-"Alvis..."
-"Huh, yes, what's the matter?"
Alvis replied, his voice tinged with anxiety.
-"There is something I want to discuss with you."
-"I know he died. I need to find a way to lose them,"
Alvis interjected, his tone hurried and fraught.
-"That's great, but I'm talking about the knights. They are incredibly weak. Their actions don't suit the knights of the empire. They panic easily."
-"I noticed this. It's true that the strongest knights died while protecting the palace, but that doesn't mean they are less brave than the mercenaries. My intuition warned me,"
Alvis admitted, his voice lowering as he considered Edgar's words.
-"It seems that we have the same thinking."
- "Doubt won't help us now. Let's focus on survival first. We don't know when the next iron arrow will hit,"
Alvis responded, his tone firm yet laced with urgency.
-"That concerns me the most,"
Edgar muttered, the conserns evident in his eyes.
The enemy's relentless speed was troubling, but the iron arrow was a greater concern. Its weight and range indicated an extraordinary archer among their ranks. They had targeted the knight leader to sow chaos, and their strategy was working.
The next target would be them, posing their greatest obstacle. The only silver lining was that the enemy had not fired another arrow, indicating that the archer could not shoot in rapid succession. However, this temporary reprieve did not guarantee their safety.
-"We must do something about them"
Edgar stated, his voice resolute.
-"...Keep doing what you're doing. Let's survive,"
Edgar continue,his determination mirroring Alvis's.
-"Let's survive,"
Alvis echoed, a grim resolve settling over him as he prepared for the relentless challenges that lay ahead.
-"Donelle!"
Edgar called. She nodded, understanding immediately, and maneuvered her horse back.
-"Archers, prepare!"
she commanded. Her squad lined up with practiced precision, bodies turned to meet the enemy.
-"Ready... fire!"
Arrows flew, initially ordinary, but soon igniting with blue flames that burst forth, causing chaos among the enemy ranks.
-"Ughh ... "
-"Aaah"
And those who were able to confront it with shields، surprise awaits them
-"Huh why did it turn red..."
Scabooom
The arrows exploded, scattering the remains in the air and hindering the enemy.
-"Ooooh, they have amusing toys, shall we show them our toys too"
The thin guy said with sharp fangs laughed.
-"Patience..."
his companion replied coolly.
-"...Let's deal with the small fry first."
....
-"Ready... Go!"
The command rang out, and another volley of arrows darkened the sky, and both sides suffered grievous losses.
Donelle, her face etched with determination, faced the mounting danger, her squad's numbers dwindling as the enemy advanced with relentless speed.
-"We are already weary from the journey; we can't increase our pace any further. If only Raiden were here..."
Donelle murmured, her voice tinged with frustration.
-"Commander..."
Came the hesitant reply from a subordinate.
-"Maintain the same pace,"
Donelle ordered firmly, though her mind was preoccupied with the pressing threat.
Her thoughts whirled around the figure who had loosed the deadly iron arrow—a true terror on the battlefield. The man was a slender specter with long, white hair tied in braids, and a black eye patch obscuring one eye. He remained aloof, separate from the archers, his presence an ominous shadow among them.
The enemy's formation was clear: archers at the forefront, followed by warriors, with three distinct figures in the middle—the formidable archer, the colossal man, and another warrior bearing a sword on his back. Donelle's focus was singular, fixated on the archer whose deadly precision had already claimed lives. This archer had the ability to strike with alarming accuracy from a considerable distance, an unsettling reality that Edgar shared.
Determined to neutralize this threat, Donelle's grip tightened on her bow. She nocked an arrow, her dark eyes narrowing into slits as they fixed on her target. The determination in her gaze was palpable, her expression resolute with a cold, deadly intent.
With a smooth, practiced motion, she drew the arrow back and let it fly. The arrow sliced through the air with a silent grace, cutting a path toward its mark. It traveled unerringly, avoiding the chaotic melee around it, closing in on the archer. Donelle's eyes followed its trajectory, her heart pounding as she awaited the moment of impact.
The archer, distracted by laughter, turned just in time to see the arrow ,perhaps due to his instinct or his luck .
His smile vanished as it neared his eye, but a sword intercepted it, splitting it in two. The warrior beside him had moved just in time.
The archer laughed, patting his companion forcefully.
-"Haha, I almost lost my good eye. Who would have thought?"
-"You owe me one,"
the warrior said icily.
Suddenly the archer's expression darkened and said in a low and Cold voice
-"It's time to get serious..."
He pulled an iron arrow from his quiver.
-"...Let's kill some rats."
Donelle's eyes widened as she saw the archer preparing to shoot. A sudden, visceral sense of danger flooded her, crystallizing into a single, horrifying realization.
-"That arrow is aimed at me,"
she thought, her heart pounding in her chest.
Reacting instinctively, she sat up straighter on her horse and whipped the reins, urging the animal to speed up. Her scream pierced the air, raw and desperate.
-"Edgar! The iron arrow!"
Horner and Edgar whipped their heads around toward her.
Never had they heard Donelle's voice carry such urgency and terror. The normally composed tone, as soothing as a night breeze, now sliced through the air with a sharpness that strained her vocal cords to their limit.
Her heart pounded violently, and her pupils quivered with a mixture of fear and panic.
-"This feeling is familiar..."
she thought, memories crashing over her.
-"...Yes, I've felt it before, that day in the alleys of Media... But this feeling is a little different."
In her mind's eye, she saw a thin, bloodied hand of a weak teenager, desperately reaching out to grab the hand of the man who saved her.
That same memory guided her hand now as she reached out, trembling.
-"H horner..."
she called, the name carrying a weight of desperation and hope.
Swoosh.
The iron arrow found its mark, piercing through her head and exiting through her eyeball.
Their eyes widened in horror as they watched Donelle's body slump forward, leaning on her horse before she fell to the ground with a thud.
-"Donelle!"
they shouted in unison.
Horner immediately turned his horse and galloped toward her fallen form.
Edgar remained rooted in place, shock rendering him immobile, his eyes wide and unblinking.
Horner dismounted swiftly, rushing to Donelle's side. She lay on the ground, covered in dust and blood...
Kneeling, he gently lifted her into his lap, brushing the dirt from her face...
Her remaining eye was open, lifeless and dull. For a fleeting moment, he could almost believe she was still alive...
Tenderly, he closed her eye, his tears mingling with the dust on her pale face.
-"Rest in peace ... my dear Donelle,"
he whispered.
He carried her body to the horse and secured it, sending the horse back to follow the carriage.
As he stood, he noticed the mercenaries gathering around him. They followed him with heads bowed in mourning, some shedding silent tears. Horner bit his lip, then raised his voice to address them.
-"Raise your heads and honor her sacrifice. Donelle has become one of our heroes. The enemy dared to kill our most precious comrade. Let us take revenge and kill them all... for Donelle!"
-"For Commander Donelle!"
the mercenaries echoed.
With renewed fervor, the mercenaries drew their swords and charged at the enemy who had reached the battlefield. Horner mounted a horse, pointing his sword towards the enemy, his voice sharp and commanding.
-"Attack, Estella's mercenaries!"
-"Estellaaaa!"
they roared, surging forward to meet their foes in a furious clash.
-"Ooooo they decided to attack directly, good they'll save us time"
The archer with the patch said.
The enemies were collided with mercenaries, and the sounds of the swords were shown, Horner as the devastation was cut off.
Those three in the back did not interfere in the fighting, they were watching the monster that cuts human meat as paper,
- "That man looks good"
said the huge man.
- "Unfortunately his death will soon be hahaha"
He replied with a loud laughs .
Horner turned towards the source of the high laughs, with the acute end often this triple, then suddenly someone shouted calling for horner
- "Sir Horner!"
He turned back to find him one of Donelle's band, referring to the enemy
- "it's him!, the black patch, he is the one who killed the leaders Donelle" .
Horner's eyes widened in shock, and then he quickly turned to face the archer, who stood in the middle of the battlefield laughing and smiling with a provocative look.
Horner ground his teeth, the muscles in his jaw tightening with rage. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and then rushed towards the archer at an incredible speed.
Everything in front of him blurred as if it were fog, his focus solely on the enemy. His sword sliced through the air, aiming straight for the archer's head, but just as it was about to reach its target, it was abruptly stopped by the warrior's sword.
The clash of metal rang out, a sharp sound that echoed across the battlefield.
- "again why everyone targets me today"
with a recurrent voice and a good smile said.
- "Do you think that will stop me?"
Horner snarled, his voice a low growl as he sought the warrior's eyes.
Horner's eyes were sharp, yet dark as the ocean's depths ,a reflection of the fury and sorrow churning within him.
His intuition as a warrior told him that this man did not speak nonsense. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he instinctively looked towards his companion.
To his horror, he found his comrade's head already severed into two pieces.
-"Damn it ,"
the warrior muttered, his voice filled with shock and disbelief.
The he slashed with his sword to be blocked by Horner, he retreated back towards the mercenaries.
- "Oi, I think we have to intervene".
The big guy said, he remained unmoved, his expression stoic as he observed the chaos unfolding before him.
The death of his companion seemed to have barely registered with him, not even a flicker of disturbance .
The warrior and Horner exchanged glances, Horner's eyes shining with a dark mixture of anger and sadness.
His pupils were wide, glowing with an unquenchable fire, as if the flame of revenge was consuming him.
The tears at the corners of his eyes reflected the depth of the pain he felt at the loss of Donelle. The looks he gave were filled with hatred and determination, looks that owthed revenge, and made anyone who saw them realize that he would not back down until he had his revenge.
The warrior studied his gaze, then raised his hand to stop his companion.
- "... don't, leave him to me."
- "Huh, that's not of your habits..."
The big guy was surprised for a moment, but he saw his eyes almost piercing Horner's as if they were yearning for something, he sighed and continued.
-"...Okay, I'll intervene if necessary."
In the midst of this, Horner advanced with lightning speed, directing a quick strike towards the warrior, but the latter skillfully blocked it, and followed it with a powerful strike that forced Horner to take a step back.
The two began to circle around each other, exchanging blows and parries, each trying to reach the other.
Horner's strikes were powerful and devastating while the warrior's were quick and graceful, retreating and advancing in continuous succession.
The clash between them intensified, their screams filling the battlefield. Their swords clashed violently, causing sparks to fly through the air. Horner backed away lightly, trying to find a loophole in the warrior's defenses. He moved quickly around his opponent, dodging the heavy blows that the warrior was directing with unstoppable force.
The ground shook beneath their feet, and dust swirled around them like a small storm.
Horner launched an attack from an unexpected angle, slamming his sword into the warrior's leg. It hits its target, causing the warrior to stagger for a moment, but he quickly regained his balance, delivering a powerful blow towards him, using all his might in an attempt to knock Horner down. With each clash, sound of thunder filled the air, mixing with their screams and the sound of battle around them.
The pressure was increasing, and fatigue began to show on their faces, the two swords clashed once again, each exerting all their strength, there was no sign of retreat from either of them, each with a reason to win, each exerting the last of their energy and determination to prevail in this fierce confrontation...