"Stop, stop!" Alexander yelled, desperately pulling on the reins to slow down the horse. The startled horse gradually decreased its speed under Alexander's full control and was starting to come to a halt.
However, Easton, witnessing this scene, was left bewildered. What was happening? Wasn't the other party trying to attack him? Shouldn't they be accelerating and using the horse's momentum? Why were they slowing down as they approached him?
What on earth was going on? Easton was still trying to make sense of the situation when Alexander managed to bring the horse to a stop. Quickly, he turned the horse around and galloped in a different direction. Easton finally grasped the situation: the opponent had mistaken their direction.
"This fool! Since you came, you won't leave!" Easton shouted angrily and spurred his own horse to pursue Alexander. As the leader of a several-thousand-strong rebel force, Easton was riding a horse as well.
Seeing the menacing pursuit of Easton, with several rebel soldiers trailing behind him, fear gripped Alexander.
"Eli, Jake, save me!" In this critical moment, Alexander thought of Eli and Jake, remembering Jake's impressive performance during the battle against the Red-eyed Wolf Pack.
Eli and Jake had also witnessed the scene. Despite their grievances against Alexander, they couldn't stand by and watch him die. After all, Alexander was the commander of Skylark Camp. His death would heavily impact the morale of the entire camp. If they hoped to withstand the onslaught of the rebel soldiers, it would become even more challenging without Alexander's leadership.
However, Jake and Eli were currently facing their own challenges. The ambush of rebel soldiers had reached them, blocking their path. Additionally, given that Alexander had abandoned them earlier in his escape, they were now separated by some distance. Reaching Alexander would require time.
Jake had his bow and arrows ready, aiming to take down the rebel leader directly. Eliminating the rebel leader would undoubtedly affect their morale, and without proper command, the rebel soldiers' combat effectiveness would be diminished. This would not only save Alexander but also provide a chance to repel the rebel forces.
Yet, the increasing number of rebel soldiers before Jake obstructed his line of sight. Furthermore, the rebel leader was constantly moving, and with Alexander's presence obstructing his shot, Jake's attempt to target Easton became exceedingly difficult.
"Trying to run? It's not that easy!" Seeing Alexander attempting to escape into a group of people, Easton shouted, hurling his long knife. Horses were precious resources, and anyone riding a horse was considered significant. Even though Easton didn't recognize Alexander, the fact that he was riding a horse hinted at his importance. Easton couldn't allow him to escape.
Distracted by his desperate escape, Alexander failed to notice Easton's action behind him. He remained oblivious until the moment the long knife drew near, unaware of the imminent danger.
"Thud!" As the leader of a several-thousand-strong rebel force who had earned a reputation among the rebels, Easton's strength was not to be underestimated. His strike was not only powerful but also precise, and the long knife pierced through Alexander's body.
At the moment the blade penetrated his body, Alexander jolted awake. But it was too late for him to react further. The blade had effortlessly pierced through his body. His eyes widened abruptly, and he briefly paused on the horse's back before plummeting to the ground, lying motionless.
Alexander was dead! Impaled by Easton's blade, he had perished. Even in death, Alexander's eyes remained wide open, reflecting pain, regret, and an unwillingness to accept his fate.
Jake and Eli had been closely watching the situation unfold. Witnessing Alexander being struck by the blade and falling from the horse, they realized that things had taken a dire turn.
At this moment, Easton had already mounted his horse and arrived next to Alexander's body. He grabbed the hilt of the long knife and lifted Alexander's body, then laughed wildly and recklessly.
"Death to those who oppose me!"
"Mighty leader, mighty!"
The soldiers of the uprising were inspired by Easton, and their morale soared. On the side of the supply convoy, seeing their commander dead and his body displayed on a large knife, panic surged through their hearts.
A perfect opportunity! At this moment, Jake didn't have time to pity Alexander's death. In fact, he didn't care about Alexander's death at all. He had been searching for an opportunity to kill the enemy leader, and now, he had finally found it.
"Swish!" With a loosening of Jake's right hand, the arrow swiftly flew out. Thanks to the effect of the white crane jade pendant, Jake now possessed advanced archery skills. His arrow's accuracy and speed were exceptional, cutting through spatial barriers as it raced towards Easton's chest.
Easton, who was displaying his might and dominance, suddenly felt a chill in his heart. Soon after, he saw a black dot flying towards him.
"Not good!" Courageous and fierce as he was, Easton had an instinctive sense of danger. At this moment, he realized the danger and quickly attempted to evade. However, his evasive action was slightly delayed. Although he managed to barely avoid a vital area, his arm was inevitably struck by the arrow.
The arrow carried tremendous force, piercing through Easton's arm and delivering a massive impact that caused him to sway on his horse. Taking advantage of this impact, Easton flipped off his horse and took cover within the crowd.
Indeed, shortly after Easton dismounted, another arrow flew from the same direction, passing over his head. If he hadn't dismounted in time, he might have been hit again.
A skilled archer! In the first instance, Easton deduced Jake's position and identity through the wind direction of the two arrows, sharply gazing in that direction. Jake did the same, their eyes meeting in the air, creating intense sparks.
"What a pity," Jake sighed slightly as he saw Easton's expression. If the opponent had reacted just a bit slower, he would be a corpse by now. However, it was clear that Easton possessed rich combat experience, allowing him to narrowly avoid two fatal threats.
"I'll kill you!" Easton stared fiercely at Jake. While Jake couldn't hear his words, he clearly sensed the meaning conveyed by his gaze.
Kill me? Then come and try! Jake returned a defiant look to him. The tension and hostility between the two sides intensified even further!