As all the people in the world, the only one I knew that fit the bill of being such a crazy and foolish bastard to take on 100 knights, was Lucas.
And I already knew that I was in for a crazy ride...
"Prepare yourselves!" I bellowed, my voice reverberating through the chaos. "Those with shields, protect those behind you and form a shield wall!"
I scanned the trees frantically, searching for the blonde hairs of that traitor. Amidst the foliage, I caught a glimpse of him and our eyes met for a split second. His gaze was filled with pure malice. With a snarl, he hurled his dagger towards me, its blade slicing through the air.
Despite my swift reflexes, I couldn't parry the attack in time. The dagger flew towards my throat, narrowly missing it by mere inches. My shock turned to realization as I processed how close I had come to death. But before I could react further, he vanished from sight - using his ability to change his position quickly.
Out of nowhere, a gurgling noise caught my attention. I spun around to see one of the younger knights clutching his throat, a crossbow bolt embedded in his steel armor. How did that bastard get a hold of a crossbow?
Ok! I need to stay calm and focused; I'm about to face off against the main character of this novel. His biggest advantage is being able to hide and attack from a distance, but it seems he also has a stockpile of weapons to throw at us. He can't use magic without giving away his position, so our strongest asset right now is our numbers.
As I pivoted, I grabbed one of my knights by the shoulder, turning his head to face me. "Take out your sword and ride towards the carriage. Cut down a horse and make your way onto the street. From there, ride to the nearest town and inform the garrison commander of our current situation," I commanded, thrusting my father's heir ring into his hand with its distinct emblem. "Make haste when carrying out this task, for time is of the essence but await my order ." As I spoke, I surveyed the front lines and saw that nearly a tenth of our hundred knights had already been taken down by enemy bolts and daggers. The remaining soldiers managed to form a protective wall around me and their fallen comrades. Our horses had scattered in fear as soon as the first projectiles were flung at us; they weren't foolish enough to remain in harm's way.
''Brave knight of House Delecroix, those that are not on the front lines with shields, conjure fireballs and send them towards the forest!'' I bellowed, my voice echoing across the battlefield. Immediately, the knights sprang into action, their hands glowing with powerful magic. These were not just common soldiers, but elite members of my house chosen by my father himself. A sense of pride swelled within me as I watched them follow my command.
Dozens of fireballs flew through the air, leaving trails of scorching heat behind them. The leaves on the trees wilted and blackened under the intense flames, creating a suffocating smoke that filled the air. But my goal was not to harm Lucas directly - he was too skilled for such simple tactics. No, my plan was to start a fire in the forest, trapping him and forcing him out of hiding.
As I watched the chaos unfold, a small smirk crept onto my face. The power of House Delecroix was on full display, and I knew that victory would soon be ours.
The air crackled with heat and the scent of burning wood as fireballs were launched towards the thick forest. I scanned the area, my heart racing as I looked for any sign of the bastard . Seeing no movement , I turned to the knight and gave him a signal to proceed with our mission.
Without hesitation, he sprinted behind the carriage, sword drawn and ready for battle. With one swift motion, he sliced through a rein holding one of the horses and leapt over it, sending it galloping down the road. The bastard must have noticed our plan, as a bolt flew towards the knight, just barely missing his head.
But we had accomplished our first task - causing chaos and gaining time. Now it was up to Lucas to finish the job. He knew that failure was not an option, for if he couldn't kill me, I would surely respond with my own attempt.
The landscape around us was ablaze, smoke swirling in chaotic patterns as screams echoed in the distance. It was a scene straight out of hell.
With a sudden rustle of leaves, the person I tried to avoid emerged from the dense forest. He moved with a dangerous grace, hips adorned with a multitude of sharp daggers, and a loaded crossbow slung across their back. The sunlight glinted off the polished metal weapons as he made their way towards me, their gaze steady and calculating.
''DIE BASTARD!'' One of the younger knights shouted, his voice filled with rage and adrenaline as he charged ahead into battle.
''STUPID, GET BACK!'' I desperately yelled, knowing it was too late. Lucas, merely raised an eyebrow in a show of confidence before expertly landing a bold strike on the visor of the charging knight.
I still don't understand where he got it..
''DON'T BREAK FORMATION! GET AROUND THE BASTARD , HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CUT THROUGH ALL OF YOU! WE JUST NEED TO GAIN TIME!'' My words were meant to rally and strategize, but it seemed they lacked weight as my fellow knights turned to Caer for instructions.As he was the leader of the knights.
Unfortunately, Caer was not aware of the true reason for my order. Seeing how young and lightly-armored Lucas appeared, he immediately believed that they could take him down. ''CUT THE ASSASSIN DOWN!'' Caer commanded, and despite my protests, the other knights raised their weapons and lunged at the enemy.
The only ones who did not join in were Roy and five other knights who stood by me protectively. They did not realize that in a few moments, we would all be facing off against Lucas in a deadly battle for survival. The air was thick with tension and fear as I prepared for the inevitable clash.