A few bundles of firewood were set ablaze beside the fence, and several sections of the fence erupted in flames. The wounded and some mercenaries had gathered, waiting for the entire fence to burn down, after which the rear guard would join the retreat.
But things move faster than plans.
"Charge!"
A rider in a blue cloak from the enemy forces saw the fence ablaze and instantly sensed something was amiss. Without hesitation, he spurred his horse forward, charging directly into the fence. The nearly half-ton knight crashed into the already weakened structure, shattering it into splinters. Yet, undeterred, the knight continued his charge, sending a mercenary guarding the entrance flying five meters away, his chest visibly caved in.
"Kill him!"
Wolfe immediately grabbed his two-handed axe and ran toward the knight, several mercenaries following suit.
Mike Bai watched in desperation, knowing that even though the knight's speed had slightly decreased, he was still an unstoppable force. If the knight broke through and cut through their ranks, the entire defense would collapse.
"We have to kill this knight," Mike Bai muttered as he watched the gap the knight had created, through which more enemies were beginning to pour. Though the soldiers held them off for now, they wouldn't last much longer.
"We must act fast!"
Mike Bai grabbed a short spear and aimed it at the knight, taking a deep breath. The air was thick with the stench of fire and death. With a powerful step, his left foot hit the ground, and his right hand drew the spear back, his body like a bow, gathering all his strength behind the throw.
The spear shot out with a deafening whistle, aimed at the knight. But the knight, quick as ever, raised his shield.
The spear struck with a force that drove half its length into the shield. The knight staggered back, but the saddle held firm, keeping him steady. Taking advantage of the knight's limited visibility, a few mercenaries closed the distance.
Bill, a towering figure like an iron pillar, let out a furious roar and slammed into the knight's side with his shield. The knight was sent flying, his left arm twisted unnaturally as the blow sent him skidding away.
But at last, the knight's momentum faltered.
Wolfe seized the moment, raising his axe to strike at the horse's head. But the steed, controlled with incredible dexterity by the knight, suddenly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blow.
The knight retaliated by hurling his shield with the embedded spear, sending Wolfe crashing to the ground.
"Captain!"
A mercenary approached from the knight's right side, thrusting his spear, only for the knight to narrowly dodge. Before the mercenary could pull back, the knight swiftly slashed upward, cutting a deadly gash from shoulder to abdomen.
The mercenary fell lifeless, his body collapsing into the dirt.
"Die!"
With blood-red eyes, Gene moved from the knight's left rear, using all his strength to drive a spear into the knight's back. But the thick chainmail under the knight's cloak stopped the blow from penetrating deeply.
The enraged knight immediately spun his horse, intent on slaying the one who had wounded him. Gene swiftly dropped his spear and started weaving around the knight, keeping just out of reach.
The knight, unable to match Gene's speed, found himself locked in a futile chase.
"You cowardly rat!" the knight shouted, his voice seething with fury.
"On the battlefield, fleeing an enemy's attack is not shameful," Gene shot back, expertly dodging. "The knight's true honor is found in victory!"
Having absorbed Mike Bai's lessons on knights, Gene paid no heed to the knight's anger, continuously darting in and out of his blind spot.
As the knight and Gene played their circular game, Mike Bai, ever the pragmatist, stealthily approached with his hooked scythe.
"Gene, I'm here to help!"
Taking advantage of the knight's distraction, Mike Bai swung the scythe at the knight. The blade hit the knight's left rib, but the armor held firm.
Enraged, the knight glared at Mike Bai, who flashed a sly grin.
"Get down here!"
Mike Bai pulled with all his might, and the hooked blade embedded itself deeply into the knight's chainmail, pinning him in place. But despite his efforts, Mike Bai was being slowly dragged toward the knight.
The knight's boots dug into the stirrups, and with one hand gripping the scythe's shaft, he pulled with the strength of years of training, overpowering Mike Bai. Mike Bai's feet sank deep into the mud, leaving tracks as he was dragged closer.
Fortunately, Mike Bai was not alone.
Gene appeared beside him, grabbing the scythe and pulling with him. Together, they managed to steady Mike Bai's footing as the knight's fury intensified, his own strength pulling harder on the weapon.
For a moment, it became a tug-of-war.
"Ha! Die!"
A gleaming axe swung down from nowhere. Wolfe, having risen from the ground, breathed heavily, and with a mighty swing, struck the knight.
The knight, caught off guard, lost his balance and was sent crashing to the ground, his armored body slamming into the earth with a deafening crash.
Mike Bai and Gene seized the opportunity, both lunging forward and pinning the knight down with all their weight.
Amidst the struggle, Mike Bai ripped off the knight's helmet and pulled up his neck guard, all while the knight fought desperately, but was kept immobilized by the two mercenaries.
Mike Bai drew his short knife, worn and chipped, but still a lethal weapon in his hands.
"Say your last words, knight!" Mike Bai sneered, looking at the exposed throat as his knife rose high.
In that tense moment, the knight, completely disregarding his pride, shouted out in desperation:
"I'll pay a ransom!"
The sound of a horn rang out from behind Mike Bai. From the rising dust, their reinforcements, cavalry riders, appeared at the camp's edge, beginning to flank the enemy forces.
The battlefield erupted into chaos once more, filled with the sound of pursuing and fighting.
Mike Bai's eyes flickered, his mind racing as he slowly lowered the knife.