Bear School Astartes

In the woods, there were no cries of birds or beasts; instead, one could hear the subtle friction of armor and steel.

It was nightfall now, and proper caravans, lords, and their guards should be resting at inns.

The King's Road is a simple path; if you've traveled it a few times, you can generally ensure those on the road plan accordingly to find a cozy inn for the night.

So, the people waiting here now, their identity goes without saying.

Edd Stark heard Lann's whispered orders, his exhausted eyes widened slightly, and the stern face seemed for a moment to want to turn to see the young man, to see if he was serious.

But Edd, being someone who had led soldiers in war, immediately suppressed his impulse.

He moved calmly past the five warriors behind him. The group seemed unnaturally about to turn around and go back.

But when Edd had reached the other end of the team, he suddenly shouted loudly without warning!

"Retreat! Full speed!"

Immediately, the previously calm hoofs flew, splattering mud and dirt clods.

"Don't just stand there, go quickly!"

Lann was now at the end of the team, urging the dumbfounded five warriors. They soon came to their senses and together galloped towards the camp.

Lann's quick reaction was indeed effective; until the horses of the five soldiers had sped up, the front woods began to emit continuous "swoosh" sounds.

In the meantime, the group had already moved at least fifteen meters ahead, and their horses had taken precedence over the opponent in speeding up.

In the woods, there was a thick and brutal roar like that of a bear: "Shoot arrows! You fools! Shoot arrows! Leave Edd Stark behind!"

Lann had heard that voice at a tournament; as Edd guessed, intercepting him was Demon Mountain Gregor Clegane!

He was a trained knight, knowing this moment's time difference was enough to make his horses unable to catch up with the opponents. So he simply started shooting arrows.

When Lann heard 'shoot arrows,' he immediately released the Quen Rune with his hand.

The dim golden magic shield under the night appeared as the reflection of a torch, not attracting attention.

The sparse arrows cut through the air, shrouding the group of galloping riders.

The main targets were concentrated on the leading Edd, while others aimed at the back of Lann's rear.

Lann's magic power had long surpassed his former teacher, Bordeaux; the Quen Rune in the face of arrows barely held a bit.

But now Lann blocked all three or four arrows, and his Quen Rune still had strength left, not shattered.

The Demon Hunter's eyes narrowed slightly, estimating the current situation.

Judging from the number of arrows, there were about twenty enemies, indeed a small troop.

"Edd has at least dashed forty meters ahead, riding on an unstable horse; even a modern rifle would need some skill to hit, let alone mere arrows... Damn it!!!"

"Whinnying!"

Just when Lann slightly relaxed for a moment, an arrow shot along a parabolic trajectory, crossing above Lann's field of vision.

Then directly stabbed into the hind leg of Edd's horse!

If it had struck the thick muscle of the horse's rump, the horse might run even faster in pain.

But hurting a leg during a run...

Lann even swore heavily in surprise.

What level of archer is this?

Edd's horse veered directly, rolling on the ground. Luckily Edd, a veteran of the battlefield, sensed something was wrong the moment the horse got hit and immediately pulled his leg out of the stirrups.

He wasn't entangled into the rolling horse's body.

But even so, he was momentarily dizzy, even sounds had an echo.

Lann at the back of the team felt a bit of a headache immediately.

Edd was the most important in the whole team; if he was shot down, it was meaningless for others to leave.

"Well shot!" That thick bear-like voice boasted behind, "Sweetmouth, when I take Edd's head, you will get a huge prize!"

Meanwhile, exceptionally heavy hoofbeats sounded.

A knight who could match Lann's strength was charging!

"Clear the way!" With the hoofbeats closing in, Lann shouted to the five befuddled warriors ahead.

Several horses passed closely by the dazed Duke of the North on the ground; Lann leaned sideways on the saddle, about to grab the man directly.

Despite his vision blurring, Edd still stretched out his arm, trying to quickly grab Lann's hand.

And just as they were about to succeed...

"Sweetmouth!"

The sonorous voice behind roared.

And then came a slightly sharp response, tinged with confidence and cruel glee.

"Understood, sir!"

With a "whoosh," a swift arrow flew out from the darkness.

Lann was now holding onto the saddle with one hand, extending the other towards Edd, unable to deploy the Magic Seal.

He clearly heard the arrow's sound, even Mentos could sketch the arrow's trajectory in his mind, but there was just no way to counter it!

The war horse let out a painful cry as an arrow lodged into Lann's horse leg.

About a hundred kilograms of horse mass began to roll, but this time, it did not affect its rider.

When Lann judged the landing point of the arrow, he had already leapt from the saddle, lightly jumping to Edd's side.

It didn't appear as jumping off a falling saddle, rather it seemed merely like stepping down a step.

The exceptionally heavy hoofbeats drew closer, along with shouts and chaos following the hoof sounds...

But at this moment, Lann simply narrowed his eyes, seeming indifferent.

His right hand reached back, grasping the sword hilt. His handsome face was cold like frost.

This was supposed to be a perfect attack response.

They could have lured the enemy to the camp, resolving them with minimal cost.

They could have...

"I'm somewhat angry." The clear sword blade was drawn out, shimmering like flowing water in the moonlight, Lann's tone was calm.

Edd shook his head, finally regaining his normal sight.

And as soon as he regained his sight, he discovered the young man in front of him, with cat-like eyes holding something chilling in them.

"You all are eager to die, huh?"

Lann now met the charging tall warhorse head-on.

And that war horse, whining excitedly, quieted down after a gaze exchange with those cat-like eyes.

The enemy's horse was clad in scale-like armor, ordinary crossbow arrows wouldn't pierce through to harm the warhorse.

While the enemy himself held a lance at least 3.5 meters long, Lann didn't even have a shield.

The massive black knight on horseback showed his brutal and mocking eyes through the observation slit of his helmet.

Yet, the Demon Hunter extended his sword-free left hand forward, speaking calmly.

"—Alder"

"Boom!"

Cold white magical glow appeared in the night!

The expertly controlled compressed ground-striking shockwave swept over the horse's hooves as if a magical horse-tripping cord.

The war horse armor could easily withstand crossbow bolts, but could not handle the horse-tripping cord during a charge.

On the King's Road in the dark, amidst the loud crash, there was now a horse with a broken neck.