Chapter 68, Champion Showdown (Part 1)
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The lines were shattered, the Nord soldiers who couldn't withstand the pressure were still resisting, but the conscripted troops and militias had collapsed, fleeing in all directions in panic.
"Retreat! Retreat!" Walnut Knight Nikolai signaled the soldiers to fall back as he personally led the Great Swordsmen to cover the retreat. These elite Nord Great Swordsmen were reduced to just over forty men, desperately holding the ground and continually wiping out the pursuing Barbarian soldiers.
It was their sacrifice that bought the retreating Nord soldiers enough time to successfully enter the city, where they were struggling to reorganize their defensive line.
With a swing of a spiked mace, a Barbarian soldier's head exploded, brain matter splattering onto Nikolai's armor. But the Walnut Knight didn't care; he immediately faced the next enemy, raising his shield to block the incoming axe blade, and slammed the spiked mace into another Barbarian Raider's head. The red liquid flowed from inside the Barbarian's helmet amidst his screams, definitely not watermelon juice.
At this moment, Barbarian Riders surged in, with the Barbarian Chief riding a massive white bear charging onto the battlefield. The Great Swordsmen trying to obstruct him were torn apart in front of Bireg like rags. The "Crushing Bear" axe rose and fell, cleaving one soldier after another in half in front of him. The flimsy military formation could not provide cover for Walnut Knight, and the Barbarian Chief soon approached Nikolai himself.
"Mr. Nikolai! Run! We'll cover you!" A Great Swordsman shouted without thinking, but he was soon struck by the Barbarian Champion Warrior Kuoloulin's Great Hammer, his fate unknown.
"No, this is also... part of the plan." Nikolai urged his warhorse, personally engaging the Barbarian Great Chief.
At the moment of the clash, Walnut Knight barely dodged the incoming axe blade, but his spiked mace was easily deflected by the Barbarian Great Chief. Nikolai immediately turned his horse, pulling out a short gun from his waist.
"Bang!" The white bear under Bireg let out a mournful cry as its shoulder was hit by a bullet.
"Ughhhhh!" The Barbarian Chief was enraged, urging his white bear to charge madly towards Walnut Knight.
The battle ended within seconds; under Bireg's amazing strength, Nikolai's iron shield was sent flying by the great axe, and Walnut Knight's spiked mace left a shallow mark on Bireg's arm as he faced the attack of the Barbarian Chief's axe.
"I want you dead!" Bireg's great axe severed Nikolai's right arm, the excruciating pain causing Walnut Knight to scream in agony.
Even the screams died out quickly; Walnut Knight was lifted into the air by Bireg, who crushed his throat, the final sound limited to choking noises within Nikolai's neck.
"Hey, weakling, does such a level knight dare to challenge me?" Bireg mocked Walnut Knight's audacity with abandon, not even bothering to collect his head, tossing Nikolai's corpse to the ground like garbage.
On the city wall, Teresa's face was cold as ice; the prolonged battle had exhausted all the female sorcerer's Mana, leaving her powerless to aid the defeated knight, as she had to preserve the last bit of Magic Power to ensure she could use a scroll to teleport away in case of emergency.
"The inferior Southern people are already defeated, warriors! Charge! Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!!" Bireg shouted loudly.
"Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!!" The remaining Barbarian soldiers followed their Chief, tearing through the last defenses of the Nord Army like crushing ancient ruins, eager for their favorite slaughter and arson festival.
However, something unexpected occurred; a loud and clear horn sounded from within the city, humans erupted with cries filled with hope as cavalry rushed out of the town, bringing death to every Barbarian attempting to enter.
A forest of spears, the Nord knights under Laine's lead charged into the Barbarian formation. The Barbarian warriors met them calmly, steel clashing against steel, blood-red flowers splashing in the air. Bireg was surprised that humans still had such a fresh force, but quickly realized these roughly dressed, mixed and matched human cavalry were not knights, but a motley crew consisting of noble guards, church paladins, and knight's squires, led by a Temple Knight, a White Wolf Knight, and the city's Lord, the Count.
"Mr. Laine! We will create an opportunity for you, the rest is up to you!" Temple Knight Floyd used his sword and shield to assault the Barbarian army's formation, Alfred right behind him: "Go, good friend!"
"All troops! Advance!!!" The Count charged on an Elf Warhorse, his cavalry lance piercing the heart of a Barbarian Rider. The Count let the lance snap, then immediately received a new one from his guard: "For Nord!"
"For Nord!!" The cavalry called loudly, rushing into the Barbarian's military formation like a deadly whirlwind, the Barbarian formation thrown into chaos, giving the battle a moment's chance of reversal.
The Barbarian soldiers were ultimately too numerous; the cavalry gradually stalled in the quagmire. Bireg was very surprised that this group of people was rushing toward him, so he gripped his axe shield, preparing for battle.
Something strange happened in front of Bireg's eyes; the Nord cavalry scattered as they were about to reach him, leaving only a young man wielding a war hammer approaching him. This young man's black hair framed his handsome face, fine iron chain armor paired with chest armor, the White Wolf Knight Badge gleaming on his chest, his youthful face signaling his identity. He was the "Great Hammer" Laine, the leader charging with the cavalry.