Chapter 183 - 165: Pursuit (2)
Chapter 183: Chapter 165: Pursuit (2)
Once General Curry’s army charged into the Beastman Camp, they would inevitably slow down. If he wanted to rescue the Beastman Infantry, he would have to fight his way through the camp.
If Robson then charged in from the open ground outside, he would have a relative speed advantage, putting the Beastman Cavalry in a very difficult position.
General Curry’s gaze was sharp. He certainly wouldn’t allow the enemy to charge him just like that. Even if his Extraordinary Personal Soldiers were powerful, they were up against several hundred Heavy Cavalry. And from what Curry had observed, every single one was a superb rider.
What’s more, General Curry’s Extraordinary Personal Soldiers had already exhausted their aura; they were now little more than mortals with strong bodies.
"Beastman Wolf Cavalry! Full retreat!
Silver Tier and above! Intercept them at will!" General Curry commanded.
At that moment, across the entire Beastman Camp, the Beastman Wolf Cavalry who received the order immediately dropped their battle-axes and retreated north the way they came, no longer engaging the Human Infantry.
In their place, numerous Silver Wolf Cavalry appeared, beginning to rampage across the battlefield.
However, to General Curry’s surprise, many of the Beastman Wolf Cavalry were pinned down, trapped by the coordinated efforts of the Human Infantry.
General Curry couldn’t help but admire them. Tonight’s enemy was truly skilled.
At the very least, the combat prowess of this Human Infantry was on par with his Beastman Wolf Cavalry.
Seeing General Curry attempting to retreat, Robson remained calm. He found a good angle, increased his distance, and once again ordered his cavalry to charge.
This time, however, Robson didn’t opt for a massed charge. Instead, he ordered all his cavalry to spread out and give chase.
"Groups of three! Spread out and pursue! Return to camp by evening!
Charge!" Robson roared.
He then took the lead, charging toward the Beastman Camp. In an instant, the entire human Cavalry Team surged forward like a great river, charging toward the Beastman Camp once more.
Curry was overjoyed to see the human Commander daring to charge him all alone.
"Silver Wolf Cavalry! To me!"
"All Silver Wolf Cavalry! To me!"
General Curry commanded. He had heard the human Commander’s previous order loud and clear.
’Groups of three, spread out and pursue!’
He hadn’t dared to counter-charge the human Commander’s cavalry before, fearing the hundreds of Heavy Cavalry at his side. But now, the cavalry around the Commander had been completely scattered!
’A perfect opportunity!’
’If I can just kill this Commander, it will undoubtedly boost our morale. His death will certainly slow down the enemy’s pursuit.’
’Then, I can use my Extraordinary Wolf Cavalry to face the humans’ Extraordinary Knight Order. The enemy’s Mortal Cavalry Team won’t be able to organize effectively, and the chances of survival for my Beastman Wolf Cavalry will increase dramatically.’
Before long, the Silver Wolf Cavalry from across the Beastman camp had once again gathered at General Curry’s side. This time, only nine Wolf Riders were left with him.
General Curry had no time for heartache. He immediately launched a charge in the direction of the approaching human Commander!
Meanwhile, Robson watched the Beastman Commander charging toward him. He was confused at first, but it didn’t take long for him to understand.
’These Beastmen must think I’m a soft target!’
’It makes sense, actually,’ he thought. ’The Fengman Knight Order already charged the Beastmen’s Extraordinary Wolf Cavalry, and the highest-ranking among the Fengman Knights was only Silver Sixth Tier.’
’The Commander of the Extraordinary Knight Order was only an Extraordinary Sixth Tier, so why would the Officer leading a Mortal Cavalry Team be any higher than Silver Sixth Tier?’
’In the enemy Commander’s eyes, I’m probably Silver Tier at best.’
Having figured this out, Robson decided to play along, concealing his true strength and keeping Huang Na from showing herself too soon.
When they were only a hundred or two hundred meters apart—too close to easily turn back—Robson twitched his shoulder. Huang Na understood his signal, spread her wings, and soared into the sky.
"KREEE!"
A phoenix’s cry echoed across the land. Huang Na was now wreathed in brilliant yellow flames, looking impossibly sacred.
"Hah!"
Robson let out a great shout as the full power of a Golden Seventh Tier erupted from him in an instant. A silvery-white aura radiated from his body, and the combined power of man and beast illuminated the surroundings as if it were day.
"What?" General Curry was aghast. He couldn’t fathom why a Golden Tier Extraordinary would be among the ranks of a Mortal Cavalry Team. ’Was he also cast out?’ he wondered.
Huang Na spat a gout of Phoenix Flame from the sky. Fortunately, the mounts of General Curry’s Personal Guard were all hand-picked and of high quality; they didn’t immediately cower before Huang Na’s might.
But when Huang Na’s Phoenix Flame washed over them, they were forced to use what little aura they had left to defend themselves. If they exhausted the last of it now, the human Golden Tier Extraordinary ahead would be able to hunt them down at his leisure.
Watching the brilliant yellow flames rushing toward him, General Curry gritted his teeth. He didn’t activate his aura, intending to endure the attack directly with his Golden Tier physique.
He could withstand it, of course. Huang Na was, after all, only in her juvenile stage; she could not yet command the flames of an adult phoenix, which could inflict significant damage even on a Golden Tier Extraordinary.
But while his body could resist the flames, it was not immune to pain.
When General Curry emerged from the Phoenix Flame, his purple skin was scorched bright red, and his face was twisted into a ferocious snarl.
General Curry’s other Personal Guards followed his example. Unfortunately, with their auras already depleted, they were not so lucky. Nine riders charged in; only five or six came out.
Staring at the human Golden Knight, now just a stone’s throw away, General Curry gathered every last bit of his aura, concentrating it into his scimitar. Ignoring the pain wracking his body, he charged unhesitatingly toward the Human Race Knight.
General Curry could already see that this human must have only recently reached the Golden Tier. He couldn’t even manifest a Golden Avatar. If that was the case, Curry could still rely on his years of battlefield experience to survive the enemy’s lance.
But to General Curry’s surprise, the enemy’s martial skill was equally superb. Though his scimitar blocked for a moment, the enemy’s lance still drove toward his abdomen. Fortunately, General Curry’s reflexes were swift, and he narrowly dodged the blow.
Even so, the human Gold’s lance tore a large chunk of flesh from the left side of General Curry’s abdomen. Blood gushed out.
His mount seemed to sense its master’s peril. It cried out and bolted north.
Robson felt it too—his thrust had been just a little off. But there was nothing for it; his opponent was a seasoned veteran who had seen countless battles.
Just as he was about to turn his horse to give chase, the few surviving Silver Tier Beastman Wolf Cavalry charged him, heedless of their own lives. They intended to buy their Beastman General a path to safety with their own.
After cutting down several of the Silver Tier Beastmen, Robson saw that the mount carrying the Beastman Commander-in-Chief was already a mile or two away. He had no choice but to give up the chase.
The warhorse beneath him was the one Count Offman had gifted him back at Sunset Fortress. How could it possibly outrun that silver-white Demon Wolf?
’A pity,’ Robson thought. ’He must have been a high-ranking officer...’
At this point, the humans’ victory on the battlefield was sealed. Ever since General Curry had announced the retreat, the Beastman Infantry had been fleeing north, back the way they came, without a moment’s hesitation.
They were courageous, but not truly fearless.
They had delayed their retreat before for two reasons: first, the enemy’s Cavalry Team had pinned them down, and second, no one with sufficient authority had given the order.
Now that General Curry himself had ordered the retreat, they no longer had any reason to remain.