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Chapter 22: Assault on the Tribe
Chapter 22: Assault on the Tribe
The Red Horn Wilderness is a desolate wasteland located over two hundred kilometers north of Blackrock City.
Sparse vegetation and scarce water sources make the area inhospitable, save for the numerous red, horn-like rocks that dot the landscape, giving the region its name.
Due to the harsh environment, the Red Horn Wilderness is home to only one intelligent species: the Black-Scaled Lizards. Because food is so scarce, these reptilian creatures invade Blackrock City's territory every winter to plunder enough supplies to survive the cold months, while also reducing their own population's overgrowth.
The people of Blackrock City detest the Black-Scaled Lizards, who bring destruction and suffering every year. When Koy ordered a surprise attack on the Black-Scaled Lizard tribe, the knights responded with fervent enthusiasm.
"I've had it with those lizard bandits for a long time. Today, we're going to wipe them out!"
Jodan, astride his Blackrock Leopard, wore a look of intense excitement. The other knights were similarly eager, rubbing their hands in anticipation.
Koy, recognizing the importance of this mission, not only mobilized the newly formed cavalry but also called upon five hundred soldiers. Thanks to a steady supply of gold, Blackrock City's military had expanded to a thousand men, not including the militia. The city's military strength had grown several times over compared to the previous year.
At the head of the formation, the cavalry led the way, followed by the infantry. The long column of over five hundred men moved through the wilderness in disciplined order. Koy and Su Nan, both riding Blackrock Leopards, were positioned in the middle of the formation.
Their mounts were more robust and imposing than the others, with a deeper, more lustrous sheen.
[Blackrock Leopard (Puppet/High Knight Level): A puppet construct made of Blackrock Iron, with a body as hard as the metal itself. It can burrow through Blackrock Iron veins and replenish its energy and heal by consuming the metal.]
These elite Blackrock Leopards were the result of Su Nan's synthesis of seven regular Blackrock Leopards. Each one possessed the strength of a High Knight, with a body so durable that even weapons forged from Blackrock Iron could only leave shallow scratches.
Koy was clearly delighted with his new mount, unable to take his eyes off it.
As they ventured deeper into the Red Horn Wilderness, the surroundings grew increasingly desolate. After another half-hour of travel, the scout at the front returned, shouting, "Sir, the Black-Scaled Lizard tribe is about two kilometers ahead!"
"Excellent."
Koy's spirits lifted, and he issued a stern command.
"Everyone, accelerate and prepare for battle!"
The pace of the column quickened at once. Before long, the Black-Scaled Lizard tribe came into view.
What passed for a tribe was a cluster of crude huts made of wood and thatch, surrounded by a wooden palisade. The entire settlement exuded a sense of primitiveness and backwardness.
With over five hundred men approaching, the Black-Scaled Lizards were not blind to the threat. By the time the army arrived, hundreds of the reptilian warriors had gathered at the front of the tribe, brandishing weapons and glaring fiercely at their attackers.
The Black-Scaled Lizards were a warrior society, where even the women and children possessed combat skills on par with average adult males. Adult Black-Scaled Lizards had the strength of a squire, while a few elite members could match that of a squire knight. Those who experienced a return to their ancestral roots and awakened dragon-lizard blood could rival full knights.
At the forefront, over a dozen Black-Scaled Lizards with red streaks on their scales, a clear sign of awakened dragon-lizard blood, stood ready. Among them, a towering figure nearly two and a half meters tall, radiating a fierce and brutal aura, caught Su Nan's attention. This leader exuded a presence nearly on par with Koy, who had recently ascended to the rank of Peak Knight just last month.
In other words, this suspected tribal chief of the Black-Scaled Lizards likely possessed the strength of a Peak Knight.
Moreover, the number of Black-Scaled Lizard warriors armed with weapons clearly exceeded two hundred.
While they were outnumbered, the individual strength of the Black-Scaled Lizards was no less formidable.
Winning this battle would not be easy.
However, neither Koy nor the knights under his command showed any fear. Their morale was high.
This was because they had a wizard standing behind them!
As they advanced, all the cavalrymen of the mounted unit simultaneously pulled out potions, popped the wooden corks with their thumbs, and drank them down.
Strength Potion!
A zero-grade potion that could significantly enhance physical strength!
For this battle, Su Nan had made over sixty bottles of Strength Potion, ensuring each cavalryman had one.
With the Strength Potion's boost, even an apprentice knight could match the strength of a full knight!
"Charge!"
Koy drew his longsword and shouted loudly.
Riding at the forefront, he led the cavalry unit like a sharp arrow, crashing into the Black-Scaled Lizards' defenses!
In an instant, blood splattered and limbs flew!
The battle erupted and quickly escalated to a fever pitch.
The open area in front of the tribe turned into a battleground of gore and blood!
This was the first time the Blackrock Leopard cavalry had truly seen combat since their formation.
And they did not disappoint.
Even if the Black-Scaled Lizards managed to block the cavalrymen's weapons, they were quickly torn apart by the Blackrock Leopards' sharp claws.
They were no longer facing individual cavalrymen but a combined assault of cavalrymen and their Blackrock Leopard mounts.
This was a stark contrast to the traditional cavalry armies they had faced before.
The initial information gap caused the Black-Scaled Lizards to suffer heavy losses, as expected.
From the rear, Su Nan watched the battlefield and nodded in approval.
It seemed that in this world, there had never been an example of taming exotic beasts as mounts.
At least not in the Starlight Kingdom.
Thus, the Blackrock Leopard cavalry, a completely unprecedented unit, easily caught their opponents off guard.
In the rapidly changing battlefield, a wrong move often meant death.
Currently, the Blackrock Leopard cavalry was still a small unit, but once it grew into a full-scale cavalry regiment, it would undoubtedly bring a significant 'surprise' to Blackrock City's enemies.
Su Nan shifted his gaze to Brad, who was guarding his side, and sighed inwardly.
He needed to advance to the rank of Second-Class Wizard Apprentice as soon as possible. Otherwise, he would remain a fragile wizard, requiring protection on the battlefield.
Shaking his head, Su Nan focused his thoughts and uttered a strange incantation. A basketball-sized glob of acid rapidly condensed in the air before him. With a flick of his finger, it shot like an arrow toward a knight-level Black-Scaled Lizard.
The Mage Hand spell's range was too short for the current battlefield, so Su Nan chose to cast Acid Splash.
Sizzle!
The Black-Scaled Lizard had not anticipated an attack from a distance and was caught off guard, hit in the face by the acid.
In an instant, the acid corroded a large hole in the Black-Scaled Lizard's face, eroding away its features and leaving a dark, gaping wound. Even the bones beneath were partially corroded.
The Black-Scaled Lizard convulsed and fell to the ground, clearly dead.
The terrifying power of the Acid Splash sent shivers down the spines of the surrounding Black-Scaled Lizards.
For a moment, the Black-Scaled Lizards looked at Su Nan with deep fear.
They were not afraid of human blades or fists, but this strange and terrifying attack was beyond their comprehension.
What kind of power is this?
(End of Chapter)
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