Chapter 1256 - 617: Sudden Change, Entering the Field

Unlike most adventurers who emphasize practical and casual attire, this squad of border soldiers from Blood Castle is much more neatly dressed.

A dark, thick linen tunic serves as the base layer, with a chain armor covering that extends to the elbows and thighs, and uniform light round helmets on their heads.

Only the captain of the squad has additional shoulder armor, elbow guards, and knee pads.

A total of nine members, with a well-balanced composition. Besides the captain, who serves as the main combat power, there are two crossbowmen, one armor breaker/vice-captain, two spearmen, two shield guards, and one scout.

Clearly experienced in squad battles, the moment the captain’s alert sounded, the team swiftly arranged themselves into a formation, as if they had rehearsed it countless times.

The two soldiers wielding medium iron shields and short-handle spiked hammers took defensive stances at the frontline;

The spearmen stood half a step back, their gleaming iron spears thrusting through the gaps between the shield guards, forming a simple spear formation;

Two long range shooters were positioned at the rear, one aiming and firing with a heavy crossbow in a semi-squat stance, the other standing straight with a fully drawn longbow;

The remaining three, with the scout’s role resembling more of a wanderer, roamed the formation’s edges for opportunities, while the captain and the vice-captain, also acting as the armor breaker, stood two steps behind the spearmen.

The personnel were compact and clearly divided, capable of responding to most situations on the battlefield.

If the current opponents were the ubiquitous mountain bandits, facing these nine soldiers already in formation, they would likely hesitate to engage despite a numerical advantage.

But evidently, the intelligence of these scorpion-tailed lions in the canyon didn’t consider this.

To them, the armored soldiers in formation were no different from sheep huddling together in fear.

"Roar!"

The somewhat immature yet equally fierce roars came from both the left and right.

No special commands were needed; the soldiers worked seamlessly due to extensive combat experience.

The demons’ roars had just echoed without them getting close.

"Whoosh!"

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

The sound of sharp objects tearing through the air erupted.

The soldier with the heavy crossbow accurately shot three sharp arrows straight into the chest, right wing, and left leg of the scorpion-tailed lion on the right.

The force was decent, but the demon’s flesh was tougher, with the arrow shafts quivering as they penetrated halfway before stopping.

Beside him, the longbowman was one of the few professionals in the team.

Compared to the rapid fire of the crossbow, the wood bow, fully charged with strength, shot only one arrow but its power exceeded the total of the others.

Aiming at the same target, the arrow spinning rapidly through the air bore a faint blue glow from the magic power, leaving a brief trail in the air.

Sensing danger, the scorpion-tailed lion attempted to dodge.

But even so, the arrow with blue light veered off course slightly, hitting the demon’s wing membrane frame.

"Crack."

The flying arrow, carrying fragments of flesh and a hint of blood, disappeared into the bushes behind. The right wing of the scorpion-tailed lion, repeatedly attacked from range, now bore a gap resembling a bite from some food.

It completely lost its ability to fly.

The heavy crossbow needed to be reloaded, and the longbowman entered a brief recovery cooldown due to using a battle skill.

This round of attack provided the squad, originally set to face two attacking scorpion-tailed lions simultaneously, an opportunity to separate the enemies.

Focusing their attention on the unscathed young scorpion-tailed lion, leaving the injured and hesitant one with slowed speed aside for the moment.

"Ahhh!"

With considerable courage, even as the massive shadow of the demon’s body loomed over them in the sunlight, two shield guards still roared as they charged forward, stabilizing their stances, feet firmly planted, and pushed their wooden shields against the demon.

Despite having a numerical advantage, they could not hold the upper hand in strength against the powerful demon. Almost instantly upon physical contact, they lost control of their body balance, the resulting shockwave even leaving their minds momentarily blank.

At the same time, from the shield’s side, the spears, already prepared for attack, stabbed and withdrew the moment the demon was halted by the shields, leaving two bloody holes on the opponent.

Excluding the two shooters who had already attacked, within just one brief encounter, the scorpion-tailed lion found itself facing an onslaught by seven soldiers under the battle formation’s constraint.

With the round of shield guard and spearman attacks complete, the scout, armed with a short dagger, had already circled to the side of the demon, leaving deep cuts on the scorpion-tailed lion’s left leg joint with the sharp blade.

Without lingering, retreating swiftly like an assassin.

The intense pain temporarily captured the demon’s full attention. As it prepared to retaliate, the last two professionals in the squad— the captain wielding a small round shield and metal straight sword, and the vice-captain gripping a long-handled iron hammer— simultaneously swung their weapons at the demon.

"Ssst! Bam!"

The demon’s cries, filled with pain and anger, rang through the ears.