Chapter 182 - 179: White Bear Town’s Terrifying Foundation

Chapter 182: Chapter 179: White Bear Town’s Terrifying Foundation

Vili glanced down at the man-made lake, where Kangbi’Er was still shivering.

It didn’t matter, though. Having lost all his power, Kangbi’Er wouldn’t escape the Guards’ search even if he tried to escape.

’My first real battle as a Senior Knight... I’m actually looking forward to it...’

A powerful enemy was approaching, but Vili wasn’t the least bit panicked.

White Bear Town had grown strong.

...

「White Bear Town’s Northeast Patrol Route.」

"Captain Moras, there’s something strange about White Bear Town’s patrol route..."

A scout quickly returned and reported to Moras, "Their patrol seems to consist of only a dozen or so men..."

Upon hearing this, Moras let out a hearty laugh, completely unconcerned. "They probably don’t think we’ll pass through White Bear Town... This is a good thing. A weak defensive line means they’ll fall all the faster, which will save us time on our journey home."

"Advance!"

Moras bellowed, giving the order.

The cavalry unit instantly picked up speed, spurring their horses toward White Bear Town for the final charge.

It would be their last stop before returning home.

Soon, Moras could see the sprawling houses and the red evening clouds over the sea.

A smirk unconsciously touched his lips, but just as he was about to give the order to slaughter, Moras suddenly felt that something was not right.

"Hm?"

Moras suddenly realized that the dozen or so patrolmen the scout had just reported were nowhere to be found along White Bear Town’s northeast patrol route.

"Where are the patrolmen?"

The scout looked just as stunned.

Moras frowned. A dozen patrolmen would suggest White Bear Town’s defenses were weak, but not a single one? That was highly unusual.

As he was pondering this, Moras saw a tall, burly man carrying a crude, heavy iron spear walking toward them, one step at a time.

’This is...’

Moras’s gaze sharpened, and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

’Have we been exposed?’

Moras considered the possibility.

But just as quickly, he decided he was worrying for nothing.

’So what if we’ve been exposed? In the face of overwhelming force, all defenses and cunning plots are meaningless.’

"Are you one of White Bear Town’s guards?"

Moras tightened his grip on his Knight’s Lance. He advanced step by step, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

The burly man’s muscles were like knotted steel, and his face was covered by a thick beard.

Upon hearing Moras’s threatening words, the man gave his iron spear a flourish and bellowed.

"I am Benduin, the Holy Spear Ranger!"

"Holy Spear Ranger?"

Moras froze, but before he could react, the brawny man let out a great laugh.

Benduin gripped his iron spear and slammed its butt fiercely into the ground.

"I will use the earth’s bounty and mercy to make you murdering, pillaging sinners pay with your lives!"

The next moment, the cavalrymen of the Wata Duchy suddenly felt the ground tremble violently.

Immediately after, thick, sharp, tangible spikes shot up from the ground like bamboo shoots after a spring rain!

SQUELCH! SQUELCH! SQUELCH!

The spikes pierced straight through the bellies of the warhorses beneath them! Their so-called steel barding was utterly useless. It was like brittle paper, instantly penetrated by the rock spikes Benduin had summoned.

Instantly, the shrieking whinnies of warhorses echoed across the open field, and the stench of blood filled the air.

"This is... a Mage!!"

Realization dawned on Moras, his pupils constricting violently.

’A Mage! He’s actually a Mage!’

’They’re devastatingly effective at area-of-effect attacks!’

The Hanged Man, the Silent, Mages... these were all forms of Extraordinary Combat Power distinct from Knights, and were collectively known as Secret Masters.

The number of Secret Masters was far lower than that of Knights. Their one-on-one combat ability might not compare to a Knight’s, but they all possessed other strange and unique abilities. Most Knights were completely unwilling to provoke a Secret Master of the same level.

’A tiny place like White Bear Town... it’s one thing for it to have a Knight, but how could a Secret Master possibly be here?’

Moras was thrown into a panic.

"Defend yourselves! Don’t let those spikes hit you!"

Moras reacted quickly as well. Just as a spike was about to pierce the warhorse beneath him, he shattered it with his Knight’s Lance.

But the other cavalrymen didn’t have his lightning-fast reflexes.

"Heh..."

Benduin grinned. Just a moment ago, the Lord Baron had told him the time had come to manifest justice.

Now, Benduin was enacting his own will for justice, mindful of Lord Vili’s instructions.

’Even if you’re not a Hanged Man, you can still possess a Heart of Justice.’

"Look up!"

Benduin roared with laughter again.

At Benduin’s shout, the cavalrymen looked up almost instinctively.

Then, they saw head-sized chunks of rock raining down from the sky, smashing violently into their ranks.

This time, screams once again filled the battlefield, only now, they were mixed with the screams of men.

The fighters at the Knight Level were perhaps able to react quickly enough to defend themselves, but the Knight’s Squires were utterly powerless to resist.

The cavalry unit, originally several dozen strong, instantly lost two-thirds of its men as the Knight’s Squires fell.

Such was the power of a Mage’s area-of-effect attacks.

"Damn it!"

Seeing this, Moras’s heart blazed with fury.

He had thought he would trample White Bear Town flat and be on his way back to the Wata Duchy, but he hadn’t even set foot inside the town, and more than half his force was already gone. How could Moras possibly accept this?

"You’re just a Junior Mage! You’ll pay for this with your life!"

Moras spurred his horse forward, raising his Knight’s Lance, ready to pierce Benduin’s skull in the next instant.

Even a Junior Mage was no match for a Senior Knight.

Just as killing intent surged from Moras and he was about to slay Benduin, he suddenly saw Benduin smile.

Then, Moras felt a sudden chill.

He leaped from his horse’s back on pure instinct.

SCHLICK!

A blade of cold, white Sword Qi slashed in from a distance, cleaving Moras’s warhorse in two.

Scalding blood splattered all over Moras, but he remained motionless.

He gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on the approaching figure in the distance.

’Fighting Spirit infused with an element...’

’A Senior Knight! A Senior Knight, just like me!’

’White Bear Town... actually has a Senior Knight!’

"So, guests from the distant Wata Duchy?"

A young man in armor, his hand resting on the pommel of his Cross Longsword, strode toward them step by step.

He wore a calm, composed smile.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Vili Ferren, the Baron Lord of the very same White Bear Town you’ve come to destroy."

"Vili Ferren?"

Moras suddenly recalled the name.

While drawing up the battle plan, he had briefly glanced at the name of White Bear Town’s Lord.

’A mere Baron’s Domain actually has a Senior Knight... and one so young...’

Moras’s knuckles cracked as he tightened his grip on his Knight’s Lance.

’If a man like this is allowed to mature, he will become a grave threat to the Wata Duchy.’

Suddenly, Moras smiled.

’So what if I’ve lost a few Knight’s Squires? As long as I can slay this prodigy of a Senior Knight, it will all be worth it.’

"Men, surround him! Kill him!"

Moras commanded the Middle and Junior Knights behind him.

’This is no time for displays of Knightly Spirit.’

"You’re not the only one with allies."

Vili chuckled softly.

RUMBLE!

A clap of thunder rumbled in the sky.

Before the Knights could even reach Vili to surround him, a sheet of azure lightning poured down from the sky.

Vast and unstoppable, it carried with it an aura of utter destruction.

"Get out of the way!"

Moras roared, his voice hoarse.

But not all the cavalrymen could react as quickly as he could.

Several Knights were caught in the downpour of lightning. Their skin instantly split open, turning them into figures drenched in blood.

ROAR!

A deafening beast’s roar echoed from the distance.

A massive white bear, over five meters tall, came charging, its footsteps shaking the ground.

Moras felt like his head was about to explode.

’There’s also a...’

’Magical Beast!!’