Chapter 40: Capture

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Capture

The bloody scene made Vili’s pupils contract.

If not for the Assassin’s Mindset bestowed by his Junior Assassin title, Vili would have thrown up on the spot.

Although he already knew that Magical Beasts like the Snow Pattern Deer possessed terrifying power, seeing it firsthand was still a shock.

’Even with its injuries, it can still take out an experienced Hunter with ease...’

Vili’s eyesight was far beyond that of an ordinary person. He could see that the Snow Pattern Deer’s underbelly and hind legs bore scars and traces of blood.

After killing Helai, the Snow Pattern Deer let out a low cry and snorted a plume of frigid air.

It paced in place without leaving, warily scanning its surroundings as if it sensed danger lurking nearby.

Vili drew his bow and aimed at the Snow Pattern Deer, but he hesitated to act. He had no way of gauging the Magical Beast’s true strength. If he acted recklessly and got killed, it would be a pointless death.

While Vili was weighing his options, several Guards and Hunters rushed to the scene. They were not as cautious as Vili and ran straight into the Snow Pattern Deer.

When the Guards and Hunters saw the Snow Pattern Deer and the chunks of gore on the ground, their faces turned pale, and they instinctively raised their weapons.

"Quick! Attack together and take down this monster!"

A Guard squad leader rallied his companions and the Hunters to fight together. Baron Kels had also promised the Guards the same reward as the Hunters.

Hearing this, everyone relaxed slightly. There’s always strength in numbers when Humans band together.

The Snow Pattern Deer grew visibly agitated as the crowd gradually surrounded it, the frigid air from its nostrils growing thicker.

"Attack!"

Seizing the opening, the Guard squad leader raised his Crossbow and shot at the Snow Pattern Deer’s injured hind leg. Since Baron Kels wanted it captured alive, he didn’t dare aim for a vital spot.

The Snow Pattern Deer shrieked in pain.

The crowd of Guards and Hunters surged forward, brandishing their weapons and striking at the Snow Pattern Deer’s non-vital areas.

Seeing this, the Snow Pattern Deer’s eyes flashed with ferocity. It opened its mouth and spewed an even denser cloud of frost.

The few men charging at its front couldn’t dodge in time. They were instantly turned into ice sculptures, which then shattered into pieces.

This horrifying display instantly caused a panic. The crowd, whose morale had been sky-high just a moment ago, was now caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.

"Don’t you dare retreat! The reward is doubled! Get in there!"

At this critical juncture, Bamos arrived on horseback. His roar instantly stabilized the situation.

The Guards and Hunters once again charged forward, their greed for gold overwhelming their fear.

SHINK! SHINK!

In the chaos, the Snow Pattern Deer was stabbed in its hindquarters and forelegs, sending blood flying.

The Snow Pattern Deer panicked. It kicked away the men closest to it and began to flee wildly.

"Don’t let it escape!"

Bamos spurred his horse forward, confronting the Snow Pattern Deer head-on.

In truth, Bamos didn’t want to take such a risk, but he had no other choice. There was no one else available. If only Olay were here, or if he had a couple of Senior Knight’s Squires to help, the situation would have been easily controlled. But as it stood, Olay was tied up with Jarvis, and all five of Diamond Town’s Senior Knight’s Squires had been deployed to the border.

Diamond Town was a border town, situated between the Lanton Duchy and the Wata Duchy. The two duchies competed over resources, and their relationship was strained. Although they weren’t officially at war, border skirmishes were frequent. As the Lord of Diamond Town, Baron Kels naturally had the duty to defend the border.

Just half a month ago, another minor conflict had broken out at the border garrison with the Wata Duchy. To ensure Diamond Town’s security, Baron Kels had been forced to dispatch all five of his Senior Knight’s Squires, leaving Olay as his only remaining Advanced Combat Power.

Therefore, for this mission to capture the Snow Pattern Deer, the only capable men Baron Kels had available were Olay, the Knight, and Bamos, who possessed the strength of a Senior Knight’s Squire. Baron Kels himself had to remain at his manor to monitor the news from the border and couldn’t leave.

Now, to stop the Snow Pattern Deer, Bamos was prepared to risk it all.

The Snow Pattern Deer was about to flee when a figure on a charging horse suddenly appeared before it.

Already in a panic, the Snow Pattern Deer’s eyes turned bloodshot. It opened its mouth, and another blast of icy mist shot forth.

Bamos felt a chill wash over him, his joints stiffening. But he wasn’t afraid. He could see that this Snow Pattern Deer seemed to be at its limit.

He leaped from his horse, dodging the icy mist. His Warhorse, however, was instantly turned to solid ice.

’Not good!’

Bamos had no time to mourn his Warhorse. He raised his sword to meet the Snow Pattern Deer, only to find it spraying another cloud of icy mist.

’I was careless!’

Bamos never expected the Snow Pattern Deer to lock onto him again so quickly. He dodged, the icy mist grazing past him, but he couldn’t avoid it completely. His clothes disintegrated, and the flesh beneath was instantly frozen and torn away.

Bamos gritted his teeth, preparing to flee, but saw that the Snow Pattern Deer had stopped running and was now charging straight for him.

"Help me!"

Bamos’s limbs were stiff. He had no way to escape the Snow Pattern Deer’s retaliatory strike.

"Quick! Save Master Bamos!"

From the crowd, the Guard squad leader roared. Everyone snapped out of their stupor and rushed to help.

But the Snow Pattern Deer was too close to Bamos. There was no way they could reach him in time.

"No!"

Bamos’s eyes widened in horror and fury. He tried to swing his sword back, but his wrist was frozen stiff.

In that instant, Bamos’s heart filled with despair.

"Get back!"

Just in the nick of time, a figure leaped down from the trees. He held a Hunting Knife and plunged it from above, straight into the Snow Pattern Deer’s hind thigh. The deer’s own forward momentum caused it to tumble and fall.

"Vili!"

Bamos was overjoyed. It was Vili who had arrived at the critical moment.

"Come and help!"

Having toppled the Snow Pattern Deer, Vili immediately pulled out a hunting rope and cinched it around the deer’s mouth, preventing it from spraying any more icy mist.

Seeing this, the Guards and Hunters swarmed forward, pinning the fallen Snow Pattern Deer to the ground.

The Snow Pattern Deer struggled with all its might, but it was no use. It was already heavily injured and too weak to use its frost abilities. The crowd subdued it completely.

With the help of the Guard squad leader, Vili tied the Snow Pattern Deer’s muzzle securely. The others worked in concert to bind the Magical Beast’s legs.

The Snow Pattern Deer, which had killed several men, was finally captured alive through their combined efforts.

Bamos let out a long sigh of relief and slumped to the ground. In that crisis, if Vili hadn’t intervened, he would have been killed by the Snow Pattern Deer’s icy hooves. He never expected that the young Hunter he had his eye on would be the one to save his life.