Chapter 1446 - 1355: Rushing to the Battlefield

December 22, clear weather.

Hanske darted through the forest, branches flapping against his face and body.

Yet he remained indifferent, sprinting wildly, leaping over moss-covered rocks and rotten wood, stepping on streams and moving forward.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, his beast-like eyes narrowed briefly, followed by a swift dive.

Crack—Snap—

Under the shadow of the branches, a blood claw with a width of a meter suddenly extended, shredding leaves and bushes.

At the moment of diving, Hanske spun swiftly, his steel sword with a reddish edge swept up, striking beyond the blood claw.

There was nothing in the shadow, but as Hanske's sword struck down, a scream erupted from the void, and a cloud of blood mist exploded.

With one hit, Hanske did not linger, instead rolling on the ground.

Where he had been standing moments ago, four or five streams of blood rushed by at high speed.

"That human monkey!" Not waiting for the sneaky high-ranking vampire to finish cursing, Hanske reached for his waist.

The vampire emitting the blood flow immediately tried to escape into the shadows, but just as he moved, there was a loud bang.

Hanske drew and fired his gun, and the vampire fell with a cry.

Seeing the lead bullet wound a pursuing vampire, Hanske did not cling to the fight, instead quickly turning to flee.

"Kuwaq!"

Swearing a vampire curse, the injured vampires did not pursue recklessly.

This was experience accumulated during combat between high-ranking vampires and hunters: when both vampires were injured, it was best not to pursue.

If an ambush were encountered, both might fail to escape, leaving the message undelivered.

If the message wasn't delivered, the Royal Court wouldn't even know "that I know you know."

Upon realizing the vampires weren't chasing, Hanske did not relax but continued to sprint.

After drinking the demon hunter potion, becoming a demon hunter and a Holy Alliance soldier, his stamina and agility greatly improved.

Although he almost died due to lack of pre-training when drinking the potion, Hanske felt it was worth it.

He wanted revenge for his sister!

After the battle at Mot, Hanske finally received news about his sister, but unfortunately, it was bad news.

The blood servant prisoner told him his sister had been eaten by an ogre, leaving only a foot, which was made into an ornament worn around the neck.

Hanske found the foot and recognized its calloused surface.

Though he had anticipated his sister's death, the moment he confirmed it, Hanske shuddered in pain.

She was his last family!

From now on, he was all alone in this world.

Father, mother, sister... only him.

Maybe because he spent so long with the Thousand River Valley People, Hanske couldn't help but tremble, and the vampire faces no longer seemed terrifying.

When he recovered from trembling, he proactively signed up to be a hunter he once thought was most dangerous.

But he did not choose to back out, even when the hunter squad offered him the chance to back out due to Michelle and his Thorn Garden's second-class medal.

In fear, he chose to refuse, wondering why a coward wasn't allowed revenge?!

Vampires, repayment of blood debt is the only option!

Grabbing a branch with gritted teeth, swinging across a small creek, Hanske continued his sprint, only to see a shadow as he parted the bushes.

Having been distracted, he reacted a beat slower, crashing into it.

"Ouch, ouch!"

"Good thing, it's a human..."

"I'm telling you, that crash should've cost you 200... Mad, it's you kid!"

Seeing the human he collided with was old Michelle, Hanske couldn't help but pause, and old Michelle was equally surprised to see Hanske.

The next moment, they both laughed, Hanske with a relaxed chuckle, and old Michelle with a feeling of being hit by a friend's car on the road.

Hanske pulled old Michelle off the ground, knowing that wherever Michelle was, it must be safe.

"You really joined the hunters, didn't you say hunters were the most dangerous?"

"Times change, don't they? You're the battle corps quartermaster, why're you always out picking mushrooms?"

After some casual chit-chat, Hanske hardened his expression. "Old Michelle, take me to your Battle Commander, I have important intel."

In the evening, Horn's forward camp.

"This morning, our 2,000 dragon cavalry stationed in Little Green Leaf Village were attacked by at least 10,000 clan troops."

Petier tapped the map with a stick, looking at the Battle Commanders and Senior Pastors seated in two rows.

Realizing the Serafe vanguard had moved to Low Platform City, eliminating the possibility of holding Rooster Castle.

Horn had early ordered either a full army advance or deploying small cavalry patrols along various roads to monitor enemy movements.

Thus, the 2,000 cavalry stationed on the Low Platform City-Gragu Town road were attacked by the enemy in this context.

Reports from Hanske and other hunters and cavalry estimated the attackers numbered around 10,000.

Due to Horn's prior orders, upon encountering enemy attacks, not to resist head-on but to retreat after brief resistance.

Hence, the 2,000 dragon cavalry quickly withdrew with virtually no loss.

"Can we confirm it's Serafe's main force? Or is it just a feint?"

"We need more information, maybe have the Western Battle Army send more cavalry to guard the east line..."

"No, this would waste too much time."

The staff's and Commanders' main task was to discuss military matters, naturally allowing everyone to speak.

Of course, speak substantive, can't ramble, or one might trigger "Jeanne's wrath" and be thrown out.

Actually thrown out, there are ceremonial Long Halberd Soldiers in the tent.

Unlike the chattering Commanders, Horn remained deep in thought.

Based on his understanding of Serafe, once choosing to head south, going east was practically impossible.

As she didn't have much time left, the eastern route and direct south were nearly the same, the latter even faster.

Even if Serafe wasn't fully committed, Horn could still employ tactical deception to lure her.

The previous lure, albeit poor, was effective; thus, continuing it required no further thought.

"This must be the enemy's main force launching a full-scale attack, command the Western Battle Army to move towards Gragu Town..." Horn paused, "We are likely to fight the enemy on Gragu's outskirts..."

Concluding this military meeting, Horn did not linger but once again mounted his steed: "Order the central battle army to immediately head to Gragu's outskirts tomorrow morning."

Next morning.

Winter sunlight pierced the clouds, illuminating the battered earth, dyeing the roadside withered grass golden-red.

On the road from Maran Town to Gragu, smoke and dust billowed skyward like a yellow dragon coiling above the plains.

Warhorses' hooves danced, and the kicked gravel struck the roadside tree trunks with a "da da da" dense noise.

Following closely behind was the infantry in six columns, soldiers densely packed like a moving forest, their gray-green uniforms merged in the sunlight.

"Expected to reach Gragu's outskirts by noon tomorrow." Old Michelle wiped sweat from his forehead, breathing heavily, "Judging by this, we'll probably camp outdoors tonight."

"Yes." Hanske was among the hunter squad, walking shoulder to shoulder with old Michelle.

His steel sword still hung at his waist, only his expression was exceptionally cold compared to a few years ago.

Revenge and war had long consumed Hanske, the person standing there now was medium hunter Hanske.