11 The Great Plains War (2/2)

By the time the fourth and fifth wave of arrows fell, the enemies' numbers fell dramatically.

However, a new threat arrived. More than 60 strong soldiers, mainly knights and preparatory knights, had arrived in the 100-meters-range away from Drodosis. The spearmen readied their weapons, their spears held high, their s.h.i.+elds supported by their whole bodies, ready for the impact.

Drodosis nodded at this epic sight. He had done a great job, training this army to this extent. For sure, most of them had already served the baron for a long time, but the past week transformed them from veteran soldiers to elite soldiers.

Drodosis' acidic spear and Ofaris' Ice spike had killed one or two knights each, but they didn't hit their target.

”Bowmen! 11th stance! Aim! Fire!”

About twelve seconds later, Drodosis heard a report.

[Beep! 11 knights were critically injured, 6 preparatory knights died, and 11 preparatory knights were wounded. Reynold Chase lost 6 points of mana in order to absorb the arrows' impact, the Elite Knight dodged them.]

The elite knight Johnson Gloom was indeed the main threat in the enemy's army. Even Drodosis didn't have confidence in using his agility and footwork to dodge hundreds of incoming arrows!

However, Drodosis was no weakling.

”CHARGE!”, he shouted with more fervour than ever, while riding his ethereal red deer, himself charging towards the elite knight.

When he saw Johnson at range, his red deer unleashed a terrifying laser which crippled the elite knight's mount, but the latter had unparalleled reflexes, which allowed him to jump before he was. .h.i.t. In the air, he even had the time to throw a javelin at Drodosis, which was absorbed by the latter's water orb spell.

[Beep! 42 points of damage absorbed! 3 layers destroyed. 4 remaining!]

Drodosis jumped from his mount and unleashed a terrifying vertical strike at his opponent. Johnson didn't expect such speed from an 'acolyte'. His spies only reported acolytes. How could he expect Drodosis to be an elite knight? This mistake cost him dearly.

His arm was cut cleaned, but Johnson avoided the worst, using his left hand to deflect the scimitar with his spear. Drodosis didn't stop here, casting the acid spear spell. The ma.s.sive acidic spell impaled Johnson, but the latter still charged at Drodosis, in an outburst of fighting spirit.

Would Drodosis survive this madman charge?

Of course, he would. He had simulated hundreds of fights and spars, and back in the fortress, he had the occasion to exchange pointers with other knights. This allowed his acolyte spells to merge perfectly with his fighting style, which mainly revolved around his scimitar mastery.

Drodosis didn't dodge, but instead rushed in, knowing that his water orb barrier would be enough to absorb the impact.

[Beep! 50 points of damage absorbed! 3 layers destroyed. 1 layer remaining!]

Drodosis spirit shook at the impact, but he still continued advancing, and started rotating. It was the whirlwind spell he had practiced, direct inheritance from his mummy eye.

[Beep! 60 points of damage dealt!]

Drodosis didn't need the following notification though.

[Enemy is dead! No signs of life detected.]

Johnson Gloom…was no more. His arm was cut and laying on the ground, while his torso was separated from his legs. An incredulous stare of shock could be seen on his face, void of life. He possessed an enchanted armour! Yet, Drodosis cut through it as it was b.u.t.ter.

While Drodosis was fighting with Johnson, the twin brothers, Rolf and Jon were fighting acolytes. Both Thornfield acolytes cast their defensive spells and used the water grasp spell. After an exchange of two or three spells, the outcome was already determined. Water Grasp had an offensive power and a versatility that only water elemental spells could offer. In comparison, the enemy acolytes' spells, respectively, fireball, Rock Spear or shockwave were lacking. They dealt tremendous amount of damage, but rarely landed, either absorbed, dodged or blocked. Instead, the water grasp spell could condense a hand out of nowhere, and summon near ten points of strength!

After a minute, the Rolf managed to land the water grasp spell, and subdued the acolyte. Ten seconds later, Jon managed to do the same. They were all beginner acolytes, but the Thornfield family had given them plenty of insights, guidance that the enemy acolytes obviously lacked.

Ofaris had cast two nova in the middle of the enemy's formation, and landed an ice spear which almost killed Reynold. The latter surrendered. The spearmen also helped in the process, killing those who didn't dropped their weapons. Some died, but casualties were a common sight in a battlefield.

Seeing their commanders fall, the knights surrendered, one after the other.

Drodosis used the spearmen to subdue the last stubborn fighters, and he personally killed Reynold Chase. The kid was dangerous. If he let this threat survive and grow, who knows what kind of scheme he would be planning in the shadows. If there was one thing Drodosis hated over the years, it was fear.

Now that he possessed a biochip, he hated variables, he hated the unknown, which was probably the reason why he was obsessed by knowledge. He had promised a flawless victory, and he had given a flawless victory. Cheers and tears of joy fell on the soldiers and knights' cheeks. They did it!

They defended their homeland as heroes! And more importantly, they were part of an epic battle…which was legendary in their eyes. They had subdued thieves, and captured bandits. But they had never been part of a huge bloodbath against sworn enemies like the Huntingwood army!

The records were terrifying. Out of the 400-men army, 246 perished, 16 knights were captured (including 3 veteran knights) and two acolytes were subdued. 60 soldiers, who were not injured, were going to become slaves. As for the others, they deserted the war. However, the bloodbath which they escaped from would surely prevent them from touching a weapon ever again. It was a traumatic experience for every member of the Huntingwood army.

It was a huge contrast with the Thornfield family, which only suffered 18 deaths and 38 injuries (spearmen mainly). Soldiers cheered, knights contemplated the battlefield, processing what just happened, and acolytes were a.n.a.lysing the whole battle, with incredulous eyes, barely believing the feat Drodosis had pulled off, almost single-handedly. Not only did he kill the most enemies in the battle, including an elite knight, he also proved his intelligence through tactics.

He was a monstrous existence!

While everyone was in high spirit, Drodosis proceeded to the looting part. 16 magic crystals from the acolytes, a strange rock which had yet to be appraised, a pouch full of gold coins, spell books he would scan and exchange for treasures with elders in the Water Fortress, and an injured Fire Lizard, two-meters long, fearful but easy to tame with his strength. It would make a fine mount, since his ethereal red deer didn't belong to him, but was only lent to him!

All in all, the battle only lasted for a few hours. Yet…hundreds of people had lost their lives.

Drodosis felt good. Everything went as planned, from the strategy to the individual fights he won swiftly. However, while everyone was preparing feasts and banquets to celebrate, Drodosis was already working on the next battle.

He had just crushed two n.o.ble households' armies in one battle! Why would he not take advantage of the fact they lack strength, to harvest a few gold coins?

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