Chapter 54: Dog eat dog (1/2)
Chapter 54: Dog eat dog
Because of Felix’s words, the originally smoothly cooperating warriors and mages, that were defending against the orc wolf riders, abruptly sank into panic. People started becoming distracted from defense and instead frantically contemplated their means of escape.
In the span of a moment, an impregnable defense collapsed. Apart from the warriors in the front, who were fighting as they retreated, the mages and the archers panicked and escaped in all directions.
Han Shuo had grabbed Fanny and Lisa’s wrists and was forcefully hauling the two with great haste to where the battlesteeds were stabled. Behind Han Shuo, Gene directed the other necromancy major students to follow closely behind him.
After a few rounds of life and death battles, Han Shuo was no longer naive nor terror stricken when faced with danger. He quietly thought of what actions he should take next as he calmly sped forward.
Also retreating with Han Shuo and the others, like tidewaters, were a few other mages and archers. If these people blocked Han Shuo’s forward movement, they would’ve been shoved to the side without a moment’s hesitation.
The archers and mages were hard pressed to increase their speed in the chaos of the crowd. Somehow, with Han Shuo as a meat shield, they managed to rush to the front after a moment’s work.
After fifteen minutes, Han Shuo had finally hauled Fanny and Lisa to where the battlesteeds were stabled, with Gene and the others following far behind. The master of the place had also gone to the southern streets to observe the earlier events and had only left a servant inside to watch over the horses. Han Shuo directly broke down the door and pulled Fanny and Lisa in the direction of the stables in the back.
“What are you doing? Just what are you doing?” The elderly servant immediately stood up in a panic when he saw Han Shuo break down the door and rush towards the stables. He yelled angrily at them.
“The orc wolf riders have already fought their way here. If you continue to stay, you’ll face only death. We’re here to pick up the battlesteeds that we’ve stabled here. If you want to live, then hurry, choose a battlesteed, and flee!” Han Shuo explained calmly as he rushed towards the stables.
The elderly servant had already heard the chaos and commotion from outside at this time. He blanked for a second and then also made swiftly for the stables. It looked like he’d accepted Han Shuo’s suggestion.
Han Shuo finally released Fanny and Lisa’s little hands and his eyes made a desperate sweep of the surroundings. His eyes landed on a handsome battlesteed and vaulted onto its back without another word. He landed on the back of the horse in a second, swung the dagger in his hand, and slashed through the ropes that restrained the battlesteed.
He turned his head to find that Gene and some of the light major students had also made it to the stables. All were panting and joined Fanny and Lisa in looking for the horses they’d stabled here last time.
“Are you all idiots? The orc wolf riders will be here any second, what are you looking around for? Not to mention the battlesteeds we stabled last time were all inferior beasts, there were only six of them… do you want to die?” Han Shuo could finally hold in his impatience no longer and suddenly yelled out upon seeing that these people were still looking amongst the crowd of stabled battlesteeds.
Han Shuo’s violent roar sounded throughout the stables. The necromancy students and teachers, who were looking for their battlesteeds, were all lectured. They all froze in that moment — Han Shuo had called them idiots! It was a bit tough for them to accept that!
“Then what do we do?” Lisa froze and then asked Han Shuo as she looked at him.
“Choose the best, strongest battlesteeds. We’ll each take one. The lives of others have nothing to do with us. If you all want to die, then continue looking for the inferior battlesteeds that we had!” Han Shuo’s face darkened as he resolutely called out.
This was originally a simple concept, but the pity was that these necromancy students and teachers had always functioned in the necromancy major that encompassed a multitude of rules and customs. For them, following the rules was the natural thing to do. They hadn’t thought at all about the fact that all rules could be broken in times of crisis.
These people’s faces all froze beneath Han Shuo’s curses of “idiots”, which then changed to contemplative frowns as Han Shuo continued in the vein of paying no heed to the lives of others. His words caused another round of impact to these students and teachers who were used to following the rules.
The commotion outside grew bigger and they made swift decisions when faced with a crisis of life or death. They no longer hesitated and ran over to the fiercest and most valiant battlesteeds with looks of resolution.
When the necromancy students and teachers had all occupied the best battlesteeds in the stables under Han Shuo’s urging, they rushed out of the stables. This was when the light major students from the Academy and other clearheaded mages and archers finally made their way to the stables.