In the center of the formation, a tattered but still menacing Blood Wolf Band banner fluttered in the wind.
Beneath the banner, a burly, full-faced, bald strongman wearing iron-studded leather armor rode a mottled horse. He was Karl, the leader of the Blood Wolf Band.
Karl grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth, and looked at the slightly barren but already somewhat developed territory before him, his eyes glinting with greed.
"Faster, you lot! Take Blackstone Town, and the women and ale inside are all yours!"
The bandits around him let out a burst of crude laughter and howls, and the speed of the formation seemed to quicken.
Although they had suffered a loss last time, they clearly still did not take this territory seriously.
In their view, last time was just an accident, and with their main force deployed this time, there was no reason to fail again.
However, just as the vanguard of the Blood Wolf Band stepped across the Blackstone Territory border, a sudden change occurred!
"What is that?!"
A sharp-eyed bandit pointed at the sky, his voice filled with terror.
Karl looked up, his pupils contracting sharply.
More than twenty agile figures were rapidly diving down from behind the clouds!
Pegasus!
On the back of each Pegasus sat a Knight clad in leather armor and holding a bow and arrow!
The sunlight shone on the Pegasus's pure white wings and the arrows in the Knights' hands, reflecting a cold light.
Leading them was Aide, his face ashen, his gaze locked on the chaotic enemy forces below.
"Fire!"
Aide's command was concise and powerful.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
A sharp whistling sound instantly erupted!
More than twenty sharp arrows, like invitations from the god of death, accurately shot towards the cavalry and infantry formations at the front of the Blood Wolf Band!
"Pfft!"
"Ah!"
Screams immediately rang out!
Several Blood Wolf Band cavalrymen at the very front were instantly shot off their horses, arrows piercing through their crude leather armor.
A section of the infantry formation also immediately fell, the sudden attack causing the entire formation's advance to abruptly halt, plunging into chaos.
Having struck successfully, the Pegasus Knights did not linger in battle but quickly ascended, circling high in the sky again under the astonished gaze of the Blood Wolf Band soldiers, like circling falcons, ready to dive again at any moment.
"Damn it! It's the Pegasus Knights!"
Karl was both shocked and enraged, never expecting Blackstone Territory to form an aerial cavalry unit so quickly, and with such sharp attacks!
"Archers! Return fire! Shoot down those damn birdmen!"
Karl roared in exasperation, drawing the scimitar at his waist and pointing it at the sky.
The bandit archers at the rear of the formation finally reacted, hastily taking down the inferior bows from their backs, fumbling to nock arrows and draw their bows, shooting wildly towards the sky.
However, their bows had limited range, and their accuracy was even worse.
The arrows flew crookedly into the sky, then fell weakly after reaching their apex. Not only did they fail to threaten the Pegasus Knights circling high above, some even nearly fell back into their own ranks, causing a chaotic scramble of dodging and cursing.
In his panic, one bandit even shot an arrow into the backside of a comrade in front, eliciting an even louder wail and angry curses.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"
Karl's face turned ashen with rage, watching the limp arrows fly into the sky, wishing he could personally join the fray.
But he knew that with the ordinary bows in his hands, he couldn't reach those agile aerial targets at all.
Aide coldly watched the enemy's futile counterattack from the sky, a barely perceptible curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
He did not order a second attack immediately but led the Pegasus Knight squad to maintain surveillance and deterrence high in the sky.
Although this surprise attack did not cause significant actual casualties, the shock and morale blow it delivered were considerable.
The Blood Wolf Band's previously relaxed and arrogant demeanor was suppressed, and a mood of unease and fear permeated the formation.
They had never encountered attacks from the sky before, and this feeling of powerlessness, of being unable to effectively retaliate, made many bandits consider retreating.
Karl also sensed the change in the formation. He suppressed the anger and trepidation in his heart, barking, "What are you panicking about! They're just some flying rats! They're few in number, they won't dare to get close! Everyone, maintain formation, keep advancing! Once we charge into the town, they'll be helpless!"
Though he spoke tough, Karl already regretted taking on this deal.
Karl suppressed the surging anger and trepidation, once again swung his saber forward, his voice hoarse but filled with an undeniable ruthlessness.
"Charge! All of you, charge! Charge into the town, let's see what those birdmen can do then!"
The bandits hesitated for a moment; the fear from the previous arrow volley had not yet dissipated.
But under Karl and several trusted lieutenants' curses and the flat of their blades, the instinct for survival still overcame fear. The formation, like driven livestock, once again stiffened their resolve and trudged forward.
However, their steps clearly showed hesitation and panic, and their formation became even more scattered. Everyone instinctively looked up at the sky, fearing they would be the next unlucky one.
High in the sky, Aide keenly observed the repositioning formation below, the barely perceptible curve at the corner of his mouth deepening.
He did not rush to launch another attack but waited patiently.
Lei Luo's strategy was clear: harass when the enemy advances, strike when the enemy is weary.
Now was the time for "harassment."
His gaze swept over the chaotic crowd below, finally settling on the few minor leaders attempting to reorganize the formation and the tottering wolf head banner.
"Prepare."
"Prioritize striking the standard-bearer and those leading the front ranks!"
The Blood Wolf Band's formation struggled forward less than a hundred meters, having just mustered a tiny bit of morale, when the falcons in the sky revealed their claws once more.
More than twenty Pegasus Knights, as if receiving a silent command, adjusted their angles again, descending silently like shadows harvesting lives!
This time, their targets were clearer, their movements swifter!
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Arrows tore through the air again! The whistling sound seemed to pierce directly into the heart of every bandit.
A tattered banner representing a minor leader fell with a thud. The bandit holding the banner high, attempting to boost morale, clutched his throat, his face still bearing the ferocity of a moment ago, now only showing disbelief and terror. Blood gushed from between his fingers, and his body collapsed limply.
Immediately after, several more fierce bandits, who were at the very front, waving their weapons and trying to maintain order, screamed and fell to the ground. The precise arrows either pierced their necks or struck their hearts, giving them no chance to even struggle.
Chaos erupted again like a plague, and it was even more intense than the last time.
The courage they had just mustered vanished instantly, replaced by deeper despair and panic.
"Damn it! Here they come again!"
"Quick, get out of the way! Find cover!"
"They're in the sky! We can't hit them at all!"
The formation instantly stalled, even showing signs of breaking apart.