The people in the front instinctively wanted to retreat, while those in the back crowded together, pushing and trampling each other, curses and cries echoing in a cacophony.
The more than two hundred conscripted cannon fodder were in even greater disarray; some even dropped their weapons, only wanting to find a place to hide.
Karl watched his orders once again turn into smoke, watching the team become as chaotic as an ant nest that had been stirred, his lungs practically bursting with rage.
He brandished the scimitar in his hand, roaring futilely at the sky: "Bastards! If you have the guts, come down and fight me! What kind of hero hides in the sky!"
However, the only response he received was the sound of wind as the Pegasus Knights rapidly ascended.
Ade and the Knights under his command gave Karl no chance for close-quarters combat.
Once the bandits stopped, attempting to form a defensive line or organize archers for a counterattack, Ade immediately ordered them to ascend, easily escaping the pitiful range of the enemy's arrows, and once again circling high in the sky, looking down on the futilely struggling ants below.
Advance, and arrows would rain down, casualties would mount, and morale would collapse; stop, and the enemy would vanish into the distance, leaving them to watch helplessly as they circled overhead, feeling the pervasive pressure and fear.
The Blood Wolf Band was completely caught in a dilemma, like mice being toyed with by a group of cunning falcons, every step on the edge of a trap.
The faces of the few core leaders around Karl also became extremely grim.
One of the bearded strongmen approached Karl, lowering his voice and saying: "Boss, this won't do! Our brothers will be shot to death by these birdmen before we even reach the town! And, look at the sky…"
Karl looked up at the sky; the sun had already begun to set in the west, and its orange-red light dyed the distant mountains a warm hue, but this warmth did not dispel the chill in his heart in the slightest.
At the current stop-and-go, constantly interrupted speed, they would absolutely not be able to reach Blackstone Town before dark.
And once night fell, camping in the wilderness, facing these elusive aerial cavalry, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Damn it!"
Karl spat fiercely, his spittle mixed with blood, unsure if it was from anger or if he had hurt his throat from shouting too loudly.
He looked at the cannon fodder in the team whose eyes flickered, clearly having thoughts of retreat, and the regret in his heart grew like wild grass.
If he had known that Blackstone Territory had such a hand, he wouldn't have gotten involved in this mess even if he was beaten to death!
That small commission was simply not enough to buy his brothers' lives!
"Pass down the order!"
Karl gritted his teeth, almost squeezing the words out.
"Stop advancing! Establish… establish camp right here!"
This order made many bandits breathe a sigh of relief; although the road ahead was uncertain, at least for now they didn't have to advance under a rain of arrows.
However, after the order was passed down, the team's reaction was not enthusiastic.
Setting up camp required cutting trees, clearing the ground, and setting up guards, but under the threat of the Pegasus Knights, no one dared to easily leave the main group and act alone.
The entire team remained in a stalemate, the atmosphere oppressive and eerie.
High in the sky, Ade saw the enemy below stop advancing and seemingly showing signs of setting up camp, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.
He did not order a continued attack; it was best not to pursue cornered enemies, and the Knights and Pegasus also needed rest.
"Maintain surveillance, withdraw in batches to the town for rest, and replenish arrows and stamina."
Ade issued a new order.
More than twenty Pegasus Knights split into two teams, one team continued to circle high in the sky, maintaining deterrence and surveillance over the Blood Wolf Band, while the other team, led by Ade, turned around and flew towards Blackstone Town.
Their pristine wings cut graceful arcs against the setting sun, quickly disappearing into the horizon.
The Blood Wolf Band soldiers who remained did not feel any relief watching the Pegasus Knights depart; instead, their hearts grew heavier.
They knew that this was only a temporary calm; the real test, perhaps, would be tonight.
Karl's face was grim as he looked at the gradually darkening sky, and for the first time, he wavered about this operation.
He began to consider whether he should quietly retreat under the cover of night?
But when he thought of the generous reward promised by the employer and the employer's ruthless methods, he hesitated again.
The sun completely sank below the horizon, and night began to slowly descend.
In the wilderness, the Blood Wolf Band's temporary camp was lit by scattered campfires.
The night was as black as ink, completely enveloping the wilderness.
A cold wind began to howl, kicking up dust from the ground and making a wailing sound, like ghosts weeping softly.
The Blood Wolf Band's camp was chosen on a relatively open but unsheltered gentle slope, which was originally to guard against ground attacks, but now, it left them completely exposed to potential threats from the sky.
The process of setting up camp was chaotic and inefficient.
The temporarily conscripted cannon fodder bandits lacked discipline and necessary tools, merely haphazardly cutting some low shrubs and huddling around the campfires, hoping to draw a bit of warmth and security from them.
The air was filled with the smell of sweat, blood, and cheap ale, and the crackling of the burning campfires only highlighted the silence and eeriness of the night.
Karl and his core members occupied the center of the camp; their tents were slightly more presentable, but still only simple animal hide tents.
Karl paced back and forth restlessly in front of his tent, the dim firelight casting his grotesque shadow on the tent wall, twisted and distorted, like a fanged and clawed devil.
"Boss, are we really going to spend the night here?"
The bearded strongman approached again, his face showing clear worry.
"Those birdmen definitely won't give up! If they come again tonight…"
"Shut up!"
Karl abruptly stopped, glaring fiercely at him.
"If not here, do you want to lead this bunch of useless people to travel in the dark? Or do you want to turn around and run away now?"
The bearded strongman shrank his neck, intimidated by Karl's fierce gaze, and dared not say more.
Another leader, with a scar on his face, said in a deep voice: "Boss, we must strengthen our vigilance! Especially against aerial threats. Although our arrows can't reach them, at least we can get an early warning."
Karl panted, nodding: "Send double the men for vigilance! Have the archers keep their bows at hand; as long as something flies over from the sky, no matter what it is, shoot first and ask questions later!"
The order was passed down, and many more sentries were added to the outer perimeter of the camp, with some archers also arranged by the campfires, nervously watching the dark night sky.
However, this vigilance was more of a psychological comfort.
Everyone knew full well that against those agile and swift Pegasus Knights, this defense was virtually useless.
Fear, like an invisible venomous snake, spread through the camp.
Many bandits could not sleep at all; they clutched their weapons, sitting around the campfires, listening intently to the sounds around them.
The sound of the wind, the rustling of the grass, the howling of distant beasts—any abnormal sound would make them tense up, even causing small-scale panic.
