“Slade is a great swordsman of this era. There are only a few who can match him. Do not expect men from the wastelands to even come close to his might.”
Sofia, her mother said softly. Her words sank into Liya’s heart, causing the beautiful elf to smile. “Prepare the trebuchets. Once the cavalry are done with them, we’ll crush those that remain.”
While she spoke, the chaos on the battlefield grew. Desolate Wolves had to assemble themselves into a phalanx of three to six men. About five Desolate Wolves worked together as one; one would shield the lance of the cavaliers while another would use the spear.
One ran out, hurtling his spear through the air. The spear plunged a cavalier who was about to slay a Desolate Wolf who was kicked by a horse’s hind legs. Before the soldier who threw the spear could run back to the phalanx, lightning came for him.
Before the eyes of his comrades, he was slain. Lightning still crackling on his armor, the dead soldier fell.
Slade, charging valiantly, swung his lance, launching bolts that reaped more lives.
Suddenly, he drew the reins of his horse backward, causing it to halt. He looked to his left and right, seeing the cavaliers charging through the ranks of the Desolate Wolves. While they had the advantage, he could see that these Desolate Wolves were still in some strange formation.
It seemed as if they were winning, but there was a bigger picture.
This made him frown.
“What’s going on?”
He muttered to himself. Turning his horse, he was about to charge toward Alec, who slammed a cavalier and his mount 10 meters away! Such strength made Slade squint.
However, before he could charge toward Alec, arrows crackling with lightning flew into the battlefield. They were like missiles, slamming Tigris Heavy Cavaliers off their mounts!
Almost instantly, dozens of cavaliers were slain with arrows!
Rumble!
A fearsome cavalry of markswomen on Ovoks emerged from the horizon. They were coming from the left, and while riding their mounts, they shot arrows that packed great might. So much that even his knights were falling off their mounts.
“Bladebreakers!”
A yell came from the right.
Rumble!
A troop of fearsome-looking knights on intimidating mounts rode into the battlefield, moving as one sharp blade. Slade furrowed his brows when he saw how Lambert and his men were skewering his own men. Their mounts were so ferocious that some Tigris knights were stomped to death by them.
Lightning crackled through Slade’s eyes.
“Knights!”
Gathering a good number, about 400, to ride with him, Slade charged toward the Bladebreakers. His cloak billowed in the wind, and the image of Lambert taking vengeance for what they had done to the Desolate Wolves reflected in his eyes, making him boil with rage.
It was cavalry against cavalry. The superior one would surely emerge victorious, and he believed there was no cavalry in the wastelands that could beat Count William’s cavalry and their rigorous training.
With their lances aimed at the Bladebreakers, they charged forth.
Lambert, seeing Slade from the corner of his eye, made a C-turn with his men right behind him. Both troops charged toward the other, dust rising in their wake.
The Bladebreakers red cloak fluttered high, their plumes dancing, as if speaking of the tales of a battle to come. Their armor glistened softly, and the powerful bursts of air from the nostrils of their mounts fell into their ears.
When the gap between them became only 100 yards, Slade finally saw how large the Centraks were. His pupils shook.
‘What kind of horse is that?’
The spikes protruding from their flesh, their sharp teeth, and cold crimson eyes made him feel apprehensive.
By the time only 20 yards remained, the knees of some horses buckled, causing Tigris heavy cavaliers to crash, tossing and rolling on the ground.
It was fear!
Boom!
It was too late to rethink his decision as they clashed. The Bladebreakers, true to their name, broke through the Tigris men heavily clad in metal. Without being told, Slade knew his heavy cavalry was no match for this unusual cavalry from the wastelands.
His eyes followed Lambert, the golden knight, as he leaped off his mount, piercing his lance through a Tigris infantryman and releasing a fiery ripple that blasted about a dozen more away.
Slade clenched his teeth so tight that his gum hurt.
“Heyah!”
Fueled with rage, he galloped toward Lambert. His mount sped past other cavaliers engaged in a battle, closing the gap between him and Lambert.
Lambert turned his head and saw Slade.
Lambert dropped his lance and pulled out two javelins.
Swish! Swish!
The javelins flew like crimson bolts. To his surprise, Slade evaded both, threw away his lance, and unsheathed his sword.
“Die, you wretched wastelander!”
Underneath Slade’s vambraces, his flesh became transparent as lightning could be seen crackling within. Even his bones, veins, and everything were almost entirely visible!
With a loud roar, thick bolts of lightning ran out of his skin, came out of his armor, and were channeled through his sword.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The violent force caused three explosions. In the midst of the explosion was Lambert, who received a full-powered lightning strike. His armor became scorching red, and with a deep groan, he was flung a hundred yards away.
Slade breathed out heavily. His eyes fixed on the golden knight lying on the ground a hundred yards away.
Brandishing his sword, he spurred his horse, galloping toward Lambert with thick killing intent pouring out of him without restraint.
A horn resounded. It was a sign for retreat.
Upon hearing that, Slade looked around and discovered his heavy cavaliers remained a few hundred! Alarmed, he turned his horse and galloped out before he was encircled. While galloping, lightning arrows came from behind, killing many of those retreating with him.
By the time Slade reached the gate, there were less than 300 Tigris Heavy Cavalry!
……
Alec, while his men were yelling and rejoicing, turned and saw Lambert lying still.
His pupils shook.
“Lambert…”