Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Urich, with his bloodied axe held in both hands, balanced himself on his horse using only his legs as he galloped forward. His mounted combat skills had reached a considerably high level.

'Gidwick, you son of a bitch!'

Urich's eyes blazed with fury. The veins and muscles beside his clenched lips stood out prominently.

‘You dare to betray me?'

If Gidwick had simply fled because he couldn't bear the pressure any longer, Urich would have let him go without a fuss.

'But selling out a brother deserves nothing less than being torn to pieces.'

Anger fueled Urich's muscles. His steel axe mercilessly cut down his enemies. Kylios showed the whites of his eyes as he galloped fiercely, frothing at the mouth.

"What did I tell you! I told you that Urich is no ordinary man!" Gidwick shrieked. In front of the cavalry, the mercenaries were rushing toward them.

'It’s too late to turn back now.' The cavalry captain bit his lip roughly.

"Charge!" Ignoring Urich attacking from behind, the captain decided that it was important to carry on attacking the mercenaries first.

'Even if we are annihilated here, we will kill the prince!'

The cavalry captain was prepared for death. He was intending to kill the prince before Urich could completely catch up to them.

"Wahhhhh!" The mercenaries also roared, emboldened by the sight of Urich taking charge at the rear of the cavalries. They bravely held their weapons and collided with their enemies.

Crash!

The cavalry weaved through the mercenaries. Weapons clashed, and screams followed one after another. The mounted mercenaries were knocked off their horses during their close-range fight with the cavalries.

"Ignore them! Go straight for the prince!"

The cavalry captain shouted, pointing his sword forward. The cavalry ignored the mercenaries and charged straight toward Pahell.

"Protect the prince!"

Bachman turned his horse around and shouted. He pulled hard on the reins, rushing to protect Pahell.

There were seven cavalrymen who managed to make it out of the clash with the mercenaries. They were solely focused on Pahell, charging toward him.

"Woahhhh!" Urich also arrived on the battlefield with a roar. He had already taken down more than six cavalrymen all by himself as he caught up to the rear of the cavalry. His solo ambush effectively disrupted the cavalry's formation, splitting their attention. He alone had practically done the job of an entire side of a double-sided ambush.

'They’re going for Pahell.'

Urich frowned. He had chased the tail of the cavalry, so he was still far from the front where Pahell was.

"Capture Gidwick alive!"

Urich shouted his order to the mercenaries then steered his horse toward Pahell. His face was smeared red with the blood of his enemies.

"Kylios, just hold on a little longer."

Kylios tiredly gasped for air, having sprinted at full speed for a long while. His legs trembled with exhaustion.

“Your Highness, please take a step back."

The guard knights protecting Pahell grabbed their reins and drew their swords. These knights had been protecting Pahell for a long time, just like Phillion. Their loyalty was exceptional. If they had been faint-hearted and without their strong loyalty, they wouldn’t have been able to handle such a tough journey and fled long ago.

Even as seven cavalrymen charged straight at them, the two guards stood their ground firmly, silent and unyielding as rocks.

Crunch!

The two guard knights faced the charging cavalry. They managed to strike down one cavalry but couldn't do much against the swords of the rest of the cavalries that followed.

"Gak!"

A sword pierced the throat of one of the guard knights. His eyes widened, and blood gushed. Looking at the face of death, he looked up at the sun, praying that his soul would find peace. The other guard knight also died in a fleeting effort to buy the slightest of time.

"Kill the prince at all costs! We must kill him!”

The cavalry captain commanded with his blood-stained blade. Pahell spurred his horse and evaded the attacks. He circled the battlefield, evading the cavalry's pursuit.

'Damn, he’s good with the horse.'

A cavalry pursuing Pahell thought as he clenched his teeth as he could not find a way to close down the gap between the two men. Pahell skillfully maneuvered his horse, shaking off the cavalry's pursuit.

"Don't mess with our employer!" Bachman and two other mercenaries caught up to the cavalries on their horses.

"Tch," The cavalry captain clicked his tongue as he swung his sword. His eyes darted about wildly, desperate looking for a solution, which only seemed to be fleeing from his mind.

'Dammit, this could not get any worse.'

"I'll kill you with my own hands!"

The relatively unharmed mercenaries punted Gidwick, who lay on the ground, whimpering amidst the group assault.

'I just wanted to live a good life.'

The beating ceased. Gidwick lifted his head to see Urich stopping the mercenaries, standing over him.

"L-leader! Please let me live. I must have been blinded by greed! I'll do anything if you let me live. I'll become a slave, do all the menial work for the mercenaries... so, please."

Gidwick clutched at Urich's feet, begging desperately. Urich looked down at him coldly.

"Everyone, get ready. We gotta get moving first. Let’s get going."

Urich grabbed his axe. He knew precisely where to strike a person’s body to render them immobile. He lightly sliced the back of Gidwick’s heels with his axeblade.

Thwack.

The tendon in Gidwick’s heels snapped, and he curled up in severe pain.

"Ughhhhh."

Urich grabbed Gidwick and tied him up like baggage behind the horse.

"We'll decide your fate later. Gidwick. I'll make sure you don’t even consider asking me to let you live."

Urich's warning made Gidwick wet himself.

There was no time to collect the bodies or regroup. The group quickly mounted their horses. Even the injured received only makeshift first aid.

A few mercenaries looked unwell, and that included Bachman.

"Bachman."

Urich approached Bachman.

"The bleeding stopped. I'm fine."

Bachman responded with a shadowed face.

"We're not far from our destination. Hang in there."

Urich spoke calmly as he passed by Bachman, encouraging other mercenaries as well.

‘They hit us pretty hard.'

Urich glanced around at the surviving mercenaries. Less than ten remained, some of whom would probably die before joining forces with Ferzen's army.

Clop, clop.

The group continued moving without rest as they were unsure when the cavalry's pursuit might catch up. They got on with eating and even sleeping on horseback.

Thud.

Hearing the sound, Urich looked back. Bachman had collapsed and fallen off his horse.

"Shit.”

Urich hurriedly dismounted to help Bachman.

"It’s alright, I’m just exhausted."

Bachman insisted, but Urich's eyes were heavy with concern. He had witnessed many warriors' deaths. By now, he could tell who would live or die.

Bachman's face was deeply pallid. Urich fashioned a makeshift stretcher from his cloak, attaching it to the horse, and laid Bachman on it.

"Bachman. Any last words for me to pass on to your family?"

Urich asked Bachman, who was lying on the stretcher.

Some mercenaries prepared for their deaths and had designated a location for their families to claim their share of the reward after the job was complete. As big as this job was, they were familiar with the risks that it entailed.

"Put your bullshit away. I'm not dying."

"I’m asking you just in case," Urich replied calmly.

"...I don’t need any last words. I am not going to die."

Bachman spoke bitterly. His long-desired life of comfort was right in front of his nose. He was soon going to be able to live a better life than anyone he knew.

Bachman lay on the makeshift stretcher, gazing up at the sky. The sunlight was dazzling and warm.

'Not yet Lou. Please, this can't be it!'

Bachman prayed.