NEC Chapter 71: The Guard Captain's Strike

Time passed day by day, and as the team gradually advanced deeper, small-scale skirmishes within their reconnaissance range became increasingly frequent.

The South Pass Territory's wilderness had now become a living hell. Everywhere the eye could see were scorched villages, abandoned farmlands, and headless corpses lying by the roadside.

Greenspine Kingdom cavalry rampaged freely across the wilderness, pursuing scattered Emerald soldiers or turning their blades on unarmed civilians fleeing in panic.

Long cavalry spears impaled desperately wailing Emerald warriors, who were then surrounded by other cavalry and sliced piece by piece with sabers. Young children were lassoed and dragged by galloping warhorses along rocky roads, leaving long trails of mixed blood and flesh. Heads were strung up and hung beside saddles, swaying and knocking against each other like giant wind chimes. And of course, there were the bestial acts that never missed any war: the wanton humiliation and trampling of women...

The stench of blood and death permeated every inch of air.

Black masses of carrion birds circled everywhere in the sky, which nicely concealed the drone's movements, but as these scenes appeared more and more frequently in the drone's cameras, Chen Mo's heart filled with murderous rage.

If Captain Paven hadn't firmly stopped everyone's actions, Chen Mo felt he might not be able to resist grabbing his rifle and charging out to give those bastards a burst of bullets.

However, a chase scene at dawn caught Captain Paven's attention.

"That's Knight Commander Connor!"

In the camera, a broken cavalry squad from the Emerald Duchy was fleeing desperately. The leading knight was burly, his armor shattered, his whole body covered in blood, yet still exceptionally fierce, fighting and retreating along rugged slopes.

With just a spear, he struggled to sweep away arrows shot by pursuers behind him, desperately covering the rear. In front of him were six equally wounded soldiers.

Pursuing them were two well-equipped Greenspine Kingdom cavalry squads.

The warhorse beneath the knight was foaming at the mouth and nose, its hoofbeats heavy and scattered, clearly at the end of its strength, which prevented them from shaking off their enemies' pursuit.

Paven observed intently for a moment, then suddenly stood up. "Knight Commander Connor is Marquis Monroe's ninth knight. I dealt with him when I was in the royal capital. He's a Black Armor Rider with extremely strong combat ability. He's being held back by his horse's strength now, otherwise these foot soldiers wouldn't be able to make him so desperate."

"Looking at their direction, they might reach that main road ahead in a few dozen minutes!"

"I'll try to provide support. If I can get Knight Commander Connor's cooperation, perhaps we can find a way to leave here quickly!"

Leaving two warriors to guard the hiding place, Paven quickly equipped himself with the remaining eighteen warriors. Before leaving, he specifically instructed, "Be careful to stay hidden, don't expose yourselves, wait for my return!"

Racing to the predetermined ambush location, just as the guard captain expected, the fleeing and pursuing forces arrived at the main road where Paven had set his ambush within ten minutes.

It was still the familiar charging opening, but Captain Paven added a throwing motion.

Two grenades were precisely thrown by him into the formations of both pursuing squads. As muffled explosions sounded, horses' wails filled the air, and the pursuers' mobility was instantly destroyed.

The Goldscale Swordsman began his massacre, his long sword dancing as blood splattered. At the same time, Knight Commander Connor's squad timely turned around, cooperating with this sudden reinforcement to begin clearing out the Greenspine Kingdom pursuers.

Within just a few minutes, all enemies were slain, leaving only fallen men and horses on the main road, along with the thick stench of blood that wouldn't dissipate.

As the last Greenspine cavalryman was pierced through by a cavalry spear while running, Knight Commander Connor dismounted, removed his blood-stained helmet, and struggled to stretch his mouth corners toward Paven, squeezing out a smile like a long-awaited reunion.

"Paven! I never expected to meet you here!"

His voice was somewhat hoarse. "Weren't you supposed to accompany the young lady of Cloudmist Domain south to Crescent Moon? Could it be... you fought your way back all the way from Crescent Moon?"

"The God of War's protection! If you hadn't appeared in time, my life today would have been..."

"Stop!" Paven stepped back half a pace and roared, "Form ranks!"

Although the Cloudmist Domain warriors who had just finished battle and hadn't caught their breath were momentarily stunned, their long-term rigorous training was ingrained in their bones. Without any hesitation, swords and shields rang out as eighteen men instantly divided into three six-man groups, weapons raised uniformly, assuming battle stance.

Knight Commander Connor's smile became somewhat stiff. "Paven, you... what are you doing? I'm Connor, Connor of South Pass!"

"We met in Emerald Hall, have you forgotten?"

The knight commander stammered somewhat, trying to explain. "I was following the earl's orders to deliver a message to Horseshoe Fort, but was accidentally caught by enemies. Horseshoe Fort is still in our hands. Quickly bring Lady Frost here, as long as we enter the castle, we'll be safe!"

Seeing that Paven still hadn't spoken, Connor's gaze urgently swept around, frequently lingering in the forest at the foot of the mountain, looking again and again into Paven's eyes, as if trying to discern something.

"You could get here so quickly, which means the camp is nearby, right? Quick! Take me to pay respects to the young highness..."

"Enough, Connor!" Paven's long sword was raised diagonally, assuming the starting stance of standard Sky Empire military swordsmanship.

"Connor, do you know that when you smile, you look absolutely horrible!"

"You, a Black Armor Rider, being chased around by these small fry? Do you take me for a fool? Fine, now you're safe, get lost! Get lost quickly!"

"Otherwise, I don't mind sending you to die with them!"

From the moment of engagement, Paven had felt something was wrong. These Greenspine cavalry were too weak, having no resistance whatsoever in his hands as a professional swordsman.

How could two squads of ordinary soldiers like this force a Black Armor Rider into such desperation?

Moreover, Connor was someone who never smiled. He was always like a hard stone. Even at the duchy's award ceremonies, he would at most just grimace.

When Paven saw Connor show him that smile uglier than crying, every hair on his body stood on end.

When things were abnormal, something abnormal must have happened.

Indeed, under Paven's merciless rebuke, the smile completely disappeared from Knight Connor's face, revealing a strange, melancholy and weary expression, with some reminiscence and some regret.

"Paven, you're still so clever. Among our class in the royal city, you were the most brilliant one, superior swordsmanship, perfect tactics!"

"It's just a pity you followed the wrong person!"

"Same as me..."

"Sorry! Hand over the young lady. Don't worry, the lord will take good care of her!"

Paven's face showed a mocking smile. "Lord, which lord? Who is your new master?"

"Come back with me, and you'll know!" Connor's hand slowly tightened on his spear shaft.

"Just with you?" Paven slightly narrowed his eyes, his left hand grasping a number four grenade at his waist.

Since Connor was persistent, they could only decide life and death here. Although the Black Armor Rider and himself might not be able to determine victory in a short time, he had that "Cyber Monarch's" weapon enhancement, so severely injuring his opponent and then retreating shouldn't be a problem.

Then he felt a momentum pressure as substantial as reality.

Behind Knight Connor, a "soldier" who had been keeping his head lowered and wearing ordinary leather armor stepped forward slowly.

With each step he took, that suffocating pressure increased by one degree. He ignored Paven's sword pointed at Connor and performed an impeccable, classically elegant knight's salute toward the dense forest behind Paven.

"Under the seat of Marquis Zircon, Fifth Knight, greets the noble Lady Frost."

Then his gaze slowly moved to Paven, who was facing a great enemy, his mouth corners seemingly carrying a trace of appreciation.

"And... the brave Captain Paven."

"Your loyalty and courage have been widely praised among all nations and territories. From Crescent Moon to Greenspine, all sing of your illustrious reputation!"

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