NEC Chapter 63: Lightning Charge, Close Combat

Ever since arriving in this world, Chen Mo had always heard that this continent, after enduring years of warfare, finally had hard-won peace.

The various kingdoms adhered to complex etiquette, carefully protecting this fragile time. Nobles were keen on elegant communication and complicated negotiations, while mercenary guilds became channels and bridges for resolving disputes.

Except for local border frictions and the annual orc autumn hunts, this vast human land had not heard the horn of large-scale comprehensive warfare for hundreds of years.

This was an era labeled as "peaceful" and "stable."

But Chen Mo had also more than once caught a whiff of the restless erupting breath beneath the volcano.

Under the gloomy shadow of Black Crow Castle, he witnessed how nobles wantonly trampled commoners. In the eyes of those lower-class people who dared to be angry but not speak, there was desolation everywhere and faintly visible rage.

At Six-Leaf Grove and the Hedgehog Tavern, amid the clamor filled with cheap alcohol and body odor, drunken gamblers huddled together, cursing the world with rough voices. No matter how they struggled, the copper coins clutched tightly would always slip through their fingers like sand, leaving not a trace of hope.

In Whitestone City, bankrupt mercenaries and farmers who had lost their land endured the cruelest exploitation, just to beg for scraps of leftovers for themselves and their families.

Chen Mo still remembered Old John's long sigh, "I think war is just a matter of time."

In modern political theory, when peace has lasted long and the upper class's exploitation of the lower class becomes increasingly severe, when social contradictions intensify to an irreconcilable degree, war will inevitably arrive as scheduled.

Either internal prairie fire, people who can't survive raising sickles to take the lives of their masters, or their own lives.

Or external iron hooves trampling, using foreign blood to extinguish domestic resentment.

Regardless of the reason, war had truly and tangibly arrived.

The information brought by the reconnaissance cavalry was also limited. What could be confirmed was that the entire southern continent, whether actively or passively, had all been drawn into this massive war.

"Greenspine... Greenspine and Crescent Moon have both declared war on the Emerald Duchy! The urgent message from home tells you to retreat quickly, otherwise, otherwise it will be too late."

This was truly the worst possible bad news.

South of the Gloomy Forest was the Crescent Moon Federation, north of the Gloomy Forest was the Greenspine Kingdom, meaning the Cloudmist Domain group was now within a vast enemy territory, with enemies on all sides.

The several leaders of the Cloudmist Domain immediately began a closed-door meeting. After a full hour, the pale-faced Lady Frost walked out of the tent, somewhat absent-mindedly walking to Chen Mo's side.

"Chen Mo, you should go, leave quickly."

Chen Mo frowned slightly, not fully understanding what was happening, when Captain Paven, who walked over quickly, provided clear clarification, "Mr. Chen, the war in the south has begun. As members of the territory, we must rush back to participate in the war. This journey will be very dangerous!"

"You're not from the Emerald Duchy, so don't stay with us. Find a place to hide for a while, or find a way to return to your family! It will be safer!"

Lady Frost nodded, squeezing out a smile on her small face, "Yes, after the war is over, remember to come find me. You promised to teach me to memorize books."

Chen Mo's thoughts flew in a flash. Frankly speaking, the longer he stayed in contact with this world, the more he could feel the thousand faces of this world.

Greed, brutality, kindness, righteousness, all intertwined to form the true face of the Starry Continent. No matter what, this group from the Cloudmist Domain was already the friendliest group he had encountered.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have traveled together by chance from Six-Leaf Grove all the way here.

"I... actually have nowhere to go! Besides, there are still those Zircon tails following, I can't leave!"

Paven tightened his gauntlets, "They won't be troubling you anymore soon!"

With war already begun, for Paven, how could he possibly tolerate such an elite enemy squad following behind? Doing Chen Mo a favor was a matter of convenience.

In the camp, auxiliary soldiers were skillfully and carefully wrapping each warhorse's hooves with thick gray fur, quickly and carefully. Using the tents as cover, the elite cavalry of the Cloudmist Domain quietly mounted their horses, light armor on their bodies, short weapons in hand, crossbows loaded, this was to launch a lightning assault!

Paven also mounted a tall horse. Chen Mo saw for the first time that this guard captain, who had always been gentle and refined, was emanating killing intent.

With their daily gentle conversations, he had almost forgotten this was a violent professional soldier.

The warhorses began accelerating with small steps within the camp. Because of the fur wrapped around their hooves, the sound became extremely weak, so much so that the Zircon squad that had been following at a distance only suddenly realized when they charged out of the camp, frantically rushing toward their mounts.

Too late!

The Cloudmist Domain cavalry at full charge reached attack range within a few breaths, dense crossbow arrows shot out intensively, focusing on the opponents' mounts.

The Zircon cavalry didn't have time to pick up speed before falling one after another in the arrow rain. Only Knight Tikebot ignored the crossbow bolts shot at him, continuously parrying left and right, protecting his warhorse.

A gust of wind swept by, Captain Paven leaped from his horse, launching the swordsman's exclusive combat skill, Charge!

"Bang!"

The fallen leaves on the ground were plowed open in a long gash. The Goldscale Swordsman and the Black Armor Rider had a fierce collision in a flash, the huge sound wave like a heavy hammer striking everyone's eardrums.

Then followed a series of clanging weapon collisions.

Both were warriors cultivated by the kingdom's orthodox system. Their swordsmanship could be seen to be in the Resting Moon Dynasty style, taking the path of grand, sweeping moves.

Because their combat power was similar, it should have been an evenly matched situation, but actually after just a few seconds, Tikebot couldn't hold on.

Paven, relying on having a team and healing behind him, once again used injury-for-injury tactics, every sword strike aimed at trading lives, making the Zircon knight flustered and roaring continuously.

"Are you crazy? You're attacking a messenger of a kingdom marquis, the guard captain of high nobility!"

"Stop! We have no malicious intent, we're just fulfilling the city lord's orders!"

"Let us go, I swear by knightly honor not to follow anymore!"

Paven said nothing, only attacking with each sword faster than the last.

"Madman, you madman, do you think I really don't dare kill you?"

Seeing more and more wounds on his body while his own cavalry had all been shot down, fierce light blazed in Tikebot's eyes. Finally howling, he took Paven's sword head-on, then charged forward, knocking aside two blocking Emerald cavalry and heading straight for the Gloomy Forest.

Although entering the Gloomy Forest might result in being killed by the elf clan, Captain Paven obviously didn't want to give his opponent any chance of escape. Another lightning charge directly intercepted the opponent's escape route.

Using such rapid acceleration skills continuously in a short time placed enormous strain on the body, but Paven didn't care, having healing support behind him made him willful.

The two sides collided again, Paven staggered back several steps but ultimately blocked the opponent's escape route.

However, Tikebot was waiting for this opportunity.

The city guard captain of the Zircon family was no mediocre person. Knowing that escape hopes were slim after being entangled, the Zircon knight captain used the collision's momentum to knock Paven aside, not retreating but advancing, charging directly at the Cloudmist Domain camp.

Several cavalry tried to block him but were mercilessly knocked aside. The power of the Black Armor Rider was fully displayed at this moment.

Paven was desperately chasing, Emerald Domain warriors hastily formed a formation at the camp entrance, Master Locke gripped his staff with both hands, casting protective spells one after another on the warriors at the entrance, even Lady Official Linda endured her trembling and stood in front of the young countess...

None of this could stop the Zircon guard captain, who charged like a mad rhinodon, thundering his way through.

Chen Mo half-crouched, shouldered his weapon, and fired!

The staccato gunfire echoed through the valley sky.

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