The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 246

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Mad Spearman of the Northern Front (246)
The plains of Karzadin fell silent as night descended, as if the world itself held its breath.
Unlike the mountain terrain, with only scattered hillocks breaking the monotony, there was nothing to obstruct the view.
Yet the moment darkness fell, that very obscurity became both shelter and hiding place.
“….”
In the darkness, I crouched low upon the ridge, gazing down at the sprawl below.
It was the Kar Tribe’s base of operations gathered in Karzadin.
Whether because word had spread that Belikezel and Preldior had fallen, those bastards had already assembled in one place and were preparing for battle.
If the Imperial Army had swallowed two territories, then this place could very well be next—a fact they clearly understood.
“They’re remarkably clever for their kind. The Kar Tribe doesn’t typically construct strongholds in such a manner, do they?”
The Kar Tribe typically dwelt in temporary shelters across vast lands, structures they could erect and dismantle with speed.
Naturally, there were no walls to repel invaders, and tactical formations were scarcely a consideration.
Yet the stronghold visible below the ridge bore little resemblance to a typical Kar Tribe encampment.
“Intelligence breeds adaptation. They’ve learned how vital a fortified position is when defending.”
Isaac spoke in hushed tones.
Their camp now resembled the defensive formations we commonly employed in the Northern Region.
However….
“…it’s crude, though.”
Kailun tossed out the observation casually.
Still, after months with the Imperial Army, his eye for such things had sharpened considerably.
The stronghold the Kar Tribe had constructed bore resemblance to Imperial designs, yet something about it felt fundamentally flawed.
At this, Isaac let out a soft chuckle and spoke.
“The expertise the Empire has accumulated over centuries cannot be replicated by merely observing it a few times. Still, it’s far more troublesome than having nothing at all.”
Isaac then turned his gaze toward me.
I remained silent, studying their stronghold intently.
Swish.
My gaze shifted to the opposite side of their position.
The direction Lucael and the Silverwolf Knight Order had moved.
Once Lucael began his advance, we would move in coordination—such was our agreement.
“Everyone, stay sharp. The moment we receive the signal from Lucael’s position, we advance.”
“Understood.”
“Got it.”
Isaac and Kailun responded in kind.
As Isaac swiftly relayed orders through the officers, the squad members’ eyes grew keen and focused.
Even during recovery from injuries, we had maintained rigorous training to keep our edge sharp.
We are the kind of warriors who can engage in combat at any moment, anywhere.
Soon a cool tension settled upon the shoulders of every squad member.
‘…Roughly six thousand, I’d estimate.’
Though there were supposedly no 6-Star warriors among them, the enemy’s numbers were substantial, and they had constructed a stronghold, however crude.
To underestimate them and charge recklessly would invite casualties among our ranks.
Arteon spoke.
“Not a single casualty on this expedition. If anyone gets injured, we’re heading back and doubling training volume—remember that.”
“…Pardon?”
Isaac’s expression hardened.
Arteon was never one to speak idly. And doubling the current training regimen meant…
“Come on, wrap bandages around the gaps in your armor. Even a scratch and you’re done for.”
“Everyone, bind below your elbows! And around your thighs too!”
“Hey, didn’t you take a sword strike to the side last time while running? Be careful, seriously!”
The squad members murmured among themselves.
Though their voices were barely audible, Arteon’s words had landed with unmistakable weight.
At their reaction, Arteon smirked slightly and fixed his gaze on the Kar Tribe’s stronghold.
And the distant sound drifting from afar.
“Prepare yourselves.”
As Lucael and the Silverwolf Knight Order began to move, Arteon spoke in a low voice.
Then he infused Mana into the Iglis he held.
Crack!
The Iglis, which had been in rod form, transformed into the shape of a Spear.
“Silent Spear Unit.”
Arteon’s gaze turned cold and sharp.
“Sortie.”
From the darkness, the Silent Spear Unit’s warriors poured forth like a tidal wave toward the Kar Tribe’s main base.
* * *
“What, what is this!”
The moment dusk fell, a tremendous tremor began to rise from the ridge beyond the Karzadin stronghold.
The sound of hoofbeats echoing from beyond the darkness scraped across the plains, spreading outward.
“Enemy forces! The Empire’s cavalry has appeared!”
A Kar Tribe Warrior on the watchtower fired a flaming arrow toward the direction of the sound.
Whoooooosh!
As the arrow’s flames cut through the air in a straight line, the Imperial Army’s cavalry hidden in darkness briefly revealed themselves.
Roughly a hundred knights led by Lucael.
At their appearance, the Kar Tribe Warriors’ eyes widened dramatically.
“It looks like there are at least a hundred of them!”
“Cavalry! Don’t let them close in!”
Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang!
The Karzadin Plains shrouded in darkness.
At the unexpected appearance of enemy forces, the Kar Tribe Warriors scrambled to grip their weapons and move.
They were the ones controlling Karzadin.
Over six thousand warriors had gathered in one place, and they’d even constructed a stronghold that drew out every advantage the Imperial Army possessed.
Yet they were being attacked by merely a hundred cavalry?
“Draw your bows!”
Taman and Kkalloirum, who commanded Karzadin, shouted harshly.
“Don’t advance until those bastards get close! Reduce their numbers with arrows as much as possible!”
The Kar Tribe Warriors hastily raised bows they were unfamiliar with.
The bowstrings drew taut.
Fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip!
Hundreds of arrows tore through the darkness and soared into the sky.
At the sight, Lucael’s eyes grew cold.
“Bows.”
Both the fortified positions and the fact that they were shooting arrows at distant enemies.
They displayed a distinctly different aspect from the Kar Tribe warriors I had faced until now.
‘But….’
Both the fortifications they had constructed and the arrows now flying toward us.
Their level showed a severe qualitative gap when compared to trained Imperial Soldiers.
“Raise your shields and defend! Charge without slowing your pace!”
“Yes!”
There was no need to evade arrows of this caliber.
In truth, the arrows possessed little power, and the density of their volleys lacked concentration.
At this level, there was no need for flanking maneuvers—we could simply engage in direct combat.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
The Silverwolf Knight Order’s cavalry pounded the ground harder, charging fiercely toward the Kar Tribe’s fortified position at Karzadin.
Before long, the arrows’ power had diminished, and their usefulness vanished entirely.
As the distance closed in an instant, Kkalloirum, who commanded them, roared.
“They’re approaching! Switch weapons! Prepare for full-scale battle!”
At Kkalloirum’s cry, the Kar Tribe Warriors quickly drew their respective weapons from their belts.
And as Lucael drove his horse toward them, he swiftly assessed the surroundings and found the gaps in their formation.
‘The troops haven’t fully assembled yet.’
It would probably take several minutes for the forces gathering near the center of the fortification to arrive.
If that’s the case….
“Disrupt them as quickly as possible and draw them toward us.”
Lucael drew his sword.
Whoooosh!
Soon the wooden palisade they had erected came into my view.
The binding was so crude that gaps existed between the stakes, and the structural integrity was low.
At this level, I could have simply charged through with the horse’s head, but instead Lucael unleashed a Sword Aura, completely obliterating the wooden palisade.
Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-boom!
The wooden wall shattered and collapsed.
Splinters scattered in all directions, and through the gap, the Silverwolf Knight Order surged straight in.
“Stop them!”
“Don’t let them inside!”
The Kar Tribe Warriors rushed forward eagerly.
However, there was no stopping the Silverwolf Knight Order once they had built up momentum.
“Maintain formation! We’ll trample straight through!”
“Yes!”
Rather than clumsily swinging swords to kill one by one, the mounted cavalry becoming a single unified force and pushing forward possessed far greater power.
At Lucael’s command, the cavalry began to compress into a diamond formation.
The distance between horse and horse was barely half an adult’s stride—utterly compressed.
If even one rider stumbled, the entire formation would collapse and a great disaster would unfold.
Yet….
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
As if they were one entity, the Silverwolf Knight Order maintained an impossible formation and cleaved through the center of the Kar Tribe Warriors at tremendous speed.
Crash-crash-crash-crash-crash-crash-crash-crash-boom!
“Gaaaaaaahhhhh!”
“Ahhhhhhh! My legs!”
Those who collided head-on and were flung aside lost their lives without even a scream, while those who had fallen to the side and had their limbs trampled shrieked in agony.
As dozens of Kar Tribe Warriors lost their lives in an instant, Kkalloirum cried out with a panicked expression.
“T-throw axes! Hurl spears to slow their advance!”
Getting close was impossible.
Somehow, from a distance, I had to slow their momentum.
But that was when it happened.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
A thunderous sound erupted from the east, opposite the strongpoint.
“What, what is that?!”
Kkalloirum’s eyes widened in shock.
Why had commotion suddenly erupted from behind?
‘Could it be… another unit?’
A moment of confusion.
His gaze naturally shifted eastward.
In that instant.
“This is hardly the time to let your attention wander elsewhere.”
A cold voice pierced through.
“What, what did you—!”
The moment he turned his head, Kkalloirum’s vision filled with a blade shimmering with azure light.
A crimson Aura surged up desperately.
Kkalloirum was also a Taman.
He reflexively raised his sword.
But….
Slash!
The speed was different.
“Gaahhh!”
With a scream, Kkalloirum’s left arm traced through empty air as it flew away.
Blood streaked through the night air, and the severed arm fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Lucael’s brow furrowed at the sight.
He had intended to sever the neck in a single stroke, but the creature’s reaction speed had proven more formidable than anticipated.
Lucael clicked his tongue, watching the Silverwolf Knight Order cut through the Formation, scattering the Kar Tribe Warriors.
Already they had become a single war machine, driving back the Kar Tribe Warriors with overwhelming force.
“….”
Yet from the Central direction, more Kar Tribe Warriors surged forward.
‘Their numbers… are far too many.’
If I pushed too hard and allowed myself to be encircled by them, my retreat would be cut off.
Now was the moment to withdraw.
“Retreat!”
A short, decisive command.
The Silverwolf Knight Order turned in perfect unison, as though they had rehearsed it.
“Yes!”
The vice-commander at the vanguard immediately wheeled his horse around, heading back the way they had come.
Lucael swiftly struck his reins and joined the Silverwolf Knight Order at the head of their Formation.
And at that sight.
“They’re fleeing!”
“Chase them!”
The Kar Tribe Warriors hurled their axes and spears, their voices raw with fury.
But it was already too late.
In the space the Knight Order had vacated, only chaos, corpses, and directionless rage remained.
And in that very place where the Silverwolf Knight Order had completely withdrawn.
“Uuuaaaaaahhhhh!”
Kkalloirum, bereft of his left arm, roared in a spray of blood.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————