The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 73
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front (73)
Swoosh.
The Kar Tribe warriors led by Ulgrak melted into the darkness with shadow-like movements.
Moving low through the bushes, they had the sharp eyes of hunters stalking their prey.
And then.
Stop.
Ulgrak, who had been moving at the front, suddenly came to a halt.
Thick fog swallowed their vision, making even a step ahead appear blurry.
Ulgrak heightened his senses and began to assess the surrounding situation.
Fortunately, there was no sign of other presences.
Ulkrak quickly moved his warriors to secure the area.
Swoosh!
At Ulkrak’s command, the warriors swiftly spread out and took positions in the surrounding region.
‘From this place, we can monitor all their movements.’
Though the Empire bastards’ aura had changed recently, they couldn’t follow them in such rough terrain.
At this dawn hour.
In this place shrouded in thick fog, even moving itself could be quite taxing.
And…
Swoosh.
Ulgrak turned his gaze to look somewhere.
A little distance from this place.
There, Makrowdon had also taken position with his warriors.
Though they weren’t within visual range of each other, their coordination fell into place as if they were one.
“…Huh.”
Now it was a battle against patience.
Though it might be somewhat tiring, they had to raise their guard and watch the Imperial Army’s movements.
‘And…’
When those bastards move and climb up this hill.
‘If we attack from both sides… we can annihilate them all at once.’
Ulgrak’s eyes sharpened coldly.
He knew this.
This one victory.
If they could just seize that, the Imperial Army would no longer be able to advance.
And the Empire bastards would know this fact all too well.
‘In the end…’
The fate of both forces would be decided in this battle.
Perhaps that’s why.
“…”
A face flashed through Ulgrak’s mind.
The image of a boy with a youthful face and dark brown hair came to mind.
As the image of that bastard who spread ominous energy despite his appearance clearly emerged.
“Huu.”
Ulgrak quietly steadied his breathing and gripped his axe tightly.
If he encountered that bastard this time.
‘I will definitely make him pay for the wound on my shoulder… and Moldur’s arm.’
Late dawn.
The fog swallowed the silence, and the battlefield froze with tension.
And within it, the hunter holding his breath waited like a beast with gleaming eyes for his prey to enter.
* * *
As the cold dawn air enveloped the base camp, the Imperial Army’s main camp had also finished all preparations.
“A special unit, you say. This war seems a bit different from usual…?”
“Do we just stay here and do nothing?”
The soldiers remaining with the main force muttered quietly as they watched the small number of unit members who had finished preparing for advance.
Of course, even though it was a small number, a full 50 men were assigned to one unit.
And three such units were operating.
One soldier muttered while looking at the special unit in front.
“But… for Lord Seran to sortie. This fight must be truly important.”
The moment that muttering scattered and spread in the wind.
“…”
Arteon, who was in position, gripped his spear with a calm expression.
‘Three units of 50 men each.’
Considering the terrain, they had limited each unit to 50 men.
The hill’s terrain wasn’t wide enough for many personnel to move together.
But the most unexpected thing was something else.
Swoosh.
Arteon looked at Hadel, who was preparing for advance beside him.
Until now, Hadel had moved from the rear for command purposes.
But for him to lead the advance guard and attack like this.
Wasn’t this a completely different situation from moving the usual main force?
‘The fact that Company Commander Hadel is moving… could there have been a deal with the commander?’
Though he didn’t know what it was, there was a very high possibility it was connected to the commander’s stupidity.
What Arteon had realized here was that this Northeastern 4th Defense Line had been holding out thanks to competent middle-ranking commanders.
He had decided that once this fight ended, he would definitely report to the Corps Commander.
“Is everyone ready?”
Hadel approached Arteon and Seran and asked.
When both nodded, Hadel put on his gloves firmly and looked at the forward hill covered in fog.
Most of it was rugged terrain with dense bushes and scattered rocks.
Hadel said.
“Then let’s hurry. It will be important to quickly take position and form our formation.”
Though they had moved as soon as dawn broke, he couldn’t hide his unease.
Seran nodded at Hadel’s words.
But Arteon looked at Hadel and said quietly.
“Company Commander, I will move by a different route.”
“…Is there another path?”
At Hadel’s question, Arteon pointed to a completely different location on the side from the existing path they had used.
“I think there’s risk in having all our forces move along the current path. If those bastards happen to be targeting this place… I think it would be good to prepare by going around another way to strike from behind.”
“But it’s too rough, so moving won’t be easy.”
“I’ll take that risk.”
“…I’ll respect your judgment.”
As Hadel nodded, Arteon gazed beyond the hill.
The rugged terrain faintly revealed beyond the thick fog.
Having already moved across quite a wide range, he knew well how difficult it was.
But…
‘…If it’s the Kar Tribe, there’s definitely a high possibility they’re preparing.’
Especially in such rough terrain, the situation would be much more favorable to those bastards.
Perhaps they had already secured good positions and were waiting for them.
Of course, that possibility was slim, but.
Swoosh.
Arteon turned his body to look at the unit members.
Several soldiers with outstanding stamina and mobility from the existing 3rd Squad had been additionally assigned to form Arteon’s special unit.
Arteon spoke to the unit members.
“There’s definitely no path, so even climbing the hill will be difficult. But there’s something you all must keep in mind.”
The unit members looked at him with stern expressions at Arteon’s words.
To this, Arteon said.
“This battle might be different from previous fights… it could be the battle that signals the end of this war.”
That’s why there was a possibility that an even more dangerous and fierce battle awaited them.
“Those guys will have prepared just as thoroughly. However, if we win this battle… we can save the lives of many soldiers here, and furthermore, we can create a foothold to advance north along with this lake.”
And we, who become the protagonists of that victory.
“Will achieve an Achievement that will remain in history, and receive many rewards we haven’t received until now.”
Swoosh.
Arteon turned his body to look toward the hill.
“So don’t hesitate in your advance forward. Cast aside mercy from the swords and spears that cut down enemies and plant only strong will.”
“Yes, understood!”
“Understood!”
The unit members responded loudly to Arteon’s words.
Along with those words, Arteon turned his steps toward the hill and began walking.
And behind him, the unit members quietly stepped forward.
Slash!
As expected, there was no path.
What blocked their way were dense bushes and sharp thorn thickets.
But Arteon drew the machete he had brought in advance and cut through them without hesitation.
Slash!
Each time the machete was swung, a path opened.
The machete imbued with mana cut through the bushes like tofu.
The unit members following behind also cleared the bushes on the sides with their prepared machetes, opening the path.
Arteon said.
“Everyone be careful of your footing. There are many rocks and thick thorns.”
“Everyone watch the ground!”
“Watch the ground!”
Only the voices relaying commands spread quietly but clearly.
Thus Arteon advanced little by little with his unit members, clearing the bushes.
It might be quite an arduous path, but no one complained.
Such hardships.
Just being able to be with Arteon was itself an honor for them.
‘Since that battle took place… two days have actually passed.’
Those guys would certainly have a possibility of having taken control of this place…
However, it was impossible to predict where that place might be.
Since they were guys skilled at such irregular tactics and movements.
His past life.
Having dealt with the Kar Tribe for a very long time, this was a part only Arteon could predict.
And then.
Clench.
Arteon suddenly clenched his fist and lowered his body to the ground.
The soldiers following behind reflexively crouched down and held their breath.
“…Why are you doing that?”
“Quiet.”
Arteon concentrated his mana and spread his Ki Sense widely.
Now that he had reached the 4-Star Realm, he could spread his Ki Sense over a much wider range than before.
He could faintly sense human presence from far away.
And…
“…This number is.”
Wasn’t it much more than he had expected?
‘I definitely thought 50-60 people would be the limit.’
Who would have thought so many troops would be gathered in one place.
‘Could they possibly be operating just one Main Force?’
His thoughts multiplied.
It was even more difficult to predict the Kar Tribe’s movements in such rough Formation.
And he couldn’t accurately predict their troop size from this place either.
The only reason they were caught by his Ki Sense from this far distance was probably because their numbers were large.
‘I need to get a little closer.’
But if he could think about it positively, there was just one thing.
If that was all the troops they had…
‘We’re at an equivalent level.’
Hadn’t they operated three units of 50 people each to climb the hill?
Of course, fighting in one location would be difficult, but at least they wouldn’t be outnumbered.
Arteon put the machete at his waist and said to the unit members.
“From this place on, we’ll just push the bushes aside as we go. The enemies are not far away.”
“…!”
Several unit members couldn’t hide their surprised expressions.
“…Understood. Everyone put away your machetes. The bushes are tough, but try to break them as quietly as possible while opening the path.”
Grain turned his head and spoke to the unit members.
At this, everyone put away their machetes and tightened their gloves firmly.
But then.
“Kyaaaah!”
“…!”
A scream coming from a completely different direction from where Arteon was looking.
“Enemy! It’s an attack from the Kar Tribe!”
Piiiiiii!
Along with the sound of a whistle heard from afar, battle broke out.
Arteon’s pupils shook.
And from the place Arteon had been watching.
“…Those bastards are moving.”
Did the enemy also have more than one unit?
‘Then just how many troops do they have…’
Arteon’s expression hardened.
It was a moment when it became certain that those guys had also staked their lives on this battle.
Moreover…
‘To start battle this quickly.’
Only a little over an hour had passed since they set out, but he hadn’t expected battle to break out already.
What was certain was that their movements were more than a step faster than expected.
“Everyone move toward where the sound came from!”
Right now, they had to rescue their allies first.
With Arteon’s command, the unit members’ eyes glinted like wild beasts.
As battle approached, their Fighting Spirit began to boil.
And it was the very moment Arteon began moving with his unit members.
Whiiiiiiish!
At the sudden Air-Rending Sound coming from the side, Arteon quickly manipulated his mana and swung Iglis.
Clang!
With an intense sound, an axe that had been flying through the air was knocked upward.
Arteon turned his gaze toward the direction from which the axe had come.
Along with it came a voice.
“I thought there was an unusual presence… So it was you after all.”
A Kar Tribe warrior with scars covering his face.
“…Makrowdon.”
Arteon’s expression hardened at the sight of him.
Could it be that he had come knowing Arteon was here?
Makrowdon looked at Arteon with a wicked grin and shouldered his axe.
His muscles seemed to ripple and tense even more noticeably.
Then Makrowdon spoke.
“It looks like you’re trying to move over there…”
Thud.
Makrowdon pointed his axe at Arteon.
The smile had already vanished from his face, replaced only by murderous intent.
“You can stay here and enjoy watching your comrades die.”
With those words, the Kar Tribe warriors who had been with him began charging toward Arteon and the unit members.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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