Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 1896, Chapter 1868: A Narrow Encounter

Lan En and his group are heading to Rodel immediately.

Because Dolores, as a Faded One and one of the founders of the Hall of the Round Table, clearly knew from her seniority in the Golden Dynasty where the oppressive feeling of [death] had just come from.

What else could happen... something terrible?

Moreover, it's still too early to say whether what's happening in the royal city of Rodel is related to the Phantom Mage Tower in the Bountiful Forest where they were previously located.

Dolores only knew that the demigod [Moon Princess] was plotting something, but she was captured before she could investigate the matter thoroughly.

When Lani was giving Servis her final instructions, she spoke incoherently.

Those who orchestrated the conspiracy naturally knew what it meant, but those who overheard were completely baffled.

However, just after he was rescued from the Phantom Mage Tower, the demigod [Moon Princess] who had been silently working in Lienia also emerged from there, looking like she was 'ready to take action'.

Then, on the same night, something happened in the royal city of Rodel.

Dolores simply couldn't help but connect these clues together.

Fortunately, when she was captured, her bow and Torina arrows were still intact, and she hadn't used many of them. She's currently at full fighting strength.

So Lann climbed directly up the fault line on the Rodel side of the Bountiful Forest. Those treacherous fault lines with huge elevation differences were really difficult for the locals in the border area to climb without gentle slopes or tools.

However, Lann has many ways to deal with this kind of terrain.

After he climbed up, he used the projectile grappling hook to pull the other two up as well. The three of them then went directly onto the main road of the Altar Plateau, heading towards Rodel.

Tonight's events are too numerous and too significant. For the people of the Golden Tree, who have lived a leisurely life under the Golden Law, the mental stimulation is too great.

So even before that, that immense golden power had already swept across the entire territory.

However, along the main road of the Altai Plateau, every so often, besides the torches erected along the roadside, there were groups of pilgrims, standing stiffly in place.

It was as if they hadn't yet recovered from the fear of death.

These people stood stiffly on the road, as if their whole world had come to a standstill, giving people a creepy feeling.

But that's not a big deal, since they were just stunned by the fright on the main road.

The Yatan Plateau has a vast terrain, and the road is lined with flat, golden grasslands, so they couldn't block the road.

The real problem... is the sound of horses' hooves coming from the main road!
"Boom boom boom!"

The dull thud of hooves blended together, interspersed with the whistling sound of the wide fabric of the horses' coats billowing in the wind.

The border region is home to normal animals such as horses, donkeys, and mules, but it also contains creatures that have been empowered or nurtured, becoming extraordinary.

Just like at the city gate of Rodel, where a large tree guards the horse beneath it.

The horse looked exactly like a normal horse, except that its size and load-bearing capacity... even industrial equipment would struggle against it.

The Great Tree Guardian's left hand held a large, round shield, over two meters in diameter and as thick as a fist; it was made of pure gold.

Even the armor and halberds worn by the tree guardians, as well as the armor on their warhorses, were made of gold.

Normal gold is heavy but soft, but the Gold Dynasty was founded on the gold law from the very beginning and is inextricably linked to gold.

The Knights of Rodel and the Tree Guardians were equipped entirely in gold. They still managed to conquer the entire border region during the War of the Giants.

Gold artifacts from the Golden Dynasty are of outstanding quality, yet their weight remains largely unchanged.

Therefore, a warhorse capable of carrying such a full set of equipment and carrying a person can no longer be considered a normal creature.

At that moment, the sound of warhorses' hooves echoed from the main road of the Asian Altar Plateau.

Lan En had already heard the commotion when they were still far away.

The horse's hooves were heavy, and although it wasn't carrying much, its own weight was almost the same as the warhorses of the tree guardians.

However, the frequency and intensity of the hoofbeats were even higher than those of a galloping steed.

Then there's no need to guess, these must be warhorses from the border region!
Rodel has caused such a huge mess and such a commotion, yet now someone is riding away on horseback?

The sound of horses' hooves grew louder, and now even Dolores could hear it.

She was indeed a seasoned veteran of the Faded Ones; her expression turned serious, and she drew an arrow from her quiver and nocked it on her bowstring.

The sound of horses' hooves rounded one bend after another, and they burst forth from behind a large, collapsed ruin.

The warhorses didn't tread on the stone slabs of the road; instead, they ran on the golden grass beside it.

It seems they also dislike the Golden Tree people, who are still terrified, blocking their way on the main road.

Under the moonlight and the glow of the golden tree, the horses looked ominous and sinister.

A large black cloth covered the magnificent warhorse, disregarding the horse's actual coat color, making it appear completely black.

When it runs, it catches the wind like a large, drifting dark cloud.

The black cloth completely covered the horses' heads. The undulating necks and heads of these horses, which should have appeared spirited, looked like morbid monsters under the black cloth! A group of female riders lay prone on the backs of these warhorses. They wore light, all-black armor, with veils over their heads.

Their professional demeanor clearly indicated they were seasoned veterans, and judging from the way they steeds... this wasn't a normal journey. This was a charge!

Neither Lann nor Dolores had actually seen what the Black Knife Assassin looked like.

But right now, they all realized at the same time: at this critical juncture, this guy who was behaving so shabbyly and sneaking out had to be stopped!

The same thought arose in the hearts of the Black Knife Assassins after they turned the corner and saw the three people on the main road ahead from the cover of the large fallen ruins.

Lann and Dolores had never seen the Black Knife Assassins, but the Black Knife Assassins had!

I also know their identities and positions.

With Lann and Dolores blocking our way, it's obvious we have to take action! Otherwise, we won't be able to get away!
The powerful sound of horses' hooves pounded on the golden grass, as rapid as the beating of drums!
However, the black-knife assassins on horseback lifted their feet out of the stirrups and squatted on the saddles, looking as if they were about to jump out halfway.

Black knife assassins are not skilled in mounted combat, and the length and shape of the black knives they wield are also unsuitable.

A line of black-bladed assassins on horseback split into two groups in a silent exchange, preparing to charge past Lan En and his men from both sides.

"Resolve this immediately, without delay!" The Black Knife leader, Aleto, conveyed the message in his eyes, "Not even for a second!"

'clear! ’

The leader's daughter, Dishi, and the other Black Blades all indicated that they had received instructions.

The formation unfolded as two lines of warhorses glided past the people blocking the way.

Without warning or notification, Dolores fired an arrow first!
"Whoosh!"

The force, timing, and precision were impeccable, and the arrowheads were shrouded in a faint purple mist.

This is the [Torina Arrow] that can put living beings into a deep sleep.

The arrow struck the head of the lead warhorse; although it was covered by a black cloth, it was undoubtedly in the eye socket.

While Torina's arrows do possess the power to induce slumber in living beings, dosage is ultimately crucial.

Enemies who are physically strong or resistant to this kind of force often show no signs of drowsiness even after being pierced by a dozen arrows.

But the fact that Dolores has the title of "Sleeping Arrow" means that she has reached a very high level of mastery over this type of arrow.

The woman dressed as a man casually raised her hand, and the arrow landed in the warhorse's eye socket. This position was deliberate; it was something Dolores had researched, and it was the part of the body where Torina's arrow was most likely to take effect when hit by a hit from this type of creature.

Therefore, the strong warhorse, though only struck by an arrow, immediately fell into a supernatural deep sleep.

After falling to the ground and breaking his leg, and being trampled by the horses behind him, he showed no signs of waking up.

However, the lead horse's misstep, which should have triggered a series of stampedes and overturns, did not cause much chaos.

The following warhorses naturally avoided the fallen lead horse.

Dolores's gaze grew even more somber, indicating that these warhorses had undergone rigorous training and were top-quality horses that only knights of the Tree Guard level were qualified to use, even within the Golden Dynasty!
How did these people get these warhorses?
But now is not the time to think about these things.

Even as Dolores raised his hand and shot the lead horse of the line of black-clad warriors into a deep sleep.

The black-knife assassins who had been crouching on horseback immediately made their move!

They all vanished in that instant!

The veil of concealment, having already been heavily damaged by the overwhelming golden power, had its power further diminished.

Even so, its remaining power is still enough for the black-knife assassins to become invisible.

Following the orders of Black Knife leader Alto, four Black Knife assassins took action, ready to eliminate anyone blocking their path in that instant.

Not daring to waste a single moment, they galloped to the Bountiful Forest and then used the Phantom Mage Tower to transfer to Lienia.

Three of the black-knife assassins jumped into the air while in stealth mode.

He raised the rugged, cruel black blade in his hand, drawing out the hidden power within it.

However, the leader's daughter, Dishi, perhaps wanted to be more cautious, or perhaps she simply felt that she had 'spare' Lan En's life when they brushed past each other last time, and that it was now her turn to deal with the tail herself.

So in mid-air, the short swords in the hands of the three black-bladed assassins all emitted that chilling black-red flame.

However, Dish landed silently, holding a black knife, and went straight to the Witcher, about to plunge the forked blade into his neck!
Dishi looked at Lan En's face and eyes.

Even with her face hidden behind a veil, she couldn't help but find the person before her quite beautiful. Even her hardened assassin heart couldn't help but be touched.

But the next moment!
Just moments ago, the Witcher, like the cross-dressing woman and the perfumer beside him, was bewildered by the sudden disappearance of the enemy...

His amber cat-like eyes suddenly and precisely turned to Dishi, who had already raised his knife at close range!
"Huh?" Dishi heard a soft chuckle, as if suddenly realizing something. "The person who disappeared earlier..."

"Is it you?"

Beneath the veil, Dishi's eyes suddenly widened!

(End of this chapter)