Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

But this time their prey was clearly not something that could be dealt with using the same mindset as humans, so after much consideration, they brought along the three-pronged fork that was more commonly used for hunting wild beasts.

The two mounted their horses and quickly followed the tracks on the ground, disappearing into the dark jungle in the night.

------

A sharp scream rang out from the woods, sounding like a wildcat being stepped on in the abdomen—both shrill and chilling. A slender, dark figure darted out of the woods as if fleeing for its life.

Before it could escape very far, the crisp sound of the crossbow bolt being fired was accompanied by a small black shadow shooting out like lightning, causing it to stumble and fall to the ground.

The gleaming silver trident was held in a strong, powerful arm. The burly jailer coldly raised the weapon and, under the cover of his comrades, thrust it forward with a heavy stab into the chest of the strange creature.

The sharpened trident delivered such a powerful blow that it was enough to pierce through the thick bear hide and the several-finger-thick layer of fat beneath, severely injuring even a strong brown bear. This slender figure would be no exception; the man could almost foresee his prey being impaled on it like a tattered sack.

At this critical moment of life and death, the monstrous creature that Casaa had mutated let out a scream. Its long, thin hind legs slammed into the ground, sending fallen leaves, sand, and dust flying backward in a cone-shaped spray that instantly blocked the creature's view, allowing it to scramble and wriggle its way out.

Even with a copper mask covering his face, the man immediately dodged when he saw a large amount of dust being thrown at him—he couldn't lose his sight in a life-or-death situation.

After delivering the kick, Casaa showed no intention of retaliating. Instead, he fled in a panic toward the east, where a stream flowed. At the same time, he flicked his mutated right hand, throwing a metal crossbow bolt aside. The bolt was still covered with bits of flesh and blood scraped off by the barbs.

Knowing he couldn't catch up with his opponent on two legs, the man decisively threw away the trident in his hand, reached into his robes and took out the crossbow hanging at his waist. In the blink of an eye, he smoothly completed the action of nocking the arrow, and without even aiming, he raised his hand and shot an arrow.

The crossbow bolt struck the thick, fleshy thigh accurately, its barbed shaft piercing deep into the flesh, scraping against the blood vessels and nerves, causing horrific bleeding and excruciating pain.

This unsurprisingly caused Casaa to stop his escape again, and because he had been running too fast, he even tumbled over on the spot.

In that extremely short time, the man had already rushed up and, before his prey could escape again, he had slammed the gap of the three-pronged fork into the other's neck, tearing through a layer of skin and flesh, just like an iron bar growing out of the ground, firmly locking Casaa's neck to the ground.

His companion rushed over and put sturdy iron chains and shackles on the struggling creature. Still feeling uneasy, he also took the thick hemp rope from the saddlebag. The two of them worked together to tie up their prey like a dumpling, making it unable to move. Only then did they breathe a sigh of relief and wipe the sweat from under their masks.

"This guy can really run... Our previous judgment was too crude. It doesn't just have the instincts of a wild beast, but also some instinctive judgment ability... We just don't know if this ability belongs to these insects or this person."

"It should be this person—according to the intelligence we've gathered, this host is a notorious scoundrel in the village. He's lazy and good-for-nothing, and after squandering his family fortune, he lives off the villagers by eating and drinking, stealing chickens and dogs. People like him are quite cunning, otherwise they wouldn't have survived this long."

"And I always feel like he still retains some kind of memory... Do you remember what happened in that grove with the three dead trees?"

"Of course I remember. They actually dug out a basement under that dead tree. I guess it was a place for herb gatherers or hunters in the mountains to rest."

"Yes, the only explanation he could think of for hiding there is that he has related memories. Otherwise, even the best-nosed beast would not be able to find the entrance hidden under the dead branches and leaves."

"Alright, let's not delay any longer. Let's send this guy back quickly... Call two more people over for backup. We finally caught one alive, so we can't afford any mistakes."

"Put it on my horse. Your horse isn't as good as mine, and it's probably exhausted by now."

"it is good."

........................

Tomorrow's sun will illuminate everything in the city, leaving the shadows to hide in the corners and crevices, bright but not scorching, instead carrying a gentle and refreshing warmth.

Of course, this mildness, if taken too far, can make people sweat profusely, but it won't be like the previous month or two when all the streets were brightly lit by white light.

At this very moment, exclamations were emanating from the most sacred place in the empire—the magnificent Imperial Senate—so loud that even the crowds gathered in the square outside could hear them. Although the sounds were unclear and the content indistinguishable, more and more people spontaneously gathered there, almost everyone realizing that something big was about to happen.

The Imperials' penchant for politics and excitement meant they were unwilling to miss out on anything. Some shrewd small vendors even set up their stalls in the central square—something normally forbidden, as soldiers would drive them away. But now, with so many people gathered there, even the soldiers couldn't easily take action, giving them an opportunity to take advantage of the chaos.

The shouts and commotion of surprise were almost continuous, lasting for quite some time before suddenly falling silent... At the same time, the people in the square also shut their mouths and quietly began to await the earth-shattering result.

Meanwhile, inside the magnificent marble building, on a platform located below the center of all the seats, a solemn-faced elder was loudly proclaiming something while holding a piece of parchment. The surrounding elders, who were completely focused, would occasionally let out a gasp of surprise and whisper to their allies, friends, and rivals.

"My esteemed lords, after careful consideration, I am now able to announce to you in this solemn occasion that an enemy lurking in the shadows, an enemy with dirty methods, has surfaced and is now before us!"

"'The Holy Order of Knowledge'! This is the grand name these scoundrels have usurped for themselves! No matter how you look at it, even if we exhaust every bit of information we find and make the most cautious and conservative judgment, they are still a group of evil, dangerous, and ignorant people! A group of sinners who secretly worship evil gods!"

"Please do not underestimate them, my dear colleagues! These venomous snakes lurking in the shadows are terrifyingly dangerous. They have even reached into the highest levels of our great nation, plotting to harm our motherland! Their shadows have been found in numerous wars and numerous despicable assassinations!"

"The rebellion in Cerisonnas in the East has destroyed our efforts of the past few years, burning dozens of horse ranches to the ground! This is a disgrace our nation has not suffered for decades. Although this disgrace has been washed away by the blood and land of the Iris and the Cristians, and avenged by Lord Tersolius, we must not forget those cowards who secretly instigated the rebellion! They will surely pay the price for their ridiculous and foolish actions."

"Our esteemed Lady Christina has been attacked twice in a short period of time, thanks to those vile serpents who seek to harm the nation's most honored members, showing no reverence for the sacred and the law, and sparing no effort in using any despicable means!"

"No mercy should be wasted on them! They were born with evil intentions, they are a depraved bunch, and they will surely receive their due punishment!!"

………………

After a brief silence, the entire hall erupted in indignation...

Chapter 209 Competition (1)

A new order, an order never before seen, is being conveyed throughout the empire, reaching every village and even settlement under imperial control through the country's tried-and-tested, efficient and swift administrative system.

Each parchment bearing the command is decorated with blood-red and gold patterns. Fine gold threads are hammered into the paper's fibers, imbuing this thin sheet of paper with a sacred meaning.

This is an order jointly issued by the center of the empire, the supreme ruler of the empire, and the elders of the empire. It has unquestionable authority in this country, and every citizen of the empire must carry it out without fail, without the slightest negligence.

In this populous, prosperous, and vast country, a name began to circulate, a name that had never appeared before but was now familiar and widely known—the Holy Order of Knowledge.

Nobles and scholars in many places were quite surprised—how could such an obscure organization attract the attention of the entire country? And what kind of entity was worth the empire's special attention?

This announcement immediately caused a huge uproar. As time passed, not only the empire, but all the surrounding countries and the entire continent began to stir. Everyone started talking about these people hiding in the shadows. The kings of every country became interested in it, and their intelligence agents searched the world for information.

For at least a considerable period of time to come, this organization, which originally intended to pursue its interests in the shadows, will be forcibly brought into the sunlight, scorched by the blazing sun.

New laws have now been issued on the land of the Empire, listing the Holy Order of Knowledge as an enemy of the state and an unacceptable faith. Any citizen of the Empire has the right and obligation to eliminate them if they appear on the land of the Empire. Any act of colluding with them is a heinous crime and shall be subject to the most severe punishment.

Countless jailers and henchmen, countless sheriffs and city guards, have begun a massive manhunt throughout the empire, searching for anything related to these despicable scoundrels. Anyone who dares to collude with them or provide them with assistance will be arrested.

At the same time, relevant officials were responsible for disseminating information about this organization to the public throughout the country, letting them know that it was a group of lawless and evil people who were good at using all sorts of dark and bloody means to achieve their goals.

In just one month, this organization, which had previously been so inconspicuous that few people knew about it, had fallen to the point where everyone hated it. The Black Crows' operation was also very fruitful. Although it was certain that there were still many who had escaped, it was foreseeable that most of the organization's presence in the Empire had been eliminated.

A venomous snake that intends to inject its venom into its prey in the shadows will be completely helpless if it is caught and brought into the scorching sun. It will lose all its advantages... This is what Tersolius and his men plan to do.

To deal with these elusive creatures that lurk in the shadows, we must deprive them of their foundation for infiltration, making their operations increasingly difficult and costly... Only in this way can we force them into their lair, and then strike them dead and eradicate them completely.

..............................

The axe can be considered one of the earliest weapons and tools used by humankind. As early as the Stone Age, people had already learned to embed rough, sharp, heavy stone flakes into sturdy wooden sticks to increase the killing power of their blows.

This type of tool, with its forward-leaning center of gravity, is also the best choice for cutting down trees and branches, achieving twice the result with half the effort compared to a stone knife. Sorry, it is also quite lethal to enemies and wild animals.

As time has passed and the world has progressed, this weapon, which has accompanied mankind since the era of primitive life and slash-and-burn agriculture, has been passed down. The material has changed from fragile stone to sharp and heavy steel. It can be seen in the armies and civilians of every country and is highly favored because of its excellent practicality.

The steel battle axes used by the Imperial Army are of excellent quality. The blades, forged from fine steel, are exceptionally sturdy and difficult to damage even when chopping rocks with force. The walnut handles are coated with maintenance oils and wrapped with non-slip leather, making them extremely easy to use no matter how you use them.

In addition, the sturdy spikes at the front and back of the axe blade allow the user to easily pierce through the opponent's armor, making it extremely threatening to anyone.

An axe is a sturdy and durable weapon that requires far less maintenance than a sharp sword, but it still needs care. The nicks and chips on the axe blade need to be carefully polished, which requires mastering some basic skills.

A cleverly designed wooden chair features a grinding wheel crafted from rough stone. A belt on the grinding wheel connects to a foot pedal, which, when stepped on, causes the stone wheel to spin rapidly, thus efficiently sharpening weapons.

These are ubiquitous in the Empire's artisan camps, and anyone can use them. With just a little skill, one can maintain their weapons independently, preventing them from going into battle with damaged swords.

At this very moment, the Nicot woman with long golden hair was grimacing as she pedaled the pedals beneath her feet, struggling to control the axe in her hands amidst the sparks and dust rising around her.

She was clearly a novice; she stepped too fast and accidentally used too much force with her hands. The high-speed rotating grinding wheel wore a noticeable flaw into the axe blade, causing her to stop abruptly and raise her hand in a slightly flustered manner.

Fortunately, the flaw wasn't too serious, and there was still a chance to remedy it. So, after making a slight adjustment, Carila quickly threw herself back into the game.

After grinding his axe with gritted teeth, Karila finally let out a long sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing as he was satisfied with the sharpness of the blade.

The sound of a blade rubbing against a fine whetstone could be heard from the side, delicate and rhythmic, and could even be addictive if you listened to it too much. Every now and then, a handful of water would be scooped up and poured onto the stone to prevent the friction between the steel and the whetstone from overheating.

"Aren't you finished sharpening it yet, sir? That sword is already quite sharp, isn't it? I can't even see any nicks."

Almost instantly, Karila began to feel bored, and said somewhat listlessly to Tersolius, who was sharpening a sword beside her.

"The blade still has burrs and isn't smooth enough, but it's still usable. I just prefer it to be more refined."

He wiped away the remaining moisture with a clean, soft cloth, glanced at the sharp blade sideways to make sure there weren't any overly rough burrs, and then, satisfied, put it away.

“Take good care of your weapons. People like us should know better than anyone the importance of a reliable weapon. If you treat them carelessly, you will suffer the consequences sooner or later.”

"When I first went to war, I almost died at the hands of several bandits with knives and swords because I didn't notice an inconspicuous crack on the sword I brought from my hometown."

"So how did you resolve it back then? You must have taken care of those guys by now, right?"

Carila's focus was completely different from what he said, but Tersolius was used to it, after all, this guy was only interested in a few simple things.

“I dragged a guy off his horse, then mounted it myself, and after that everything was simple.”

"I'm not very good at riding horses. My hometown is so poor that we can't afford to keep these things. One horse needs to eat the food of at least three people. Only princes and nobles could afford to raise them..."

"Warhorses are precious creatures, and their ability to adapt to the environment and survive has long been diminished. If it weren't for humans raising them, these creatures might already be extinct... But our wars are inseparable from these agile beings."

"The Kurist people, who live in the east, are able to raise livestock in large numbers because the climate is warmer and the rainfall is more abundant. Their neighbors, the Kiel people in the north, have far fewer warhorses because their land is too barren and cold."

“You will have to learn to ride a horse from now on, otherwise you will have to ride in a carriage with the medical team when you travel... After all, you are my direct centurion, and I can’t let you travel on your own two legs.”

"No problem, it should be pretty simple."

Kari stretched and yawned, her back making a crisp sound, her fit and well-proportioned body faintly visible beneath her cotton blouse.

“I see that everyone else sits on it and puts their feet in those two circles, and they can sit very steadily. As long as there is a place to put my feet, I won’t wobble. There’s definitely no problem! These beasts wouldn’t dare to mess with me.”

"If it were as easy as you say, then training a cavalryman wouldn't require so much time and effort..."

Thessalius chuckled and pointed out the naive part of the other's idea:

"In any country's army, cavalry is always more expensive, not to mention well-trained armored cavalry. Compared to other branches of the military, it's a complete waste of money, and that money isn't always worthwhile. If you encounter a bad commander, it could even lead to your downfall..."

He paused here, his expression slightly wistful and somber, then sighed softly and continued:

“It looks easy for you to ride on it, but if the warhorse bumps even slightly, an inexperienced person will fall and break their bones. Not only do you have to maintain your balance, but you also have to be flexible in shifting your center of gravity and adjusting the strength of your legs at any time... This is not something that can be learned in a day or two.”

"Of course, you don't have much free time right now... Tomorrow is the first match, are you ready?"

A month has passed, and the imperial capital is once again adorned with colorful flags and flowers. Large red double-headed eagle banners fly over important areas such as city walls, towers, nursing homes, and libraries. Long ropes strung along the streets and alleys are hung with colorful flags. Everywhere, excited crowds and waves of cheers resound.

The demand for flowers in the city is now far beyond what the surrounding ordinary farms can supply. Some shrewd businessmen have chosen to source the necessary materials for this grand celebration from even more distant places, hoping to make a fortune.

This is a grand event for the entire nation, a visual feast that every citizen of the empire eagerly anticipates! Even the most destitute beggars will argue endlessly over it, and even the most naive children will quarrel with their companions or throw tantrums and cry in front of their parents, hoping to gain permission.

The annual national competition will produce countless warriors, generate numerous honors, and allow many people to rise above their station and make a fortune.

At this time of year, people from all over the empire with ideas and intelligence, or even just those who love a good spectacle, would gather here to enjoy the festive atmosphere, witness the victories or defeats of the warriors, and see a dark horse break through the encirclement or the dejected defeat.

This is no longer just a tradition or custom, but has become a unique spiritual symbol of the entire country, a grand event that is widely recognized by the people and can stir up the emotions of the whole country.

Countless warriors have gathered here, including seasoned soldiers from legions who have killed countless people and experienced countless battles, as well as highly skilled mercenaries... The vast majority of those who are merely there to make up the numbers will soon be eliminated and fail. Those who remain in the end are all the best of the best.

"Of course! I've been ready for a long time, and I can't wait any longer. I've been here for a month, and I feel like my bones are about to break! I can't wait to see the warriors here."

"Then keep it up, I think you won't be disappointed this time."

"I'm so tired, I guess I'll get ready... By the way, we're not allowed to bring our own armor and weapons, right?"

“That’s right.” Tersolius nodded slightly.