Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

"what!"

Caledo let out a scream, his torch trembled, a few sparks flew, and his eyes revealed a hint of terror, as if he were no longer an elite soldier, but a country boy frightened by wild wolves...

Because the protruding head was so terrifying and bizarre—on the right were three strange black lumps like the hard shells of insects, on the left were three deeply sunken, swollen eyes with stitching marks, and below was a large mouth torn from the gills, filled with sharp white teeth. The three stitching marks were messy and crooked, distributed all over the head, making it look like a poorly made tailor had forcibly sewn three pieces of leather together.

The thing before me looked like a bizarre amalgamation that had crawled out of a nightmare, every part exuding the creator's utter malice, pieced together, torn and sewn together with the most repulsive elements...

Baria's breathing was also a little heavy, but he also realized that this was an opportunity—this thing had only emerged halfway, and this was the best time to attack!

Without the slightest hesitation, he swung his hand and threw the throwing axe that always hung at his waist. The feel he had accumulated through years of throwing practice made him know the moment he threw it that he would hit the target. So, without even looking, he simply raised his shield to block in front of him, gripped the short axe in his other hand, and charged forward without hesitation!

As a strange sound, like a throat being ripped open and a scream rang out, along with the sticky sound of an axe blade cutting into flesh, Baria confirmed that he had hit his target and quickened his pace.

"Dodge to the left!"

As if he had suddenly stepped on a stone and fallen, Baria almost instinctively rolled to the left without the slightest hesitation or pause, as if he had always intended to do so...

At the same time, a large clump of green slime was thrown from the air and landed where he had just stood. It immediately emitted a terrible sour smell, while continuously overflowing with foam and spreading bluish-black smoke.

poisonous!!

The two were immediately horrified, and only then did the strange thing retract its everted throat. A trickle of green liquid flowed from the corner of its mouth, which was covered with sharp teeth. An axe was deeply cut into its shoulder, and blood flowed down in a small stream.

Baria rolled over on the ground and stood up, carefully using his shield to cover himself, while the monster finally crawled out completely without any interference...

! !

The two then realized why this supposedly agile monster took so long to move out—because its lower body only had half a leg.

It looks like a sweet potato that has been cut off at the tail from behind. The monster's hind half consists of a limb about the thickness of an arm, with a smooth end. It can't exert any force on the wet ground. In most cases, it has to rely on its two front limbs to grab the surrounding protrusions and drag itself forward, which is why it is so slow.

Charging once more, Baria showed no fear. As the monster turned its head toward him again, its throat began to bulge, but it showed no sign of slowing down. It simply raised its shield forward, preparing for a ferocious charge.

My friend proved once again that he was worthy of my complete trust—a narrow-bladed throwing axe flew from the side, accurately slicing into the monster's joint, bringing with it splattered blood and a terrible howl. The venom that was brewing in the monster's mouth also sprayed out like saliva onto the ground.

boom!

The shield slammed heavily into the head, which was twice the size of a normal person's, producing a dull thud. The shield, made of hard oak and wrapped in raw cowhide, performed a remarkable feat, lifting the head high into the air.

The swung bone blade grazed his body, finally leaving a trail of sparks on his chainmail, which then scraped down his thigh and onto the ground. A slight pain made him frown, but his movements remained unchanged. His right hand wielded the short axe without hesitation, slicing into the monster's muscular neck. At the same time, he pulled back forcefully, tearing off a clump of debris through the hook-like part of the axe.

Suddenly struck by this heavy blow, the monster reacted even more fiercely. Its two long and dangerous forelimbs swept down on him like a series of afterimages, sparking as they struck the hard shield and armor, blocking his axe blows again!

The armor rings on his arms made a cracking sound as they broke under the strain, and a series of small iron rings flew to the ground. Blood quickly seeped from under his skin, soon soaking through the clothes on his shoulders. Even the shield was pressed down heavily, exposing his neck.

This was an absolutely fatal flaw and a harbinger of death, often signifying an imminent demise… But Baria only staggered for a moment before straightening up, taking two steps back to see, in the firelight, the sharp blade protruding from the monster's chest, and Kalido behind it holding a torch:

"If you move any slower, this thing will tear me in two."

"Shouldn't I look for an opportunity... to stab it a couple more times, otherwise this thing might not even be dead... I have a feeling, Baria, we might have made a significant contribution this time..."

"Maybe, but I know I'm exhausted right now. I need to find somewhere to go and get a good night's sleep."

The two men sat down on the ground, exhausted, still looking at the corpse with lingering fear.

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

A few days later, in the camp near the river, Thesolius tapped his fingers on the table with great interest, and in a moment he made his decision:

"Arka, you personally lead a group to bring back those two young men and what they found..."

Chapter 268 Another one (2)

On the vast plains, billowing yellow dust was sweeping in from the west. The well-coordinated riders used whistling arrows and bluffing shouts to drive the panicked herbivores away, leading them to flee headlong with their leader toward a place where no terrible sounds could be heard. Little did they know that this was exactly where the hunters wanted them to go.

Hundreds of antelopes were driven wildly, nearly scared to death, by riders who had brought them from all directions to this pre-arranged hunting ground.

Just as they were about to disappear into the seemingly safe forest under the lead sheep, another group of elite riders roared out of the forest, and the encirclement from other directions was completed in one fell swoop, completely eliminating any possibility of the flock escaping.

What followed was the inevitable slaughter... This pre-arranged hunting ground instantly became a stage for riders to showcase their superb archery skills. Broad-bladed arrows, specifically designed for hunting medium-sized prey such as antelopes and sika deer, flew in a hail of bullets. The nimble antelopes, running along, would frequently stumble and roll on the ground, their fur filthy with blood and dust, often breaking off arrow shafts in the process.

Each fall of a plump antelope is met with cheers, while arrows that miss are mocked by others. Riders on the outer edges are tasked with driving away the scattered prey, forcing them to crash headfirst into the arrows.

Once the hunt had yielded enough prey, at the leader's command, the remaining prey, which had been deliberately left behind to ensure the survival of the tribe, were released from the south. Terrified and panicked, they fled into the surrounding forests in the blink of an eye.

This was a near-perfect hunt. Riders from all directions acted with perfect coordination, following the pre-arranged plan. They accurately gathered and drove their prey to this spot, then, at the opportune moment, reaped their harvest, releasing the remaining survivors to ensure that such a bountiful hunt would continue next year.

The skinning of the prey was proceeding in an orderly manner. The riders skillfully used their daggers to peel off the beautiful fur. The most skilled among them could even ensure that not a single muscle or fat stuck to the fur, leaving only a deep white patch.

Some experienced individuals employ a more unique and unusual method to skin the deer—they use a short knife to make an incision at the joint of the deer's leg, just deep enough to reach the boundary between the skin and the fur, then insert a wooden tube into the wound and blow air into it with their powerful lung capacity.

A large influx of air penetrates between the skin and fur, lifting the entire pelt off the body without any adhesion, peeling off the entire pelt with much smaller incisions.

This is a common technique on the eastern grasslands. Herdsmen don't always have access to pots, nor do they always have the opportunity to use them. Sometimes they use this technique to peel off a piece of sheepskin that won't leak water and use it as a makeshift cooking vessel to cook food.

Of course, the deer hides aren't removed here to cook the venison; that would be too wasteful. These ringed antelopes from southern Hols have exceptionally beautiful, golden-brown fur, especially in early winter when the underfur is thick, soft to the touch, and easily resistant to the cold. They are an important commodity throughout the Kingdom of Hols, and every noble considers this animal a valuable asset.

In order to protect these antelopes, they even specifically prohibited farmers from cultivating land near the forest, and further prohibited them from entering the forest to collect and hunt during the antelopes' breeding season; they were not even allowed to pick up dry firewood on the ground.

Even if their people froze and starved to death as a result, the nobles still considered it a worthwhile business. After all, even the most foolish person could see that the antelope pelts would bring them more money than the farmers in their territory, and would also attract more caravans to their land, thus making more gold coins fall into their pockets... Moreover, not many of those lowly people would die, so there was even less reason for them to delay making money.

Mutton and ram horns were also important supplies, and they were all collected. Even valuable offal was not spared. Before long, every rider's saddle was piled high with supplies, a very bountiful harvest.

The most valuable antelope hides were collected. Several chieftains gathered together, meticulously comparing and observing them to select the most complete and beautiful hide—the gift they would present to the leader.

Two long, sharp horns, like arrows, were also pulled out, wrapped in sheepskin, and presented to the great man standing in the north by the most respected chieftain with both hands.

Tersolius, who led the hunt, accepted it without hesitation—this was also the custom of the Curist people, whose leaders had the right to take the best prey after a perfect hunt as a reward for leading everyone to a good harvest.

Herdsmen rarely kill their own cattle and sheep for meat. Most of the time, they fill their stomachs with dairy products and wild vegetables. If they want to eat meat, they prefer to hunt animals on the grassland. Therefore, bows and arrows are not only weapons for them, but also important production tools and an important skill that they can easily starve to death if they don't learn them.

The one who can lead them to hunt a large number of prey, and who can guide them properly and correctly in the process, uniting everyone to cooperate, will naturally be regarded as their leader. The one who can unite countless tribes will naturally become their Khan. The army of this nation is often honed through experience accumulated in hunting time and time again.

They may not fully accept the officials sent by the Empire now, but every Kurist who has survived to this day will wholeheartedly acknowledge Tesolius—the one who defeated and conquered their entire people, and all tribes follow his lead… In other words, in the past, during the time of Toridu, the peoples of the Kurist steppe had never been so united.

It is unknown whether Torid Khan will feel jealous, but Tesolius is destined not to know for a long time... at least not until he hears the news gathered from the north, he will not know what state this man who was once his opponent is in now.

A howling wind came from the side, and Thesolius knew what was happening without turning around; a helpless expression appeared on his face.

"Stop playing with those two ram horns, those things aren't suitable as weapons."

Carila paused, scratching her head somewhat sheepishly.

"I was just thinking about those big fish with horns on their heads from my hometown...we used to catch them sometimes."

"Homesick?" Thesolius spurred his horse. His personal guards and light cavalry immediately followed. A large group of people surged forward rapidly into the distance.

"I've been hearing you talk about your hometown a lot lately, and I can tell you miss it a lot."

With a slight push of her legs, Karila got her magnificent warhorse moving, keeping pace with Tersolius, though she lagged behind by half a horse's length.

"Maybe a little... When I left my hometown, I thought it was cold and boring there, and I often didn't have enough to eat. It was quite uninteresting to stay there... But now I often think about it."

"My old man always likes to show off. Even though he's quite old, he insists on leading everyone to hunt those big white bears. He's not afraid of getting slapped to death. He's all old bones, but he really thinks he's a strong young man."

“My mom is the tallest person in the whole village. My dad always gets beaten up by her. I heard that when she was young, she could pin a half-grown horse to the ground with her bare hands. That eccentric old man in the village always says that she has blessed blood, and that our whole family will have good luck because of it…”

Thesolius listened silently as the girl beside him began to ramble on and on, much like a veteran with countless battles recounting his past experiences to his descendants in the winter of his later years. It was more like an emotional outpouring; he didn't expect any response, he just hoped someone would listen.

"If there's a chance, I'll grant you leave so you can go home. If your family is willing, you can bring them to live in the Empire. With your current achievements and status, it's only natural that you want to do these things. And living here will definitely be more comfortable than in the bitterly cold north."

Their destination was now in sight. All they had to do was cross the plain, climb the hill, and advance a short distance to enter the massive military camp beside the river. Inside the camp, banners fluttered, horns blared, and patrols were exchanging commands at the gate, handing over to the next group.

It was already evening, and they marched swiftly forward under the fiery sunset. The sweat on their warhorses steamed in the early winter air, and their saddles swayed precariously as they carried their heavy loads.

“I said something similar to Colin before, but luckily I ran into the rest of their people in Cerisonas, so I didn’t have to keep my word. If you have this idea, I can arrange it once the war is over.”

"That's great, I just had the same idea!"

As always, Karila never hides her emotions when expressing them. She's happy when she's happy, unhappy when she's unhappy, and she'll clearly show it if she's going to take action—it's ridiculously easy to understand.

"Then they'll see how successful their daughter has become! She's a renowned warrior throughout the South. I can also bring back some more things to broaden their horizons..."

“Kurist is now under our control. You can go from the east; that should be faster… An interesting conjecture…”

The latter part of Tersolius's words suddenly turned somber, causing Karila to raise her head in confusion:

"Huh? Sir, what are you saying?"

"It's nothing." Tersolius shook his head slightly. The group arrived at the camp, and the guards, without exception, demanded that they state their squad number and respond to the password given in response to their questions. Only after confirming that everything was correct did they open the camp gate and let them in.

"I just suddenly had some ideas, they're not quite mature yet... You came from the north, do you know what the Kiel people have been like these past few years?"

"The Kiel people... I haven't seen too many, only twice when I ran out of money for the journey and had to go somewhere to find work."

"Although it's not as cold as my hometown, people there can still raise cattle and sheep. Most of the cattle and sheep raised there live on a kind of cold-resistant moss. The houses they live in are built with tree bark and animal hides, and they also burn black stones dug out of the ground."

“My dad told me that they had a really tough time in the past few years, with people starving to death one after another. But it seems that after a war, life became much better. There weren’t as many people eating food, and the remaining people had an easier time.”

"...Oh! I remember now, it was you who beat them up, sir! I heard that you cut off the head of their leader, the Khan, and a lot of people died at once."

"Now that you've realized it, no matter how you try to embellish it, you're still slow to react... Don't you always like to drink with others? I'm still confident that I'll be frequently mentioned in bars."

Tersolius waved his hand gently, dismissing the cavalrymen, while his personal guards continued to follow, surrounding the two of them as they walked toward the main tent.

"Who remembers anything when they're drinking... The more you drink, the less clear your mind is, the better. It's best not to think about anything at all, that's the most enjoyable thing."

"Oh, right, there's one more thing—the Khan of the Kiel was called something like... Hetoro?... I saw a lot of strange furnaces there, and they worked quite well. I heard that this Khan traded with the Westerners, and they traded quite a lot of things. I even met two or three merchants from those Western places on the road."

“Those guys don’t have to worry about being robbed by bandits at all. The Kiel soldiers are always following them. I’ve almost been chased and killed by bandits several times… This is the first time I’ve ever met a merchant who doesn’t do business at your doorstep. You can’t buy their things even if you have money.”

"Merchants from Western countries?..."

Thesolius lowered his head thoughtfully, his fingers unconsciously stroking the blade on his right side and tapping it lightly.

"Ah, right! My dad and I used to go there often to rob... to get things. I would never mistake what the people there look like, although I was also quite curious at the time why they would do business in the north?"

"Perhaps. I think they might be mutually beneficial, a win-win situation..."

Chapter 269 Results and Gains (1)

"I think I must be dreaming..."

Baria had a disorienting feeling on his face, as if he were walking in the sky, until his friend gave him a push from behind, which made him subconsciously take a few more steps forward.

“Even if you’re dreaming, you should at least get your legs moving. If you delay this, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to cut off both your and my heads.”

Although Caledo behind him appeared calmer, his trembling hands and feet and his unsteady gait betrayed the turmoil in his heart. His entire back was stiff, as if an iron bar had been driven into it.

They were surrounded by the crisp, dense sounds of armor clashing and rubbing together. The gleaming armor plates were polished to a shine, covered with a thin layer of grease, making them moisture-proof, rust-proof, sturdy, and thick. Even halberds and axes would find it difficult to penetrate such fine armor.

The brass decorations on top were exquisitely crafted, reflecting a clear and bright golden yellow under the sun. Like a drawn sword, light and shadow constantly flashed across their faces, making the two of them tremble with fear. They even had to manually control their breathing, not daring to make the slightest mistake.

Baria was considered a robust young man in his village, and even in the army, he rarely saw anyone stronger and taller than himself. But now… these imposing armored warriors around him, even the shortest of them, were half a head taller than him. Their broad shoulders and muscular arms couldn't be completely concealed even by heavy armor. He had no doubt that any one of them could slaughter him like a sheep…