Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

Morsaforso's movements were very steady, each step seemingly leaving a mark on the stone, while his slightly hunched shoulders and the occasional twitching of his fingers made him look like a lion ready to pounce at any moment... It seemed a bit strange at first, but after learning about this guy's past, his movements suddenly became inexplicably dangerous.

In particular, the other party had a simple-looking short sword and a dagger with a curved blade like a crescent moon hanging on his waist. Upon closer inspection, one could see traces of blood on the wooden handle.

"That's quite simple. I came with the army... the so-called follow-up construction legion. Since we were granted the right to cultivate the land, we naturally had to perform labor service during times of war. I was among the first to leave, setting off with the conscripted Kurist people."

“We were responsible for transporting supplies and carrying out construction projects. I’ve almost completed my military service. I heard it’s easy to make money here, so I thought I’d stay here for a while and then go back.”

Zorua nodded thoughtfully... The reason he approached the guy back then was because he thought this guy seemed quite capable and could fight well. Now it seems he was indeed very prescient!

With such a ruthless character who fought his way up in the underground arena, he wouldn't be afraid at all even if someone robbed him now... This is the vigilance and preparation that must be taken into account when doing this job, and so far, the money spent is really worth it.

"Um, sorry, no offense intended, but I still want to ask, will the Imperial Legion really allow you to stay in other provinces for an extended period of time? The Empire seems to be quite strict about this."

Even Ark has become exceptionally polite now. He is considered to be well-informed and has seen a bit more, so he knows better than the person next to him what the so-called underground arena is all about. The Empire’s regular arenas do not allow bloody battles that take human lives for pleasure, but the rich and nobles really want to seek that kind of unique thrill, so this kind of thing naturally came into being.

Strong men were bought from slave traders, trained, and given rudimentary weapons. Wild beasts were also purchased, and a spacious, secluded area was found. Such places were thus established. Because those willing to spend money were wealthy and powerful nobles and merchants, they were often not stingy with the lives of slaves, resulting in an alarmingly high mortality rate.

If the man in front of me wasn't lying and really did come from that kind of underground arena... then I'm afraid he's killed countless people or beasts, making him a ruthless character who kills without hesitation, just like an elite soldier of the empire.

“Normally, it’s not allowed. After we complete our service, we’ll be organized to return to our hometowns… But the South has just been conquered, right? Everything is in ruins and there’s a shortage of manpower, so staying here for a month or two shouldn’t be a problem.”

“I plan to save up some more money and then go back to buy a cow. Our place is very close to the Kurist people's territory, so it's cheaper to buy a cow there and I can save more money. There are also a bunch of other things I want to buy. Right now, the house I live in is still a thatched hut. I need to get a sturdier one that I can't stand the cold wind.”

“When I first went there, I suffered a lot. It was completely different from my warm hometown. Especially in winter, it was so cold that your fingers would freeze off. I was relatively lucky because I could fight, so I received some preferential treatment and was able to sleep in a room covered with straw. The others with me had to share a room with dozens of people and were whipped from time to time. At least half of them would die after a winter.”

The previously rather sullen Morsafso was now completely open and talkative, all traces of his earlier awkwardness gone. He chattered on and on, even slowing his pace to speak, his lips constantly curving upwards as if to say that he was also happy to share his story with others.

But the two people listening beside him didn't seem as optimistic as he was. In fact, what Morsafso said with a smile were all rather cruel and terrible things, completely devoid of any element that could make people feel happy or joyful.

"One of the friends I made in the first month was named Little Ears. I'm sure you can guess why. He was gutted by a hyena, and the beast started eating his internal organs while he was still alive..."

“I cut along the side of his neck with the knife. He was shaking violently when he died, so I moved quickly and cut off his head directly.”

Moorsaforso continued talking with great interest, but the other two had completely fallen silent, exchanging glances from time to time with contorted and conflicted expressions.

Upon glancing back at them casually, Morsafoso suddenly realized his mistake, a sheepish smile spreading across his face as he awkwardly shut his mouth… He clearly understood his abruptness; after all, who says such things to someone on the first meeting?

"Ahem!... Mr. Morsafso, you sound like a warrior with extraordinary skills. Since you have such abilities, why don't you join the Imperial Legion? I've heard that the elite soldiers there receive very generous treatment. After retirement, they even receive land and monetary compensation from the state. In any case, it's better than what you're doing now, isn't it?"

Yak was definitely the quicker one. He quickly changed the subject, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere... then he realized that the awkwardness might have only been between the two of them from beginning to end, because the other person smoothly took over his new topic:

"That's true... but someone like me is not really suited to be an excellent soldier."

"Why do you say that? Don't armies all admire warriors?"

"Haha—that's what most people think, but the army has never needed a so-called warrior who is good at fighting alone and being brave. I've survived all by myself and I'm used to doing everything myself and acting on my own initiative. If I were in the Imperial Army, I would definitely have my head chopped off."

"For me now, being able to survive without resorting to murder is already a blessing, so I won't think too much about it... After all, my life is so easy now, and I have something to look forward to, so I won't make any unrealistic expectations."

The two nodded, feeling a significant reduction in the distance between them. Just then, they were about to exit the intersection of the Rat's Nest district and leave…

Chapter 390 Water Source (3)

When that eerie noise came from behind them, the first to react was Morsaforso. The fierce-looking man almost instinctively drew the curved dagger from his waist, gripped it like a beast's claws, and then ducked and spun to make way for the thing that was being thrown at him.

Before his opponent could leave his attack range, Morsaforso lunged forward without hesitation, his gleaming curved dagger striking the area below the back of the head where the spine connects without any resistance. As he pulled it out, he also made a vicious hooking motion, pulling out a wisp of scarlet, net-like material.

In the blink of an eye, the sprayed blood had already landed on the faces of the other two men, while the man whose neck he had severed with a sharp blade fell straight to the ground.

Morsaforso's already fierce face was now completely stained crimson with blood, making him look even more terrifying, like a monstrous demon... But at this moment, this demon-like face was gradually revealing a hint of astonishment and fear of rapidly conquering and expanding territory. His fingers even began to tremble rapidly, and he could not hold the dagger in his hand at all, which fell to the ground with a clang.

"What have you done!"

Ark felt his legs go weak and he trembled so much that he couldn't stand up. He took two steps back and, unable to find anything to support him, fell to the ground, shouting in terror. Meanwhile, Zoroya shakily grabbed the short sword at his waist, but in his haste, he lost his grip and dropped it. In a panic, he quickly lay down and tried to pick it up.

Just moments ago, the three were chatting and laughing, but now one was covered in blood, one was sitting on the ground, and one was groping around on the ground like a blind man, with a convulsing corpse next to them.

The scene was chaotic and strange, filled with some odd humor, but Morsafso couldn't laugh at all. He was completely consumed by fear, looking more terrified and desperate than the other two... The despair was like someone who had finally climbed out of a bottomless well, only to fall back down because of their own stupidity.

"No! That's not it! I didn't mean to kill him! I didn't mean to kill him, he just suddenly rushed at me! I didn't do it, I didn't do it!!"

In the end, he even roared, his whole being exuding a sense of collapse and madness. At this moment, Ark could no longer care about anything else. He struggled to his feet and drew his sword. He cautiously pulled Zoroya to his side, but his body was stiff and he couldn't take a step.

Just now, before he could even react, Morsaforso had already killed another person with a dagger, as easily and naturally as killing a chicken… It was completely an instinctive action. This guy was more dangerous than he had imagined. Who knew if the other guy would go berserk again and kill them both?

Anyway, Ark knew in his heart that his mediocre skills were probably no match for this guy, and Zoroya was about the same. If the two of them didn't come up with a plan, they would probably be done for today.

"Calm down! Don't panic. Maybe this person has gone mad. If he attacked you first, he might be able to get away with it! So don't rush, let's call the sheriff first!"

In desperation, Ark blurted out nonsense—of course, one can retaliate when attacked, and there will be no punishment. However, if one takes a life without the other party having a lethal weapon, it will be impossible to clear one's name. But the most urgent thing now is to calm the other party down and prevent them from killing the two of them in the heat of the moment.

Soroya finally realized that this guy seemed to be the type whose brain slowed down in emergency situations, which was especially bad in the current situation, leaving him as the only one who could negotiate with the other party.

"No! You don't understand! Normally, if someone attacked me like this, I wouldn't immediately use my killer hand. He really wanted to kill me! And it was very dangerous, so I acted instinctively..."

The fear on Morsaforso's face gradually faded, but he was clearly a little anxious. However, he did not let his emotions get too intense. Seeing him like this, Ark also breathed a slight sigh of relief. After all, the calmer he was, the less likely he was to turn against them, and the safer the two of them would be.

"Yes, you're right, but no matter what, we definitely have to tell the sheriff first. We'll both speak up for you, don't worry. Let's see who this guy is first. Maybe he's some kind of saboteur who infiltrated the city, and then you'll actually get credit!"

Yak tried to continue his nonsense, but Morsaforso suddenly calmed down, sighed, swayed, and his shoulders slumped.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Ark, I won’t hurt you… I’m just sad for myself. I barely survived that hellhole, and I thought I could finally live a more human life… but it still ended up like this. Maybe this is my fate. I’ll turn myself in to the sheriff in a bit…”

Ark and Zoroya were at a loss for words. After learning each other's stories, they could more or less understand each other's feelings—who could accept ruining their future life and prospects by accident? Especially for such a tragic reason.

Seeing that Morsaforso had squatted on the ground, clutching his head and falling into a painful, withdrawn state, Ark approached him with mixed feelings and then came to the motionless corpse on the ground.

This guy was like a beggar in every city, wearing tattered burlap clothes, the edges of which were frayed and torn from long-term use, and the clothes were covered with patches of all sizes... These clothes could not even be washed with water, because if you tried to wring them out, they would be torn to shreds like paper, and you could only let layers of dirt reinforce their fragile fibers.

He didn't even have shoes; his pale, withered feet were bare. Beneath his messy hair was a wound the size of a fist, through which one could easily see the gaps in the cut bone, blood vessels, and muscles—the dagger had unconsciously chewed up the flesh when it was pulled out, creating a wound powerful enough to kill even the strongest man.

It's unclear under what circumstances such a terrible habit could have developed... but without a doubt, the victim was beyond dead, so he could only sigh and turn the body over, hoping to find out if he could learn anything more.

Unsurprisingly, the face, covered in filth and blood, was completely obscured, so he had to spend some time plucking a handful of leaves from the nearby grass and vigorously wiping his face.

It was a very thin, scarred face with sparse, almost bald eyebrows and crooked, yellow teeth, clearly indicating a very poor diet. The features were thin and sharp... but none of this was as striking as the mouth.

"...What the hell is this thing?"

Ark let out a sigh, his eyes fixed on the black tentacles extending from the mouth—slippery, shiny, and with rings upon rings, stretching out from the upper palate and extending five inches outside the mouth.

"These are cult members of the Holy Order of Knowledge!"

Morsaferso jumped up suddenly, all the despair and anxiety he had just felt vanished. He stared intently at the strange tentacle, his expression rapidly changing, even revealing a hint of joy and a great sense of relief.

"Is this the Holy Retreat of the Supreme Consciousness?"

Soloar approached with considerable surprise, examining the corpse from head to toe... Fortunately, most of the people from the Rat's Den had left, otherwise they would probably have already started making a scene upon seeing them handling a corpse.

He certainly knew what the Holy Order of Knowledge was. In fact, a month after the Empire took over the city, there was related propaganda, which emphasized this so-called cult. Anyone who had any contact with this organization was an unforgivable crime in the Empire, and anyone who discovered any clues about this organization and confirmed them would receive a generous reward.

No one knows why this terrible country harbors such great hostility towards such an organization. The black-clad prison guards often search the city for these cultists... and those who are arrested never show up again.

Because the bounty was so generous, quite a few attempts to frame others were made on this newly conquered land. But somehow, the framing people were always caught in time and punished cruelly... No one knew how the Empire judged this.

“That’s right, it’s definitely them! I heard in Cerisonas that these guys also have disgusting and bizarre things growing inside their bodies, they’re not human anymore, this guy is a cultist!”

Moorsaforso, who had been drenched in cold sweat, was now completely relieved, even somewhat delighted. In an instant, he had gone from hell to heaven, and even had the mind to retrieve his dagger.

"Now everything's fine. Anyone can kill them without any consequences. At least I don't have to worry about being punished... But these guys definitely aren't planning anything good to be here. We should report them now."

"That's true... Uh, were there these people around us just now?"

Soloar suddenly turned pale and shakily pointed around them. At that moment, Ark noticed that several other raggedly dressed men were slowly approaching them from the darkness, their limbs twitching as they walked.

Morsaphso narrowed his eyes, reached for the simple short sword at his waist, and gripped a curved dagger in his right hand.

"Stop spacing out, these guys have bad intentions!"

As soon as they finished speaking, the two in front of them pounced forward, their black tentacles still dripping with disgusting slime. At the same time, the blade in Morsafoso's hand drew a cold arc, easily slicing open the filthy neck. At the same time, the dagger in his right hand viciously pierced through the opponent's jaw and went all the way into the brain.

Compared to his composure and ferocity, Ark and Zoroya were caught off guard and flustered. After all, they were not professional soldiers, but an official and a bakery owner. Faced with the reckless attacks of these strange guys, their first thought was not to fight back, but to frantically parry.

This approach was so clumsy that it destroyed their advantage of being armed. They retreated in panic as these beasts attacked them relentlessly, eventually getting into a terrible stalemate, only able to scream in terror and try to keep the tentacles and teeth away from their necks.

Meanwhile, Morsaforso was already dealing with his third opponent. Faced with the opponent's swift but reckless grappling, he simply lowered his body slightly to avoid the two arms. As he bent down, he used his dagger to sever the tendons behind the opponent's knees. Then, as he stood up, he struck the back of the head with the hilt of his sword and finally pulled on the hair to slit the throat with the blade.

Ark was yelling and trying to avoid the tentacles reaching towards his face, while the short sword in his hand was being gripped tightly by the guy's two hands. The sharp blade cut through his flesh but got stuck on the hard finger bones, leaving Ark completely bewildered.

"Aren't you fucking going to let go?!"

Moorsaforso, who was dealing with his fourth opponent, finally couldn't hold back any longer:

"Since that sword didn't grow into your hand, throw it away and pick up a stone!"

He almost couldn't help but curse at the two guys for their slowness, but Yak suddenly realized what was happening, immediately released his hand and turned to the side, causing the guy to slip right past him due to the force of his movement.

In his panic, he had almost no choice but to reach out and grab a pitchfork from the carriage next to him. Taking advantage of the fact that the man had his back to him, he howled and stabbed him.

The sharp pitchfork pierced through his back without any resistance, but he was horrified to find that the body still had the strength to struggle. However, he dared not let go and could only forcibly hold on with the pitchfork, trying to disturb the other's internal organs by shaking it up and down.

This didn't work, so he suddenly pulled out the pitchfork and started stabbing and stabbing at the creature wildly, while letting out incomprehensible screams and howls. Finally, he didn't know where he had stabbed it, but the thing finally stopped moving...

Meanwhile, Zoroya was rescued at that moment. When Zoroya was about to collapse, Morsafosso beheaded the last attacker from behind. After the fierce battle, everyone was covered in crimson blood, and the ground around them was covered in blood, just like a slaughterhouse... Of course, there was only one who could be called the butcher.

Chapter 391 Water Source (4)

Yak now believed that the difference between people was greater than that between people and dogs... Morsaforso killed these guys as quickly and naturally as dancing. While the two of them were still clumsily trying to push each other away, he had already cut the necks of several people in a row, as easily as killing a few clucking chickens.

Although he never boasted about his strength in the past, he still considered himself a strong man who could handle any situation... But now he no longer had any unrealistic ideas. If he really encountered a guy like Morsaforso, all they would do was yell louder when they died.

He fared slightly better, taking down one with a pitchfork, while Zoroya merely yelled and screamed the whole time… but both of them were equally exhausted at this point. Their panic had drained most of their strength, while Morsafoso remained energetic, seemingly capable of taking on several more men at any moment.

“This place is probably not very safe. Let’s leave first and then report to the city’s garrison commander immediately. I estimate that these guys are still hiding in the shadows of the city, but I don’t know why they attacked us… It would be good if we could leave one alive to ask them.”

Soloar finally caught his breath and immediately stood up to make a decision. This guy's mind always worked very fast, and he could always find the most important thing to do in the midst of chaos, so the other two had no objections. They hurriedly got up from the ground and rushed to the garrison camp in the north of the city, not even bothering to care about the corpses scattered on the ground.

………………

"What happened...?"

The city outside remained as quiet as when they arrived. After all, many of the city's residents had been evacuated to nearby towns and villages. The once bustling streets were now deserted. But as they passed through the wide roads without hindrance, and after turning a few blocks, just as they were about to reach their destination, they suddenly smelled a strong, acrid odor.

When they finally arrived at the street outside the garrison camp after some hesitation, they were immediately choked by the thick smoke and stench, and stared in astonishment at the huge burning bonfire.

It was undoubtedly a burning pile of corpses, with large amounts of wood and fuel thrown in as fuel. Imperial soldiers in steel armor stood guard around, holding blood-stained weapons, while the Imperial centurion he had seen that day was currently hacking at a still twitching corpse on the ground with a battle axe.

The steel-forged axe blade easily sliced ​​through bone and tore through muscle, each swing producing a chilling cracking sound... It didn't look like an execution at all, but rather like torture and desecration of a corpse.

He swung the axe three or four times in succession, ravaging the corpse's jaw, neck, and chest in a gruesome manner, before kicking the body into the nearby fire. He then stood up, his axe blade still stained with blood and bits of flesh.

The three of them stopped in their tracks as if struck by lightning. Seeing this horrific scene, they couldn't help but have all sorts of ominous thoughts... such as soldiers starting to commit massacres in the city.

This was not a rare occurrence. Even if they hadn't witnessed it firsthand, they had heard about it from various terrifying rumors. In the midst of war, conquest, confrontation, and destruction, terrible killings were always easily bred... For citizens like them, that was the real disaster and hell.