Lord of Caldera

Chapter 111

Before he had even finished speaking, monsters emerged from the trees—nolls, creatures with hyena-like heads that walked on two legs like humans. Intelligent enough to steal and use human tools, and known to travel in massive packs, they were highly dangerous. Large villages had been reduced to ruins under noll raids more than once.

"Damn it! Are they insane?"

"They're attacking even after seeing this many of us? What in the..." A soldier who had risen to his feet stopped mid-sentence, his face turning pale. The number of nolls emerging from the woods was staggering, likely over three hundred. Every face in both camps turned ashen.

"Emergency! Form ranks immediately!"

"Defensive formation! If we're late, we're all dead!"

"Grab your weapons! Shields up! Spears ready!"

Ki ki ki ki.

They scrambled to form ranks, and the nolls cackled, seemingly amused by the chaos.

Walter barked orders, his face drawn with urgency. "You! Take the left flank!"

"What!? Why should we follow your orders...?"

"If you don't want more casualties, do as we say, idiot! Don't you know anything about Western tactics?"

"Damn it!" Leon scowled, but he had no choice but to agree. No matter how much they disliked each other, they needed to join forces now. As the Winslow knights rushed over, Walter quickly laid out a strategy.

"We'll cover the front and right flanks. The left flank will have the fewest casualties, so if it breaks, remember, it'll be on you!"

"Just shut up! We know what we're doing, so get on with it!" Leon snapped.

As they bickered and formed ranks, both men froze. Everyone else, knights and soldiers alike, followed suit. Nolls continued pouring out of the woods without end.

Ki ki ki! Ki hi hi hi!

"Dear gods..." The knights and soldiers looked at the mass of nolls with despair. Altogether, the horde must have numbered around five hundred. Even if they somehow won, nine out of ten men would likely die.

"This is insane... Where on earth did all these things come from?" someone muttered, his voice trembling. It echoed the thoughts of everyone present. Increased monster sightings had become common, but this was on another level.@@@@

"What are you all standing around for? Prepare to fight!" Walter shouted, gritting his teeth. He understood the fear but knew that losing focus now would mean certain death. They'd have to fight to carve out an escape.

Beric, his voice shaking, called to Sylas. "Sir Sylas! Please, help us secure the left flank!"

"Is that necessary?" Sylas asked calmly.

"What!? What are you saying?" Beric stammered, flabbergasted.

"We have Ray and Toby, don't we? You're overreacting," Sylas replied.

'Even a weak goblin with a crossbow could kill a knight...!' a knight thought.

And here there weren't just a couple but twenty crossbows. Even if each noll aimed at only ten targets, there would be no way to avoid the bolts.

"Watch out...!"

Kiiiiiik!

At the leader's command, the crossbows fired in unison. Twenty bolts shot toward Toby and Ray. Some onlookers gasped silently, while others squeezed their eyes shut, certain the two knights would soon resemble pincushions.

But once again, the two knights defied expectations.

Clang!

The sound of metal clashing echoed across the battlefield, and all twenty bolts clattered harmlessly to the ground. Most people blinked, unable to process what had just happened, until someone muttered in awe.

"They deflected all of them...?"

Twenty bolts, all fired at once. Even if each one of them managed to deflect only ten, it would still be beyond human capability. Yet, there they stood, unfazed, their breathing steady, as if it had been nothing at all. Shaking off their spears and swords, the two exchanged a quick look.

"I'll handle the ten on the left," Toby said.

"Then I'll take the ten on the right," Ray replied.

No sooner had they spoken than the two charged forward, causing the leader to cry out in terror.

Kiheeek!

The order to block them was almost understandable to human ears. The nolls rushed forward to protect the crossbow users, but it was all in vain.

"Out of the way," Toby growled.

Slice!

With ease, Toby and Ray tore through the nolls as if they were mere paper, leaving a bloody path in a straight line toward the crossbow unit. In no time, they reached the shooters.

Kiheek!

Slash.

Just as the nolls struggled to reload, a flash of light from Ray's sword and Toby's spear felled them. Ten swift strikes, and each crossbow-wielding noll was beheaded.

With the crossbows taken care of, the two turned their gazes toward the leader.

Kiheee!

The leader, catching the deadly looks from either side, screamed and tried to flee. Everyone watching could tell—it wasn't a call to arms but a pure scream of terror.