Chapter 28
Chapter 28
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Genius Divine Archer Who Became a One-Man Legion
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“...?”
Suddenly, their movements turned strange.
The enemies, who had been constantly trying to pull away and widen the distance, were now charging straight toward them.
‘Have they lost their minds?’
If not, that meant they were banking on something...
Heh.
Garel curled the corner of his mouth high.
In this situation, bypassing them to reposition Theobald’s forces behind became meaningless.
Before his men could even reach the enemy’s rear, a clash would erupt with his approaching group first.
“Kekekekeke, they’ve definitely gone mad.”
Whatever they were relying on didn’t matter.
Charging head-on at him was like leaping into flames with dry grass tied to their backs.
Garel gripped his axe tighter.
The thrill surged at the thought of finally smashing that damned rat bastard’s skull.
“...”
In contrast, Lian scanned the surroundings with unprecedented calm.
‘Our forces’ movements... have changed.’
With over two thousand men, he couldn’t confirm the shift all at once, but one thing was clear: a path had opened toward them.
The moment he sensed the change, Lian immediately redirected his squad toward Garel’s position.
“Kyle, there might be one or two clashes. Arthur, support Kyle.”
“Urgh...”
“Don’t worry, sir!”
Just thinking about clashing with the monstrous Garel made Kyle’s head throb already.
His eyes sharpened fiercely.
‘Reliable guy.’
Lian checked the distance to Garel while continuing to survey the area.
He was gauging the perfect timing to fully lure the monster in.
Before long, the distance closed enough to clearly see the enemy’s face with the naked eye.
“We meet again, you little rat!”
The moment the bellowing shout pierced his eardrums, a cold sweat prickled the back of Lian’s neck. But,
“6th Squad, form up!”
At Lian’s command, Kyle and Arthur raised their shields and charged forward.
Naturally, the enemy would assume they were gearing up for battle.
‘I have to pin him down here somehow.’
The key was when their approaching allies would arrive...
Probably one or two minutes at most.
The problem was enduring that long against this monster.
Creak!
‘No time to hesitate—act as much as possible.’
The decision was made.
Lian swiftly nocked an arrow to his bowstring.
The instant Lian drew the string, Garel’s eyes flickered slightly.
He knew full well how threatening Lian’s arrows were.
Flash!
The moment Lian aimed, Garel kicked off the ground, accelerating further.
He had to minimize the number of shots Lian could loose.
Flash—!
The instant Garel sped up, Lian’s arrow gleamed.
The targeted barbarian warrior hurriedly raised his sword.
Thud!
“...!”
He thought he’d blocked the arrow, but Lian’s shot pierced straight through the blade and embedded in the warrior’s forehead.
As one barbarian toppled with the arrow in his head, the eyes of those beside Garel wavered.
‘I-I clearly saw it...?’
‘What the hell?’
Thanks to their leader’s prior warning, they’d spotted the arrow in time.
And they’d definitely seen it with their own eyes,
‘But it vanished from sight suddenly.’
‘The arrow wobbled strangely...?’
What kind of sorcery was this?
But there was no time to ponder.
As the second arrow streaked toward them, one barbarian instinctively raised his sword to shield his face.
Clang—!
The arrow struck the flat of the blade and ricocheted off. He shouted,
“Pr-Protect your vitals! Just guard the vitals no matter what!”
As long as vitals weren’t hit, they wouldn’t die in one shot.
The struck barbarian gritted his teeth, snapped the arrow, and resumed moving.
“S-Squad leader! They’re scattering!”
“So that’s their play...?”
Only Garel among them could block Lian’s arrows.
That’s why Lian had aimed to thin their numbers before they closed in...
Swish.
Lian grabbed two arrows, nocked them, and drew the string wide.
The bow trembled as if it might snap, but Lian’s eyes remained fixed unwaveringly on the enemy.
“If that’s how you want it...!”
Flash—!
The two arrows that shot forth didn’t target vitals.
Their legs.
Thud! Thud!
“Guh!”
“Argh!”
Those hit in the legs crumpled to the ground.
Not a one-shot kill, but striking the legs sealed their mobility.
‘If only I could use Aura...’
Though Lian had learned mana circulation arts, he still lacked the proficiency for Aura.
With Aura, the arrows would have pierced swords or axes and skewered heads.
Regret lingered, but for now, he gave his all to what he could do.
Creak!
Perhaps realizing they couldn’t dodge Lian’s arrows, the barbarians flinched the moment he drew.
And in that split-second hesitation,
Screeeee—!
Thud—!
Two more arrows sent another pair of barbarians sprawling.
“Squad leader!”
But the greatest threat, Garel, was already nearly upon them.
“Hraaah—!”
Roaring as if avenging his fallen men, Garel swung his axe with full force.
Boom—!
“Gah—!”
Kyle, holding his shield with both hands to block, grimaced in agony.
His guts twisted, vomit rising, but he bit his lip and held it down.
“...Blocked it?”
Garel couldn’t hide his surprise.
He hadn’t expected some kingdom soldier—bear-like or monstrous—to withstand his axe.
But Kyle saw it differently.
‘Y-You monster bastard...!’
The massive tower shield was completely crumpled, ruined.
One more hit, and he’d be torn apart.
Garel, however, ignored Kyle’s plight.
“Kekekekeke, to think there’s someone who can block my strike.”
He raised his axe again.
His eyes flashed with murderous intent,
“Try blocking this one too!”
“Uwaaaaaah!”
In that desperate moment, Kyle screamed unwittingly. Then, Garel suddenly twisted away from a chill at his side.
Swoosh—!
A cold sensation sliced a long gash along Garel’s flank.
Shallow depth, but it was the first wound since the battle began.
“Damn.”
Isaac, who’d inflicted it, muttered lowly.
A bit faster, and he could’ve reached bone.
Honestly, even a proper strike might not have fully cleaved the monster.
‘What kind of body is that...?’
No armor, yet it felt like slashing armor.
All he’d managed was a shallow cut through skin and outer muscle.
But Garel’s eyes shook slightly as he regarded Isaac.
‘This one’s... young too?’
The attack hadn’t carried much power.
What startled him was the timing and the precise sword path.
Moreover, the boy looked similar to the archer... no, even younger.
‘The kingdom’s blessed.’
Garel instantly recognized Isaac’s talent.
Wielding dual swords so freely and sharply.
‘These child prodigies already shining... They’ll be absolute threats later.’
Must kill.
Kill them here.
With that, a chilling killing intent filled Garel’s eyes.
The kingdom was blessed, true,
Swish.
But for you, today is utter calamity.
‘Just these two...’
Killing them would deal massive damage to the kingdom’s future.
A faint red glow enveloped Garel’s raised axe.
And the very moment he swung at Isaac,
“Isaac, get out of theeere—!”
Isaac, trying to deflect the axe while counterattacking, hurled himself aside at the shout piercing his ears.
“Where—!”
But Garel didn’t miss.
He took a massive step along Isaac’s path and swung the axe down.
Boom—!
Isaac’s sword shattered to pieces as the axe bit into his shoulder.
“Aaagh!”
Not instantly fatal, but a grievous wound.
Isaac screamed, spraying blood as he collapsed.
Garel, sensing the shallowness, clicked his tongue and raised his axe again.
Then,
“Isaacaah—!”
Swooooosh!
An arrow hurtled at tremendous speed toward Garel.
Garel, about to finish Isaac, urgently jerked his head back and glanced toward the arrow’s origin.
Drip.
The arrow grazed Garel’s nose bridge and cheek, blood trickling from the wound.
Garel’s eyes burned with calm yet furious rage as he glared at Lian.
“Right, you first.”
Garel turned.
The brat was combat-ineffective anyway.
Better to kill first, but he had to deal with the archer quick, or more men would die unpredictably.
Swooooosh!
Garel ducked sideways to dodge another arrow.
Focused on his attacks now, Lian’s arrows no longer touched him.
“Your arrows won’t work anymore.”
Thud!
Simultaneously, Garel kicked off toward Lian.
“Squad leader!”
“Lian!”
Kyle, Arthur, and the squad rushed to block Lian’s front, but,
“Stay back!”
Lian shouted, halting them.
None in the squad could stop Garel now.
They’d just die pathetically to one axe swing.
Crunch.
‘Not yet?’
Lian turned his head. And then,
“Lian!”
“Kill the enemy leader!”
Shouts erupted from right beside them.
Viscount Biovan and Raymond had arrived with soldiers.
Lian’s face lit up.
Now it’s done!
But,
“Kekekekeke, were they what you were waiting for?”
Garel’s lip curled.
To think they’d prepared for this.
Unforeseen, disconcerting, and surprising.
This kid orchestrated this?
“But too late, whelp.”
All the more reason to kill him here.
Lian fired desperately at close range, but,
Thud!
Garel raised his left arm, blocking the arrow outright.
It embedded in his arm, but didn’t halt him.
Garel loomed before Lian, raising his axe.
Lian’s eyes shook wide at the sight.
No way to dodge the attack now...
“Die, whelp.”
Garel’s axe fell toward Lian’s head.
Boom!