Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Genius Divine Archer Who Became a One-Man Legion
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It was a path that felt more sinister than expected.
The moment they entered the forest trail, it was as if someone was watching them.
Raymond, walking beside Rian, spoke with a hardened expression.
"It's probably because of the battles fought every year over supplies... I have a bad feeling something's about to happen."
"What kind of barbarians are in this place? Any Aura users among them?"
When Brian asked Rian, Rian shook his head.
"I haven't encountered any yet. But according to Captain Barus, a few of them can wield Aura."
"A few?"
"Yes. Especially their overall commander is said to be able to use Aura fully... Though even that hasn't been confirmed for certain."
"...So that's why they haven't been subjugated."
Raymond had several questions since arriving at Bieltuna.
The intelligence indicated that the number of barbarians in Bieltuna wasn't that large.
Yet they hadn't been able to subjugate them.
At first, it was blamed on the terrain of Forhen Gorge.
The geographical features provided them with an impregnable fortress-like defense.
That raised one question.
Why were they helpless when the barbarians came out of the gorge?
The answer was simple.
Their combat prowess was far superior relative to their numbers.
That's why they always lost in small-scale guerrilla skirmishes.
A great general on the battlefield could shift the tide, but not overturn vastly superior numbers.
Only Aura users or mages could do that.
"Aura users, huh. We need to be careful."
Rian nodded at Raymond's words and glanced subtly at Isaac.
Isaac, moving a short distance away, pulled out his flute at Rian's gaze.
Piiiiiiii—!
The long, single flute note was a query to the sentries about the surroundings.
Soon, flute sounds began echoing in sequence from other locations.
Piiiiiiii—!
About ten seconds after the sound rang out.
Piiiiiiii—!
The next one followed.
With sentries placed in six spots, there should have been six sounds within a minute.
But exactly at forty seconds,
"......?"
"...What?"
Rian's brow furrowed slightly. Raymond beside him asked.
"What is it?"
"Please wait a moment."
Piiiiiiii—!
Ten seconds later, another sound rang out. But then, pi! pi! pi!
From the last location, rapid flute bursts followed in quick succession, then abruptly cut off as if something had silenced it.
"Enemies! Where are Squads 5 and 6?"
"Southwest from our position! About three hundred meters!"
Isaac shouted loudly in response to Rian's cry.
The chilling atmosphere heated up in an instant.
As the enemy launched a full assault, Rian yelled.
"Isaac, withdraw the sentries immediately and lead your men straight ahead to secure the path!"
"Yes!"
"Raymond, please guard the supplies here. I'll scout the enemy's route."
"Got it."
"Bold bastards. Want to play, huh?"
Flames seemed to flicker in Derek's eyes.
The tension of impending battle was entirely different from when it actually erupted.
The Eagle Company soldiers, fully in combat mode, exuded a sharper aura than ever.
Seeing them, Rian felt an inexplicable comfort.
'They've gotten even sharper than before.'
It might be due to the recent battles they'd endured.
The worst fights, but perhaps they had forged these men further.
Rian pushed the thought aside.
He had to focus now.
"Archer squad, follow me!"
"Yes!"
Rian dashed down the mountain path. The ten archer squad members followed without hesitation.
Despite the rough terrain, Raymond smiled at their fearless charge.
'Still the same.'
No, if anything, bolder than before, with even more presence as a leader.
Just look at how his men followed without a second's pause down that treacherous path.
Then Raymond's expression hardened as he gripped the reins tightly.
"Even with the Arrowhead Unit on perimeter watch, enemies could strike anytime! Enter full alert status and take preemptive action if they appear!"
""Yes—!!""
* * *
"......"
What to call it?
Even seeing it with his own eyes, it was an unbelievable sight.
The kingdom scouts hiding for reconnaissance scattered and fled the moment they were spotted.
Their movements were so swift that catching them all seemed impossible.
At that instant, Altomers leaped like an ogre called the tyrant of the forest, smashing their heads to pieces.
"Rats."
Altomers muttered lowly, gripping his sword dripping with blood.
There were six of them.
But they died in a single moment.
Raycol, one of the barbarian officers, swallowed hard as he looked at Altomers.
Altomers shook the blood from his blade and spoke lowly.
"Where's Gregl?"
"He's already in position ahead of the supply convoy's path. But striking them... might be difficult."
"Doesn't matter. Tell him to destroy their path and rejoin us here."
"Understood!"
Seizing the supplies intact was impossible from the start.
They'd initiated combat for one reason alone.
To prevent the kingdom army from taking the supplies at all costs.
"If it's about enduring, we're in a better position."
The kingdom soldiers always lived in abundance compared to them.
So if they starved together, they had the advantage. Plus, the enemy couldn't recklessly venture out of Bieltuna.
Altomers led his warriors and dashed in another direction.
They'd entered his encirclement, but he had to eliminate the scattered sentries first.
"Blind their eyes."
"Yes!"
The barbarian officers swallowed dryly at Altomers's command as they eyed him.
This was Altomers's terrifying trait.
The mightiest warrior among them, yet he hunkered down until the decisive moment.
Unlike the barbarians who charged head-on to flaunt power.
His method didn't end things in one clash, but it yielded surer results.
As they raced along the mountain path,
"Found you, you rat bastards."
Altomers spotted the Arrowhead Unit soldiers hiding behind the brush.
They'd moved quickly after the flute, but not beyond his expectations.
Piiiiiiiiiiii—!
"Scatter!"
The charging barbarian warrior looked anything but ordinary.
The five sentries blew their flutes and dispersed the instant their position was exposed.
But Altomers wouldn't let them.
"You won't escape."
With those words, Altomers kicked off the ground and leaped.
Thud!
Like a hawk, he pounced on an Arrowhead soldier and swung his sword.
Crack!
The man couldn't resist at all; his head exploded under the blade.
As one died in a flash, the scattered soldiers fled even faster.
They knew he was beyond them.
But Raycol knew their efforts were futile.
No one had survived such a situation before.
"Don't just stand there like idiots this time!"
"Ugh-!"
No matter how strong the great warrior, they couldn't leave it all to him.
At Raycol's shout, the barbarian warriors bellowed shortly and pursued the fleeing Arrowhead soldiers.
And right then,
"Wait."
Rian, activating his senses through Ricall's ring, halted abruptly at the distant sounds.
He closed his eyes, amplifying his hearing further, then furrowed his brow.
"That way."
Damn, sounded like a scream.
'Did they get hit?'
He'd ordered them to flee immediately if spotted...
But even that seemed impossible.
He had to hurry.
"Pick up the pace."
Everyone nodded at Rian's words.
Though panting heavily, they knew haste meant saving their comrades.
Rian bolted along the rugged mountain path.
Dodging trees and navigating the steep slope was grueling.
But all followed silently in his wake.
How far had they gone?
Rian tracked the sounds with his enhanced senses. Then, snap!
He stopped dead, nocking an arrow.
Gerard and even Gav looked at him in slight surprise.
Found the enemy already?
Rian drew without hesitation.
Creak—!
He wanted to use Ricall's gauntlets, but exhausting his mental energy here would end them.
Thick branches and brush obscured vision, but no time to hesitate.
"Huu...."
Steadying his breath, he pressed the drawn string firmly to his cheek.
He had to anchor his heaving body somehow.
Shiiiieeeek—!
The string released, the arrow streaking viciously toward the barbarian chasing his men.
Thud!
"......!"
"ARGH-!"
"HE'S HERE! THE MONSTER!"
The arrow grazed them, embedding in a nearby tree.
The barbarians pursuing his men dropped flat and scanned around frantically.
That bought time.
Rian turned to Gav, spreading five fingers and pointing left.
Take five and go left.
As Gav nodded to move,
"S-Squad leader—!"
Gerard suddenly yelled at Rian. The instant the shout burst out, Rian instinctively ducked low.
Krrrrrrumble!
Something spun ferociously toward his head to smash it.
He barely dodged, but it pulverized a nearby dead tree.
Rumble rumble crash!
"Dodge!"
Rian shouted as the tree fell overhead.
Thud!
They evaded, but the previous strike sent some squad members tumbling.
But that wasn't the issue.
"...Hand axe?"
A worn hand axe lay beside the shattered tree.
That tiny thing produced such absurd power?
Swish.
Rian turned toward the axe’s origin. He met the gaze of the one watching him.
"...Aura user."
Moreover, maintaining Aura on a thrown weapon meant at least mid-level.
A different league from the low-level Aura warriors he'd faced.
Altomers, eyeing Rian, showed a hint of surprise.
That arrow he'd loosed.
In this impossible situation, aimed precisely at them.
"Sir Altomers, that guy couldn't be...?"
"Kekekeke."
At his subordinate's words, Altomers burst into involuntary laughter.
It reminded him of what the warriors who'd fled during the last battle said in unison.
The one who killed warrior Jeroc at the gorge's center amid the whirlwind gale...
"Forest monster."
Smirk.
"Coming right to me."
Altomers pointed his sword at Rian, far off.
What point in catching the others now?
He recalled his fallen men. Thick killing intent laced his gaze on Rian.
"Capture him."
Dozens of barbarians behind him surged toward Rian like a tidal wave.