"He should be grateful that he didn't strike down his former comrades." Cain stroked the sword at his waist, shaking his head for a moment.
Levi said beside him: "I must remind you, he doesn't look like he's going to do anything good. That direction leads to the Haradrim stronghold."
"I know, I know it all."
Cain sighed: "I not only know that, but I also know that direction leads to the stronghold where the Harnen River basin military commander is stationed."
"Don't underestimate our intelligence-gathering capabilities."
Levi nodded: "It seems you know exactly what you're doing."
"If we go catch him now, this stronghold can still be used."
"There's no need."
Cain chose not to pursue.
"I've already given him a chance. Since he showed no remorse in the end, he must pay for his choice."
"The Haradrim won't pass up this opportunity. An attack will definitely come before dawn. Time is tight. The forces they can get here in such a short time won't be too numerous. We can ambush them halfway."
"I know their total troop strength on the north bank very clearly. This unit can handle it."
"After this, I'll settle accounts with Trett. He'll understand what a grave mistake he's made."
BOOM!
The horn of battle sounded. Rangers awakened from their sleep, equipped themselves with weapons and longbows, and assembled on the surface.
Cain stood before the formation and began a mobilizing speech:
"Our stronghold has been scouted by a spy sent by the Haradrim. Gentlemen, we have a battle to fight tonight."
"Everyone stay sharp!"
"The Haradrim will pay for their arrogance!"
No more words were needed. Everyone in the strike team had seen life and death and grown accustomed to sudden combat and environmental changes. They only needed to confirm the target, then act.
Several veteran scouts quickly set out toward the Harnen River's north bank, while others checked their equipment and made all preparations.
When the moon had moved several degrees, the scouts returned one by one.
"The Haradrim camp is quite agitated."
"They're assembling at the camp on the north bank closest to us."
"Then what we need to do next is very clear."
Cain quickly decided on the ambush location.
"They'll learn why we're called a 'strike team.'"
"Count me in."
Levi approached. Couldn't resist. Had to join this excitement.
"If you're willing."
Cain smiled in response. With this legend joining them, this operation was mostly assured... Right?
...
"Sir, I've scouted everything out!"
In the camp on the Harnen River's north bank, Trett excitedly made his report:
"There are 85 people total in the camp, including a strike team captain and one outsider."
"You did very well."
The commander immediately stood up, patting Trett's shoulder encouragingly.
"But you mentioned there's an outsider. Who is it?"
"I was about to emphasize this to you, sir."
Trett said mysteriously: "He's a great lord from the north with status comparable to a king, with many legendary deeds. They say he personally killed a dragon."
"Moreover, he masters some miraculous sorcery, especially alchemy. He can brew a miraculous potion that instantly heals all wounds. I experienced this personally."
As he spoke, Trett stood up to demonstrate to the commander.
"All my wounds, external and internal, completely disappeared after drinking that potion."
"Really that miraculous?"
The commander couldn't sit still. No wonder this fellow suddenly looked so much better, almost like when he was first captured.
"Excellent, excellent. Very valuable."
"If such sorcery could be used by us, what would Gondor's armies amount to?"
The commander began calculating, though he still had final doubts.
"But why would a northern lord come here?"
"I heard he secretly traveled without telling his people, coming south to seek something."
Trett answered: "I checked carefully, sir. He really came alone. Didn't even bring a single attendant."
"Good, excellent."
"But this means we need to modify our plans slightly."
"A great lord from the north comparable to a king, who also masters miraculous sorcery... he's far more valuable than that entire squad combined. Absolutely cannot let him escape..."
The commander muttered, waving his hand to summon his deputy.
"Prepare one hundred... no, two hundred cavalry to first assault those strike team strongholds. Let them taste being ambushed too."
"Then gather all forces, including people from the south bank strongholds. We'll surround and annihilate that great lord."
"Didn't he claim to have killed a dragon? Then bring the war-mammoths. I don't believe one person can simultaneously face thousands in siege and mammoth trampling."
So many people. Even if he truly had dragon-slaying strength, we could exhaust him to death, not to mention the war elephants behind.
Besides, dragon-slaying? What a joke. I'd believe it if you said he used arrows to hit the dragon's weak spot, but saying he fought a dragon with human strength... Isn't that a bit ridiculous?
You think he's that [Shadow of War] from the East?
"Capture him alive."
"I want to see just how capable this great lord really is."
The night's tranquility was shattered. The commander's orders were executed quite quickly. Almost all stationed cavalry on the north bank rapidly assembled, beginning their advance toward the strike team's lakeside stronghold.
Every Haradrim soldier was full of fighting spirit, finally having the chance to retaliate against those elusive Rangers. Tonight their roles would reverse from the usually ambushed to the ambushers.
But this wasn't quite realistic.
The cavalry advanced toward the strike team stronghold, but they didn't know that the lakeside stronghold was now empty. The strike team had already relocated early to near the main road leading to the stronghold, using withered brush and darkness as cover for stealth.
Each held a longbow nearly as tall as themselves, with large quivers on their backs filled with green-feathered arrows and swords at their waists. Ready for both ranged and close combat, able to switch anytime.
Infected by the atmosphere, even Levi drew his bow, waiting silently with the Rangers. But looking at the dark environment and silent atmosphere, Levi switched to a bow without the 'Flame' enchantment. After all, flaming arrows would be too conspicuous at night, likely exposing their position with the first shot.
Rumble rumble...
Faint hoofbeats sounded from afar, gradually growing louder and closer. Everyone held their breath.
Captain Cain stood at the front, concentrating intently on the approaching cavalry. After several breaths, the ground trembled, becoming increasingly obvious.
Under moonlight's reflection, Cain raised his hand, and everyone drew their longbows fully. At a certain moment, he suddenly swung his hand forward.
Swoosh!
Arrow rain shot through the brush toward the cavalry and horses.
"Neigh!"
"Ahhh!"
Screams and horse whinnying came as large amounts of dust rolled up mid-air from the struggling, obscuring the vision of cavalry behind. The ambush came too suddenly. Those behind couldn't react, crashing down in heaps.
Cain raised his hand again, and another arrow volley flew out. The cavalry lost nearly half their number.
"Over there!"
Someone pointed at the strike team's hiding place and shouted, the next moment silenced by a silent arrow through the throat, falling to the ground.
Seeing imminent exposure, Cain made another gesture. Everyone immediately understood, drawing their swords and charging from the bushes to launch a final assault on the still-recovering cavalry.
"Fight, fight!"
The cavalry captain had died in the first arrow volley. The deputy captain following behind immediately took command, but it was too late.
Rangers in the night moved silently through the chaotic battlefield, swiftly harvesting cavalry lives with quick, clean movements. Except for one person whose commotion couldn't be suppressed.
BOOM!
Fire erupted from somewhere. The deputy captain instinctively turned to see a black-armored warrior wielding an elven longsword, igniting and finishing enemies blocking his path one by one.
Fire, black armor, elven longsword, magic...
A chill suddenly shot up his spine, his mouth beginning to stutter: "War... War, Shadow...!"
Shadow of War!
"Whinny!"
The horse startled. The deputy captain quickly gripped with his legs, decisively abandoned the main force, turned, and fled alone.
Intelligence error! It was him. That damned Gondorian traitor's so-called 'great lord' was that person!
Must get word to the commander...
Thud!
Before running far, the horse suddenly pitched forward and stopped moving. The deputy captain, rolling to the ground, looked up to see several green-feathered arrows stuck in the horse's vital spots.
"You damned... mmph!"
A hand suddenly covered his mouth, and a cold dagger pressed against his neck and slid sideways.
Schlick.
Smooth as silk, no pain experienced. The last enemy fell to the ground silently.