The remaining lizardmen were the two riders, the injured axe-wielding lizardman, and the two archers.
An arrow came flying toward me.
I was still crouched on the tree branch when I ducked.
The arrow passed over my head.
I immediately moved toward another branch for cover.
But my position had already been exposed.
The water-lizard riders moved beneath the trees, trying to force me out.
At the same time, the archers continued firing.
They didn't give me even a second to properly look around.
Arrows struck the branches and leaves around me.
I could see the injured axe-wielding lizardman limping toward the tree.
I'm being hunted now.
I needed to escape.
I looked toward another tree.
It was close enough to reach, but the jump was dangerous.
If I missed, I could fall.
If I was hit by an arrow while jumping, I would fall straight into the swamp.
I had no choice.
First, I needed to get away from my exposed position.
I tightened my grip on the bow.
My nails dug into my palm.
I focused on the branch in front of me.
Before the whole fighting started , I tested it with my foot.
It was strong.
It should hold my weight.
I took one step.
Then I jumped.
The distance was almost the same as my spear's length.
I landed on the next branch.
But before I could stabilize myself—
Thud!
Two arrows struck the branch behind me.
They've already adjusted their aim.
I jumped again.
As my right foot was about to land on another branch, it slipped.
My body tilted.
I was about to fall.
I reached out and grabbed a smaller branch attached to the tree.
My arm jerked violently.
The sudden pull nearly dislocated my shoulder.
An arrow flew past my hand.
It only grazed my skin.
Blood immediately appeared.
I pulled myself up and moved behind the trunk.
I didn't have time to rest.
I needed to either kill them or escape.
My Sensory Field picked up movement.
The two riders were shifting toward my tree.
Even the injured axe-wielding lizardman was still following me.
That bastard is still coming.
I took a breath.
Then I jumped again.
This time, I landed cleanly on another tree.
I continued moving from tree to tree.
Five minutes passed.
Every time I jumped, arrows followed.
I couldn't stop to aim properly.
There was no time to pull the string back fully and carefully select a target.
I had to keep moving.
I need to change the battlefield.
I looked toward the swamp.
Then I remembered the traps I had prepared.
An idea formed in my mind.
I quickly moved toward the tree I had chosen earlier.
I had tied several thorn-covered vines beneath the swamp water.
My goal was simple.
I need to draw the riders toward that side.
I jumped onto another branch.
The water-lizard riders followed.
One of them urged his mount forward.
The water lizard rushed through the swamp.
Then its front leg caught the hidden vines.
The vines tightened.
The water lizard suddenly lost its balance.
Splash!
It crashed into the swamp water.
The rider was thrown forward.
Before he could recover, the thorn-covered vines wrapped around the mount's leg and pulled tight.
The animal struggled violently.
The rider tried to get up.
I released an arrow.
He raised his shield.
Clang!
The arrow struck the shield and deflected.
But that was enough.
His vision had been blocked for a moment.
I immediately moved.
Two more arrows came toward me.
I ducked behind a tree.
The injured axe-wielding lizardman was still coming.
He was limping badly, but he refused to stop.
Like a damn insect.
I finally had a few seconds.
I took a deep breath.
Then I shouted as loudly as I could.
"Rusty!"
A moment later, I heard movement in the swamp.
Rusty emerged from the vegetation.
Water dripped from his body.
He had been hiding in the swamp.
I grabbed the vine I had tied to the tree.
I pulled myself toward him.
An arrow flew past my head.
Another struck the tree behind me.
I kept moving.
Rusty came closer.
I swung onto his back.
"Go!"
Rusty immediately moved.
I leaned forward and grabbed his mane.
The remaining lizardmen began chasing us.
I turned my body backward while riding.
I was facing lizardmen while my back was toward the direction we were moving.
Arrows flew over me.
I moved from side to side, avoiding them.
The axe-wielding lizardman raised his weapon.
He was aiming toward me.
Then I saw it.
The axe lizardman was preparing to throw his axe.
He's going to attack the moment I slow down.
I raised my bow.
The lizardman pulled his axe back.
I drew my bowstring.
An arrow was already flying toward me.
I shifted my body.
It passed beside my face.
Another arrow followed.
I moved again.
My entire focus narrowed down to one point.
The axe-wielding lizardman.
He swung his axe.
At the same moment, I released my arrow.
The two attacks crossed through the air.
My arrow flew directly toward him.