The next morning, as the sky was just beginning to turn grey, the sentries on the perimeter of Blackstone Town sounded a rapid alarm. Billowing dust clouds rose from the horizon.
A troop of approximately forty bandit horsemen appeared on the open fields to the south of the town. They did not approach the town's newly built, rudimentary palisades; instead, they circled and patrolled from a distance. The bandits in their saddles looked arrogant, occasionally letting out insolent shrieks as they scanned the fragile little town with unbridled audacity.
The hearts of the townspeople, which had only just settled, instantly leapt into their throats. Panic spread like a plague. They hid behind doors and windows, peering through cracks with terror at the blood-scented cavalry outside, their palms slick with cold sweat.
However, to everyone's surprise, these bandits did not launch an immediate attack.
"My Lord, they... they don't seem to intend to storm the town?" Ed stood beside Leylo, watching the wandering cavalry, his face etched with confusion and unease.
Leylo stood atop a temporarily reinforced wooden watchtower, his expression cold and stern. "They are putting on a show of force."
Just as Leylo expected, the Blood Wolf cavalry did not force an assault on the prepared defenses of Blackstone Town. Over the next few hours, suffocatingly bad news arrived incessantly. The Blood Wolf cavalry moved like a swarm of locusts; bypassing Blackstone Town, they began a frenzied pillaging of the smaller, unprotected surrounding villages!
The shrill cries of victims, the crackle of burning houses, and the desperate tidings brought by messengers of aid struck the taut nerves of Blackstone Town like a freezing tide. The color drained from the townspeople's faces; though they were temporarily safe, hearing the tragic news from neighboring villages filled them with the chilling fear that they would be next.
"My Lord! We cannot just sit and watch! Those villages..." Mayor Buck knelt before Leylo, his clouded old eyes filled with pleading and grief-stricken rage.
Leylo remained silent, his white-knuckled fists clenched tight. How could he not want to dispatch troops immediately? But Blackstone Town's own defenses were weak, and his number of knights was limited. Once the main force left, the town would become an empty shell, and Karl would likely seize the opportunity to strike. He could not gamble the fate of the entire town.
This was exactly why the Blood Wolf cavalry had paraded outside that morning: to terrify Blackstone Town and then leisurely plunder the surroundings to vent their malice.
"Mayor Buck, the most important thing right now is to hold Blackstone Town," Leylo's voice was low. "If we lose the town, we lose our entire foundation."
Old Buck's lips trembled, but he finally let out a long sigh. He knew that his young Lord's decision was the correct one.
"Bolin, reassure the townspeople and reinforce the defenses!" Leylo commanded.
"Yes, My Lord!"
Watching Bolin and the Mayor depart, Leylo turned his gaze to his feet, where Moonlight was lazily licking its paws. It seemed completely unaffected by the tense atmosphere.
"Moonlight." Leylo crouched down and gently patted the creature's soft back, then pointed in the direction where the bandit cavalry had vanished. "Go and see where those fellows without horses are hiding."
Moonlight's pale gold pupils met Leylo's eyes. Seemingly understanding, it let out a lithe cry and vanished into the shadows in a flash. Its small frame and agile movements made it the perfect scout.
Time trickled by, each second feeling excruciatingly long. Outside the town, the arrogance of the Blood Wolf cavalry kept everyone from sleep. At dusk, a white blur flickered back into town—it was Moonlight. It leaped onto the table, nudged Leylo's arm, and tilted its head, emitting a series of low "meows" while gesturing with its paws.
There was a peculiar rapport between Leylo and Moonlight. He listened intently, his brow gradually smoothing as a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
"You mean... the ones on horses have ridden far away, and they left a camp behind where the 'walkers' aren't numerous? About... this many?" Leylo held up four fingers, then added a fifth.
Moonlight nodded firmly and licked its paw as if savoring a memory.
Forty to fifty infantrymen! The main cavalry force was out plundering, leaving only a portion of infantry to guard the camp! This was a perfect opportunity!
Leylo stood up abruptly, cold light erupting from his eyes. "Ed!"
"My Lord!" Ed, who had been standing at attention, responded immediately.
"Assemble all knights at once! Prepare for a night raid!" Leylo's voice was decisive, carrying an unquestionable authority.
"A night raid?" Ed started for a moment, but then an excited fire ignited in his eyes. "Yes, My Lord!"
The night was as dark as ink. Twenty-some knights—excluding Bolin, who stayed to manage the defenses—quietly assembled at the town's back gate. The horses' hooves were muffled with thick cloth, and all metal fittings were silenced. They were like a pack of leopards lurking in the dark, waiting for Leylo's command.
Leylo flipped onto his horse, and Moonlight nimbly leaped onto his shoulder, acting as a guide in the darkness.
"Move out!"
There were no more words, only a chilling killing intent permeating the air. The twenty-some riders melded into the night like ghosts, galloping toward the direction Moonlight indicated.
About half an hour later, a temporary bandit camp appeared ahead. The camp was small, with scattered campfires and lax guards; they clearly never expected anyone would dare to launch a proactive strike at a time like this. There were not even proper sentries on the perimeter.
"Kill!" Leylo's voice was low and cold, like a whisper from the Reaper.
In the next instant, the knights charged like arrows from a bow. The earth-yellow light of combat qi flared up first from Ed! The Earth Knight's qi transformed into a heavy hammer as the warhorses reached full speed.
"Enemy attack!" Someone in the camp finally noticed the anomaly, their terrified scream piercing the night.
But it was too late! Ed led the charge, slamming into the camp gates like a cannonball! The solidified earth-yellow combat qi erupted into a violent shockwave, instantly shredding the crude wooden gates and the bandits behind them who had failed to react!
The knights following closely behind were like tigers among sheep, their longswords flashing with deadly cold light under the firelight. They were well-trained and coordinated, each slash precise and efficient.
The bandits in the camp were mostly infantry—knight squires or apprentices—with only a few captains being official knights. With the main cavalry led away by Karl, the remaining bandits were no match for Ed. Under the storm-like assault, they failed to organize any meaningful resistance.
Cries of agony, the clashing of steel, and the roar of flames intertwined into a bloody symphony of death. Ed was like a humanoid beast; wherever his combat qi blade swept, none could stand! The pressure of an Earth Knight left the common bandits' hearts shattered, wishing they had been born with extra legs to flee.
The battle began suddenly and ended even faster. In less than fifteen minutes, the entire camp was thoroughly purged. Bodies lay strewn everywhere, and the air was heavy with the thick scent of blood and charred wood.
"Count the numbers, check for survivors, and gather all usable supplies!"