The Amber Sword

Chapter 8 – Cavalry, charge forward!

Leto and Mano chose to believe in Brendel’s words. There was conviction in his voice, and even if he was lying to them, he at least had the confidence and ability to lead. In addition, he had a great reason for them to follow him.

Money.

This word was closely tied to mercenaries, and it was a bridge that made the unreasonable things into reasonable logic.

There was no need to gather ten odd veteran mercenaries. They communicated by hand gestures, and they gathered quickly from the crowd in mere moments.

[These men are not common soldiers, not bad at all.] Brendel thought to himself.

He also made the riders from Fortress Riedon’s Public Order Cavalry gather up as well. He needed the men at hand to be split up into two groups. Even though this was a shabby lot, but they could be used if they were trained.

He urged his horse round this group once, then stopped at one side. He checked the pocket watch again and estimated.

Brendel then urged his horse forward towards the commanding necromancer. Before it managed to recite the second spellword, Brendel thrust the Thorn of Light into its skull, immediately hoisting it up into the air before he threw it to the ground. White flames burned from the pierced area and it turned into ashes.

Each time Brendel charged in and out, countless golden lights would fly up into the sky and then flew into his chest. The mercenaries would work together with him and shatter another skeleton quickly.

However, once the skeleton riders lost their commanding leader, they started to gather together and prepare for their own charge due to their instinct to destroy living creatures. However, Brendel commanded the mercenaries to get to the higher ground and prepare for another charge.

After a moment, they clashed into each other again, but the skeleton riders were completely defeated.

Brendel had aimed for this outcome. If the necromancer was not defeated, they would gradually be able to pull away from them as their horses had unlimited stamina. He then ordered the mercenaries to stop and rest on the spot, while ordering Ciel to come along with him so he could gather the loot.

Everyone could not believe it. They actually won, and only two of their men were injured.

But they did not know that Brendel was incredibly familiar with the skeleton riders’ strategy, even more so than the commanding necromancer that led them. His lips curled for a while. Madara was a like a cursed rival. He had never defeated them during this era in the game, but it was different now.

After looking through the loot, he asked Gaspard to gather up all the swords as there was nothing particular valuable on them. Madara’s obsidian swords were better than what the mercenaries had, as they used Soul Fire to forge the steel.

Brendel went up to Leto and Mano, and pointed to a place far away. “Do you hear that?”

Leto and Mano looked differently at Brendel. He not only proved his commanding abilities in the battle, his terrifying sword skills and prowess deeply shocked everyone present.

The skeletons that crossed swords with him either had their shoulders or whole body twisted off, and their swords even bend or broke from the Elven Sword’s strike.

The greatest impression on him, however, was the unbelievable confidence they had when they charged alongside with him, and everyone fell in love with the thrilling excitement.

As Leto and Mano listened carefully, they heard clacking sounds.

“A skeleton army…. No, a sea of skeletons.”

Brendel was surprised. He did not expect it was Leto who first answered, and his judgment was accurate. He had thought that he was merely a bar owner, but his identity seemed that it was not as simple as he thought.

[Strange. Where did this bunch of mercenaries come from. Their abilities are just too good to be some common mercenaries.]

Mano’s expression also changed. The number within the fog were most likely thousands. He scrutinized Brendel again.

[This youth…. how did he know the skeletons are there. Even the timing to attack the scouts was just too good, even to the point of choosing the best timing to do so. If these scouts were not removed, then it would truly be disastrous. Unless we abandoned these refugees we won’t be able to escape from that army…]

“Do we need to check their progress” Leto’s face was grave.

“No, there’s no need to. Their scouts are not here anymore and they won’t be able to catch up with us.” Brendel waved his hand. “I only want the both of you to know this, there’s no need to say it out loud. I’m familiar with Madara’s tactics, so if you just follow me, I have the confidence to bring you out–”

“But there’s one thing. The battles ahead cannot be avoided, and everyone of us might perish here. You have to be prepared, because the battles would only intensify and will not be so simple like the one we had just now.”

“Prepared,” Mano laughed. “Kid, we’re mercenaries. We’re definitely better than you in this regard. Let me tell you something, Leto experienced the ‘Roanoke’s Valley blood Battle.”

[A veteran of ‘The November War’?] Brendel smiled as he looked at Leto and sheathed his sword without saying anything.

He looked up at the moon. The sky was becoming brighter, hinting at dawn’s arrival. At least they were not going to meet Spirits in this night.

He exhaled.

TL: Feels like Leto = Dunn. Lol.