However, Rodrigo found that his pursuers had disappeared the next day; but his group was also targeted by unknown entities in the mountains and forests. Although everything was normal during the day, there were noises in groups at night. , which makes people sleepless at night, wandering outside the firelight of the campsite.
When we set out on the road on the third day, we discovered large and messy beast footprints, as well as piles of freshly chewed bones and feces. As Rodrigo and his party walked on the road, they also heard more and more frequent howls of wild beasts, and from time to time there would be violent movements passing by.
When Rodrigo personally led the team to investigate, they had already fled and disappeared. However, when he turned back, he received unexpected news. The companions who were looking after the mules, horses and mounts were attacked by multiple large beasts. Although he was only slightly injured because of his high vigilance.
However, several of the transport animals owned by the team were culled and killed on the spot, and more than a dozen of them escaped in fright. As a result, the fleeing team lost more than half of its animal strength at once, so that some people could only Moving forward on foot; the speed of travel also slowed down.
This result also made Roderigo's vigilance suddenly reach its highest level. After all, beasts that rely on instinct are not scary, even beasts that suddenly become huge under the influence of the change in the celestial sphere; because they at least have the awareness to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.
However, this time, giant wolves as big as calves appeared in groups for the first time in the mountains and forests, breaking this common sense with obvious actions. They are not hunting at all but purely attacking. Therefore, Rodrigo refused without hesitation the proposal to dedicate his men to recover the stray cattle;
And at noon on the fourth day, Rodrigo encountered a small mountain village/settlement, which once again confirmed his conjecture and judgment. Because all the living creatures inside were killed and dragged away. On the only intact wall inside the village, blood and organs were painted into strange patterns.
The only ponds and wells were deliberately filled with body parts, making them undrinkable. This result also brought the tense and depressing atmosphere to the extreme in the team of only twenty or thirty people. But Rodrigo did not shrink back, but took the initiative to comfort and encourage them.
He also swore that he would never give up any of his companions before he fell; as a result, that night, the village was attacked by a herd of beasts emerging from the darkness. But this time, Rodrigo, who had been well prepared, set up a simple trap and ambush in the ruins of the village.
The beasts that rushed in driven by some invisible force were unable to find enough prey; instead, they were frightened by the fire that suddenly ignited around them. It also became a conspicuous target for arrows constantly fired from barns, churches and other high places; leaving behind a pile of corpses, they scattered in all directions.
After dawn, it was discovered that more than a dozen giant wolves, as well as several deformed giant-antlered deer with sharp teeth, had been killed in this village that had been deliberately left behind. But this result also angered the manipulators who had been hiding behind the scenes in disguise; he took the initiative to appear in front of them.
They were several savages covered in dirt, wearing dirty animal skins, and wearing cages made of tree branches and rattan. However, when Rodrigo and his men sneaked closer and planned to launch an unexpected attack, these savages in canopy fursuits seemed to sense it and pushed into the forest first.
Although it was only a short demonstration and meeting, the images of these savages also reminded Rodrigo of records in ancient texts; a certain legend of the Germanic people in the forest. The cruel and bloody branch of the Druid priest group known as the Children of the Forest - the Beastmen.
It is said that after the change of the celestial sphere, some of them gradually gained the ability to channel spirits and drive certain mutated beasts; but in exchange for this, they robbed humans as sacrifices and performed a brutal sacrificial ritual called the Beast Feast. It once played a very important role in fighting against the invasion of the Roman legions.
The elusive beast herders in the forest once became a nightmare for Roman soldiers. However, as the effects of the changes in the celestial sphere gradually faded away, it was finally difficult to resist the continuous killings by armies armed to the teeth, as well as the gradual advance of large swaths of foreign immigrants who cut down the forests and established settlements and fortresses.
Eventually, as the last group of Druids gathered together, they were destroyed and razed by the Crusaders; they were forced to convert or were massacred. The related legend of the beast herders has also become a folk version of Hessian nursery rhymes, one of the materials used by mothers to scare children who refuse to sleep peacefully.
But as the birthplace of chivalry, the Holy Kingdom is also the country with the toughest attitude towards these pagans; how could multiple beast herders appear so easily in the Pyrenees Mountains in the south of the continent; and why are they specifically targeting them? Where is his heavily armed escape team?
Even Rodrigo didn't want to think too much about the possible meaning behind this. At this moment, he desperately wanted to escape from this mountainous area full of crises and threats. However, since the other party took the initiative to demonstrate, how could they easily give up their established goals?
The following time turned into harassment and sneak attacks day and night, endless attacks, defenses and counterattacks. And Roderigo, who was originally tall and burly, also became covered with bruises, beard and hair, and looked skinny after several days of continuous fighting and fighting...
As a price, at least hundreds of deformed beasts were killed under his sword; during the fiercest battle, his usual dual-wielding swords were broken, and a huge six-tusked wild boar broke. within the body; and can only rely on stimulating the blood power of the Glory Knight to continue fighting.
He even used extraordinary strength to throw a flag spear unexpectedly, piercing the nearest animal herder; thus temporarily saving and alleviating the critical situation. But his bravery still did not help change, and he became increasingly declining under the seemingly endless attacks of alien beasts.
Those herdsmen who became vigilant and cautious after losing a companion no longer insisted on one-stop frontal attacks; instead, they attacked more and more frequently to weaken and wear them down. As a result, more and more casualties and fatigue accumulated inadvertently.
First, several seriously injured people on the lifts were dragged away by the sneak attack beasts in a flurry of responses. Then some people couldn't bear it anymore and had a nervous breakdown. They shouted God's blessings and rushed towards them. Where the beasts are densely packed, they are torn to pieces on the spot for a disguised form of relief.
But in this difficult and dangerous situation, Simone, the captive who was forced to accompany him, showed another side that was surprising; she no longer had any self-pity or blame or complaint, and took the initiative to help with her maid. He took care of the injured and comforted them with words.
However, as the terrain became lower and lower, and the wilderness outside the mountains and forests appeared in the distance, a small mistake forced the survivors to a dead end. They had gone in the wrong direction during the melee and were forced onto the edge of a cliff; below was the road.
However, the drop of several tens of meters became their final and desperate obstacle. However, most of the people who persisted until this point calmed down; they all began to express their gratitude and gratitude for being able to fight these aliens with Rodrigo until the last moment.
Then, he persuaded him to take Simone and leave alone. Because, for the body and blood of a glorious knight, there is still a certain probability of surviving such a high gap. This way, they would not waste their time and follow Roderigo's original intention of escaping.
During the brief interval when the herd began to gather, these young knights, their retinues, and mercenaries even sang the oldest song of the Holy Kingdom in unison in a farewell manner, also praising the "Platinum Star" of the church and the model of chivalry. "Song of Roland" with the model Saint Laurent:
"Roland lay under the green pine,
Facing Spain, recalling the past:
He thought of the vast rivers and mountains conquered;
Thinking of my beautiful hometown in France,
Thinking of the heroic knights of his own race;
He sighed and couldn't stop the tears rolling down his face..."
However, the sudden roar of thunder interrupted their singing, as well as the howling of the beasts outside. Rodrigo, who was full of sadness and anger, couldn't help but look up at the sky, but it was still clear and cloudy, and there was no sign of thunder or rain at all.
Then, those beasts that were equally scarred and restless, but under the forcible restraint of some kind of will, gathered among the herds on the edge of the cliff; but suddenly and without warning, flesh and blood flew and exploded one after another; and other aberrant beasts The bomb nests were suddenly frightened and scattered in all directions.
Of the three beast herders who had already appeared, two of them were unexpectedly knocked down, overturned, and trampled by the beasts around them; they were never able to stand up again. The knights who saw this scene couldn't help but burst into tears and cheered: "Saint Laurent bless you!" "God has appeared."
However, Rodrigo could vaguely see clearly that it was a series of scorching iron balls that emitted a faint trace of smoke and bounced around among the beasts. And at the bottom of the cliff, a fully clothed army was rapidly approaching; what was held high in the air was a flag with a blue background and a smiling golden sun.
At the same time, there were faint musical instruments and chorus singing:
"We are all sharpshooters
Each shot kills an enemy
We are all flying troops
Even if the mountains are high and the water is deep
in dense woods
There are campsites for comrades everywhere
on high hills
We have countless good brothers
No food or clothing
Since the enemy came forward
No gun, no knife
The enemy created for us
we grow here
Every inch of land is our own
No matter who wants to grab it
We will fight him to the end.”
As the background of the singing and musical instruments, there are bursts of roars from cannons; almost chasing the swaying movements in the forest, knocking down trees and exploding a lot of soil and dead branches and leaves.
(End of chapter)
