Chapter 44 : Chapter 44
Chapter 44. Battle in the Dense Forest
The horn echoed through the forest with resolute force. The Ninth Legion’s advance suddenly accelerated, the grinding of iron armor overpowering the shrieks of the Crawlers.
Yet the surrounding forest grew eerily silent at that moment. Even the rustling sound of wind through the leaves vanished.
Only the marching footsteps of the troops remained, striking the ground with unnatural clarity.
William’s heart suddenly tightened. This deathly silence was even more unsettling than the chaotic battle earlier.
Prince Kande and Marquis Peter beside him had already grown solemn. The messenger knights rode swiftly through the ranks, clearly delivering orders to heighten vigilance.
At that moment, a patch of light suddenly appeared at the far end of the forest ahead.
After a brief halt, the soldiers of the Vanguard Battalion immediately reported the situation. Upon receiving permission, they rushed forward like arrows released from a bow. With shields raised, they guarded the edge for a moment. Only after confirming the area was safe did they signal the rest.
The Second Battalion soon emerged from the forest behind them.
Then, one battalion after another stepped into the open ground.
William followed behind Prince Kande. As he passed through the last line of trees, he could not help but draw in a sharp breath.
Before them lay a massive canyon whose depth could not be measured. The cliffs on both sides looked as if they had been carved by blades and axes, rising straight into the clouds. At the bottom of the canyon, thick miasma rolled endlessly.
It truly looked like a creation of supernatural craftsmanship.
“Do not be fooled by appearances.”
Prince Kande’s voice carried a trace of gravity as he raised his hand and touched the smooth surface of the cliff wall.
“This was not formed naturally. It was forcibly carved out by a Domain-Level Powerhouse using the power of laws.”
“I just do not know whether this is a trace left by Ancestor Fenlilan.”
He turned to look behind him.
“Deputy Legion Commander!”
Marquis Peter immediately rode forward. “Legion Commander!”
“Have the Fourth Battalion split into two teams and climb the cliffs on both sides of the canyon for reconnaissance. Once they confirm there is no ambush, the Vanguard Battalion will advance along the canyon floor.”
Prince Kande’s gaze swept across the dark depths below.
“Remember. Report any abnormality immediately.”
“Yes!”
Marquis Peter accepted the order and quickly relayed the command to the Fourth Battalion.
Soon, two squads of soldiers carrying ropes began climbing the steep cliffs like agile monkeys. Their figures moved along the gray rock walls before gradually shrinking into distant black dots.
Only the whistling wind passing through the canyon remained, carrying an indescribable chill.
William stared at the rolling miasma below. Somehow, he felt that something more terrifying than Crawlers lurked within that murky fog.
Prince Kande seemed to share the same feeling. His hand resting on the sword hilt never loosened, and his eyes remained locked on the darkness ahead.
Suddenly, the crisp sound of weapons clashing rang out from above the cliffs.
Immediately afterward, several Crawler corpses fell from the heights along with splashes of blood. Among them were fragments of soldiers’ armor.
Clearly, the reconnaissance squads of the Fourth Battalion had encountered an ambush.
Prince Kande’s expression darkened. Just as he was about to order the Fourth and Fifth Battalions to provide support, the miasma at the canyon floor suddenly churned violently.
ROAR—HOWL—
Chaotic roars exploded from within the fog as countless beasts and magical beasts surged out like a tide.
There were snow wolves with exposed fangs, thick-skinned iron bears, and even several winged flying lions.
Mad red light flickered in their eyes as they charged directly toward the Vanguard Battalion’s formation.
Even more alarming was the sight behind the beasts.
Within the fog, Crawlers were using their hooked claws to drive the creatures forward as if commanding a coerced army.
“Despicable!”
Prince Kande roared angrily. Dou Qi surged around him as his figure shot into the air.
The Sky Knights and mages within the Legion immediately rose into the sky as well, forming an aerial defense line.
“Earth mages, raise the walls!” Marquis Peter shouted.
The earth-element mages immediately began chanting lengthy incantations. The ground trembled violently as thick earthen walls rose from the soil one after another.
They formed a circular fortress before the Vanguard Battalion.
The beast tide slammed into the earthen walls with dull, thunderous crashes.
Many magical beasts smashed their heads apart upon impact, yet more creatures climbed over the corpses of their fallen companions.
“Charge with me!”
Prince Kande gripped his sword as Dou Qi gathered at the blade, forming a radiant energy blade several meters long.
He plunged directly toward the densest part of the beast tide.
The Sky Knights followed closely behind. Their lances cut through the air, piercing the wings of flying lions or splitting the heads of snow wolves in half.
William stood behind the earthen wall, watching the battle unfold ahead. His palms felt slightly cold.
These Crawlers not only knew how to ambush their enemies, they even drove beast herds forward as cannon fodder.
Clearly, an intelligent mind was directing them from behind.
Gradually, the beasts’ charge began to falter.
Corpses piled high at the front. The beasts behind them stepped over the remains of their companions, but their movements grew slower. The madness in their eyes faded, replaced by instinctive fear.
“Remove the earthen walls. Vanguard Battalion, charge.”
Marquis Peter’s voice cut through the chaos of battle, clearly reaching every soldier’s ears.
The earth mages in the sky immediately withdrew their magic.
Without support, the earthen walls crumbled like weathered rock, collapsing into clouds of dust.
Before the smoke had even cleared, the soldiers of the Vanguard Battalion surged forward like arrows from a bow.
Their forest of spears thrust toward the remaining beasts.
Screams and the sound of bones snapping rang out one after another.
“Fourth and Fifth Battalions, climb the canyon walls!”
Marquis Peter leapt onto his horse, pointing his sword toward the cliffs on both sides.
The soldiers of the two battalions had long been eager to act. They rushed toward the cliffs like a tide.
Some formed human ladders.
Others threw hooked ropes, climbing the steep rocks.
The Crawlers on the cliffs hurled stones and Bone Spears downward, yet they could not stop the soldiers’ fearless assault.
The Fourth Battalion had already been fighting the Crawlers above for quite some time. Reinforcements had to arrive quickly.
William remained where he stood, watching the Vanguard Battalion slice through the remaining beast tide like a blade.
At the same time, flashes of steel and bursts of Dou Qi flickered constantly along the cliffs on both sides.
Prince Kande continued circling in the sky, occasionally striking down with sword light to clear obstacles for the climbing soldiers.
Suddenly, William noticed several slender figures rushing out of the fog behind the beast tide at astonishing speed.
“Your Highness!”
William shouted toward Prince Kande as he raised his hand and pointed toward the figures.
“There is something unusual over there!”