Watching Andel throw the masked men's defenses into disarray, Havent quickly swung his longsword from behind him. Two masked men clutched their throats and collapsed to the ground.
For a moment, a huge gap was torn open in the group surrounding Havent. Seeing Andel still wildly swinging his spear, Havent kicked the masked man hanging from its tip away, grabbed Andel, and ran deeper into the forest.
"Don't chase them. Deal with that boy first."
Hearing their leader's order, several masked men who had rushed over glared viciously at the two men fleeing into the forest, then returned with their weapons to the encirclement.
Inside the encirclement, Dov gripped a two-handed sword and shielded the young boy and old butler behind him. Under the masked men's assault, his body had already sustained numerous wounds.
The young boy, tightly protected by the old butler, was now crying uncontrollably and trembling in fear.
"Mr. Simoya, I'll find a way to open a gap shortly. Take Young Master Lori and flee deeper into the forest. May the Goddess of Dawn watch over you!"
The old butler nodded solemnly at Dov.
"Captain Dov, the Hall of Valor will guide you home."
Dov nodded imperceptibly. Looking at the masked man leading them, he raised his two-handed sword and charged forward, facing the desperate struggle of a cornered mercenary captain.
Several shield-bearing masked men took turns defending, for no one wanted to be dragged down by a mercenary captain whose strength was close to the intermediate rank at the very end.
Dov swiftly swept his gaze across the scene. Seeing that, under his life-risking assault, the masked men were gradually being forced back, a resolute look appeared in his eyes.
With a roar, he slashed at the people ahead of him several times with all his