The Killing Intent Arises

The camp fell silent, everyone tense with anticipation for the battle ahead. After ten minutes of readiness, the sound of dense hooves reached their ears, and the ground began to tremble. Everyone's expressions tightened, and they couldn't help but grip their weapons tighter, as if seeking some sense of security.

The Bloodfang Band appeared outside the camp, led by Belik. He squinted at the caravan guards and Ronan's group, who were in formation, and the barricades placed at the entrance. His hoarse voice rang out.

"I have only one goal. If you lay down your weapons and abandon your cargo now, I will let you leave."

"The Bloodfang Band never leaves survivors. This is a trick, don't fall for it!" With Belicha's voice, the slightly agitated formation stabilized again. Clearly, Belik's reputation was not good.

"Tsk, you think these people can stop me? Don't blame me for not giving you a chance when I'm skinning you later!" After speaking, Belik turned and returned to the rear of his forces. The Bloodfang Band's horse bandits dismounted and spread out.

Raising his greatsword, Ronan looked back at his subordinates and said, "Prepare yourselves, they're attacking!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the Bloodfang Band's horse bandits launched their assault. They vaulted over the barricades and walls, charging in from all directions. The battle was about to erupt.

"Kill them all!" Ronan roared, leading the Nord Royal Guard forward. The other soldiers formed up around the wagons. Holding shields in one hand and spears in the other, they thrust their spears as the horse bandits charged. The horse bandits fell with screams, only to be trampled by those surging behind them. As the horse bandits pressed closer, the soldiers had no choice but to thrust their spears again, piercing a row of horse bandits before discarding them and drawing their swords and scimitars to engage in close combat.

Ronan, leading the Nord Royal Guard, was currently cutting a swathe through the bandits. These Nords were skilled in combat and powerfully built. They immediately hurled three axes, which accurately embedded themselves in the dense bandit ranks. Their immense strength caused the axes to cleave through a man's arm. Those unfortunate enough to be hit in the head suffered a more gruesome fate, their skulls nearly split in two, spraying blood and gore onto the bandits beside them. Helmets and tough skulls offered no protection.

These first three volleys of axes alone inflicted significant casualties on the bandits. Ronan and the Nords who followed charged in, unleashing a bloody storm. Ronan, protected by his heavy armor, neither dodged nor parried. The bandits' scimitars and swords merely sparked against his plate mail. Only those wielding hammers and pickaxes drew his attention.

He raised his greatsword high and brought it down with force. A bandit wielding a spear in front of him fearfully raised his spear to block, but the greatsword cut through the slender wooden shaft without resistance and plunged deep into his body. Ronan's strike went from his right shoulder to his abdomen, nearly cleaving him in two.

A bandit behind him, wielding a two-handed warhammer, was about to attack Ronan when a Nord guard knocked him down with a powerful shield bash. Then, a boot stomped down on the bandit's neck, twisting it into an unnatural shape. The Nord guards and Ronan cooperated, covering each other's backs and killing efficiently.

A Nord guard ducked low, pinning an oncoming bandit against his shield. He then rose, using the momentum to lift the bandit and hurl him at another bandit. The two collided and fell to the ground, one unlucky bandit accidentally having his stomach slashed open by the other's weapon.

While Ronan was faring well, the caravan guards on the other side were struggling. Although their equipment was superior to the bandits', they lacked Ronan and his group's skill and coordination. They were quickly falling into a disadvantageous position, forced to retreat and huddle together. Their defenses were about to break, endangering the caravan members hiding behind them.

Noticing the disadvantage on the other side, Ronan had to rush over to help. He shoulder-charged an enemy, then blocked a sword strike with his vambrace. Gripping his greatsword in his right hand, he used the counterweight to smash the opponent's face. The helmet caved in, and the bandit fell to the ground, spitting out several teeth. Giving him no chance to recover, Ronan pivoted his greatsword and plunged it down, ending his life.

"Ding, Achievement Quest, Hundred Man Slayer achieved!"

As the bandit gasped his last breath, the system notification arrived. With no time to check the attributes of the Hundred Man Slayer title, Ronan turned again to face the enemies.

The numerical disadvantage forced Ronan to rush around the camp putting out fires. Even so, the caravan guards suffered heavy casualties. Ronan's stamina was also greatly depleted, and he was becoming quite fatigued. After all, his equipment was heavy, and Ronan's endurance attribute was not high.

In contrast, the Nord Royal Guards remained full of vigor. The high-intensity combat posed no trouble for these robust Nords, who had experienced even more difficult battles.

Activating the Avatar of Fear skill, Ronan temporarily retreated to the rear to rest and examine his newly unlocked title.

"Hundred Man Slayer (Title)

Killing enemies will slightly restore stamina, but the effect will gradually diminish.

Killing one thousand people will upgrade it to Thousand Man Slayer."

It was a timely boon. The title temporarily alleviated Ronan's stamina problem. Since only one title could be equipped at a time, Ronan immediately equipped the Hundred Man Slayer title and rejoined the fray.

Grabbing an enemy's longsword with his armored left hand, he pulled the bandit closer with a strong tug, simultaneously driving his knee into the bandit's groin. The cold, hard knee guard caused him to open his mouth in pain, unable to make a sound. His body went limp and knelt, his grip on the longsword loosening. Ronan faintly heard the sound of something breaking.

Without time to mourn the enemy's lost manhood, Ronan swiftly decapitated him with a sword strike, ending his suffering.

A warm current flowed through his body. Though not significant, it eased Ronan's already aching muscles.

Ronan forcefully turned and swung his sword, slashing through the enemy's leather armor and opening his abdomen. As the enemy collapsed weakly, Ronan staggered, bracing himself with his greatsword.

Even with the stamina recovery from the Hundred Man Slayer title, Ronan's stamina was nearly depleted. Fortunately, the Bloodfang Band's horse bandits were beginning to falter. The camp's limited space, after accounting for the guards and the cargo, left little room for maneuver.

The bandits' numerical advantage could not be utilized. Furthermore, they often had to sacrifice two or three men to take down a single caravan guard. Facing Ronan's subordinates, who were skilled in formation combat, they had no chance. Over time, the bandits outside were unwilling to rush in and die, and those inside could not escape.