Light Cavalry Dogfight

Behind them, Thorsten led the way, his three hundred light cavalry galloping across the wasteland like arrows released from a bow.

However, a sharp gunshot suddenly rang out from ahead, making his heart sink.

"What's going on?" He tightened the reins, his sharp gaze trying to pierce the twilight. "We haven't even seen a soul, how did they spot us?"

This ominous premonition soon became a reality.

All they could see ahead was billowing dust, but it wasn't from a cavalry charge; rather, it was from a large herd of frightened cattle and sheep charging headlong toward them!

Leading the pack were even several runaway horses, having lost their riders and dragging empty saddles; they neighed and charged wildly at the front.

"Damn it! Slow down! Everyone slow down! Get out of the way!" Thorsten reacted quickly, immediately shouting at the top of his lungs.

This is by no means out of mercy, but rather a pragmatic tactical consideration.

Facing them were hundreds of wild animals charging wildly. If their cavalry continued their high-speed charge, the combined speed of the two forces would create enough impact to overturn and crush the riders and their horses!

Even the battle-hardened Sauron light cavalry had to temporarily retreat in the face of this primitive "living obstacle."

Amidst the chaos, the team struggled to slow down and turn, attempting to flank the chaotic torrent.

Even so, several cavalrymen who charged too far ahead were unable to dodge in time and were instantly knocked down by the galloping cattle. Their screams were immediately drowned out by the sound of hooves and mooing.

"Stay calm! Don't panic!" Thorsten shouted sternly at his somewhat flustered subordinates while controlling his horse.

He looked at the precious livestock that were scattering and running away, and his heart ached. These were the key to his redemption and meritorious service!

He immediately dispatched a small team of about fifty men and ordered, "You! Go and gather back as many of those scattered cattle and sheep as possible! Quickly!"

Having dealt with the sudden chaos, Thorsten was finally able to turn his attention to something further away.

This sight made his face even more gloomy.

Where the Goldspur's original troops had been stationed, a cavalry unit had already assembled and was ready for battle!

At the forefront were more than thirty well-equipped, heavily armored lancers, their long lances pointing skyward like a steel jungle. Their horses were slowly trotting forward, adjusting the distance and rhythm of their charge.

Following them were even more cavalrymen with sabers. Although their equipment varied, their formation was tight, exuding a fierce and resolute aura.

"Such a quick reaction... such a ruthless plan..." Thorsten instantly understood the other party's intentions.

Use cattle and sheep to hinder and slow his charge, and then, while he is still unsettled, launch a counter-charge with well-organized lancers!

His troops had just been scattered by cattle and sheep, and their speed had dropped to its lowest point. The harassment and mounted archery tactics that the horse archers were best at were difficult to implement at this moment.

Meanwhile, the enemy's forces were at their peak, and their fighting spirit was high.

At this moment, he didn't have many options left.

At this distance, any hesitation or retreat would be disastrous, only exposing the vulnerable flanks and backs to the enemy's relentless lances.

Moreover, the Sauron Iron Cavalry had dominated the Northern Territory and possessed an absolute psychological advantage and a glorious record against the Broomflower army in battles on the plains. They simply didn't take these Broomflower cavalry seriously.

His Vanguard Camp was composed of a group of desperate outlaws eager for glory and redemption, and their fighting style was extremely ferocious and ruthless.

"Everyone! Hear my command!" Thorsten drew his scimitar, his voice as cold as steel. "Put away your bows! Raise your swords! Prepare to charge! Crush them!"

He knew that he had to use his superior numbers and individual combat strength to break through the formation of the Goldspur lancers before they could reach their maximum speed!

Although the Vanguard Camp was mainly composed of light cavalry, some elite troops were still equipped with lances and decent armor. He immediately gathered these men and a few heavy cavalrymen together to form the spearhead of the charge, positioning them at the very front.

Most of the cavalry that followed brandished melee weapons such as scimitars and maces, and many of them also had riding bows hanging beside their saddles.

Their tactics are very clear: in the first volley, they try to break through the enemy's formation, and then they disperse, using their mobility to harass with mounted archery and engage in close-quarters combat. This is their most effective fighting style.

But Thorsten didn't just act recklessly.

As he ordered the entire army to prepare for the charge, he suddenly turned his head and looked at his deputy, scout Ragnar, who was following closely beside him.

Thorsten quickly learned after recovering from his serious injuries that Ragnar had taken the punishment for him. He was deeply moved by his second-in-command's loyalty and, now that he had a chance to make a difference, he did not hesitate to bring Ragnar along.

"Ragnar!" he growled, "Don't charge head-on! Take twenty of your best riders and flank them!"

"Keep an eye on them like wolves! Harass their flanks and rear with horsebows, create chaos! Never let their charge formation remain intact!"

"Understood, boss!" Ragnar licked his dry lips, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes. He immediately mustered his men and, like hungry wolves separated from their pack, quietly broke away from the main formation and circled around to the flank of the Broomflower Army.

With Thorsten's command, a deep horn sounded, and the Sauron Cavalry phalanx began to slowly advance, like a pack of wolves poised to pounce, their suppressed killing intent spreading out.

Almost simultaneously, Ragnar led twenty Skarn horse archers who, like phantoms, rapidly approached the Broomflower phalanx from the flank, firing their horsebows in an attempt to disrupt the formation.

Charlotte was already on high alert. Seeing Sauron's light cavalry pounce on the flank of the main force like a pack of wolves, a cold glint flashed in her eyes. She took a deep breath and shouted:

"[The [First Gust]]!"

As her clear voice fell, an invisible energy wave instantly spread out from her center.

She seemed to be surrounded by an imperceptible current of energy, her golden hair moved without wind, the world in her eyes seemed to become clearer, and the flow of time seemed to slow down for a moment.

This is a basic buff spell that only Second-Order Knight can master, which can significantly improve the caster's reaction and speed for a short period of time.

Without the slightest hesitation, she immediately blew a sharp whistle and led her twenty musketeer cavalrymen to meet the enemy head-on, forming a shield on the flank of the main force.

With the help of [[First Gust]], her horsemanship became smoother and her senses sharper.

Arrows whistled through the air, and lead bullets flew everywhere.

From time to time, Goldfinch Cavalry were struck by arrows and fell from their horses, while Sauron light cavalrymen were riddled with blood and gore by heavy lead bullets fired at close range.

The battle was brutal and chaotic.

Charlotte quickly spotted a familiar figure in the crowd: Ragnar! The Sauron Army who had narrowly escaped Karl's blade at Icewater Creek last time.

Enemies meeting are bound to be filled with intense hatred.

Ragnar spotted Charlotte almost simultaneously and immediately recognized her as the Broomflower commander who had led the cavalry in a surprise attack on Icewater Creek.

New and old grudges surged into his heart in an instant. If it weren't for her, how could he have suffered the whipping and been demoted to this damned Vanguard Camp!

He grinned maliciously, believing that he would have the upper hand in close combat against a woman, and immediately spurred his horse forward, slashing straight down with his curved blade!

However, Charlotte, under the effect of the [[First Gust]], reacted far more than he had expected.

She did not draw her sword to meet the attack, but instead, with incredible stability, she dodged the blade while charging forward, simultaneously drawing her hard bow from behind her back.

Draw the arrow, nock the string, and pull the bow.

The entire movement was performed with fluid grace and lightning speed on the swaying horseback!

Ragnar only felt a blur before his eyes, and a cold star shot towards him with a sharp whooshing sound!

He was terrified and hurriedly dodged to the side. The arrow whizzed past his neck, taking a strand of hair with it. The cold, deadly touch sent a chill down his spine.

How is that possible? A woman... possessing such superb horsemanship and archery skills?

Ragnar was shocked. He had thought that the other party was only relying on the advantage of firearms or good command, but he never expected that their traditional archery and horsemanship skills would be so terrifying!

This swift and precise arrow was in no way inferior to the tribe's top archer!

Before he could think it through, Charlotte's second arrow had already left the bowstring!

This arrow was even more cunning, aimed straight at his right hand, which was controlling his horse!

Ragnar let out a strange cry, hastily withdrawing his hand as the arrowhead embedded itself deeply in the forechest part of his saddle, its fletching still trembling violently.

A burning sense of humiliation and a hint of unbelievable fear replaced the initial contempt.

He roared, stopped trying to get closer, and abruptly drew his riding bow.

He was determined to completely overwhelm this terrible woman with the most prized skill of the Sauron— arrows!

The two immediately spurred their horses and circled around, moving, aiming, and exchanging fire at an astonishing speed across the chaotic battlefield.

The bowstring twanged, and the arrows darted through the air like venomous snakes, each one fraught with danger.

A superb duel of mounted archery suddenly unfolded on this bloody battlefield.

Although Charlotte's musketeers were poorly trained and suffered more casualties than the valiant Sauron cavalry, they fought tooth and nail to hold off the deadly horse archers, perfectly fulfilling their mission of protecting the flank of the main force.

Meanwhile, on the main battlefield.

Both massive cavalry groups were slowly accelerating, like two iron tides about to collide, rapidly closing the distance between them.

Four hundred meters... three hundred meters...

Within the Broomflower Formation, the soldiers could clearly see the ferocious faces and gleaming blades of the Sauron opposite them.

They also saw their musketeer cavalry comrades falling one after another on their flanks while trying to protect them, and grief, anger, and a fighting spirit to the death burned in their hearts.

Lyon was not at the very front of the charge.

This wasn't because he was afraid of battle, but because as a commander, he needed to be in a position where he could observe the overall situation and issue orders in a timely manner.

At the start of the charge, he needs to control the pace; after the charge, he needs to quickly reorganize the formation.

He was positioned at the flank front of the formation, shouting the command at the top of his lungs:

"Speed up! Jog forward!"

The warhorses increased their speed, and the sound of their hooves became as dense as rain.

Two hundred meters away!

"Lancers! Horizontal lances!!"

The thirty-odd cuirassiers at the front line simultaneously lowered their heavy, four-meter-long lances, their sharp tips pointing directly at the surging enemy tide ahead.

Lyon felt his blood boil, all other thoughts vanished, and he drew his pistol from his waist, the sound echoing across the fields:

"Speed up! Charge! For the Broomflower!!"

"Full speed ahead!!!"

"Kill--!" A deafening roar erupted from the Broomflower formation. The entire cavalry group, like a flood bursting its banks, suddenly increased its speed to its peak and launched a desperate charge against the equally accelerating Sauron Iron Cavalry with overwhelming force!

In the afterglow of the setting sun, two torrents of cavalry, carrying the force of thunder, raced toward each other, the distance between them vanishing in an instant!

The cold steel spearhead and the gleaming curved mace are about to collide violently!