Attacking the Tribe

The Redhorn Wilderness was a barren expanse located more than two hundred kilometers north of Blackstone City.

Vegetation was sparse across the wilderness, and water sources were hard to find. Only countless jagged, strangely shaped rocks resembling red horns stood scattered throughout. The Redhorn Wilderness got its name from them.

Due to its harsh environment, no intelligent races other than the Blackscale Lizardmen lived in the Redhorn Wilderness.

It was precisely because food was so scarce in the Redhorn Wilderness that, every winter, the Blackscale Lizardmen invaded Blackstone City's territory to plunder enough food to survive the season, while also reducing their excessive tribal population.

Blackstone City loathed this savage race, which lived by plunder and brought disaster upon the city every year.

Thus, when Kei ordered a surprise attack on the Blackscale Lizardmen Tribe, he immediately received an enthusiastic response from the knights.

"I've been sick of those lizard bandits for ages! Today, we'll wipe them out!"

Jordan sat atop a Blackrock Panther, his face brimming with excitement.

The surrounding knights were likewise eager for a fight.

Because of the importance he placed on this campaign, Kei not only deployed the recently formed Cavalry Regiment, but also mobilized five hundred soldiers.

With ample Gold Coin funding, Blackstone City's army had now expanded to a thousand men.

This did not include the militia.

Compared with last year, its military strength had increased severalfold.

The cavalry rode in front and the infantry followed behind as a long column of more than five hundred men advanced through the wilderness in orderly formation.

Kei and Sunan were in the middle of the formation, each riding a Blackrock Panther.

However, compared to the Blackrock Panthers ridden by the Cavalry Regiment, the two beneath them appeared more robust and imposing, their bodies gleaming with a deeper luster.

Blackrock Panther (Puppet/Advanced Knight level): A puppet construct made of Blackstone Iron. Its body is tougher than Blackstone Iron, and it can travel stealthily through Blackstone Iron veins. It can replenish energy and recover from injuries by devouring Blackstone Iron.

These were elite Blackrock Panthers Sunan had synthesized from seven Blackrock Panthers.

Each possessed Advanced Knight-level combat strength, and their bodies were even tougher. Even weapons forged from Blackstone Iron could leave only a faint mark on them.

Kei could hardly put down his elite Blackrock Panther, clearly delighted with his mount.

As they ventured deeper into the Redhorn Wilderness, the surroundings grew increasingly desolate.

After another half hour of travel, the scouts responsible for reconnaissance returned and shouted, "My lord, the Blackscale Lizardmen Tribe is about two kilometers ahead."

"Good."

Kei's spirits lifted as he gave a deep-voiced command.

"Everyone, speed up and prepare for battle!"

As the order was issued, the column immediately accelerated.

Before long, the Blackscale Lizardmen Tribe came into view.

Calling it a tribe was generous. It was really just a cluster of low huts made of straw and wood, surrounded by wooden fences, everything about it reeking of primitiveness and backwardness.

The approaching army numbered over five hundred. The Blackscale Lizardmen were not blind, so they naturally could not have failed to notice them.

By the time the army arrived, hundreds of Blackscale Lizardmen had already gathered before the tribe with weapons in hand, glaring viciously at the invading enemy.

The Blackscale Lizardmen were a race in which every member could fight. Even their women and children possessed combat strength no weaker than that of an ordinary adult human male.

Adult Blackscale Lizardmen possessed strength comparable to Knight Attendants.

A small number of elite Blackscale Lizardmen could reach the level of Apprentice Knights.

Blackscale Lizardmen who experienced atavism and awakened a trace of Dragon Lizard Bloodline could even contend with knights.

At present, more than a dozen knight-level Blackscale Lizardmen stood at the front. Their scales were marked with crimson patterns, clearly indicating that they had awakened Dragon Lizard Bloodline.

The leader, a Blackscale Lizardman nearly two and a half meters tall and radiating a fierce, violent aura, gave Sunan a feeling not much different from Kei's.

Just last month, Kei had advanced to Peak Knight.

In other words, this Blackscale Lizardman, who was likely the tribal chieftain, probably possessed Peak Knight-level strength.

Besides that, the number of armed Blackscale Lizardmen warriors clearly exceeded two hundred.

They might have been fewer in number than Sunan's side, but their individual strength was no weaker.

Winning this battle would not be so easy.

Yet neither Kei nor the knights under his command showed the slightest fear. Their morale was soaring.

Because a wizard stood behind them!

As they charged forward, every cavalryman in the Cavalry Regiment took out a potion, popped the cork with his thumb, and tipped it into his mouth.

Brute Force Potion!

A Tier-Zero Potion capable of greatly increasing strength!

For this battle, Sunan had produced more than sixty potions in one go, equipping every cavalryman with one.

With the enhancement of Brute Force Potion, even an Apprentice Knight could unleash strength not far inferior to that of a Formal Knight!

"Charge!"

Kei drew his longsword and bellowed.

With him charging at the forefront, the Cavalry Regiment slammed into the Blackscale Lizardmen's line like a sharp arrow!

In an instant, blood sprayed and severed limbs flew!

Battle erupted in the blink of an eye and swiftly reached a fever pitch.

The open ground before the tribe became a battlefield drenched in blood!

This was the first real battlefield deployment for the Blackrock Panther-mounted Cavalry Regiment since its formation.

The combat power they displayed did not disappoint.

Even when the Blackscale Lizardmen managed to block the weapons swung down by the cavalrymen, the Blackrock Panthers' claws soon tore open their chests and abdomens.

They were no longer facing individual cavalrymen, but the combined assault of riders and Blackrock Panthers.

This was completely different from the cavalry forces they had faced before.

The unexpected disparity in information inflicted heavy losses on the Blackscale Lizardmen.

Standing in the rear, Sunan watched the battlefield and nodded to himself.

This world seemed never to have had an example of taming exotic beasts as mounts.

At least, there had never been one in the Starry Sky Principality.

Thus, those encountering the unprecedented Blackrock Panther Cavalry for the first time could easily make the wrong response.

And on a rapidly changing battlefield, a wrong response often meant death.

The Blackrock Panther Cavalry was still relatively small in number. Once this force expanded into a truly large-scale Cavalry Regiment, it would surely bring Blackstone City's enemies a huge "surprise."

Sunan withdrew his gaze and glanced at Brad standing guard nearby, sighing inwardly.

I still need to advance to Second Class Wizard Apprentice as soon as possible. Otherwise, I'll always be a fragile mage who needs someone to protect him on the battlefield.

Shaking his head, Sunan gathered his thoughts. Strange syllables spilled from his mouth as a basketball-sized sphere of acid rapidly condensed in the air before him. With a flick of his finger, it shot like an arrow toward a knight-level Blackscale Lizardman.

Mage Hand did not have enough range, making it unsuitable for the battlefield at this moment.

Therefore, Sunan chose to cast Acid Splash.

Sizzle! Sizzle!

The Blackscale Lizardman never expected an attack to come from afar. Caught off guard, it was struck in the face by the acid.

In just an instant, the acid corroded a huge hole into its face. Its features were completely melted away, leaving only a pitch-black cavity. Even much of the bone inside had been eaten away.

The Blackscale Lizardman twitched as it collapsed to the ground, clearly beyond saving.

The terrifying power of Acid Splash made the surrounding Blackscale Lizardmen's scalps tingle.

For a moment, the Blackscale Lizardmen looked at Sunan with deep fear in their eyes.

They did not fear human blades or fists, but this strange and terrifying attack lay beyond their knowledge and understanding.

What kind of power was this?