Success (1000 added, seeking monthly votes)

Outside the swamp.

Jupiter gripped a short sword and lay prone on the ground, quietly waiting for the prey to take the bait.

His calmness and composure made several nearby captains nod to themselves in approval.

Suddenly, cries of alarm came from the distance.

A caravan, chased by Centaurs, rushed blindly into the swamp in a panic.

"Whoa, whoa!"

The next moment, numerous Centaurs surrounded it.

Their lower bodies were horses and their upper bodies human. Most had brown or dark-black fur, powerful, muscular torsos, and carried wooden spears, bows, and other weapons. Every one of them was a born cavalryman.

So these are Centaurs?

The moment they saw them, all the mercenaries could not help but hold their breath.

At that moment, the Centaurs howled as they charged into the swamp and began collecting their spoils.

"Charge! Follow me down!"

Jupiter hesitated no longer. With a roar, he strode forward and charged down.

Swoosh!

An arrow flew toward him, but he deflected it with his short sword.

Jupiter immediately rushed into the swamp and smashed forward with the shield in his left hand.

Bang!

A Centaur three heads taller than him lost its balance and crashed into the muddy ground, unable to get back up for a long while.

"Kill!"

Behind him, more than a hundred mercenaries formed a pocket-like formation.

"It's a trap! Break out!"

Among the Centaurs, a leader covered in pitch-black fur, with a horseshoe-shaped mark on his chest, let out a furious roar.

The remaining Centaurs abandoned the caravan and began regrouping, seemingly preparing to launch a charge.

Unfortunately, the muddy terrain severely restricted them, reducing the speed essential for a charge to its absolute limit.

In that brief instant, victory and defeat had already been decided!

A large number of mercenaries had already reached