Only then did the bandit chief, Baron, recover from his terror. He screamed a reminder, his voice tearing through the air: "Enemy attack! We're under attack! Everybody, get up and prepare to fight!"
However, the bandits had already descended into chaos from the burning black oil and the force of the magical explosions.
Many were still sprawled on the ground, trying to put out the flames on their bodies. Only now did they finally snap out of it.
They shoved at their companions in panic, trying to flee the smoke-choked killing ground.
But it was already too late.
"Rumble—"
The dull, dense thunder of hooves drew rapidly closer, quickly drowning out the bandits' screams.
Baron jerked his head up. Around the bend ahead, a fully armored heavy cavalry unit surged into view like a torrent of steel, charging in a devastating wedge formation.
The knight at its head wore the imposing armor of the Purple Dragon Legion. He held his lance level, its cold sheen glinting in the morning sun.
"Charge!"
At Cain's command, the knights leveled their lances and, using the momentum of their descending mounts, slammed into the remnants of the bandit formation.
"Thwack!"
It was the sound of lances piercing flesh.
Several bandits at the front hadn't even had time to raise their wooden shields before the force of the charge ran them through. Their bodies were tossed aside like rag dolls, some flung to the roadside, others into the sea of flames.
The road was so narrow that only four or five horses could charge side by side.
But the cavalry worked together seamlessly. The knights behind them expertly guided their horses, nimbly leaping over the corpses and the bandits still struggling on the ground.
"Drop your lances! Draw your swords!"
At their leader's command, the