Night's Cavalry

This time, most of the energy flowed into his mind, transforming into the power of spirit.

Soon, the level-up was complete.

Xia Tong glanced at the panel:

Level: 21

Runes Held: 341

Vigor: 16

Mind: 24

Endurance: 10

Strength: 17

Dexterity: 13

Intelligence: 18

Faith: 2

Arcane: 10

To Xia Tong, every level-up felt like a deep meditation, even a wondrous state close to having his soul leave his body.

The subjective time felt incredibly long, as though an entire century had passed.

Yet once the level-up was truly complete and he opened his eyes, he would find that only a few minutes might have passed in reality.

Even so, Xia Tong noticed a problem.

When he had only been level one or two, leveling up had been extremely fast, perhaps taking only a few breaths.

But now, it was indeed getting slower and slower.

Before leveling up, he had specifically asked Miss Irina to keep watch for him.

"Melina, I noticed something. The time I need for each level-up seems to be getting longer."

Xia Tong looked at his hands thoughtfully.

"That is correct. As your strength increases, the threshold at which your body and soul can contain Runes rises as well. Naturally, refining and assimilating Runes requires more time."

Melina replied softly, though there was a trace of amusement in her single eye.

"That is a good thing. It means you are becoming stronger."

Xia Tong sat up and stood atop the high slope.

He watched the darkening sky and tried to mobilize his spiritual power.

As his Mind increased, his connection with the Spirit Ashes in his consciousness space became increasingly clear.

Then, Xia Tong pitched a tent beside the Site of Grace and lit a campfire.

The reason he camped beside a Site of Grace every time was because Melina had told him that a Site of Grace naturally intimidated weaker monsters.

For example, although the Site of Grace at Gatefront was near a heavily guarded wall, no Godrick Soldiers dared approach within several dozen meters of it.

Of course, the soldiers themselves could not see the Site of Grace. They would only instinctively feel uncomfortable there.

Those not acknowledged by the Site of Grace were naturally rejected by it.

That made a Site of Grace a safe zone, in a sense.

Without dwelling on it, Xia Tong tidied up a little and prepared to rest.

The rich meat stew soon bubbled away, filling the air with fragrance.

After everyone had eaten, they were about to crawl into their tents.

Just then.

Clop, clop, clop.

A heavy, oppressive rhythm of hoofbeats abruptly shattered the silence of the night.

Xia Tong whipped around.

On the road in the distance, the night itself seemed to have frozen.

A huge black shadow slowly emerged from the darkness.

He rode a warhorse draped in black funeral cloth. His figure was enormous and sinister.

He held a massive black flail in his hand. It was as though, the moment night fully descended, he had arrived as the embodiment of darkness.

The hoofbeats and clashing armor were deafening, especially piercing in the silent night.

Night's Cavalry!

"Damn it, how did I forget about this guy?!"

Xia Tong's heart skipped a beat.

These Night's Cavalry were the personal guard led by Margit the Fell Omen, the one known as Morgott.

They rode funeral warhorses draped in black cloth and wore pitch-black armor, specifically hunting renowned heroes and Tarnished at night.

On the other side, the wandering merchant Moen also spotted the Night's Cavalry riding the black horse.

But he was already used to the sight.

Because the Night's Cavalry did not target wandering merchants at all. Their targets were Tarnished.

And Xia Tong happened to be one.

The Site of Grace could drive away low-level monsters, but powerful foes like the Night's Cavalry were clearly not among them.

In the distance, the Night's Cavalry came to a stop.

Under the moonlight, purple-black eerie light could be seen glowing within the Funeral Horse's eyes.

The Night's Cavalry silently watched Xia Tong, then lightly kicked the horse's belly with his right leg.

The towering black horse gradually picked up speed.

Clop-clop-clop! Clop-clop-clop!

The sound grew increasingly urgent, like the beat of a death drum.

At the same time, the enormous black flail in his hand rose. Three spiked iron balls swayed through the air, ready to swing at any moment.

"Prepare for battle!"

Xia Tong roared.

Jingle! Jingle! Jingle! Jingle!

The Spirit Calling Bell in Xia Tong's hand rang without pause.

Within only a few breaths, the Stray Wolves, Godrick Soldier, and Spirit Jellyfish were summoned.

His mind immediately fell into a slight daze.

Without hesitation, Xia Tong took a huge gulp from the Cerulean Tear Flask. A cool sensation surged straight into his head.

As his replenished spiritual power filled him once more, he rang the Spirit Calling Bell again.

The Fanged Imp's figure slowly emerged as well.

"Lord Xia Tong, what happened? It sounds like an enemy has arrived?"

Irina crawled out of the tent, her face filled with terror and concern.

"You must be extremely careful!"

"Melina, take her to hide with Merchant Moen."

Xia Tong spoke to Melina at his side.

Then, with a metallic clang, he drew the Lordsworn's Greatsword from his waist. Gripping it with both hands, he faced the enemy as though confronting a great foe.

A wind had risen at some point, making the black veil around the Funeral Horse flap wildly.

Setting aside the Tree Sentinel, whom he had never faced head-on, this Night's Cavalry before him was undoubtedly the most difficult opponent Xia Tong had ever encountered.

Soon, less than twenty meters remained between Xia Tong and the Night's Cavalry.

By then, the Spirit Jellyfish had already turned crimson.

It floated through the air with a rustling flutter, its body contracting from time to time.

Facing the Night's Cavalry, it seemed to be brewing something.

"Torrent!"

Xia Tong blew his whistle.

Torrent materialized beneath him, and he sprang up onto the saddle.

Holding the Lordsworn's Greatsword, Xia Tong showed no hesitation as he charged straight at the Night's Cavalry.

Behind him.

The Godrick Soldier wielding the crossbow stood beside the Spirit Jellyfish, dropped to one knee, and fired an arrow at the Night's Cavalry.

Whoosh!

Because Xia Tong and the others stood atop a high slope, they had the advantage of shooting downward.

The bolt was powerful and precise, flying straight toward the Night's Cavalry's path.

But the Night's Cavalry was exceptionally agile.

Holding the reins in his left hand and the Night Cavalry's Flail in his right, he merely gave the horse's belly a light kick.

The Funeral Horse nimbly sidestepped and avoided it.

Thud!

The crossbow bolt buried itself in the ground.

Clop-clop-clop-clop-clop-clop!

The hoofbeats of Xia Tong and the Night's Cavalry crossed over one another on the dark road before Moen Castle's walls.

Xia Tong charged down from the high slope at tremendous speed, kicking up dirt and grass.

The Night's Cavalry charged uphill, which was already much more taxing than Xia Tong's descent, yet he remained incredibly fast.

Ten meters!

Seven meters!

When only five meters remained between them.

The Night's Cavalry drew his right arm back. The three chains connected to the black spiked iron balls stretched taut, rattling with metallic clatter.

Charging up!

Now, Fanged Imp!

Xia Tong roared inwardly, issuing an order to the Fanged Imp through their mental connection.

It had long been lying in ambush to the side, throwing two Magic Pots at the Night's Cavalry, one after the other!

Three meters!

Two meters!

The Night's Cavalry's right hand moved again.

The flail's long handle traced a slight arc before suddenly swinging forward.

Whoosh—!

Accompanied by a massive howl through the air, the three spiked iron balls smashed straight toward Xia Tong's face!

If that strike landed, it would not just crush his head—it could even smash the horse's head apart.

"Good!"

Xia Tong did not dare take it head-on.

Compared to the Night's Cavalry in physical attributes, he was still no match.

At that critical moment.

His entire upper body suddenly arched backward, until the back of his head nearly touched the horse's back!

The iron balls swept past the tip of his nose.

"Not good! It swings back!"

Xia Tong realized that the flail's attack trajectory was strange and unpredictable. Even with his body bent back against the horse, the rebounding iron balls could still strike him.

At once, he swiftly pulled his right foot free from the stirrup.

Hooking Torrent's neck with one leg, he slid his entire body down to the left, hanging from the horse's side.

It was this extreme tactical maneuver that barely allowed him to evade the strike!

Just then.

Boom! Boom!

The two Magic Pots exploded beside the Night's Cavalry's ears, one after another.

Although a weapon like the Night Cavalry's Flail possessed immense power when swung, the iron balls themselves generated tremendous inertia!

At the instant when the flail's old momentum had not yet faded and its new force had not yet arisen.

The thunderous explosions of the Magic Pots startled the Funeral Horse, making its front legs rear high as it let out a shrill neigh.

"Kulala!"

Xia Tong shouted!

The Crimson Jellyfish, which had been charging up in the rear, finally sprayed out the venom it had been brewing for so long.

Pfft!

Red venom shot straight at the Night's Cavalry!

The horse had been startled and was currently staggered. Even with horse and rider moving as one, he could not avoid it all.

Sizzle! Sizzle!

Purple-red venom splattered across the Night's Cavalry's armor and the Funeral Horse's body.

Amid bursts of white smoke, the metal armor began to corrode continuously, releasing a pungent, concentrated acidic stench.

Though the Night's Cavalry was wrapped up from head to toe.

The faint growl coming from beneath his closed helmet made it clear that the strike had not felt good at all!