Loyal Companion, Torrent

After parting ways with the old knight, Lu Mingfei returned to the front of the gate, continuing his "great undertaking" alone.

The first challenge before him was the ancient and perilous Stormgate.

Lu Mingfei stood before the gate and looked up at the ancient military fortress.

The gray-white stone walls had become weathered and mottled after years of wind and rain, their surfaces covered in fine cracks and moss.

The entire gate had been built against the mountain. On either side, tall, steep cliffs wound along the narrow path like two dragons. Not far ahead, the ruins of a massive temple spanned both sides. A Troll carrying a greatsword stood atop the ruins, cold wind blowing through its hollow rib cage as it stood motionless like a mummified corpse, guarding the way.

Directly ahead, a massive bronze portcullis had been hoisted high by chains and gears, exposing the gateway. The road was lined with chevaux-de-frise and wooden barricades every few yards. Soldiers under Godrick's command, clad in cylindrical tabards bearing the trees and beasts that represented the Golden Family's glory, patrolled back and forth.

Lu Mingfei narrowed his eyes.

This was the only route to Stormveil Castle, as well as the outermost military stronghold under Godrick's control.

Lu Mingfei could tell with his toes that since this "Stormgate" bore the name of Storm and possessed such an ancient, timeworn design, it had to be a surviving structure from before the Golden Order, when the Storm Lord ruled Limgrave.

It occupied favorable terrain and carried the brutal arrogance of Storm.

This gate had been built in an absolutely vicious location. Cliffs flanked both sides, while only a narrow mountain road lay ahead. It was practically a natural meat grinder.

Now, it had become the only passage leading to Stormhill. If he wanted to continue onward, he had to force his way through here.

Lu Mingfei had originally thought that while this place was an impassable defensive line for an army, he might be able to cut straight through alone by relying on his mobility.

So he gripped his greatsword, took a deep breath, and stepped into the gate.

With a thunderous crash, the Troll that had stood silently atop the ruins leaped down from above. Its massive body slammed into the ground, scattering broken stones and rubble everywhere.

Lu Mingfei reacted quickly, rolling away from the Troll's signature move. The Troll roared, and the deafening bellow carried a fierce gust that would send anything it touched flying several yards away.

This was not Lu Mingfei's first time dealing with a Troll.

He clearly remembered exploring near the Church of Elleh, when he had once wandered along the grassy coast and accidentally gotten lost.

That was when he encountered the first Troll of his life.

Back then, he had still been weak. Faced with such a gigantic creature, he had not even been able to muster the courage to fight, and could only flee in panic with his head in his hands.

But now?

A cold smile curled across Lu Mingfei's lips.

Now, he was a Dragon Communion warrior who had slain a Flying Dragon that dominated an entire region, a proper knight who had inherited the mantle of the former captain of the Storm Knights.

How could a mere Troll stop him?

Today, Lu Mingfei would prove his growth to the entire Lands Between and wash away his past humiliation!

With that thought, Lu Mingfei's blood boiled. He shouted and charged forward with his sword raised.

Then—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sounds of arrows tearing through the air rang out in succession. Before Lu Mingfei could even see where they had come from, crossbow bolts flew in from all directions and turned him into a pincushion.

When he awoke once more at the Site of Grace, disbelief still lingered on his face.

"I was so stupid... really... I only knew they'd put a Troll up there to ambush me, but I forgot they'd shoot arrows too..."

Lu Mingfei punched the ground, feeling unbearably ashamed of what he had just done.

After recovering from the barrage of arrows, Lu Mingfei rubbed his temples in frustration.

"This place is even tougher than I imagined. I need to think of something..."

Lu Mingfei squatted beside the Site of Grace, staring wide-eyed at Torrent.

"Old Torrent."

He patted the spirit steed's shaggy neck and said,

"This time, we're going big."

Since a frontal assault would not work, he obviously had to outsmart them!

But how would he outsmart them?

The only difference between humans and animals was that humans knew how to use tools.

Since he had such a useful tool—a horse... no, the loyal and dependable spirit steed Torrent—then naturally, he had to try charging through on horseback!

Lu Mingfei swung himself onto the saddle, swapped his greatsword for a straight sword that was easier to wield, then squeezed his legs and grandly waved his hand.

"Charge!"

Man and horse became a whirlwind as they stormed straight into the gate with unstoppable momentum!

Then—

Boom!

The Troll's greatsword came crashing down on their heads, sending rider and horse flying together.

"Old Torrent, listen to me. This time, we'll go left!"

Torrent snorted uneasily.

"Trust me, it'll work this time! Since the Troll jumps down in the middle, we'll speed up along the left first, then cut back onto the main road!"

Lu Mingfei patted his chest and promised.

The plan went smoothly. This time, the Troll did not stop them.

However—

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Amid the chaotic storm of arrows, man and horse raced through, only to twitch and collapse at the same time.

Torrent's rear was bristling with arrows.

"This rain of arrows is way too hard to dodge."

"After avoiding the Troll, we have to move flexibly to avoid getting shot by the arrows. We also can't jump over the chevaux-de-frise on either side; we can only smash through or leap over the wooden barricade in the middle. But there's even a ballista at the end of the road...

"The ballista has to be avoided. Neither Torrent nor I can survive even one hit from it, not to mention the patrolling soldiers after we get knocked down..."

Lu Mingfei squatted beside the Site of Grace, absently drawing circles on the ground with his finger.

Torrent stood nearby, occasionally nudging Lu Mingfei's shoulder with his nose, as if trying to comfort his master.

"Old Torrent," Lu Mingfei sighed, reaching out to stroke the spirit steed's smooth mane.

"Do you think we should change tactics? Find another way around? Like calling that brat Emiya over to draw their fire?"

At that thought, Lu Mingfei shook his head and held fast to his last shred of morality.

"No, that'd be too inhuman... Emiya is my dear friend... Besides, I'm still counting on him to help me get past the Omen."

Torrent snorted, seemingly in agreement.

"Whatever," Lu Mingfei said, patting Torrent's horn. "We're already here, and the two of us have died so many times. How can we give up halfway now?

Come on, carry me through one more charge!"

After his eleventh death, Lu Mingfei finally realized that brute force and opportunism would not do. He needed to make a detailed plan before setting out.

So he began drawing tactical diagrams on the grass.

Avoid the Troll.jpg

Dodge the arrows.jpg

"This time, for sure... Huh? Where's my horse?"

Lu Mingfei turned around with full confidence, only to find that his faithful companion, Torrent, was nowhere to be seen.

He looked back and discovered Torrent hiding behind the Site of Grace, refusing to come out no matter what.

"Old Torrent?"

Lu Mingfei called out tentatively.

"It's time to go."

Torrent merely swished his tail and turned his head away.

Lu Mingfei sighed. At last, he realized a cruel reality:

Even his spirit steed had gone on strike.