Rhode was afraid, but not because these Scourge troops were particularly powerful.
His main concern was keeping his people safe.
If a battle broke out here, all it would take was a bite from a Ghoul in the chaos to leave someone in serious trouble.
Besides, judging by the sounds, there were a tremendous number of enemies. They had probably surrounded the place already, so escaping would not be easy.
Rhode thought for a moment, then stroked Lilia's head. "Same as before. Stay here and protect them. I'll go out and face these monsters!"
Once Lilia nodded, Rhode headed out of the woods.
His plan was simple: move the battlefield somewhere far from here so they would not get caught in the crossfire.
And that somewhere was the lake!
Rhode leaped straight onto the lake.
He did not sink into the water, because wherever his feet touched, the lake froze beneath them.
By the time he reached the center, almost the entire lake had turned into a mirrorlike sheet of ice!
The people in the woods watched the figure standing far out on the lake. He looked tiny from that distance, yet to them, he seemed incomparably imposing.
"This... this is what a true hero of legend looks like," Jack murmured.
"Yes. To protect us, he's facing an entire army all by himself!" Lucy said, her eyes reddening.
"An entire army" was no exaggeration.
There really were over a thousand enemies!
When Rhode appeared, the Scourge began converging on him.
The Gargoyles and Plague Bats in the air were particularly numerous and fast. Their dark mass descended on Rhode like an inescapable net.
Every one of these airborne creatures had sharp fangs and claws. Anyone they reached would be torn to shreds.
Yet Rhode did not panic in the slightest.