Due to some well-known reasons, at least in Gray's understanding, professions like bandits and robbers don't really exist in this world.
Under the influence of the Demonic Tide, individuals who live in complete isolation are more susceptible to corruption.
While this only applies to the weak, the bandit archetype is also exclusive to the weak.
Therefore, in his understanding, at least a hundred people are needed to form a relatively stable settlement, otherwise it will definitely be gradually corrupted by the Demonic Tide.
This has resulted in him never having encountered any highway robbers since he started following his master.
As for the local bullies who infiltrated entire villages, he had only heard about them from his master.
However, that was several decades ago. At that time, the Demonic Tide had just broken out not long ago, and the world was still in a stage where "the water was shallow and there were many turtles," and anyone could come out and become a king.
During this period, some road bullies emerged in the former kingdom, operating from village units, causing considerable trouble for the newly established Graycast Corridor.
The reason they've only heard of it but never seen it is that these guys quickly became benevolent after the invention of mobile fortresses, and within a few decades they've completely integrated into the Graycast Corridor.
So when Antasia said there were bandits robbing the road ahead, Gray could hardly believe his ears.
The ancient Blood Corpse has come back to life, and so has the ancient bandit?
If you dare to rob people in this Wilderness of Chaos, why don't you go and confront the Grand Duke?
With these questions in mind, Gray stood behind the control panel and gazed into the distance.
The Antasia had just rolled over a small hill, and the view became exceptionally open.
However, this is also why it just discovered a group of people ahead.
Having figured all this out, Gray realized that there was indeed a large group of guys blocking Antasia's path.
This route was planned by Antasia, which added its own safety requirements, indicating that nothing like this has happened in at least recent decades.
So...
" Antasia, are you sure these are bandits?"
"No, it's just based on experience. I saw it once a long, long time ago when I was with the first driver, and it even ran over a few people."
"... No wonder."
Gray watched the approaching group of men, scanning their appearance:
It was a procession of nearly a hundred people, with a dozen or so riding Hoofed Beast at the far end.
The leader seemed to be carrying something on his back, or perhaps it was a giant bird larger than a person.
Many ordinary people followed behind them, and no obvious Aberration were found on their bodies.
The group of people carried a lot of things on their backs, and although their clothes were similar in style, they were not exactly the same.
They carried fairly good weapons, and someone quickly went to inform the riders on Hoofed Beast at the front.
Antasia moved closer to the group, and this time Gray's eyes caught two more striking features—
All the Hoofed Beast in this group had four legs, and the Hoofed Beast wore thick robes that concealed their armor, which was actually made of fine iron.
That's not Hoofed Beast, that's a real horse!
These people came from...
Eternal Domain!
Gray's pupils suddenly trembled, and a question arose for no apparent reason, "Does he really want me to die?"
How long has it been since I left the Grand Duke's sphere of influence?
In just a few days, he's found himself in a state of utter despair.
At this moment, the Antasia was caught in an awkward position, facing threats from all sides.
Seeing that the knight who had been leading the charge had already turned around, Gray knew that he could not escape this calamity.
But it's okay--
Compared to the Blood Corpse, the guys in the Eternal Domain are at least able to communicate.
As long as they don't act rashly towards me like Xilǐ'er did, because their memories are stuck in the distant past for some reason.
However, thinking of Xilǐ'er, that old-fashioned guy, Gray couldn't help but start imagining what the other was up to.
The two parted ways at the boundary between the domain and the corridor last time, but he returned with merit, while the other was a knight who had left the party and then rejoined.
That guy probably hasn't changed much; he's probably still hacking away at Blood Corpse in the Demon Realm...
Gray watched the approaching figure, no longer dwelling on his old friend, but simply murmured:
" Antasia, cock the crossbow and get ready."
"Clear."
A hoarse but equally deep voice came through, revealing that Gray had become accustomed to the assistance of this Awakening Fortress and had shown some decline in his operational skills.
From the middle of the deck beneath Gray's feet came the sound of a bowstring being slowly pulled tighter.
He placed his hand on the handle of the warhammer and looked at the approaching figure with a scrutinizing gaze.
Accompanied by the clear, heavy sound of hooves, the lead Eternal Domain knight finally arrived at the fortress.
Both the man and the horse were tall and clad in the heaviest armor.
The horse's armor was bright silver, with flowing lines on its surface that looked as if it had been caressed by the wind.
The knight held a long spear with a ghostly blue hue in his right hand; it was likely a classic enchanted weapon from the Eternal Domain.
His left hand gripped a javelin on the side of the horse, as if he intended to use it to pierce Gray's chest at any moment.
Although they were disposable items, Gray could still tell that the javelins were also enchanted and of good quality.
Behind the knight, there was a beautifully crafted knight's sword lying across the horse's back, ready to be used.
The moment the knight grasped the weapons, the Psionic Energy Circuit on these exquisitely crafted and precious weapons were already connected to his body.
The power was so abundant that even a psionic Psionic Energy like Gray could glimpse it.
He frowned, feeling cold sweat trickling down his back.
Since regaining his body, he has regained the right to have this feeling.
However, what truly shocked Gray was not the extravagance of the knight's weapon, but rather—
There really were two iron wings on his back!
The giant humanoid bird he thought it was was actually this guy in front of him!
The wings grew from the armor on the lower back, and were made entirely of pure frosted metal, extending upwards.
Pale blue Psionic Energy Circuit filled the pure metal wing bones, while the overflowing Psionic Energy formed translucent pale blue feathers that swayed gently with the rise and fall of the horse.
At this moment, the wings were in a state of folding in from the left and right and spreading out from the top and bottom. Although they did not make the knight's figure wider, they were full of tension, like a raptor about to take off.
One can imagine how desperate his opponents must feel when such a knight launches a full-force charge.
Gray gripped his warhammer tighter until the "Winged Knight" in front of him was within range of the crossbow, then he shouted:
"Halt! Who are you? State your name!"
Hahahaha!
A hearty laugh came from under the helmet. The man put down his weapon, patted the back of his neck, and then removed his helmet.
With his thick, brown, curly hair cascading down his back, the knight, with his bushy beard, smiled as he looked up at the sky.
"Long time no see, why are you still using the same tactics?"