Chapter 39: Full Army Assault!

  "Form ranks, defensive formation!"

  Ange's clear and rang out, and the soldiers' hundreds of hours of training kicked in as y soldiers and ten newly recruited warriors quickly fell into line.

  Shields were raised at the front, spears braced behind, and archers cealed, f a and square formation that looked highly disciplined.

  Old Field, the vilge chief, was deeply impressed as he studied the familiar faces of the soldiers, yet now they seemed strangely unfamiliar.

  He couldn't believe that just a few days of training had transformed these once disanized soldiers, cart pushers, and warriors of Bay Vilge into a unified force.

  In his youth, Old Field had fought iheril Empire's army, battling orcs to the north and barbarians to the east.

  During the eastern frontier expansion, Old Field had been on the frontlines, fighting against tless fishmen and trolls.

  His vast experience allowed him to see the subtle but signifit ges in these soldiers.

  Eveheril Empire's regur armies couldn't form ranks so quickly—within just a few breaths—while on the march.

  "Is this the fidenatthew has in his professional soldiers?"

  "Perhaps we really defeat the dangerous sve-hunting group!"

  With that thought, Old Field gripped his longbow tighter, gently rubbing the b as he awaited the enemy’s arrival.

  Matthew had dismounted and hidden behind the rear ranks, gently patting Yaya on the back.

  "Fly up and scout the enemy's numbers. Sense if there are any hidden in the forest."

  "Be cautious, trust your instincts, and don't get too close to the trees. If you're attacked, return immediately!"

  Yaya nodded, sneaking into the nearby bushes. With a soft whoosh of wind, she shot up into the sky.

  Matthew looked up and was surprised to see that Yaya’s body had blended seamlessly with the sky, her scales turning a deep blue.

  Even with his psychiion, Matthew could barely pinpoint her location, uo dis her exact position.

  "Indeed, challeings don't lie!"

  Yaya’s bat prowess, her ability to suppress trolls in melee bat, her superior scaly armor, and rapidly improving bat and flight skills—all marked her as formidable.

  An average squad of intermediate-level professionals, even at Level 9+, would likely be no match for her.

  In a matter of seds, Yaya's report echoed in Matthew's mind:

  "Daddy, there are forty enemies directly ahead of you. Three of them are strohahers..."

  "There are fifty more hiding in the forest, and I saw le crossbows..."

  "Ah? What are those? They look so ugly, with pointy noses, short bodies, and they howl like dogs. There are hundreds of them!"

  "..."

  "Have they lured kobolds into this?"

  "Their appetite is insatiable!"

  Matthew wasn’t shocked by the Bloodhand Sve-Hunting Group’s underhaactics. He had learned long ago o uimate any oppo.

  After all, every pyer who had died at least a huimes could speak from experien the matter.

  Without hesitation, Matthew had Yaya return and began calg rapidly.

  "The kobolds will reach here iy minutes."

  "Returning to Bay Vilge will take half an hour, but there's a ce their rear guard will dey us, and we could fa encirclement."

  "Holding round here would py into their hands. They could tinuously draw more moo overwhelm us..."

  "It seems their battle tactics are quite seasohey’ve likely faced regur military forces before."

  "The enemy’s forward detat is approag fast; we’ll ehem in three minutes!"

  "In that case, we both achieve oals!"

  Without hesitation, Matthew reyed the information to Ange, ying out his pn.

  The young knight pondered for only a few seds, g the determined soldiers standing i ranks, and nodded fidently.

  "I think it will work. Even though the enemy is strong, their will is weak. They ck the spirit of sacrifice, so we will prevail!"

  Hearing Ange's unwavering fidence, Matthew smiled and said firmly:

  "Thehe battle, my knight!"

  Drawing her longsword, Aook a deep breath, her entire body glowing with light. Her voice rang out clearly, spreading through the ranks of soldiers:

  "Maintain formation! Target: North! Full army assault!"

  Each soldier felt an odd lightness in their limbs, as if their ons and armor had bee a little less burdensome.

  The knight css was designed specifically for war, and this was one of its signature abilities:

  The Aura of Vitality!

  It granted all nearby allies within fifty meters a powerful buff: "+1 Strength, +1 Damage, +2 Movement Speed."

  Filled with ce, the soldiers marched forward fidently, following Ange's lead.

  The synized footsteps stirred something within each soldier, their pace quiing as their morale surged.

  Lyon, marg alongside them, felt his heart rag with excitement.

  He felt ected to his rades, part of a powerful whole.

  No matter who the enemy was or how strong they might be, he had faith that they would be victorious!

  Marg within the formation, Matthew observed his troops with satisfa. Though their individual strength wasraordinary, they were highly adaptable and had great potential frowth.

  Today, he would use a fierd bloody battle to sharpen their edge, using the enemy’s blood ah to temper them!

  Naturally, Matthew began his own preparations for the uping battle.

  His staff’s skills, mana potions, magical scrolls, and bat spells were all ready...

  A well-prepared spellcaster was the most terrifying for the battlefield!

  In the dense wilderness bushes...

  The winter chill lingered faintly in the air.

  Alta shivered as an inexplicable sense of unease crept over him, like he was being stalked by a deadly predator.

  Instinctively gripping his shortsword tighter, he sed the area, but found nothing unusual.

  Shaking out his arms, he reminded himself that tension would only drain his stamina quickly—a on rookie mistake.

  Alta was a seasoned hunter, and he quickly regained his posure, f himself to stay calm.

  "It’s probably nothing. There are plenty of other scouts nearby, and while they may sck off sometimes, they wouldn’t..."

  As an experienced hunter, he knew better than to let his emotions cloud his judgment.

  "It’s just nerves about the uping battle. If we run into one of the heril patrol teams, we’ll be in serious trouble."

  "But this time, the higher-ups have decided to attack a vilge... Let’s hope it goes smoothly."

  "Work is getting riskier these days. After this job..."

  Ssh!

  A sharp cw pierced through his kidney, sending waves of excruciating pain through his body, shattering his focus.

  Alta gasped, his mouth opening in a silent scream. A blow to the back of his head snuffed out his sciousness, his final thought flickering:

  "An assassin?"

  As his limp body was gently lowered to the ground, Yaya ied her handiwork and muttered tentedly:

  "Daddy’s training really pays off..."

  AnnouAfter two hour the chapter will be posted