The bandit leader charged toward us.
Behind him rode about twenty mounted bandits, all carrying spears.
But something felt strange.
The rest of the bandits were retreating, turning their backs and running.
That wasn't an organized army retreat.
It looked more like they were simply abandoning the battlefield.
But that didn't matter right now.
The leader was coming straight for us with what seemed to be his most trusted men.
And there was only one thing we could do.
Defend the caravan.
The remaining knights tightened their grips on their weapons.
The mercenaries—including me—did the same.
Then Ron shouted,
"Ride! To death if we must!"
At his words, Rany grinned and raised his weapon.
"Bull Charge! Ride!"
Our group surged forward.
More than five knights surrounded the bandit leader, attacking him together while trying to hold him back.
Other knights clashed with the riders who followed him.
Mercenaries rushed in to support wherever they could.
Right in front of me, one rider blocked my path.
I couldn't see his face clearly under the helmet.
But he carried an unusual combination of weapons—a long spear and a shield.
On horseback, shields were rarely used like that.
They were normally carried for support or defense during lancing, but using a shield while fighting with a spear made the rider heavier and slower.
Most cavalry avoided it.
Yet this man moved with confidence.
He struck first.
His spear shot toward my chest in a precise thrust.
I blocked it with my own spear.
The impact ran through my arms like lightning.
My palms went numb.
It felt like striking a spear against a stone wall.
But I didn't lose my grip.
In battle, losing your weapon was often the first step toward death.
As he pulled his spear back, I counterattacked.
I swung my weapon, the axe blade attached to my spear cutting toward his neck.
He raised his shield and blocked the strike easily.
Then he retaliated instantly.
His spear swept toward my side.
I signaled Rusty, and Rusty stepped backward quickly.
Even so, the spear still reached me.
A sharp line of pain spread across my stomach.
Blood soaked through my clothes.
Luckily, it was only a shallow cut.
But it proved one thing.
He was more experienced than me.
We continued exchanging attacks.
I struck from different angles.
He blocked or deflected almost every one.
Sometimes I managed to leave a small scratch.
But for every wound I gave him, he landed two or three on me.
Small cuts.
Small injuries.
But they were adding up.
If the fight continued like this, I would lose first.
So I changed my approach.
I signaled Rusty.
Rusty charged forward.
The rider expected another spear strike.
He raised his shield and aimed his spear directly toward my chest, preparing to stop my attack.
But that wasn't my plan.
I ignored the spear.
Instead, I let Rusty crash straight into his horse.
Rusty slammed his head into the other horse's skull.
The impact shook both riders.
The warhorse staggered backward, shaking its head in pain.
The rider tried to steady himself.
That was my moment.
I thrust upward with my spear using the Dual Breaker technique.
He raised his shield to block.
The shield shattered under the force.
His balance collapsed.
Horse and rider tumbled to the ground.
He rolled away instantly, recovering faster than I expected.
Rising to his feet, he lifted his spear and shouted angrily.
"Fight like a man!"
"Come down from that mount!"
I looked at him for a moment.
"Fine," I replied.
I shifted my body as if preparing to dismount.
For a split second, he relaxed.
That was enough.
I signaled Rusty.
Rusty lunged forward.
"No honor!" he shouted.
But I was already moving.
My spear shot forward using the Snake Whip technique.
The blade pierced straight through his heart.
I looked down at him.
"Honor?" I said quietly.
"You're bandits."
"What honor do you think you have?"
His body collapsed to the ground.
I didn't even have a moment to celebrate.
A furious voice suddenly shouted behind me.
"How dare you kill my father!"
Three riders rushed toward me, all carrying spears.
For a moment I stared at them.
Then I sighed.
"Why does every job I took will come for my life"