The three riders rushed toward me.
All of them carried the same weapons as the man I had just killed—shield and spear.
They advanced in a spearhead formation.
One rider led in front while the other two flanked him slightly from either side. If the front attack was blocked, the other two could strike from different angles immediately.
It was a dangerous combination.
And they were closing the distance fast.
I quickly expanded my sensory field.
Everywhere around me, battles were still raging. Knights clashed with bandits, and mercenaries fought to hold the defensive circle.
The Vipers were still guarding the caravan. They moved like shadows among the wagons, eliminating anyone who slipped through.
But most of them fought on foot.
Without mounts, they couldn't reach me quickly.
I was on my own.
As the riders rushed closer, one thought flashed through my mind.
The words of Bharam.
Don't die.
My eyes fell on the corpse lying in front of me—the man I had killed moments earlier.
An idea formed.
I stabbed my spear into the corpse again and dragged it upward.
The three riders saw what I was doing and became visibly angrier, urging their horses forward.
But I didn't stop.
As they closed in, I lifted the body and hurled it toward them.
The corpse slammed into the lead rider.
The horse stumbled violently.
The rider fell and rolled across the ground while the other two riders swerved in surprise.
For a brief moment, their formation broke.
One rider quickly dismounted to help the fallen man.
The other continued charging straight toward me.
Maybe the fallen one was important.
Maybe they were trying to protect him.
But I didn't wait to find out.
I charged.
The rider lowered his spear and accelerated toward me.
Neither of us slowed down.
As we closed the distance, I suddenly leapt from Rusty's back, raising my spear above my head with both hands.
I swung downward, using the axe blade attached to the spear.
At the same moment, his spear thrust forward.
Pain exploded across my left side as the blade cut into my stomach.
But he had chosen offense instead of defense.
My strike smashed down on his shield.
The shield cracked under the force.
The rider lost his balance and crashed to the ground.
My own body slammed onto the dirt beside him.
Pain burned through my side, but I didn't stop.
Before he could stand, I swung my spear again from the ground.
He barely reacted in time.
Raising the broken shield above his head, he blocked the strike.
My axe blade struck the shield—
And stopped.
It felt like hitting solid stone.
An aura.
Maybe earth aura.
Despite the pain in my stomach, I rolled closer to him.
He tried to stab me with his spear again, but I twisted my body low and avoided the thrust.
At the same time, I used Siena's hand-to-hand technique.
I coated my fist with dark aura and drove it into his neck.
Blood burst from his mouth.
He coughed violently.
But he still didn't die.
Another rider was already approaching from the side.
The wounded man kicked me hard, forcing distance between us.
My spear slipped from my grip.
I rolled forward and pushed myself to my feet.
Drawing my sword in one motion, I lunged forward and drove the blade straight into his throat.
He collapsed instantly.
I barely had time to breathe.
Another rider was charging toward me.
I grabbed the dead body in front of me and lifted it like a shield.
The rider's spear struck the corpse instead of me.
The impact forced me backward, but the body absorbed most of the damage.
Still, my stomach wound was bleeding heavily.
It wasn't stopping.
Now both enemies were closing in again.
One on horseback.
One on foot.
I exhaled slowly and steadied myself.
I raised my weapon and prepared to defend.
Then suddenly—
Rusty burst into the fight from the side.
Rusty slammed its horn into the charging horse.
The horse staggered violently, throwing its rider to the ground.
As the rider hit the dirt, the last remaining enemy didn't stop.
He rushed towards me, fury burning in his eyes. "You killed my father!