As we retreated, we regrouped at the designated point.
Everyone was breathing heavily.
The force we had attacked numbered well over two hundred lizardmen, but thanks to our surprise assault, we had inflicted considerable damage before withdrawing.
Azpen remained atop his horse.
His sharp eyes swept across every mercenary before he spoke.
"Stay sharp."
"This isn't the time to get drunk on victory."
The moment those words left his mouth, the excitement among the mercenaries quickly faded.
Everyone calmed themselves.
I exhaled slowly.
My entire body ached.
I had only just reached the Squire rank, and my body still needed time to adapt to the increased Aura.
Instead of resting after the breakthrough, I had been thrown straight back into battle the very next day.
Even I couldn't help but laugh bitterly at that.
I climbed down from Rusty.
The moment my boots touched the swamp, they sank several inches into the mud.
I circled around Rusty, checking for cuts or injuries.
Many riders were doing the same with their mounts.
Fortunately, Rusty only had a few scratches.
Nothing serious.
I climbed back onto his saddle.
Azpen remained silent, looking toward the sky.
About thirty minutes later...
A crow appeared overhead.
It landed on Azpen's shoulder.
He removed the small parchment tied to its leg and read it.
"The mages have begun the bombardment."
He folded the letter before looking toward us.
"Move."
Once again, we entered the swamp.
This time our formation was different.
A scout led from the front.
Instead of riding a horse, he leaped from one tree branch to another with incredible speed, silently guiding our route.
Azpen followed directly behind him.
At one point, the scout stopped at the top of a tall tree and pointed into the distance.
Azpen simply nodded.
I couldn't help but wonder how the scouts communicated so efficiently.
There had to be a system.
But now wasn't the time to think about it.
The enemy came first.
Compared to our previous raid, the lizardmen had become much more cautious.
Their formation had completely changed.
Large shield bearers marched along both sides of the column.
Archers stood safely behind them.
Spearmen filled the gaps between the shields while mounted riders guarded both the front and rear.
The moment they spotted us...
Their formation tightened immediately.
The shield bearers knelt and planted their massive shields firmly into the muddy ground.
Behind them, the spearmen lowered their weapons, creating a deadly wall of spear points designed to stop a cavalry charge.
Above them, archers were already drawing their bows.
Even so...
Our charge never slowed.
I watched Azpen reach behind his saddle and pull out a round shield.
I blinked.
He carries a shield too?
Without slowing his horse, Azpen hurled it with all his strength.
The spinning shield whistled through the air before crashing into the enemy line.
The impact shattered the first shield completely.
The force didn't stop there.
It slammed the shield bearer backward, crashing him into the soldiers behind him and tearing open a gap in their formation.
Without hesitation...
Azpen charged straight toward the opening.
Just then—
A water lizard rider burst from the side.
His spear shot toward Azpen with incredible speed.
In a single motion, Azpen swung his greatsword sideways.
The massive blade intercepted the spear like a shield.
Metal screamed against metal.
Only then did I notice them.
Behind the front line stood several lizardmen surrounded by swirling mana.
No...
Not several.
An entire group.
Lizardman mages.
Azpen didn't hesitate.
He continued charging directly toward them.
The first line followed close behind him.
As soon as the gap widened, I pushed Rusty forward.
A lizardman rushed at me from the side.
My spear flashed.
The axe blade attached to its shaft buried itself deep into his skull.
I yanked the weapon free as black blood sprayed across the mud.
An arrow shot past my face.
I tilted my head just enough for it to miss.
For a brief moment, I considered throwing one of my butterfly knives.
No.
This wasn't the right moment.
The gap in the enemy line was widening.
That was where our force needed support.
I drove Rusty straight toward it.
Suddenly...
My Sensory Field flared.
From the left.
Two riders.
One wielded a longsword while controlling his water lizard with the reins.
The other lowered a spear and charged directly toward me.