The third lizardman swung his sword toward my left shoulder.
I twisted my wrist and turned the bow in my hand sideways, catching the sword with it.
The bow was made from reinforced wood, making it more durable than a normal bow, but it still wasn't meant to block a sword.
The force made me squint.
I pushed against his sword and forced him a few steps back.
Before I could attack, the lizardman suddenly changed his footing and thrust his spear toward my abdomen.
Blocking it directly would be a bad idea.
I pulled on Rusty's reins.
Rusty immediately understood and moved forward.
The lizardman's spear passed just above my abdomen as my position changed.
While still mounted, I pulled one of my butterfly knives from its sheath.
The lizardman tried to recover and attack again.
I didn't give him the chance.
I drove the butterfly knife into his neck.
Blood sprayed as the blade cut through his throat.
Even then, he didn't stop.
The lizardman staggered and tried to swing his sword at me, as if he still intended to decapitate me.
I moved away from the attack.
His sword passed through empty air.
I looked toward the lizardman I had shot.
One arrow was still buried in his left foot, while another had pierced his right thigh.
He was groaning in pain.
I slowly took out another arrow and nocked it onto my bow.
I aimed at him.
He saw the arrow.
His eyes met mine.
Then he closed them.
He understood that nothing was going to save him from death.
I released the arrow.
It pierced directly through his eye.
He died instantly.
I got down from Rusty and retrieved my arrows.
As I searched the corpses, something caught my attention.
One of the lizardmen had a horn made from bone.
I picked it up and examined it.
It seemed that the lizardmen had developed their own way of making horns.
As we got flare scrolls for emergency I think lizardmen may be suing these horns
Then an idea came to me.
This might work.
I put the horn away.
I needed a suitable location first.
I rode deeper into the swamp, searching for a place where I could set up a trap.
After searching for some time, I finally found what I was looking for.
Several trees stood close together, their thick branches and leaves creating a dense cover.
The swamp water around them wasn't too deep either.
More importantly, the trees gave me enough space to move without being easily seen.
This is the right place.
I got down from Rusty and patted his head.
"Stay here."
I pointed toward the thick trees.
"If you see anything coming, hide and stay close."
Rusty seemed to understand.
He moved into the thick vegetation and disappeared from sight.
I climbed one of the trees.
From up there, I could see through the branches and leaves well enough to watch the surrounding area.
The branches were thick and strong.
I could jump from one branch to another without breaking them.
After climbing high enough, I sat on one of the larger branches and began preparing.
I used the vines around the tree to make a few simple traps.
Nothing complicated.
Just enough to slow someone down.
I also placed some of my traps inside the swamp water.
Then I waited.
Afternoon slowly arrived.
I took out some jerky and ate it while sitting on the tree.
After finishing, I took out the bone horn.
I raised it to my mouth.
Then I blew.
BOOOOOOOOOOM—
The sound echoed through the swamp.
It was loud and rough, almost like metal being struck against metal.
The sound traveled through the trees and across the water.
I waited.
I placed an arrow onto my bow and prepared myself.
I didn't have to wait long.
About ten minutes later, I saw movement.
Five lizardmen.
Two were riding water lizards while three walked behind them.
The three on foot carried spears, swords, and axes.
They were moving carefully.
I watched them without moving.
The last lizardman carried a spear.
I drew my bowstring.
My aim followed his movement.
He continued walking, completely unaware that someone was watching him from above.
I released the arrow.
Whoosh!
The arrow struck him directly in the head.
He collapsed.
The other lizardmen immediately reacted.
As expected.
The moment one of them fell, the others became alert.
The water lizards shifted direction as their riders searched the surroundings.
But they still couldn't find me.
I had already prepared my second arrow.
I aimed at another lizardman.
He was carrying a sword and walking on foot.
I released the arrow.
It pierced his abdomen.
He dropped to the ground.
The remaining lizardmen immediately moved toward the trees for cover.
One of the water lizards turned sharply.
The riders were trying to locate me.
But I already knew where they were.
I pulled the bowstring again.
Then I waited.
As there are hiding behind the trees.
The remaining lizardmen moved cautiously through the swamp.
One of them looked toward the trees.
Another searched the water.
They still hadn't found my position.
I kept my bow raised.
I waited for the right moment.
The horn had done its job.
They had come looking for the source of the sound.
Now they were inside my hunting ground.
I watched them from above.
Let's see how many of you I can take down before you find me.