The blazing flames and roiling smoke.
A quarter of the city was in an uproar, as if plunged into a cauldron of boiling oil, fully awakened from the silence of the night.
Screams of terror, anguished sobs, helpless whimpers, and the chaotic silence spread between the houses like a deliberately lit fire dragon, gradually surging toward other parts of the city.
From the chaotic, desperate crowd, a group of cavalry emerged.
Barely a dozen remained. They rode shamefacedly toward the castle.
As they were about to approach the castle, they slowed their horses' pace, as if relieved.
This knightly order was responsible for the city's night patrol. Their commander was Gregor, one of the two major generals under the Count.
But at this moment, Gregor no longer looked like a "commander."
Clad in armor like an iron man, with a flail and shield in his hands, none of it could give him a sense of safety. He was still trembling violently.
Gregor couldn't help but glance back at the city with lingering fear. He panted like an ox, his courage utterly shattered.
Were those monsters even human? Especially their commander, Wyald—he tore through armor and gnawed flesh and bone with his bare hands...
One look, and Gregor had known he was no match for Wyald. Wyald was a monster. A true monster.
Fear had driven him to decide: immediately lead the remnants in flight and completely abandon the city.
"Captain Gregor." His men were also cowardly, but a note of hesitation crept into their voices. "Are we just going back to the castle? The Black Dog Knights are killing and having fun in the city..."
"Fool!"
Gregor seemed to remember something. His muffled voice rose from within his helmet, like an iron can rattling.
"Didn't you hear the three death knells from the castle? Something must be wrong there. Don't you understand? Which is more important—the Count or some civilians?"
Hearing this, his subordinates seemed to finally find a suitable excuse. They said gladly, "You're right! We need to return to the castle! The Count is more important!"
"Exactly!"
Gregor seriously considered this excuse and found it increasingly convincing. His heart grew much calmer.
"Let's go. Don't delay. I still don't know what happened with those three death knells! What are Soldag and the others doing?"
"Commander!" Suddenly, another subordinate exclaimed. "Look toward the castle!"
"What is it?" Gregor turned his head in dissatisfaction, but then he also noticed the reason for his subordinate's exclamation.
Not far away, the castle's drawbridge was slowly being lowered and extended over the moat. This was a rare sight.
A fast horse burst from the castle, raced across the drawbridge like the wind, and shot past like an arrow!
"Who...?" Gregor muttered, now fully alert. "It's curfew now! No one but soldiers on night patrol should be appearing here!"
"That's the assassin! That must be the one who rang those three death knells! Stop him! Catch him and offer his head..."
Before he could finish, the horse had already charged forward with unimaginable speed!
Everyone raised their weapons and shields in astonishment, but they were momentarily stunned!
Nidhogg had spotted this cavalry from a distance. Seeing they weren't getting out of the way, he decided to save time on words and simply drew his Lordsworn's Greatsword.
Gregor was startled by the strange horse's speed. But he thought to himself, I just saw something far more terrifying. I shouldn't be afraid of this little situation before me. So he steeled his courage.
I can't handle the Black Dog Knights, but I can't handle a little assassin like you?
He spurred his horse forward to meet Nidhogg. His flail swung, striking his shield like a war cry. He charged straight at Nidhogg!
As the two horses were about to pass each other, Gregor roared and swung at Nidhogg!
But Nidhogg didn't even look at him. He simply swung the greatsword in his hand!
FWOOSH—!
The silver arc of that sword stroke seemed to complement the beauty of the dark, moonless clouds!
With a single swing, in the order of palm, hand, arm, shoulder, helmet, head—Gregor was smoothly split apart!
Even in his final moment, Gregor didn't realize he could be so easily divided!
Through the bloody mist, Nidhogg rode on. He swung his greatsword before the eyes of the cavalrymen blocking his path—some bewildered, some terrified.
A few more sword arcs flashed. Then came the thuds of bodies hitting the ground!
Torrent burst through the encirclement. Before man and horse, there were no more obstacles.
Only then did the shattered bodies of Gregor and his cavalrymen fall to the ground.
Nidhogg hadn't even noticed that the Gregor he had just killed was any different from the other cavalrymen he had slain.
The few lucky enough to survive could only stare in shock in the direction the man had fled, their hearts trembling.
But Nidhogg and Torrent were long gone.
Soon, Nidhogg entered the burning, terror-stricken city.
The sparks flying and the intense heat rising from the sea of fire before him were like natural barriers. But they couldn't stop Nidhogg from riding through.
Nearly a quarter of the city was ablaze. Civilians fled in panic, pursued by beasts that chased them down.
When Nidhogg saw this, he finally understood what was happening.
They pounced on women like beasts, tearing at their clothes. Those who dared resist were run through with spears and pikes, then tossed into the streets like trophies.
THUD! THUD!—
Nidhogg said nothing. As Torrent galloped, he made full use of the greatsword in his hand, cutting down every Black Dog Knight he encountered along the way like cockroaches or mosquitoes!
Shattered heads, severed limbs, savage grins, and rising blood mist made more and more Black Dog Knights take notice of his presence!
Even if they were nervous, they knew there was a threat before them—a man interfering with their fun.
A man who didn't measure his own strength.
The Black Dog Knights swarmed like beastly ghosts, one after another, surrounding Nidhogg and Torrent. The savage grins on their faces grew more malevolent in the firelight.
Nidhogg took Torrent's reins and let the swift horse slowly come to a stop.
He produced his Spirit Calling Bell and shook it several times.
One of the Black Dog Knights couldn't help but sneer, "A bell? Where are your noble knights now? There are no servants or attendants here..."
Before he could finish, a wolf-shaped monster burst from the flames beside him, covered in fire, and clamped its jaws around his throat!
The wolf tore at him, ripping out his throat!
The man clutched his neck in terror, unable to make a sound, unable to stop the gushing blood.
Finally, in an instant, with a thud, the man collapsed into a pool of blood.
Shaking off the flames, extinguishing the sparks, the three Lone Wolves emerged one after another and attacked one by one.
Bite by bite, members of the Black Dog Knights screamed in agony, were bitten to death, and dragged into hell!
Immediately after, another pure white spirit, clad in knight's armor, leaped forth.
He practically soared into the air within a whirlwind, as if his whole body had been flung forward. He cleaved a Black Dog Knight with his halberd, splitting him in two!
Nidhogg sat astride his horse, unmoving, coldly watching these beasts.
At this moment, the Black Dog Knights gradually understood the problem: it wasn't that they had surrounded this man and his horse as prey. They had become the prey of these eccentric beings!
Nidhogg left these minor matters to "Ingvall the Lost Knight" and the Lone Wolves to handle. His gaze was fixed on a figure that had appeared nearby.
The man was extremely ugly, with a long face, holding a thick wooden club like a primitive.
This was Wyald, the "Black Dog."
He grinned at Nidhogg and said, "You killed that slug, didn't you? The blood on your body is stained with its scent. It seems it really was somewhat capable."
"Are you going to challenge me now? Good. Come on. I've already set the stage for this battlefield. If you have the ability, just kill me—before I tear you apart."
Nidhogg didn't reply. He simply urged his horse forward.