"Raise your shields! Raise them quickly!"
"Get out of here, fast!"
"Ah—!"
"My leg! My leg's been hit by an arrow!"
"Help me! Somebody help me!"
In the blink of an eye, the narrow canyon was covered by a dense barrage of arrows, falling from the sky like a black rainstorm!
For a moment, the sound of sharp arrows piercing flesh, screams of agony, and wails of despair echoed throughout the entire Wild Boar Ravine.
In such narrow terrain, the Roland Soldiers were huddled together with absolutely nowhere to dodge or hide.
Man pressed against man, horse against horse; they were the perfect sitting ducks.
Under the blanket of arrow rain, there was simply no place to take cover.
Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!
The sounds of sharp arrows penetrating leather armor and sinking into flesh were constant.
Each sound was accompanied by the scream and collapse of a Roland Soldier.
Warhorses were struck, falling to the ground with mournful cries, throwing their riders only for them to be trampled by the chaotic infantry behind.
The entire Roland Army's formation completely collapsed under the first wave of arrows.
"Retreat! Retreat quickly!!"
"Charge! Charge out! Break through from the rear!"
The Roland Commander brandished his long blade, roaring at the top of his lungs, trying to lead his men to fight their way out through the entrance.
"Stop pushing! You people in the back, stop pushing!"
"Let us out! Let us out now!"
Chaos, trampling, and cries of despair resounded throughout Wild Boar Ravine.
"Steady! Everyone, stay steady!"
"I told you there was an ambush!"
The adjutant beside the commander was still trying desperately to maintain order.
But as soon as he shouted, three arrows pierced his chest. He fell from his horse in unwilling silence and was crushed to pieces by other warhorses.
The shadow of death loomed over the heart of every Roland soldier.
At the canyon entrance, the Spear and Shield Battalion led by Kayla had already formed an impassable wall of steel.
The path of retreat was completely sealed off.
At the other end of the canyon, the Cavalry Battalion led by Akomann had already lined up in formation.
Over a hundred long spears were aimed at the canyon exit, waiting for the prey to run into them.
Above the canyon, Wu Liang looked down and lightly waved his hand.
"Second round, fire!"
Another wave of arrows poured down, harvesting the lives of the roland people who were still struggling.
Ignis and the others outside the canyon watched this scene, speechless.
Just moments ago, they were doubting that Wu Liang's strategy was too naive and that the roland people wouldn't fall for it.
But in war, nothing is too deceitful; the roland people were too clever for their own good.
"Fight our way out!"
The Roland Commander swung his long blade, attempting to lead his men out through the entrance.
"Engage the enemy!"
Kayla's powerful voice rang out.
The warriors of the Spear and Shield Battalion gave a collective low shout, pressing the angle between their shields and the ground even lower, as long spears thrust out violently from the gaps between the shields!
"Puh! Puh! Puh!"
The first few Roland cavalrymen were instantly skewered, horse and man alike, like candied haws on a stick.
The mournful cries of horses and the screams of soldiers mingled together; the following cavalry couldn't stop in time.
In the chaos, there was no time to reload the Muskets at all; they became useless fire-sticks.
For a while, men and horses were overturned in a complete mess.
In front was an impassable wall of steel, and overhead was a never-ending rain of deathly arrows.
Despair, like a rising tide, flooded the heart of every Roland soldier.
Their morale completely collapsed at that moment.
"I surrender! Stop shooting! I surrender!"
Finally, a soldier threw down his weapon, knelt on the ground, and began to wail with his head in his hands.
One, two, three... more and more people threw down their weapons and knelt to beg for mercy.
Above the canyon, Wu Liang stood on a protruding rock, looking down coldly.
"Bow and Crossbow Battalion, cease."
Wu Liang gave the order.
The rain of arrows in the canyon came to an abrupt halt.
At this moment, within the entire Wild Boar Ravine, aside from the mountains of corpses, only a few people remained standing.
At their head was the Roland cavalry commander, covered in blood with an arrow lodged in his body.
Like a wounded lone wolf, he panted heavily, staring fixedly at the black figure above the canyon.
"Come out! Fight me like a man!"
He used all his strength to let out a final roar.
Wu Liang looked at him, a playful smile appearing on his face.
He slowly walked down the cliffside, and the Spear and Shield Battalion led by Kayla immediately cleared a path.
The canyon floor had long since been stained and soaked red with the blood of horses and men.
Wu Liang stepped over the slippery puddles of blood and walked straight up to the Roland man.
"You want to fight me?"
Wu Liang's tone was flat, laced with mockery.
"You coward! You barbarian who only knows how to use schemes and tricks!"
"If you have the guts, duel me fair and square! Do you dare?"
The cavalry commander leaned on his long blade, panting heavily as blood dripped continuously from the corner of his mouth.
"A duel?"
Wu Liang suddenly started laughing.
"Hahaha..."
His laughter echoed in the silent canyon, sounding exceptionally piercing.
"Is something wrong with your head?"
Wu Liang pulled back his smile, his gaze instantly turning ice-cold.
"You are now my prisoner, my trophy. What right do you have to set conditions with me?"
"You..."
The cavalry commander was choked for words, his face turning the color of pig liver.
Wu Liang didn't bother wasting more words on him and gave a look to the arriving Akomann.
Akomann understood. She stepped forward, flicked her long spear, and the shaft accurately struck the back of the cavalry commander's knees.
"Thud!"
The cavalry commander cried out in pain, kneeling heavily in the pool of blood before Wu Liang.
Akomann flipped her hand, and the cold spear tip was already pressed against his throat.
"Clean up the battlefield. Recover all usable arrows, armor, and weapons! Especially those muskets—bring them all back!"
"Akomann, tie him up along with the other survivors and bring them back."
The Rolanders' corpses were piled together, and a fire was set, sending up billows of black smoke.
After handling the prisoners, Akomann came to Wu Liang's side.
"Everything has been taken care of."
Wu Liang nodded, his gaze crossing the busy battlefield to settle on the group of figures with complex expressions not far away.
The leaders of the Six Great Tribes were standing there, watching the Black Rock Army's movements.
"Let's go. Let's go have a chat with our friends."
Wu Liang's tone was indifferent as he walked toward them.
Akomann and Kayla immediately followed with a squad of Personal Guards.
The expressions of the six Female Leaders also grew solemn.
The way they looked at Wu Liang was complicated—there was shock, awe, resentment, and more.
"It seems everyone's spirits are quite good. The news you sent was timely enough; otherwise, we might not have made it in time."
"Any later, and I would have only been able to come and collect your corpses."
"Tell me, how should you thank me?"
Wu Liang spoke with a smile, his tone very relaxed.
"Thank you, Lord Wu Liang, for putting aside past grievances and coming to our rescue."
Florgloria was the first to step forward, bowing slightly with a sincere tone.
"This kindness is something our Six Great Tribes will never forget."
Beside her, Ignis's brow furrowed:
"What kindness? This was clearly a deal."
Wu Liang glanced at her and chuckled; he naturally knew what was on these women's minds.
"Whether it's kindness or a deal, in the end, I saved you. According to the customs of my hometown, you must repay me by marrying me."