Chapter 83: Ambush (2)

Reidar did that just in time, because then at least 100 people attacked. They were all between levels 30 and 35, with the latter being kind of rare but still present.

“What the fuck?”

Reidar couldn’t believe his eyes for many reasons. First, there really was someone fighting against other humans, which was absurd in itself given the situation; second, they actually knew that he and the others left Havenwood, which meant someone was actually spying on them and reported him and the others being out of town, which made them a target.

Second was these people’s level. They were on average 10 levels stronger than Havenwood’s citizens.

<But how?>

He got that someone as skilled as Lena, Torren, Jorik, and Lysa could be that strong. During this trip they actually reached level 50, as he did, but these guys? These couldn’t all be as strong as Lena and the others; they couldn’t be as elite, because to turn into an elite, one had to fight a lot and had to be skilled enough not to get killed.

<Then how?>

But there was a far more critical and immediate question that demanded an answer: how in the hell had a force this large, this well-equipped, and this unnaturally powerful managed to assemble right under Martin’s nose with no one noticing?

<Who are these people?>

Then he remembered what Torren and Jorik said.

<It’s the church of unbinding.>

But how could the two be so sure? Reidar wasn’t seeing anything that pointed to them being the ones responsible.

In either case, why would someone attack Havenwood? And even more importantly, why would someone attack them now?

The forest’s deep silence shattered all at once, ripped apart by the sudden, violent hiss of dozens of crossbow bolts cutting through the evening air.

They came from the tree line in a coordinated swarm, iron tips gleaming with a merciless light as they arced toward Reidar’s tightly grouped companions.

The sound was a deadly whisper, a promise of pierced flesh and shattered bone, aimed with a chilling precision that spoke of ruthless intent.

At the same time, low chants rose from the enemy, and the air hummed with energy. Fireballs, shards of ice, and arcs of lightning all surged forward, fast and perfectly timed.

The forest, to put it simply, erupted into chaos. Reidar’s Bone Militia acted as the main shield. The darts hit their bones, which were too durable for the enemy given their increased levels. The skeletons were, after all, at level 46, which meant there was a level 10 difference on average with the enemy.

But the darts didn’t always find their mark against the skeletal shield. Many of them slipped through the gaps between ribs, whistling through empty spaces where organs should have been, their trajectories unbroken as they continued their flight toward the vulnerable humans behind the undead line.

The iron-tipped bolts sliced through the air, sharp and deadly, hunting for soft flesh instead of hard bone.

It wasn’t just that. A volley of fireballs and jagged shards of ice screamed toward them, only to splash harmlessly against the dome-shaped barrier Jorik erected.

<For fuck’s sake!>

Jorik created the barrier just in time.

“They’re not here for a chat!” Jorik said, his grey beard bristling as he poured more mana into his defensive spell. The barrier flickered under the onslaught, but it didn’t break. Though Reidar wondered how mana Jorik had to be able to create a barrier strong enough to resist that barrage.

Reidar didn’t need Lena’s warning. His guts were already screaming at him to do something. He moved fast, pulling mana into his Shepherd’s Crook, but his thoughts raced even quicker.

He wasn’t just going to attack. He had to protect or heal his summons, hold his ground, and watch for any crack in Jorik’s barrier.

These weren’t disorganized fanatics like Caleb, at least on a first impression. Their eyes were devoid of any fanatical glee and were actually cold and focused. And their focus was entirely on him.

“What the…?!”

A trio of warriors wielding crackling energy blades broke from the main group, ignoring Torren’s sweeping Zweihänder and Lysa’s flickering daggers to flank Reidar’s position.

“They want the summoner!” Lena’s voice soared above the noise of the myriad spells unleashed by both the enemy and Reidar’s Rift-Sprites.

Lena and Lysa moved like twin vipers, but not toward those attacking Reidar. No. He was inside Jorik’s barrier, so they could not dare to reach Reidar unless they destroyed Jorik’s creation, and that, for level 35 attackers, was just impossible, at least not with those numbers.

But they didn’t know that. These people were confident they could do it. Lysa and Lena weren’t stupid though, and focused on those attacking from a distance since those at melee range could do nothing. The mages and the bowmen.

[Enemy human defeated.]

[Enemy human defeated.]

[Enemy human defeated.]

[Enemy human defeated.]

Needless to say, they found a quick death.

Lysa’s poisoned blades found a throat before the man could raise his weapon, while Lena’s blade parried a dagger one of the men had at their side.

Which was rather anachronistic given that the inventory was quite fast at drawing items in and out. With movements Reidar couldn’t even explain, her boot caught another attacker in the chest and sent him stumbling back.

[Enemy human defeated.]

[Enemy human defeated.]

[Enemy human defeated.]

[Enemy human defeated.]

Reidar’s summons tore through the enemy ranks with the same animalistic efficiency as Lena and Lysa.

His primal pack was tearing through the enemy flanks, moving fast and hitting hard. They were a couple of levels below Reidar, but their size and speed made up for it.

It was still higher than the Bone Militia’s level, though. Besides, they also had their own skills, so they were far deadlier than the skeletons.

The Rift-Sprite Contubernium, though, was by far the most brutal, and that was because the elements inflicted damage against which the humans were all weak.

Fireballs and ice shards kept burning and piercing, not every few minutes, but every few seconds. The Rift-Sprites fired like machine guns, and that brought death to the enemy.

[Enemy human defeated.]

[Enemy human defeated.]

[Enemy human defeated.]

[Enemy human defeated.]

From the center of the carnage, Reidar’s Guardian Shade kept siphoning mana from the surroundings and gave it back to its master, ensuring his mana reserves never dipped.

(A.N: Guys, as usual, I want to remind everyone that you can support me with power stones or golden tickets on w e. b n. o v e l. Furthermore, if there’s someone with a budget constraint, remember that you can actually read for free through Fast Passes. The higher I am on the ranking, the more opportunities there will be! Show some support; if you like the book, even a powerstones will be highly appreciated! It’s free! As usual, if you want to give suggestions you are free to leave comments or join my discord :D)

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