Being a knight is not easy

Chapter 224 Intense

On the crystal iron platform in the very center, the blood-soaked Grand Knight Will was fighting two barbarian berserkers alone. His sword blade was already serrated, yet he still managed to precisely deflect their kneecaps.

"Form ranks!" Robin's dragon-slaying spear pierced the darkness.

The twelve elite knights immediately split into three groups and quickly formed a hedgehog formation.

This tactic was specifically designed for combat in confined spaces; the twelve spears blocked the entire passage.

Will staggered and fell to his knees, blood mixed with icy shards gushing from the wound on his left shoulder.

The barbarian berserker in front of him raised his double-edged battle axe.

"call out!"

A flash of cold light appeared, and the arrow struck the barbarian warrior's head with pinpoint accuracy.

Robin's arrow served as a signal to attack.

"Pfft!"

The sound of a heavy axe cleaving through flesh was exceptionally dull.

When the torch was relit, the berserker was shocked to find that he had struck one of his own comrades.

Ironjaw used the corpses of barbarians as a shield, while Robin's spear tip was already pressed against his throat: "Where is your chieftain?"

The dying berserker suddenly grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth studded with ice crystals: "Eating," he coughed up blood clots mixed with fragments of internal organs, "...the cured meat in your castle cellar."

Robin's face turned cold. When they arrived at the territory, they only saw one barbarian warrior. Clearly, their chieftain had gone hunting elsewhere.

The most important thing now is to deal with the barbarian warriors inside the tunnel.

At the very bottom of the crystal iron mine, darkness pressed down on every survivor like a heavy shroud.

A gaunt old miner knelt at the corner of the tunnel, holding half a piece of moldy black bread in his trembling hands.

His lips were cracked and bleeding, yet he stubbornly stuffed food into his arms, where his six-year-old granddaughter was curled up. The child's little hands gripped a tattered rag doll tightly, the doll's buttons and eyes reflecting a faint light in the darkness.

"Just one bite. Just one bite." The old man's voice was hoarse and incoherent, but he didn't notice that his granddaughter's chest had already stopped rising and falling.

Five steps away, in a crevice in the rocks, a young peasant woman formed a human wall with her body.

Her arms were outstretched like the wings of a dying bird, her back pressed against the cold ore, shielding the three toddlers behind her from the falling rubble.

"Count," she forced a trembling voice, "like Mom taught me."

The oldest child began mechanically reciting numbers, his voice growing softer and softer.

By the faint reflection of the minerals on the rock wall, one could see that half of a broken arrow was stuck in the peasant woman's lower back, and the dark red blood had already congealed into a hard lump on her coarse cloth skirt.

The makeshift clinic in the center of the mine pit was actually just a few tattered cloaks spread out.

The private army squad leader, whose leg was broken, lay on his back. His sword was stuck in a crevice in the rock beside him, and a leather water bag hung from the hilt, long since empty.

When Robin's torchlight shone on him, the tough man suddenly struggled violently: "Save the children first. There are still seven in the west tunnel!"

His voice stopped abruptly.

In the firelight, you could see that the wound on his left leg was tightly bound with a leather belt, which was a modified knight's sash with the words "Loyal and Fearless" embroidered on it, now soaking in a pool of blood.

The most suffocating silence comes from the crystal iron platform in the southeast corner.

More than twenty babies were placed here, wrapped in clothes taken from the dead.

No one cried.

These little survivors had long since learned to remain silent.

When the howling of wolves came again from the upper mine tunnel, a mother who was breastfeeding suddenly covered the mouth and nose of her baby. There were no tears in her eyes, only a wild and resolute look.

Ironjaw's giant axe suddenly slammed heavily to the ground: "My lord... this..." Robin's gaze swept across the faces of each survivor, and he saw that the flame of life in these people was like a candle flickering in the wind.

Robin's knuckles cracked as the blade of the Dragon Slayer Spear slashed across the ground, leaving a gleaming trail.

"All barbarians should be killed!" His voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a chilling killing intent.

Will staggered out of the depths of the mine tunnel, followed by a dozen or so wounded knights.

The great knight's armor was tattered, his left arm hung limply, and blood dripped from his fingertips.

When he saw Robin's face clearly, a glint of light flashed in his cloudy eyes: "Is it reinforcements?"

Andy Sue stepped forward, his armor gleaming coldly in the torchlight: "Lord Wilke, Young Master Allen has come in person. Our group of twelve is here solely to scout out the enemy's situation."

The light in Will's eyes dimmed instantly. He swallowed hard, choking on a mouthful of blood. "Run! Before the main barbarian force discovers you!"

Robin snorted, and the quiver on his back popped open with a "click," releasing four quivers from both sides.

"How many barbarians have attacked your territory?"

“Three hundred!” Will said, his eyes dimming.

"Only three hundred? We've already taken care of more than forty of them as we fought our way in."

Will coughed violently, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth: "You don't understand those beasts who froze the intestines of their prisoners into road signs."

"Enough!" Robin interrupted sharply. "Take everyone and come with me." He turned to Ironjaw. "Prepare for battle."

Will was about to say something when Andy Sue pressed down on his shoulder: "We have a hundred more people to meet us outside."

Robin strode into the depths of the mine, his Dragon Slayer Spear sparking against the rock wall: "Those who want to live, follow me!"

Everyone struggled to their feet, supporting each other as they followed closely behind Robin's group. Will led the remaining knights and apprentice knights to cover the rear, preventing the barbarian warriors from attacking from behind.

Will soon understood why Robin was so confident.

Five barbarian warriors appeared from around the corner, their bare chests smeared with the blood of their captives, their fang-like battle axes gleaming coldly in the firelight.

"Prey!" the lead barbarian roared hoarsely, his voice like sandpaper scraping against rock.

As they charged, their heavy footsteps shook the rock face, sending dust flying.

Robin didn't even lift an eyelid.

“Formation,” he said softly.

The twelve warriors instantly split into three groups, their long spears crisscrossing to form a deadly net.

The first group of four halberds simultaneously thrust upwards, precisely blocking the five battle axes.

The sparks from the clashing metal illuminated the astonished faces of the barbarian warriors; these seemingly cumbersome long spears were actually three times faster than their battle axes.

"hook!"

The second group's long spears shot out like venomous snakes, their sharp barbs precisely wedging behind the barbarian warriors' knees.

With a synchronized burst of strength, the five burly men simultaneously lost their balance.

"sweep!"

The third group's long spears drew perfect arcs.

Will only saw a flash of cold light before five heads flew high into the air.

The headless body of the barbarian warrior remained in a charging posture, taking three more steps forward before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

Fresh blood gushed out from the severed neck like a fountain.

(End of this chapter)