Armored Cavalry, survive in a world full of mods

This can no longer be explained by luck. The only answer is that Thesolius learned how to use the throwing axe after just one simple attempt, as easily as a newborn baby learning to swallow, almost like an instinct engraved in his blood.

He repeatedly turned the last axe in his hand, searching for a suitable position. Finally, he decided to nail this axe into the top position, so that the four axes would be arranged in a neat straight line.

The moment he thought this, he made his move, and the flying axe flew to the intended location as he had planned... but ultimately, something went wrong at the last moment.

Even Karila took a step forward in surprise. The two looked at each other in disbelief, then turned to look at the spot where the axe had struck—a snake as thick as a thumb had fallen from the leaves at that very moment. It hadn't been cut in half by the axe, but had landed on the tree trunk just as the blade was cutting into it. The snake had instinctively coiled up on the trunk, like a vine growing on a dry tree trunk.

Such a coincidence is even worth recording. If he had the habit of writing in a diary, he would definitely have spent a lot of time writing about it tonight. But now, only the two of them are watching this scene, speechless with surprise.

"...Bad news, this thing is poisonous, we need to find a way to get rid of it."

After observing carefully for a while, Tersolius, who had learned a lot from Tarina, quickly made a judgment... This could be seen from the snake's green back, light brown belly, and triangular, muscular head. And now the creature was clearly frightened, tightly coiled around the axe, and had no intention of leaving.

"...So, it would have been better to just cut it in half, at least then we wouldn't have to worry about this now."

"It was lucky it didn't die... Or we can look at it from another angle—if those axes hadn't shaken it off the tree, it might still be sitting there, planning to steal an egg from a bird's nest, instead of being scared half to death by an axe that almost chopped it in half."

"It's better if it falls down sooner rather than later, otherwise I feel like I'm going to be unlucky and get bitten by it sooner or later... It's too close to town here, and there are too many people."

Without prior arrangement, the two walked side by side toward the big tree, chatting casually along the way. The leaves on the tree rustled in the wind, as if something small was whispering behind the leaves. Suddenly, a part of the cloud-covered sky cracked open, letting down a tiny ray of light that illuminated the open space not far away.

The distant plains stretch as far as the eye can see, planted with wheat grains that are already plump, though not yet fully turned a beautiful golden yellow, but already edible—in some places, unripe wheat is even a seasonal delicacy, enough to temporarily fill an empty stomach.

Before they could get close, the snake seemed to sense something and suddenly released its tail, falling down the tree with a snap like a rope. Accompanied by the sound of grass rubbing against each other, it quickly disappeared into a nearby bush and was soon out of sight.

With this, there was absolutely no obstacle, and Terzolith successfully retrieved the three axes below. However, the remaining one was nailed too high, and there was nowhere on the tree trunk to climb and get a foothold. So the two of them immediately decided to use a human ladder to retrieve it.

"Step on my hand and go up. We've pretty much changed back."

He stretched out his two hands, interlocked his fingers, and overlapped his thumbs to form a stable support structure. Then he squatted down slightly to indicate that Karila should step on his hands to reach the axe nailed to the top of the tree canopy.

Without hesitation, she quickly raised her leg and placed it on the center of Tersolius's palm, using a gentle push to support herself. During this process, she also held onto Tersolius's shoulder to maintain her balance. She pinched the handle of the throwing axe with her fingers, gave it a slight shake, and pulled it out, leaving only a deep dent in the tree.

The process of getting down was equally simple, but she instinctively grabbed Thales's shoulder, casually hung the axe back on the buckle at her waist, and landed steadily on the ground...

Just as she was about to let go, Karila suddenly realized that this was probably the first time she and he had been so close, close enough to hear each other's breathing, almost to hear each other's heartbeats, feel each other's warmth, and clearly see each other's eyes and everything in them.

For some inexplicable reason, she suddenly didn't want to let go. So she put her hand on Tersolius's shoulder, straightened up somewhat sluggishly, and her breathing suddenly became erratic.

"Um?……"

Tersolius turned his head with some confusion to look at the long, slender hand that was supporting his shoulder, while Karila had already silently made up her mind...

468 Hunting and Being Hunted (1)

"What's wrong."

An unnatural pause always quickly attracts attention, especially when the object of this pause is Tersolius himself, so he naturally asked a question... to be precise, it wasn't even a question, but rather a conversation to check the status.

He then raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised by the gaze he felt—a direct, predatory gaze, carrying a terrifying message, undisguised and unashamed, full of aggression, like a lion seeing dripping flesh, like a shark smelling the faint scent of blood, as if it wanted to get something from him, and it was determined to get it, and it would get what it wanted…

This was the purest will of a girl who had never been bothered by formalities, and now she was showing it to him without any concealment, and immediately decided to press her advantage and secure victory.

“Hmm…Tesorius.”

He immediately realized the unusual nature of the situation from those words—this was the first time he had heard her call him by his name since he had defeated Karila. This girl from the northern ice plains had the purest and most direct worldview: as long as you could defeat her, you would earn her respect. So from then on, he also started calling her "sir."

She obeyed her own commands without hesitation, no matter the danger, stepping into the bloodiest battlefields time and again with her long axe. She tore the enemy lines to shreds, beheaded countless enemies, and slew countless lives, obeying her own will and earning herself the title of Imperial Champion. But never before had she called out her own name like this.

This attitude was so serious and earnest that Thessalius also became serious:

"I am listening."

"Can I follow you forever?"

It was a question, but the tone didn't imply inquiry. It was calm yet full of a certain power, and it pierced through his defenses almost instantly, rushing straight into his heart... making him realize that the words were not just what they seemed.

“You are already following me.”

The girl's sharp, beautiful eyes widened resolutely, revealing a fierce and determined resolve, clearly indicating that she would not give up until she got the answer she wanted.

“That’s not what I meant… No, I should say I will always be with you, even if you marry someone else in the future, I will not leave you, so I wasn’t asking you just now, I was telling you this.”

To put it more bluntly—it means…we can live in the same room from now on, right?

This sentence seemed to have pushed the limits of the throat's ability, even losing its tone at the end, becoming hoarse and flustered... The Rigut people living in the north are tough and fierce, and even the women are equally strong. Once two young people form a family, it means that they have to rely on their own efforts to build a house to live in, at least to ensure that they will not freeze to death in winter. In this process, their original families will provide assistance, but in the end, they still have to rely on their own efforts.

This is why many young men build sturdy and neat wooden houses before proposing, in order to show off their ability and wealth. Many girls from wealthy families also ask the men they like to live in their houses... This sentence itself means an invitation to live together, as real and straightforward as the cold wind in the north.

Staring wide-eyed at the man before her, her heart pounded so hard it made her chest ache, her breath came out rapid and hot, and her fingertips felt numb, but none of this was enough to make her back down, or even entertain the thought of backing down.

When exactly did it start? ...When exactly did she start liking to stare at this guy? ...Without realizing it, she had gotten used to seeing such a figure often. When she stood beside him with her axe, she felt that nothing was worth worrying about. The past few years were far more precious than the more than ten years she had spent wandering in the north, to the point that she didn't even want to think about them anymore.

She liked it the way it was, didn't want to leave, and wanted to keep watching this man... and she wanted more—just like a wolf that isn't satisfied with a drop of blood on its tongue but craves more flesh and blood, she naturally wanted more, and the moment she made up her mind, she acted without hesitation.

The harsh north offers no room for hesitation. What's lost is lost, what's missed is missed, and you have to bear the consequences. One moment of hesitation and you miss the deer, your whole family goes hungry, and the cold winter may just end. A moment's hesitation in battle can result in your throat being pierced, your head being cut off, and you becoming a trophy.

She wanted more, but her slightly trembling fingers made her realize that she might not be as brave as she thought in this matter… Her courage, like the tide, only lasted a short while before it began to wane, and timidity began to sneakily try to take over. She even didn't want to hear his reply anymore, so she forced herself to remain calm and emphasized that she was just informing him, when in fact her heart was pounding so hard it was almost painful.

How slowly time seemed to move at this moment? It was as if it were deliberately torturing her, shuffling along step by step, even making Karila inexplicably annoyed, though she didn't know what she was annoyed about...

She was waiting for an answer, she was terrified of an answer, and she was also furious at an answer... For the first time in her life, this girl named Karila, this fierce and bloodthirsty girl, had such chaotic thoughts and a confused mind.

What kind of answer would Thessalius give her at this moment?

..............................

A little surprised? ...A little, but not too surprised—this fact actually made him realize that it didn't seem abrupt at all that the girl in front of him had said such a thing. He had long been used to her direct and pure personality and knew her much better than he had expected.

Those amber eyes held a resolute will. This was by no means a test; from the very beginning, it was a full-scale, all-out attack, a war waged with a massive army and the goal of complete victory. Those eyes were telling him—this girl wanted an answer now, a direct, unwavering, clear and unambiguous answer, even if it might hurt her.

How should he respond? ...He has already accepted Talina's feelings, so is he going to fall for another girl in such a short time?

Should he refuse? Refuse her feelings, refuse her determination?... Karila is a resilient and pure girl, but also very simple-minded. His refusal would undoubtedly be a hurt, a hurt that would truly touch the heart, a hurt that no knife or axe could compare to... He absolutely did not want to hurt the girls around him.

The confusion and hesitation lasted only a pitifully short time. After all, Thesolius had a resilient mind and soul, and it was difficult for him to be swayed for long. He soon realized that the real key was his heart—how did he really see this girl? How did he really see her feelings?

So he began to dissect his own heart, calmly cutting it open piece by piece, searching and filtering through his memories, recalling every little detail of the past... and then he almost immediately and clearly realized that he could no longer live without the girls around him.

His experiences were so rich and legendary that few in history could compare. From the moment he was defeated in the south, he began to form bonds with these outstanding women. In his campaigns to conquer the east and the south, he never lacked their help. By now, their relationship could no longer be simply described as that of a commander and his subordinates. He had long since reserved a place for them in his heart.

This might not have been noticed by him under normal circumstances, but at this moment, when everything was laid bare, it became incredibly clear. He could not deceive himself, nor could he convince himself to deceive the girl in front of him... So, after what seemed like a long but actually short moment of thought, Thesolius gave his answer.

This might seem greedy, but he simply couldn't let go... and now that things had come to this, he still had some reason to be greedy, so he ordered himself to take action.

........................

"If you like."

Those few simple words, at this moment, exploded in her ears like thunder. Her heart almost stopped for a moment, and she was immediately thrown into disarray. After taking a few breaths to understand the meaning of those words, an indescribable joy rushed into her heart.

How can I describe all of this? It's like suddenly stepping on cotton; everything becomes soft, warm, and lovely. The barking of dogs in the distant villages, which had just seemed noisy, now sounds especially lively. Every cell in my body is cheering and jumping for joy. The gentle breeze seems to be cheering in my ears. The joy is so overwhelming that it makes me a little dizzy, and I subconsciously ask again:

"Wh-what?..."

“I mean, if you’re willing, then I’m willing too… but I won’t hide anything from you, Karila…”

Tersolius reached out and gently pressed down on the other's shoulder, his expression as serious as if he were facing a questioning from the Senate... although the Senate, now fragmented, could no longer do that.

"I'm a despicable person...I accepted the feelings of more than one girl..."

Before he could finish speaking, Carila suddenly laughed and covered his mouth, then looked him up and down with a strange expression.

“That’s enough! ... You’re really strange, my lord... I’ve known this for a long time. Dr. Talina isn’t someone who can keep such things a secret. I did this because I knew this. To her, I should be the most despicable one.”

"Besides, which big shot like you in this world doesn't have a whole bunch of lovers and slaves to satisfy their desires? As long as they have a little power, they will not hesitate to satisfy their desires, using all sorts of tricks and cunning to seize things. How many girls actually love them?"

"How could they be like you—feeling ashamed in front of several girls who like you? That's just like a fantasy... You're really strange, my lord, you're like someone from another era."

“There’s no need to worry about that, sir. We all know this very well… Whether it’s the doctor, me, or that little dwarf, we were just hoping for something we couldn’t have had before… and now, I’ve succeeded!”

After saying the last sentence, Karila suddenly grinned and lunged forward, grabbing his neck. He first felt a soft touch, followed by a sharp pain. Her long, golden hair clung to his forehead, while the hand gripping his neck remained as firm as if cast in steel. Her sharp, small teeth lightly pricked his lips, and after a brief moment of tension, she immediately pulled away.

A blush on skin as white as snow is incredibly noticeable, but Karila laughed arrogantly. Even though her face was as red as a boiled shrimp, she still acted as if she had defeated a formidable opponent.

"That's about it. I'm so glad to have met you, Tersolius... Maybe I came all the way from the north just to meet you. Before that, I was living a pretty miserable life."

Her smile softened, but it didn't seem out of place. Her handsome face could display both a wild smile and a different kind of gentleness, like a stream flowing after the snow melts.

He covered his lips in surprise... It was a novel experience for him, and for Karila as well—the kiss just now didn't feel like a kiss at all; it was more like their lips were stiffly pressed together. He was even lightly bitten, though not enough to draw blood.

But soon, he noticed something else, something that he had to figure out immediately:

"Wait, you just said—Colin?!"

“Yes.” Karila raised her eyebrows.

“They just escaped from that thicket behind you, they probably haven’t even reached town yet… Some things are better left unchecked, running away only makes things worse, and this little dwarf still can’t see that…”

469 Hunting and Being Hunted (2)

Like being pierced through the chest by a sharp sword, extreme pain and panic instantly overwhelmed her entire body, leaving only instinct to dominate, and this instinct was making her subconsciously move away, to run far away...

This cannot be called a wrong decision... After all, this approach works most of the time. Just like running away immediately after being beaten can often effectively avoid further harm. In war, successfully escaping can often prevent becoming one of those people in a sea of ​​corpses... Biological instincts preserve this effective and universal means of survival, and time and time again, it has proven its value.

Of course, this behavior is only beneficial to the individual as a biological being, and is not a panacea or a solution... Deserters who flee the battlefield often meet a bad end, and fighting with others and then running away often means losing prestige... Running away at all costs also means having to sacrifice something.

For Colin, she would not run away from the battlefield. She was familiar enough with war and confident that she could calmly deal with the bloodiest inferno. However, what she had just seen easily bypassed the thick defenses and accurately stabbed her in the heart, causing panic and pain to explode in an instant, leaving her only able to flee in a panic.

Her mind was in chaos and confusion, with only fragments of what had just happened flashing through it. She relied purely on her body's instincts to navigate through the complex bushes and forests, subconsciously heading towards quiet and secluded places far from the crowds.

Like licking a poisonous thorn with her tongue, she painfully and stiffly recalled the scene just now, remembering every detail clearly. Each time, the sharp barbs would slide across her heart, bringing out dripping blood and broken wounds. Now, she didn't want to think about anything, she just wanted to find a place to hide.

The child who grew up in the mountains and forests had long since etched the image of the forest into her soul. Even in such chaos, confusion and sadness, she still ran fast through the forest, not tripped by the overgrown vines and bushes. Relying solely on instinct, she moved freely and rushed into the depths of the woods.

And so, without realizing it, the surrounding forest had transformed from short, sparse bushes into a tall, deep, dense forest. Yet she still didn't stop, completely unaware of where she had arrived, only thinking about moving forward and escaping.

Rough and sturdy tree trunks flashed by in the field of vision, dense bushes rustled, and vines wrapped around the branches looked like coiled venomous snakes at first glance. The sunlight here became increasingly sparse, until finally only a few specks of light filtered down from the edges of the trees. Moss evaporated moisture, and dew dripped from the grass blades. In the most humid places, colorful fungi were growing luxuriantly.

Finally, when her legs were starting to feel numb, she found an ideal spot—a tree with three branches that intertwined and formed a platform about two meters above the ground where she could sit. The tree trunk was covered with slippery moss.

This last point posed no obstacle. Before even curling up, Colin had already accurately found a spot on the tree trunk where he could use it for footholds, and he leaped up as lightly as a bird—then immediately found a corner to curl up in, like a shivering kitten.

Why was she so sad and in pain? Wasn't everything expected? Hadn't she foreseen this day? ... Perhaps what tormented her was far more than what she had seen, but rather the clear and sharp realization of her own cowardice and inferiority.

Such words had nothing to do with her. Colin of Montbas was born to be the epitome of strength and courage. At the age of thirteen, she dared to go hunting brown bears with the adults and was the first to shoot an arrow into the bear's ear. By the age of seventeen, she was already capable of taking on heavy responsibilities, leading half of her tribe to seek a way to survive. She even dared to rob an army of food. She never knew what fear was. As long as she felt that something was worth doing and could be done, she would do it without hesitation.

She should have lived her whole life bravely and shrewdly... if she hadn't met that person.

She was once proud, and thought she had the right to be proud. After all, nothing in her world could surpass her, except perhaps her father, Saratag... But one person made her realize, in a simple and direct way, how thin and shallow her pride was.

A defeated army, a fugitive army fleeing from the enemy, a wounded general, a land filled with hostility, and even a hidden enemy plotting something... This is a hopeless situation with no way out, and anyone would despair at the sight of it.

But Tersolius was able to do it—as if he had never known the meaning of the word "despair." Faced with such a situation, he still used his calm mind to find the real way out. With a few hundred men, he actually captured a border fortress city, directly piercing the heart of the entire kingdom. This forced the Hols to fight back desperately. Subsequently, with a pitifully small number of soldiers and some slaves, he withstood an attack from an enemy ten times their size and even directly defeated them.

He almost always creates the impossible, breaking the limits of imagination time and time again. By following him, one can easily create miracle after miracle and witness a world far beyond imagination...

All of this was something she had never imagined or even hoped for before, but as soon as she looked at that person's back, all of this would appear endlessly... Compared to this, her previous life seemed thin and pale. So, without realizing it, her heart began to develop some unusual feelings that she could hardly control, and the more she tried to suppress them, the more they grew.

But she had long been accustomed to following that person, so where would she find the courage and confidence to do so? How could she dare to hope for something that was almost impossible?... The clearer she realized this, the more troubled and pained she became.

Karila was braver than her, and she had already received the reward for her bravery. Dr. Tarina was also wiser and more courageous, having already expressed her feelings long ago... Only she remained unsure of what to do...

With a wave of his hand, he tossed a snake that was stealthily climbing up a branch down. Colin then buried his head in his knees, sincerely hoping that nothing would bother him.

........................

A damp forest is not a good place to go, at least not a good place to live... The human body naturally prefers a mild and dry climate; dampness and cold only bring illness and pain.

Sitting on the ground in such an area is also a reckless act. Reptiles that thrive in the dark and damp will be happy to have a chance to suck blood, leaving red, swollen lumps and uncomfortable pain and itching on human skin.

Such places remain quiet for most of the year, with dense bushes and thorns closing off the woods... But today, a few uninvited guests have arrived.