The Lord Of Blood Hill-Chapter 86: Someone Breaks the Rules
Henwell deftly parries the assassin's strike with his sword, leading to the opponent's exposed stance. He steps forward, lifting the sword hilt to shatter the assassin's jaw. Swiftly turning, he moves behind the assailant, thrusting his sword through the shoulder and precisely into the neck of another charging assassin.
Simultaneously, he draws a hand crossbow from his belt with his left hand, firing a bolt into the eye of an enemy rushing from the left. Discarding the crossbow, he turns, raising his left arm to block a sword strike from behind with the bracer on his arm.
His right fist, reinforced with a metal glove, lands solidly on the attacker's chest, crushing the heart through the leather armor.
Henwell then pulls the fallen enemy's body up to use as a shield, retrieving the sword resting on the shoulder of the assassin with the shattered jaw. With a swift motion, he slashes the enemy's throat, ending their suffering.
Holding the sword in a reverse grip, he swings it to the left, the blade slicing halfway through the neck of another approaching foe. Using the corpse as a shield, Henwell charges to the right, confronting an enemy wielding a Nailhead war hammer.
Before the full force of the hammer can be unleashed, he uses the body to block the descending blow. With the impact absorbed, Henwell skillfully maneuvers his sword through the corpse, piercing the chest of his adversary.
Henwell reaches out with his right hand, snatching the war hammer from his fallen opponent, and swings it down on the enemy to his right. The heavy hammer, filled with immense force, crashes onto the enemy's chest along with their sword.
The blade nearly embeds itself entirely into the enemy’s chest. Then Henwell hurls the hammer forward, knocking the shield from another charging enemy’s grasp, twisting their arm grotesquely.
Henwell pulls the sword embedded in the corpse's chest and uses it as a projectile, expertly throwing it into the chest of a sword-and-shield soldier with an exposed stance. The sword sinks hilt-deep, lifting the body into the air. Henwell swiftly pursues the airborne corpse, grabbing the round shield from the enemy's arm before they hit the ground.
With a powerful toss, the shield spins through the air, whistling sharply as it crashes into the enemies behind.
Taking advantage of the moment before the rear enemies can close in, Henwell grips his sword with both hands and charges into the throng of foes ahead. The Silver Wolf sword technique, swift and fierce, combined with the Dusk Greatsword, allows Henwell to weave through the enemy ranks with deadly precision. Blood sprays from the enemies, adding a vibrant sheen to the silver glow of his sword.
The battle rages on for another half hour. Henwell, sword in hand, checks the bodies of the fallen enemies around him, ensuring their suffering ends swiftly. His two attendants, covered in blood, struggle to stand after the brutal fight. This has been the fiercest assassination attempt they've faced in the past two weeks.
The attackers didn't play any tricks; as soon as they caught up with Henwell and his two companions, they drew their weapons and launched into battle. Among them was a hidden knight, whose presence made the fight even more intense. Henwell engaged with this knight, eventually overcoming him, but in the process, his war lance was knocked away, leaving no chance to retrieve it.
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Surrounded by several fighters nearing knightly prowess, Henwell found himself in a fierce melee. The quality of these enemies was surprisingly high—not only was there a hidden knight, but nearly ten others with skills close to that level. The remaining thirty-plus attackers were also formidable fighters.
These adversaries were clearly well-prepared. Aside from the leaders, who wore gray-painted metal armor, the rest donned leather armor with chainmail underneath for added protection. It was obvious they were a noble's private army, possibly even knight retainers. Judging by their combat style and experience, this was the most formidable ambush Henwell and his companions had faced.
Luckily, the attackers didn't use crossbows; otherwise, Henwell might have had to abandon his two attendants to escape. Even so, the three of them endured nearly an hour of grueling combat.
The brazen daylight attack on a public road indicates that their enemies have significant backing. The ferocity of the battle keeps any onlookers at a distance, unwilling to approach.
Henwell assists his two attendants by removing their armor, cleaning their wounds, and expertly bandaging and stitching them up. His battlefield medical skills are seamless, though the stitches might not be the prettiest. Nonetheless, the effectiveness is top-notch, aided by the precious medicines he carries. Given the attendants' near-knightly physical resilience, they should heal quickly.
Seeing their master personally tending to their injuries, and recalling how Henwell took on most of the enemies during the fight, the two attendants feel a deep sense of shame.
Rawkins says, "Sorry, Master! We held you back!"
Ayla adds, "Master! Next time we face something like this, please retreat and leave us behind!"
In truth, both attendants played vital roles in the battle. They managed to hold off four near-knight-level fighters and seven or eight elite assassins, preventing them from joining Henwell's fray. Without their efforts, Henwell would have been even more overwhelmed.
Henwell, ever understanding of his loyal attendants nearing knightly status, reassures them with a gentle pat on the shoulder. "We've been through thick and thin together; there's no need for such talk. Don't burden yourselves—rest well and heal. Battles like this won't come often!"
With the fighting over, a caravan finally dares to pass through the area.
Henwell intercepts a passing caravan, instructing them to unload their goods and take him, his two attendants, and the fallen bodies to the nearest city. Henwell knows that someone will come to pay for the retrieval of these bodies; after all, these aren't mere assassins, and even in death, they deserve some respect.
Sure enough, by evening, a merchant approaches Henwell, having witnessed the fierce battle, and offers to pay for the burial of the deceased. Henwell, with a sweeping gesture, demands ten thousand gold coins—non-negotiable. The merchant, without any attempt to haggle, agrees and pays on the spot.
Contrary to what one might think, ten thousand gold coins don't take up much space; neatly packed, they fit into a small chest. The duchy's standard gold coins are slightly smaller and thinner than the one-yuan coins from Henwell's previous life. Combined, the weight exceeds a hundred kilograms. To manage this, Henwell purchases two mules specifically for carrying supplies.
Henwell spends three days in the small town, mainly to tend to his attendants' injuries. After this brief respite, he sets off once more. Following the intense battle and the display of their strength, many assassins might abandon their missions against Henwell. However, the nobles will likely up the ante, sending more and stronger forces to intercept him.
As Henwell resumes his journey, he notices that Tansentia, a professional who has been protecting him secretly, has left. Tansentia finds several leaders of the noble alliance and presents them with a few charred bodies.
"Yesterday, upon hearing the tragic news of his knight's death, Baron Richards was so heartbroken that he chose to self-immolate. What do you all think?" Tansentia asks.
When met with silence, Tansentia continues, "The Grand Duke has made it clear: since you've started this game, you must abide by its rules! If this happens again, it won't just be a baron who meets their end!"
Chapter 86: Someone Breaks the Rules
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