Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 484 - 484 226 First Confrontation_2

484: Chapter 226 First Confrontation_2 484: Chapter 226 First Confrontation_2 The distant sound of horns pulled Azeryan’s gaze back to the scene before him, yet he felt no apprehension.

On the contrary, a deep, innermost thirst for battle stirred within him.

Having experienced the Battle of Longka and clashed with the cavalry of the Wolf Family, the young knight feared no battlefield, least of all the Urian Cavalry before him—the very unit that invaded his homeland in the east years ago…

There were no calls, no negotiations.

As soon as the Urians were ready, the rumbling blasts of the horns signaled the swift charge of the nomadic army.

The countless pounding hooves reverberated with dull roars.

Yet, the soft, fertile soil of Ustato Territory absorbed the iron hooves’ force and did not tremble beneath their charge.

A thousand Iron Cavalrymen of Urian, armed with battle bows, stepped slowly down the hillside, advancing like a tide crushing down upon them.

They split into two flanks of five hundred riders, each divided into multiple horizontal ranks, forming a wide and spaced formation that pressed toward the Thorny Flower Army Formation.

Though their vast formation appeared loose, it remained orderly.

Only when the front rows of cavalrymen approached Felu’s infantry longbows’ effective range did they suddenly accelerate.

At the forefront of the Northern Army, archers clad in chain armor and iron helmets raised their crossbows, pulling back their strings in unison.

With the sergeants roaring commands, the whistle of wind burst forth, and volleys of arrows poured like rain toward the incoming tide of enemies.

Relying on the longer effective range of step bows compared to mounted archery, hundreds of sharp arrows drilled into the scattered formation of the cavalry.

Though unlucky riders occasionally fell to their deaths upon being struck, the formidable mass of bow-wielding cavalry endured sparse casualties and, within seconds, reached a range where their battle bows could strike with deadly precision.

The front-line cavalrymen in both flanks angled their warhorses and began drawing arrows and shooting as they rode.

With the first opening of their bows, over two hundred shafts streaked through the air in an instant, flying toward the Thorny Flower Family’s army.

The startled crossbowmen had no time to counter, hurriedly stooping low and hiding behind their tower shields.

The dense volley of Urian arrows thudded heavily against the shield wall assembled by the archers and spearmen.

Any lapse in vigilance meant the specialized Urian sharp arrows, designed to pierce chain armor, would burrow through bodies and mercilessly rob warriors of their lives.

The sporadic cries of agony tested Orland’s archers’ resolve.

Yet, despite hearing the gaps between the incoming arrows’ whistling, they understood they could not lift their heads.

Having fired their initial volley, the foremost cavalrymen sped off without pause, forming vertical lines at the side of their formation and circling back.

The riders in the second row immediately followed, and under the suppression of the preceding ranks, they advanced even closer before releasing another volley of arrows.

The second wave of whistling shafts forced the Thorny Flower Family’s infantry archers to remain tucked behind their upright shields.

Even after firing a single arrow, the second-row Urian cavalrymen likewise wheeled to the side and withdrew to a safe distance.

Then came the third row’s shots, followed by their retreat.

And then the fourth row’s attack and retreat…

The prairie cavalry rained death in waves, probing the enemy’s resolve under pressure.

Bit by bit, nearer volleys of stray arrows even began landing near the front lines of the Thorny Flower Knight division stationed behind their army.

Had it not been for the armored elite serving under the Farolis Family’s vassals, the fierce mounted archery tactics of the Urians—which seldom failed—might have shattered any undisciplined militia within a few rounds.

At last, the enemy mounted archers temporarily withdrew to regroup.

The front-line Thorny Flower crossbowmen peeked out from behind their tower shields, launching symbolic retaliatory volleys at the cavalry now far out of effective range.

To the south, the Urian Central Army’s five hundred heavily armored sworn warriors, encased in impenetrable heavy armor, stood ready.

Their captain, bearded and wearing a faceplate, Archer, noticed that the initial probes failed to disrupt the enemy lines and immediately issued orders.

Signal flags were raised; the horns sounded a new call.

The thousand Urians, now reorganized, adjusted their formation.

Five hundred bow cavalrymen from the rear ranks of both flanks retreated, replaced by five hundred long-spear-wielding cavalrymen advancing forward.

The Northern Army’s horns quickly echoed in response.

Baron Balfe, observing the mixed bow-and-spear formations of the Urians arranged in V-shaped arrays on each flank, instantly recognized their intent to employ flanking wedge tactics.

After centuries of warfare between the two peoples on these lands, one glance at each other’s movements revealed their strategies.

He promptly ordered a counter-maneuver.

The Thorny Flower crossbowmen, hearing the sergeants’ commands, orderly retreated without hesitation.

Following the gaps left by the heavy infantry formations behind them, they relocated to the army’s rear lines to reorganize.

Meanwhile, the spear-wielding heavy infantry formations advanced steadily, their large shields raised, while the Thorny Flower Knights behind them divided into two groups and slowly maneuvered toward the wings’ rear flanks, ready at a moment’s notice to engage and drive off the mixed cavalry ranks of the Urians…

On the east bank of the river tributary, while Balfe directed the Farolis Army against the Urians, Leon reached the airspace behind the Sealing Lord’s western bank.

Suddenly, Death Claw noticed two Lion Scorpion Knights soaring within the clouds in the distance.

Leon turned his head for a hurried glance in the direction and indeed saw faint black dots.

However, this battle hinged upon the timing of each movement, and Leon knew there was no need to concern himself with enemy Sky Knights’ surveillance for now.

He immediately commanded his Griffin companion to dive at full speed, landing in the temporary camp of Thorny Flower Earl.

Though puzzled by the sight of only the River Valley County’s knights and cavalry, he wasted no time dismounting and hurriedly approached the Sealing Lord, pounding his chest reverently as he spoke:

“My lord, the Urians have taken the bait!

Lord Balfe is currently leading his forces in fierce combat against them.”

Eriv’s face brightened at the news.

He rose and clipped on his knight helmet, shouting orders to the fully armed River Valley County lords assembled: “Gentlemen, march south immediately; we’re encircling the Urians’ rear flank to reinforce the east bank.”

Leon then glanced around, puzzled by what he saw, and asked, “Why do we only have four hundred cavalry?

Where is everyone else?”

“…The rest, of course, are ahead.

They crossed the shallows last night.

I instructed Baron Anquela to lead two thousand infantry onward, while we remain here to fool the enemy Lion Scorpion scouts.” The Thorny Flower Earl explained.

Gesturing toward the south, he added, “Anquela’s Scout Riders already reported that they hid within the western forest before dawn, resting and waiting for us to catch up.”

Leon was taken aback.

They advanced deep into the south last night?

In the dead of night, with the way uncertain, wouldn’t they risk running straight into enemy forces and suffering heavy losses?

Noticing Leon’s astonished expression, Eriv shook his head with a laugh.

“Two armies playing chess—how could it ever be risk-free?

Besides, if we had encountered enemies last night, they wouldn’t have had much of a force.

This gamble shows that our opponents also dare not perform such maneuvers.

At worst, we might have fought a messy skirmish and retreated without gain.

I would’ve sent someone to warn you to withdraw back east…

But now that everything’s falling into place, we’ll easily crush those two thousand elite cavalrymen before us.”

As they spoke, the troops behind them had completed their preparations, and Eriv instructed Leon, “You shall assist me now in driving away the Kantadar Lion Scorpions.

Once we unite with Baron Anquela’s forces, return to Balfe’s command and reinforce their battle…”