Ambush

A sturdy log was deeply embedded in a dug pit. Nearby, a group of people worked in division, processing wooden poles into a thick wooden palisade.

Norn and Jinn were also among them, constantly reinforcing the wooden planks. Their craftsmanship was quite rough, but the other mercenaries were no better, making the work very crude.

Some logs were even sent over without the bark being cleaned off. But no one cared, after all, it was just a temporary fortification, and it wouldn't be used again regardless of the outcome of this battle.

The wooden palisade gradually extended, and just as it enclosed Norn's section of the camp, a shrill horn sounded.

"Wah!"

Everyone present was startled and immediately dove to the side, quickly donning their weapons and gear.

"These bastards have perfect timing!" Norn hastily put on the leather vest that Gillna had tailored for him, then grabbed his weapon and ran toward his mercenary band's defensive zone.

There, the mercenary band had mostly assembled, with Captain Wolf standing on a large chest, looking at the distant, shadowy figures and spitting contemptuously.

"Brothers! Let's get to work!"

"Oooh~~"

The 50-odd mercenaries let out a howl, waving their weapons and shields, looking like a bunch of madmen at a carnival. Then, under the leadership of their squad leaders, they took their positions behind the assigned sections of the palisade.

Jinn, looking at the approaching figures in the distance, felt a bit nervous, but after taking a deep breath, his body relaxed a little.

Norn handed Jinn a water flask and quietly said, "Rinse your mouth. Once the fighting starts, there won't be time."

Jinn took the flask but noticed that many mercenaries around him were standing in a relaxed posture, and Captain Wolf even took the time to guzzle a big mouthful of wine.

These relaxed attitudes unconsciously infected Jinn, making him let go of his tension and just calmly watch the approaching enemies.

The enemy's ragtag levy formed several phalanxes and simultaneously lunged at the area guarded by the mercenary band. Behind them, dozens of banners fluttered, and the noble knights conserved their strength, waiting for the right moment to charge.

"Fire arrows!" A sharp-eyed mercenary shouted.

Dozens of fire arrows traced bright arcs through the air and flew toward the camp. The mercenaries quickly raised their shields and hunched their bodies.

The shower of arrows couldn't harm the mercenaries behind the shields, but they could set the tents on fire.

One tent was hit by a fire arrow, and flames instantly shot up, beginning to devour everything inside.

"Damn it!" A mercenary couldn't help but curse. The tent that had just been set on fire was his, but he had no intention of going to put it out and remained firmly in his position.

Two more rounds of fire arrows fell, but after consuming a few tents, they had no more effect. After all, there was no grain or wood in this circle of tents. Besides making a few unlucky mercenaries curse loudly, there was no better outcome.

During this time, the enemy had already gotten very close to the palisade, close enough for Jinn to see the panic on the young man's face across.

A crowd of enemies who looked more like beggars than soldiers collided with the wooden palisade. Under the threat of the fierce sergeants behind them, they used their crude sickles and axes to dismantle the palisade.

"Kill them all."

At the command, Jinn instinctively thrust his spear. The somewhat sharp spear pierced through the palisade and heavily stabbed into the chest of a middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man's originally ferocious expression instantly froze, and then intense pain spread across his face. His lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say something, but he was pushed forward by the person behind him, and his small body was immediately swallowed by the crowd.

More enemies surged forward, using various weapons. Some fiercely chopped at the palisade, trying to break through this seemingly thin barrier. Others attacked the mercenaries through the palisade, hoping to take out their opponents first.

Norn gritted his teeth and held his shield with his left hand against the palisade, "clang clang" sounds continuously ringing out. His right hand, holding the spear, stabbed through the gaps in the palisade.

Norn, crouching behind the shield, kept working mechanically. Sometimes he felt the resistance of a solid object, so he changed direction and stabbed again. Sometimes he felt a dull sensation, which meant he had taken out one person and could continue in that direction.

Norn didn't know how many attacks his shield had taken, nor how many people he had stabbed. He just gritted his teeth and kept doing his job mechanically.

Sometimes some attacks would slip through the blind spots of the shield and hit Norn, but the poorly made cowhide vest held strong.

"Next team up!"

A dark figure suddenly appeared in front of Norn. Norn recognized him as another mercenary, who even had the leisure to smile at Norn before similarly using his shield to block the gap in the palisade and began attacking outward.

With the support of a teammate, Norn finally caught his breath and, protected by his shield, took big steps backward.

The relieved mercenaries gathered around Captain Wolf, most of them panting heavily and many of them injured. Norn scanned the crowd and finally relaxed when he saw a familiar figure.

"Are you okay? Jinn"

"I just got a scratch on my hand, it's nothing serious." Jinn proudly showed Norn a long wound on his hand and then said gratefully, "Thanks to the leather armor you made, otherwise I'd have a few more cuts on my body."

"Enno, are you hurt?"

Anna, who had just taken care of a wounded man, immediately ran over with a roll of bandages, looking Norn up and down.

"I'm fine, I'm good!"

"I'm hurt! Can someone take a look at me?" A mercenary with a gash on his head shouted at Anna but was immediately silenced by a bandage pressed to his wound.

Ignoring the mercenary's cries, Gillna, while bandaging the wound, shouted, "Can't you see I'm busy? Or are you just complaining about my work?"

Despite her words, Gillna, who had experience in bandaging wounds, quickly finished with this patient and moved on to the next.

Anna, feeling a bit embarrassed by the comment, was about to leave with the bandages when she was held back.

Norn looked at Anna earnestly and said firmly, "Be careful out there! When you see arrows flying, take cover."

Anna gently wiped her face, which was blackened with dust, revealing a charming smile, "You too. If you get hurt, come find me right away."