Just as Eugene had predicted.
The panicked pack horses had no loyalty. They didn't know who their riders were. If the Eagle Banner could use them as terrain, then so could the marauders.
Doing so erased the positional advantage Erik had painstakingly constructed. The marauders lost their mobility and speed—but in return, their numerical superiority and individual combat prowess began to shine.
From behind the front lines, protected by his twelve Scorpion Guards, Helati watched the battlefield with a cold, unwavering gaze.
From start to finish, his eyes never left Erik.
A Second Rank Steel Knight. Even on the Bloody Heights, such a figure was formidable enough to command his own infamous band of marauders.
Yesterday, Erik had slain José despite being outnumbered. Today, he used a wall of pack horses to stall a superior force. Every move exceeded Helati's expectations.