Chapter 76: Devastation [7]
"Stop it!"
Carl tried to shout, but he couldn\'t stop all the disorganized and scattered gnolls.
The gnolls, their eyes rolled back and drooling, ran faster and more vigorously than before. In the end, they blocked Catherine before she could cut off the red gnoll\'s head.
Shhh! Burbubbuk!
Catherine tried to advance by cutting down and pushing away the gnolls blocking her path.
However, even when their throats were cut and their limbs were torn off, and even when their waists were cut off and only their upper bodies remained, the gnolls stubbornly held on to Catherine until the end.
They had no intention of attacking. They just focused on throwing their whole bodies into slowing down her steps. There wasn\'t even a trace of reason left in them.
"Shit!"
In the end, a curse came out of Catherine\'s mouth. Dozens of gnolls were clinging to her, rendering her unable to move.
Meanwhile, the red gnoll stuffed the spilled intestines into its stomach, closed the wound with its severed arm, and began to run away, placing its free hand on the ground.
Even though it looked like that, it was so powerful and fast that it was difficult to chase it. The gnoll disappeared into the forest in an instant.
"We must save Lafd Catherine!"
Carl turned his horse\'s head and ran to save Catherine, who was surrounded by gnolls.
The cavalrymen, including Bilford, and the soldiers who came out of the fence rushed in, killed the gnolls, and dragged her out.
But it wasn\'t that urgent.
Although Catherine was broken, she was wearing full plate armor and was capable of protecting herself.
Most importantly, the gnolls that had been moving like crazy went limp and did nothing but breathe hard. Some even died.
"Damn it!"
Catherine managed to jump out of the gnoll\'s grave and raised her visor, panting.
Because of her internal injuries, her face was completely stained with bright red blood.
"Bring in Milton! Hurry!"
"This is not the time! That gnoll... Ugh!"
Catherine urgently tried to chase down the red gnoll, but due to her damaged internal organs, she once again vomited blood and stumbled.
"You can\'t fight that guy in the forest unless you\'re a god! Recovery comes first!"
Carl jumped off his horse and grabbed Catherine.
Catherine seemed to be angry at the fact that she couldn\'t kill the red gnoll in the end, so she chewed her blood-soaked lips and trembled, which was uncharacteristic of her.
Milton hurriedly ran over and used up his remaining mana to heal Catherine.
Meanwhile, Carl was commanding the soldiers.
"We will form a chase team! Imperial soldiers, prepare! Bordeaux will stay behind to take care of the battlefield, and the two knights will join us in chasing him down and annihilating him!"
Everyone was completely exhausted. It was impossible for regular soldiers or conscripts to go into the forest at night and give chase after a series of battles.
However, the moment the imperial soldiers heard the order, they ran without hesitation and formed a line.
The imperial soldiers were carrying plenty of torches, and the two knights, Bilford and Hilfin, were catching their breath with their swords drawn.
"Milton, do you have any mana left?"
"Not anymore."
Milton shook his head after treating Catherine. His eyes were spinning due to mana depletion.
"Please remain in the village and recover your mana."
"Yes, Master Carl. Please come back safely." Carl nodded at Milton\'s worried words.
"Lady Catherine, can you move?"
"Yes, no problem."
Contrary to what she said, Catherine was not completely cured due to Milton\'s lack of mana.
But she spoke confidently and took off her broken breastplate.
She realized too late that her helmet was distorted and broken, so she took off the helmet with Bilford\'s help.
Even though she took off her breastplate and helmet to reveal her blood-soaked face and gambeson, Catherine remained as steady as a mountain and proudly waited for Carl\'s orders.
Carl nodded and spoke loudly.
"Depart!"
"Yes!"
Imperial soldiers holding torches began to move, and three knights, one squire, and Prince Carl ran into the forest filled with pitch darkness.
Everyone had no idea that they had to stop Carl from entering that dangerous forest.
This was because it was taken for granted that he would step forward and lead everyone.
The light of the torches carried by the imperial soldiers was soon blocked by dense trees and disappeared from sight.
***
The red gnoll ran without stopping even though it was foaming with blood.
It had lost too much blood, and its intestines kept flowing out of its torn stomach.
Nevertheless, the reason it could still run was because it was a monster, a strong being made that way.
It knew exactly where it had to go.
It was not familiar with the geography of the forest because it wasn\'t even a few days old.
However, the instinct imprinted in its very being showed it the exact path.
Anger, hatred, and miserable frustration consumed it.
Chew it all and swallow it, along with the blood and intestines you spit out.
Yes, he lost. Defeated cleanly. He know he can never win.he was keenly aware of his limitations. So, heguess that he should let him walk a different path than the his defeated self.
Even as the red gnoll was dying, it laughed and bubbled blood. It remembered. It was the woan clad in metal who drove him to death, but it was that small, weak man who achieved all of this.
He need someone to lead everyone. Rather than a pathetic leader like himself, who is too overwhelmed to lead this small group, we need a leader with a louder, more widespread cry.
Like that little human, like that human who made a group of different humans into one.
The red gnoll chuckled and thought of Carl.
He learned something good. He learned it too late, but his next one will learn it too early.