The Genius Archer Who Became a One-Man Army

Chapter 26

In the Pellon Gorge, they faced quite a substantial number of enemies. However, when the scale reaches thousands, the pressure changes completely.

“Huff… huff…”

“Why are you shaking so much?”

“Squad leader, aren’t you nervous?”

“Is this your first large-scale battle?”

“…Yes.”

Arthur had been in the military longer than most in the 6th squad.

However, it seemed he couldn’t help but tremble in this situation.

Seeing this bear-like guy trembling brought a smile.

“Pfft.”

“You seem very relaxed, squad leader.”

“Well…”

He’s been through countless battles like this.

In fact, he’s been in worse situations than this more often than not.

Lian looked at the enemy troops standing less than a hundred meters away.

At the forefront was Gallel.

It looked like he had changed into long pants to hide the injury on his leg, but it seemed his weight was awkwardly shifted to the right.

‘Well, it did go right through, so it can’t be ignored.’

However, just because he had a hole in his calf didn’t mean his combat ability was suppressed.

He was just assessing his own condition calmly given the situation.

“First, pay close attention to the shield formation. If the formation collapses, remember the tactic I taught you.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

They all nodded in response.

Then Lian glanced at Isaac.

“…”

This guy was born with it.

Even Kyle and Brent couldn’t hide their tension.

Of course, there were about fifteen hundred beast-like enemies ready to kill them less than a hundred meters away.

However, Isaac’s eyes remained calm in the midst of this.

His muscles were properly tense, ready to draw his sword at any moment, yet his breathing remained steady.

These are things one gets accustomed to only after many years of experience.

Lian had been on such battlefields for over twenty years, but…

‘He’s only thirteen…’

Every time he saw him, he couldn’t help but be impressed.

However, Lian quickly turned his gaze forward again.

There were signs the enemy would soon move.

“Uraaaaah-!”

“Kill them all!”

“I’ll kill every one of them-!”

Then, with thunderous roars, the crouching beast-men started charging explosively.

Their eyes said they would make them regret their arrogance for coming out of the castle.

Bwooooooo-!

Simultaneously, a loud trumpet blast echoed from their side.

And in that instant,

Boom! Clank-!

The soldiers forming the outer wall of the square formation raised their shields and huddled close.

Each soldier wore armor and helmets, and covered themselves with thick tower shields.

It was literally like a moving fortress.

Dudududu! Dududududu!

Seeing the charging beast-men, the soldiers held their breath.

“They’re coming! They’re coming!”

“Hold your ground! Don’t break formation!”

“Keep your shields close! Push them in!”

As the beast-men charged, the soldiers yelled to each other to brace for impact.

And the moment the beast-men collided,

KABOOM-!

With a thunderous crash, the soldiers’ bodies shook violently.

But they only staggered back a few steps, maintaining their formation perfectly.

“Now!”

“Uraaaah-!”

And as the shields lowered and the soldiers slightly leaned aside,

“Die!”

“Die, you bastards!”

Thrust! Stab! Thrust!

“Aaargh!”

“Aaaargh!”

The soldiers holding spears mercilessly thrust them into the beast-men warriors through the gaps.

It was the perfect timing of spears and shields.

Dozens of beast-men warriors who charged at the front lost their lives without achieving anything.

“Push them back! Show them our might!”

“Attack when they strike! That’s their weak point!”

But the beast-men wouldn’t go down so easily.

They began pounding on the Artian Kingdom’s shields, stepping on their fallen comrades’ bodies.

“Hold! Raise your shields higher!”

“If we break, it’s over! Hold the line!”

Despite the beast-men’s fierce attacks, the shield-bearers gritted their teeth and held on. But then, KABOOM-!

A thunderous noise came from the side, followed by soldiers’ screams.

“The side’s breached! Quickly raise your shields and block!”

“It’s the enemy commander!”

“The enemy commander has appeared!”

Lian’s head turned in that direction.

Gallel, who had circled around, was now swinging his axe with his blood-red eyes gleaming.

‘No one can block an attack imbued with aura…!’

Of course, he wouldn’t be able to use it frequently. Plus, it wasn’t a fully developed aura.

But it was still something to be reckoned with.

The moment he faintly wrapped his weapon in aura, steel shields would crumple like paper.

“Kyle! Arthur!”

“Yes!”

“We’re moving over there to stop the enemy commander. Remember the tactic I told you, but don’t get too close to him!”

“Ugh…!”

“…Mother, today your son will meet father first!”

Kyle closed his eyes tightly and charged forward.

Like a bear, he pushed through with sheer strength, leaving even the strong beast-men warriors helpless.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Kyle swung his tower shield, sending a beast-man warrior flying into the air.

“…Wow.”

The guy who was just launched was quite burly, but he was no match for Kyle.

“Kyle! Watch your left!”

As Kyle charged forward like a buffalo, a beast warrior pounced at him from the left like a predator.

Brent quickly shouted and raised his spear, but,

*Shwack! Thud!*

Lian’s arrow flew faster, piercing the beast warrior’s neck.

Brent, who had been raising his spear, blinked and looked at Lian, shocked by the speed of what had just happened.

“Don’t let your guard down. Consider everyone around you an enemy.”

“Yes, sir!”

Brent swallowed nervously and responded. Lian’s demeanor was unusually cold compared to his usual self.

‘Our formation is already breaking.’

All it took was a single hole made by one person.

While they were trying to re-establish their formation, it was evident that once a solid formation breaks, it is difficult to restore.

‘We need to buy time.’

Lian assessed their situation calmly.

Even though there were ten of them, facing Gallel, who could use aura head-on, was madness.

‘At least five more times…’

Lian had seen quite a few like Gallel on the battlefield, who used aura inadequately.

Even the one who led about three hundred beast warriors in the Pellon Gorge before was similar.

Therefore, he knew that with such immaturity, there were clear disadvantages.

Using aura consumed an enormous amount of stamina.

‘Unless one is at the level of a swordmaster, using aura even once is a huge burden for them.’

Lian looked at his bracelet, ring, and gloves.

He still didn’t know the exact functions of the ring and gloves.

‘There was no time to figure it out.’

Hence, the only thing he could use was the bracelet.

*Tatak!*

“Kyle! Break through the front!”

“Raaah!”

Lian’s 6th squad, having separated from the main force, charged straight at Gallel, pushing back the beast warriors nearby.

In such a chaotic melee with numerous enemies on both sides, they risked being attacked from behind if they weren’t careful.

*Stab!*

“Watch your right!”

“I’ve got it!”

However, Lian’s squad members were performing their roles precisely.

They formed pairs to watch each other’s backs, and Kyle and Arthur used their shields to preemptively block any approaching enemies.

Soon, a space began to open around Lian’s squad.

“Isaac!”

“Yes!”

Responding to Lian’s shout, Isaac drew the two swords strapped to his waist.

It was time for the crouching genius to make his name known.

*Shwing, slash!*

Isaac, with a sword in each hand, moved like a small storm.

Although he was less than 170 cm tall, he was fast and sharp.

Especially with two swords, he continued his attacks without any pause, unlike when using a spear.

‘Yes! That’s your strength, Isaac!’

Relentless, storm-like attacks.

But there was still some lack of maturity in his body to fight exactly as he envisioned.

After swiftly taking down three beast warriors, Isaac stumbled as he rose from a crouched position.

“Isaac!”

“Watch out, Isaac!”

His squad members shouted as they saw Isaac stumble, for a beast warrior ahead raised his sword with bloodshot eyes.

“You little rat, die-!”

Though the warrior’s sword was coming down on him, Isaac’s eyes remained unwavering.

*Thwack!*

Before the beast warrior’s sword could crush Isaac’s head, an arrow had already pierced the warrior’s head.

“Nice shot, squad leader.”

“…You crazy bastard.”

Isaac firmly believed that Lian would cover his back.

Because of this, he could fight more boldly.

It was easy to say he trusted him, but to put one’s life on the line like this required immense courage.

“6th squad! Gather over here!”

*Tatadadadadak!*

Amidst the fierce battle, Lian constantly assessed the situation, striving to maintain a favorable position.

Following Lian’s call, the 6th squad reformed a circular formation, establishing their defensive stance.

Their exceptional performance was undeniable.

The number of beast warriors dead around them exceeded fifty.

Moreover, the 6th squad had hardly suffered any casualties in comparison.

“…That kid.”

Gallel, too, had noticed their outstanding performance.

If they were left unchecked, the overall battle flow would be jeopardized.

“I need to kill that brat first.”

Not out of revenge, but seeing the broader picture of the battlefield, that brat needed to go first.

Other areas were either evenly matched or slightly in their favor.

But that spot was clearly different.

Before the momentum could shift any further, it needed to be decisively broken.

“Theobal.”

“Yes, captain.”

A beast warrior named Theobal, who stood next to Gallel, answered.

He was a man with a scar running from his left eye down to his jaw, slightly shorter than Gallel.

At his response, Gallel spoke.

“I’ll deal with them myself.”

“…Those guys?”

If they broke through the enemy’s defenses and went inside, they could kill the commander.

Why bother with a mere group of soldiers?

Theobal looked at Gallel with a puzzled expression. However,

“Understood.”

Seeing Gallel’s gaze, Theobal nodded.

Gallel was one of the top warriors among the beast tribe. Moreover, he knew ‘war’ beyond just brute strength.

All he had to do was follow where Gallel led.

“In that case, we should deal with that big guy first.”

Theobal said, looking at Kyle who was leading the shield at the front. Gallel declared softly.

“No, we kill the brat first.”