Chapter Eighty-Four: Defeat (Part Two)
The battle in the valley had become fragmented.
The cultists rode their monstrous steeds, swinging their hell whips and betting on who could hunt down the most challenging prey this time—the silver-haired female knight.
“I bet it’s me.”
A rider with bronze skin shouted, his muscular build visible under a red cloak as he urged his steed forward.
The grotesque and repulsive monstrous steed reared up, and the cultist squeezed his legs tightly, showing off his riding skills.
I will hunt her down, just like I used to hunt wild boars—
As the monstrous steed came down, he sat firmly in the saddle but saw the headless body of his comrade seated on another saddle nearby.
He stood frozen for a moment, and just as he was about to speak, a voice came from behind him.
“Of course, it’s me.” A voice blurted out, growing more fervent: “In the name of Sigma! I will eliminate you!”
The cultist turned his head in fright, only to see a witch hunter standing behind him, clutching the heavy bronze-covered Sigma’s Tome. Bang!
He was struck three times on the head, falling towards the ground.
As he fell, a thought flashed through his mind—where’s my helmet?
A battalion of cultist riders charging towards the cave’s entrance had not yet realized that enemies were approaching from behind.
Witch hunter Arcanis had just stolen a helmet and, seeing no one paying him any mind, hurled it towards the gathering cultists at the entrance, raising the Sigma’s Tome high and shouting:
“Evil, filthy perverts! Quake in fear before Sigma’s wrath!”
At this, the sixty or so cultist riders jammed together at the entrance turned their heads in unison to see this unruly witch hunter, immediately filled with anger.
Whoever could take him down would be the true champion!
Driven by vanity, the cultist knights charged towards witch hunter Arcanis.
As one of the cultists swung his hell whip, charging forward to rip the flesh of witch hunter Arcanis apart,
Witch hunter Arcanis disappeared in front of everyone.
Then, from behind the rocks, a group of hunters crawled out, drawing their bows and shooting arrows at the clustered, unarmored cultists. A group of vanguard cavalry also came, knives drawn, spears held at the ready.
Hearing the sound of battle outside, Grand Knight Erina decisively ordered the entire army to attack. Though there were only a dozen or so, besieged from both sides and exhausted from the long battle, the cultists and angered demons fell one after another, dying.
Witch hunter Arcanis rode beside some horses, his face cold and ruthless, with messy facial hair and a tall leather hat.
Next to him was a hell knight who had escaped, who approached Grand Knight Erina, injured and bleeding, his glowing silver hair stained with blood, and quickly saluted her, saying:
“Reporting, Commander! Knight John reporting back to the team.”
Grand Knight Erina, although still bleeding, stood straight as ever and asked:
“Report the situation.”
“Yes!”
During the raid on the camp, I got separated from my comrades and, being at a high point, saw the distant lights of the camp, took off my helmet, and crossed the river to find it was indeed the Imperial army, so I sought their assistance.
Grand Knight Erina cut straight to the point:
“You loitered while on patrol.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Though you were not ordered and left your post, you were quick-witted enough to seek help.”
Grand Knight Erina said: “You will be punished with thirty lashes, but you will be promoted to a full hell knight.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Is the enforcer still alive?
“I report back to you, Commander.”
“Go on.”
After a while, the whip fell on the quick-witted John’s back, leaving red marks.
The coming hunters and vanguard cavalry talked amongst themselves, saying:
“Is this how the hell knights operate? This young man saved them all.”
“How brutal and heartless.”
“She must be particularly ugly.”
Witch hunter Arcanis, curious about what was unfolding, couldn’t contain himself and asked:
“Why is he being whipped?”
“Aren’t you the famous Van Helsing?”
“Indeed.” Though witch hunter Arcanis had the mission given by Jima in his mind, he couldn’t find a point to challenge, so he dismounted and said: “I’m glad you passed the witch hunter’s test.”
With that, he raised his hand.
To show goodwill, Grand Knight Erina lifted her visor, revealing her beautiful face.
Witch hunter Arcanis couldn’t help but exclaim: “Wow, people say you made a pact with a demon to gain beauty through murder and torture; I didn’t expect you to be that beautiful.”
Grand Knight Erina shook his hand and then furrowed her brow: “I sense a streak of malice.”
“Me?”
“No.” Her hair fluttered, “It might be a misconception.”
Witch hunter Arcanis asked, “By the way, what’s your name?”
“Grand Knight of the Hell Knights, Erina.”
“How high is your rank?”
Among those around me, only three have a higher rank than mine, all near the Emperor.
“I currently have an important mission. The Emperor sent me to monitor the southern demon army, while also gathering intelligence on the newly emerged demon lord, Jima.”
Witch hunter Arcanis tried to infuse some emotion into his words, rubbed his nose, and continued speaking: “Would you like to join?”
“I would,” Grand Knight Erina paused before saying, “I’ve seen her once, during the breakout.”
“How was she?”
With her head tilted back, her crimson hair gleamed.
“Crimson hair?” Clerk, take note, and then what?
“Though I only caught a glimpse, her army was at a disadvantage.”
“How much of a disadvantage?”
“Her army is like goblins, while the demon army pursuing her is like enormous orc brutes.”
“Oh, you’ve also subdued the green-skinned orcs.”
“I really enjoy using goblins.” Erina said: “Their screams are particularly loud; they make for good substitutes for smoke signals.”
Thus, the two blended in, and witch hunter Arcanis didn’t anticipate it would be so smooth. From here on, he just needed to bring her over to Jima.
