Chapter 282: Attack On SIZ

The first beastman slammed into the carriage formation like a battering ram.

BOOM!

The impact sent the nearest carriage rocking violently. Before the guards could stabilize it, several more beastmen emerged from the fog, their silhouettes barely visible through the pale mist.

Their roars echoed across the SIZ.

"Protect the carriages!"

"Crimson Guards, formation three! Do not allow them to reach the Crown Prince!"

Curtis’ shouts quickly drowned out the startled cries of the merchants.

The Crimson Guards reacted almost immediately. Several drew their swords and rushed toward the incoming beastmen, while the mages among them began chanting their spells.

A few guards remained behind to reinforce the defensive perimeter around Leonard’s carriage.

"Please remain inside the carriage, Crown Prince." One of them advised.

Leonard remained silent, his gaze locked on the beastmen. The familiarity was starting to come back.

’An ambush on the capital wasn’t enough, and now they’re even attacking me on the SIZ.’ He nearly laughed aloud.

’He’s laughing?’ Next to him, Amelia was startled by his sudden laughter. A chill nearly ran down her spine.

As they remained safe inside the carriage, the Crimson Guards had already created an ironclad fortress formation.

However, the beastmen showed no intention of retreating.

Their numbers continued to increase as more figures emerged from the fog.

And at the very front stood Dayton.

His broad shoulders were covered in steel chains, and his beastlike eyes remained fixed on Leonard’s carriage. The moment he spotted the Crimson Guards blocking his path, he bared his teeth in a vicious grin.

"Move aside, you lapdogs!" His foot slammed into the ground.

CRACK!

The stone beneath him shattered as he propelled himself forward, his enormous fist swinging toward the nearest guard.

’As long as enough damage is done, those who captured us will pay a heavy price.’ Dayton thought to himself.

"You’re not going anywhere!" The guard immediately raised his sword.

CLANG!

The collision sent the guard skidding several meters backward. His arms trembled from the impact, and before he could regain his footing, another beastman charged past Dayton and swung a heavy metallic ball toward his head.

These beastmen were all shackled by chains and metallic balls that restricted their mobility and actions. Yet at this instance, it became their weapon in offense.

"Watch out!" A Crimson Guard rushed in from the side, intercepting the metallic ball with his shield.

BOOM!

The shield bent inward.

The guard gritted his teeth but held his ground, allowing his companion to retreat before the two of them counterattacked from opposite directions.

One sword aimed for the beastman’s flank, while the other slashed toward his exposed shoulder.

The beastman roared and twisted his body, evading the first strike. However, the second blade still managed to cut through his thick skin.

"These bastards are tougher than they look!"

"Their body itself is armor. Don’t be fooled by their appearance!"

The Crimson Guards had fought countless battles throughout the empire.

Even when faced with opponents possessing superior physical strength, they knew how to compensate through coordination and positioning.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Dayton suddenly thrust his arm forward.

A surge of mana erupted from his fist, forming a dense layer of energy around his knuckles.

BOOM!

Three Crimson Guards were forced to scatter as the ground between them exploded. One failed to evade the shockwave in time and was hurled into the side of a carriage.

Before Dayton could pursue him, a figure appeared directly in his path.

A silver blade flashed through the fog.

CLANG!

Dayton’s fist collided with the sword, sending sparks flying in every direction.

The man holding the sword didn’t retreat.

Curtis stood firmly before him, his expression as cold as ever.

"A mere enslaved beastman dared to attack our carriage. You have a lot of courage." He sneered.

Dayton’s eyes narrowed. He recognized the insignia on Curtis’ armor. More importantly, he could tell from the pressure radiating from the man that this wasn’t an ordinary guard.

"You must be the commander." He concluded.

"Indeed, and I suppose you’re the leader of this attack?" Curtis adjusted his grip on his sword.

Dayton burst into laughter. He refused to expose that the actual leader of the attack was Amira.

"That’s right! I am the leader, and I’ll make sure you all pay for capturing us in the SIZ!" His expression twisted with fury.

"Today, I’m going to tear through every last one of you!"

He then lunged forward without another word.

’His movement speed increased.’ Curtis’ eyes sharpened.

BOOM!

Dayton’s fist smashed toward his chest, but Curtis shifted his body at the last moment, allowing the attack to pass by his shoulder.

His sword immediately swept toward Dayton’s exposed side.

The beastman reacted swiftly, twisting his torso and bringing his other arm down to intercept the blade.

CLANG!

The collision produced a sharp metallic ring.

Curtis’ sword failed to penetrate Dayton’s reinforced hide, but the impact forced the beastman to take half a step backward.

That brief movement was enough.

Curtis advanced, his sword striking repeatedly at Dayton’s joints and the gaps in his armor. His movements were economical, each attack aimed at restricting the beastman’s mobility rather than overpowering him through brute strength.

Simultaneously, Curtis coated his sword with mana, ensuring that each slash would penetrate his defense.

Dayton also quickly realized what he was doing.

’Trying to cut me down slowly?’ He suddenly stomped forward, abandoning his defense in favor of a direct assault.

His fist shot toward Curtis’ face.

"DIE FOR ME!"

"Paltry trick." Curtis tilted his head.

The punch grazed his cheek, but before Dayton could withdraw his arm, Curtis stepped inside his reach and drove his elbow into the beastman’s ribs.

THUD!

Dayton grunted and swung his knee upward.

Curtis crossed his forearms to block the strike, but the sheer force still sent him sliding backward.

His boots carved two shallow grooves into the ground.

Curtis glanced at his arms before looking back at Dayton.

’His physical strength is considerably higher than the average beastman.’ He had already estimated Dayton’s strength from the earlier exchange.

What concerned him was that the beastman in front was clearly enslaved.

How did an enslaved person still produce such strength?

’Killing is easy, but capturing alive for further investigation is harder.’ This was the main reason why Curtis was holding back his power.