Chapter 123: Breaking Formation

Leonard felt weightless, all sense of gravity and direction seemingly gone as he was pulled toward the raging battlefield.

The taste of iron filled his mouth as breathing became difficult. His vision blurred, darkness creeping in around the edges.

The next second, he plummeted toward the earth below, his body skidding across the ground like a ragdoll.

"Hey, look! I caught one!" A soldier who had pulled Leonard pointed toward him mockingly.

"Perfect! Leave him to struggle with those wounds. He’ll die soon enough anyway." Another soldier replied with a sneer. "Focus on killing his allies!"

Left to his own fate, Leonard lay in a pool of his own blood, his vitality quickly leaving him.

’I was... pulled away?’

He tried to form a plan, yet even thinking was painful, with his brain unable to obtain the necessary oxygen.

The blood leaking from his wound extended outward. It was merely seconds away from touching the blooming roots in the vicinity.

If they were to make contact, his body would be consumed until only a hollow husk remained.

’I... really screwed up.’ A frown etched itself onto his face.

Had he reacted faster, he might have dodged the arrow in time.

Alas, the revelation that the black vines had in reality been a monster lying in wait had shocked him far too much to think clearly.

’Somehow... there has to be a way to survive. I can’t die. Not yet. The culprit behind my father’s execution is still on the loose. The pendant my mother entrusted me with. Miranda... I... can’t bear the thought of her grieving over my death.’

With a shaking hand, he placed a palm over the embedded arrow in his throat.

’Bastards...’ He cursed inwardly.

This wasn’t a simple arrow. There were sharp spikes that protruded from the shaft itself. Pulling the arrow away would only widen the injury and kill him on the spot.

The agony was excruciating, the foreign object lodged in his neck sending constant chills down his spine.

’How dare they...’

He briefly surveyed the area. Many soldiers had fallen to the monster Sandromia had deployed.

Honestly, Leonard had felt a twinge of sympathy toward Sandromia City at the beginning. They had, after all, been forced to resort to war in search of resources to feed their people.

Yet now... all sympathy he bore was replaced by hatred.

He watched as they charged with weapons in hand, seeking to kill the people he cherished, all while using underhanded tactics.

’They deserve only death!’

Dying here wasn’t an option. Leonard felt his Primordial Bloodline surging through his veins. His enemies weren’t the only ones who could cheat!

A monstrous roar erupted from his maw as he gripped the arrow from both sides.

[Frost Touch activated!]

Using his newly acquired skill, he commanded the cold, freezing the open wounds in his neck. That way, his blood loss was stalled for the moment.

He then applied force and broke off the tip and the end. Since pulling out the arrow wasn’t possible, he sought to leave only the portion embedded in his neck so that it wouldn’t catch on anything.

Flipping over to his chest, he coughed up the blood that had lingered in his throat.

Part of his airway remained blocked by the arrow, but it wasn’t completely sealed. His breathing came out hoarse, yet it was enough to keep him alive.

Sadly, he couldn’t consume any healing potion to mend his wounds. Otherwise his tissue would grow around the embedded object, potentially worsening his condition.

"It’s fine. Just deal with the pain."

With blood dripping from the corners of his mouth, he slowly stood up, his eyes reddening from the pressure.

From his elevated position, he got a proper look at the battlefield.

By the time Leonard had recovered enough to rise to his feet, Sandromia’s forces had pushed deeper toward Ironstone Fortress.

That meant he was currently positioned at their rear. Although he was alone, without any of his friends to rely on, he stood behind the most vulnerable troops of his enemy.

Sandromia’s frontline forces were facing off at the front, while their archers, mages, healers, and others stood with their backs turned to him.

Almost as if their lives were ripe for the taking.

Taking a painful breath, his lips parted.

"Valor, Joker."

Obeying his command, his two loyal summons flanked him.

Joker assumed the form of his master, while Valor remained imposing as ever, his white plume streaming against the current of the wind like a lion’s mane.

Leonard’s golden armor appeared clinging to him like a second skin. He gripped Titanic Oath until his fingers turned white.

[You have applied the Rune of Speed!]

Finally, he applied the runes on his feet, increasing his agility even further.

Without hesitation, he dashed toward the closest enemy. As luck would have it, it was the man who had shot him through the throat. He was preparing to nock another arrow.

Leonard didn’t give him the chance. His Agility, which was originally 32, had now been boosted by Golden Scales, the two added runes granting 10 Agility each, and the food buff, pushing it past the 80-point mark!

Reaching a speed unbecoming of his level, he cleaved the man’s head cleanly with his axe. The body shuddered momentarily, blood seeping from the severed neck before it lifelessly toppled to the ground with a soft thud.

[You have defeated a Level 20 Human]

[Notice: To discourage members of the same race from killing each other, any experience gained from slaying your kin is reduced by 99%.]

[Primordial Bloodline stirs in your veins.]

[Primordial Bloodline reduces the penalty for killing same-race members to 50%!]

[You have gained 300 experience.]

Level: 17 [Experience: 2,100/5,200]

This was one of his biggest advantages on the battlefield. Everyone’s gain upon killing their fellow humans was nearly zero. However, he still gained a substantial amount of experience on every kill that fueled him further like a ravaged beast.

His two summons were only a single step behind. Joker slit the throat of one foe, while Valor pierced the chest of another.

[You have gained 300 experience.]

[You have gained 300 experience.]

Level: 17 [Experience: 2,700/5,200]

Leonard paused briefly, his eyes settling on the three men whose lives he had just ended. There was no place for hesitation or regret on the battlefield. It was either them or him.

He threw a glance at his two summons, who stood ready to fulfill his every command.

"Take no hostages." He ordered.