Chapter 68: Koko Lan

  Today's update volume is not small, this chapter is a combination of two chapters, and the word count is more than usual.

  Because it's a relatively coherent plot, I didn't split it into two updates, so as not to affect the smooth feeling.

  Hehe...... Clicking on it may lose some, but I'd rather "update once" and won't force splitting into two or three updates just for the sake of clicks. Just want everyone to know that I'm not slacking off~~~)

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  Xia Ya ran wildly to the north, running for an unknown distance until the pursuing soldiers behind him gradually faded away, and finally even the shouts of killing and drinking could no longer be heard. Only then did he feel slightly relieved in his heart.

  Fortunately, the magic in the ring had not been exhausted. Since they had shaken off their pursuers, Xia Ya was reluctant to use the ring again and carefully put it away in her bosom, treasuring this good thing that should be used sparingly.

  He stopped and lay down in a low-lying pit, panting desperately with his tongue out, having just used all his strength to run with the help of the Wind System magic ring. If he hadn't, he would have been chopped into pieces by now... As soon as he stopped, he felt like his lungs were on fire and his airway was about to burst.

  Lying in the pit, Xia Ya was so tired that she couldn't even move her fingers for about as long as it took to eat a meal, before struggling to get up.

  Once again, after experiencing that crimson killing intent and being enveloped by the red glow, Xia Ya's injuries vanished instantly, just like last time. The damage from the previous attacks was instantly healed by the red light, including the sword wound on his shoulder, which had torn through his armor and blown open his aura, leaving his shoulder a bloody mess with broken bones. Now, however, it had already healed rapidly, with only a slight redness remaining at the original wound site.

  Xia Ya hugged her head and thought for a while.

  "My god, this is an absolute killer move! Instantly heal injuries and launch a fatal attack that ignores defense... If such a killer move is unleashed, wouldn't it be invincible?"

  Xia Ya held the crystal in her palm, only to feel its surface return to its usual dull and unremarkable appearance, yet somehow it seemed to be ever so slightly different...

  Bring it closer and take a closer look, and indeed it is. The surface layer of the crystal is still gray like ordinary stones, but upon closer inspection, there seem to be some fine red thread-like patterns on the surface of the crystal, which are finer than hair and sparsely distributed on the surface of the crystal, not many in number... just like...

  It's just like when a person doesn't sleep for a long time, the bloodshot in their eyes is similar, but there are many fewer of them and the volume of the bloodshot is also much smaller, if you don't look closely, you can't see it at all.

  I remember when I first saw this stone, it didn't have such a strange change. Could it be that because of my own two mistakes in using it, the unusual red light was emitted, causing the stone to change?

  So if it's used a few more times in the future, will this stone become purely red?

  Use it several more times...

  Xia Ya couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

  The two red glows saved myself, but I don't know how to use this thing correctly now. The final killing move is powerful, but... it's not something that can be easily triggered by me.

  It seems that every time it is only when being beaten half to death, covered in wounds, and hanging between life and death that the red glow of the stone will be triggered.

  But...this method is also too dangerous!

  If next time I encounter such a dangerous situation again, the stone doesn't emit red light to let me use my ultimate move, wouldn't that be a very unjust death?

  After resting for a moment, Xia Ya recovered some of his physical strength. Although his hands and feet were still a bit sore, but after all, his physique was incredibly strong, not like that of a human being. In just a moment, he had recovered about 20-30% of his strength. He stood up, looked around at the surroundings, identified the direction, and decided to continue heading north.

  Although it would be safer to head south and merge with General Adrick's main force, there are those reindeer cavalrymen chasing from the south. If they go south, they will encounter the Odin people before merging with the main force. Can't count on that unreliable red light to save himself again, can only head north... catch up with Kevin and his team.

  Yeah, Kevin that bald guy, they should have already joined up with the Third Flag Corps by now...

  ※※※

  Just as Xia Ya set out for the north, Kevin had indeed joined forces with the Third Banner Corps in the northern part of the Alpakt Plain.

  Kevin led the 300 cavalrymen to continue northward under Xia Ya's cover, and they encountered another interception on the way. It was still a team of reindeer cavalry. After forcing through the interception, there were only about 200 cavalrymen left.

  Just before noon, Kevin finally saw the third banner led by Butler, the silver-haired man.

  The Third Banner was a light cavalry unit under the Thirteenth Dragoons, and when Kevin arrived, the Third Banner was in dire straits.

  This is a special terrain, with forests covering the mountains on both sides. Although the slope is not high, only about 4-5 meters, it is extremely unsuitable for cavalry warfare. In the middle of the slope, there is a flat area about 200-300 meters wide - this flat area is too narrow, and the Ottomans can form thick formations with a small number of infantry in the narrow terrain, making it impossible for the cavalry to charge forward head-on.

  After all, the Third Banner Army was not heavy infantry, and a frontal assault on the enemy's dense formation was not their forte.

  When Kevin arrived, the Third Banner was already in a desperate battle. The standard bearer, Butler, had gathered his troops on a hillside and was using the narrow broken path to defend against the enemy's attack while waiting for reinforcements.

  They have been fighting hard here for a night. The third flag team suffered heavy losses, with only 1,300 cavalrymen left from the original 2,000-strong formation, and nearly half of them were injured.

  Butler nearly turned his guts inside out. He was originally just a vanguard, conducting a powerful search to clear the way for the main force behind him.

  But last night, he encountered a small group of Odin's reindeer cavalry and after fighting with the other side, the Odin people left more than 100 corpses behind and retreated. Butler was eager to expand his gains and pursued relentlessly. At night, when visibility was not good, he was lured by the Odin people into this dangerous terrain, and when he reacted, it was too late to withdraw.

  This is clearly a trap, and the Odins are just waiting for an opportunity to swallow up the vanguard Third Flag Corps in one bite.

  In the narrow terrain, cavalry could not charge out, Butler immediately made a decision to retreat to a hillside. By dawn, he finally confirmed that the Odins surrounding him had an entire legion, about 20,000 Odin troops, who surrounded the hillside and were unable to escape. Butler tried to lead his men in a breakout, twice attempting to break through the encirclement. The cavalry charged down from the hillside, using their momentum to briefly push back the Odins at the foot of the mountain. However, the Odins had assembled too many troops, and in this narrow terrain, as long as they formed a thick infantry formation, Butler's 1,000 or so cavalrymen were unable to penetrate the enemy's camp - like a rusty dull knife that could not pierce through thick meat.

  Twice they broke through, the cavalry of the Thirteenth Legion fought bravely, but after repeated charges to left and right, they were finally forced to retreat back up the mountain slope - if they had retreated any later, they might not have even had the chance to retreat to the mountain slope, and would have been surrounded on the battlefield!

  Kevin felt a chill as he gazed down at the dense Odinian army formations on the slope, his scalp tingling. He had only two hundred cavalrymen left, and charging in to rescue them was extremely difficult; two hundred men charging into an encampment of twenty thousand would likely be slaughtered in an instant.

  But then Kevin discovered a strange phenomenon - his 200-man cavalry unit had just entered the area and was quickly discovered. The Butler on the mountain saw the arrival of reinforcements, gathered all his strength to organize another breakthrough, and more than 1,000 cavalrymen under him vowed to charge to death, and actually killed their way down the mountain slope, killing a bloody road in the Odins' interception!

  In the narrow terrain below the mountain slope, there were corpses everywhere. The Oding people surged forward like a tide, but when Butler led the cavalry to charge, the Oding people retreated like a tide.

  In this case, Kevin had no choice but to grit his teeth and lead the charge, rushing into the Odin's formation all the way, although he killed fiercely, but a sense of doubt arose in Kevin's heart...

  The resistance intensity of these Odin people seems to be far from being as strong as imagined!

  The two armies soon converged on the battlefield and then attempted to quickly disengage from the battlefield and retreat south to join the main force.

  The shouts of millions of people shook the sky, crowded in this narrow flat low-lying terrain of several hundred meters wide. Just as the two cavalry troops had just merged together, a dull cow horn sound suddenly came from the distant mountain slope!

  The sound was thick and solemn, and the Odin warriors who were still trying to entangle themselves around them suddenly retreated quickly to both sides like a tide, soon losing contact with the Byzantine cavalry.

  "They let us go?" Kevin wondered in his heart.

  At this moment, the flag bearer of the third battalion, Butler, was covered in blood all over his body. His armor had at least seven or eight breaches, and there was an arrow shaft stuck on his shoulder. His helmet was gone long ago. He and Kevin converged together, watching the Odin people retreat around them. This silver-haired man fiercely wiped the fresh blood off his face, but his expression suddenly changed: "Damn it, we've been deceived!"

  Odin's infantry retreated swiftly, but from the woods on both sides of the mountain slope, one after another team of reindeer cavalry rushed out!

  These reindeer cavalry had long been refined and refreshed, and after a whole night of repair in the forest, they saw team after team of reindeer cavalry rushing down from the slopes on both sides, Butler's eyes flashed with a tragic taste, and he shouted loudly: "Charge south! All charge south!! Charge out of this valley!!"

  But it's already too late!!

  The cavalry of the two sides, taking advantage of the downhill momentum, poured down and soon became entangled with the Byzantine cavalry, biting tightly into their rear ranks!

  Entangle! The tactics of the Odin people are simple, that is to bite tightly on the Byzantine cavalry and not give them a chance to breathe!

  Having broken through, the Byzantine cavalry formations were completely scattered and, while fighting a rearguard action, had no opportunity to halt and reform for a countercharge.

  Thus, over a thousand cavalrymen were beaten by the Odin people's reindeer cavalry, with layers of infantry blocking ahead and cold arrows from archers on the mountain slope.

  Kevin has never fought such a sloppy battle! He knew that if it was a head-on confrontation, his side, as the elite cavalry of the Byzantine Empire, would be able to crush these Odinist reindeer cavalry head-on!

  But... But now it's too late!!!

  Turn around quickly!!

  Cavalry must form an effective killing formation, and only then can they charge! Now in the midst of chaos, being chased by the enemy, clinging to their own rear team, there is no chance to catch one's breath. Once stopped, a large number of Odin infantry will surround them from all sides. And if they don't stop, they cannot shake off the tame deer cavalry behind them.

  The rear of this reindeer cavalry was like a knife, layer by layer cutting off the Byzantine cavalry's formation!

  In the distance, on a mountain slope, under a huge cowhide cloak, a tall figure stood there, behind him was a huge chair made of some kind of animal bones, covered with a thick layer of black fur blanket.

  This man had the typical Odinian physique, with broad shoulders and a robust body full of explosive power. On his head was a bear helmet, and under his grey fur cloak, he didn't have any weapons in his hands, but instead held a small flag.

  Compared to the usual rough skin of the Odin people, this guy's skin was too pale, as if it had a sickly look, a pair of emerald green eyes that were rare among the Odin people, staring tightly at the distant battle below the mountain.

  Behind him stood dozens of Odin warriors, each over two meters tall. These Odin warriors were all draped in thick bear skin, with only iron armor hanging from their chests, holding short axes in their hands. Each Odin warrior had woven his long hair into dense braids. Such attire was that of the famous "Frenzied Axe Warriors" among the Odin people!

  The Odinian in front of him with a bear helmet retracted his gaze, and a faintly disdainful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

  "Hmph, the renowned Rodoria Cavalry is nothing more than this."

  He smiled faintly, and suddenly stretched out his arm horizontally, with a black iron ring on it. A loud eagle cry was heard in the air, and a grey-feathered eagle landed on his arm.

  This Odin man stretched out his finger and gently tapped the eagle's head, then took out a bloody meat strip from his pocket and handed it to the eagle.

  "Oh... Adrick should be bringing people over by now... Hehe."

  A hint of a triumphant smile flashed in his eyes, but before he could fully reveal it, the sound of urgent hoofbeats came from behind him.

  A tame reindeer cavalry rushed to more than ten meters, turned over and jumped down, stumbled and pounced on the ground.

  "What's wrong?" The Odinian frowned.

  Reindeer Cavalryman was a towering Odin giant, but now his face was full of fear and his body trembled: "Noble Kokolan-sama, y-your younger brother..."

  Keke Lan raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong with him?"

  "Your brother was killed in battle! He died at the hands of a Byzantine cavalryman... We, we tried to pursue the murderer, but..."

  As he spoke, the Odin Reindeer Cavalry shut his mouth because he saw Kokoran's gaze shooting at his face. Kokoran's eyes were razor-sharp and instantly burst out with a chilling light that made one's heart tremble!

  The reindeer cavalry's body began to tremble uncontrollably - thinking that such an important person had actually died in battle in his own team, he was afraid...

  Just as the cavalryman's fear had reached its peak, the anticipated thunderous wrath did not descend.

  Keke Lan seemed to fall silent for a moment, but then a strange smile appeared on his face.

  "Oh... my dear little brother, did he die in battle? Oh, what an interesting piece of news. For us Odin warriors, dying on the battlefield is also a rare honor."

  These two sentences were spoken as if there was not a hint of anger, and even the tone seemed to carry a warm and gentle flavor - but precisely because of this, the cavalry who were familiar with Lord Kekol's temperament felt an icy chill in their hearts!!

  As he looked at this Mr. Kekelan, his eyes became softer and softer, and the cavalryman was even more prostrate on the ground, not daring to lift his head, his body trembling as if he had contracted a cold disease.

  Kekoluo's mouth was curved into a faint smile as he casually teased the eagle on his arm with his fingers, seemingly muttering to himself: "Hmph, one son is dead, I suppose my noble and great father, the Emperor, will surely erupt in thunderous rage... Alas, what sorrowful news indeed."

  Although he said so with his mouth, where is there a hint of sadness on his face with that warm smile?

  "Fortunately, His Majesty has more than twenty sons. Even if one or two of them die, it's no big deal."

  The last sentence was even more outrageous, the cavalry could only wish that they had become deaf at this moment, so that they wouldn't have to hear such an outrageous remark, and feared that Lord Kekelan would not let them off...

  At last, after a moment of silence, Kekoluo took a deep breath. The warm smile on his face instantly disappeared, replaced by a stern expression.

  "Pass on my orders... raise the bloody flag, I want to avenge my beloved brother... and then, write a letter back, report this sad news. After a pause, his eyes flashed with a hint of strangeness: "Anyway, since one brother is dead, I have to make some gestures, right? This is my first time leading the army personally, can't mess it up."

  ※※※

  Kevin and Butler finally led the charge out of this low-lying terrain, running out of the valley, and in front of them was a vast expanse of open land. The two were already covered in injuries, Kevin's war hammer had long been lost on the battlefield, and he now held a double-edged knight's sword in his hand. Butler, on the other hand, was slumped over the back of his horse, this silver-haired man could no longer straighten his body, his back having been struck by an Odin's Reindeer cavalryman's axe, his armor split open, that one blow nearly taking his life.

  As soon as he rushed out of the valley, Kevin was shocked to find that there were no more Odin infantry blocking his way. With the mobility of his cavalry, he had far surpassed the reindeer cavalry and could shake off the pursuers by speed. As long as he could reorganize his troops, he could launch a counterattack! This would allow these Odin reindeer cavalry to taste the power of Byzantine cavalry!

  Cavalry has always been the strongest type of soldier for the Byzantines!!

  Kevin, who had been bound hand and foot and was seething with rage, was just about to vent his anger when he became furious - as soon as they rushed out of the valley, the Odinist cavalry immediately stopped pursuing them. The vanguard quickly broke away from the Byzantine cavalry's rear team and turned back into the valley!

  "What, what scoundrels! When did the Odins become so cunning?!"

  They finally stopped and lined up, but when they counted the number of people, Butler and Kevin vomited blood on the spot!

  The Third Banner and Kevin's reinforcements, all added together, had fewer than six hundred riders left alive!

  That is to say, the other side's tactic of chasing and beating, seemingly cunning and unreasonable, was very effective! This entanglement tactic caused more than half of the Byzantines to die or be injured.

  The third banner team was completely crippled in this battle! In the subsequent battles, it was no longer possible to exert combat effectiveness as a banner team and could only wait for reconstruction after the war.

  Butler's heart was bleeding, as the commander of the third flag team, these cavalrymen were all brought out by him, and now they had lost more than 70% of their strength, how could he not be sad?

  It can be said that if the Odinians' plan was to devour the Third Flag Corps, then this combat goal is basically considered accomplished. Because of the 2,000 cavalrymen in the Third Flag Corps, fewer than 500 are still alive, with losses reaching 70%, and even among those who survived, only about 300 can still maintain their combat effectiveness.

  In this battle, although the Third Banner Corps did not suffer a complete defeat, it basically lost its combat effectiveness.

  Butler, the silver-haired man, had no longer any trace of his former swagger on his face, as if he had aged twenty years, huddled over the back of his horse, with fresh blood flowing from the corner of his mouth and his teeth clenched tightly.

  Kevin's heart was bleeding as he looked at the remnants of his army beside him...

  (This is abnormal, the combat style of these Odin people is vastly different from before. In the past, the Odin people were symbols of barbarism and bravery, they were best at head-on collisions, but they wouldn't use tactics like luring the enemy, setting up ambushes, surrounding and attacking, or those cunning tactics that cling to you until death!)

  But apart from this, what is most important and cannot be let go of in Kevin and Butler's hearts is:

  The army of Odin in front of us, although there are about 20,000 people, but from the point of view of quality, they are not the elite troops of Odin, just a ordinary second-line army of Odin, whether it is individual quality or combat effectiveness, far from reaching the standard of Odin's elite!

  The 13th Cavalry Regiment had not been defeated by the hands of the Odins in the past, but that was a loss to the elite troops of the Odins under the command of Hastings. But this time, they were actually beaten by an ordinary army of the Odins...

  Both of them were old men who had been in the army for a long time, and they could roughly estimate that the losses of the Odin people this time were around 3,000 to 4,000.

  It doesn't seem too bad in terms of losses on both sides.

  But don't forget that our side is one of the most elite troops in the Byzantine Empire!!! And it's all powerful cavalry!!!

  "Damn it, the Odins have actually learned to use terrain and strategy... Is their commander Hasting or something?" Kevin spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.

  "It can't be." Butler's face turned pale: "Hastin's Black Flag Legion, we've encountered them before. If it's a change of commander, with Hastin's prestige in the Odin Empire, it's absolutely impossible to demote and command an ordinary army. The only explanation is that another formidable military general has emerged among the Odin people!"

  Pausing for a moment, this old general, although battered and on the verge of collapse, still gritted his teeth and gave orders.

  Since those Odins didn't pursue, our side doesn't have to retreat immediately either. We can form a battle array on the spot and defend it, while sending messengers to wait for the main force behind to catch up and merge.

  "When General arrives with his men, we'll have a fierce battle with these Austrians once again!"

  ※※※

  Xia Ya didn't dare to take the main road, he seemed to have returned to the days when he was hunting alone in the mountains and wilderness, carefully making his way through the complex mountain slopes, deliberately circling around from the right side for over ten miles, quietly approaching the predetermined meeting point.

  It was almost noon when Xia Ya finally arrived at the valley, but coincidentally, because he didn't take the main road, he didn't meet Kevin and others who were gathering for help on the south side of the valley. Instead, he went around from the right side and quickly approached the mountain slope on the right side.

  As he approached the forest, Shaya immediately heard the sound coming from behind him. Judging by experience, the dull and disordered hoofbeats were obviously not the cavalry of the Byzantine Empire. He quickly climbed up a tree like a monkey and saw a small team of reindeer cavalry slowly passing by below.

  Having clearly seen the number of people on the other side, Xia Ya didn't even dare to breathe heavily, fearing that she would reveal a hint of movement.

  He then crouched on the trunk, quietly shrinking his body into a ball, and heard a murmur of noise coming from the forest, row after row of Odin's army emerging from the forest, lined up outside the forest...

  My god!

  Xia Ya was at a loss on the tree.

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  Call for recommendation votes~~~ only 2,000 votes away from first place, everyone please lend a hand, we'll catch up quickly~~~

  Everyone is waiting with bated breath, let's see how our turtle will make a name for itself～～～）

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