Bear School Astartes

The Terror Tyrannosaurus pressed against the greatsword held in front of Lann, the eyes of the man and the dragon unwavering.

A Fog Demon happened to be right behind Lann.

Its body was crushed to death against the splintered trunk of a tree under the weight and toughness of the two, vanishing into thin air from the pressure of Lann’s back.

The battle between the Terror Tyrannosaurus and Lann was akin to two steamrollers wreaking havoc everywhere.

The surrounding soil, trees, and even rocks seemed insufficiently hard for them.

During their embroiled struggle, Fog Demons would appear one by one, only to vanish amidst the collateral devastation.

The indiscriminate rampage of the Terror Tyrannosaurus naturally swept away swathes in its path.

Even Lann, with his smaller stature, was forced to retreat whenever he was overpowered by the might of the Terror Tyrannosaurus.

If a Fog Demon was caught between Lann’s back and another obstacle, it would be squashed to death.

Ordinary creatures proved too frail on such a level battlefield.

However, Lann couldn’t help but suffer from considerable interference from the Fog Demons.

Fog Demons were creatures adept at deceit in battle, launching surprise attacks when Demon Hunters couldn’t distinguish illusions.

They can be said to be among the more cunning of monsters, adept at seizing opportunities.

The group surrounding the Terror Tyrannosaurus, however, was indifferent to life and death.

Their ability to discern and seize opportunities in battle was surely not as strong as Lann’s.

Yet, their indifference to death and sheer numbers enabled them to grasp some critical moments, disrupting Lann’s tactical arrangements.

Such as the several attempts to flip him when he was off balance.

With the constraints and harassment from the Fog Demons, it became increasingly difficult for Lann to achieve results against the Terror Tyrannosaurus.

But due to his inherent quality and skill, the Terror Tyrannosaurus had been locked in a stalemate with him for half an hour without getting a bite of meat.

Lann began to contemplate whether to make a temporary retreat.

He had obtained some intelligence through Spiritual Vision; failing to use this information for strategic arrangements would be a total waste.

The hazardousness and complexity of dealing with this Terror Tyrannosaurus undoubtedly remained at the peak!

The Demon Hunter’s feline eyes observed the increasingly viscous, flowing acidic saliva from the opponent.

And the involuntary small neurotic twitches exhibited by the Terror Tyrannosaurus due to unbearable hunger... It resembled the bodily tremors of a person whose stomach ached with acid reflux, uncomfortable beyond measure.

Yet this is but the normal, everyday appetite of the Terror Tyrannosaurus.

As the hunt was prolonged, its originally cold-blooded reptilian pupils kept expanding in a daze, recomposing, then dazing again.

It’s almost like someone driven mad by pain, or in a state after too much drug use!

If this condition persists... Lann strived not to dwell on such dreadful developments.

The amber feline eyes swiftly scanned the surroundings.

Mentos had comprehended the principal’s intent, using many visible lines to map routes on the surrounding scene, helping Lann decide which path was suitable for temporary retreat.

Hunting was inherently a long-term, patient endeavor. Only the prepared hunter could safely and effectively counter the prey’s counterattack.

Both the Demon Hunter and the bio-computer understood this.

As Lann began planning the retreat route, the sound of uniform hooves emanated from the mountain path below.

Typhoons suddenly appearing in the mountains, monstrous roars from creatures not belonging to this world, seemingly couldn’t cause the slightest hesitation in these hoofbeats.

Instead, they became beacons.

The hoofbeats headed up the mountain without hesitation, taking a gentler slope.

The typhoon blowing from the sea continued, surrounded by vigilant Dragon Beasts and monsters, but Lann only felt a sense of relief, perhaps even exhilaration!

For no matter what, loyal friends and warriors would always come to his side.

"My lord, pardon my boldness, but do you need assistance?"

Lincoln’s youthful voice fluttered in the typhoon’s gusts, yet his tone was never perturbed by the awe-inspiring scene before him.

"I do need it, Lincoln!" Lann gleefully shouted back, "I need help!"

"Then the Ember Knights shall heed your call!"

A squad of only ten knights raced up from the slope furrowed by the rampage of the Terror Tyrannosaurus.

Just ten individuals, yet they bore an aura daring to charge against any opponent!

"Help me deal with those Fog Demons! This beast is mine!"

With no more constraints or hindrances, Lann’s gaze locked with the Terror Tyrannosaurus began to blaze with fervor.

The small Shield Emblem of the Fifth Period Team on his waist, centered with the Early Recovery Guard Stone, emitted a shimmering glow.

...he can enjoy the hunt now!

"Got it, my lord!"

The Ember Knights and their mounts began a slow charge.

Although the riding skills of the Ember Knights generally surpassed Lann’s, this terrain was mountainous, and were it not for being ravaged flat by the Terror Tyrannosaurus, they wouldn’t be able to ride up.

Facing the ruts on the ground and the massive rocks flipped like bugs by the Terror Tyrannosaurus, the knights could only move at a usual trot.

Initially, ten individuals and ten horses should undeniably be a more tempting target for the Terror Tyrannosaurus than Lann alone.

But for some reason, it was fixated solely on Lann.

Within the Ember Knights, the slight sounds of armor and equipment clashing blend together.

For different types of enemies, seasoned warriors will swap out for the appropriate weapon from their arsenal right before battle.

"Oil the gun blades, sword blades! And the arrows too!"

Lincoln methodically operates at the forefront, while reminding the Ember Knights behind him.

Though, given the average quality of the Ember Knights, such reminders seemed entirely unnecessary. However, as the temporary commander in this scene, Lincoln demanded himself not to miss any task.

"Attention! The enemy is Fog Demons, use the ’Corpse-Eating Organism Oil’!"

The knights reached into the leather bags attached to their saddles, extracting glass bottles filled with viscous oily liquid.

Their actions are professional and swift, almost like the Demon Hunters who frequently use these things.

...Indeed, these actions are standard for Demon Hunters.

They have already consulted with Lann, wanting to undergo the Demon Hunter’s Trial of Grasses, and these combat-related techniques have long been integrated into the daily training of the Ember Knights.

Through connections with Lann and Belengar, they’ve learned some alchemy and professional techniques from the Old Demon Hunter and started studying monster knowledge.

Lincoln’s judgment regarding the Fog Demons was precise, even considered ’academic’ among Demon Hunters.

However, when the Ember Knights were about to coat their weapons with sword oil, Lann interrupted Lincoln’s arrangement.

"Don’t use ’Corpse-Eating Organism Oil’, use ’Curse Oil’."

A sudden and irrational command.

This made Lincoln furrow his brows.

Yet he immediately altered his orders accordingly.

"Use ’Curse Oil’!"

Fog Demons are undeniably classified as corpse-eating creatures, a monster knowledge that’s very clear.

But now Lann instructed them to use ’Curse Oil’ against cursed creatures.

Normally, the Ember Knights have their own interpretations of Lann’s orders, sometimes leaving him speechless.

But when it comes to critical moments, they absolutely adhere to executing orders.

Now is a critical moment.

In uniform motions, the Ember Knights immediately swapped bottles in their hands.

The oily liquid from the new bottles was quickly applied to their weapons.

And soon after, the Ember Knights made contact with their first target.

Lincoln gripped the lance under his arm, his excellent riding skills allowed his warhorse to leap over a broken yet sizeable tree trunk.

The lance blade piercing downward from a diagonal angle carried a sheen of oil.

A Fog Demon, caught unawares, was still facing sideways towards the Knight.

The lance blade managed to effortlessly pierce through its front chest, all the way to the other side under its ribs.

"Ugh!"

The Fog Demon’s cries were as sharp and unpleasant as their sneering laughter.

Nearly human-sized Fog Demon was lifted by Lincoln’s lance after the horse landed!

At the same time, the Fog Demon, which usually would become mist on death without any anomalies, exhibited a distinct darkening at the pierced wound!

It’s like the white mist being polluted by black smoke.

Among the many gruesome ways Fog Demons have died, only this time emitted a painful cry.

After a round of attack, every knight had their share of accomplishments.

Lincoln and other knights showed expressions of surprise.

Because the Fog Demons clearly exhibited reactions suppressed by the sword oil.

Though sword oil is a Demon Hunter’s method for specifically weakening and attacking monsters, it generally carries strong toxicity.

Yet monsters themselves aren’t normal creatures, if the specificity of the sword oil is wrong, the monster would likely not be decisively affected.

Among the sword oils, ’Ghost Spirit Oil’, ’Constructed Creature Oil’, ’Cursed Creature Oil’, and ’Remnant Oil’ are more specialized.

Since they target things not affected by conventional ’poisoning’, possibly not even possessing flesh-bodied structures.

The creation of these sword oils is more about the mystical significance of alchemy than conventional herbal mixes.

But now, Fog Demons supposedly suppressed by ’Corpse-Eating Organism Oil’, are being suppressed like this with ’Curse Oil’...

The always nimble and thorough-minded Lincoln began contemplating the implications behind this phenomenon.

Meanwhile, in fleeting glances amidst tangling with the Terror Tyrannosaurus, Lann saw all this more clearly.

After being nailed by Lincoln’s lance, the Fog Demon, crying and dissolving into white mist, dramatically extended the time for its reformation!

Compared to the indifferent pace of dying, reforming, and dying again.

The clearing speed increased, while the Fog Demon’s reappearance rate decreased.

On the field, the Fog Demons’ numbers began to sharply dwindle!

"The others continue the battle."

Lann braced against the Terror Tyrannosaurus’ head swing using ’Iron Mountain’, even with correct timing and technique, the immense force rendered his palms numb, yet he enthusiastically shouted.

"Lincoln, I have words you need to carry to the ladies on the mountain!"