Equus

"I'll kill them!" Anton Lassiter bellowed in rage when he saw the dead and injured soldiers being carried away. His eyes turned red from the extreme rage and sadness he was feeling. It wasn't just him. All the soldiers around him also felt the same!

Suddenly, the crowd of soldiers parted as General Gavin arrived together with Miss Samira and her two lovely retainers. Everyone had a solemn look after they saw what happened.

"General!"

"General!"

"General, give me a hundred elite soldiers! I will avenge our fallen brothers!" Anton muttered through gritted teeth. A lot of his buddies have already died. Now, more of them have been killed, so how could he remain calm in this situation?

General Gavin had a grave look on his face. From Anton's expression, he knew that the latter had already made up his mind, but he couldn't agree to his demand. Although Anton has already become a Level 3 Esper like him, their opponent also had an expert at the same level! Fighting against the Northern Viper Group with a mere hundred elites would be dangerous!

"I understand your rage and remorse, Anton, but I can't agree to this! Sending you with just one hundred soldiers would only mean suicide! However, I can't let this go! We have to avenge our brothers! This time, I will be joining the battle!" General Gavin said with a heavy look. He then stared at the soldiers around him and commanded.

"Everyone! We will launch a frontal assault against the Northern Viper Group tonight! Everyone here with the exception of the logistics crew will be dispatched! Grab your weapons and be ready in ten minutes! Move!"

"Yes, General!" Everyone shouted in unison.

Meanwhile, Leric who was hidden among the crowd of soldiers felt a bit nervous when he heard the General's declaration. He hasn't fought anyone yet! He was inexperienced in fighting despite his high skill levels!

You have learned the skill [Demon Heart]

Skill [Demon Heart] Max Level

- You will remain calm and composed in any situation.

'Huh?' Leric felt surprised when he saw the new skill that emerged in his Status Screen. He also felt a soothing sensation in his mind that forcibly calmed his anxiety and nervousness.

'There is also a skill like this? Not bad!' He muttered in his heart.

After less than ten minutes, all the soldiers were already in position. There were about five thousand soldiers in this camp including the Flame Tiger Army of General Gavin.

General Gavin arrived exactly ten minutes after his announcement. He was dressed in battle armor and a huge sword was strapped behind his back.

A soldier then pulled a black horse-looking creature towards the General. He then handed the reigns to the General who immediately hopped at the back of this creature.

Its body was about twice as large as a normal warhorse and it has a pair of horns extending at the sides of its head. This beast is called an Equus, a wild beast that is commonly used as battle steed! A mature Equus would have the same level of power as a Level 2 Esper!

Because Equuses were quite rare, only a small portion of them can be found in the army. Most of the battle steeds used in war are still warhorses.

Leric was stunned when he saw this majestic-looking battle steed. The General looked even more imposing as he mounted the black Equus!

General Gavin pulled out the large sword strapped behind his back and pointed it at the sky as he roared. "Soldiers, follow me to the battlefield!"

Roar!

Everyone was stimulated by the General's cry and they immediately shouted in a loud and grim voice that shook the entire area. The avian creatures within the forest flew away in panic when they heard the startling battle cry!

Even Leric was moved by everyone's fighting spirit.

"I might experience my first war tonight…" He muttered to himself as he held the handle of his sword tightly.

Soon, the army of five thousand left the camp under the command of General Gavin. The ground shook as this army of furious soldiers marched toward the battlefield!

***

Meanwhile, in a hidden camp of the Northern Viper Group.

"Boss! The army of Barden City and the Flame Tiger Army is on their way here! General Gavin is the one leading them!" A scout reported with a look of nervousness on his face.

The man that he called Boss was a middle-aged man in his early forties. The right side of his face had a long sword wound that stretched from his forehead down to his right cheek. His right eye was also blinded and it was covered by a black eyepatch.

This man had a tall and hulking figure. He was only wearing an armor plate and his exposed arms revealed more than dozen scars of different sizes.

This guy was one of the top members of the Northern Viper Group, Solas!

"So that bastard Gavin has finally come out of his turtle shell, huh? Interesting! Men, prepare for battle!" Solas shouted with a smirk on his ferocious face.