Chapter 24 The secret art of the Muen Clan

"Maintain formation! Don't panic! Don't panic!" Amidst the chaos, Robert's authoritative voice echoed, giving the bewildered soldiers some composure.

Robert's armor was torn, his hair disheveled, and blood stained his body. He forcefully pushed aside a soldier lying on the ground and shouted, "Form up! Protect the master!! Form up and retreat! No running around!"

The griffins in the sky swooped down one by one, emitting loud cries. These cries seemed to possess a dizzying magical power, causing several of Lord Roland's men to feel disoriented, their bodies swaying and unable to hold onto their swords.

Robert grabbed a bow and arrow from a fallen archer and swiftly shot at one of the griffins descending from the sky. The arrow, imbued with his combat aura, turned into a streak of light but exploded upon reaching the air, unable to withstand the knight's combat aura.

Fortunately, the griffin seemed startled, allowing Robert to retreat. He hastily organized a dozen men to huddle together, raising their swords and spears for self-defense.

Meanwhile, more griffins descended from the sky. People were constantly wounded by the griffins' sharp claws and beaks. Cries of agony filled the air, and occasionally, someone would be snatched up by a griffin and torn apart in mid-air by its sharp claws and beak.

This horrifying scene sent shivers down everyone's spine.

Sir Span's sword was now only half its original length. He had narrowly avoided being attacked by a griffin earlier, but his thigh was now covered in blood, making it difficult for him to stand.

Whether it was Sir Span or Robert, their minds were filled with not only fear but also disbelief!

How could such terrifying and ferocious monsters as griffins suddenly appear in the southern hinterlands of the Empire?!

Amidst Robert's call to "protect the master," more and more riders from the Roland family gathered around, surrounding Duwei.

Meanwhile, the griffins in the sky continued their deadly assaults. Each dive resulted in another cry of agony, claiming the life of another soldier.

The ground was now covered in blood and littered with gruesome, dismembered bodies. Many died without even leaving intact corpses in the face of these ferocious monsters.

Duwei had just seen a griffin pounce towards him when he was tackled to the ground by Eolin. Although lying prone on the ground, he seemed to sense a yellow halo flash before his eyes.

"Master, quickly get up, we must leave here immediately," came Iflin's anxious voice. She pulled Duwei up forcefully and then grabbed him, moving towards a large tree nearby.

At this moment, many guards from the Roland family had gathered around. Robert quickly strode over. The guards of the Roland family still possessed a high sense of family honor and loyalty. Faced with this crisis, they did not forget their duty, nor did anyone flee. Despite their fear, they bravely wielded their weapons and gathered around their master.

"Solzkyar! Solzkyar!" Duwei shouted angrily.

"I'm here," came the reply from nearby. Solzkyar, looking disheveled, crawled up from the ground. His robe was dirty, and his face was covered in dust. During the recent wave of griffin attacks, he had been the first to dive into the bushes.

"What the hell are you doing!" Duwei roared furiously as he rushed up and grabbed the magician by his collar. "My people are bleeding! Why aren't you using magic? Hurry! If you want to live, use magic to attack!"

Solzkyar's hat was shaken off by Duwei, and he quickly nodded. Then, he raised his hand and shot several fireballs into the sky. Unfortunately, Solzkyar's abilities were limited, and his only direct attack magic at the moment was the lowest-level fireball spell. Spells like Slow had little effect against a group of griffins.

At this moment, the griffins were driving away the soldiers from Span's garrison. However, the Roland family's people began to show their different qualities. They gradually regrouped, forming a considerable force. Although the griffins kept attacking, facing them were rows of swords and spears. While the griffins seemed reluctant to engage directly, they continued to circle around, picking off soldiers one by one. Each attack from the griffins claimed a life!

The group slowly retreated, and Solzkyar's fireball spells provided some hindrance and intimidation to the griffins. However, more and more griffins surrounded them—they had already completely wiped out Span's forces. Bodies littered the ground, and even Sir Span himself lay motionless in the distance, his fate uncertain.

Robert's expression was extremely grim. His hand gripping the sword hilt had turned white due to exertion. With a hoarse voice, he said, "Master, I'm afraid today..." The knight shook his head forcefully, then suddenly pulled Lady Iflin over and whispered softly, "When the time comes, I'll lead the charge with my men. You must immediately take the master and run down the mountain path! Be fast! It must be fast! I'll try to draw the attention of these creatures. Master... I leave him to you."

"I must go and face death?" Rolin said with emotion.

Robert's voice was strained, "I understand these creatures. They enjoy hunting, and now we are their prey. The journey from here to the foot of the mountain is too far. In our current state, we won't be able to retreat. We can only find a way to disrupt the situation and let the master slip away."

"But..."

"But what! Miss Rolin! Don't forget that you are a knight now!" Robert suddenly erupted, staring fiercely as he yelled, "You're not the little mercenary you used to be! If you still can't understand the spirit of a knight, then you're not worthy of being one! I'm injured and can't run fast. Otherwise, I wouldn't choose to let you escort the master away! Do you want to be a true knight, Rolin? Then prove it to me!"

Rolin trembled, looking at Robert in astonishment. At that moment, a surge of determination flashed in her eyes. She raised her sword forcefully and exclaimed, "I will prove it!"

Robert chuckled loudly, then turned to look at his master.

Duwei, however, had been squinting at the griffins flying around, looking for an opportunity to attack the group. He seemed lost in thought, as if he hadn't heard Robert and Rolin's conversation just now. What was going through the little guy's mind at the moment was anyone's guess.

The shock and determination on Rolin's face suddenly disappeared, replaced by a strange calmness. Under Robert's surprised gaze, the female knight suddenly reached out and firmly grasped the blade of her sword, pulling it forcefully.

Her palm was immediately cut by the sharp blade, blood dripping!

"What are you doing!" Robert demanded. But Rolin didn't answer. She took a few steps forward, gently pushing aside the Roland family guards in front of her.

Rolin stood at the forefront of the group, watching as a griffin charged towards them. Suddenly, the female knight opened her arms, forming a strange finger gesture. Then, her whole body flashed with a yellow light!

Within the light, the wound on her palm suddenly sprayed blood, quickly dissipating within the light! Then, a huge beam of light shot out from her embrace! The charging griffin was enveloped by the beam of light. It didn't even have time to cry out before its body... banged! Disappeared!

It turned into countless specks of light, and just like that, the griffin vanished!

Everyone was stunned! Not only the Roland family guards, but also Robert and Solzkyar—all of them were shocked! The only one still lost in thought was probably DuWei.

The female knight... Could it be that she's using magic? Is she a female wizard?!

After Rolin made a griffin disappear on the spot with this strange spell, her body seemed to sway, and then she loudly chanted a strange, incomprehensible incantation. As she did, the yellow light surrounding her grew larger... At the same time, the speed of the blood flowing from Rolin's hand increased!

As the yellow light gradually enveloped everyone, the surrounding griffins all began to roar but seemed hesitant to approach the light! With the protection of the light, the Roland family members finally felt safe. However, the female knight's body weakened, almost collapsing.

Among the shocked crowd, Robert was the first to come to his senses. He quickly stepped forward and supported the weakened female knight, shouting, "She's injured! Who has some medicine! She needs to stop the bleeding!"

Looking at the wound on Rolin's hand, Robert was astonished!

What kind of wound was this! The wound had split open almost twice its size, and the skin around it had turned pale! This clearly looked like excessive bleeding! But how could so much blood flow from such a small cut? Even now, Rolin's blood was flowing rapidly! The speed of this flow made Robert feel a chill in his heart!

"No! Don't stop the bleeding," Rolin bit her lip forcefully and said in a low voice, "My spell requires my blood to sustain it. Quick, quick, retreat, while we still can."

Although he didn't know what kind of spell this was, Robert knew it wasn't the time to ask questions. He immediately shouted, "Everyone, retreat! Let's leave this place!"

"Make sure no one's body protrudes beyond the light circle," Rolin added.

However, as everyone retreated, the only one who didn't move was Duwei. Frowning, Robert gave the absent-minded young master a tug, thinking that perhaps the boy was dumbfounded by the situation.

"Master, we need to leave this place! Quickly!"

"No," Duwei's body remained unmoved, but his eyes still held a pensive gaze as he looked at the griffins before him.

Robert grew impatient. "If we don't leave now, we're doomed!"

"No," Duwei shook his head, still lost in thought.

Robert couldn't help but feel annoyed!

His soldiers were bleeding, and the female knight beside him was using her own blood to sustain a spell! If the bleeding wasn't stopped soon, she might die!

But at this moment, what on earth was this inexperienced young master up to!!

Just as Robert was feeling dissatisfied, Duwei finally smiled...

Damn it! This guy, he actually found something to laugh about!

Duwei turned to look at Rolin and said, "Rolin, stop your spell. Although the 'Anti-Magic Domain' of the Muen tribe is the nemesis of all magic, it comes at the cost of blood. I appreciate your sacrifice, but... it seems we've been tricked."

Robert was momentarily stunned. Was this young master delirious? Why couldn't he understand what he was saying?

"Robert! Quickly, stop the bleeding for our female knight. Do you want to see her bleed to death?" Duwei shouted, making his command clear this time. Robert was taken aback for a moment, but Duwei had already gone up and grabbed Rolin's hand, giving Robert a push. "What are you waiting for!"

Then Duwei glanced at Rolin and whispered, "Thank you. Your courage today is admirable!"

After saying that, Duwei suddenly pushed aside the guards in front of him and shouted loudly at the griffins outside, "Come on! Let me see what else you've got!"

Amidst the exclamations of the crowd, Duwei suddenly took a few steps forward! Robert was scared out of his wits and rushed forward to grab his master. But at that moment, a griffin, which had been anxiously looking for an opportunity outside the yellow light circle, saw Duwei running out on his own and immediately pounced!

Robert tried to save Duwei, but the griffin's body crashed into him, and he could only manage to block it with his long sword before being knocked aside! In the stunned silence of everyone, the griffin's talons easily pierced Duwei's frail body, as if piercing through a thin sheet of paper!

!!!

All the Roland family guards felt their vision blur, and Robert nearly passed out, while the weakened female knight let out a scream and collapsed.

Seeing Duwei being thrown out like a leaf by the griffin, his body falling through the air and crashing to the ground, everyone felt as if their hearts had sunk to the bottom of the abyss!

It's over! It's all over!

With their young master dead here, they were all finished! Even if they managed to survive and return, being responsible for the death of their master would surely result in their execution by the family!

Robert was already sitting on the ground, not even aware that his sword had fallen from his hand. In this moment, even the knight was utterly despondent...

"Hehe..."

A strange laughter echoed, and then, to everyone's astonishment, Duwei's "corpse" suddenly swayed and climbed up on its own!

The sight left everyone wide-eyed in disbelief!

Duwei's body was covered in blood and gore, with a gaping wound in his chest that seemed to pierce through his entire body! Blood continued to flow, but Duwei just furrowed his brow, glanced down at his wound, and then chuckled, "This feeling, it really does hurt. Hehe... it feels so real!"

He then touched the blood on his wound, lifted his hand to his eyes to examine it, and even sniffed it, murmuring to himself, "Hmm, it does seem very realistic, even the blood looks real..."