Regressor of the Fallen Family novel Chapter 58

Chapter 58

With a bone-chilling howl, dozens of wolves with long black horns on their foreheads burst out of the forest, charging toward the center of the knight squadron. These creatures, markedly faster and more than half again as large as ordinary wolves, were classified as lower-middle rank monsters. Although falling into this category meant they were not generally considered a serious threat, facing a pack of them could prove far more dangerous, elevating their threat level significantly.

Horned wolves! Form up!

The knights response differed from their usual engagements with goblins. The targets of the horned wolves swiftly banded together in groups of three, back to back, to confront the oncoming beasts.

Kiieeek!

Keeang!

Kyaoooh!

No matter how ferocious the horned wolves were, they were not a match for a multitude of knights.

As a few of the pack were quickly dispatched, spurred by a howl from one of the larger beasts, the remaining wolves bypassed the knights and headed straight for the rear.

Unlike the goblins, these creatures showed no fear in the face of over a thousand humans, but the soldiers remained equally undaunted.

Deploy the crossbow cavalry!

Aye!

Fire!

The soldiers, tense but obedient, followed their orders. Yet the downpour of bolts failed to play their intended role.

Awooouuuu!

As the pack leader howled, the barrage of incoming bolts seemed to slow dramatically in the air. Though none changed course erratically, the diminished volley proved too weak to pierce through the thick hide of the horned wolves and landed harmlessly on the ground.

In the brief moment that the volley passed, the horned wolves had closed the distance right up to the soldiers formation.

Swordsmen, take your positions!

Form ranks!

Let none through!

The faces of the knights, once pallid with dread and tension, now flushed with fervor at Logans loud command.

Taaah!

Led by Viktor at the forefront, the waiting swordsmen swung their swords and spears in unison. In the background, a pair of red eyes closely watched the scene unfold.

Euaahhp!

Kyao!

With indiscernible cries that were either battle roars or screams of pain, spears and swords were brandished. At the moment Viktors front line clashed with the leader of the horned wolves, the rest of the pack leaped, aiming to breach the soldiers lines.

The horned wolves numbered only twenty-one, but the three hundred soldiers struggled to respond effectively to the breach.

Euaaak!

Crunch.

As one soldier was struck by a horn and fumbled his sword in confusion, the sharp teeth of a horned wolf sank into his leg. Despite their comrades cries as he fell, most of the surrounding soldiers were petrified, unable to act.

But there were a few who reacted differently.

Die, beast!

Thwack.

Crack!

A spear, held by a soldier with not enough strength, failed to fully penetrate the thick hide of the horned wolf, leaving an impact like a club. Yet, it was enough to stagger the beast that had dealt a fatal blow to one of their own.

Seeing this, the formerly paralyzed soldiers found their courage and began to wave their weapons again, albeit with pale faces. Similar scenes unfolded elsewhere on the battlefield.

Logan intervened only where the bravest soldiers were absent; in other words, where entire groups had been completely subdued by the ferocity of the monsters.

Fwssh.

Kiee

Thud.

You. You. You. Everyone else, fall back!

Logans menacing presence alone was enough to chase away the beasts and spring the soldiers limbs into action. Logans brow furrowed slightly as he moved to aid the soldiers plunged into crisis.

Even amidst this chaos, he paid close attention to the scramble with the few remaining horned wolves and assessed the soldiers reactions.

In fact, Logan didnt really need to exert himself. The difference between the soldiers he had noticed and those he hadnt was glaringly obvious.

Surely, they fight well.

Trey, who had previously demonstrated beast-like sight, now showed a monster-like reflex in dodging attacks a beat quicker, while Adam, with his astounding hearing, was nimble enough to evade assaults from behind.

Others, who had shown at least some potential in harnessing the Force, outshone their peers in combat prowess, even though their skills were still lacking.

Most of those who had excelled were among the top hundred selected during the sensory test. But Logan realized a key point: even among the lower ranks, there were soldiers who stood out with potential.

With the insights gained by closely observing these battles, Logan identified a pattern.

Its right to select based on senses, not just physical stamina

That was no different from the Empires criteria for soldier selection. But, focusing on those who had absorbed even a faint hint of the Force, Logan discovered another factor.

That has nothing to do with sight or hearing, strictly speaking.

Those capable of dodging monster attacks from blind spots or of instinctively counter-attacking demonstrated it wasnt just exceptional vision or hearing. Even soldiers from the lower ranks of the sensory test exhibited these traits.

Tactile senses, perhaps? Or could it be intuition? Hmm

Logan had not enough data to be certain. He simply pocketed the fact that those his own senses identified did indeed show promising qualities.

The significance of this reconnaissance alone gave meaning to the battle.

Before the soldiers formation could crumble further, Logan shouted thunderously.

Clayton!

At his call, Clayton, a fifth circle mage who had been preparing magic ever since the horned wolves had charged, responded.

Answer my call, powers of the earth. Stone Edge!

Boom!

The stone spikes that surged at the precise location of the horned wolves killed nearly half of the twenty in a single stroke, leaving most of the others severely wounded.