The Red Horn Wilderness is a vast expanse located more than two hundred kilometers north of Black Stone City.
The barren land has sparse vegetation, scarce water sources, and is characterized by numerous jagged rocks resembling red horns, which give the Red Horn Wilderness its name.
Due to the harsh environment, besides the Black-scaled Lizardman tribe, there are no other intelligent creatures here.
It's precisely because it's so difficult to find enough food in the Red Horn Wilderness that every winter, the Black-scaled Lizardmen invade the territory of Black Stone City, plundering enough food for the winter while also reducing the tribe's surplus population.
For this marauding tribe that brings disaster to Black Stone City annually, the city harbors deep hatred and loathing.
Thus, when Kei ordered a surprise attack on the Black-scaled Lizardman tribe, it immediately received enthusiastic support from the knights.
"I've been fed up with those lizard bandits for too long; today, I'm definitely going to wipe them out!"
Jordon rode on a Black Rock Leopard, his face filled with excitement.
The surrounding knights were also gearing up, eager for battle.
Given the importance of this campaign, Kei not only dispatched the newly formed Cavalry Legion but also mobilized five hundred soldiers.
With ample support from Gold Coins, the army of Black Stone City has expanded to a thousand men.
And that doesn't include the militia forces.
The military strength has increased several-fold compared to last year.
The Cavalry Legion led the way, with infantry behind, forming a long column of over five hundred men moving orderly across the wasteland.
Kei and Sunan were in the middle of the formation, each mounted on a Black Rock Leopard.
However, compared to the Cavalry Legion's Black Rock Leopards, their mounts appeared more robust and majestic, with a deeper luster in their bodies.
[Black Rock Leopard (Puppet/Advanced Knight Level), a puppet creation made from Black Stone Iron, with a body as sturdy as Black Stone Iron and capable of navigating the Black Stone Iron veins, able to replenish energy and heal injuries by consuming Black Stone Iron.]
This was the elite Black Rock Leopard Sunan synthesized from seven Black Rock Leopards.
Each had the combat power of an Advanced Knight Level, and their sturdy bodies could only bear shallow marks even against weapons cast from Black Stone Iron.
Kei was smitten with this elite Black Rock Leopard, evidently very satisfied with his mount.
As they advanced deeper into the Red Horn Wilderness, the surrounding environment became more desolate.
After another half hour of travel, the scouts responsible for reconnaissance returned and shouted loudly, "Sir, the Black-scaled Lizardman tribe is approximately two kilometers ahead."
"Excellent."
Kei's spirit lifted as he gave a deep-voiced order.
"Everyone accelerate, prepare for battle!"
As the order was given, the speed of the marching column immediately increased.
Soon, the Black-scaled Lizardman tribe came into view.
Calling it a tribe was generous—it was merely a collection of low huts made of straw and wood, enclosed by wooden fences, exuding primitiveness and backwardness everywhere.
With over five hundred troops approaching, the Black-scaled Lizardmen were not blind and naturally noticed.
By the time the troops arrived, hundreds of Black-scaled Lizardmen had already gathered in front of the tribe with weapons, staring fiercely at the enemy.
The Black-scaled Lizardmen are practically a nation of warriors; even women and children possess combat prowess equal to normal adult men.
Adult Black-scaled Lizardmen have strength equivalent to that of knight's squires.
A handful of elite Black-scaled Lizardmen can attain the level of apprentice knights.
If there is an atavistic phenomenon, with the awakening of a trace of Dragon Lizard bloodline, they can rival knights.
Currently standing at the forefront, with scales bearing scarlet patterns indicative of Dragon Lizard bloodline awakening, there are more than a dozen knight-level Black-scaled Lizardmen.
The leader, nearly two meters and five in height, emanated a ferocious and vicious aura similar to that of Kei.
Kei had only just advanced to Peak Knight last month.
This tribe chieftain of the Black-scaled Lizardmen likely possessed Peak Knight Level strength.
Additionally, the number of Black-scaled Lizardman warriors wielding weapons noticeably exceeded two hundred.
While they may have fewer numbers, their individual strength is formidable.
Winning this battle seems not so straightforward.
Yet neither Kei nor his knights showed any trace of fear; morale was high.
Because behind them stood a Wizard!
During the ride, all the cavalrymen of the Cavalry Legion simultaneously took out a potion, popped the wooden cork with their thumbs, and poured it into their mouths.
Strength Potion!
A zero-level potion capable of significantly enhancing power!
For this campaign, Sunan had crafted over sixty bottles of potion in one go, ensuring each cavalier in the Cavalry Legion received one.
With the Strength Potion boost, even apprentice knights could exert power not much inferior to that of formal knights!
"Charge!"
Kei drew his longsword and shouted vehemently.
In his vanguard charge, the Cavalry Legion launched like an arrow, crashing into the Black-scaled Lizardman's frontline!
In an instant, blood spattered, and limbs flew!
The battle broke out in an instant and quickly reached a fever pitch.
The open area in front of the tribe became a battlefield filled with blood and gore!
Using Black Rock Leopards as mounts, the Cavalry Legion found itself on the battlefield for the first time since its formation.
They did not disappoint with their exhibited combat prowess.
Even if the Black-scaled Lizardmen could withstand the strikes of the cavaliers, they were soon torn apart by the Black Rock Leopards' sharp claws.
What they faced was no longer an individual cavalier but the combined assault of cavaliers and Black Rock Leopards.
This was entirely different from the cavalry armies they had faced before.
The initial intelligence disparity unsurprisingly resulted in heavy losses for the Black-scaled Lizardmen.
Sunan stood in the rear, nodding quietly at the battlefield.
It seemed that this world had never seen an example of tamed exotic beasts as mounts.
At least within the Starlight Kingdom, it was unheard of.
Thus, the Black Rock Leopard cavalry, an unprecedented troop type, easily led their opponents to make incorrect responses the first time they faced them.
On a rapidly changing battlefield, an incorrect response often signified death.
The Black Rock Leopard cavalry was still relatively small in number, but as this unit expanded into a full-scale Cavalry Legion, it would undoubtedly bring a mighty 'surprise' to Black Stone City's enemies.
Sunan withdrew his gaze and glanced at Brad beside him, sighing slightly in his heart.
He needed to advance to the second-level Wizard Apprentice soon; otherwise, he would always be a fragile mage needing protection in battle.
Shaking his head, Sunan refocused his thoughts, uttered strange syllables, and a basketball-sized ball of acid quickly formed in the air before him. With a flick of his finger, it shot like an arrow toward a knight-level Black-scaled Lizardman.
The reach of the Mage's Hand was inadequate, unsuitable for the current battlefield.
Thus, Sunan opted for an Acid Splash.
Hiss hiss!
The Black-scaled Lizardman never expected an attack from afar and was caught off guard as the acid splashed onto its face.
In an instant, the acid corroded a large hole in the lizardman's face, devouring its features until only a dark gaping cavity remained, even eroding some of the bone beneath.
The Black-scaled Lizardman convulsed and fell to the ground, clearly lifeless.
The terrifying power of the Acid Splash left the surrounding Black-scaled Lizardmen trembling.
For the moment, they looked at Sunan with deep-seated fear.
They did not fear human blades and fists, but this strange and horrifying attack was beyond their understanding.
What kind of power was this?