Chapter 273: Encirclement and Annihilation (Three Updates)

The next morning, Luo Ning received word that the Polant Thief Guild had set out once more, advancing toward the City of Great Stones.

This proved the secrecy had worked—so far, the enemy remained unaware that Corien had been defeated.

If so, the preparations Luo Ning had made in advance could now be enacted.

He needed to clear the streets near the southern gate of the City of Great Stones, positioning the noble alliance forces on either flank, waiting until the entire thief army had poured into the city.

Then, encircling them from all four directions—front, back, left, right—the assault would shatter their morale.

Though this world held the supernatural, human hearts still dictated the tide of battle.

In panic, even a Golden Knight could not perform at his true level.

Meanwhile, the McKen Knight Squad, which had traversed the treacherous mountain path the previous evening and arrived at Cassiel Town, now camped among the hills, awaiting Carllos’s signal.

The rising sun cast warm light, dispelling the morning chill.

Hummm—

A faint, almost imperceptible vibration stirred. Elron lifted his gaze to the sky, where a single white cloud was visibly turning crimson.

“McKen, look.”

McKen and his men raised their heads just in time to witness it.

A white cloud in the morning sky was rare enough—but one turning red? That was uncanny.

“That’s Carllos’s signal!”

McKen rose to his feet, shouting: “All hands, prepare! In three minutes, we move to assault Cassiel Town!”

“This is our first battle—and our most crucial one. I expect every one of you to bring twelve percent focus and fifteen percent strength. Let the noble alliance see the might of the North U Territory!”

The North U Knight Squad erupted in fierce cries, equally eager for this fight.

Soon, they departed their encampment, following Warwick’s guidance along narrow trails toward Cassiel Town.

“There’s a scout outpost ahead,” Warwick said. “Usually guarded by two soldiers.”

No sooner had he spoken than two figures emerged from a wooden hut nestled in the trees.

Swoosh. Swoosh.

Joffrey and Rogner lunged forward—before either guard could make sense of what was happening, their throats were slit.

“Advance!” McKen ordered.

Warwick, exhausted and half-minded to flee, had already lost all thoughts of betrayal after witnessing the squad’s overwhelming strength.

“Beyond this lies the entrance to Cassiel Town. Normally guarded by a dozen men, but only two low-rank knights among them—the rest are common folk.”

McKen nodded. “David, Tom, Grami, Tomas—you four lead the assault. First squad of infantry, support.”

After seizing the Red Mountain Town, the Polant Thief Guild had shifted their main forces there. Cassiel Town, as their rear base, had been considered safe—especially since Corien was their ally. The hidden path posed no threat.

Thus, McKen’s small knight squad faced no real obstacle.

Meanwhile, the Polant Thief Guild had reached the outskirts of the City of Great Stones.

Kilbart pointed to the gate. “Yesterday, I observed a squad of soldiers here. Now they’re gone.”

“What could a single squad accomplish? They must have learned of our main force’s approach and joined the noble alliance.”

As they spoke, a distant rumbling rolled toward them.

Amicus’s heart quickened. “The noble alliance must be attacking the Great Stone Fortress!”

“They’ve grown desperate. They know we’re coming.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s link up with our allies and crush them!”

At Amicus’s command, the thief guild surged into the City of Great Stones.

Inside, they found the streets empty, the houses devoid of life—but they felt no suspicion.

The common folk feared war. When they learned this city would become a battlefield, flight was inevitable.

Yet they did not know that behind the distant houses, far from the streets, countless knights and soldiers held their breath, waiting for the signal to strike.

When they passed the main avenue and the Great Stone Fortress came into view—

Rattle! Rattle!

Hooves and footsteps thundered as a force blocked their path ahead.

Amicus reined in his steed, smirking at the young man leading the opposing force—the silver hair unmistakable.

“Hahahaha! So the noble alliance sent you—with just a small squad—to hold back the might of Red Mountain Town?”

The Polant Thief Guild had deployed every last warrior!

Beyond Amicus himself, a Golden Knight, there were two Silver Knights, six Bronze Knights, twelve Senior Knights, and fifty-six Junior and Mid-level Knights.

Luo Ning had brought only a small squad. It was sheer arrogance.

But then—footsteps echoed from both flanks.

More forces surrounded them on either side.

“What—?”

Amicus’s eyes widened.

“We’re surrounded!” Lavinisa’s cheer vanished instantly.

Haldan growled, “You’ve committed every man to this assault—what of Corien striking from behind?”

Luo Ning shrugged lightly. “We captured the Great Stone Fortress yesterday. Didn’t you know?”

A ripple of panic surged through the thief guild.

Lavinisa shrieked, “I knew that letter was fake!”

The other three realized it too—but it was too late.

Amicus surveyed the encircling forces. Retreat was already forming in his mind.

In the chaos, escape was possible.

As for these troops? They weren’t his own. Lost? Let them be lost. He could always raise another force later.

“The path to Cassiel Town.”

Luo Ning fixed his gaze on Amicus, speaking slowly. “They say Corien’s knight squad used that very path to return to the Great Stone Territory, slipping past the Ushan Fortress scouts.”

Amicus’s eyes bulged. “How do you know that?”

“It’s Warwick! It has to be Warwick!” Lavinisa screamed again.

“Damn it!”

Luo Ning offered a kind smile. “Warwick is truly a good man. Thanks to his help, my knight squad slipped into Cassiel Town so effortlessly—and now, we’ve taken it from you.”

“You—”

In that instant, not only the four leaders of the thief guild, but every knight and soldier behind them trembled with dread.

Losing Cassiel Town meant losing their rear. No retreat. No escape.

They had planned to trap the noble alliance.

Now—they were the ones trapped.

The morale of the enemy was shattered. Ronin raised the Flaming Sword high: “All units, annihilate the enemy!”

“Kill!”

A deafening roar of battle erupted across the broad avenues of Granite City, as a bloody war began.

Upon hearing the carnage, the rear forces surged forward, encircling them.

In an instant, the vast army of the Pollet Bandits found themselves trapped like dumplings—enemies on all four sides.

The infantry squads at the rear were mercilessly slaughtered by charging knight detachments, blood splattering, staining the ground crimson.

A riot of aura flared as battles between elite knights ignited.

Amicus’s heart trembled. It was no longer a question of how to rise again—it was how to survive this slaughter.

“Kill!”

Knowing Amicus’s strength, Toru, Marven, and Taren charged straight for him.

Rydal stood alone against the silver-rank apex vice-leader, Holdan.

The remaining Kirbalt and Lanivisa were met by Deputy Commander Philip and Solstan.

This was street warfare—this was a true meat grinder.

Ronin, swept up in the chilling atmosphere, ignited his aura armor and plunged into the fray.

“Splat!”

The Flaming Sword sliced through inferior armor, carving long, gushing wounds across the enemies’ bodies.

He kicked out with a powerful leg, sending the foe flying—his force toppled entire rows of bandits.

At silver-rank apex, even without facing the four bandit leaders, he was invincible.

“Kill! Kill him!”

The bronze knights among the bandits, seeing Ronin enter the fray, swarmed him in a frenzy.

If they could kill or capture someone of the Ushan family, perhaps they still had a sliver of hope.

Ronin, too, craved a brutal, unrestrained battle. He cast Speed and Lightness spells upon himself, moving like a phantom.

“So fast!”

The bronze knight felt only a gust of wind pass before his eyes—then a coldness at his throat, his carotid severed. His consciousness blurred rapidly.

“Kill! Kill!”

Several bronze and high-rank knights closed in on Ronin. He spun with fluid grace, unleashing a thick vortex of flame that exploded outward, flinging weaker high-rank knights into the air like ragdolls.

“Fuck! This kid Ronin is terrifying!”

Marven, having just scrambled to his feet after being kicked, witnessed the scene and cursed aloud.

Compared to Ronin’s wild, sweeping carnage, his own duel with the gold-rank Amicus felt cautious, restrained—he dared not strike head-on, forced to flank and assist Toru alongside Taren.

And it was clear: Toru was no match for Amicus.

After all, the latter was a legendary gold-rank knight; Toru had only broken through less than a year ago.

“Splat!”

Rydal’s blade pierced Holdan’s throat—the first to slay one of the four bandit leaders.

“You’re weaker than I imagined,” he remarked.

Holdan gurgled, but no sound escaped his throat.

Had he not faltered today, he would never have fallen so easily. The truth was, Ronin’s intelligence had disrupted his battle focus.

In his final moment of consciousness, he knew: the Pollet Bandits were finished. (End of chapter)