NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 652
Chapter 652: Watch Me Fight Well. (1)
Ghislaine often explained to everyone why ambushes were crucial.
He had achieved victories in most wars through ambushes and sudden assaults. He could be called the strongest in the continent when it came to ambush tactics.
“The key to an ambush is completely exceeding your opponent’s expectations. The success of an ambush hinges on three elements.”
Everyone listened intently, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
“First, complete stealth. You must not be spotted by the enemy while approaching. You should control everything—sounds, movements, and shadows.”
“Ooooh!”
“Second, instant overwhelm. The goal of an ambush is to give the enemy no chance to react. You have to launch an immediate attack!”
“Ooooh!”
“Third, accurate information. To succeed in an ambush, you must gather intelligence through accurate reconnaissance. Just one mistake can lead to mission failure.”
“Ooooh!”
“An ambush is a double-edged sword. If you succeed, you gain overwhelming advantages; if you fail, we might find ourselves in a bad situation. So, you need to plan how to move in case of failure.”
“Ooooh!”
Whenever he had the time, Ghislaine taught the heroes not only the essentials of ambushes but also military science.
They were destined to lead the Human Alliance in the future. Thus, military science could not be neglected.
The three of them were in awe, soaking in his words. Military science was an advanced subject that one could only learn at the Academy unless they came from a noble family.
Astiion didn’t teach something like military science. To be fair, he didn’t really know it himself.
Unfortunately, he had never been possessed by a famous commander.
The three of them were fully engrossed in Ghislaine’s high-level military knowledge and learned diligently.
“Okay, you’ve learned a lot so far. This time, let’s put ambush tactics to the test in a real situation.”
At Ghislaine’s words, the three nodded with eager expressions. It was a proper military learning experience, and they were about to try an ambush for the first time.
And now.
They were learning the hard way about the problems that arise when an ambush fails.
“Catch and kill them!”
The bandits, being from a regular army, had set up watchtowers around the cliffs.
They knew that high-level knights or mages could approach via the cliffs.
Yulien, seeing the approaching bandits, asked in panic, “Isn’t this supposed to be an ambush?”
Ghislaine straightened up and replied, “You learn best through failure. It engraves lessons onto your mind and body perfectly. We’ve failed to maintain stealth and secure accurate information. I didn’t expect them to have sentries here either.”
“……”
Everyone was at a loss for words at Ghislaine’s nonchalant attitude, completely devoid of shame.
Still, one thing was true. The realization was indeed clear. It had been stamped perfectly onto their bodies and minds.
The bandits were charging furiously. The three drew their weapons and prepared for battle. They had no choice but to fight even in their exhausted state.
Kyle glanced at Ghislaine and asked, “Hey… Didn’t you say we need to prepare for a plan in case we fail?”
“That’s a good question. Of course, I’m prepared. I’m a man with plans.”
“What, what is it?”
Everyone’s expressions brightened with hope. Ghislaine looked around at them, grinning widely.
“We haven’t even done the instant overwhelming yet. Just push through with strength.”
“……”
Isn’t that only applicable when you succeed in an ambush? As everyone hesitated, doubting their own ears, Ghislaine stepped forward.
“Alright, shall we start?”
Ghislaine couldn’t cast spells, but he could manipulate magic power.
Whoosh!
Lances of clear blue magic power materialized around him. It was likely due to using Astiion’s magic; the color of the magic lances was distinctly different from those Ghislaine usually conjured.
“Ah, since he’s a 5th Circle mage? Still, that’s a considerable amount of magic power.”
More than ten magic lances floated around Ghislaine. The bandits, seeing this, shouted loudly.
“A mage!”
“Kill that guy first!”
“Rush him!”
The bandits aimed for Ghislaine first. If they left a mage unchecked, it would be dangerous.
Ghislaine, leaving the three who were tense behind, dashed forward.
“What the hell? Why is a mage the first one to jump out?”
The bandits laughed uncontrollably as they approached Ghislaine.
Bam!
At that moment, the magic lances shot out in all directions. Some knight-level bandits deflected them, but those who were weaker took the hits.
“Gak!”
Multiple bandits fell at once. However, the remaining bandits didn’t panic. On the contrary, they closed in on Ghislaine.
Ghislaine, unfazed, leaped even further ahead.
It was a reckless move for a mage to get that close to the enemy, and anyone could see that.
Yet Ghislaine continued to smile. A smile full of anticipation.
“Shall I loosen up a bit?”
The staff Ghislaine held was as smooth and straight as a pole, covered in magical runes.
Although it was a weapon used to amplify magic power, Ghislaine didn’t know that. So, he began swinging the staff in battle.
Whack!
One of the bandits who was closest to Ghislaine got hit in the face and collapsed. Immediately, another bandit swung a sword at Ghislaine.
“Die, you bastard!”
Just then, Ghislaine’s staff moved like lightning.
Whack!
“Gak!”
As the end of the staff accurately struck the bandit’s chest, he vomited blood and flew back.
Like filling a gap, three bandits charged in from both sides. Ghislaine raised the staff vertically and struck one’s head down.
Whack!
Then he quickly spun the staff and struck the knees of the two advancing from the opposite side. The charging bandits couldn’t help but fall, screaming.
Whack! Whack! Whack!
Ghislaine’s staff moved like lightning. The attacking bandits stumbled or dropped their weapons as Ghislaine’s blows connected with their bodies and heads mercilessly.
“Uuugh! What the hell is this guy!”
“Wasn’t he a mage?”
“He’s not a mage! It’s a trick! Quickly, surround him!”
Amidst the chaos, one shout gave the bandits courage, causing them to swarm around Ghislaine.
In an instant, magical lances re-appeared around him and shot out again.
Boom!
The bandits that had closed in were once again hit by the magical lances and fell.
“Uugh!”
“He’s a mage! He really is a mage!”
“So what are we supposed to do now!”
The bandits were mercilessly pounded by Ghislaine’s staff and magical lances, unable to approach him at all.
“W-What the hell is going on…”
The bandit leader, who had arrived late, stood agape in shock.
What kind of mage could fight like that!
No matter how he looked at it, he didn’t feel overwhelming power. He looked weak, small, and skinny—like someone who only studied.
Yet his subordinates were still falling under that guy’s assault.
“W-What technique could do that…”
Ghislaine’s movements were nothing short of extreme. He continued attacking relentlessly without a moment’s delay while also defending.
The staff-like weapon spun around, deflecting the bandits’ attacks, striking their weaknesses and bringing them down.
Whack! Whack! Whack!
The staff held by Ghislaine spun freely at his fingertips while simultaneously performing both offense and defense.
At times he gripped the middle of the staff to thrust at close range, and at others he struck down those farther away with the tip.
“Th-This can’t be real…”
The bandit leader was utterly dazed. As a former knight, he recognized just how exceptional Ghislaine’s technique was.
Or, more accurately, it was correct to say he couldn’t gauge that technique with his own skills.
It wasn’t just the bandit leader who was dumbfounded. The heroes were also busy watching Ghislaine’s fight.
“Whoa….”
“Astiion could move like that?”
“No matter if someone else is in there…”
To use technique properly, one’s body had to be trained accordingly.
However, Astiion absolutely disliked moving his body. He always wanted to use magic for convenience.
Yet, to see such movement from a weak body was shocking!
Thanks to the length of the staff, his short arms and legs were not weaknesses at all.
In fact, he was utilizing his small frame to move agilely, preventing the bandits from getting close.
“Incredible…”
Everyone gasped in awe. It was a completely different level of movement compared to what they had seen before.
“Why doesn’t he teach something like that instead of military science…”
At Kyle’s mumbling, the other two nodded.
Just then, the bandit leader, noticing the three who were standing there dumbfounded, shouted with veins popping in his neck.
“Kill those guys first! No, take them hostage!”
“Yaaaaaa!”
The bandits who were in the hideout all gathered towards them. There were still dozens left aside from those attached to Ghislaine.
They charged towards the three.
The three braced themselves with tense expressions. This was not the time to be awed by Ghislaine.
Clang!
Yulien stepped forward first to block a bandit’s axe.
Having just descended from the cliff, his body was not fully prepared. Thus, he could not afford to make mistakes.
‘If I mess up, I might die.’
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Every time weapons clashed, his body trembled. Yet, Yulien focused hard to draw out every ounce of strength he could muster.
To survive, he had to heighten his senses to the extreme.
Deneb and Kyle were in the same boat. They had never fought in such an exhausted state before.
Up until now, they had always tried to conserve their strength, wary of potential dangers lurking at any corner.
But because of Ghislaine’s reckless plan, they truly had to push their limits.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
“What the hell is wrong with these guys!”
The bandits were taken aback while cornering the three. They all looked quite young but really had extraordinary talent.
Still, the odds were in favor of the bandits. The three were focused solely on not getting surrounded.
As a result, they were gradually getting pushed back and sustaining injuries.
‘Ugh, is this it?’
Yulien bit his lip.
Though it was tough, the battle felt undeniably different this time.
Pushing himself to the brink, his mind felt a strange clarity, like it was soaring. He couldn’t even tell how to move his arms anymore.
It was painful, yet gradually his mind sharpened and the pain began to fade.
However, there were far too many opponents. His body began to accumulate wounds, and dangerous situations grew frequent.
‘What should I do…’
As Yulien tried to withdraw and search for another way, something burst through the bandits. It seemed there were dozens.
Flap flap flap!
“Ugh! What are these things!”
Dozens of blue sparrows flitted among the bandits, creating chaos.
They even started chattering loudly.
“Here I come!”
“A-A sparrow can talk?”
Some bandits were halted in their tracks, astonished.
“Here we go!”
Whack!
Taking advantage of the commotion, the sparrows slammed themselves into the faces of the bandits.
“What the hell! What is this!”
With the sparrows darting around, the bandits were swinging their weapons wildly, trying to chase them off.
They couldn’t allow beaks attacking their faces to go unchecked!
Unlike the confused bandits, Yulien and the others didn’t lose focus.
Using the bandits’ momentary panic, they immediately counter-attacked.
Slash!
“Gah!”
Bandits began to fall, one by one, to Yulien’s sword. The same went for those who had charged at Kyle.
Deneb fell back, providing support with divine power. He believed it was better to assist the two who were exhausted rather than fight himself.
And that judgment paid off.
Boom…
Though it was a meager divine power, it was more than enough to heal minor wounds and revitalize them.
Thanks to that, the two could move a bit more energetically.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
“Ugh!”
“You little punks!”
“Do something about those damned sparrows!”
The bandits couldn’t fully concentrate on the battle. The sparrows, who moved independently to discern the situation, continually disrupted the bandits’ attacks.
Especially when they pecked around the bandits’ eyes, they had no choice but to cover their faces and retreat.
The three weren’t surprised at all by the sudden arrival of the swarm of sparrows.
They had already learned about Dark’s existence from being with Ghislaine. They didn’t know he had shrunk from a crow to a sparrow due to a lack of magic power.
Regardless, with the efforts of the three and Dark, the bandits’ numbers gradually dwindled.
‘We can do this!’
Yulien put his strength into swinging his sword. He didn’t pay attention to the other side. Kyle must surely be taking down enemies admirably as well.
Boom!
After piercing the chest of the last bandit in front of him, Yulien relaxed for a moment.
There were no more blockers in front of him.
And at that moment.
Behind the collapsing bandit revealed a contorted face.
Deneb shouted in surprise, “Yulien!”
The enraged bandit leader’s sword was flying straight toward Yulien’s neck.