Chapter 227 Baron's power
Volk didn't wait for the knights to regroup.
He surged forward, his gauntlet glowing brighter as he closed the distance between himself and the remaining cavalry.
The first knight raised his sword, but Volk swatted him aside with a backhanded strike.
THWACK!
The man flew through the air like a ragdoll, his armor crumpling with a sickening CRUNCH as he collided with the ground.
"Hold the line!" another knight shouted, but his voice was drowned out by the chaos.
Volk slammed his fist into the earth.
BOOM!
The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, knocking horses off their feet and sending knights sprawling.
"Arrows! Ready the arrows!" a voice screamed.
The surviving archers scrambled to nock their arrows, their hands trembling as they drew their bows.
A volley was loosed, the air filling with the sharp whizz of projectiles.
Volk laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that seemed to shake the earth.
He raised his gauntlet, letting the arrows bounce harmlessly off its surface.
TINK! TINK! TINK!
"Your metal weapons means nothing to me," he bellowed, his voice dripping with mockery. "You might as well be throwing twigs!"
The knights charged, desperation etched into their faces.
Their swords gleamed in the dim light as they closed the distance, shouting battle cries meant to mask their fear.
Volk met them head-on.
One knight swung his blade in a wide arc, aiming for Volk's neck.
Volk ducked effortlessly, the blade slicing through empty air.
Before the knight could recover, Volk grabbed him by the arm and slammed him into the ground.
WHAM!
Another knight lunged, thrusting his spear toward Volk's chest.
Volk caught the spear mid-thrust, snapping it in half with his bare hands.
He grabbed the knight by the helmet and hurled him into a cluster of his comrades.
CRASH!
The knights began to panic.
"He's unstoppable!"
"Retreat! We need to—"
"There's no retreat! Stand and fight!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
But their courage was waning, their once-coordinated attacks devolving into a chaotic frenzy.
Volk was a whirlwind of destruction, his gauntlet smashing through shields and armor like they were made of paper.
A knight tried to flank him, aiming for his exposed side. Volk spun around, his massive foot connecting with the man's chest.
THUD!
The knight was sent flying, his scream fading as he disappeared into the distance.
The ground was slick with blood, the once-proud cavalry reduced to a scattering of broken bodies and shattered weapons.
Horses neighed in terror, rearing and bucking as their riders were thrown to the ground.
Volk stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving with exertion. He looked down at his gauntlet, the radioactive glow pulsing steadily, as if feeding off the chaos around him.
"Is this all you've got?" he muttered, his voice dripping with disdain.
A knight, barely standing, raised his sword one last time. "For the Baron!" he cried, charging with all the strength he could muster.
Volk didn't even bother to move. He caught the sword with his gauntlet, the blade shattering on impact.
The knight stared in disbelief before Volk grabbed him by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
"Tell me," Volk growled, his voice low and menacing. "Was it worth it?"
The knight's only response was a choked gasp before Volk hurled him into the wreckage of his fallen comrades.
The battlefield fell silent, the only sound the distant rumble of thunder and the soft crackling of Volk's gauntlet.
He turned, surveying the destruction he had wrought.
The cavalry was no more.
But the mission was not done yet.
Volk cracked his neck, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "Pathetic," he muttered, his voice carrying over the lifeless field. "They didn't even make me sweat."
He turned his gaze toward the distant horizon, where the remains of the cavalry's leader had disappeared.
"I hope you're still alive, little human," he said, his grin widening. "I'm not done with you yet."
Suddenly, Volk's arrogant form of speaking died in his throat, his eyes snapping wide as the air around him crackled with an immense and unfamiliar energy.
A faint hum filled the battlefield, growing louder and sharper until it was a deafening screech.
Instinct kicked in, and Volk's muscles coiled like steel springs.
"Move!"
At the very last moment, Volk shifted his weight and sidestepped, his massive frame defying expectations of speed.
The air where he'd stood split open with a blinding flash as a devastating surge of magic ripped through the space.
BOOM!
The impact tore through the ground, sending shards of earth and rock flying in every direction.
The shockwave alone nearly sent Volk stumbling.
Behind him, the remnants of the rock mountain weren't spared.
The blast carved through its base, leaving a gaping, smoldering hole that hissed with residual energy.
Dust and debris rained down, coating the battlefield in a dense fog.
Volk turned toward the source of the attack, his breath heavy with both exertion and surprise.
His glowing gauntlet twitched at his side, the radioactive energy humming erratically.
From the haze, a voice rang out. It wasn't just angry—it was seething, dripping with venom and righteous fury.
"You filthy, wretched beast," the voice snarled.
The fog began to clear, revealing Baron Geisler.
His once-polished armor was scuffed and dented, but his posture was unyielding, and his grip on his sword and shield was steady.
His face was a mask of controlled rage, his eyes locked onto Volk with a hatred that could burn through steel.
"You dare lay your filthy hands on my son? My knights? My legacy?"
Volk snorted, though his heart pounded in his chest. "Your son begged for mercy like a coward." He smirked, letting his words drip with mockery. "Your knights are nothing but scraps under my boots."
Baron Geisler's grip on his sword tightened, his knuckles turning white.
"My son was a fool, but he was my fool!" His voice cracked like thunder. "You robbed him of his chance to learn! To grow!"
The Baron's shield glimmered faintly, magic coiling around its edges like smoke. "And my knights… they fought for their honor, for their land, and you butchered them as if they were cattle."
Volk rolled his shoulders, raising his gauntlet. "Sounds like they got what they deserved."
Geisler's voice dropped, cold and menacing. "You… will pay for their lives, you vile Ogre. Every drop of blood you spilled will be repaid a hundredfold."
And with that, he charged.
Volk barely had time to react.
Baron Geisler moved with the precision and speed of a predator.
His sword lashed out in a blinding arc, and Volk brought his gauntlet up just in time.
CLANG!
The impact sent sparks flying, the sheer force of the blow making Volk's arm tremble.
"What the—" Volk grunted, stepping back.
The Baron didn't let up.
He was relentless, each strike of his sword a calculated blow aimed to exploit openings in Volk's defense.
His shield wasn't just for blocking; he used it like a battering ram, slamming it into Volk's torso with bone-jarring force.
THUD! BANG! SLASH!
Volk staggered, the blows coming faster than he could counter.
For the first time, he felt a flicker of unease.
"This isn't normal," Volk muttered, dodging a thrust aimed for his neck. "This guy… moves like a strong earth martial artist with swords and shields!"