A hound's roar echoed in his ears.
Oldman was lying in the snow. He grabbed a handful of snow and stuffed it into his mouth, shielding his mouth from the heat. His entire body was curled up behind the cold and dry shrubs. The bowstring was already broken and there was only a dagger left on his waist.
He made a gesture to his companion beside him. The other person raised his head and looked into the distance before lying down again. His face was pale as he turned to look at him.
"It's the Soros Family's guards!!"
"I knew they would come."
Oldman revealed a bitter smile when he heard his companion's answer. The others were the same. Of course, they knew why they had come.
Just a few days ago, they had killed a noble of the Soros Family here. At that time, he was planning on leading his troops to plunder the border villages. After receiving this news, Oldman and his companions had set up an ambush on the road and killed him and his guards while the other side wasn't paying attention.
Perhaps that noble didn't think that there would be people who dared to make a move against a noble in this remote place.
However, they also knew that this would attract the Soros Family's private army, but they didn't care because this was their goal.
They wanted to kill these people and plunder everything they had.
Just like what they had done to him.
Thinking of this, Oldman tightly gripped the axe in his hand.
He still remembered what happened to the village that he was supposed to protect. The nobles' private army mercilessly plundered their village. They were like bandits that broke into other people's homes and took away everything, especially food.
Those who tried to stop them were all killed with a single slash. Even Oldman's little sister was tortured to death by them. When Oldman saw his little sister's swollen, bloodstained, and wide-eyed corpse in the warehouse, he decided that he would make these nobles pay for their cruelty.
Of course he knew how dangerous it was to go against the nobles, not to mention killing a noble. This was simply forcing them into a dead end, but they didn't care. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
The nobles had destroyed their families and they wanted to let the nobles know that not everyone was willing to silently endure their tyrannical actions!
The sound of the horse's hooves was getting closer and closer. Along the wind, they could hear the soldiers cursing. They were cursing this damn weather, not thinking about the threat that was close by.
Now!
Oldman roared as he charged out of the bushes. In front of him, there was a private soldier riding on a large horse staring at the snowman that came out of the snow with wide eyes. Perhaps he didn't know what was going on.
Oldman clearly wouldn't give him time to figure it out. He gave a loud roar as the axe in his hand chopped down on the horse's leg, instantly cutting off the horse's front hooves. Then the horse let out a neigh and fell to the ground.
Following this, Oldman charged forward and chopped the face of the fallen cavalryman with his axe. There was a pitiful cry and blood splattered. The cavalryman trembled a few times before he no longer made any movements.
At this moment, the others had already climbed up from the snow. They pulled down the soldiers on their horses and stabbed them to death.
However, these nobles' private soldiers were not to be trifled with. They quickly reacted and brandished their weapons to fight with the crowd.
"Haa … … Haa … …"
Oldman gasped for breath. He looked around and saw that everywhere he looked, there was a chaotic battle. It was clear that these private soldiers were not a match for them.
This couldn't be blamed. Although Oldman and the others were only commoners, there were many hunters and guards among them. They were forced to leave their homes because of the tyrannical actions of the nobles and it was Oldman who gathered them together, forming a group with battle strength.
The cruel wilderness and mountains had also tempered their will. Compared to these pampered private soldiers, they were cruel and ruthless, and their methods were even more resolute.
But … …
Looking at the battle around him, Oldman was a bit absent-minded.
What was the point of all of this?
They could kill a private soldier, two private soldiers, or even more, but this was just a small trouble to the nobles. They could make the nobles lose face, but that was all.
But other than this, what else could they do?
Boom!!
At this moment, an explosion suddenly rang out, interrupting Oldman's thoughts. He came back to his senses and instinctively looked in the direction of the sound. He saw the snow not far away exploding, and a bolt of lightning flashed down, heavily striking the crowd.
Shortly after, his companions screamed and flew backward. Judging from the black smoke lingering around them, it was apparent that they were no longer breathing.
This is …
"Mage!"
Oldman's hair stood on end. He widened his eyes and gazed into the distance, only to see a mage clad in a black robe raising his arms high under the protection of a group of soldiers. Magical radiance coalesced in his hands and erupted. Shortly after, Oldman witnessed a dozen dazzling magical bullets whistling across the air toward them. At the next moment, he felt as though he was struck by a rock thrown by a Hill Giant. The massive impact sent him flying and he tumbled several times in midair before crashing to the ground.
If it weren't for the thick snowfield that reduced the impact, his neck would have been broken.
"Damn it!"
Enduring the burning pain, Oldman wiped the traces of blood from the corner of his mouth and climbed to his feet. He didn't expect that there would be a mage among them!
This was a target that they couldn't deal with, even if it was just a low-level mage … Maybe we should retreat!
At this thought, Oldman scanned the surroundings. But in despair, he discovered that almost all of his companions had been blasted to the ground by the magical attacks. They screamed and groaned as they laid on the ground. Some of them had even lost their combat strength.
Meanwhile, the private soldiers marched forward with sinister smiles and killed anyone who tried to resist.
Is this the end?
Looking at this scene, Oldman gnashed his teeth in despair. He heard the chanting of the mages and it was apparent that they were going to wipe them out in one fell swoop. And they had no means to resist at all.
He could totally imagine what would happen next. Their corpses would be dragged out and paraded on the streets before being hung on the city walls as a warning to others who tried to resist.
Then, they would be surrounded and eaten by the Vultures until only scattered skeletons were left.
Could it be that this is their final ending?!
The magic took shape in the hands of the mage and the private soldiers stopped in their tracks. Although Oldman couldn't tell what kind of magic it was, he could feel that the magic was definitely powerful enough to kill all of them.
But there was nothing he could do. He could only watch helplessly as the magic took shape and was released …
At this moment, a dazzling light beam flashed in front of Oldman and hit the mage.
The mage let out a blood-curdling scream as the magical energy in his hand shattered. Shortly after, the mage's body swelled up abruptly, and in the next moment, a circle of exploding flames erupted from his body, whistling and sweeping across.
The soldiers around him were all turned into ashes.
In just an instant, the high temperature and scorching flames engulfed the nobles' private soldiers. They were wrapped in the flames and screamed in pain as they struggled to survive.
But very quickly, their screams stopped, and they were turned into ashes in the flames, completely disappearing.
"This, this is …"
Oldman stared dumbfounded at this scene, not knowing what had happened. Only after a while did he turn his head and look around. The pure white snow field was the same as before.
As for his companions, they were still in a state of shock as they stood up and looked around.
However, they couldn't see anything. The only thing they could see was the pure white snowfield and the charred corpses within it.
"What exactly is going on?"
Finally, someone couldn't help but ask while the others shook their heads. Apparently, they weren't sure what exactly happened.
"Could it be that there was a mistake with the mage's spell?"
"No, someone saved us."
Upon hearing his companion's words, Oldman shook his head. He clearly remembered that he had seen a light beam strike that mage, and that was how he ended up in this state.
It was obvious that the other party was here to save them. So who exactly was it?
Thinking until here, Oldman couldn't help but turn to look at the forest in the distance. Shortly after, he saw a slender figure shrouded in a long robe walking out and bowing to them.
"Greetings, warriors of the snowfield."
"Who are you?"
The other party's voice sounded like a woman's, which made everyone relax slightly. Then, Oldman took half a step forward and asked.
"Were you the one who saved us?"
"To be exact, we were the ones who saved you."
Facing Oldman's question, the young lady answered with a chuckle and waved her hand. Shortly after, everyone saw several figures emerging from the forest.
Some of them were clad in armor while others were clad in leather armor. Everyone was wrapped in a long robe and their faces couldn't be seen clearly.
"Thank you for your help."
Although these people looked suspicious, Oldman still respectfully bowed to them.
No matter what, they were just a group of civilians and now, they had become rebels. It was already good luck for them to be saved.
"You're welcome, Sir."
Hearing Oldman's words, the young lady let out a string of silvery laughter.
"Besides, we didn't help you for free."
"Then …"
Hearing the young lady's answer, Oldman couldn't help but be taken aback. But shortly after, he calmed down.
He had already guessed that they definitely wouldn't help him for free. One had to know that they were rebels and this was only a nice way of putting it. To put it bluntly, they were a group of bandits and anyone who helped them would have to take a huge risk. In that case, why would these people help him?
"It's simple, Sir."
Hearing Oldman's words, the young lady let out a chuckle.
"We just want to discuss a deal with everyone."