Bear School Astartes

No matter how the results of several hours of training turned out, at least in front of the not-too-distant border, everyone in the refugee group was quite capable of taking action.

All those who could pick up a weapon were organized into formations, wearing all sorts of armor.

Some had only a breastplate, others only chainmail pants, and these armors had become rusty from neglect after the battles, making a harsh ’creaking’ sound when moving.

This was the extent to which the refugees could arm themselves within their means.

The clamor and excitement gradually faded from the refugees.

Just as Lann predicted, after feeling the steel they wore and gripped, the feeling born was not reassurance.

Because they all knew that the gear on the Niflgaard people was superior, and those people were more skilled.

So they began to breathe heavily, walking only a few steps before their mouths went dry and they were exhausted from panic and tension.

The mercenary in chain armor looked at the crowd, frowning deeply, but there was nothing he could do, no one could.

He could only come to the tent of the Demon Hunters, just as the three Demon Hunters emerged.

”Masters.”

He greeted them.

”We must act now, the time is almost up, Lord Hacksaw wishes to invite you to the first team...”

Before he finished speaking, suddenly, there was a scream from refugees near the edge of the woods.

”Look quickly!”

Subsequently, the resonant and deep sound of a horn came from outside the woods.

Lann, the mercenary, Geralt, and Ged all narrowed their eyes simultaneously, pushing through the crowd quickly to the edge and looking out.

They saw dust rising from the distant small slope, first revealing the tip of a black flag from the horizon, then the black flag bearing the emblem of Niflgaardian faith—the great sun wheel—rising higher and higher, until revealing a dense mass of black silhouettes below.

Their armor could reflect the sunlight of the approaching sunset.

That was the armor of the Niflgaardians.

Fear was spreading, reminding the refugees of the formidable enemy that had swept through their homeland.

”The Niflgaardians... the Black Ones are here!”

This was no surprise.

This place was never far from the temporary garrison made out of a manor, the woods completely within the garrison’s troop coverage range.

The noise from thousands of them was not insignificant; being discovered now was entirely within strategic prediction.

But how would these refugees know that?

They hadn’t participated in the strategy discussions and didn’t know how the final plan would be executed.

They were just a group of exhausted and frightened civilians, now left with only instinctive panic.

The chain armor mercenary beside them kicked and yelled, knocking down several people, trying to stop the spread of panic, but it was barely effective.

Until a voice, as if amplified by magic, shouted: ”Silence!”

Reinforced bones, heart, and muscles made Lann’s shout sound like a large beast!

”Don’t break formation! The enemy is already at the doorstep, do you still think about retreating into the woods?”

”How big can this forest be? As long as the Niflgaardians block here, their reinforcements will keep coming, more and more!”

”Now! Now is when they are the fewest! Only around three hundred! Break through their encirclement, and we can leave Sintra! This is the last chance, remember the knowledge taught to you just now, and find ways to use it well!”

Lann’s shout was not just loud.

He presented clear and rational arguments, using the insights into the group’s emotions given to the Son of the Emperor, delivering these logics to the chaotic minds of the refugees.

Every pause was calculated, every tone was deliberate, combining into a rousing speech technique.

With this skilled, rational call, the refugees gradually calmed down.

Emotions can be contagious, and not just ’panic’ can be spread; calmness can, too.

Beside Lann, the two Demon Hunters and the chain armor mercenary looked at him as if they’d seen a ghost.

Subsequently, the mercenary stayed here as the commander of this small unit.

Meanwhile, Lann and the two others had to hurry to the first echelon, acting as the vanguard.

As they left, they could still hear the shouting of the chain armor mercenary behind.

”Hold your shields! Hold your shields well! That’s your second life! I know you’re panicking, minds blank! It’s okay, just listen to orders! You blockheads! Next, you just need to do one thing—follow orders!”

”Those who follow orders and hold the line will survive! Running away will get you killed, charging too far will get you killed! Remember it all!”

When they reached the foremost first echelon, Stuart and all his warriors were already waiting there for some time.

”It’s an honor to fight alongside you, masters.”

The young knight, fully armored on horseback, lifted his visor and bowed to the three Demon Hunters beside him.

He and his warriors were all exhausted, these days of scouting had almost drained them.

Even now, Lann could smell the scent of blood on them in the cold air.

This was from injuries sustained during reconnaissance or simply raw thighs and buttocks from the jolting rides.

But all of them, including Stuart, remained calm.

Were they really ordinary soldiers led out by a knight?

Lann wondered in his heart.

But perhaps, having experienced the fires of war and hardship firsthand, ordinary soldiers could also be tempered to this state.

They were the vanguard of the entire refugee group, they had to try to break through the Niflgaardians in the fastest time possible.

Break the siege and take as many people out as possible.

In the distance, dust clouds flew, all the Niflgaardians in the temporary garrison probably gathering here.

Their banners fluttered, and armor gleamed.

And alongside Lann, there was only a group of worn-out, armor-deficient refugees.

This was Lann’s ’stage’, the arena to unleash his strength, a small square formation with twenty people on each side.

He wasn’t a wizard who could, with ample preparation, unleash lightning, fireballs, ice cones, or even alter the weather over a small area.

On a broad, unrestricted battlefield, the area he could cover was only just so large.

Within this range, he believed his strength was unmatched.

But beyond this range...

Before Lann could think more, the next moment, a ’twang’ sound was heard from afar.

Then the sound of whistling, faint at first, came from far and near, growing louder and sharper.

This sound immediately invoked the experience Lann gained from the [Deep Memory Dive].

Instinctively, he activated the golden [Quen Rune] and shouted, ”Arrow barrage incoming!”