28: Black Flame Demon Bear Attack

“Clack clack clack!”

A luxurious carriage traveled slowly through the buffer zone between the Mist Forest and the Black Bear Territory.

“Miss Daisna, the Mist Forest looks so scary. Will magic beasts suddenly jump out?” Inside the carriage, the maid Norse Marcia looked at the nearby Mist Forest with a frightened expression.

Daisna Fland heard this and gently comforted her, “Don't be afraid, Norse. We are just passing by this time. There won't be any danger if we don't venture deep inside.”

“Besides, Knight Captain Morrison is leading this trip. He is a Rank Six Silver Knight, so with his protection, nothing bad will happen.”

The simple Norse naturally believed her Miss's words, and her initially scared expression gradually calmed down.

However, she did not see the trace of anxiety hidden in Daisna's eyes. Daisna had felt this way ever since they entered the area surrounding the Mist Forest.

She felt as if a pair of malicious eyes within the Mist Forest had been constantly staring at their convoy.

Daisna, who was usually steady-minded, still felt it necessary to give a warning.

Pulling open the carriage window, she looked at Knight Captain Morrison, who was wearing full armor on his warhorse ahead, and softly called out, “Sir Morrison!”

Morrison heard her and immediately rode his horse closer, respectfully asking, “Miss Daisna, do you have any instructions?”

“Hmm.” Daisna nodded lightly, saying, “I think we are still too close to the Mist Forest here. Although your strength, Sir Morrison, means we don't need to worry, we should still speed up and leave this area quickly, just in case of potential danger or trouble.”

Although Daisna's words were pleasing to him, Morrison couldn't help but feel she was worrying too much.

However, since she was the Earl's beloved only daughter, he still respectfully replied, “Miss Daisna, you are overthinking this. Although there are powerful magic beasts in the Mist Forest, with the protection of myself, two other Silver Knights, and ten Bronze Knights, there will absolutely be no danger.”

“Furthermore, you caught a slight cold two days ago, and it is not advisable to rush the journey. If you feel unwell again, this subordinate will have no way to explain it to the Earl.”

“This... alright.” Daisna hesitated for a moment but had no choice but to agree.

After all, Morrison was her father's subordinate, not hers. She only had the right to suggest, not to command. In fact, in case of an emergency, Morrison held the authority.

Moreover, Morrison's gentle refusal was due to her health. She couldn't reasonably argue further, and could only hope that her feeling was wrong.

The convoy continued moving at its original speed, and nothing happened for a full hour.

‘Perhaps I really was overthinking it,’ Daisna murmured internally.

At this point, the convoy had reached the central edge of the Mist Forest, the closest point to it.

Suddenly, a massive black fireball, like a missile, shot out from the Mist Forest toward the moving convoy.

“Ah!!!”

No one had time to react. Several agonizing screams rang out simultaneously as five Bronze Knights, who had been fine just a moment ago, were instantly scorched by the black flames, turning into ash.

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Everyone immediately tighten the formation! We must protect Miss Daisna!” Morrison, who reacted first, shouted with a drastically changed expression.

The remaining knights immediately began adjusting their formation, positioning themselves between the carriage and the direction of the Mist Forest.

Inside the carriage, Daisna and her maid Norse were also thrown into confusion by the sudden attack.

Daisna was relatively composed, but Norse was so panicked that her eyes filled with tears, and she clung tightly to Daisna's side.

“Roar!”

Just as everyone was adjusting, a massive roar echoed from within the Mist Forest. The terrifying sonic power felt substantial, making everyone's ears ring loudly.

The next moment, a gigantic black shadow leaped out from the Mist Forest. Reflecting the sunlight, it resembled an apocalyptic behemoth, smashing directly toward the convoy whose formation was not yet fully adjusted.

Morrison saw this, tightly gripped his spear, and charged forward to meet it. But in a single clash, he was sent flying, man and horse together, by the diving black shadow.

However, the black shadow paused briefly due to his obstruction.

At this moment, everyone saw the full appearance of the black shadow: it was a colossal Black Bear covered entirely in black fur, standing about five meters tall. Strange black flames burned on its body, yet its fur showed no signs of scorching.

Its thick bear paws resembled massive iron hammers, and its sharp black claws exuded a terrifying aura, slightly tearing the flowing air.

With just a glance, they recognized the identity of this Black Bear—a Black Flame Demon Bear.

The Black Flame Demon Bear is a powerful magic beast, not much inferior to the Purple-Eyed Magic Lion. As an adult, it has a significant chance of reaching the strength of a Golden Knight.

And the one before them was clearly an adult. Judging by its previous attack, it most likely possessed the strength of a Golden Knight.

Under everyone's terrified gazes, the Black Flame Demon Bear attacked again, targeting the remaining five Bronze Knights first.

Even though they reacted quickly and mounted their strongest defense, they were still swept away by a single paw strike, spraying blood. Three of them died instantly.

Seeing this, the other two Silver Knights released two white Skill Slashes, attempting to slow the Black Flame Demon Bear down.

The Black Flame Demon Bear was initially prepared to meet force with force, but then it seemed to remember something. It adopted a defensive posture with its arms, easily blocking the two Skill Slashes.

At this moment, Morrison, who had gotten back up nearby, shouted a reminder, “It must be injured! Its strength is less than that of a Golden Knight! The three of us will work together to hold it off. Everyone else, quickly take Miss Daisna and evacuate!”

As his voice fell, he unleashed his strongest skill, 'Ice Spearmanship'. In an instant, the spear in his hand was covered in cold white energy, and terrifying, sharp ice crystals materialized out of thin air, shooting rapidly toward the Black Flame Demon Bear.

“Roar!”

A black fireball shot out once more from the Black Flame Demon Bear's mouth, instantly consuming the sharp ice crystals and continuing toward Morrison.

Morrison swung his spear, barely managing to block the attack, before joining the other two Silver Knights in surrounding the Black Flame Demon Bear and launching their assault.

The remaining two Bronze Knights, dragging their heavily injured bodies, drove the carriage westward to escape.

Inside the carriage, Daisna's face was pale. Although she seemed alright, her trembling body clearly revealed her fear.

At the same time, she was filled with extreme regret and self-reproach, wondering why she hadn't insisted on her own idea earlier. If she had, this tragic situation might have been avoided.

“Waaahhh~!” Norse cried out in terror, her face covered in tears, “Miss Daisna, are we going to die?”

“No, we won't. We will definitely survive safely,” Daisna comforted her, while also comforting herself.

The carriage sped along for more than ten minutes. Daisna and the others thought they had escaped, but then they heard that familiar, terrifying beast roar again.

Looking back, the Black Flame Demon Bear was chasing the carriage frantically. Morrison and the other Silver Knight, covered in wounds, were pursuing it from behind. The missing knight had clearly died.

Within a few breaths, the Black Flame Demon Bear caught up. Its terrifying paws directly smashed the carriage, and the two Bronze Knights who tried to resist were instantly killed, their chests pierced through.

Daisna and her maid barely managed to crawl out of the carriage, both sustaining serious injuries.

Upon seeing Daisna, the Black Flame Demon Bear's crimson eyes showed immense hatred.

Just as it was about to strike the killing blow, the attacks from Morrison and the other knight arrived from behind once more.

The frustrated Black Flame Demon Bear had no choice but to turn and defend, each of its strikes carrying incomparably great force.

Although Morrison was also filled with extreme regret at this moment, he showed no intention of retreating or fleeing. This was his faith as a knight.

The next moment, he roared loudly, burning all the fighting energy within his body. The Spearmanship skill he unleashed carried terrifying power, forcing the Black Flame Demon Bear to avoid its sharp edge.

In that very instant, he flashed to the side of the injured Daisna and her maid. With a quick scoop, he tossed them onto the back of the last horse still able to move.

“Miss Daisna, you must escape!”

While Daisna looked on in grief, he forcefully slapped the horse's flank before turning back and charging toward the Black Flame Demon Bear again.

The warhorse, spurred by the pain, galloped away swiftly, and the unyielding figures of Morrison and the other knight quickly disappeared from Daisna's sight.