[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bear-school-astartes":3,"chapter-bear-school-astartes-bear-school-astartes-chapter-605":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Bear School Astartes",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1620385,2087,"Chapter 605 - 608. Entering Ring Mountain","bear-school-astartes-chapter-605",605,"\u003Cp>The army advanced with a thunderous roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though their numbers reached three thousand five hundred, heavily armed and solid, the Niflgaard people still far surpassed the refugee group in speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long at all for everyone in the refugee group to see the billowing gray smoke piercing the sky behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the dust kicked up by the army’s march.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in an instant, frantic fear swept through everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Run quickly! Head up the slope!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a Ring Mountain, and the refugee group had hurried inside upon discovering the pursuers, now entering through the only gap,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene here wasn’t much different from other mountain forests, with dry trees waiting for the spring at the slightly steep top of the hundred-meter-high mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Places that horses couldn’t go, humans could manage with effort. But... it takes time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first to catch up with the refugees’ tail was a mixed force of fifty Nausicca cavalry squad members and three hundred lightly armed infantry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Initially trailing from afar, later driving the refugee group into the Ring Mountain faster, like herding poultry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the leading cavalry officer adjusted his helmet adorned with pheasant tail feathers, not rashly sending his troops directly into a massacre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he lifted his visor and signaled to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, a squad of ten scouts charged out from the ranks, heading straight into the Ring Mountain’s opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even against a group of refugees, the officer’s training and quality made him choose to first eliminate potential ambushes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw the group of refugees were panicked and chaotic, like lambs awaiting slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the outer perimeter of the refugees, almost thirty fully armed Sintra soldiers stood ready, along with over ten cavalrymen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the command of a person wielding a steel scepter, they formed a barricade on the outer edge of the refugee group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for the Nausicca cavalry squad, they were well accustomed to such postures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ten scouts raised the stone crossbows hanging on their saddles, each nocking an arrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alchemically crafted arrows were expensive, but dispatched this time by Duke Adal, who was always generous to his working subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So ten explosive crossbow arrows soared into the air, exploding mid-flight, showering iron shards and debris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People instantly became blood-stained, their flesh torn by the shards. The explosive crossbow arrows weren’t powerful in this usage, but they excelled at causing chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And though the explosion weakened the killing power, still unlucky ones were pierced through vulnerable spots by the iron shards, losing their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First came a wave of screams, then panic spread, drawing more screams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the scouts made no contact with the defenders, like nomadic cavalry, firing arrows and leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They circled the Ring Mountain many times, meticulously observing the terrain and places suitable for hiding large troop units.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their training and military discipline vividly demonstrated the Niflgaard’s prowess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the reports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And within this time, the main force had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No ambush? No Demon Hunter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Darkley quickly inquired. The scout looked at Duke Adal first, without speaking until he impatiently waved his hand to start reporting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We searched places on the mountain capable of hiding more than fifty people. The terrain is poor but offers a good view. As for Demon Hunter... we don’t know any Demon Hunter, but there aren’t many brave men among the refugees.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the duke, long itching for achievements, simply waved his hand: \"Advance the whole army! No matter some absurd Demon Hunter or Hunting Marquis! This is a Niflgaard Army of three thousand five hundred!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clever one leading the charge or the Demon Hunter, Hunting Marquis terrifying the mud-kickers, they were merely Northern barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Northern People were always ignorant and superstitious, what culture or civilization did they have? What heroes could they produce?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if there were, that ludicrous entity would turn to a layer of bloody mud under the Niflgaard Empire’s iron hooves!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duke Adal was very certain of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus the army began entering the Ring Mountain amid rumbling footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Hacksaw didn’t meticulously tidy his sideburns and beard, instead wearing armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This armor was stripped from a Niflgaard person on the battlefield at dusk yesterday, repainted blue and clumsily adorned with a yellow lion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hacksaw stood beside anyone still able to wield weapons and wear armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said, every capable Sintra warrior had been dispatched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him were refugees terrified by explosive crossbow arrows, climbing the mountain in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they were already exhausted, now terrified beyond measure, barely climbing at all during this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the people below continued pressing upwards, causing continuous sounds of trampling, cries, and pleas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of Hacksaw, the Niflgaard people came pressing in with billowing dust, just like beneath Sintra City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Merciful Meretelli... Great Meretelli...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the slightly absurd helmet due to improper fit, Hacksaw closed his eyes and whispered prayers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I remember you used to worship Cliff, father.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stuart stood amidst the refugee’s wailing as well, calmly looking at the Niflgaard people ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, the stern, fair, grand Cliff. I once aspired to be such a person, hence worshipped such a god. But today, now, I’m not praying for myself... No, my son.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Hacksaw finished his prayers and opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He no longer used that ambiguous smile to mask his mood and thoughts, instead calmly facing the approaching Niflgaard people alongside his son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I pray our souls find peace, and for myself... I’ve already prayed to Cliff last night. I hope to accept his sky thunder’s judgment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stuart looked at his father’s profile, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The father and son watched as a finely armored figure emerged from the Niflgaard formation, approaching under escort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pompous yet solemn heralding began before they drew near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here comes Duke Adal Epp Dasrcy, hereditary duke of the Niflgaard Empire...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The herald recited endlessly, while the central figure, even armored, exuded an aura of arrogance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This used to be his job too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hacksaw suddenly chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He had a wrong tone earlier; the last syllable of ’Adal’ should extend to rhyme with the titles behind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stuart carefully listened to his father’s explanation, as though what he once found tiresome now sounded as melodious as poetry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as the herald ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Who stands before us? Relying on the duke’s mercy and patience, you’re permitted to state your name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1054,"2026-06-06T10:40:25.444Z",1,"novelbin.me","1adc662fc090a344bd20404903c505da427c3a30d3074bcc760399ddf57ac602","bear-school-astartes-chapter-606","bear-school-astartes-chapter-604",1043,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbear-school-astartes-cover.jpg"]