[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-giant-dragon-lord-starting-from-daily-intelligen":3,"chapter-giant-dragon-lord-starting-from-daily-intelligen-giant-dragon-lord-starting-from-daily-intelligen-chapter-44":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},577796,826,"Chapter 44: Scattering Like Rats","giant-dragon-lord-starting-from-daily-intelligen-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>The first rays of dawn struggled to pierce the thick smoke, illuminating the wreckage of the Blood Wolf Corps’ camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air was thick with the foul stench of burning, the metallic tang of blood, and the chill of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once-bustling camp was now a scene of utter devastation, like a skeleton gnawed clean by some giant beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scorched tents were twisted and deformed, reduced to blackened husks. Piles of supplies had been put to the torch, leaving behind only ash and half-burnt embers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carl stood on a patch of scorched earth, his heart burning with rage as he gazed upon the hellish scene before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When had his Blood Wolf Corps ever suffered such a devastating loss?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t slept all night. As soon as the flames had died down, he had begun the arduous task of gathering his scattered men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bandits who had managed to escape the inferno were like startled birds, scattering in every direction with no will left to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had sent out the few remaining chieftains with decent riding technique to round them up, but with little success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many preferred to take their chances and fend for themselves in the wilderness rather than return to this cursed place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several hours of effort, Carl finally managed to gather the survivors he could find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a headcount. Of a force of several hundred men, barely more than a hundred remained. Most of them were foot soldiers, utterly terrified by the fire and completely demoralized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, the warhorses had been spooked by the fire and most had bolted. Of the nearly one hundred horses they’d had, only twenty-some had been recovered, and many of those had burns or other injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carl looked at this battered and broken force. Their eyes held only fear and bewilderment. Where was the ferocity of the old Blood Wolf Corps?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gripped his curved saber tightly. The blade was cold, but it couldn’t cool the flame of rage in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Black Stone Territory... Raylo...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two names echoed in his mind like a deadly curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main force he had brought with him had been destroyed in a single night, and they hadn’t even caught a glimpse of the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With just these hundred-odd men, forgetting about attacking Black Stone Territory was one thing; they would be hard-pressed just to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Carl was sinking into despair, an army slowly appeared on the horizon, silhouetted against the light of dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His head snapped up. The column drew closer, the noise of their advance growing louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, an orderly formation came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banners flapped in the wind above a forest of spears and swords, their steps firm and powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the army’s flanks, several dozen cavalrymen patrolled like hunting dogs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more terrifying, several small black dots were circling high in the sky above—the damn Pegasus Knights!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Stone Army!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carl’s heart sank to the pit of his stomach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that Raylo, the Lord of Black Stone Territory, would not let this opportunity pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had thought he would at least have time to catch his breath and regroup, or even just to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had never expected Raylo to move so quickly. It was as if he was determined to leave him no chance of survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Assemble! Form ranks!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carl shouted himself hoarse, trying to awaken his men’s fighting spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the only response he received was even more palpable panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Black Stone Army bearing down on them, many of the bandits’ legs began to tremble. Some even began to inch backward, preparing to scatter and flee once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carl’s roars sounded feeble and pathetic in the desolate wilderness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at his men, who were already scared out of their wits, then at the Black Stone Army surging toward them like a torrent, and finally at the grim reapers circling in the sky. The last shred of hope in his heart was extinguished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew this wouldn’t be a battle. It would be a slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they were the lambs to be slaughtered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carl clenched his jaw, a flicker of grim resolve in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Run? Where could I run?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The Pegasus Knights would pursue us like maggots on a corpse.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Fight? With what?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Am I supposed to throw this battered remnant of an army against that solid formation?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood his ground, his body ramrod straight, as if nailed to the scorched earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, his hundred-odd men looked so small and fragile under the overwhelming presence of the Black Stone Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Stone Army advanced slowly, halting several hundred meters from the remnants of the Blood Wolf Corps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the sky, Ed rode his Pegasus, hovering at a higher altitude like a hawk surveying its prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two sides faced each other in silence. Ed steered his Pegasus forward and dropped several heads in front of the Blood Wolf Corps’ formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were the heads of the few bandit chieftains who had been left to guard the Blood Wolf Corps’ lair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Carl, your lair has been wiped out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take a look at these heads! Recognize any of your old pals?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is what happens when you dare to covet Black Stone Territory.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ed’s words threw the Blood Wolf bandits, who were barely holding their formation, into turmoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bandits began to whisper amongst themselves in a panic. Many were already looking over their shoulders, searching for an escape route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one side was the high-spirited, well-equipped Black Stone Army. On the other, the terrified and broken remnants of the Blood Wolf Corps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The confrontation was so lopsided that the outcome was already a foregone conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The standoff didn’t last long. Raylo had no intention of giving these broken soldiers any chance to breathe; in fact, he didn’t even consider them a real threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his eyes, this routed band was nothing more than live target practice to test the results of his new recruits’ training and the power of a Knight’s charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apprentices trained their combat skills on the training grounds day in and day out. They worked hard, but it wasn’t enough to make them true warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by drawing blood could they truly grow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a command from Raylo, the Black Stone Army moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A phalanx composed of nearly two hundred Knight’s Attendants, apprentices, and guards advanced in perfect lockstep, rolling forward like a bulldozer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The several dozen cavalrymen led by Bolin circled around from the flank, cutting off the Blood Wolf Corps’ line of retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with this overwhelming power, the remnants of the Blood Wolf Corps failed to mount even a semblance of resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Black Stone infantry phalanx closed to bow and arrow range, a few scattered arrows flew from the Blood Wolf Corps’ side, landing harmlessly on the Black Stone soldiers’ shields, unable to even penetrate their leather armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the Black Stone archers fired steadily from the rear of their formation. Though few in number, at such close range against a dense pack of enemies, every arrow caused either an injury or panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the cavalry led by Bolin charged, the defensive line of the Blood Wolf remnants instantly collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bandits, already terrified, could no longer contain their fear when they saw the fully-armored Knights charging at them like a torrent. They dropped their crude weapons and turned to run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hold your ground! Don’t run!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carl swung his curved saber, trying in vain to stop the rout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his voice was completely drowned out by terrified screams and the clash of armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His men scattered in all directions like a startled flock of birds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carl knew the situation was hopeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staying meant certain death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the twenty-some cavalrymen who remained by his side—the part of the Blood Wolf Corps with the best riding technique, and the most loyal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Follow me! We’re breaking out!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without further hesitation, Carl leaped onto his own frightened warhorse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dug his heels into the horse’s flanks and led the remaining cavalry in an attempt to escape into the depths of the wilderness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bolin’s cavalry immediately wheeled around to intercept them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, though few in number, the Blood Wolf cavalrymen were driven by a desperate will to survive. They were all experienced old riders, and their burst of speed was so great that they actually managed to break through Bolin’s interception in a short time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of hope ignited in Carl’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they could just escape into the wilderness, their familiarity with the terrain and their riding technique might just give them a slim chance of survival.\u003C\u002Fp>",1443,"2026-05-30T16:08:58.939Z","2026-06-01T04:31:39.774Z",1,"novelbin.me","bba6d2cd957f6949d23c186866d8db842e4fb0691af145e310318c6b327eed01","giant-dragon-lord-starting-from-daily-intelligen-chapter-45","giant-dragon-lord-starting-from-daily-intelligen-chapter-43",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fgiant-dragon-lord-starting-from-daily-intelligen-cover.jpg"]