"Big Bro, this isn't how scouts work, right? Scouts are supposed to recon enemy positions, be like the Night's Watch rangers or the Dragoon scouts, right? We just started and got spotted instantly!"
Eighty_Thousand_Without_Mahjong, Step_Sis's follower, shouted as he ran, looking back at the six or seven mounted bandits who were clearly toying with them not far behind.
"Rangers? Dragoon scouts? We're being played like damn fiddles! To hell with this! You two go first, I'm taking them with me!"
Another player, seemingly humiliated for the first time in a game and unable to bear it, cursed loudly. He unhooked the flail from his belt, turned around, and charged at the cavalry trailing behind them.
"Hey! San-er!" Eighty_Thousand recognized the player in real life and shouted his nickname in desperation.
"We have to go! These bandits have horses. If we don't warn the others, the whole camp might get overrun!" Step_Sis grabbed Eighty_Thousand, who wanted to follow his friend, and dragged him toward the camp with all his might.
"Watch this!" The mounted bandits chasing the three players were Dothraki who had separated from a khalasar. Their horsemanship was astounding.
Seeing prey attempt to resist, a young man wearing a Dothraki leather vest brandished his arakh and spurred his horse to meet the charge.
The outcome of a foot soldier player vs. Dothraki cavalry was never in doubt. The inexperienced player, with his flail and thin chainmail, couldn't withstand the charge of a mounted warrior swinging a curved blade.
Looking back just in time to see San-er's head flying through the air, Eighty_Thousand knew it was just a game, but the realistic gore still made him curse instinctively:
"I swear I'm gonna chop that guy's head off later!"
Several Dothraki circled the corpse on their horses, seemingly unconcerned about the two escaping prey.
"Damn it. Killing is one thing, but do you have to humiliate me too?"
Player No_Cilantro, who had been logged out by a single slash, entered the respawn interface. Watching the bandits circling his "corpse" and waving their arakhs in triumph, his face darkened.
Although respawning right now would definitely scare the sht out of these bandits, No_Cilantro—having been one-shotted—didn't dare waste his only remaining free respawn.
As a new player, he wasn't like the veterans who had hundreds of Kingdom Coins to burn. Even his gear was bought from others by his Guild Leader.
"Guild Leader!"
Sitting by the campfire, watching two players figure out how to roast a rabbit, Lin Yan (Storm_Dominator) looked up at the shout.
He saw the veteran player Step_Sis and the other scout he sent out running frantically back to camp.
"Horse bandits! Incoming!"
"Good! My blade is already thirsting for blood!"
Hearing that there were bandits nearby, the players in the camp stood up in excitement.
Unlike those small, poverty-stricken guilds that boasted fifty to eighty members but only had starter gear (and no armor), the Heroes Guild only had thirty people. However, thanks to their Guild Leader's massive real-world wealth and frantic in-game purchasing, every member was equipped with a primary and secondary weapon. Their armor coverage rate was over 50%.
Fully geared players had been itching for a fight. With enemies nearby, how could they not be excited?
"Brothers, prepare for battle!"
Storm_Dominator stood up and looked around. Meeting the gazes fixed on him, the usually calm Lin Yan felt a sudden surge of excitement in his heart. His whole body trembled.
Right now, it was only thirty people. But in the future? Three hundred? Three thousand? The feeling of commanding an army was something no amount of money could buy in the real world.
Suppressing the thrill, Storm_Dominator gave the order. Players drew their longswords and readied their battle axes.
"Woo-woo-woo!"
A piercing cry came from the distance, accompanied by the thundering of hooves reaching the players' ears.
With the help of two players, Storm_Dominator put on the full plate armor he had bought at a high price, donned his bascinet, and lowered the visor.
Hefting a two-handed mace, Storm_Dominator slowly walked to the front of the formation, shielding the other players behind him.
"Youji, Marquis. You two need to show the brothers something special later," Storm_Dominator rumbled to the two players holding longbows beside him.
The two players were Jiangcheng_Yang_Youji (famous ancient archer) and South_City_Little_Li_Guang (Water Margin archer). Both were archery enthusiasts in real life. Soon after logging in, they were recruited into the guild by Lin Yan for a hefty sum.
"Don't worry, Boss!"
Player South_City_Little_Li_Guang (nicknamed "Marquis" by guildmates because of his ID) was stringing his bow. Beside him, Yang_Youji silently strung his bow and nodded at Lin Yan.
Just as Little Li Guang finished speaking, the cavalry charged into the vicinity. They were clearly veterans; seeing the campfire in the player camp, they extinguished their torches to keep the enemy blind for as long as possible.
Unfortunately for them, player characters didn't suffer from night blindness like people of this era.
The guild's two veteran archers had already nocked their arrows and taken aim.
Thwip! Thwip!
Long arrows pierced the night sky. The two Dothraki leading the charge grunted and fell from their horses.
"Bows!" The Dothraki leader immediately dropped his contempt, his expression turning serious as he grabbed his bow from his saddle.
The young Dothraki who had beheaded No_Cilantro stood on his horse's back as if on flat ground. He drew his bow into a full moon, and the arrow shrieked through the air.
It struck a player who was cheering for his side's archers right in his open mouth.
"Holy sht!" The player next to him jumped back in fright. The Heroes Guild's formation began to waver.
"Stand your ground! Don't move! Spears up! Shields!" Storm_Dominator shouted, barely stabilizing the line.
Thwip! Thwip!
Two more arrows flew from Little Li Guang and Yang Youji's bows. Two more Dothraki fell.
The Dothraki leader roared: "Kill the archers behind the tin can!"
"Protect Marquis and Youji!" The players were prepared. Two players with shields crouched in front of the archers.
Thud! Thud!
As arrows flew back and forth, casualties mounted on both sides. The bandit group, dominated by Dothraki, had charged into close range.
"Prepare for impact! Do not retreat! 500 RMB Red Packet for every kill!" Storm_Dominator lowered his stance, gripped his two-handed mace, and bellowed through his helmet.
"Kill!"
The players roared back. Staring at the ferocious faces of the enemies on horseback, the sheer realism of the battlefield pumped adrenaline into every player's veins.
"For House Targaryen!" A player shouted to embolden himself.
"For House Targaryen!" The roar echoed through the ranks.