The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 307: The coast defenders (2)

Chapter 307: The coast defenders (2)

"Have we met?"

Hex inched closer to Gronke, ready to support him and launch a counterattack. Meanwhile, he kept his eyes on the hovering group of what Gronke called ’Druids’.

The Druids weren’t weak – the one Gronke called Queen Bae was the strongest at the Transformation Stage but it was their numbers that worried Hex. He counted a hundred of them in the air, with many more hidden inside the bushes, leaves, and even the sand.

Hex studied her appearance and reactions as covertly as he could. Her frigid expressions and stiff posture didn’t suggest someone who knew to be easygoing. She could be described as beautiful, though.

Her pleasant features, lean build, and honey-colored hair combined to make her quite alluring. Behind the coldness, hid a melodious voice that could be pleasant on the ears. But you would have to really ignore the irritation she caused due to her condescending tone.

They resembled bees in the sense that they had flimsy wings on their backs and they all wore yellow suits with black stripes. Whether they were emulating the bees or the colors hid a deeper secret, was up to anyone’s guess.

He did notice Queen Bae’s wings were a bit different from the others. Every other Druid possessed a wing with a distinct design; hers lacked any.

"No, we haven’t," Gronke replied, dousing Hex’s fleeting hope of a peaceful encounter. "My leader met you though."

"Oh?" Queen Bae asked with a raised brow. "Who? Perhaps I can be bothered to be a little lenient toward you for the sake of some old acquaintance."

"She goes by many names but most know her by Scarletfire."

Hex, who kept his eyes on Queen Bae, saw the lines of her face freeze before contorting in fury. Any hope of peace fell apart as she revealed two glistening fangs.

He also noticed the color drain from the faces of those closest to her. Their discipline shook as they all glanced at their Queen, who shrieked, forgetting her status.

"YOU. DARE. TAKE. HER. NAME?!"

Her shout sent the air buzzing and even part of her troops fell from the air. The panicked cries from behind indicated some

"Get him," Queen Bae shouted. "Get them. I will show that red-haired bitch."

The buzz intensified as the hundred in the air, all shot toward Gronke and Hex. As were the ones hidden around them.

Gronke laughed aloud as a dark red and brown colored light draped around him, completing his transformation. It wasn’t the first time Hex saw it, but now, after learning about Methods, he learned a lot more witnessing Gronke’s change.

He knew it had something to do with transmutation and that the Method Gronke used, was a superior one. After all, even after achieving bodily transformation, he didn’t reach the Transformation Stage. It implied he had to achieve multiple criteria to ascend. Only superior Methods had such a level of difficulty and potential for growth.

As soon as he completed his transformation, Gronke shot out, charging crazily at the incoming troops. They outnumbered him but couldn’t outmatch the hundred-meter-tall boar. Even their spikes broke against his skin.

Woosh.

The sound of the wind howling at him pulled him out of his admiration for the Warlord’s crazy battle. A spike came straight at him.

He sensed many more coming at him and perhaps the others behind him. In a fraction of a second, Hex made his choice.

Frost Dragon – Blizzard Strike

The humid air froze, blocking the spikes while he completed his second step – transforming into a massive Dragon Bear.

To his surprise, he didn’t require time or endure suffering to transform this time. It happened as soon as he willed it. His body changed, muscles bulked, and his physical powers doubled, without him feeling any discomfort.

’The refinement,’ he understood at once. The surprises the refinement brought didn’t end with all this.

A group of twenty Druids reached him by the time he turned into a massive fifty-meter-tall Dragon Bear. Double that once he stood on his hind legs. He swathed the incoming troops with ease. Perhaps because all twenty were only at the Knight Stage. Or, he realized with glee, because the Bear’s body stopped feeling alien to him.

’Excellent!’

Frost Dragon – Tailwhip

Hex met their wooden spikes with his giant paws as Ice spikes slammed into the twenty surrounding him. With the twenty on the ground, he charged forward. They weren’t done. Far from it.

Hundreds flew out of the bushes, splitting into two streams. One group, including Queen Bae, went after Gronke, the other after Hex.

Hex rushed toward his opponents and jumped in the middle of them. He slammed the ground, shattering the loose ground beneath his feet. At the same time, those close to him tumbled and fell on their knees.

Hex didn’t hold back. Mixed in the troops were some Refined Knights. And if his senses picked their energies accurately, none felt weak.

One versus one, he feared no one. But against a mob, strength lost some significance. His improved understanding of Ice and his refinement helped him unleash the Ice element in all directions. The humidity in the air helped cover larger areas at lower costs of energy and elements.

Their numbers didn’t seem to end though. He swathed and froze as many as he could, moving continuously to avoid being entangled by those at the Refined Stage.

It didn’t mean he retreated when faced with Refined Knights. No, he just moved past them after each initial clash. The Druids, strong and agile as they were, lacked the physical strength to stop him.

As he fought them, he learned a few more things. They bled red. And their anatomy, especially the vital spots, were similar to his.

’They are humans.’

He couldn’t say it shocked him. He suspected as much based on their energy and the sound of their heartbeats.

Another thing he noticed was that they all had similar markings on them. Those markings resembled the glyph on the back of his hand, only, theirs was a bit less clear and were placed on different places of their bodies.

The abilities of these people centered around wood-type Techniques. Spikes were their favorite, but he saw Queen Bae use vines, too. Some released gasses that irritated his skin and burnt his fur. They could inflict serious injuries if it weren’t for his excellent control over the Ice element, freezing any wound or gash.

’We won’t reach our goal if this continues.’

The numbers of the troops exceeded something they could keep in check. He already saw smaller groups break off and attack Sterling and the others.

So far, they managed to defend. The captain held his ground, skillfully blasting the attackers away. The few that remained on their feet were dealt with by Sterling, Quid, and the two female Knights.

Hex decided to do something drastic to provide his team some respite.

"Get back," he yelled in Gronke’s direction but he might as well not have spoken. The board didn’t budge. Instead, he growled and stepped forward, suffering a barrage of attacks. Queen Bae, a Transformation Knight, held him in check. Her vines almost tightened him in place.

Seeing this, Hex stopped caring about the man getting caught up. Hopefully, he wouldn’t die.

Hex stood on his hind legs. His attackers, expecting another ground slam, retreated to avoid getting caught by it.

But Hex didn’t slam down.

Second Blessing – energy gathering

Frost Dragon – Storm

Hex gathered all the energy and Ice elements in his lungs. And then...roared.

He released all the energy, and elements filled his lungs. The humid air froze. But not only around him. The Ice spread with the voice, freezing everything in its path.

His excellent control helped him to release the energy in a fan shape to the front, causing only some residual elements to scatter to the back where the merchants stood.

The effects weakened as the distance increased but those closest stood frozen. Queen Bae wrought herself free almost immediately. Almost.

Hex didn’t think his attack could hold someone of her level back. But the little opportunity he created was enough.

Blink Step

He released a lot of energy. And because he could store chaotic energy, he mixed some of it in the energy. His experience in Edune taught him that the chance of a Space pocket appearing increased in areas with dense, chaotic energy.

And one did appear. Just behind Queen Bae.

Hex appeared behind her, his paws raised to slam into her. At the same time, Gronke broke free from the vines wrapped around him. The Ice turned the vines brittle enough. Gronke grunted and charged, his tusks raised and ready to pierce through her.

Queen Bae cried in panic. She knew she was done for. Nothing she could do to escape the pincer attack coming at her.

Hex paws descended while Gronke’s tusks reached her abdomen.

"That’s enough."

Hex registered the voice as he fell to the ground. He hurried up, only to see him and Gronke side by side, in front of Sterling and the others.

Queen Bae still stood where she had been. Alive and well. But she wasn’t important. The woman beside her, bathed in golden skin and wings, was very important.

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