My Players Are So Fierce-Chapter 405

“Today is the final test you new recruits must undergo before becoming glorious Winged Cavalry!

It’s very difficult, but I believe that after so many days of training, you have gained a basic understanding of Winged Cavalry tactics. I also believe that your sweat and tears have been enough to forge you from a bunch of sissy boys who couldn’t ride horses well into true steel cavalry!

Today, witnessed by these ancient forests, new Winged Cavalry will join the ranks, and ancient glorious traditions will be carried on!”

Valand Knight’s distinctive low roar, which always sounded like a whip cracking when it rang out, echoed in the evening light of the Seicomere Prairie near the Ancestral Woods. Today he sat fully armed and armored on his warhorse “Cold Wind.”

Besides him, Knight Sunny and several other Winged Cavalry captains were also present, and before them were 31 Winged Cavalry recruits waiting to be tested.

Not a single NPC – all were players from the Crimson Hammer and Sickle team.

The NPC knights who enlisted with Onboard Joy Stick and his brothers haven’t even completed the second trial of the recruit training manual, while these little players with their superb learning ability and fearlessness have already progressed to the fifth trial.

The two groups’ progress wasn’t even on the same level!

Knight Valand used to marvel at this disparity, but as he participated in more activities under Murphy’s command and gained a deeper understanding of the warriors, especially after being informed of their true identities, he also began to believe this disparity was meant to exist.

After all, they were “heroic spirits” from another world!

They had already been battle-hardened in their own plane of existence, only becoming weakened after losing most of their power during their journey across worlds. However, that superior combat instinct still remained hidden within their bodies.

They only needed to receive the tempering of time and battle in Transia to become powerful once again.

This perfectly explained their astonishing learning ability and rate of growth.

While this peculiar narrative about the warriors couldn’t be said to match exactly with the background Murphy fabricated for the players, it was more like comparing apples to oranges. However, after Murphy learned of it, he quickly adopted an ostrich strategy, neither confirming nor denying, simply allowing the rumors to continue spreading.

It’s said these rumors first spread from the Torrent Knights, propagated everywhere by Miss Becky’s big mouth, but facts proved that compared to the mysterious and vast legends of the Seris tribe, locals were more accepting of this “heroic spirits from another plane” explanation.

Perhaps because this world itself already contained inexplicable mysterious things like vengeful spirits, since vengeful spirits already existed, adding heroic spirits probably wouldn’t be a big deal.

As the recruit leader, Onboard Joy Stick now sat proudly straight in his saddle, wearing an arrogant smile like a main character.

He had every right to wear such an expression!

Because over the past 25 days, he had already completed the difficult Winged Cavalry training course through his own efforts and unwavering persistence. This intensity of training and mastery of cavalry techniques and control wasn’t just some “war game” that even a self-disciplined veteran could complete casually.

They had spent at least four-fifths of all their game time over these 25 days on horseback, with no less than 2,000 repetitions of wall charge and penetrating charge formation drills alone.

Not only did they have to learn in-game, but the tough guys of the Hammer team even created a group chat offline to share various cavalry tactics and learning essentials they found online.

It could be said that over the past 25 days, these 31 little players were all in an “obsessed” state, especially those Tiger Leopard Cavalry brothers with families, who had no shortage of arguments with their family members over this research and learning.

But it was all worth it!

They created the “fastest clear” record in Winged Cavalry history!

According to Knight Sunny, even the greatest Winged Cavalry commander in history, Little Countess Sharon’s father Old Count Seicomere, took three months to pass the Winged Cavalry recruit trials in his youth.

These foreigners from distant lands had created a miracle today!

In the eyes of the Winged Cavalry commanders before them, Brother Stick could no longer see any contempt or disdain, replaced instead by respect and blessings. This change in the locals’ attitude toward them filled Stick with a sense of achievement, a pleasure even more exciting than finding treasure in the game.

He had proved through actual actions that Lord Murphy’s initial judgment of him was wrong!

He had not only successfully integrated into Transia but had also gained the trust and respect of the most stubborn group of people in the land of Transia.

But this was just the first step!

Onboard Joy Stick’s attitude toward the Black Plague was different from most people.

He was probably one of the few people who looked forward to the Black Plague’s swift arrival. He made no secret of his enthusiasm for war, hoping to gain true supreme honor for himself and his brothers in that war destined to go down in history.

Not having experienced that supreme trial for warriors in a military career worth remembering had always been Brother Stick’s regret, but now, he finally got to fill this regret as his life approached its halfway point.

He also believed he wasn’t the only one who thought this way, his brothers in the team, who had already been honed razor-sharp by their war experiences in Transia, were just as eager for their moment to shine on the stage of war.

They would become Murphy’s sword!

They would become Transia’s undefeated spear, they would become the enemy’s nightmare and enjoy all the glory they deserved amid the cheers of the civilians they protected.

“You will enter the ancestral woods after midnight arrives, seeking your own shadow-maned warhorse under the cover of night! This is your final step to becoming Winged Cavalry, and also the most difficult step.

Especially for vampire knights, although you will be strengthened at midnight, your inherent dark nature is not favored by shadow-maned warhorses.

This means you will need to put in more effort to complete this contract.”

Knight Valand shouted the contents of the final trial.

Looking at the light in the eyes of these outstanding recruits before him, he was very familiar with this kind of combative and warlike desire, and this martial spirit-filled yearning also made him very satisfied.

This was exactly the fresh blood he wanted for the Winged Cavalry. He believed that as more heroic spirits from other worlds entered Transia, the Winged Cavalry he personally rebuilt would become more brave and warlike than before.

They had once sworn to take back everything they lost. Valand thought it would take a long time, but now it seemed fate still favored them.

“You must remember, shadow-maned warhorses are contract spirits of the forest spirits and nature. These powerful beings will only submit to the fearless.

They will scrutinize you in the shadows. You must track and gain their approval. Once the contract is formed, you will not only gain a loyal companion of the Winged Cavalry but also receive the blessing of the forest spirits.”

Knight Sunny beside Knight Valand explained loudly to the recruits:

“Under the watch of the forest spirits, you cannot use force to achieve this contract unless the shadow-maned warhorse demands it of you!

The challenges given to you by those fierce and wise beings are not the same, but whatever the content, you only have one night. If you cannot ride the shadow-mane up to the forest’s sacred pool before dawn arrives, it means your trial has failed.

Is that understood?”

“Understood!”

Onboard Joy Stick, mounted on his demon-hunting steed, responded loudly on behalf of his brothers. Knight Valand nodded and made a gesture to the mountain folk elder guarding this special woodland behind him. The elder, leaning on his staff and wearing a strange antlered mask, shakily lit two stone fire basins with his own hands.

Strange blue flames rose in the fire basins without any kindling, then the territorial boundary like mist manifested in the material world.

Obviously, the shadow-maned warhorses needed by the Winged Cavalry were not bred in the material world, this was also the biggest secret of the mountain folk tribe of the ancestral woods and the Winged Cavalry.

This was also why from the army’s establishment 400 years ago until now, not a single shadow-maned warhorse had fallen into anyone else’s hands except the Winged Cavalry.

This thing simply couldn’t be captured!

Because the moment the contracted cavalry died, these nature spirits would return to their peculiar demi-plane where they were born.

Therefore, it could be said that the warhorses Brother Stick and the others were seeking might have previously been contracted with other Winged Cavalry and participated in countless battles together. Compared to those horses, these guys were the real “recruits” without a doubt.

“When you meet a shadow-maned warhorse inside, remember to call out ‘Old Company Commander.'”

Brother Stick made a joke in private chat, making the other brothers laugh out loud.

Among the 31 people here, everyone except Kind-Face Giant Shark Uncle had military service experience. They could obviously get the unique implications of Onboard Joy Stick’s joke.

With such laughter, the group dismounted and walked into the mist. After a “seamless transition,” they appeared in a tranquil forest bathed in moonlight.

Onboard Joy Stick found himself appearing alone at a spot in the forest, cut off from contact with his brothers, and unable to use his computation bead, but he wasn’t panic-stricken.

This kind of trial must be done individually, of course.

He limbered up his body and strode forward to explore, though compared to others exploring in the same woodland at this time, Brother Stick’s momentum was a bit “lacking in vigor.”

This certainly wasn’t to say he was weak, although already in his thirties, he paid great attention to fitness and health, and his physical condition was better than many twenty-year-olds.

The real reason for Brother Stick’s “blood deficiency” was because of his “blood descendant.”

Having to complete a “blood feeding” every three days to ensure the weakened Melia Korando Lessenbra quickly recovered her proper strength was not something that could make one feel pleasant.

Because that wolfsbane blind girl was really “greedy”!

Every time she lay on Brother Stick’s neck to suck blood, the feeling was like she wanted to swallow Onboard Joy Stick whole, completely proving the truth of the saying “women are tigers” with her own strength.

Initially, Onboard Joy Stick was very resistant to this blood descendant behavior, but as he slowly adapted, he now also learned to reconcile with Melia.

What else could he do if he didn’t reconcile?

He couldn’t just leave her there to die, could he?

This little girl’s background was already tragic enough, and he was even her father’s killer. From this perspective, Brother Stick probably understood why Melia’s expression would be so strange every time she drew blood.

However, this wasn’t entirely a bad thing.

Brother Stick discovered that as the number of blood feedings increased, Melia’s strength had also recovered quite a bit.

This former wolfsbane vampire was a rare spirit mage in the Wolfsbane clan. She could now go out with Brother Stick at midnight and independently hunt some animals for her own “tooth ceremony.”

Onboard Joy Stick estimated that by the time the Black Plague broke out at the latest, Melia would be able to recover to Black Iron elite level spellcasting standards. By then, he would have gained a “personal mage.”

No!

Not one, but two!

Although Melia’s sister Winnie wasn’t Brother Stick’s blood descendant, she was always inseparable from her sister, which meant that as long as Melia followed Onboard Joy Stick onto the battlefield, spirit mage Winnie would fight alongside them too. At that time, with him as Winged Cavalry + Tomb Guard charging as tank, and Melia and Winnie, two elite spirit mages, dealing damage from behind, wouldn’t this be an “invincible” setup?

Hehe, isn’t this the joy of raising “2D waifus”?

Both eye-catching and capable fighters, and they could chat together when free. Apart from not being able to cough cough, anyway their little players’ chickens were all in Lord Murphy’s hands now, so it didn’t matter whether they could or not.

“Master, don’t let your mind wander. The warhorse you’re looking for is scrutinizing you from the mist ahead, and your current performance has disappointed it.”

Just as Brother Stick was fantasizing, blind lady Melia’s cold clear voice suddenly rang in Brother Stick’s mind, interrupting his pleasant imagination but not surprising Onboard Joy Stick.

Over the past period of time, he had already gotten used to Melia’s sudden mental speech.

“You can sense it?”

Brother Stick looked ahead at the mist diffused in the forest and asked curiously:

“You can share my vision? I remember you didn’t know this spell before.”

“Mm, just learned it from Lady Femis. It’s said to be an improvement on detection spirit energy from Lady Tris. This spell is very convenient to use.

Especially in the situation where my eyes are already blind while your eyes are still intact, it’s like I’ve grown new eyes. The feeling of regaining light is really nice.”

Melia explained, then continued:

“Although I’m not a knight, I know a bit about warhorses. My former dream was to become an equestrian. Anyway, my advice to you now is to approach it slowly, extend your hand to show you mean no harm, until you’re allowed to touch it is a good start.

Then you can try to tame it.

The success rate of this strategy is over 70%! If you have carrots or oats on hand, then the success rate will increase to 90%.”

“Ever since deciding to become cavalry, I always keep these things on hand.”

Brother Stick grinned, taking out three crisp carrots from his spirit bag and slowly moving forward according to Melia’s instructions.

The shadow-maned warhorse seemed attracted by the carrots and emerged from the mist. Its over 3-meter-tall body was like a heavy tank, its black skin and muscles bulging beneath its mane reminded Brother Stick of those heavy draft horses in the real world. This warhorse was obviously old, with some scars still remaining on its skin.

Like a warrior’s medals.

It stared at Onboard Joy Stick, the light flickering in those pitch-black eyes like black agate.

After several seconds of eye contact, the warhorse lowered its neck and began to nibble at the carrots in Onboard Joy Stick’s hand.

“Now’s the time!”

Melia reminded:

“Jump onto its back and start taming it!” 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Brother Stick took action immediately, though at this moment he belatedly asked:

“You just said the success rate is 90%? Then the remaining 10%…”

Before he could finish speaking, the agile shadow-maned horse raised its hind legs and bang, kicked the jumping Onboard Joy Stick in the chest.

This strike came without warning like an antelope hanging by its horns, but that terrifying force was like Brother Stick hitting a battering ram head-on, sending his whole person flying dozens of meters away with a scream.

Fortunately, he was a vampire and spread his wings in time, otherwise this blow would have been enough to send him back in disgrace.

“The remaining 10% is this situation.”

Melia’s voice, obviously holding back laughter, echoed softly in Onboard Joy Stick’s mind. She tried to maintain a Greenleaf lady’s tone but clearly couldn’t hold it anymore. She said:

“Your luck is really bad, my poor master. Hmm, that shadow-maned horse seems to find this quite interesting. It looks like this is the trial content it’s giving you.

Jump onto its back and ride it to the forest sanctuary before it gets bored. Good luck, my master. May your already broken ribs continue to hold up until your victory.”

“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

Brother Stick said very unhappily:

“I feel like I’ve raised an ungrateful wolf”

“Guess? Also, my nickname in the Greyclaw faction was ‘White Wolf.'”

As Melia’s light laughter faded, the connection between blood descendant and elder quietly broke off. Onboard Joy Stick wiped the dust off his chest with an unhappy face, but then couldn’t help laughing himself. Alright alright, this wolfsbane girl was quite interesting. So black-bellied, no wonder she could play together with the young lady.

Onboard Joy Stick stood firmly again, taking out another carrot. He stared at the shadow-maned warhorse pawing its hooves before him and said with double meaning:

“Then let me tame you, this wild horse! Little cutie.”