Under the protection of their shields, Henwell and his warriors relentlessly shoot the bandits attempting to charge up the hill. The bows used by Henwell's guards are powerful, equipped with heavy arrowheads that excel in armor penetration and range. Their elevated position further extends their reach, and with the guards' impressive archery skills, nearly every arrow finds its mark.

  The guards' arrows have a lethal range of about seventy meters, while the bandits' bows can only reach a little over thirty meters. This means the bandits need to cover an extra thirty meters under precise fire from Henwell's group. It might not sound far, but climbing uphill is no easy task.

  Henwell actually has a better strategy. If he had pced military crossbows here earlier, they would offer greater range and accuracy, allowing for sustained long-range fire without exhausting the guards. However, that wouldn't align with Henwell's ultimate goal.

  He wants to give the bandits hope, letting them think they have a chance to overtake Henwell and his men. Henwell's custom heavy bow can easily take out the bandit leader directing the attack from 150 meters away, but that's not his pn. Henwell aims to use this opportunity to deplete the bandits' strength as much as possible.

  After losing over a hundred men to arrows, the bandits finally wise up and start using makeshift cover. They dismantle carts and use wooden pnks as shields, combining them with those already equipped with shields to push forward under the hail of arrows. Although the heavy arrowheads are great at piercing armor, having cover provides some protection, at least blocking direct hits to vital areas of their bodies.

  Seeing the bandits adapt, Henwell signals his warriors to cease fire and take a short break, preparing to face the bandits' assault head-on. Soon enough, the bandits charge up the hill.

  The guards stand ready, each wielding a round shield and a spear. They block with their shields and thrust with their spears, repeating the cycle to knock down the bandits who manage to reach them. This efficient fighting style prevents the bandits from breaking through the guards' formation.

  Henwell, positioned centrally, continues to pick off bandit archers attempting to get within effective range. In the melee, the advantage lies heavily with those who have horses against those without, armor against the unarmored, shields against the unshielded, and long weapons against short ones. Moreover, the uphill battle is a significant disadvantage for the bandits.

  Not to mention the sheer difference in combat prowess between the two groups. After leaving dozens of bodies behind, the bandits eventually break, ignoring their leader's furious orders and fleeing down the hill. These bandits, usually brutal and ruthless, reveal their cowardice when faced with even fiercer warriors.

  The attacks continue for several rounds, yet the bandits fail to reach the top of the hill. By the end of the afternoon, they haven't even gotten a clear look at Henwell, let alone captured him.

  Several major bandit leaders gather to discuss their next move.

  "This isn't working! The others are hesitant to continue."

  "After all, we've been attacking for a while with no success, and everyone's worried about when the Peace Haven army might come to help!"

  "Are we just going to leave? How will we maintain our prestige here? Will others respect us? What will our men think?"

  "I don't mind the casualties. If you all agree, I'll personally lead my men in a charge! But I have one condition: I get all the bonus afterward!"

  "You really have the guts to ask for that! That's a full ten thousand gold coins!"

  "If you're going alone, I certainly agree to give you the bonus!"

  As the group starts arguing again, the leader of the rgest bandit gang speaks up, "We agreed to divide the bonus into six parts before we even started this pn! Internal fighting will only weaken us. If we're seen as weak and don't get paid after the job's done, we'll be a ughingstock! I'll guarantee it!"

  "Each group sends their best men, and let's take down this fat sheep first. The bonus is just part of the reward. If we take out this guy, our prestige will soar, and all the caravans will have to pay us. Think about it! How much money will that be? No need to take risks; we can earn money just sitting at home! That's our real goal!"

  As the sun sets, a united force of elite bandits from various gangs charges towards the hill. These hundred or so men are not like the ones before; they are the core strength of each bandit group. Unlike the ter recruits, these are former soldiers from the battlefield. Even if they're deserters or defeated troops, they've received specialized training and have experienced combat.

  Their equipment is also superior to the average bandit, with the lowest tier wearing leather armor. Their weapons are military-grade, not the poor-quality ones from small workshops.

  Henwell quickly notices the difference as this group of bandits gathers. "Knight Mark, take a break for now! When the battle reaches a critical point, that's when you step in. Don't hold back; use your Fighting Spirit to strike fear into these bandits!"

  After about ten minutes, the elite bandits begin their advance up the hill. They don't rush foolishly like the previous ordinary bandits. Instead, they adjust their pace, steadily walking uphill. This approach conserves energy while maintaining the integrity of their formation.

  As soon as the two sides csh, the elite bandits put immense pressure on the guards. Just when it seems like they might be overwhelmed, Henwell signals Knight Mark to take action.

  Mark takes a deep breath and draws his greatsword, the Fighting Spirit enveloping it with a faint glow. This heavily armored knight charges into the midst of the elite bandits. His sword dances, effortlessly slicing through their armor, and not a single bandit can withstand even one strike from him.

  In just a few breaths, Knight Mark has already taken down more than a dozen bandits. At this moment, he moves through the crowd like a tank, unstoppable and devastating. After several minutes, just as Mark’s Fighting Spirit begins to wane and his strength starts to diminish, the bandits break.

  Mark's heroic dispy brings back memories of the battlefield for them. Against true knights, they feel as fragile as paper, easily cut down. As the bandits start to flee, Henwell immediately orders his guards to pursue them. After a relentless chase, only about twenty of the elite bandits manage to escape.

  Despite such heavy losses, the bandit leaders are not deterred; instead, they're excited. Having come from the battlefield themselves, they know that knights can only sustain such bursts of power for a few minutes. For the foreseeable future, Knight Mark will just be a strong ordinary man.

  Watching as the leaders personally organize a second assault, Henwell pulls his battle spear from the ground and turns to the panting Knight Mark. "Take a breather! I'll be back in no time!"