Hughwolf stood behind his retainers like an alpha wolf commanding his pack.
The bronze daggers in the hands of the tribal warriors were more alarming than wolf fangs.
And they held the absolute advantage in numbers.
But the veterans Jon brought revealed their fearless nature.
One by one, they drew their swords and shielded Jon, even though they wore no armor themselves.
"Elder Hughwolf, w-what are you doing?!"
Hakon also entered a combat stance, but he quickly realized Hughwolf's target wasn't him, but Jon and his group.
Hughwolf ignored Sora and spoke directly to Hakon:
"Hakon, Sora! We are all Painted Dogs; naturally, I won't harm you. Today, Jon has two choices: climb up, or die!"
"No!" Sora stepped in front of Jon again. "Whether he comes or goes is his choice. You can't do this!"
As a girl, Sora's combat skills weren't particularly high.
But in this moment, she showed the agility of a panther.
She leaped in front of Jon instantly.
Old York watched this scene with emotion.
Even knights who boasted of loyalty and bravery might not repeatedly shield a man they had known for only a few days like she did.
On the other side, seeing this, a faint despair appeared in Hakon's eyes.
"Hmph, stupid girl," Hughwolf muttered, then looked at Hakon. "Hakon, you see it too. That girl doesn't care about you at all. Come over here, help us take this boy down. If you really want her... hehe, take her right here. I'll pretend I didn't see anything!"
Hearing Hughwolf's words, Sora struggled to believe this man was the same Painted Dog elder who stood alongside her father.
Shock and anger filled her blue eyes, her chest heaving with agitation.
Hakon, standing still, looked at Jon, then at Sora shielding him, and finally at Hughwolf.
Frowning, he finally moved his feet, walking toward Hughwolf.
"Haha, that's right. Only what's in your mouth is truly yours. Hakon, you don't know how many good girls in the tribe adore you, but you only have eyes for this stupid girl."
Seeing a tiger of a warrior join his side, Hughwolf was overjoyed.
Clearly, if Hakon really raped Sora and then killed her, he would belong to Hughwolf completely.
"Hakon..."
Seeing Hakon walk toward Hughwolf, Sora couldn't believe her eyes, but shock was quickly replaced by anger.
Just as everyone prepared for a fight, the unexpected happened!
"ARGH————"
Hakon pulled out his dagger and stabbed straight for Hughwolf's lower back!
The ambushed Hughwolf screamed in pain, looking at Hakon with shock and fury.
His eyes were filled with confusion and rage; he couldn't understand how a man could be this love-struck.
Strangely, not much blood flowed from where Hughwolf was stabbed.
He leaped back violently, and the warriors who had been aiming their weapons at Jon began to besiege Hakon.
Although Hakon was skilled, the narrow environment gave him no room to dodge. In the blink of an eye, he sustained several bloody wounds.
Jon hesitated no longer. Drawing his sword with a low shout, he joined the fray.
Seeing Jon attack, Hughwolf didn't panic. He ordered his men to bring out the prepared fishing nets.
Jon's martial arts were formidable, true, but he wore no armor, and they had the numbers.
This tanned leather net was prepared specifically for him.
In this narrow space, Jon had nowhere to run.
"Jon, look out!"
"My Lord, careful!"
Sora and Old York shouted warnings in unison.
But Jon didn't panic. He glanced around, then leaped up suddenly, pushing off a nearby rock to flip directly behind the tribal warriors.
The warriors holding the net only felt a shadow pass over their heads. Then, sword light flashed, blood sprayed from three necks, and they collapsed instantly.
The remaining net-holders couldn't turn around in time. They had to drop the nets and turn to face him with weapons.
"Charge!"
Seeing Jon easily neutralize the crisis, Old York and the other veterans were emboldened.
Swords in hand, they joined the battle.
Sora wanted to join too, but Old York held her back.
Hiding behind his men, Hughwolf grew anxious.
A guaranteed win had turned into a desperate struggle.
Jon's martial arts exceeded his imagination.
To Jon, their leather armor was like paper; he struck their exposed vitals with lethal precision.
The narrow space made maneuvering difficult, but it also meant Jon couldn't be attacked by too many people at once.
And his sword was faster than lightning!
As for the veterans... they were monsters!
He watched an old man with half his teeth missing grab the blade of an enemy stabbing his abdomen, holding it in place while driving a dagger into the enemy's neck!
This suicidal fighting style terrified the remaining warriors.
In just a few rounds, Hughwolf's numerical advantage vanished.
Hakon, who had been struggling, felt the pressure lift. Seizing the opportunity, he drove his sword into the chest of Hughwolf's son.
Seeing his son wounded, Hughwolf's face turned pale.
Simultaneously, Jon launched a flying kick, knocking two of Hughwolf's warriors off the cliff.
From over a dozen men, Hughwolf was suddenly left with only four!
The remaining tribal warriors lost their will to fight.
Jon's sword made them despair.
"Jon, I... I didn't really mean to kill you! I promise I meant no harm!"
Seeing his defeat imminent, Hughwolf begged for mercy while slowly edging backward, intending to flee.
Jon whispered something to Sora. She nodded and stepped forward.
"I know Elder Hughwolf coerced you all. Drop your weapons now, and I will explain everything to my father."
Hearing Sora, the warriors lost all will to continue.
Seeing this, Hughwolf visibly panicked. Hakon, quick of eye and hand, grabbed him from behind his remaining warriors and pinned him to the ground.
Hughwolf's scheme had failed completely.
"Sora, let me go, Sora! Please! I... I held you when you were a baby!"
Hughwolf wept and begged, as if the man who just encouraged Hakon to rape her was someone else entirely.
Watching him grovel, Sora looked at him like he was a bug.
Just then, Hakon, weak from blood loss, swayed and nearly collapsed.
Hughwolf seized the chance to flip over and take Hakon hostage.
But Jon was faster. He threw his longsword, chopping off one of Hughwolf's hands cleanly.
"My hand! My hand!" Hughwolf screamed, clutching his spurting wrist.
Old York immediately stepped forward to restrain him.
Sora rushed to Hakon's side to bandage him, her pale blue eyes filled with tears.
"Hakon, don't die, Hakon! Sob... Hakon..."
Seeing the girl who usually avoided him now worrying over him, Hakon mustered the courage to ask the question burning in his heart:
"Sora, why won't you accept me? Why were you so good to Jon the moment he arrived? Why?"