This was due to the mysterious map that Emperor Darius had handed over to Phen before the start of the mission. It was a mini road map with very detailed instructions on how to navigate through some parts of the Wild and reach their target's location. 

The existence of such a thing was truly questionable as humans should not have explored this far into the Wild but Phen, a loyal knight of the Azori Empire dared not question her sovereign.

"We are outside the White Desert now, everybody, be on your toes." Phen said to her team as they approached a hill.

After a few more steps, a valley between ranges of high hills, forests, and mountains came into view. It was a U-shaped valley with a flat bottom, steep sides, and a large river watercourse of a high water level.

"We need a ship." Earan, a rounded head, and bearded man said. Despite his aged appearance, Earan was a young man of 32.

"Yes. We will build one, a longship would be the most ideal." Phen replied gliding her fingers through the map in her hands.

"Can't we traverse through the mountains?" Hagar asked.

"The huge, firm, and enclosed trees on the mountains make it difficult to traverse, especially at night and we can't forget about Ye, it would be physically impossible for him."

"Are there any monsters lurking in the waters?"

"I can't say for sure but even if there were, facing them would be better than getting lost in the mountains."

They continued to converse about the next step they should take and whatnot but to Yeshu their conversation was way over his head.

*Yawn*

Yeshu took a huge yawn as he was growing more tired with each passing day. Stretching his arms up and his head in the direction of the sky, he noticed something.

The mountains surrounding them were so tall and huge, they could be mistaken for an island so it was difficult to see the top even though the team currently stood in a relatively high location.

But Yeshu could spot it, the glittering edge of what looked like metal. He saw one, two, three, four, five....a lot.

"Si..sir...Ha..g..ar" Yeshu pulled on Hagar's cloak multiple times trying to get his attention. He stammered in fear as he noticed more and more glittering lights.

"What do you want Kid?" Hagar said in an annoyed tone.

"Th..e...re." Yeshu stammered as he pointed toward the top of the mountain.

"Huh? What is.." Hagar squeezed his eyes trying to look for what the boy pointed at. He soon paused as his expression darkened. It was because he saw it too.

"ARROWS!!!!!!" Hagar cried out.

Immediately, a bombardment of arrows came rushing toward them. They flew through the air with jet-like speed and their steel arrowheads were soon the only thing they could see.

Phen, being the fastest in the team managed to unsheathe her sword in the nick of time and deflect the arrows aimed at her, Glit, and Eanar.

Leah and the rest of the team also managed to fend off the fast-approaching arrows with only Ascah getting hit on his left shoulder.

"Argh" Ascah groaned as he pulled out the arrow imbedded in his shoulder.

"Are you okay?" Thud asked.

"Yeah, I am good. I think everyone...." Ascah was about to verify everyone's safety only to come to an abrupt stop. Everyone tilted their head in Ascah's direction and what they saw filled them with immense dread.

Hagar who was one of the first people to spot the attackers was struck with six arrows to his back and shoulders. Why? Immediately Hagar noticed the incoming attack, he had grabbed Yeshu and hugged him, leaving his back wide open. 

He didn't budge an inch as he took the arrows to his back in place of Yeshu.

*Kaghh* this was the sound of Hagar coughing up an extreme amount of blood. His eyes were soon losing light.

"Sir Hagar!!!" Yehsu shouted in worry.

"Don't worry, it's better this way." Hagar tightened his hug while speaking words Yehsu simply couldn't understand.

Phen, who was in a great deal of shock quickly regained her composure and directed the team.

"Earan, give Hagar immediate treatment, Liab, stand guard for them, Leah, with me, everyone else, make Ye's life the priority." Phen Commanded. 

Everyone immediately responded and did as their leader ordered. Earan, a jack of all trades sat Hagar down and quickly but carefully plucked out the arrows. It was an extremely painful experience but not something he couldn't bear. 

"How is he?" Phen asked as she watched Earan lay Hagar on the ground.

Earan shook his head in response. Hager could possibly not make it. 

"...." Phen stood speechless as she pondered on her past relationship with Hagar. It all happened too fast for her. Slowly, her dismay soon turned into anger, anger towards the assailants who dared to hurt her team.

She turned toward the direction the attack came from and...

"...SHOW YOURSELVES!!!" Phen roared in anger. 

The ambushers properly responded and revealed themselves. Rough and scary faces clad in mail armor on major parts of their body, an arming sword by their side, and a crossbow in their hands. This was the basic description of their assailants.

"Manes!" Phen said with a startled expression.

Manes, a group of nomads based in the Poshi continent. They were a unified body of diverse local tribes spread all over the Continent. 

Manes went about plundering villages, raiding castles, pirating the seas and even aiding wars. They would do anything for the right amount. Although they didn't move in one huge group they respected and never attacked each other. They bowed to no king, prince, or Emperor, their only power figure was their company's 'Judge Khan'.

'Why are manes in the Wild? How did they get here in such a large group? Why did they attack us?' 

Phen and the others had a lot of questions but first...

"Under whose Company do you raise your blade against a knight of  the west!?" Phen asked at the top of her voice.

"Pardon my rudeness, O respectable lady." an unknown voice said.

Phen directed her gaze downward and caught sight of the voice's owner.

Standing in a longship with fifteen other wanes, he had short brown hair, bright blue eyes, prominent cheekbones, and light facial hair surrounding his jawline. He wore a light long brown gambeson coat, a scabbard and sword by his left hip, and a half-chest plate armor over his right shoulder.

"And who are you?" Phen asked in an extremely annoyed tone.

"I go by Oz and under the company of Judge Khan IV, I captain this rough band of 56 manes. We apologize for our unhospitable greeting."

"Unhospitable greeting?" Phen cocked her head in disbelief. She thought this man was full of it.

'They lie in wait and ambush us and they dare try to gloss over it? Such bastards.' Phen thought to herself. To her, what they had done was unforgivable.

Phen ready to subdue them, sprung down with a monumental jump and landed onto their longship.

The impact of Phen's landing was so strong that the ship overturned a little. Some of the manes even tripped and fell as a result.

"Ohh." Oz exclaimed with an arrogant smile.

"For your crime of attacking a knight of the Azorian Empire, I will be taking command of your band." Phen said while pointing her sword toward Oz. She decided to not only punish them but also take advantage of this situation and seize their ship.

"You Holy Believers sure are greedy." Oz said with a smile. 

*Shhee* this was the sound of Oz's blade sliding against his sheath as he drew his sword.

"Come." Phen taunted.