Chapter 58: Axe and Snake
This is terrible…
Mo Tan anxiously waited for several skills to cool down, while surveying the surroundings. He had to admit that the current situation was absolutely dire.
Logically, everyone should have started retreating, but they were all still here. Ned and Krab were injured one after another, a large number of enemies were slowly approaching, and one of the most miserable-looking captives had been recaptured.
Most importantly, the tall Orc, who looked formidable and was in fact even more so, possessed terrifying strength. In just two exchanges, he had nearly crippled Ned, the strongest fighter in the squad, and he didn't even seem to be taking it seriously…
Tactics and command can indeed influence many things, even carving a path out of a desperate situation. Mo Tan had realized this since the last encounter and was confident he could do it well!
He wouldn't shoulder all the burdens himself, nor did he consider others dispensable. He could view everyone objectively, disliked being a maverick or separating from the group, and possessed an innate capacity for inclusion…
Sufficiently objective, quick-witted, relatively rich in knowledge and experience, intelligent…
Now, as Black Vatican, Mo Tan no longer doubted himself as he did before. He had found something that only his current self could do, something impossible in other personality states.
And perhaps there was more…
Mo Tan was no longer confused, but not being confused didn't mean he could solve the problem!
Karon was too powerful, at least for the current Fenrir Squad, he was too strong!
We all know that when individual strength reaches a certain level, the other side's numbers, tactics, and strategies gradually lose their meaning. Perhaps the reverse is also true, but it definitely doesn't apply to the present situation.
Throughout history, Commanders' most hated opponents were those fierce men who loved to take the heads of generals amidst a million soldiers. Those heroes who thought, 'Let you have a million lions, let you deploy your troops, I'll just rampage through the crowd,' never thought too much. They just charged! Charged to win, charged through, charged so fiercely that the opposing Commanders were heartbroken, all transforming into Kordos… I mean, Xianglin Sao, cursing the injustice of fate.
These fierce men were very popular. After all, limited by our identity as 'social animals,' it's hard not to yearn for such individuals. The common faces who can't rampage will never be as popular as generals with unique models, and the generic pilots inside the Zaku, known as a man's romance, will never be more popular than Kira.
So, personally, I think instead of saying Zaku is a man's romance, it's more accurate to say—piloting a custom machine to blow up a Zaku is a man's romance.
In short, those fierce men mentioned above, at some point, acquired an exclusive term: 'Hero.'
Note that this is not a compliment, but a noun. You should know that no matter your character or appearance, as long as you're strong enough, you're a Hero!
In principle, a Hero's enemy can only be another Hero. All other creatures are merely experience, money, quest progress, kills… sorry, not kills, at most they're just minions to be farmed…
So, those outside the category of 'Hero' can be collectively referred to as 'minions.' Minions usually have no human rights, not even if they evolve into super minions. The things they spill on the ground after dying aren't even worthy of being called blood, because as everyone knows, 'First Blood' must always come from a Hero. Minions rarely form teams; in most cases, they are 'lanes,' whose only task is to be 'pushed' or 'carried.'
Therefore, the conclusion is clear: in most situations, the outcome of a minion confronting a Hero is self-evident.
In this specific time and place, Karon Gui was naturally a Hero, while Ned, Mo Tan, and the others could definitely be classified as minions. (Although it feels like there's still a lot to say, I've successfully circled back!)
"Damn it!" Mo Tan saw Ned, who had lunged at the adjutant, being casually swatted to the ground by Karon once again. He quickly stepped forward two paces, casting Law Decree Shield, Holy Healing, and Tenacity Prayer simultaneously on his captain, while shouting, "We can't save that guy! Captain, break through in the opposite direction, and in one minute, use that magic item to teleport to a safe location!"
This wasn't abandoning someone to die, but letting those thirty-odd people go earlier was already the best outcome. If saving this last captive meant potentially sacrificing everyone here, Mo Tan would absolutely not choose to save him!
Most humans are selfish. If we had to choose between a close acquaintance and many strangers in a life-or-death situation, most of us would not choose the latter, even if quantifying life suggests that saving more people is the correct choice.
What's more, for the current Mo Tan, the choice was between a stranger and multiple allies. He wouldn't even hesitate!
"Alright! You all retreat first!" Ned didn't escape immediately, but shouted without looking back. Then he mumbled in a voice only he could hear, "I don't want anyone else to sacrifice themselves, whether it's you all, or other innocents…"
Mo Tan nodded, retreated behind Salazar, and shouted, "Shuang Ye, retreat next to me. If you can, freeze the ground in front. Krab, go to the very back of the team. Salazar, hold on a little longer! Yinna, help out!"
"Kula De Fubu—Frostbind!" Shuang Ye immediately mumbled an incantation not found in the spell description, drawing two pentagrams at her side with one hand. Then, her staff lightly tapped, and large patches of thin ice instantly appeared in the air, covering a small area of ground in front of them in a flash.
This was also one of her newly learned skills. Shuang Ye had already told Mo Tan its effect when they were discussing strategies. Frostbind was not an offensive skill, but it had the effect of temporarily changing the environment, and its controllability was very high. If calculated precisely, its cost-effectiveness was quite good.
And for Shuang Ye, calculation was the easiest thing!
"Ugh!"
"What is th—…!"
Under the influence of nearly strict prediction and coverage angle, three Fire Claw Territory warriors who were charging forward suddenly slipped, and all fell to the ground unexpectedly.
But the threat was not over. Although Ned had previously intercepted several enemies, several Orc warriors still managed to close in on them. Salazar was struggling to hold on at this moment; his arm, which had been fractured a few days ago, had only just recovered, and now it was starting to ache faintly.
However, this somewhat aloof Lizardman Monk didn't even let out a whimper. He simply followed Mo Tan's orders completely, fighting fiercely in front of his companions.
Fortunately, Yinna, who had failed to interfere with Karon earlier, quickly redirected her attention and started helping out with close-range shots. This allowed Salazar to continue holding on during the period after Mo Tan had used all his support skills on Ned.
Just then, Ned, who was being steadily pressured by Karon, suddenly let out a battle cry. His deep blue eyes gradually turned light red, and his entire body grew a size larger. Wielding his sword with both hands, he fiercely unleashed a blue-and-red spinning slash.
"Blood Frenzy!?" Krab, who was temporarily under no great pressure, couldn't help but exclaim, "How is that possible!"
Mo Tan, who was about to adjust their pace to get everyone away quickly, was startled by him and subconsciously asked, "What is that?"
"That is…"
Before Krab could answer, Karon let out a fierce shout, meeting Ned's attack head-on with an axe chop. He intercepted the sword light half a second before it could sweep his adjutant, roaring, "How could you be…"
A splash of crimson bloomed, and Karon's words were cut short, because a torrential downpour of blood suddenly erupted in front of him, the scarlet, warm liquid instantly dyeing his vision a fiery red!
In the turbid haze, a burly figure slowly collapsed to the ground in front of Karon.
His adjutant!
That guy who liked to nag, complain, was a bit soft-hearted, and didn't seem like a Fire Claw warrior at all…
Had fallen!?
Karon disbelievingly wiped his face, then let out a furious roar filled with killing intent, completely falling into a rage!
Dead, really dead!
His throat was almost half-severed, with cross-shaped incisions on both sides of his neck and at his heart. That guy, full of flaws yet still loyal and brave, had fallen to the ground just like that. In his half-closed eyes, there was still a trace of confusion and vigilance.
But no fear…
Until the last moment of his life, there was not a trace of fear in the eyes of the man he always called a softie…
And behind his corpse stood the figure he would never forget!
Still the same short gray hair, still the same faded leather armor, still that chilling smile, and that scar on his face… the one he had left him!
He had waited too long for this damned bastard to arrive!
And the result, upon finally waiting…
"Do you like my greeting?" The middle-aged man who had made Gart timid in the temporary camp smiled slightly at the Orc Commander in front of him: "Long time no see, Mr. Karon."
"Gray Snake—Benny Crow!!" Karon almost gnashed his teeth, his battle armor suddenly bulging as his muscles swelled, creating countless fine cracks: "You will pay for everything you've done!"
"You don't need to worry about that. Please wait a moment." The middle-aged man, called Bannai, shrugged, then kicked Ned flying, and immediately threw the Orc captive he was holding towards Mo Tan and the others: "Catch!"
Bang! Bang!
Krab and Salazar each caught one person, both a bit at a loss…
However, it seemed correct that the newcomer was an ally.
"Ugh!" Shuang Ye suddenly knelt on the ground, retching. It was her first time seeing such a gruesome death. The countless wounds that had suddenly erupted on the Orc adjutant's body were simply too many to count, far more difficult to accept than the Burning Point Squad soldier (everyone knew who that was) from before.
Yinna gently patted her back, her face also looking unwell.
Boom!!
The blood-red battle axe slammed down with uncontrollable fury. Karon, gradually losing his sanity under his berserk state, wielded the axe with one hand and charged out fiercely!
But Bannai in front of him was several times faster. A blur flashed, and two Orc soldiers behind Karon simultaneously clutched their necks, yet they still couldn't stop the gushing blood, falling down one after another with hardly any struggle.
"Have you noticed," Bannai, with several blood-red blade fragments spinning on his fingertips, turned back and said coldly to Karon, "that you've slowed down?"
The death of his tribesmen caused Karon to pause slightly, then he noticed a small, pale purple metal fragment stuck in his shoulder!
And then…
"Pah!" Karon actually bit off the poisoned blade on his shoulder with his teeth, and with a shake of his neck, he flung it directly through the air at Bannai. Immediately, a huge Exploding Bear totem faintly appeared behind him, and he remotely threw a punch!
"You've gotten stronger~" Bannai cursed in a low, somber voice, then completely merged into his own shadow, dodging the punch that looked like it couldn't be met head-on. He then silently appeared behind Karon, grinning ferociously, "But I'm not the same as before either!"
Puff puff puff puff!!
Four poisoned blades directly plunged into Karon's back. After succeeding with one blow, Bannai didn't stop, backflipping to Mo Tan and the others, and sharply said, "He won't live much longer! Follow me now!"
"Go!" Mo Tan said decisively, "Krab, carry the captain. Salazar, you and I will carry the other one. Now is the best chance!"
Two pursuing Orc warriors were directly cut open across the chest by a spinning throwing blade Bannai flung out, screaming as they fell to the ground. The enraged Karon swayed in place, his movements slowing by half a beat. The thrown battle axe grazed Mo Tan's shoulder, missing Bannai, whom he originally intended to kill, by a hair.
The group, with some fright and danger, rushed out of the camp. The remaining Fire Claw Territory warriors did not pursue immediately due to Commander Karon's injuries, allowing them to escape!
"Who are you…?" Ned, on Krab's back, turned his head and asked Bannai, "Are you from the Autonomous Army?"
"Not exactly," Bannai answered absently, then narrowed his eyes and glanced back at the increasingly distant camp, smiling grimly, "It feels pretty good to take care of both public and private matters at once."
He walked leisurely beside the group, yet his speed was always eerily fast…
However, the squad's marching speed wasn't too fast, mainly because Ned's injuries were not light, and the condition of the Orc captive was also quite bad. This also relieved Mo Tan and Shuang Ye, as neither mages nor priests were professions known for their agility.
"Feeling better?" Mo Tan asked Shuang Ye beside him, as the girl had just taken quite a blow.
"I'm fine." Shuang Ye used her remaining magic to cast a Lightness spell on herself and Mo Tan, shaking her head, "But… I just have a bad Premonition…"
"How bad?"
"Very bad!"
Chapter 56: End