Chapter 1479 - 74: Overwhelming Power
The Four-armed Naga is already considered the elite force among the Sea Clan. So when the Four-armed Naga joined the second wave of attacks, the Luo Tian Mercenary Corps faced dramatically increased pressure, unable to maintain the clean and swift kills of the start.
Lu Hong observed each person’s performance and identified their shortcomings. Although their coordination was decent, their mental fortitude and reaction speed were grossly inadequate.
Everyone was extremely afraid of dying, fearing equipment drops and account cancellations upon death. This led them to prioritize preservation of life when clashing with the Naga, losing the possibility of trading injury for survival.
Many times, in situations where Lu Hong thought they could take a risk, they chose to evade to prevent injury.
The NPC monsters created by the game system had no such concerns, charging with reckless abandon. This caused the Luo Tian Mercenary Corps to continually retreat, unable to kill several Sea Clan members successfully after more than ten minutes, and instead losing a few comrades.
Watching comrades fall and dissipate into points of light enraged the squad leaders of the Luo Tian Mercenary Corps. One shouted at Lu Hong, "When the hell are you planning to just watch this show end? You took on this mission and now you’re just watching us die?"
"That’s it, I’m not fighting anymore. Retreat, brothers, retreat with me!" one squad leader directly ordered his team to evacuate the dungeon area.
Once they left the dungeon area, it would signify the failure of their mission.
For the Luo Tian Mercenary Corps, if half of the participants left, the system would automatically deem the mission a failure.
Thus, Lu Hong yelled sternly, "No retreat!"
"Who the hell are you to command us like this? Your actions are entirely unreasonable. I worked hard for my account and won’t let you ruin it, you idiot!" the squad leader continued to shout.
Instigating his teammates to leave with him.
Lu Hong then said coldly, "Anyone who leaves today will be directly expelled from the Luo Tian Mercenary Corps and never rehired."
This declaration awkwardly silenced the mercenary corps members who were about to leave. Luo Jiuxiu has money, so the Luo Tian Mercenary Corps offers the best treatment among the Silver Mercenary Corps, comparable to the Golden Mercenary Corps. Before joining, Lu Hong stated that he would cover the costs of the battle losses, under such pressure, they could only grit their teeth and continue fighting the Sea Clan.
Lu Hong dispelled their retreat intentions but still did not join the battle.
Just watching the Luo Tian Mercenary Corps kill four times their number in Sea Clan, the original 120-member corps left with less than 80 after this battle. Yet, the third wave of Sea Clan invasion numbers were calculated based on their entry count, totaling 1,080 Sea Clan enemies.
Moreover, in this third wave of Sea Clan enemies, every enemy troop was Naga, including 120 Six-armed Naga, who were exceedingly powerful.
Lu Hong glanced towards Yinfeng, noticing their Sea Clan clearing speed was faster than his side.
"General, can you still hold on?" Lu Hong smiled slightly and shouted to Yinfeng.
Upon hearing this, Yinfeng smeared the blood on his body and laughed heartily, "Of course I can hold on. How many come, I won’t fear this little storm!"
"Woof woof!"
The dog fittingly barked from the side, although its cry concealed undeniable fatigue.
Retracting his gaze, Lu Hong looked back at his side. The remaining 80 squad members stared at him resentfully, the third wave of Naga was set to attack within minutes. Without retreating, certain death was inevitable; their Magic Power couldn’t recover much now, let alone facing the upcoming battle.
In the game, stamina had settings. Once activity or combat reached the stamina consumption value, the game character would instinctually transmit signals of fatigue to the human brain, significantly decreasing movement and battle efficiency.
The current Luo Tian Mercenary Corps was at the end of their rope, only left to either die or abandon the mission.
A squad leader looked at Lu Hong with a peculiar expression and said, "Based on your performance in the battle at Lanshan Castle, we all respect you. No need for you to enact this new authority fire to fix us. It’ll only dissipate the goodwill we originally had for you."
Upon this statement, everyone concluded that Lu Hong was using this mission as a power play, and their expressions turned increasingly hostile. Had it not been for the threat of leaving the mercenary corps, many might have jumped up to vocally curse him.
Growing slightly weary, Lu Hong remarked, "This task, I merely took casually. I never intended to assert authority before you. The reason I didn’t join the battles earlier was that I wanted to assess the future teammates’ strength. But the result has left me quite disappointed!"
Lu Hong’s comment was the tipping point for the group: "What the hell do you mean? You think we’re weak, huh? And you’re stronger by much? Damn it, still putting on airs, this mission’s failure won’t drop us out of Silver but will surely bottom us out, taking who knows how many future missions to climb back up. Your casually taken task threatening to waste months of our efforts. How dare your miserable dog stand here with confidence!"
The curses triggered cheers from the other corps members.
Within the Sky Game, promoting a mercenary rank was exceedingly difficult. Completing a task might earn a hundred upgrade points, but failing could dock fivefold or tenfold, depending on the mission’s difficulty and significance.
Complete five tasks and botch one accidentally, then the prior efforts would be absolutely wasted.
Faced with the member’s cursing, Lu Hong didn’t get angry but raised an eyebrow in retort, "Who told you the mission will fail?"
"You’re spouting nonsense; over a thousand Naga attacking soon and you’re telling us to hold? Can you alone kill a thousand elite monsters?" The opponent was full of sneers and mockery.
"Can’t I?"
Lu Hong’s retort immediately stuck his words in the opponent’s throat.
And then everyone gazed at Lu Hong as if he were a fool.
No way, is this idiot serious? A thousand elite monsters, even if they were pigs, could stomp him to death by sheer numbers.
The masses kept their doubts silent, instead conveying them through looks of pity and ridicule, pity from some thinking Lu Hong had pretended too far, ill already.
Ridicule naturally came from believing Lu Hong was boasting.
Yet, Lu Hong didn’t care, he pulled two Heavy Swords from his backpack, took a deep breath, and calmly watched the imminent third wave of elite Naga.
Before the Naga advanced on the sea defense line, Lu Hong charged ahead directly.
The Heavy Swords danced, each strike landing precisely on the Naga’s weakest points, blasting Qi Blood, instantly killing elites.
Lu Hong was like a crimson whirlwind among the Naga forces, harvesting the lives of the Naga elite.
Speed fast enough to intimidate.
At this moment, all the Oh Luo Tian Mercenary Corps members nearly dropped their jaws, no... no, just how is this human?!
Some mercenaries quickly reacted, activating the video function to capture Lu Hong’s terrifying killing prowess.
Though having dreamt for two years, the combat experience and instincts were flawlessly brought forth by Lu Hong.
Not to mention facing a thousand elite Naga, even if thousands more came, as long as Lu Hong had stamina, he’d surely knock them down.
With Lu Hong’s formidable slaughter speed, the rear Six-armed Naga began casting spells, trying to affect Lu Hong.
However, the moment spells targeted Lu Hong, a pale thunder struck, initiating Heavenly God Descent.
Lu Hong minimized Skill usage, using minimal Qi Blood to eliminate enemies, lest his own Qi Blood Value depletes before killing all the Naga.
Sadly, the Bloodthirst Skill had been removed from the game, preventing Lu Hong from achieving the perpetual combat BUG found in the Dream Realm.
Thus, Lu Hong slaughtered with extraordinary efficiency and precision, akin to a grand artistic performance.