Ch. 39 - The Three of Us Seem Pretty Capable
"Are you getting old, going deaf, brain slowing down, can't understand human speech anymore?
I fucking told you already—you're running in the opposite direction, but you just kept hauling ass without a care in the world.
Now the pursuers are all fucking here. If I don't make it out, you better wait for my ghost to haunt you into your next life!"
"Can you shut that rotten mouth of yours?
I really can't fucking stand you yapping in my ear. So what if I didn't listen to you, took the wrong path, wasted time, and drew the greenskins here?
Does that mean you have to keep nagging in my ear?"
"Are you fucking listening to yourself!?"
"How the hell was I supposed to know you could actually see through illusions?"
The sound of arguing felt extremely familiar to Kuru.
Though it didn't understand why these two humans cared so much about 'mothers,' kobolds never bothered with such things.
But just as it recognized who the two outside the tent were, the curtain was hastily thrown aside, and Tang Qi and Black Snake practically tumbled inside.
Several arrows followed close overhead, punching holes through the canopy. Fortunately, they dodged in time, letting the arrows clatter to the ground.
"You actually didn't escape?"
Even Tang Qi hadn't expected to see the person and dog again.
With just one glance at the mage lying in a pool of blood, he guessed what had happened:
"I told you to get the blade, and you just lurked in the tent the whole time, waiting for the rabbit?"
Kuru was a clever kobold, aware of its own weakness.
It knew that even if it escaped, it might not find its way through the treacherous forest or survive.
But no matter how clever, nature runs deep.
Their kind was naturally cunning and cowardly.
Yet they held grudges exceptionally well.
They just habitually buried their hatred for the sake of survival.
Simmering in resentment while lying low, waiting for that moment of revenge.
That moment had come.
But it inevitably paid the price—
Now, there was no more time to escape.
No one gave them a chance to regroup.
Two green-skinned orcs wielding axes in both hands, faces like pigs with tusks nearly reaching their cheekbones, burst through the curtain right behind them.
These were the advance scouts that Black Snake had run into after getting lost in the fog.
Their muscles were thick and powerful, swinging their axes with enough force to create gusts of wind.
No technique, all strength.
To Tang Qi's eyes, it even resembled wild flailing.
They didn't care whether there were two people or three 'people' before them.
Their crimson pupils seemed to harbor flames.
Burning through what little intelligence they had, focused only on tearing apart everything in sight.
"Throw me the blade!"
The moment Black Snake called out, Kuru tossed the curved blade over.
It understood that killing Starshine was entirely due to its patient ambush.
In terms of strength, it was no match for anyone.
To break through the encirclement, Black Snake was the only combat power it could rely on.
The twin axes whirled like full moons, whistling through the air.
Black Snake's waist and back were snake-flexible, bending backward like a bridge to easily avoid them.
During the flip, his toe kicked the blade's handle, and when he stood upright again, the black blade had already drawn a circle in mid-air, landing securely in his hand like a circus trick.
He didn't dare delay. The blade rose and fell.
The curved blade was black as ink, concealing its edge in the dim night.
The orc's eyes barely kept up with his blade.
But its body couldn't react in time.
The curved blade sliced across its solid muscle like cutting through paper-thin silk.
Blood spurted like a fountain, yet not a speck of dust remained on the blade.
Tang Qi's vision was limited in the darkness, but [Alertness] warned him of the other orc's axe trajectory.
The will to survive drove him to fall backward as the thrown axe passed just inches away.
Even so, he still felt a stinging pain on his nose bridge.
Warm blood trickled to his lips—the wind had actually cut his skin.
The orc combined both axes, like splitting wood, about to drive into Tang Qi's chest.
The curved blade had already sliced through its throat first.
It fell faster than the axe in its hands.
"Still, this blade works best."
Black Snake weighed 'Snake's Kiss' in his hand, murmuring to himself.
Orc skin was naturally rough, hard as steel.
If it were just an ordinary curved blade, it would probably roll its edge upon touching their skin.
He instinctively extended his hand toward Tang Qi.
By the time he realized it and tried to pull back, Tang Qi had already used his arm to stand up.
He offered no thanks, but his words were no longer so harsh:
"From now on, listen to me."
"When is it your turn to command me—"
Remembering his earlier foolishness, how he'd been deceived by illusions, Black Snake coughed twice.
"Just this once."
Taking over command, Tang Qi knew there was no time to waste and didn't mince words:
"Kuru, take that mage's wand and create an illusion walking out."
Previously lacking a spellcasting implement, Kuru had been completely useless. Now they needed to utilize every available resource.
Kuru had already looted Starshine's corpse clean. Gripping the arm-length wand, it quickly chanted a guttural incantation.
An illusion identical to Tang Qi materialized in a flash of light before their eyes.
[Silent Image], the only first-circle spell Kuru knew.
It directed 'Tang Qi' to walk out of the tent.
In barely two breaths, a roar erupted outside, along with the sound of a massive axe swinging through the air.
"Now's our chance!"
Fearing pursuers might be lying in wait outside, Tang Qi used the illusion to buy them a moment's opening.
Black Snake took the lead, charging out. Before the orc outside could recover from swinging its massive axe, he killed it with one stroke.
Tang Qi followed with Kuru close behind. Using Black Snake to clear the path, he tried to discern the escape route—
Only to see the remaining goblins and several advance orcs blocking their way forward, moving to surround them.
"Stay close to me!"
Black Snake gritted his teeth. The black blade moved like a snake, gliding across goblin throats, each pass spurting a column of blood.
He kicked a fallen rusty curved blade to Tang Qi's feet.
[Alertness] rang like a bell, cold sweat soaking Tang Qi's back.
He lunged forward, rolled, and grabbed the curved blade in one motion. When the goblin's blade fell behind him, he barely managed to raise his blade.
"Clang!" The blades sparked as they met, temporarily blocking their backstab.
A draconic "screech" sound instantly sang out, and ice-blue crystals cut through the night, precisely striking a goblin's waist.
The spreading cold froze its blood. As the goblin slowed, Tang Qi had no time to think.
Almost by muscle memory alone, he swung the curved blade.
"Squelch—"
The curved blade struck the goblin's chest, killing it instantly.
But due to improper force, the edge became firmly wedged in its sternum.
"Fuck!"
Tang Qi tried to pull out the blade, but in this critical situation, the enemy wouldn't give him time to react!
As he struggled with the blade, a silver gleam already reflected the firelight, glinting coldly!
[Alertness] clearly told him where the danger was.
But Tang Qi's movements weren't swift enough, his body wasn't flexible enough, and he lacked experience.
He couldn't respond to the incoming blade with Black Snake's ease.
He couldn't dodge in time!
"Move—"
Realizing Tang Qi was in danger, Black Snake had no choice but to sprint backward.
Now flashing to his side, he slashed at the goblin's nape, then kicked the corpse stuck on Tang Qi's blade away, unable to help cursing:
"Idiot! Don't swing a curved blade like it's a fucking axe—you need to use the edge to drag and slice, drag and slice, understand!?"
Mastering an axe didn't rely purely on brute force.
But even used that way, it was simple, direct, and remarkably effective.
Curved blades, however, had their own unique advantages.
They were much lighter and more versatile. Used properly, they often produced twice the result with half the effort.
But they required extremely precise distance control and full utilization of both blade edges to maximize their effectiveness.
Another goblin lunged forward. To prevent this novice from making another mistake, Black Snake twisted his waist and swung his arm.
Using the most standard motion, he drew the blade in a curve, precisely sliding it across the goblin's throat.
Tang Qi's brain understood, though his movements remained inevitably stiff.
Fortunately, [Alertness] helped him out, or he would have died long ago under the goblins' wild blades.
The battlefield is always the best teacher.
With Black Snake blocking most of the attacks and Kuru occasionally interjecting a Ray of Frost, under their three-way cooperation, Tang Qi actually felt the curved blade in his hand becoming increasingly natural:
"The three of us seem pretty capable, huh?"
Black Snake's mouth twitched, nearly losing his grip on the blade—
If it weren't for this bastard being the only one who could see through the mist, he would have already cut through and escaped long ago!
Now dragging two deadweights, the pursuers' encirclement had left them unable to advance an inch.
Though the advance forces fell one by one during the pursuit, the orcs' war cries grew clearer and louder.
"Huh! Ha!"
"Huh! Ha!"
"Huh! Ha!"
Chaotic footsteps pounded the earth. Forest leaves trembled and fell like the earth's rapid breathing.
The towering shadows lurking in the mist finally revealed their true forms through slow, deliberate steps.
Tang Qi was about to turn and look.
[Alertness] suddenly sounded.
Two consecutive dull explosive sounds rang out first.
Tang Qi sensed danger approaching, but the bombardment was faster than his nerves—
"Not good..."
"BANG!"
His entire body flew backward.