Chapter 12: One-Sided Massacre
Zhao had spent time resting since he couldn't really walk into a battle-tired. The march to the Macre Ravines had been grueling, his physique struggling to keep pace with the relentless speed of his Legendary-grade soldiers. Now, after about 15 minutes of rest behind a rocky outcropping, he had completely energized, his breath steady and his mind clear. The sun was just rising, its golden light spilling over the ravine, casting long shadows across the stone-strewn desert. He stood, brushing dust from his Blue Soul Armor, and gripped his Solfare longsword, its Vac fire flickering faintly along the blade, a weapon that had adapted to his modest mastery, its potential waiting to be unlocked as his skills grew.
He had asked Valorn to prepare the soldiers, admitting his lack of knowledge about warfare. "Valorn, I'm new to this," Zhao had said earlier, his tone earnest. "Organize the troops for the battle." Valorn had nodded, his broadsword Solfare glowing with Vac fire, and consulted with Balor and Lyra, their greatsword and curved bow Solfare weapons gleaming in the dawn light. After a brief discussion, they had deployed all the archers—10 Eternal Archers and 4 Elf Archers led by Rita—toward the mountain top overlooking the hideout. One of the specialties of the area was that the monster hideout was located in the innermost part of the territory, nestled within the ravine, surrounded by steep cliffs that provided a natural vantage point. The archers positioned themselves at the summit, their Solfare bows and Blue Soul Armor blending with the rocky terrain, their elevated position offering a clear line of sight into the cave below.
Zhao turned to Acel, his fiery red Solfare spear resting at his side, and nodded. "Start the battle," he said, his voice steady but tinged with anticipation. The moment he spoke, the soldiers sprang into action, charging toward the unprepared monsters with a speed and ferocity that caught the enemy off guard. By the time the lizardmen realized they were under attack, more than 100 of them had fallen, their bodies crumpling under the onslaught of the Eternal Knights. Zhao, running alongside the soldiers, felt his mouth drop open in surprise. The battle had not yet fully started, and over one-fifth of the enemy—initially estimated at 50 from outside—had already died. He only had about 30 soldiers in total, and only 14 had participated so far, as the archers had yet to fire. The true scale of the enemy became apparent as they poured out of the cave—500 lizardmen, their numbers hidden by the deceptive exterior, swarming like a tide of scales and claws.
Zhao reached the enemy ranks, his Solfare longsword slashing through the air with a fluid motion. The sword's path exploded with violent Vac fire, the unquenchable flames erupting in a blazing arc that consumed over 10 lizardmen in an instant, their scales charring and bodies collapsing in heaps of ash and blood. The sight was staggering, the sheer power of the weapon overwhelming even Zhao's expectations. More lizardmen, enraged by their comrades' deaths, charged at him, their claws slashing and tails whipping through the air. As they closed in, Zhao heard a sharp command—
The soldiers fought in a highly organized manner, their movements disciplined and precise, a testament to Valorn's leadership. The Eternal Knights advanced in a tight, orderly line, their Blue Soul Armor absorbing the lizardmen's claw attacks without a scratch, their Solfare weapons—longswords, spears, and axes—cutting through the enemy with devastating precision. One Knight slashed with Blade Mastery, his longsword Solfare igniting a group of five lizardmen, the Vac fire spreading to burn them alive, their screams echoing through the ravine. Another thrust with a spear Solfare, using Iron Will to pierce through three lizardmen in a single strike, the unquenchable flames consuming them from within as they collapsed in agony. The Knights' Eternal Shield skill created a moving wall of defense, their shields deflecting the beasts' attacks while their counterstrikes reaped a bloody toll, their line advancing steadily into the cave, leaving a trail of charred and broken bodies in their wake.
Zhao, caught in the chaos, swung his Solfare longsword again, his Platoon Commander's skill-boosting squad coordination by 15%, ensuring the Knights worked in harmony. The blade's Vac fire erupted once more, incinerating another dozen lizardmen, their bodies reduced to ash in seconds. He activated Summon Resonance, increasing all summoned subjects' stats by 10% for 30 seconds, amplifying their already overwhelming power. The battle was a one-sided massacre, the lizardmen's numbers dwindling rapidly under the relentless assault. Acel's Force Throw struck again, sending a wave of lizardmen bursting into bloody fragments, while Balor's Sword Dance carved through a cluster of 20, his greatsword Solfare leaving a trail of Vac fire that consumed their remains.
That was when all the soldiers heard a loud, guttural scream, a sound that reverberated through the ravine, shaking the stones beneath their feet. The big tent-like structure in the center of the hideout broke apart, its fabric tearing as a massive lizardman with wings emerged, its scales a deep, menacing green, its eyes glowing with fury. It towered over the others, standing at least 15 feet tall, its wings beating the air with a thunderous force that sent dust swirling. It looked angry after seeing all its comrades die before it, its roar a challenge to Zhao and his forces. It was about to charge toward Zhao, its claws extended and wings flapping, when a terrifying force emanated from above.
Hundreds of arrows descended from the sky, coated with elemental power—fire, ice, and lightning—unleashed by the Eternal Archers and Elf Archers atop the mountain. Lyra's Precision Shot guided each arrow with deadly accuracy, striking the winged lizardman's eyes, throat, and wings, while the Elemental Barrage skill ignited the arrows with explosive force, the Vac fire from their Solfare bows spreading rapidly across its body. The Rapid Fire skill doubled their firing rate, turning the volley into a relentless storm, and the Hawk's Eye skill ensured no shot missed its mark. The Wind Whisper skill amplified the poison's spread, weakening the beast's resistance as it roared in agony, its wings faltering under the barrage.
The battle finished even before it fully started. The winged lizardman collapsed, its massive body crashing to the ground, riddled with arrows and consumed by Vac fire, its scales charred and smoking. The remaining lizardmen—fewer than 50 now—were quickly dispatched by the Knights, their Solfare weapons cutting through the enemy with ease, the Vac fire ensuring no survivors remained. Zhao was utterly speechless, his mouth still open as he stared at the carnage. Only now did he realize how much of an overkill it had been, how his 30 soldiers—14 Knights and 16 Archers—had decimated 500 lizardmen in mere minutes. But still, Zhao did not regret it one bit; it was their problem for being too weak, and he had no intention of showing mercy in this unforgiving world.
He asked the soldiers to quickly clean up and bring the corpses of the monsters while he went to search for the territory certificate. "Gather everything valuable," he instructed, his voice firm. "We need to maximize our gains." Acel came with him to help look for it, his fiery red spear resting at his side, its Vac fire still flickering faintly. They didn't need to search much; the certificate was found inside the big tent where the winged lizardman had been situated, resting on a crude stone pedestal. Zhao quickly checked it, the system chiming as he held the bronze-carved item.
|Bronze Territory Certificate|