Chapitre 25: Chapter Thirteen 1
In this pitch-dark and eerie forest, the gurgling of the stream seemed like the call of the Grim Reaper. Every drop of water was like a malicious eye, spying on everything on this land. The lively and unrestrained waltz had now turned into a terrifying countdown, with every second filled with unknown danger.
Ivan was jolted awake by the sudden sound, and a sense of foreboding welled up in his heart. He knew that being woken up like this was no accident. Danger had already crept in quietly. However, he still underestimated the severity of this crisis.The girl's giggles and the sound of her trampling through the stream were especially jarring in the quiet night. What kind of girl would show up here at this time? Ivan was filled with doubts, but he had no time to think about it.
Suddenly, the curtain of the tent was yanked open violently, and a dark figure flashed in like lightning. Ivan's heart tightened. He knew it was Herbert. Herbert was a top-notch assassin, and his movements were always so silent that it was impossible to guard against.Herbert conveyed his orders with a look, and Ivan immediately understood his intention. He quickly took out the crossbow from under his pillow, skillfully strapped it to his left arm, and at the same time got the magic wand and the hallucinogenic powder solvent in his pocket ready. He knew that a life-and-death battle was about to unfold.
Ivan crawled out of the tent. It was pitch black outside, and only the bright moon was shining with a faint glow among the branches. Relying on his sharp intuition, he quickly found Mr. Juan's tent.He rushed into the tent as fast as he could. The atmosphere inside was so tense that it was suffocating. Mr. Juan sat upright, holding a bow in his hand. The curvature and shape of the bow showed its powerful might. Audrey was holding a rapier, with a determined look in his eyes, ready to fight at any time.
Ted and his assistant also walked into the tent one after another. The long spear in Ted's hand glinted coldly in the moonlight, sending a chill down one's spine. The curved sword in the assistant's hand was even more worrying. It was said that the curved swords forged by the Tor people could easily cut through the strongest weapons.Just then, Herbert also came in."What have you found?" Mr. Juan asked in a low voice.
"We're surrounded. There are at least sixty guys hiding in the dark within a radius of one mile," Herbert's voice was hoarse and low, as if it were the judgment coming from hell."Could it be that we've been discovered?" Audrey exclaimed in disbelief that their whereabouts had been leaked."What's going on with that little girl?" Mr. Juan asked."That woman is from the caravan across the way. I thought they were acting suspiciously. Her coming here at this time must be part of a plot," Herbert replied.
"Can you handle so many of them by yourself?" Mr. Juan asked."If I were alone, I'd choose to run away," Herbert replied without hesitation."What about with us?" Mr. Juan asked again."It'll be very difficult. Our target is too big," Herbert said."Kill them all," Mr. Juan's tone was icy cold, without the slightest hesitation.Everyone understood that this was a life-and-death battle, and they had to be united to defeat the enemy.
A murderous aura filled the entire tent. In the darkness, Mr. Juan's figure looked like a demon crawling out of the Nine Netherworlds.For a moment, Ivan was stunned. This was the real Mr. Juan, the bandit chief secretly controlling the vast southern land of Francis. That kind old man was just an illusion.It seemed that influenced by Mr. Juan, everyone shed their ordinary appearances.In fact, both Ted and his assistant usually looked like ordinary, honest coachmen.
But now, Ted had a cold smile on his lips, gripping the spear shaft tightly in his hand, with his collar open, looking exactly like a cruel butcher.The assistant bared his teeth, and his white teeth looked so glaring that it was terrifying. He kept twirling the steel knife in his hand as if waiting to slash someone's flesh at any moment.Even Audrey, who was usually refined and gentle, now had a cold look in his eyes. He sat there motionless, much like Herbert usually did. Ivan didn't know if he also looked different in others' eyes, if he also had a fierce and cold appearance.
However, he knew one thing for sure. He was extremely nervous.For some reason, at this moment, instead of being afraid, he didn't feel any fear at all. There was only nervousness, as if his heart was about to jump out of his throat.Time passed bit by bit, slipping away in silence.Listening intently, the sound of bushes being rustled and leaves being trampled underfoot came from the distance.
It could be heard that the attackers were quite skilled. Their steps were rather light, and their movements were extremely steady. They must be used to fighting at night.Ivan gently pulled the bowstring of the crossbow taut and conveniently loaded a crossbow bolt.The sounds were getting closer and closer, and they were almost right in front. Suddenly, a horse's neigh broke through the silent night sky.
The tranquility was completely shattered. Dozens of figures sprang out of the forest. They rushed towards their respective targets in unison.Every two or three people rushed towards a tent, and several others focused on the carriages and the horses pulling them. They couldn't let the prey escape.Just when these people were organizing and acting separately in an orderly manner, a sudden blow hit them from behind.
Several figures rushed out of the large central tent, and the deadly blows came in an instant.Ted and his assistant were responsible for dealing with the attackers who were destroying the carriages.The sharp spears were like the batons of the Grim Reaper, playing the tune of death. The spear tips drew sharp flashes of lightning in the moonlight.With countless flashes of lightning, screams rose one after another.
That assistant was also a murderous devil. With a swing and a sweep of the curved sword in his hand, he immediately cut down the opponents along with their weapons. There was no doubt that the sword he held was indeed a treasured blade forged by the Tor people.As for those who attacked the tents, the same fate awaited them.
Powerful arrows pierced through their hearts one after another with sharp whistling sounds, taking their lives away.Those who were killed were full of doubts even at the moment of death. On such a dark night, what kind of power guided the arrows to hit their hearts without any deviation?
Could it be that the messengers of the God of the Underworld were on their opponents' side, secretly using bows and arrows to deal with them, these failed attackers?Besides having to deal with the arrows that seemed to hit the target every time, the daggers that suddenly slashed out of the darkness were also a nightmare for these people.In their eyes, an invisible demon was quickly and nimbly assassinating those among them who were relatively more skilled and had managed to escape the deadly harm brought by those terrifying arrows.
That elusive dagger was almost impossible to resist.All that was left for them was death.Dozens of attackers were quickly wiped out, but the crisis was not over.Suddenly, countless arrows shot out from the dense forest. The densely packed arrows penetrated the tents and carriages.
In the darkness, only the miserable neighs of the horses could be heard. Even more terrifying was that among these arrows were several fire arrows. Once the fire arrows hit the tents and carriages, they immediately burst into flames.
The raging fire didn't pose a threat to them, but the flames lit up everything around brightly. The firelight completely exposed their figures to the aim of the arrows.The next wave of attacks would be even more fierce and precise.Thanks to Ted's quick action, although three of the horses pulling the carriages were shot dead, the others fortunately survived.Ivan's beloved purebred horse, which was more vigilant than any other horse, had already hidden in a place where the arrows couldn't reach.
However, relying solely on the cover of the two carriages could only provide temporary shelter. Moreover, the opponents had already outflanked them from both sides. There was no place for concealment in those two directions.In this situation, Mr. Juan's amazing archery skills were of no use.The only thing they could rely on was Herbert's unpredictable skills.In fact, Herbert had already disappeared into the dense forest, and the continuous screams proved his achievements.
However, the person in charge of this surprise attack obviously didn't want their prey to escape alive. The arrows didn't stop at all, shooting wave after wave."Boss, I'll rush out and fight them," Ted said, gripping the long spear tightly."Not yet. Trust Herbert. He's an expert," Mr. Juan was always full of confidence no matter what the situation was.Just at this moment, the footsteps around were getting closer and closer, and the arrows nailed to the trees and tents were becoming more and more powerful. Several times, they even penetrated the boards of the carriages.
It seemed that the attackers were launching a charge."Ted, you take care of the left side. Besides Herbert, you're the best fighter here. You and Ivan deal with all the guys coming from the right side. You protect Ivan. Ivan, whether you use crossbow bolts or magic, anyway, the left side is yours. Audrey and Hess, you two protect me. I'll deal with those attacking from the right side with my bow," Mr. Juan arranged everything in an orderly manner.Ivan was already fully prepared. He took out his magic wand and stretched it out from behind the carriage that had been covering him all along.
The mysterious incantation of the wind was softly chanted on his lips.Ivan didn't know if he could succeed, because he hadn't originally mastered this kind of magic. However, through that miraculous resonance of the wind, Ivan felt that he seemed to have grasped the trick of it.To his great excitement, the magic worked.There was no dazzling light, nor any earth-shattering sound.The magic wand silently released a faint mist. The wind sprites gently pushed the mist forward slowly.
The flying mist slowly spread forward, spreading farther and farther.Suddenly, a figure rushed out and appeared in front of Ivan. Without thinking, Ivan shot a crossbow bolt casually.The crossbow bolt hit the person's throat right on target.Ivan felt a sudden tightness in his heart. He had killed someone.He had finally killed someone.His mind went blank all of a sudden.
Suddenly, a powerful hand pulled him to the ground. Before he could come to his senses, an arrow flew past his ear and plunged heavily into the ground behind him.A person holding a bow was standing blankly five or six steps away. A long spear pierced straight through his chest."Now is not the time to be in a daze," Ted said in Ivan's ear.Ivan had thought that Ted would be very angry, but he didn't expect him to be so calm.However, now was not the time for him to think about it.
The long spear in his hand flew out, and Ted undoubtedly became defenseless. So he had to get the long spear back no matter what."Cover me," Ted shouted and jumped into the open space. He somersaulted to avoid six or seven powerful arrows that could have pinned him to the ground and flipped to the side of the corpse.The arrows were like a swarm of locusts. Ted didn't dare to rush back with the long spear in his hand.
The corpse became a good shield, but still, an arrow shot through Ted's thigh.Dragging the corpse and fleeing back behind the hidden carriage, Ted gritted his teeth and pulled the arrow out. Blood stained his long pants red.Ivan poked his head out and shot several crossbow bolts one after another, sending several of the guys charging in front to the underworld.Fortunately, at this time, the magic he had cast earlier gradually took effect.
The flying mist spread over an area within a radius of ten meters in front of them. The attackers rushing out from there fell down one after another."Ivan, was that your doing?" Mr. Juan asked in a low voice from a distance.Ivan nodded."Do it a few more times, as far as you can," Mr. Juan continued.
Hearing the boss's order, Ted struggled to get up from the ground. He took the bow and arrows from the corpse and said, "Ivan, do as the boss said. I'll cover you. Hurry up."Ivan also knew that this was a moment when every second counted. Any delay could cost them their lives.He took out his magic wand again and chanted the incantation. This time, he was going to use the last kind of magic.
Although the incantation for this magic was particularly long, once it was successfully cast, the effect would obviously be much more significant than the previous one.The previous one was really too slow, but there was no other way. After all, they were at a disadvantage in terms of wind direction. The attackers had clearly chosen this direction to attack considering this factor.A drop of water shot into the forest, fell silently to the ground, and spread out quietly.Another drop.
The attackers fell down mysteriously one after another, which couldn't help but attract the attention of the commander.In fact, he was a bit baffled. How did such powerful opponents suddenly appear?The information provided by that person said that the targets to be killed were a few guys disguised as merchants. However, those guys were quite powerful, and there was a magician among them, but it was said to be a diviner with no offensive power.Why were there two such powerful magicians all of a sudden?
The magician on this side was mysteriously making his men fall down one after another, and there was no way to rescue them.And there was another magician who turned out to be an illusionist. None of his men could get close to that carriage.Even more surprisingly, each of them also had an extremely powerful expert.The one using the long sword had such superb swordsmanship that it was astonishing. Only two or three people in the whole of Francis could rival such excellent swordsmanship.And the other guy was even more terrifying. He was like an invisible demon. His fighting style was terrifying, and it was almost a one-sided slaughter.
Who on earth were these two groups of people?However, it seemed that these two groups were not on the same side.The leader secretly regretted that he shouldn't have provoked the other group just now. Obviously, only the group disguised as traveling merchants was his target.Now, he had provoked two extremely powerful groups at once, and his losses were quite heavy.It was a pity that it was already difficult to retreat now. So many of his men's fates were unknown. If he abandoned them and retreated, his reputation in this business would be ruined in the future.
However, if he didn't retreat and continued to fight, it would only be more disadvantageous for him.If it weren't for the two most powerful opponents mysteriously fighting each other, his side would have been completely wiped out long ago.Just as the leader was thinking about what to do, suddenly the tip of a long sword protruded from his chest.It was only at this moment that he felt a sharp pain in his back. However, it was only a very brief moment, and then he couldn't feel anything anymore.
"The old man's prediction was really accurate. There was indeed a guy hiding here. I don't know if the next prediction will be correct," The one who drew the sword and put it back into its sheath was actually the girl.She searched the corpse for a long time and finally found an iron tube about an inch long.This guy actually put the iron tube in the pocket at the back of his buttocks. What a disgusting guy.The girl couldn't help feeling like vomiting when she thought that she had to blow this dirty thing with her mouth.
"Next time, I must remember to ask the old man to predict everything before coming out. This kind of thing must never happen again," The girl muttered to herself.She gritted her teeth and put the iron tube to her lips.A sharp whistle sounded, and the black figures running around in the distant dense forest gradually retreated, and everything returned to its original calm and peaceful state.However, in one corner of the dense forest, the fierce battle was still going on.Trees fell one after another, and the cut surfaces were as smooth as mirrors.Two figures were flying and colliding among the fallen trees and thick branches like two bolts of lightning.
Both of them had equally excellent skills, but their fighting styles were worlds apart.One of them was like a celestial god from the Ninth Heaven. The long sword in his hand drew arcs of light brighter than lightning. Each slash brought up a raging whirlwind, and with each swing, he could easily make a big tree that couldn't be embraced by two arms collapse with a loud crash.As for the other person, he was like a ghost wandering between hell and the human world. Every dark corner could be the place where he would appear next, and behind every fallen tree, there might be his hidden figure. That dull and lusterless sword wouldn't emit any light even under the sun, let alone under the dim moonlight.
These two people were waving their swords, and their only purpose was to stab the sword into the other's body.The moonlight and the night undoubtedly gave Herbert an advantage, because he had lived in the dark for years.Although his opponent was experienced in battles and was no stranger to the dark, how could he compare to the king of assassins who regarded the dark as his home?Someone with such powerful strength would surely have a corresponding vision.If Herbert knew something, there was no reason that person didn't know it at all.
In fact, that opponent was secretly complaining in his heart. At first, he just thought that the other party was an accomplice of the attackers. However, this obvious misunderstanding had made them fight bitterly for so long.He began to worry deeply about the fates of his master and companions. At this time when his strength was most needed, he was firmly tied here because of a misunderstanding.He didn't know if the young master was safe, nor did he know if that respected elder could resolve this crisis with his great wisdom.
He was unclear about all of this, and another doubt occupied his mind. Why did this strongest and most terrifying opponent he had ever met keep entanglement with him? Judging from his appearance, it seemed that he was also protecting some important person, and in his opinion, his side definitely had very unfavorable intentions towards them.Perhaps this idea was caused by the young lady's actions.He knew very well that since the old man said that the young man might become a powerful magician in the future, the young lady had made up her mind to take the young man's life.The young lady's risky move had successfully distracted the attackers' attention to that group of people.
Although this did relieve the pressure on his side.However, he never expected that the young man would have such powerful companions.Getting entangled with this terrifying opponent and being tied up here was really not worth it.However, since this matter was caused by the young lady, there was no reason to complain. At most, he could just fulfill his duty and die on the battlefield.Thinking of this, that person attacked with all his might regardless of his life.
Because he knew very well that his side's actions had obviously aroused the other party's killing intent. Once he failed, the young master and the young lady probably wouldn't be able to escape with their lives. The only way now was to risk his life and try to injure this terrifying opponent.
Just when these two people were locked in a fierce battle, suddenly a group of people walked out from each of the empty and dense forests on both sides.Mr. Juan, Audrey, and Ivan had never seen Herbert fight with all his strength, so they didn't know who had the upper hand on the battlefield. However, they knew Herbert quite well. The night was his best hiding place, and no one could defeat him, the king of assassins, in the dark.But it was completely different on the other side.
The leader of the bodyguards lived with them day and night, and his strength was obvious to all. Therefore, what this desperate fighting style meant was probably clearer to them than anyone else.Because of this, the four bodyguards who had been watching from the sidelines suddenly rushed towards the battlefield.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone