Capítulo 73: Chapter 72: Commander, I Will Fight Beside You!
"The Eastern Yi bandits are attacking!"
"Hurry and inform Magistrate Tang!"
The small town was in chaos.
The Eastern Yi bandits had entered the town, encountering almost no resistance upon entry, as planned.
A scholar proudly boasted in ancient Eastern Yi dialect, "General, my suggestion was right, wasn't it? This Commander Xu is definitely useful. With the city defense map, entering this town is as easy as pie!
"General, considering the great achievement I've made, about that little request I mentioned…"
The Eastern Yi general, mounted on a horse, nodded indifferently, "Do as you wish."
The scholar was delighted, "Thank you, General! Thank you! Rest assured, this Su Xianjun is a famous performer in Jiangnan. The General will certainly enjoy his talent!"
The Eastern Yi general said nothing further, for he and the swordsman with him were in an unusual state.
They were possessed by demons!
Historical fragments can be thought of as unique worlds existing within chaotic temporal currents. For Restorers, reversing these altered fragments is challenging, just as it is difficult for demons to distort them.
Both must follow specific rules.
Demons cannot appear directly in reality or change historical fragments outright. They must possess a character within the fragment.
The two demons aiming to alter this historical fragment had possessed the Eastern Yi general and the swordsman.
These two held high status and great combat prowess, capable of commanding all bandits.
Demons lack the powers of Restorers; each time they enter a historical fragment, their memories are wiped, leaving only their objectives and special demonic abilities.
This means they cannot strategize repeatedly like Restorers do with trial illusions.
But demons possess a unique power: they can warp and alter specific characters' minds, profoundly impacting the fragment's outcome.
While they lose memories with each attempt, enough retries can lead to successful alteration.
Once altered, a fragment becomes a demon's stronghold, allowing them to breed and expand.
Thus, even though the demon in the general has no memories, it remembers its mission and abilities, eagerly anticipating the day this historical fragment becomes a demonic nest.
It was also selecting targets suitable for alteration.
Demonic alteration isn't omnipotent. They can't directly turn someone like Magistrate Tang, full of righteous spirit, into a corrupt traitor.
At least, regular demons can't; only greater demons can, but they cannot enter small fragments like this one.
Moreover, the alteration ability can only be used once.
So, the target for alteration must be chosen carefully, considering both the target's role and personality traits.
Additionally, the target must be somewhat deceptive; the more misleading the alteration, the less likely those pesky Restorers will reverse it.
Just then, the sound of hoofbeats and hurried footsteps arrived.
Magistrate Tang led his guards and local fighters into the fray!
"Kill! Leave no one alive!"
The demon controlling the general ordered.
It knew this group's strength well. Although they seemed numerous, many were merely local fighters and laborers. Plus, with Commander Xu as a traitor, the outcome was certain.
Losing only a few dozen men would suffice to crush the enemy!
With a sharp clang, the general's polearm clashed with Magistrate Tang's blade.
The general exchanged a glance with the swordsman.
The swordsman immediately understood, raising his sword and charging at Commander Xu!
Commander Xu was key to the plan; technically, he was the real military officer in the town. Fighting bandits wasn't even part of Magistrate Tang's duty.
But Commander Xu had colluded with the bandits, agreeing to split the loot once the town fell.
Thus, his duel with the swordsman was merely a pretense, ensuring Xu wouldn't be punished later and preserving him for future cooperation.
If Commander Xu fell, his soldiers would scatter, greatly reducing the bandits' losses.
The swordsman, being the most skilled, was chosen to attack him. His swordsmanship was refined, less likely to reveal any flaws.
Seeing the swordsman approach, Commander Xu understood, loudly scolding his cowardly soldiers while putting on a brave front.
He seemed oblivious to the swordsman nearing him.
A flash of cold light!
The swordsman's strike was precise, aimed to wound but not kill Commander Xu.
With Commander Xu's cooperation, this scene should have been seamless.
However, as Commander Xu prepared to fall naturally, he realized something was wrong.
The expected pain didn't come. Instead, there was a crisp "clang."
Commander Xu turned in confusion to see Gao Ze beside him, blocking the "fatal" blow with his sword!
"Commander, are you alright?" Gao Ze asked with concern.
Commander Xu's mouth twitched, "I'm… fine."
"Watch out!" Gao Ze cried, once again blocking a strike for Commander Xu.
Commander Xu was fuming. Gao Ze, are you out of your mind?
You're barely managing on your side, yet you're helping me?
If there weren't so many witnesses, Commander Xu would have loved to stab Gao Ze in the back, but his role as a traitor couldn't be revealed.
Once the bandits looted and left, he could escape to sea, but where could he, Commander Xu, go? Surely not join the bandits on an island?
He needed to keep his position in the empire, colluding with bandits for profit.
So he couldn't expose himself.
With that in mind, Commander Xu quickly pushed Gao Ze away, "Brother Gao, go support Magistrate Tang; don't worry about me!"
Facing the swordsman again.
The swordsman, clearly irritated by this interruption, adjusted his blade's force and angle, preparing another feigned strike.
But before his blade reached Commander Xu, Gao Ze appeared again, blocking the blow with his sword.
"It's alright, Commander; I will fight alongside you!"
Gao Ze declared, full of righteous spirit.
The swordsman was genuinely frustrated. He realized that without killing Gao Ze, they'd be stuck in a loop. With a powerful two-handed swing, he struck down!
Though Gao Ze blocked this blow, he'd soon be overwhelmed.
To the swordsman's surprise, Gao Ze didn't attempt to block but dodged swiftly, positioning himself beside Commander Xu, shielding him again.
"Commander, watch your back!"
Indeed, another bandit was attacking from behind, though his blade wasn't actually aimed at Commander Xu. Nonetheless, Gao Ze courageously defended him, ignoring the greater threat up front.
"You…"
Commander Xu almost cursed, but with the blade slicing towards him, he had no choice but to parry, glaring at the Eastern Yi swordsman.
The swordsman was equally frustrated, realizing his latest strike had been lethal; if it had hit Commander Xu, he would've died.
He had to ease up, pretending to be deflected by Commander Xu.
But the hasty adjustment left even the skilled swordsman feeling off-balance.
Commander Xu's expression shifted, as if urging, "Hurry up!"
He couldn't wait to be hit and lie down.
The swordsman adjusted his stance, aiming another calculated blow.
Yet, Gao Ze reappeared, blocking the attack once more.
"Commander, be careful! In a life-and-death battle, I can't protect you forever!"
Gao Ze struck and retreated, standing behind Commander Xu, keeping his distance from the swordsman.
Commander Xu was on the verge of snapping, his lips quivering with rage, as if he was moments away from shouting, "Are you insane?"
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder