Cooperative Combat

Ange decided to continue fighting on the battlefield. After communicating with Regiment Commander Richard, Richard stated that Ange could act freely but reminded him that since he wasn't affiliated with any warband, his military achievements and spoils of war would be shared with no one, nor would anyone assist him.

Richard advised Ange to operate on the outskirts of the battlefield and avoid contact with other legions to prevent inexplicable conflicts and misunderstandings.

Ange rested for another day, and after making proper preparations, he headed to the front lines. Recently, the activities of the Foul Spirits had decreased, and the frequency of battles had noticeably declined. However, today, a squad of Foul Spirits came to provoke them. Soon, soldiers from the Forty-second Infantry Regiment received orders to engage. Ange stood on the defense line, witnessing the entire battle unfold.

The number of Foul Spirits who came to provoke was less than 100, while the Forty-second Infantry Regiment dispatched over 150 soldiers. The power and cunning of the Foul Spirits were well-known facts, so deploying more personnel was intended to ensure victory and the safety of the soldiers.

As the battle commenced, Ange noticed that although the Forty-second Regiment had a numerical advantage, the ferocity and agility of the Foul Spirits made the fight exceptionally fierce.

The soldiers fought desperately on the battlefield, every step appearing difficult and dangerous. Ange gripped his weapon tightly, secretly resolving to join the fight immediately if the situation worsened, even though he was still observing from the defense line.

Before long, both sides retreated after leaving behind a few corpses. Clearly, the human side had suffered more severe injuries, with most of the fallen being human soldiers, while the Foul Spirits had only sustained severe wounds. The returning warriors had ragged breaths and low spirits, their faces filled with helplessness and anger. Despite having a numerical advantage at the start of the engagement, most of the human soldiers returned wounded, and a few unfortunate warriors were lost forever on the battlefield.

Ange watched this tragic scene, a heavy feeling settling in his heart. The wounded were supported by their companions as they headed towards the rear medical stations, while those who had lost their lives were covered with temporary white cloths, lying quietly nearby, awaiting processing.

The brutal reality of battle was once again laid bare before Ange, and he realized that even with advantages in numbers and equipment, humans were still at a disadvantage when facing the Foul Spirits.

Looking at the scene before him, Ange abandoned the idea of cooperating with the Forty-second Regiment. He stood alone on the fortifications, his gaze fixed on the retreating Foul Spirits, a sense of confusion welling up within him.

Ange couldn't help but re-evaluate his decision. He had thought that with his own strength, he could make a difference on the battlefield, but at this moment, he realized that individual power seemed insignificant and helpless in such battles. He knew he had to find a way to leverage his own strengths while minimizing risks.

Ange's figure on the defense line appeared somewhat solitary. Other soldiers were busy tending to the wounded and the bodies of their comrades, while he was lost in his own thoughts. The cunning and power of the Foul Spirits, the cruelty and unpredictability of battle, left him momentarily unsure of what to do.

He took a deep breath and decided to hold his position for the time being, continuing to observe the battlefield situation.

For several consecutive days, Ange appeared on the defense line, neither engaging in combat nor leaving, simply quietly observing the battlefield's movements. Deep down, he hoped someone would proactively invite him to fight alongside them, but reality did not meet his expectations. The warriors only fought when ordered, and there were almost no one like him who actively wanted to go to the battlefield.

Ange gradually realized that his behavior might seem strange to other soldiers. Those who fought according to orders might consider him mentally unstable, as, in their view, there was no need to actively court death and injury that could come at any moment.

Despite this, Ange remained on the defense line, hoping to learn more tactics and gain experience through observation, preparing for his future actions. He understood that the decision to fight alone brought solitude and challenges, but he believed that as long as he persisted, he would eventually find his own way of fighting.

These days of observation also gave him a deeper understanding of the Foul Spirits' tactics. He noticed that the Foul Spirits' attack methods were diverse and cunning, while human soldiers appeared passive when facing these attacks. Ange secretly resolved that since no one was willing to cooperate with him, he would find a way to take the initiative through his own efforts.

With only 20 days left until his retirement, a turning point finally appeared on the battlefield. Outside the range of the Archer Regiment, scattered Foul Spirits began to appear, learning from humans to conduct ranged attacks. The weapons thrown by the Foul Spirits were wooden spears or stone spears. Seeing this, Ange was astonished.

He had always thought that Foul Spirits relied on their sharp claws and powerful bodies, never expecting them to use tools. This discovery significantly increased Ange's assessment of the Foul Spirits. It's not the enemy's strength that is feared, but their ability to learn. Now, it seemed that Foul Spirits not only possessed terrifying strength and speed but also the capacity to learn and adapt, making them even more dangerous.

Ange witnessed the change in the Foul Spirits' tactics, his heart filled with vigilance and a sense of urgency. He understood that this meant the battles would become more complex and difficult. The enemy's evolution forced humanity to adjust tactics and strategies to cope with new threats.

Ange also discovered that the Foul Spirits who came to throw stone and wooden spears each day were not always the same. Sometimes it was a few scattered individuals attacking from different directions. Other times, it was one or two squads. After observing for a few days, Ange found that entire squads of Foul Spirits generally came out together to practice throwing around sunrise.

By noon, the same Foul Spirits who trained at sunrise would appear, but this time they came in scattered groups.

After carefully observing the Foul Spirits' patterns of movement, Ange decided to take action. He conferred with the soldiers of the Archer Regiment on the defense line, proposing that he would deal with the scattered Foul Spirits and formulating a detailed strategy. If he proved unable to handle them, he would quickly retreat behind the defense line, and the Archer Regiment would provide remote fire support. To incentivize the Archer Regiment's cooperation, Ange promised to share the spoils of war from one Foul Spirit for every three he killed.

The soldiers of the Archer Regiment agreed to the proposal, considering it a win-win solution. They stated that as long as Foul Spirits appeared within their range, they would attack without hesitation, and even without Ange's promise, they had a duty to eliminate any Foul Spirit that entered their range.

After reaching a consensus with the Archer Regiment, Ange began to implement the plan. He roamed the areas where Foul Spirits appeared, using the surrounding terrain and his own agility to kill the scattered Foul Spirits one by one. Whenever he encountered a situation he couldn't handle alone, he would quickly retreat behind the defense line, allowing the Archer Regiment to provide remote support.

This strategy yielded good results. The number of Foul Spirits gradually decreased, and Ange's combat experience and skills improved. The soldiers of the Archer Regiment, with Ange's cooperation, were able to provide more effective remote fire support, enhancing overall defensive efficiency.

Through this period of cooperation, Ange and the soldiers of the Archer Regiment developed a tacit understanding and trust, and the situation on the battlefield also improved.

Ange realized that while fighting alone could hone individual abilities, teamwork was the key to victory on the battlefield.

After these days of fighting, Ange had killed a total of 9 Foul Spirits. He kept his promise, sharing the spoils of war from 3 Foul Spirits with the Archer Regiment, while he himself obtained 6 Black Magic Crystals. During this process, he also discovered that one Foul Spirit carried Black Magic Mark Skin, which was an extremely rare spoil of war.

Since these Foul Spirits were all killed independently by Ange, all military achievements and spoils of war belonged to him. This made Ange feel both satisfied and proud, and it also boosted his confidence and fighting will. Each Black Magic Crystal and that piece of Black Magic Mark Skin were not only testaments to his efforts but also symbols of his continuous growth and progress on the battlefield.

Ange understood that in the days to come, he needed to fight more cautiously and intelligently, continuing to accumulate military achievements and spoils of war to prepare for future challenges.

He also knew that his independent actions had already attracted some attention. Many people did not understand Ange's behavior but were astonished by his combat prowess.

Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes. With Ange's outstanding performance on the battlefield, people from other warbands began to contact him, expressing their desire to act with him. Initially, Ange remained somewhat wary of these approaches, but after hearing their explanations, he understood the reasons behind them.

These soldiers revealed to Ange that military achievements were not necessarily distributed equally among everyone, especially since many of them were actually private soldiers of their legion commanders, receiving very little in the way of military achievements. Upon discovering a warrior like Ange, who dared to take the initiative and possessed great strength, those who wanted to accumulate more military achievements eagerly hoped to team up with Ange, aiming for more military achievements and spoils of war.

After understanding their situation, Ange's attitude softened. He knew that these soldiers were not trying to take advantage of him but wanted to increase their own opportunities through cooperation. After careful consideration, Ange decided to accept their request but also established some clear rules for cooperation to ensure fairness and efficiency.

Ange and these soldiers agreed to conduct detailed tactical discussions before each operation, clarifying their respective responsibilities and tasks. During combat, he would still be responsible for the main attack missions, while others would provide support and cover. After the battle, the distribution of military achievements and spoils of war would be based on actual contributions.

This form of cooperation yielded good results. Ange not only enhanced his own combat capabilities but also gained the support and trust of more comrades. His team gradually grew, and their combat effectiveness significantly improved. In battles against the Foul Spirits, Ange and his team achieved numerous victories, accumulating a large amount of military achievements and spoils of war, becoming a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

Time quickly passed, and it was Ange's retirement day. During this period, through active combat and cooperation, Ange obtained 25 Black Magic Crystals and 5 pieces of Black Magic Mark Skin. He and his teammates who formed teams with him also acquired substantial spoils of war, and everyone gained a lot through their cooperation.

Before retiring, Ange went to the armory and bought out his battle axe. Since the battle axe was a weapon he wielded effectively in combat, this transaction allowed him to keep the battle axe for potential future battles. For the shield, he chose to return it, believing that the need for a shield in future battles was not as important as the battle axe.

In addition, Ange used 9 gold varks to purchase a fine steel long knife. This long knife was forged from a blend of various metals. Although it was not inscribed with magic arrays, its sturdy material and excellent craftsmanship made it an extremely practical weapon. The price of the gold varks allowed Ange to acquire this weapon at a relatively low cost.

He also used 10 gold varks to purchase a set of leather armor. This leather armor was not only suitable for daily wear but also offered a certain degree of defense, providing him with additional protection for his future adventures and explorations.

Ange's retirement preparations were thorough. He not only accumulated abundant spoils of war for himself but also equipped himself with all the necessary gear. With memories of the battlefield and anticipation for the future, Ange was ready to retire.