The Shrub Forest was not far from the shelter's high ground.
By Su Mo's estimate of his own pace, it was at most the length of a university track—around four hundred meters.
Of course, in an ambush, that distance was already deadly enough.
In the Cold Weapons era, once cavalry completed the sequence of forming ranks—brisk walking—jogging—accelerating—and finally sprinting, they would cover roughly this distance.
Any farther, and the enemy would intercept them with bows and crossbows, causing too many casualties. Any closer, and they might reach the enemy before they had fully built up momentum.
The four Kobold Warriors were still crouched on the ground, foolishly searching for something. The two Kobold Warlocks had keen senses, however, and immediately spotted Oreo running like a streak of silk.
"Woof-hiss woof-grumble!"
"Grumble woof!"
The Kobold Warlocks immediately ordered the Kobold Warriors into formation, warily watching Oreo as he ran toward them.
"Good! Very good! Keep watching for a while, and don't pay attention to me!"
Oreo completed his task perfectly, barking as he ran.
The husky's abundant stamina was more than enough to make him an exceptionally perfect bait for this sort of mission.
Bending low, Su Mo jogged rapidly across the yellow earth.
The distance kept closing.
Two hundred and fifty meters. Two hundred meters. One hundred and fifty meters. When he estimated that he was about one hundred and twenty meters from the rearmost Kobold, Su Mo suddenly dropped flat on the ground and switched out the brand-new, unused Electric Crossbow from his storage space.
He turned on the power switch.
After waiting three seconds for the self-check to finish,
the instant the green light came on, Su Mo lowered his gaze to the scope and used it to look at the several Kobolds still enjoying Oreo's run.
The first arrow was, without a doubt,
aimed at the Kobold Warlocks! He lightly pressed the pre-cocking heating button before pulling the trigger—the "safety button" on the Electric Crossbow.
With a sharp crackle of electricity, the 20-amp-hour Lithium Battery began releasing energy, transferring it into the motor.
The motor engaged, pulling the cocking mechanism to full draw. The entire process was completed in less than a second.
"Goodbye!"
Su Mo spoke softly, then pulled the trigger.
There was nothing to negotiate with monsters. Once they met, it was either you or them! The Electric Crossbow was not much more powerful than a mechanical crossbow; it merely used a motor and cocking mechanism to eliminate the need for manual cocking, allowing rapid fire.
Even so, a black shadow flashed. Through the scope, the Kobold Warlock on the left was instantly shot in the head.
The tremendous impact struck the Kobold Warlock's forehead and sent his entire body flying backward about half a meter before he collapsed onto the ground.
Before the remaining Kobolds could panic, another black shadow flashed.
The crossbow bolt struck a Kobold Warrior in the chest.
That bolt had originally been aimed at the other Kobold Warlock's head, but the Kobold Warrior had turned around in panic and blocked it.
Taking advantage of this brief respite, the remaining Kobolds hurriedly cried out and huddled together, tightly surrounding the noble Kobold Warlock in the center.
"Heh. You think hiding like that will save you? Stealing a police car to run a taxi service—what a death wish!"
Under the scope, the corners of Su Mo's mouth curled into a smile as he continued pulling the trigger.
The sound of the cocking mechanism, accompanied by the howling wind across the plains, was practically a melody played by the Grim Reaper.
Every arrow took a monster's life.
It was like a Dimensional Reduction Strike. The spear-wielding Kobolds could not even see where the attacks were coming from before another companion fell.
In less than half a minute,
before Oreo had even completed a second round trip to draw their attention, the Kobold force in the Shrub Forest had been reduced to the final Kobold Warlock.
"Woof, whimper, whimper..."
Seeing his companions die, the Kobold Warlock, who had been so defiant moments ago, suddenly dropped to his knees and pressed his entire head flat against the ground.
"Oh?"
Su Mo raised an eyebrow, watching the Kobold's "performance" with some surprise.
With such powerful magical abilities, the Kobold Warlock was actually surrendering?
Su Mo even felt as if this was too easy, as though he had not even begun to exert himself.
"Looks like magic still can't beat my technological weapons."
Rubbing the Electric Crossbow in his hand, Su Mo chuckled and continued aiming from the ground.
Among this group of Kobolds, keeping the Kobold Warlock alive for the time being might be a very good choice.
But before that, Su Mo pressed the cocking mechanism, opened the magazine, and reloaded five ordinary crossbow bolts without acid rain.
Pfft! A black shadow flashed, and the Kobold still crawling on the ground was immediately sent tumbling backward by the crossbow bolt.
A pitch-black bolt was visibly embedded in his skinny arm.
Purple-red blood mixed with the Kobold Warlock's screams echoed across the wasteland. Besides the howling wind offering him comfort, there was also—pfft!—another crossbow bolt! The two bolts firmly pinned the Kobold Warlock to the ground. Even after their tips pierced into the earth, their tails still trembled.
Putting away the crossbow and replacing it with the Beech Spear, Su Mo stood up and walked toward the Kobold Warlock.
Oreo, who had still been running circles nearby, stopped once he saw that the battle was decided. He began barking from thirty meters away from the Kobold Warlock.
"Woof~~ awoooooo~"
"Woof?"
Seeing that the Kobold Warlock did not respond, Oreo's face lit up with excitement. He stealthily moved ten meters closer and barked again.
"Woof?"
Once he saw that the Kobold Warlock truly could not resist, Oreo immediately engaged his four-wheel-drive engine. With unstoppable momentum, he kicked the pinned Kobold Warlock directly in the head.
He even picked up the wooden staff used for casting spells and carried it away in his mouth.
Oreo was thoroughly satisfied with this beating of a fallen enemy. Su Mo, who came over from a distance, could only laugh helplessly.
"This little fellow never says anything, but he's been holding in quite a grudge. Then again, it's no wonder—his fur was burned clean off."
With a smile, Su Mo walked over with ease.
It came from an accurate understanding of his own strength, as well as the powerful sense of security brought by the Electric Crossbow.
With a weapon that could inflict effective damage from over a hundred meters away, what did a Kobold's fireball amount to? At most, it was a Hand Grenade that could not be thrown over long distances.
Pinned down by the crossbow bolts and struck in the head by Oreo, the Kobold Warlock was now lying on the ground, barely conscious.
From far away, when he saw Su Mo approaching with a spear, he despairingly closed his dog eyes.
"Woof..."
A low whimper escaped his mouth.
At that moment, Su Mo's image in his heart had been elevated beyond measure.
This man, who resembled the Grim Reaper, possessed the power to destroy them from the shadows. How could weak Kobolds possibly stand against such a demon god?
The Kobold Warlock even remembered the words his late Kobold father had once told him: "If one day you encounter a legendary human powerhouse, remember this—don't charge at them immediately. They're terrifying!"
Fleeting memories flashed through the Kobold Warlock's mind. The wanton slaughter of the human village a few days ago had finally come back to haunt him, hadn't it?
He knew it. These were his final memories before death.
However, a cool spring suddenly flowed into his parched, blood-seeping throat.
As the spring water entered him, the wound on his arm, which had been gushing blood, stopped bleeding. The burning pain in his chest gradually faded.
He opened his eyes curiously. "That fist is as big as a fireball!"
With that thought, he fainted "happily."
Before you continue