The three Cub Wolf Guards were brimming with confidence, convinced that their side held the numerical advantage.
Six against four, and all of them wore Flame Artifacts and possessed a trace of Flame Person Power. Their confidence had inflated enormously, and they believed there was no way they could lose.
But...
Zhang Guangmu paid no attention to the three Wolf Riders who called themselves Cub Wolf Guards or the three Flame Wolves beside them.
They were just a few nameless extras. How strong could they be?
Director Sun Yanwu was a mature commercial director with a fixed formula, making at most a few minor innovations from time to time. "Wolf Fortress" was no exception.
A mature formula meant that characters with insignificant screen time had very low limits.
Unless someone could, like Zhang Guangmu, devise things independently, grasp hidden settings, break out of the boundaries drawn by the Production Team, and obtain entirely new power for themselves.
Otherwise, they could basically only follow their personal plotlines all the way to the end.
That was also why Zhang Guangmu had spent so much time reading, accumulating knowledge, and conducting experiments himself.
Reality had proven that he had chosen the right path.
In "Wolf Fortress," he had risen to prominence as an unnamed Assassin extra who passed the Water Prison Trial, defeating and replacing the final villain.
Although he was nominally only the Vice Fortress Lord of Wolf Fortress, in reality, whether they were viewers, the Director, or the actors, they had all vaguely begun treating him as the true Fort Master.
Especially...
The washed-up Fort Master Lin Yan had suffered one misfortune after another. After encountering furious Li Xiaoxiao and hastily receiving his death scene, no one else could compete with Zhang Guangmu for the position.
The chances of the same miracle occurring twice in the same film were practically zero.
Judging from the conduct of these three Cub Wolf Guards, they did not look like powerful characters. Zhang Guangmu had tried to recruit them merely to save himself a little effort.
Now that they had failed to recognize a good offer and had even dared to provoke him recklessly...
Wasn't that like an old man swallowing poison because he was tired of living?
"This brat's eyes are so annoying!"
"There are six of us, while there are only four of you. Why not give up resisting and come with us? That way, everyone can relax a little. Besides, you might not really be killed. Maybe you'll only be locked up?"
"No time to waste! Stop talking nonsense. These two little fellows are very clever; you won't trick them. Besides, I've seen plenty of youths like them. One look is enough to tell they're both tough nuts. So hurry up, kill them, and return to report to Young Fortress Lord Lin Xuan!"
With that, the three Cub Wolf Guards launched a group assault alongside their Flame Wolves.
Although their coordination was not very tacit and seemed somewhat rusty, their imposing display was indeed intimidating.
Someone a little timid might have hesitated upon seeing such a situation and hearing their words, considering playing along with the enemy and pretending to surrender.
Once doubt arose in the heart, one's movements would inevitably slow, giving the enemy an opportunity.
But Zhang Guangmu would never consider such things!
The details of the "Wolf Fortress" world were well constructed and extremely realistic, but it ultimately was not the Real World.
Having broken through his memory barrier with the help of the Book of Acting, Zhang Guangmu knew that he was acting. Unlike the other actors, he would not treat this world as real.
In the Film World, no matter how horribly he died, his real body would not lose so much as a hair.
Besides...
In the "Endless Food Bag," Zhao Zhengrong had died, Chu Fan had died, and Zhang Guangmu had died too. Yet when everyone returned to reality, they were all perfectly fine and had suffered no negative effects whatsoever.
Since that was the case, what was there to worry about?
He just had to go wild!
The more miraculous the move, the better!
He had already made it through his growth period, so there was no need to keep hiding!
Zhang Guangmu decided that from now on, whenever he encountered a problem he could not decide on, he would charge straight in first!
Any enemy he could overwhelm recklessly, he would overwhelm recklessly!
After all, Wise Man was merely a simple Character Setting. He was not truly someone who relied on his brains to make a living.
In "Wolf Fortress," the more traits Zhang Guangmu displayed and the more complex his Character Setting became, the more screen time and popularity he would seize, and the more likely he would be to receive a favorable evaluation after the film wrapped.
Faced with the three men and three wolves charging straight at him, he showed not the slightest trace of fear. Instead, he bared a mouthful of gleaming white teeth and laughed wildly, his arrogance fully exposed. "Hahahaha! In the face of me, Tian Guang, you not only failed to retreat, you even dared to attack first?"
"Your courage is commendable!"
Because the enemy had launched a sudden attack, Zhang Guangmu had already engaged them before he could finish speaking.
At that moment, the Flame Wolf Bai Yue beside him also charged forward with great intelligence, guarding Zhang Guangmu's side.
Li Xiaoxiao's eyes sharpened. Without the slightest hesitation, he followed close behind.
Thus, five people and five wolves quickly became entangled in battle.
In an instant, flames scattered in all directions and streaks of light flashed.
"Weak!"
As Zhang Guangmu fought his enemies, he sneered contemptuously. "Too weak!"
"People like you aren't even worth one!"
For a moment, the three Cub Wolf Guards could not figure out what was happening and failed to understand what he meant by "one."
Li Xiaoxiao, however, had already come to his senses.
The strange numbers Zhang Guangmu always kept on his lips were probably his personal combat-power evaluation system, using numbers to classify the strength of different living beings.
Zero was probably the lowest, one was passable, and two meant elite. The higher the number, the stronger the person!
That had to be it. There could be no mistake!
Although he did not know the specific principles or standards behind the evaluations, Li Xiaoxiao felt that Zhang Guangmu's words made perfect sense.
These three Cub Wolf Guards were all equipped with Flame Artifacts and held the numerical advantage. Before the battle began, they had indeed made him feel a slight sense of pressure. Yet once the fight actually started, he instead felt extremely relaxed, without the slightest burden.
Although he was also fighting purely on instinct and had never undergone special training in killing techniques, he could effortlessly suppress every Flame Wolf Guard who faced him.
Perhaps this was what people called extraordinary talent?
That was what Li Xiaoxiao thought.
After all, before coming to assassinate the Vice Fortress Lord "Tian Guang," he had helped Young Fortress Lord Lin Xuan kill quite a few of Former Fort Master Lin Yan's children. Along the way, it had been as though he had activated an invincible mode. Wherever he went, no opponent could withstand even one move from him.
Li Xiaoxiao had always subconsciously believed that he was invincible in one-on-one combat!
It was only after overturning on the Vice Fortress Lord "Tian Guang" that he realized there was always a higher mountain beyond the mountain.
One could only say that there was always someone better, and there was always a heaven beyond the heavens.
Li Xiaoxiao noticed that although their side had only two people and two wolves against the six combatants of the Cub Wolf Guards, they had not fallen behind. Instead, they were gradually taking control of the situation and had even begun building an advantage.
"I overestimated you after all!"
In the midst of the battle, Zhang Guangmu suddenly spoke. "You're so weak it's laughable!"
In a battle to the death, momentum—though mysterious and abstruse—truly existed.
Although his laughter was unrestrained and arrogant, making him seem like no good person, in the eyes of the Cub Wolf Guards, such behavior represented extreme confidence.
Before exchanging blows, if Zhang Guangmu had laughed like this, the three Cub Wolf Guards would have thought he was a ridiculous Joker.
But now...
The more wildly Zhang Guangmu laughed, the more terrified they became.
Because they were gradually realizing something frightening.
Vice Fortress Lord Tian Guang...
He was arrogant because he was strong!
"Intelligence! Strength! Morality! Not one of you has anything to offer. People like you aren't talents!"
As Zhang Guangmu viciously swung his flaming iron fists, he looked down on them and pronounced judgment. "You're bloodsucking parasites living off Wolf Fortress, the dregs of humanity, the vermin of the world!"
"It's because people like you exist that this Chaotic World came into being!"
"For everyone in the world, for the sake of peace, I'll eliminate you here today!"
During the period when he had secluded himself to read and develop in silence, Zhang Guangmu could go half a month without saying a word.
Once he had gained power and obtained the strength to overturn the entire situation, he had more nonsense to say than anyone.
But...
Reality had proven that Zhang Guangmu's words were extremely effective.
As the three Cub Wolf Guards listened, their expressions gradually changed.
From their initial certainty of victory, to mid-battle panic, and then to now, Zhang Guangmu had frightened them out of their wits.
After being subjected to a barrage of verbal abuse, one Cub Wolf Guard did not know whether he feared death or had truly been persuaded by the tirade. He immediately retreated several steps and said in a trembling voice, "Vice Fortress Lord Tian Guang, I surrender! I admit defeat! I'm willing to Abandon Darkness and Turn to Light!"
Seeing his reaction, his Flame Wolf also withdrew from the battlefield with a bewildered look.
The Flame Wolves followed their masters. Although they could not be considered telepathically linked with their Wolf Riders, they could still understand whether their riders wanted them to "attack" or "retreat."
This was one of the World Settings. Bai Yue and Zhang Guangmu had known each other for less than two months, yet they had already become as close as brothers.
"Damn it! You traitor!"
Of the two Cub Wolf Guards still fighting, one let out an exasperated roar. "I misjudged you! Just wait! Once Young Fortress Lord Lin Xuan restores Wolf Fortress to its former glory and inherits the throne, you'll die horribly!"
The turncoat who had withdrawn from the battle did not respond immediately. He merely took two more careful steps backward, his gaze settling on Zhang Guangmu.
He now had several choices.
First, he could retreat directly, return to Young Fortress Lord Lin Xuan's side, and admit that he had failed the mission. Judging from Lin Xuan's recently deepening authority and increasingly strict rules, he would be made an example of for his lack of diligence and die horribly.
Second, he could flee Wolf Fortress and abandon his life as a superior Wolf Rider, wandering the world.
Third, he could pledge himself to Vice Fortress Lord Tian Guang, though his life or death would be uncertain. After all, this Vice Fortress Lord had tried to recruit him earlier. He had merely failed to recognize a good person and rejected the offer rashly out of stupidity.
People were creatures who liked to comfort themselves.
Even after making the wrong decision, they still had to deceive themselves into believing that a way out remained.
He completely ignored everything Zhang Guangmu had spat at them earlier.
"The reason I came to assassinate you was all because I was deceived by Young Fortress Lord... No, because I was blinded by that dog Lin Xuan and had lard clogging my heart!"
The traitor who had switched sides on the spot looked at Zhang Guangmu cautiously and said as though walking on thin ice, "Please forgive my mistake!"
He had a thousand words in his stomach, but before he could say any of them, one of his former companions stole his lines.
The one among the three Cub Wolf Guards who had remained silent suddenly retreated two steps and jumped out of the battle. Speaking at lightning speed, he said, "Vice Fortress Lord! As long as you don't kill me, I'll become your most loyal attack dog! Wherever you tell me to strike, I'll strike!"
Uh...
Li Xiaoxiao blinked and casually punched through the only Cub Wolf Guard who was still "refusing to see reason."
Bang!
Flames coiled around the fist, its force shook the air, and it pierced through the chest cavity, burning the heart to pieces.
With injuries like that, he was doomed. There was no way to save him.
At the same time, Zhang Guangmu also eliminated the last opposing Flame Wolf.
The battle was over!
Li Xiaoxiao came to his senses and suddenly realized that before the reckless, fiercely loyal Cub Wolf Guard had been beaten to death, he seemed to have said the words "I sur..." He had originally thought the other man was cursing him with something he could not understand.
What was interesting was...
The Cub Wolf Guard whose heart had been shattered did not immediately drop dead. He stubbornly held on and finished his final line. "I... sur... surrender..."
Li Xiaoxiao blinked, his heart filled with emotion.
Under Young Fortress Lord Lin Xuan, was everyone really a turncoat?
One after another, were they all this smooth?
Zhang Guangmu tilted his head and gave the two newly converted men a meaningful look. Without speaking to them, he lowered his head and looked down at the Cub Wolf Guard who had died with his eyes open.
This one had also wanted to sell out his teammates and surrender.
He had simply been too slow to sell them out and lacked the necessary timing.
"Rest easy."
"Your death will only make this world a better place!"
"Flowers of peace will bloom from your corpse!"
After saying this, Zhang Guangmu shifted his gaze to the two new converts. "As for you..."
He beckoned.
"Follow me."
Two chapters today, over 6,400 words! Hehe...
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