Fierce Battle (1)

Fierce Battle (1)

On the distant beach, crude Murloc coral huts began appearing in dense clusters, vaguely taking the shape of a village. A Murloc priest stationed there blew a conch shell, and the Murloc warriors who had fled back earlier gathered together as more Murloc warriors continued joining them. Before long, a massive force had assembled. Quite a few Murloc spellcasters gathered in the center of the village. They surrounded the priest, raised their hands, and began to dance.

"They're casting a spell! Interrupt them!"

Albert was the first to react. A volley of Magic Missiles struck, and a Shatterfin Tidecaller on the outskirts sprayed blood before collapsing. The second volley of Magic Missiles only hit the Murloc warriors acting as meat shields.

The Dwarf musketeers' bullets were also blocked by those meat shields. Left with no choice, Albert used Silence and softly chanted a spell. A Murloc in the distance, who had been dancing and shouting, suddenly stopped. Its mouth hung wide open, but no sound came out, making for a rather comical sight.

As the Murloc mages continued their casting, the previously cloudless sky was covered in thick, rolling storm clouds in the blink of an eye. Lightning flashed in and out among them from time to time. The wind and waves by the sea also began to intensify. The azure ocean turned dark blue, then transformed into an ominous black.

Antoine and Adrian, who had yet to appear, were forced to make their move as well. Antoine wielded a dagger in each hand, clad in black leather like a messenger from hell as he suddenly appeared before the casting Murloc mages.

Garrote. The Murloc staggered to the ground clutching its throat, blood pouring through its fingers. Its windpipe had been slit. Eviscerate. The dagger in Antoine's hand traced a strange arc, striking precisely between the Murloc's bones and severing its spine in an instant. Antoine swung his daggers faster and faster, his footwork turning him into a black whirlwind that stirred a bloody storm among the Murlocs.

Adrian directed Lupos, who had long been lying in wait on the other side of the shore, to charge at the Murlocs. His longbow was trained on the casting Shatterfin Tidecallers, and each shot killed instantly, arrows piercing straight through their heads.

Before long, Murloc warriors holding massive coral shields surrounded the priest. Several Murloc warriors disregarded their own safety and forced Antoine away from the core area by trading their lives for wounds. Lupos was also caught in a fishing net by several Murloc soldiers. Though the enraged dire wolf quickly tore several Murlocs to pieces, it could not swiftly approach the Murloc priest.

Red, the captain of the First Squad, anxiously led his men forward as well. Yet they could accomplish little against the assembled Murloc warriors. Instead, the squad began to become separated from the forces behind them after pushing too far ahead.

Roderick sensed moisture condensing in the air as the wind grew stronger. Waves kept rolling toward the shore. The once-dry beach was now covered in ankle-deep seawater, making it increasingly difficult for the fully equipped human soldiers to move quickly.

They could not let the Murlocs complete their spell! Just as he prepared to kill the core Murloc priest, a bolt of lightning shot into the nearby sea like a thunderclap. After the rumbling thunder, raindrops as large as beans pounded down upon them. With the gale howling, ordinary soldiers could not even keep their eyes open.

Another enormous wave swept in. The troops near the shore were nearly scattered by the surf, but Roderick still spotted shadows hidden within the black seawater amid the chaotic battlefield.

"Red, Yug, fall back!"

"Alwyn, Chris, get away from the beach and move closer to the shore!"

The battle instantly entered its fiercest stage. After successfully summoning the storm, the Murloc priest had collapsed limply onto the ground, dead or alive unknown. Antoine had also successfully broken free from the Murlocs and vanished from sight. Adrian put away his longbow, and with a two-handed sword in hand, he and Lupos cut through everything before them as they gradually moved back toward the formation.

At that moment, waves of Murloc cries came from the sea. The Murloc warriors who had long gathered in the village went mad,

and violently pounced on the First Squad, which was struggling to retreat. Red had led his men too far ahead, and now it was extremely difficult for them to fall back and regroup with the main force. Heavy armor and the steadily rising water made it hard for everyone to move their feet. The roaring waves, the torrential rain, the cries of comrades, and the Murlocs' shrill babbling filled their ears.

Red knew that if they delayed any longer and the Murlocs circled around to their flanks and rear, the result would be total annihilation. He roared and broke away from the line, charging toward the frenzied Murloc warriors. Every swing of his battle axe took a Murloc warrior's life, but once he lost the cover of his comrades, his arms, shoulders, and even his back were struck by the Murlocs. He could no longer tell whether the blood pouring over him was his own or the enemy's. Rain streamed down his face. Without bothering to wipe away the liquid before his eyes, Red continued swinging his battle axe, trying to buy more time for the comrades behind him.

Someone suddenly grabbed Red's arm. He instinctively swung toward the enemy at his rear flank, but a comrade's roar rang in his ear. "It's me, Red! We're leaving together!" Seeing Red about to be surrounded by Murlocs, Yug had also left the formation and turned back to support his captain. Red and Yug fought back-to-back. Though this reduced the chance of the Murlocs attacking them from behind, they had delayed too long and were now completely separated from the main force. They looked around and could hear their comrades calling out, yet they could not see a single human figure.

"Darezzo, prepare to receive the retreating First Squad."

"Alwyn, watch for enemies hidden in the sea!"

"Thalmar, all Dwarf warriors, prepare your throwing axes. Throw them at the most critical moment."

"All priests, stop casting Inner Fire. Prioritize treating the severely wounded being brought back."

"Lieutenant, a reminder: when Holy Light is infused into your body, blood won't stick to it." Astartes chose this moment to make his presence known as well.

Roderick raised his warhammer and leaped with all his might. Within seconds, he stood before the First Squad, which had lost command and was fighting as it retreated.

"Darezzo will command you now. Quickly regroup toward the center." After issuing the order, Roderick felt a long-lost thrill. This was the scent of the battlefield. Laden with paladin buffs, Roderick charged into the Murloc ranks like a prehistoric beast. Frail bodies, rusted weapons—nothing before him could stop his advance.

Blood mist filled the air, and severed limbs flew everywhere. This was a true weapon of war, a demon of slaughter from another time and space.

Even the most fearless beasts would shrink back before such brutal slaughter. When Roderick reached Red and Yug, who were still desperately holding on, none of the Murloc warriors in front dared block his path. Hesitating for even one second meant that part of their bodies would no longer belong to them.

Red's condition did not look good. His face was pale, and his body was covered in wounds. He was fighting entirely on sheer will. Roderick cast Blessing of Protection on Red, covered the two as they returned to the formation, fed the unconscious Red a bottle of healing potion, and instructed the priests to place the severely wounded, Red included, on the inside of the formation while bandaging the other injured soldiers as quickly as possible.

Adrian and Lupos also returned to the battle line. With the ranger's formidable strength, the situation on this side finally stabilized.