Pincer Attack from Front and Rear

"There's a high-tier light-element mage!" The previously nonchalant Adahua showed a flicker of surprise in his eyes upon hearing the words "high-tier light-element mage."

The fifth tier was already the limit an ordinary human could reach, also known as the Hero Realm.

Mages were even harder to cultivate than swordsmen. Thus, on the continent, mages above the fourth tier could be called high-tier mages. Moreover, mages possessed formidable attack power; even fourth-tier mages often killed fifth-tier swordsmen.

That was why the existence of a high-tier mage caught Adahua's attention, especially one of the light element, which somewhat restrained him.

"No matter which faction they belong to, we absolutely cannot let them live," Adahua said after pondering for a moment.

After hearing this, Valen nodded excitedly and immediately arranged for the troops to advance toward Chika Village. Little did he know that this order had, by sheer luck, allowed them to pass through Kalons's encirclement.

By the time Cameron led his men up the mountain under cover of darkness, the place was already deserted.

"They couldn't have fled long ago. Pursue them at once." Cameron inspected the surroundings. The bonfires on the ground were still warm.

The two massive forces thus rushed toward Chika Village, one before the other. Since both sides intended to launch a surprise attack, neither lit torches for their forced march.

Before the civilian corpses in Chika Village had even been gathered, Avilan subconsciously raised his head toward the sky. His immense spiritual power had already sensed the arrival of unwelcome guests.

"Notify everyone in the village to take shelter immediately." Avilan slowly rose to his feet and had the Light Spirit Swordsman inform the village chief. That night, Avilan had been staying at the village chief's home.

Upon receiving the Light Spirit Swordsman's message, the village chief immediately rushed from his house and shouted through the village.

Hearing the village chief's throat-tearing cries and his fleet-footed steps, Avilan could hardly believe that the village chief was already an old man in his sixties or seventies.

Valen coldly watched the firelight of Chika Village and lightly waved his hand. At once, the five hundred soldiers remaining under his command drew their weapons, their faces brimming with killing intent as they lifted their eyes toward Chika Village and stared coldly.

"Kill!"

Boom!

A powerful aura erupted in an instant. Valen was like a demon god, treading upon branches, his entire body wreathed in black light. In the night, he looked all the more terrifying.

The cries of battle instantly rang through the clouds, startling Cameron, who was stealthily approaching from behind.

"This is bad, Chika Village is ahead." After one of Kalons's personal guards whispered a few words to him, he could not help shouting.

"What?" The moment Cameron heard that, he swiftly drew the greatsword from his back.

"Kill!"

Upon hearing the battle cries, the rear ranks of the Blood Church immediately formed up in disciplined fashion and sent someone to notify Valen.

"Who goes there?"

A furious shout came from the Blood Church, followed by a burst of commotion. Yet it soon subsided. Squad leaders clad in pitch-black iron armor walked to the edge of the mountaintop and looked down.

But what awaited them was an incomparable streak of sword light!

The azure radiance was dazzling and brilliant. Even in the darkness of night, it could not conceal that breathtakingly magnificent azure sword light!

Fast!

It completely surpassed the limits of the squad leaders' reactions. Their vision was filled with nothing but azure!

Hot blood sprayed everywhere!

Dozens of headless corpses remained standing, the stench of blood spreading through the air as severed heads tumbled and flew through the sky!

With one step, Cameron was already standing atop the mountain. His expression was icy, his gaze intimidating. Holding the Azure Beauty Greatsword, he looked valiant and imposing.

He gave a cold smile, like the descent of the god of death, and fiercely swung the greatsword in his hand!

Winds and clouds surged as endless blade light filled the void. Under the horrified, terrified gazes of the black-armored soldiers, the blade light streaked forth like an ocean of blades. Blood-red radiance flashed, sweeping across the heavens and annihilating everything!

Boom!

Dust rose in all directions, ancient trees shattered, and massive boulders exploded. This scene seemed frozen into eternity. Gouts of hot blood splashed, mutilated corpses were hurled through the air, and flesh and bone were crushed into mud.

The seven hundred soldiers who followed behind were flushed with fervor and excitement. As they looked at Cameron, who seemed like Gods and Devils descending into the world, they were filled with wild passion.

"Cameron is only one step away from entering the Hero Realm!"

Kalons's eyes burned with excitement, his blood surging. He gazed reverently at that towering figure, his heart exceptionally exhilarated.

Without another word, Cameron strode forward, his killing intent soaring into the heavens. His greatsword rolled as he charged toward the Blood Church knights.

The elite forces of Essin City followed closely behind him, their greatswords chilling as killing intent shook the void.

Whoosh!

Kalons slashed out with his sword, flames surging as he cleaved the church knight before him into two. His expression was savage, his face smeared with blood.

This was already the fifth man he had slain!

His gaze was sharp as he watched the enemy soldiers retreat again and again before him. Sword light flashed as he rushed forward and swung his sword at another church knight!

Clang!

Kalons's eyes narrowed. His sword had been blocked!

An expert!

But on the battlefield, there was no room for thought. If one strike failed, then he would strike again!

Sword light turned frigid, killing intent soaring to the heavens!

"Lord Valen! We're about to be unable to hold them back! The enemies behind us are too strong!"

As the church knights retreated step by step, while Avilan and Adahua faced each other in confrontation, a black-armored knight rushed over, dropped to one knee, and cried out anxiously, blood covering his body and face.

"What? There are enemies behind us?"

Very quickly, he too noticed the earth-shaking cries of battle from the rear.

Adahua kept his eyes fixed on Avilan and did not react.

"Go deal with them!"

"Yes!" Upon hearing Adahua's command, Valen decisively turned and left with his men.

"Haha, your backyard is on fire," Avilan said with a beaming smile.

Adahua did not care in the slightest as he drew the twin swords from his waist.

"Remember this. The one killing you is Adahua of the Blood Church."

"Oh." Avilan responded carelessly.

Bang.

The rock beneath Adahua cracked apart, and he shot toward Avilan like a bullet.

"Your speed is decent." Avilan lightly leaped out of the attack's range and gently raised the magic staff in his hand.

"Dragon Thunder!"

A bolt of lightning appeared in response, transforming into a thunder dragon that shone with blinding light in the night as it coiled toward Adahua.

Adahua's twin swords flashed, and Cross Sword Slash swept the lightning aside.

"A level forty spell. As expected of a high-tier mage." After successfully dispelling Dragon Thunder, Adahua shook his slightly numb hands and spoke with some gravity.

Avilan, meanwhile, wore a helpless expression.

Though Dragon Thunder was a level forty spell, it was only level one. Furthermore, his equipment mainly boosted light-element spell attacks. If Avilan's spiritual power had not been fairly strong, the power of that strike might have felt like no more than a scratch to Adahua.

Compared to high-level spells, those improved low-level spells were Avilan's true trump card.

Adahua thoroughly displayed the disadvantage of mages being unsuited for close combat. He continuously launched fierce attacks, and whenever Avilan pulled even slightly farther away, sword light flew about, leaving Avilan no chance at all to cast spells.

Outside Chika Village, flashes of explosions lit up from time to time. Yet on the only road leading to Chika Village, battle cries shook the heavens as sword light and magical attacks danced through the sky.