As the live locator, [ Aluode ] knew what he would face tonight, but he still didn't expect a player to be able to shoot so accurately.
However, such an attack was destined to be unable to harm a vampire count. He simply waved his hand, and the flesh and bones that made up his robe on his forearm instantly began to surge, forming a flexible membrane that swept away several heavy arrows in front of him.
With a flick of his sleeve, he caught an arrow in his hand.
Looking at the arrow, which was so straight without any cutting marks, the count squeezed it in two with a little force.
" Tree Worship Church!"
He gritted his teeth and looked up toward the woods, only to hear a muffled groan beside him.
" Aluode?"
The count looked to the side of the sedan chair and saw that a rather heavy arrow had been embedded in the chest of his strategist. The arrow had pierced through his chest and was now sticking out from his back, causing his body to twitch slightly uncontrollably.
"Sir, I'm alright..."
[ Aluode ] reached out and leaned on the shoulder of the Blood Corpse beside him for support, barely managing to straighten up.
He reached into his chest and forcefully pulled out the arrow, drawing out a string of blackened blood droplets, his eyes glaring angrily into the distance:
"Please allow me to destroy them, with this body you have bestowed upon me."
Bennett nodded with satisfaction, becoming increasingly pleased with his subordinate.
"Go, bring them fear."
He waved his hand, and a large group of Blood Corpse immediately looked at [ Aluode ].
"Here are a hundred of them, leave no survivors."
"Yes, sir!"
[ Aluode ] was taken aback for a moment, but then thought it made perfect sense. After all, Bennett only had him as a capable subordinate, and even if he didn't particularly like him, he certainly wouldn't want to see him die in vain.
So he steeled himself and instinctively tried to Alienation two triangular daggers, only to find himself awkwardly in a state of [ Blood Corpse Transformation ].
Helpless, he had no choice but to imitate the monsters in zombie movies, stretching his neck forward with his hands into claws, letting out a roar, and leading the Blood Corpse into the dense forest.
In the dense forest at that moment, a group of several people were whispering among themselves.
[ Gill's Cuisine ]: "Damn, how did they react so fast? They blocked all the arrows in one go."
[ Western Sharpshooter ]: "Not a single shot?"
Player [ Peace Metropolis ] put down the simply polished telescope in his hand and said:
"I hit the target."
"Really? Looks like I'm pretty accurate after all."
"The one in the middle is [ Aluode ]."
[ Western Sharpshooter ]'s smile froze on his face. Before he could say anything, the player next to him grabbed his arm and started running away.
[ Aluode ]'s pursuit of them was part of the plan, even if he hadn't been hit.
In the plan discussed by everyone, this move would greatly improve the count's image, since every leader likes a subordinate who knows how to flatter.
To everyone's surprise, the count seemed to have quite a temper. With night vision activated, it was clear that a swarm of Blood Corpse was following behind [ Aluode ], and their menacing appearance was obviously beyond the capabilities of the four or five-person team.
As the enemy drew ever closer, [ Gill's Cuisine ] asked the group:
"Hey guys, have you hidden everything properly?"
"Don't worry, it's all in my 'crotch' (referring to the location of the body collection service). The body retrieval service from the Dragonborn has also been booked with funds."
"Good!"
[ Gill's Cuisine ] In a swift stop and turn, they entered battle stance:
"Kill them!"
The five Soul Returner were clearly no match for the hundred Blood Corpse, but they were prepared to die, and even when surrounded, they did not retreat.
They stood shoulder to shoulder, protecting each other from behind, and the Blood Corpse were unable to get close for a moment.
However, at that moment, a fearless Blood Corpse descended from a nearby tree branch like a divine weapon, directly smashing the few people who hadn't looked up at the sky, leaving them dizzy and disoriented.
Taking advantage of the group's disarray, [ Aluode ] and the others exchanged glances while fighting, confirming their plan one last time.
He moved his lips, but what he uttered was a phrase from his hometown across the ocean that [ Gill's Cuisine ] had taught him.
"I'll borrow your head for a moment!"
The Blood Corpse didn't see their brief exchange of glances and lip movements; they only saw [ Aluode ] swing his claws and quickly kill all the members of the squad, and then, still enraged, he began to frantically whip the corpses.
Five minutes later, [ Aluode ] knelt on one knee before Count Bennett, carrying five disfigured heads.
He presented the severed head with both hands and spoke with great passion:
"My lord, I have annihilated all the enemies!"
At this moment, a complex mix of emotions actually welled up within him.
Although it's just a game, cutting off a friend's head as a credit is still a bit too far ahead of its time. But the plan was devised by the captain, [ Gill's Cuisine ], who also offered to play the role of the corpse. At this point, it was no use for [ Aluode ] to refuse.
At that moment, he held his comrade's head in his hands and offered it to the enemy, secretly determined to deliver the most unforgettable backstab to the old geezer in front of him.
Bennett reached forward and snatched the man's head away.
Looking at the face so disfigured that it was impossible to recognize its former features, he looked at [ Aluode ]:
"That face..."
[ Aluode ] lowered his head:
"My lord, I was slashed on the face by them during the battle, and I was still angry after killing them..."
Bennett weighed the head in his hand, then turned it around. He saw obvious tear marks on the neck, as if the head had been forcibly removed in a fit of rage.
He gestured for [ Aluode ] to raise his head, and immediately saw the open wound that stretched from above the other's left eye to the corner of his right mouth. As the other raised his head, the drooping flesh trembled, and even the knife mark on the bridge of his nose was clearly visible.
Bennett had no more doubts. He casually tossed his head away and laughed, his slight dissatisfaction with [ Aluode ] vanishing in an instant.
So what if you don't speak carefully? As long as you're efficient at your work, that's fine.
Few of the Blood Corpse have any brains; they're lucky if they can even talk.
At worst, I can use this for tackling tough challenges later, and then find someone nice to talk to.
Thinking this, he said:
"Well done, Aluode."
The old man's tone was filled with ambition, but he didn't forget to paint a rosy picture for his subordinates:
"Once I am promoted to marquis, you will be the first earl under my command!"
Upon hearing this, [ Aluode ] almost buried his head in his crotch to suppress the smile on his lips, and he replied in a similarly impassioned tone:
"I would die for you, Your Excellency!"
"Good!"
Bennett stood on the sedan chair, pointing to the distant, faintly visible edge of the forest:
"Full speed march! Launch the first attack on Weeping Willow Town before dawn!"