Chapter 466 Locke Silverbane
Seated once more, Archer patiently awaited the return of the Tressyms. The Stone Men efficiently gathered six Orc hearts, which he stored away before dismissing them.
Alone again, Archer reclined on the gnarled root, his gaze drifting upward to the night sky. The stars twinkled overhead, their brilliance captivating him.
Shooting stars streaked across the vast expanse. They left behind a mesmerizing trail of beauty, painting the celestial canvas with fleeting bursts of cosmic radiance.
A quiet contemplation seized him as he marveled at the size of the world he ended up in. The thought of unexplored lands and hidden realms stirred his excitement.
With a resolute gleam in his violet eyes, Archer wanted to explore all the different continents and islands.
Deep in thought about his plans, Archer was interrupted as the first Tressyms returned, rubbing their heads against him.
Expressing affection, he reciprocated, and the flying cats responded with joyous purring.
As the rest of the Tressyms returned, he continued the affection and information exchange ritual.
Once satisfied with the gathered intelligence, Archer dismissed his Draconic Form, retaining only his wings.
With a mighty leap, he took to the night sky, soaring southward in search of the expansive clearing that the Tressyms had guided him towards.
Beneath his wings, the wind whispered, and Archer surrendered to the liberating embrace of the open sky.
Soaring for a while, he caught sight of a colossal tree in the distance. Circling it, he spotted the desired clearing.
With precision, Archer descended and landed on a nearby perch, a tree overlooking the sprawling bandit camp below. As he observed the scene, hundreds of figures moved about.
However, upon closer inspection, Archer realized they weren't mere bandits but former enemy soldiers turned outlaws in the aftermath of war.
After scanning the camp from his vantage point, Archer gracefully stepped off the branch and descended to the ground with a subdued thud.
He summoned the Nightmare Ant Warriors, who promptly bowed. Addressing them, he issued a command, "Kill everyone, but ensure you retrieve their hearts. Keep the bodies; they'll serve as nourishment for the larvae. Take them to the nurseries."
With a nod of understanding, the Nightmare Ant Warriors emitted an eerie noise as they swiftly charged into the camp, catching the unsuspecting bandits off guard.
Archer watched as the Nightmare Ant Warriors descended upon the unsuspecting bandit camp.
The eerie stillness of the night was shattered by the sudden screeches and bizarre noises emanating from the warriors.
Swift and relentless, the ants moved with uncanny precision, their dark forms a blur in the shadows.
The bandits, caught off guard, scrambled to react, their confusion heightened by the surreal cacophony accompanying the ant's assault.
As the Nightmare Ants engaged in combat, their strange noises harmonized with the chaos of battle.
The air pulsated with an otherworldly symphony, an unsettling accompaniment to the swift and silent dance of nature's warriors.
Archer, hidden from view, watched with a mix of fascination and satisfaction.
Now facing an unexpected and bizarre onslaught, the bandits struggled against the dark force that had descended upon them, their voices joining the dissonant chorus of the night.
The Nightmare Ant Warriors moved with a lethal grace, weaving through the chaos of battle with unparalleled skill.
In a seamless display of coordination, they skillfully closed in on the bandits. Their razor-sharp mandibles and venomous stings struck with deadly accuracy.
The bandits, incapable of organizing a unified defense, succumbed individually to the precise and swift strikes of the Nightmare Ant Warriors.
The clash of forces reverberated through the air, leaving no doubt about the outcome: Archer's ant warriors proved an indomitable force.
Overwhelmed and outmatched, the bandits yielded to the relentless assault with minimal resistance.
As the last echoes of battle subsided, Archer remained hidden, watching the Nightmare Ant Warriors retreat into the shadows, their mission accomplished.
The bandit camp lay silent, a haunting stillness settling over the scene. Archer, indifferent to the morbid aftermath, leaped down from the branch.
The Nightmare Ant Warriors materialized upon landing, presenting Archer with the hearts they had diligently collected.
Swiftly storing them away, he summoned the Stone Men to the scene. Instructing the Stone Men to loot the camp.
Afterward, Archer sent the ant warriors back to the domain, each carrying the lifeless bandits.
He observed them leaving before returning to the Stone Men, who ransacked the remnants of the bandit camp.
Archer watched them do that as he retreated to a branch to wait. He flew up to one and got comfortable.
Once he was, he watched the night sky, realized it was getting late, and thought he had enough time to hit another camp.
Amidst contemplation, Archer's thoughts were abruptly shattered by the sounds of distress.
That's when he heard a woman's scream, and the collective cries of others drew his attention. Swiftly, he turned to witness the Stone Men corralling a group of captives.
Casting Blink, Archer materialized before a man who stumbled back and inquired, "Are you the one who freed us? And are these things yours?"
The man gestured toward one of the motionless Stone Men. Archer nodded in confirmation, prompting the man to express his gratitude.
Just as a semblance of relief settled, Archer's Aura Detector detected more approaching threats.
Realizing that the initial bandits were not the only ones, he commanded the Stone Men to engage the imminent threat.
Summoning more Stone Men, Archer urged the rescued captives to return to the safety of their cages.
A decision met with reluctant compliance. Over fifty more bandits, led by a tall and sinister figure, emerged on the scene.
The older man, sporting a smirk, swung a mace, obliterating two incoming Stone Men. However, their comrades retaliated with ferocity, tearing through the bandit ranks.
Spotting the leader, Archer quickly assessed the man and recognized his formidable power, prompting a grin to spread across his face.
[Locke Silverbane]
[Level: 311]
[Rank: High Mage]
Seizing the opportunity, Archer conjured Element bolts charged with thunder, launching them toward the bandits and their leader.
Although the man managed to deflect some, Archer wasn't finished. Summoning his Greatsword, he charged toward the bandit leader.
Archer's face radiated with excitement and joy as he charged towards the towering and ominous bandit leader.
Three quick-thinking bandits got in his way, attempting to shield their leader from him, but that didn't bother Archer.
Without breaking his stride, he smoothly pivoted, his Greatsword cleaving through the air in a powerful arc.
The blade whistled as it sliced through the first bandit's defense, sending the unfortunate adversary sprawling to the ground in two distinct pieces.
With unwavering momentum, Archer continued the deadly dance, the Greatsword seamlessly transitioning to strike the second bandit.
The clash of metal rang out as the man desperately attempted to parry the oncoming blow, but Archer's strength prevailed, and the blade cleaved through the bandit's body.
The third bandit, witnessing the fate of his comrades, hesitated for a fraction of a second.
At that moment, Archer's Greatsword descended like a swift judgment, connecting with the bandit's body.
The force of the blow sent the bandit tumbling, the Greatsword leaving a trail of chaos in its wake.
Undeterred by the brief interruption, Archer continued his charge toward the bandit leader, the Greatsword stained with the remnants of blood.
The air crackled with the intensity of the conflict as Archer closed the distance with a thunderous clash.
Archer swung his large greatsword at the imposing bandit leader, who skillfully intercepted the attack with a massive mace.
The clash of metal resonated through the air as the two formidable opponents locked in a test of strength.
Undeterred, Archer wasn't finished. Archer's eyes glowed with arcane energy as the bandit leader held the greatsword at bay.
He unleashed an Eldritch Blast with a swift incantation, a surge of dark power hurtling into the man's stomach.
The force was formidable, sending the bandit leader sprawling backward through the air, momentarily suspended before crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.
With the bandit leader momentarily incapacitated by the Eldritch Blast, Archer seized the opportunity.
His greatsword gleamed in the moonlight as he swiftly closed the distance. In a fluid motion, he drove the blade through the bandit leader's chest, a brutal and decisive strike.
As the bandit leader gasped in pain, Archer withdrew the greatsword, leaving the man to crumple to the ground.
The strike's finality echoed in the silent night. Meanwhile, Stone Men battled the remaining bandits. The clash of weapons and unyielding pursuit painted a chaotic scene.
Having dealt with their leader, Archer watched as the Stone Men fired Stone Bullets, causing the panicked bandits to flee.
The bullets hit the back of the men's heads, causing them to drop like lifeless mannequins with cut strings.
Archer smiled, pleased with the outcome. He ordered the Stone Men to loot the hearts and the camp, then sat down and waited again.
[A/N - Leave some comments, power stones, and gifts. It all helps support the book. Artwork in the comments or discord]
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel