Chapter 1017: Chapter 506: Demon Fire and Immobilization _2
But among them were mixed some low-level professionals and many elite four-armed fishmen whose bodies were noticeably more robust.
Even without those two leaders pressing from behind, such a number would be enough to pose a significant challenge to the Iron Rock Shield Team.
"What should be decided?"
Xia Nan’s brain raced.
Temporarily retreating... might be possible, but it would also mean the failure of his mission to help Aurie retrieve the goods, and he would miss out on the superb attribute item of [Proof of Diligence].
Unless the situation developed to the most dangerous point, Xia Nan wouldn’t consider the option of fleeing and retreating.
And if he needed to face the enemy head-on, according to his habit, his primary target would naturally be the spellcasters among the enemy ranks.
But...
His gaze swept over Gree the "Carrion Vulture" beside the Fishman Priest.
He didn’t know whether they were aware that someone on their side might launch a raid, or if it was just to protect the spellcasters in the team.
This leader of the Ebbtide Gang, facing the crowd in the warehouse, simply stood beside the Fishman Priest, with no intention of making any moves.
"Tsk."
Xia Nan couldn’t help but feel the trouble in his heart.
There was no more time for him to make additional plans; in front, the first batch of enemies had already poured into the warehouse.
"Galu!!!"
The hot air, originally due to the surrounding burning flames, suddenly carried a hint of moisture, with a pungent fishy smell.
A common Sha Hua Fishman holding a fish spear rushed in while roaring.
Without any hesitation, almost at the moment of spotting Xia Nan, the fish spear in its hand was thrown towards Xia Nan.
Ding—
A metallic collision suddenly sounded within the warehouse.
Intending to use the charge displacement ability of [Teeth Hunting] to catch the Fishman Priest off guard, Xia Nan at this moment didn’t dodge nimbly as before. The [Ash Fall] straight sword drew a perfect arc in the air, directly striking the fish spear aside.
He advanced two steps abruptly.
[Vortex Slash] in rapid succession!
The dense scales on the surface of the Sha Hua Fishman were defenseless against the sharp blades of blue quality.
In the flicker of sword light, a fishman head maintaining a roaring expression separated from its neck under the gush of luminescent blue blood, soaring high.
For the present Xia Nan, the comprehensive advantage in equipment, physical quality, and combat skills meant there was no essential difference between Sha Hua Fishmen at 0.5 Challenge Level and Green-skinned Goblins at 0.25 Challenge Level.
"Ahhh!"
The battle roar from the Dwarf Habi resounded in his ears.
This Defense Guard Warrior of Professional Level lv4, facing the enemy’s siege, showed no fear.
Left hand holding a heavy tower shield, right hand clutching an edged hammer.
One could see his body surface, slightly reddened by the flame’s burn, was already exuding a steel-like sheen, with strength and defense ability greatly increased.
The edge hammer gently tapped the shield surface, causing vague ripples to spread swiftly around.
This influenced the enemies originally intending to bypass his shield and attack from the flank, causing them, as if affected by some kind of taunt effect, to instinctively attack the tower shield.
"Whizz whizz whizz!"
It was the sound of sharp objects slicing through the air.
Three shadows flashed by.
Accompanied by the dull sound of piercing flesh, three wood arrows with quivering tail feathers each penetrated through an enemy’s head with remarkable precision.
A little distance away, Seli held her wooden bow in her left hand, the bowstring vibrating fiercely, while her right hand gently brushed her quiver behind her, effortlessly pulling out three more wood arrows between her fingers.
Having cooperated for many years, the few of them could be said to have an impeccable tacit understanding.
In contrast, the Dwarf Wanderer A Gu had by now disappeared from sight.
Xia Nan’s heart stirred involuntarily.
With steps shifting, he lightly swung the straight sword, slicing off half a skull of an Ebbtide Gang little gangster in front of him.
His gaze, however, followed his perception, looking towards the depths of the night.
Although the Iron Rock Shield sometimes looked rather amateurish, they were still a Professional Level adventurer team, having roamed the Southern Islands for many years, rich in team combat experience.
Without needing much communication, everyone knew what they should do.
Facing the siege from the Ebbtide Gang and the fishmen.
The dwarf A Gu, who served the Wanderer profession and had the role of assassin in the group, made almost the same judgment as Xia Nan at this moment.
——The spellcasters within the enemy ranks must be dealt with first!
Just recovering from the bombardment of the "Fireball Technique," A Gu’s silhouette had already disappeared from the scene.
His inherently small stature, coupled with the shadow energy manipulation granted by his profession, made him thrive in the shadows of the night.
Even brushing shoulders with some fishmen, none noticed his presence.
Until the horn sounded once again.
A sphere of magic radiance drifted gently from the moonlight, landing on a patch of open ground fifteen feet away from him.
"Buzz..."
The brilliant dazzling light burst forth instantly, dyeing everything within twenty feet range in blue.
——1st Ring·Shaping Magic·Demon Fire Skill!
This First Ring Spell itself didn’t possess any damage effect.
It merely coated A Gu’s body surface with a highly conspicuous glow within the spell’s range.
The initial concealed state abruptly exited, and the Dwarf Wanderer attempting to stealthily approach the Fishman Priest under the cover of night was thoroughly exposed to everyone’s sight.
As A Gu planned to completely abandon the original stealth approach and instead utilize his speed burst to charge towards the priest.
Another pink magic radiance fell distantly amidst the horn sounds.
——2nd Ring·Enchantment System·Human Stasis Technique!
Although named "Human Immobilization Spell," in reality, this commonly used 2nd Ring Spell was aimed at "human-like creatures."
Gnomes were certainly among them.
Still failing the check.
Already enveloped by conspicuous blue light all over, A Gu was then added with a layer of dazzling pink.
The originally poised sprinting actions seemed frozen like in paused time, his small body just stood there motionless, wrapped in luminous glow like a statue.
The Fishman Priest, after consecutively casting two spells, seemed somewhat fatigued, gasping as he lowered the horn in his hand.
Beside him, "Carrion Vulture" Gree had already disappeared.
At some unknown point, he surprisingly stood behind the Wanderer A Gu.
In his hand, a scimitar the length of a forearm was raised high.
Slashed down fiercely!
"Slash."
The brittle yet dense sound of flesh being torn by sharp objects softly echoed in the night.
Under external attack, the pink radiance indicating "Human Stasis Technique" shattered into tiny light fragments and dispersed.
Released from the control state, A Gu didn’t make any counterattack or struggle.
His body was slashed from the right shoulder to the lower left waist, diagonally into two parts.
The two short daggers held tightly in his hand hadn’t even had the chance to stab once, yet the organs and intestines had already spilled everywhere across the ground.
"Ah!!!"
A piercing sharp scream sounded on the scene.
The usually reticent Wanderer, now in his agony, screamed louder than Xia Nan had ever heard from him before.
His legs convulsed violently, while his detached upper half dragged intestines meaninglessly across the ground, fingers deeply embedded in the soil.
His body surface was still covered by the blue light of "Demon Fire Skill."
"A Gu!!!"
As captain, Habi watched the scene in an agony-stricken rage. His round eyes brimmed with blood, expression seething with extreme anger.
Unlike the half-orc Howl still rolling and wailing on the ground, A Gu had been an old teammate since the formation of their team, having a far closer relationship than with the expendable Howl.
Over the years, while not quite family, he was the closest among friends.
Now, watching helplessly as the enemy severed his companion’s body, the Dwarf captain fell into a state of rage.
Eager to charge forward and seek revenge.
"Ang——"
Indeed, anticipating his thought, a long wolf howl abruptly resonated on the field.
With an instinctive turn of his head, he found Xia Nan, who had been fighting the surrounding enemies, had now vanished from his original spot.
In his place was a pitch-black Winter Wolf, taking advantage of the temporary absence of "Carrion Vulture," springing towards the Fishman Priest under the moonlight.
