Chapter 1036: Chapter 577: First Encounter at the Bay (Part 2)
This was Lance casting [Bless] to strengthen them, but directly to the Master or Legendary level was impossible. It was merely enhancing them with spiritual essence based on their merits while alleviating their pains.
After today, it’s quite normal for some soldiers to leap to the warrior rank.
These are just ordinary soldiers; for the Honor Guard, Lance went all out, at least thirty are elites.
As for Barin, who was inherently talented and self-awakened, Lance did not intervene, only removing his hidden wounds.
He’s eagerly waiting to see how far Barin can go on his own.
They truly lived up to Lance’s investment; under such circumstances, they actually managed to hold their ground, while others might have collapsed.
Converting the accumulated spiritual essence from these battles into combat power is the only way to showcase Hamlet’s advantage.
After the awards ceremony came a grand drill, where the soldiers’ high morale and imposing appearance greatly shocked the locals.
Most of these people arrived later, and because the military was usually so mysterious they couldn’t interact with them. Now, they were witnessing the change from viewing the army almost like bandits.
Initially, some were worried about the safety of the wildlands, but after seeing this, their concerns dissipated.
With Hamlet’s powerful military, their safety is assured.
Those who brought their families, the youth and children witnessing this scene have etched a deep impression in their minds.
They also want to stand beside the Lord to receive awards...
Once things settled, the people’s hearts that had been slightly chaotic due to their departure from Hamlet’s core were instantly calmed.
They spent half a day completing this through a grand "performance." It’s clear Lance knows exactly where their sense of belonging lies.
After everything was done, they went about their business, while Lance spoke privately with several leaders, revealing his plan to venture deep into the bay to solve the Fishmen issue.
"The bay is within that fissure by the sea cliff. It’s more convenient for me to go alone, while your task now is to completely clear out nearby disturbances and hold that passage.
The Honor Guard can be organized to descend into the Beast Lair to clear the Pigmen. We’ve delayed exploration due to various reasons, but it’s evidently dangerous inside, so be cautious."
Of course, Lance wouldn’t allow the Honor Guard and heroes to idle; he is a resourceful exploiter.
Deploying them to the Beast Lair trains the Honor Guard and prepares for the next phase.
Lance’s plan is so comprehensive that there’s little room for others to contribute, and they vaguely sense a great disparity in strength compared to the Lord, feeling like the weaker link.
"I go to the bay, you go to the wildlands and Beast Lair. It’s all for Hamlet, duties divided."
"Getting here is everyone’s effort; Hamlet was not built alone by me. I contribute; do you not as well?"
Lance could naturally sense their emotions and immediately reassured them with a smile.
"We guarantee to complete the task!"
Everyone promised, even Tadiff, who was leaning against the wall looking nonchalant, silently nodded despite typically disliking to talk.
Upon arriving, Lance never intended to return to town; he followed the newly constructed road towards the ruins.
With the addition of convict labor, progress increased significantly, and following the old path, it was merely about refurbishing.
Alone, Lance fundamentally believes there’s no place in this world he cannot go, at least from his perspective.
However, upon once again arriving before the ruins, he paused.
With no others around, Lance no longer needed to suppress his thoughts, and instantly his fierce demeanor emerged.
"Damn it, ancestors!"
The hatred seemed nearly tangible, even stirring the dense death aura of the ruins.
But Lance did not charge forward foolishly; those skeletons could be easily broken by an old farmer with simple tools, but they were countless and yielded no benefit. Let the adventurers deal with them slowly.
"I will definitely return..."
Lance declared, turning and bypassing the ruins, heading straight east to the coast.
The Old City Ruins used to have a port and docks, but these places were more thoroughly destroyed by the salty sea winds.
Collapsing buildings and rotted wood that crumbles to the touch demonstrate how fragile human constructions are against the forces of nature without maintenance.
Large swathes of mud and water marks on the shore seem to recount an unknown storm that once struck here, with the tsunami swallowing the docks.
Had everyone not died here earlier, who knows how many tragedies the great natural disaster could have caused.
Lance didn’t dwell much on these matters. To him, the only meaningful observation was that these peripheral areas indeed had no skeleton presence, likely having been dragged into the sea long ago.
Swiftly traversing the coast, the sandy beaches and mudflats gradually vanished, replaced by rocky walls exposed by the waves washing away the dirt.
As the terrain elevated, those rocky walls became steep cliffs sculpted by the sea. Lance’s objective was not these, but the massive fissure beneath the cliffs.
Lance initially thought this place wasn’t large, but the reality starkly contrasted his imagination.
From a distance, he could vaguely see the exaggerated gap likened to Hell’s Gate; even a ship could enter there. Humans appear minute against the forces of nature.
There’s no path to go there, just relentless waves below, amidst a bay filled with countless large and small sea reefs.
The exposed ones are visible above water, while the submerged reefs are likely more abundant, not to mention potentially many Deep Divers among them.
As for the steep coastal cliffs above, falling from hundred-meter heights would be comparable to crashing onto concrete. If unlucky enough to hit sea reefs, recovery would be impossible.
This bay is truly a perilous area, lucky he did not bring anyone along; otherwise, entry itself would have posed an issue.
Upon observation, Lance directly removed his clothes, clad in shorts, leaping from over ten meters high, diving straight into the sea like a sword.
Upon his jump, there was no movement. From a high vantage, waves were still rolling, but Lance did not emerge.
Soon after, small splashes erupted on the sea surface, among them, shadows continuously gathered.
Whatever happened underwater was unclear, when Lance resurfaced, he was already within the bay, struggling up the wet, slippery ground.
On his leg, a Deep Sea Warrior had bitten, its mouthful of sharp teeth embedded in his calf.
Lance, having climbed up, drew his pistol and shot the fish head point-blank.
"Bang!"
With a gunshot, the lead bullet tore into the tough fish head, destroying its brain, instantly killing it.
Yet even then, it didn’t release, forcing Lance to grit his teeth through the agonizing pain and pry it off.
But exposed on his leg, blood was dripping, flesh rolling; when had he ever suffered such a setback?
Flesh Reconstruction!
The flesh was manipulated by invisible forces, the wound healing at a visible rate.
Yet it hadn’t ended, as waves of Fishmen continued emerging from the sea, granting little respite.
In the dimly lit surroundings, Deep Sea Warriors clad in green fish scales climber out, their fish heads emitting incomprehensible sounds.
Some wielding broken sailor’s knives, others bearing webbed claws and mouths full of sharp teeth.
Then Lance immediately sliced one...
The Fishmen’s scales, which could withstand certain attacks, were frail against Wolf Fang’s sharpness. The slime that could deflect attacks proved futile, as smooth cuts separated the fish head from the humanoid body.
In the sea, I may spare you somewhat, but on land, kill you all...
Every single one!
