Chapter 240: Chapter 202: What a Fine Sword Technique
This posed almost no risk to the Thorn Corps, aside from wasting a little time. If what the Goblin said was true, crushing the enemy in a single blow would no longer be a distant dream.
Panda was a brute. He was great at cutting people down, but asking him to deliberate on important matters was too much. He could only nod quickly to show his agreement.
It went without saying for Si Kai. The two highest-ranking men present had already agreed, so it wasn’t his place to object.
And so, the matter was settled with a unanimous vote.
"Thank you for your trust, my Lord." Leiden couldn’t hide his delight as he bowed to the Lord.
"Heh, you’re thanking me too soon. If you dare to deceive me..."
Levi gave a cold, inscrutable laugh. A Javelin materialized in his hand. Without even looking, he hurled it with a flick of his wrist.
SWOOSH!
A piercing sonic boom echoed, followed instantly by an explosive crack, as if metal were being rent and stone shattered.
A Giant Stone about a hundred paces away exploded like a watermelon smashed by a sledgehammer, sending tiny fragments flying in all directions.
GULP.
A series of nervous gulps could be heard.
Fujero remained expressionless, but inwardly, his teeth were on edge.
’This Lord Li’s Javelin has the power of a Bed Crossbow, and the damn thing is so accurate, too!’
’Hitting a target at a hundred paces... what kind of feat was that?’
’Even a Divine Archer with a Bow and Arrow could barely do that, let alone someone throwing a Javelin with pure physical Power...’
’In this era, Lord Li was probably the only one capable of such an otherworldly feat.’
Leiden’s heart trembled. Only by facing this human expert directly could one truly experience the helplessness of being caught in an avalanche, the feeling that your head could fly from your shoulders at any moment.
"But we’re not man-eating Demons, either. If you handle this beautifully, I won’t just spare your life. I, this Lord, can even offer you food and board, giving you a place in High Cliff Castle."
The Lord patted the Goblin’s shoulder, his words accompanied by a beaming smile.
Leiden didn’t dare to move or refuse. He just had a feeling that the "food and board" this human noble named Levi mentioned wasn’t going to be as pleasant as it sounded.
With both the carrot and the stick offered, it was time to discuss the details.
There really weren’t many details to discuss. It was simple: the Goblin would take his people and start a riot, and then Levi’s forces would use the opportunity to launch a surprise attack.
Attacked from both within and without, the motley crew would struggle to mount any effective resistance.
After settling the details, Leiden finally couldn’t suppress the last flicker of hope in his heart. "My Lord," he asked cautiously, "it may be presumptuous of me, but could I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
Levi snapped his fingers. He didn’t mind answering a few questions.
"Have you encountered an extraordinary Centaur, one who commands the Thunder Element?"
’A Centaur?’ Levi thought of Gus, whom he had captured alive. Clearly, the Goblin was talking about the Centaur Leader. He nodded.
"What happened to him?" Leiden asked eagerly, then, realizing his impudence, he hastily explained with a subservient look, "Forgive my excitement, my Lord. That Centaur and I are on good terms, so I’m desperate to know what’s become of him."
"Oh?" Levi studied the Goblin before him. He honestly couldn’t understand how a powerful Centaur would associate with a lowly Goblin.
And for the Goblin to risk his life asking about him, their relationship was clearly anything but shallow.
"Him..." The Lord dragged out the word, an inscrutable smile playing on his lips.
Leiden’s heart clenched, terrified he was about to hear the bad news he had been dreading.
Just as Leiden was lost in agonizing anticipation, the Lord suddenly broke into a wide, toothy grin. "Haha! I captured that guy alive!"
...
"Well, well, look who’s here. The leader of the Centaur Race."
In the clearing, the Lord shaded his eyes with a hand, his tone deliberately exaggerated.
As a wielder of Elemental Power, the Centaur, Gus, was naturally held under guard befitting his strength.
His four hooves were bound together by chains as thick as a man’s wrist, and his upper body was tied to a thick, wooden Cross. His feet never touched the ground, as he was carried by twenty to thirty panting Auxiliary Soldiers from High Cliff Castle.
This was a Giant Beast, a Quadruple Blade in height, and its weight alone was several thousand pounds.
"Untie him."
The Lord sat imposingly on a stone and gestured with his chin.
SWISH!
A silver gleam flashed through the air. With a shower of sparks and a deafening clang of metal, Panda’s great saber was already back in its sheath.
"Impressive Sword Technique!" Levi gave Panda a thumbs-up.
Gus pushed aside the iron chains, which now lay in pieces around him. He took a moment to adjust after being immobile for so long before rising from the ground.
The grunts scattered in a panic, terrified the monster would suddenly fly into a rage.
They didn’t possess their Lord’s terrifying Power.
But Gus was unusually calm. He didn’t struggle needlessly.
"So, have you made up your mind?" Levi rested a hand on his sword hilt, its exquisite Sword Scabbard glinting in the firelight.
"Lionel doesn’t need a grave. We run on the plains until we rot!"
He wasn’t being dramatic; he was simply stating the pride of the Centaur Race.
’The Centaur Race will never be slaves!’
"Very good. A tough one!" Levi snapped his fingers.
"Gus."
Leiden stepped out of the shadows, an unconcealable smile on his face.
Honestly, he never expected Gus to still be alive. The outcome made him involuntarily show his true feelings.
"Leiden?!" Gus started, his proud head jerking up. "What are you doing here?"
He had been bound tight and locked in a lightless wooden cage the entire time, completely oblivious to what was happening outside.
’Have the Zor been defeated? Was Leiden captured by this human, too?’
Seeing the two had much to say, the Lord, ever so considerate, waved his hand. The surrounding guards retreated, giving the pair ample space.
As he left, Levi shot the Goblin, Leiden, a look that said: ’Remember your promise!’
"My Lord, what if they try to escape?"
Si Kai said, voicing his concern as he watched the Goblin and Centaur arguing heatedly a short distance away.
Levi, sitting on a small stool roasting by the fire and cracking melon seeds, was dismissive of the concern. "How far did I throw that Javelin earlier?"
"Over a hundred paces."
"And how far are they from me now?"
"Not even sixty paces..."
’Okay,’ Si Kai thought, ’that was a stupid question.’
With the Lord’s power, there was no need to worry about such things.
The guards around the two Alien Races had been sent away. Whether they tried to take a hostage or make a run for it, the Lord would put a hole clean through them before they could even get started.
Levi watched them argue with great relish. The Centaur Leader’s roars of fury were like rolling thunder, frightening some of the more timid Goat-man Auxiliary Soldiers into running for their tents and covering their ears with pillows.
"You want me to surrender?" Gus demanded furiously, his hooves stamping restlessly.
"Not surrender! Join!" Leiden corrected him.
"Gus, the situation is clear. The only way we survive is by joining these humans."
Leiden’s tone was dead serious, even tinged with urgency. He knew their predicament all too well. They had to make a choice.
Gus said nothing, his eyes filled with defiance and conflict.
Leiden continued, "Maybe you think I’m weak, a coward who’s afraid to die. Think whatever you want. All I know is that you can’t achieve your ambitions if you’re not alive to see them through. Death is the end of everything."
His words betrayed his desperate will to live. He understood that only the living have a chance to pursue their goals.
Leiden looked at Gus, a flicker of determination in his eyes. "Besides, it’s an honor to follow the strong. You know that human’s power better than I do. There’s no shame in following him."
Honestly, though he disdained the idea of surrender, he—who had been defeated in a single exchange—had to admit that the human’s power far surpassed his own.
Gus fell silent. His pride was at war with reality, an intense conflict raging within him.
The Wilderness had always followed the rule of might makes right. The natives here revered strength.
Gus’s gaze wavered, his resolve beginning to crumble.
If he could live, Gus certainly didn’t want to die.
Finally, the Centaur Leader let out a long sigh, as if he had come to a decision.
Comments