CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 69 YOU ARE ALREADY DEAD_1

Gustav, leading the troops forward, also stopped his wolf mount upon hearing the immense noise.

Ahead, the human Lord stepped out from the formation.

With such an overwhelming aura, he must be an extremely powerful hero.

The opponent was now issuing a challenge.

The Orcs, renowned for their valor, had to respond.

Gustav whispered to Yarlin at his side, "I’ll respond to the enemy Lord. Watch carefully. If he forcefully attacks me, you immediately lead the troops in a charge. I will keep him fully occupied, and you bring the other heroes to kill him together."

Facing the aura emanating from the Lord of the Eternal Domain, Yarlin lost his previous composure.

A hero!

They are always the shining stars of this world.

They possess the ability to break through their own rank limitations and have, theoretically, unlimited growth potential.

Powerful heroes can bring boundless morale to an army, and their formidable strength can lead them to victory after victory.

Every page of world history is written by heroes.

But no hero is invincible.

Even one as mighty as a Giant Dragon can still die.

Yarlin gripped his knight’s sword tightly, sensing he was facing an incredibly powerful hero.

This, however, only stoked a stronger desire for battle within him.

Only armor earned in such a battle is truly meaningful to wear.

"Gustav, go... I was once a soldier in the Duchy’s army. I know what to do."

Gustav nodded and urged his wolf mount forward, out of the formation.

At this moment, everyone on the battlefield was captivated by the meeting of the two leaders.

The short barks among the Werewolves were interpreted as the Swamp Tribe’s anxiety about the war.

The Werewolves’ retreat was seen as fear of the war spreading within the Swamp Tribe.

The Malevolent Wolf Cavalry displayed strict military discipline, each warrior sitting tall, head up, and staring intently at their leader.

They were merely waiting for a single command to launch an all-out assault and overwhelm the enemy.

Gustav rode his wolf mount to a stop about fifty meters from Yan Xing. From this distance, the warhorse clad in a white caparison looked even more magnificent.

Furthermore, streams of air formed whirlwinds beneath its hooves, causing blades of grass and twigs to sway.

The aura it exuded also made Gustav’s own wolf mount emit low, uneasy whines.

Demonization!

A powerful hero mounted on a demonized warhorse.

This battle will not be as simple as I imagined.

"I am Gustav, a warrior under Chief Little Lillia of Stakes Castle. I have led my army across the Wildwind Highlands, and I bring neither greetings nor goodwill. We possess the strength and determination to annihilate the Eternal Domain. However, to avoid unnecessary sacrifices, if you and your army lay down your arms, remove your armor, and leave your horses, I will allow you to depart alive."

Yan Xing stood tall, looking down at Gustav, who was significantly shorter than him.

In the enemy’s direction, the Werewolves are starting to move.

To eliminate the invading army in the shortest time and with the fewest casualties, I decided to take a risk and draw the enemy’s attention to myself.

It seems to be working.

Yan Xing turned off the microphone; he couldn’t let the enemy detect the sound system now.

"Gustav... How did you Wolf Riders manage to get past the Human Fortress Cluster to reach me? Was it because of those human traitors?" Yan Xing stalled for time. "Your army is quite numerous; I see several hundred Swamp Werewolves have come as well. Quite frightening! I wonder if the wealth in my territory will be enough for all of you to share?"

Gustav could hear the mockery in Yan Xing’s voice.

He said sternly to Yan Xing, "That is for us to consider. My lord, I issue you one final ultimatum: dismount immediately, remove your armor, and leave with your soldiers. Your equipment, territory, and peasants... can be exchanged for my promise not to hunt you down. This is an Orc warrior’s promise, and we always keep our word!"

Yan Xing laughed, raising his spear high above his head.

Silver armor, silver spear, white horse, golden patterns gleaming, red ribbons fluttering in the wind.

Another "Morale Boost."

Morale soared.

The soldiers and people of the Eternal Domain shouted in exhilaration, "Lord Yan Xing, generous and merciful! Lord Yan Xing, true to his word!"

"Did you hear that?" Yan Xing lowered his silver spear and said to Gustav. "I, your lord, am both generous and merciful. If you are hungry from your journey, the Eternal Domain will provide food for you. I, your lord, also keep my promises. Having sworn to protect my subjects, I will not abandon them. Do you think that by bringing these rabble to my doorstep and flaunting your might, you can scare me? I’ll give you one final ultimatum as well. I’ll count to three. If you don’t retreat, I’ll reduce you and your army to ashes."

Gustav held his wolf mount’s reins in one hand and clutched his greatsword in the other.

His eyes darted about, vigilantly scanning his surroundings.

To destroy my army instantly, the enemy would need to use large-scale offensive magic to bombard us.

But such a high-level spell isn’t so easily unleashed.

Even the preparation phase would inevitably trigger significant regional mana fluctuations.

Yet the surrounding mana is unusually stable.

Gustav said, "Don’t delude yourself into thinking you can scare us away."

"One!" Yan Xing extended one finger.

Gustav continued, "My human contacts informed me that no human reinforcements could possibly arrive here."

"Two!" Yan Xing extended another finger.

"This plain holds only your territory. No one is coming to save you..."

"Three!" Yan Xing extended a third finger. "Time’s up. If you seek death, I will oblige."

Then, Yan Xing turned on the microphone.

The loudspeakers carried Yan Xing’s voice across the entire prairie.

"A bag of grain for each enemy head! Two bags of grain for each captive! Get to work, everyone!"

Before Yan Xing’s voice had even faded, a roar from the sky instantly drowned out the sound of the loudspeakers.

Swarms of Poison Flies burst from the sky and the tall grass, charging at the Malevolent Wolf Cavalry and the human mercenaries at lightning speed.

While the Orcs and mercenaries were still reeling in confusion, the howls of wolves erupted behind them.

The Poison Flies that charged into the formation pierced the skin of the Orcs and mercenaries with their stingers.

Before the poison could take effect, leaping Werewolves dragged the Orcs and mercenaries from their wolf mounts and warhorses.

Flails danced in the air, then came crashing down with immense force.

In that moment, all tactics and combat training were useless. The Werewolves surged like a great tide, swiftly overwhelming the Orcs and mercenaries who had their backs to them.

If their bone flails shattered, they used their steel-like fangs.

Their Li Zhua.

They were the savages of the Swamp, with no professional combat training, only the most primal, bestial instincts.

They would bite through their enemies’ bones; they would devour their enemies’ flesh and blood.

They would twist off their enemies’ heads and raise them overhead, howling long and loud.

They were unfazed by the fresh blood dyeing their entire bodies red.

They were bloodthirsty beasts.

They showed no mercy to their prey.

The battle had erupted suddenly.

And then, just as abruptly, it fell silent.

When the howling of the pack ceased, a glance across the battlefield revealed no Orcs or mercenaries left standing. Even the wolf mounts and warhorses had collapsed, subdued by the Werewolves’ murderous aura.

Gustav watched the approaching Werewolves, each clutching the severed heads of Orcs and mercenaries...

He finally understood. From the moment they had encountered these Werewolves, he and the army he led had already been as good as dead.