Chapter 396, Following the Plan, Kill the Mage
The rogue adjusted his stance, his weapons swinging rapidly.
His strikes were agile and unpredictable, constantly probing for openings to attack vital areas.
Meanwhile, Wu Heng's long hours of sword practice
Were now showing their worth, as he demonstrated adept defensive skills.
His swordsmanship flowed seamlessly, parrying and launching quick counterattacks.
Clang, clang, clang~!
Their weapons collided incessantly.
The sharp sound of metal clashing filled the night, sparks flying.
The rogue grew increasingly alarmed, his eyes wide with disbelief.
At the beginning of the fight, he suspected Wu Heng had used some trick to enhance his strength.
But as the battle continued,
Wu Heng's strength and melee combat skills were on par with those of close-combat professionals.
Damn it.
Have guild Deputy Stewards become this monstrous?
Sizzle~!
Electricity crackled, as silver-white lightning surged and burst forth.
The bolt struck the rogue, sending him flying backward.
So he really is a mage!
...
Compared to the rogue's fluctuating emotions,
Wu Heng gripped his longsword tightly, his heart focused solely on the battle.
[Latent Potential], a skill unlocked from a corpse core, enhanced his physique, strength, and agility while making him increasingly aggressive.
Only by forcibly suppressing his impulse to engage in a brutal slugfest could he remember to use spells or firearms.
The rogue was thrown back.
Wu Heng's peripheral vision scanned the battlefield quickly.
Fighting continued everywhere.
His skeletal minions and wraith were also locked in combat, unable to quickly dispatch their targets.
He needed to find a breakthrough point,
To disrupt the current stalemate.
The longer this dragged on, the greater the danger for the rest of the guild. If they failed,
All the pirates would converge on him, and his situation would become even more perilous.
Bang, bang, bang~!
He swung his submachine gun around from his back to the front.
Spraying bullets toward where the rogue had landed.
The rogue, panic-stricken, rolled to dodge the bullets, tearing two scrolls. Earthen walls rose from the ground to shield him, while a green glow enveloped his body, healing his wounds.
Watching as Wu Heng advanced, firing bizarre ammunition,
The rogue grew increasingly frantic and shouted, "How long do you plan to stall? If I die, you're all dead too!"
From the rooftop, where Keramu was entangled with the ranger, the latter also yelled, "Brigao, what the hell are you doing?"
Thud, thud, thud~!
A scorched figure emerged from an alley.
In a high-pitched voice, it said, "I'm here!"
"Stick to the plan. Kill the mage," the ranger shouted.
As he spoke,
The ranger and pugilist simultaneously tore open scrolls.
Vines sprouted from the ground, ensnaring Fracture. Black tendrils emerged from the scrolls, wrapping around Keramu.
Meanwhile, the gnome demolitions expert rushed closer.
He placed a massive coffin adorned with a human face upright and opened its lid. Iron chains snaked out rapidly.
The others quickly dodged, and the chains ensnared the two skeletal minions in an instant.
The chains retracted, dragging the figures into the coffin. With a loud bang, the lid slammed shut.
Seeing this unfold,
The pirates collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
Exchanging glances, they charged toward Wu Heng together.
...
The scene before him made Wu Heng's expression shift drastically.
These pirates had come fully prepared, clearly intending to neutralize his skeletal minions first before killing him.
The silver-armored warrior charged in the lead, the pugilist following closely, the ranger sprinting across the rooftops, and the rogue waiting for an opportunity.
The scorched gnome demolitions expert kept his distance, staying at the rear.
A standard five-person team.
Three melee fighters, one ranged attacker, and a scout providing additional firepower.
A tactical formation devised by the guild, now being used by pirates against him.
Damn it!
Wu Heng's mind raced to devise a counter.
Should he rely on his gear, firearms, or perhaps mimic the demolitions expert and hurl all the grenades from his spatial ring?
Dragging this out would still leave him at a disadvantage.
"There's an alley to the left!" Grenda flew back, speaking quickly.
Wu Heng turned and darted into the side alley.
The five pirates quickly regrouped and chased after him.
Having been delayed for so long, they now saw a chance to turn the tables in their favor with a five-on-one fight.
However, just as they entered the alley,
Clink, clink~!
Several grenades rolled out from within.
"Scatter!" the warrior yelled.
They dispersed instantly, as explosions rang out and smoke filled the alley.
...
"He's here. Stop him!" a villager holding a curved blade shouted.
Two more villagers armed with weapons approached.
Bang, bang, bang~!
Wu Heng raised his gun and fired.
The three would-be blockers fell to the ground instantly.
Activating [Battlefield of the Dead], three skeletons slowly rose.
Wu Heng handed a longsword to one of them, saying, "Grenda, take control of my body and move us back."
"Understood!"
Wu Heng's consciousness detached as Grenda took control, retreating swiftly.
Two skeletons rushed at the pirates in the alley.
The pirates crushed the skeletons on impact.
As the five pirates emerged from the alley, Wu Heng controlled another skeleton to climb onto a nearby rooftop.
Quickly drawing a longsword, he stood poised.
Slash, slash~!
Two silver-white sword flashes streaked through the air.
The ranger on the rooftop and the charging warrior were both struck by the icy blades.
Thud, thud~!
One head rolled off the rooftop, while the other fell to the ground.
The remaining pirates froze, their pupils constricting.
Their horrified gazes locked on the skeleton's longsword.
The Silentblade.
Damn it, so it was the buyer from the auction.
...
Wu Heng's consciousness returned.
Glancing back, he noted that only two of the five pirates had died.
So quick to figure out the weapon's properties?
Immediately realizing it only worked within its range?
"Uncle, that demolitions gnome didn't get caught and is trying to escape," the wraith Xiaoxiao reported.
The gnome wasn't within the weapon's range?
"Where? Show me." Wu Heng avoided the weapon's range, leaping onto a rooftop and drawing his sniper rifle.
Long-range elimination was one of his specialties.
"There!" Xiaoxiao pointed.
In the darkness, a small figure was fleeing in a panic.
Bang~!
A gunshot echoed.
The gnome felt a sharp pain in his back as a force pushed him forward.
Then came the searing agony.
He collapsed, blood seeping from his wounds.
Bang, bang~!
Before he could grab a potion, two more shots rang out.
His body and head exploded, plunging him into darkness.
...
Leaping down from the rooftop, Wu Heng's gaze returned to the alley.
Only the pugilist and rogue remained.
Regret filled their hearts.
They never expected a Deputy Steward from Gold-Silver Island to bring the fight to this level.
Their carefully laid trap had turned the hunter into the hunted.
Three of their five were already dead.
With no will to fight, they glanced nervously at Wu Heng.
The rogue spoke sternly, "Wu Heng, we were wrong. I'm willing to offer ample compensation for my life. We're part of a large pirate group and can pay you generously."
Wu Heng deactivated [Latent Potential], exhaustion washing over him.
Sitting down, he asked, "No cult here?"
The rogue fell silent.
Wu Heng raised his gun, firing twice. Bullets struck the rogue, and
A chilling flash from the Silent Blade severed his head.
Wu Heng turned to the pugilist. "No cult here?"
The pugilist hesitated before answering, "No."
"So you set this trap just to lure me out and kill me?" Wu Heng pressed.
"Yes, it was all orchestrated by the Devil's Hand. I was drawn by the bounty and have no personal grudge against you," the pugilist admitted.
"So even the local guild was complicit, requesting support from Gold-Silver Island?"
"I don't know. That was arranged by the Devil's Hand," the pugilist continued. "I've told you everything I know. Now let me go."
"When did I say I'd let you go?" Wu Heng raised his submachine gun.
Bang, bang, bang~!
Bullets whizzed through the air, and the pugilist's eyes widened.
He dodged swiftly but was unable to escape the icy slash that followed.
The Silent Blade flashed again, and his head fell to the ground.
All five pirates lay dead, their bodies littering the alley.
"Retrieve the blade!"
In the distance, the skeleton returned the sword.
A chilling gleam flashed as the skeleton's own head fell, its body collapsing into a pile of bones.
...
The battle was over.
The alley was a scene of utter devastation.
Wu Heng drained two potions, feeling the fatigue in his body and spirit ease slightly.
"Grenda, check on the team. Xiaoxiao, keep watch over the area," Wu Heng ordered.
"Understood!"
The two wraiths dispersed, one heading back to the previous residence,
While the other ascended, keeping watch over the surroundings.
Wu Heng began dragging the bodies together in front of him.
The fight wasn't over yet. Sheila Grey and the others might still be in danger.
After collecting their spatial rings and the Silent Blade, he cast [Raise Skeleton] repeatedly.
The five corpses slowly rose.
[Skeleton Warrior (Level 16)]
[Skeleton Ranger (Level 15)]
[Skeleton Pugilist (Level 16)]
[Skeleton Rogue (Level 15)]
[Skeleton Alchemist (Level 15)]