Not only was Alatar surprised, but the thing looking at him was even more surprised.
"Did I pull this out?"
The beast stared wide-eyed and hurriedly turned around.
Only then did the three realize that the "wall" Alatar had been leaning against was actually a crouching beast.
"Three big parasites!"
Thud, thud, thud...
The beast fled in panic, making frightened sounds.
Such big worms. If they burrowed back in, they'd probably eat my belly empty!
In front of the city wall, the massive creature ran away in terror. The guards on the wall were quickly attracted by this panicked beast.
"What's it doing?"
"Just a stupid beast going mad. Don't mind it."
Under the soldiers' mocking gazes, the beast's pace gradually slowed. Only when it couldn't run anymore did it finally gather courage to look back.
At the spot where it had been crouching, those three parasites had disappeared.
Were those really parasites?
The beast scratched its big head. The tiny brain inside its massive skull couldn't figure out when those things had appeared.
"Why are you running around?"
The beast's commotion was very loud. Such noise naturally couldn't escape the Uruk squad leader. He came up and questioned the beast.
"There were big parasites over there," the beast answered, not very intelligently.
"Just chop them up!"
The Uruk squad leader looked toward where the beast was pointing.
Nothing there... or was there?
"Lift me up."
"Okay."
The beast grabbed the squad leader and lifted him to its head, raising the leader's field of view with this action.
"I see them. Three people..."
"Wait."
"Blue robes?"
"It's that damned wizard! Chase them. Those aren't parasites at all!"
"What!?"
The beast was both shocked and angry. Without thinking, it threw down the squad leader and pursued with bared claws.
"How dare you pretend to be worms and scare me!"
Thud.
The Uruk squad leader lay on the ground coughing several times.
"Fool!"
But after just one curse, he hurried toward the military formation.
"Found the wizard. Follow me!"
A group of Uruks almost as tall as humans responded and rushed toward the distance.
Some clever orcs, seeing the enemy so far away, immediately activated a catapult and climbed onto it themselves.
"Ahh..."
Moments later, a long scream passed overhead.
Splat.
"What was that?"
Levi turned to look.
But the Blue Wizard seemed already accustomed to it.
"Don't mind it. Keep running."
Thud, thud, thud...
Vibrations came from behind. The Blue Wizard looked back and gripped his wooden staff tightly.
"If it's just one, let me try..."
He stopped, raised his staff high, and chanted mysterious incantations.
Flash.
A white light passed, and the beast was immediately stunned, stopping in place. Alatar quickly drew his longbow from behind and pulled it to full draw quite easily. Swoosh!
An arrow pierced the beast's eye socket.
Roar!
The beast was enraged and thus awakened from the stun. With both hands on the ground, it charged forward with rolling and crawling motions.
At this time, another arrow shot from behind. Though it penetrated the beast's skin without drawing blood, it obviously only barely broke through the outer skin without penetrating even the fat.
But it was enough.
Towering flames ignited as a black figure charged toward the beast, drawing his precious sword.
"Be careful!"
Seeing the beast raise both fists to smash down in panic, the Blue Wizard hurriedly called out a warning. Without hesitation, he raised his staff and began chanting.
But that inscrutable lord charged forward himself.
Brilliant amber runes appeared on his body, enveloping his entire person. The runic ring on his hand flashed like the sun.
The Blue Wizard stopped chanting, his gaze focused.
A ring?
Whether the Blue Wizard helped or not, the beast's strike caused no damage. Under the runic ring's protection, Levi, who took the hit solidly, didn't even step back half a pace.
After this strike, [Armor Break] finished charging. The long sword sliced through skin and fat, directly reaching the flesh inside and even striking bone out of nowhere.
Even with senses as dull as the beast's, it immediately knelt on the ground in pain, its body fat crackling as it burned.
Seven or eight more sword strikes later, it fell silent.
Though using bow and arrow tactics would certainly be simpler and safer, how could that compare to the exhilaration of sword and strength collision?
"The beast is down?"
The Uruk army pursuing behind all paused.
The beast's combat power was well-known.
Back then on Ithilien's battlefield, one beast required at least dozens of well-trained and closely coordinated human Rangers to bring down.
Something was wrong. Nine parts out of ten were wrong.
These three were quite unusual. Probably each one had to be treated as a unit equal to a beast.
They couldn't charge directly.
The Uruk squad leader's brain spun rapidly.
But orcs wouldn't think so much. While he was thinking, a small squad of orc vanguards had already charged up.
Moments later, they flew back like meteors.
"Stop, stop."
The squad leader hurriedly held back the squads coming from behind.
"Wait for the Olog-hai. Let them serve as vanguard while orcs surround from behind. No matter how capable those three are, they can't escape."
Theoretically speaking, if those Olog-hai, harder than iron golems with stronger attack power, really charged up front, the three would indeed face dire straits.
They were one of the few unit types that could fight several iron golems, break through nether alloy armor defense, and still possess some intelligence.
"Olog-hai."
Levi looked at several big fellows in full steel armor gradually approaching and said: "In my view, those guys pose an even higher threat than the larger beasts."
Seeing orc squads already splitting off from the pursuing army to circle around behind, Levi pulled out two ender pearls and handed them to the two beside him.
"Throw these out. They can teleport you to where they land."
"Good!"
Halbarad carefully accepted them.
"By the way, eat this first before throwing."
Levi handed him a golden apple.
"Pearl teleportation causes some damage to people. This golden apple can protect you."
"What about me?"
The Blue Wizard stared straight at that apple and couldn't help asking.
"You'll definitely be fine."
At this time, the Olog-hai drew closer while orcs gradually formed circles, creating an encirclement. The entire scene was a mass of black.
Suddenly three pearls flew over the encirclement, landing on empty ground behind.
Whoosh.
Purple particles floated up from the original spot.
The Uruk squad leader rubbed his eyes and hurried over to check.
"Where are they?"
Plop.
On the empty ground, three figures appeared.
Halbarad's golden shield was mostly depleted. Levi had Feather Falling IV protection plus runic rings. This bit of fall damage wasn't worth mentioning. Theoretically, he'd need to throw dozens of pearls continuously before starting to take damage.
"Ouch, my foot..."
Alatar appeared right after, crying out in pain and staggering several steps.
While the pursuers hadn't reacted, the three immediately began moving upon landing.
"How about giving me one of those apples too?"
This wizard asked while running.
Levi glanced at the health bar above his head.
Not even half a heart missing.
"Do you think golden apples are rice? We'll talk when you really need one."