The Blue Ape's blood splashed all over Gaston, which made his grim smirk all the more terrifying for the Ape.
As the axe blade struck it's chest, the sound of multiple bones breaking all at once echoed like music to Gaston's ears.
"Gurgle... human!"
Blood filled the Blue Ape's mouth as it tried to communicate something, which caught Gaston off guard.
'Cultivators can use the the magic technique to transmit their thoughts across species as well?!'
Both past and present Gaston were shocked by this revelation.
He had noticed it's abnormal intelligence when it tried to play him for a fool earlier, but communication was completely different!
The ability to communicate across species meant that this was a fellow member of some civilization, not some wild animal!
This also however, meant that they were in real trouble right now.
Using both hands to apply pressure on the halberd, Gaston spoke to it and gave the Blue Ape Leader a chance to say what it wanted to say.
"That's right, human."
Meanwhile, while this was going on, not too far away in the distance the three Innate Realm Blue Ape's were shocked by the situation.
Their leader had been ambushed, subdued in just a single move!
Then, watching the human stir the halberd in their leader's chest, making their leader wince in agony, the three Blue Ape's grew furious!
Taking the human's actions as a mockery of them, they burst out in full sprints, coming to the aid of their leader.
Unbeknownst to them however, provoking such a reaction in them was part of why he did that to the Blue Ape Leader.
As far as Gaston was concerned, he didn't have that much interest in talking to the Blue Ape Leader.
If he had his way, he would have finished off this Blue Ape Leader immediately and then chased down the other three like dogs.
Unfortunately for him, his brain told him that there was more to extract out of the situation.
This Blue Ape Leader that lay beneath him, pinned to the ground by his halberd, had valuable information that he needed to obtain.
Valuable information such as the location of other humans, given that he seemed familiar enough with them for him to instantly recognize Gaston as one.
Traps, terrain, the forces in this forest, the list went on and on.
There was too much information that Gaston needed to extract from this Blue Ape to justify simply doing what he felt like doing.
"Wait for them to get close, and then let Nicolaus throw one of his javelins to eliminate one of the Blue Apes as a start to your ambush.
"Make sure you end it quickly, there are probably going to be enemy reinforcements coming soon, and I don't plan on being here when they arrive."
Using his magic technique to transmit his thoughts to his men once again, Gaston completely ignored the three Blue Ape's closing in on him.
Instead, he focused his efforts on extracting the information he wanted out of this creature that he had pinned beneath him.
...
Unfortunately for Gaston, the memory ended there.
Before he could even process the information however, he blinked his eyes and he was somewhere else.
This time, it could be said, that it was even familiar scenery.
"The great General von Rainerhorn, using torture techniques that would make even the Secret Guards of the Emperor blush, to extract information from an Ape! Hahaha!"
Sitting around a bonfire, not too different from the one he had created in reality, aside from the size of course, were the group of five men, laughing and joking around.
Ruben Hersch, having just recalled the scene that he would probably never forget in his life, was laughing his heart out.
Glancing at Ruben's joyful look, Gaston felt put off.
Gaston thought of the man as an assassin that was using such a joyful persona as cover for himself, so quipped back.
"Do you find that funny Ruben? I seem to distinctly remember someone's lack of experience in using a shield almost led to them being killed.
"I also remember, that it was a thrown halberd that pierced the chest of the Blue Ape that was about to take your life."
Ruben, who had only been joking with Gaston, had his smile freeze on his face at his words.
The atmosphere was about to become glum, but before that could happen, Siegbert, the vicious psychopath of all people, stood up to offer a timely remark.
"Hah! Gaston, even I have to admit, your torture methods were quite impressive back there."
"Thank you Siegbert, it's nice to have your work be appreciated, especially when it comes from an expert in the matter such as yourself."
Gaston, not wanting to let his personal dislike for Ruben ruin the atmosphere for everyone, replied in kind in the face of Siegbert's teasing remark.
"No, no, I haven't had the pleasure to work with non-human subjects, I can't claim that title.
"Speaking of which, was the great General von Rainerhorn torturing animals when he was away from the battlefield, or was that a hobby you picked up later on in your life?"
The light atmosphere had returned, as the others relaxed and started laughing along again.
Gaston let out a brief chuckle at the remark as well.
"No Siegbert, as a Duke, i didn't have as much free time as you did. That was my first experience with something non-human.
"I wonder though, would you count as being the second non-human I've ever tortured?"
Siegbert raised his hands in mock surrender, as the rest of the table laughed along and continued cracking jokes.
After some time had passed and the time was right, Gaston brought the conversation back on track.
"Alright, we should talk about what we've learned from the Blue Ape Leader."
The moment Gaston brought up serious business, everyone put away their easy-going expressions and focused.
"According to what we've learned, that was far from the last of the Blue Apes.
"In fact, they've probably sent out searching parties to find their missing members as we speak.
"Thanks to our recently deceased friend, we found out about this and promptly removed any traces that could link the battlefield back to humans, so we've bought ourselves some time at the very least."