GDK 403 – Gargoyle Swarm
At the same time when the Rebirth Pill helped Trunks reach the level of great swordmaster, it also helped him reform his body, causing his meridians to be more durable than a normal person’s. It was precisely because of this that Han Shuo was able to use the demonic yuan energy to help him recover after they returned to the Soul Destroyer mercenary band’s base.
As expected, when Han Shuo brought the severely injured Trunks back to the Soul Destroyer mercenary band’s base, the mercenaries had the urge to almost immediately fight to the death against the three powers when they understood the situation. Some mercenaries even charged out in their fury and were only hauled back by Gilbert under Han Shuo’s instructions.
Gilbert clearly had some standing within the Soul Destroyer mercenary band. Although the mercenaries were unwilling when they were unyieldingly hauled back by Gilbert, they still yielded to Gilbert’s might.
This is to be expected. A mercenary band is also a place where the strong are worshipped. The person with the harder fist would have more persuasiveness. Within the Soul Destroyer mercenary band, even the strength of Trunks was below dark dragon Gilbert. As Gilbert has been in the Soul Destroyer mercenary band for so long, the other mercenaries have long since understood his fearfulness and difficulty to work with. At times, there was no difference between his orders and Trunks’.
While Gilbert was suppressing the impulsive mercenaries, Han Shuo immediately headed toward the inner dwelling without hesitation. He instructed Gilbert without lifting his head, “Use cruel methods to torture those people for me. However, do keep them alive. When Trunks recovers, Trunks will end them himself.”
After speaking, Han Shuo already brought Trunks to the interior of the dwelling, leaving behind Asa and the rest whose legs have been pierced like skewers by the bone spears.
As Grant and the rest looked at Asa and the rest who had their tendons cut, their bones broken from head to toe, they still felt unresolved hatred in their hearts. Once Han Shuo left, they followed Gilbert to each choose a victim, bringing them to the dark and damp prison area. There was an entire set of torture tools there!
Bringing Trunks into a bright stone room, Han Shuo sat cross-legged behind Trunks. His palms were placed on Trunks’ back, slowly sending strands of demonic yuan energy into Trunks’ body, gradually mending Trunks’ damaged body.
The reason why demonic yuan energy was more mystical than fighting aura was that apart from possessing enormous killing power, it could also possess more wonderful uses through practiced manipulation. Aiding the injured in recovering was one of these uses of demonic yuan energy.
Trunks’ current situation was that the tendons on his limbs were all snapped. However, Trunks’ fighting aura still existed and once Trunks’ tendons healed, it wouldn’t affect his strength. To a swordsman, tendons snapping signified that a person had become a cripple. Even stronger swordsmen would not be of any threat, hence Asa and the rest didn’t do more than was required.
Regardless of priests or alchemists in the Profound Continent, their attainments in the treatment of the body and meridians would still be beneath Han Shuo. Hence, Han Shuo had a solution to an unsolvable problem to most people. Trunks’ body which had been reformed by the Rebirth pill was easily cleansed of disorder by the circulation of Han Shuo’s demonic yuan energy.
As it treated the injuries, the demonic yuan energy became like gentle flowing water, wrapping around all the broken meridians. Han Shuo’s consciousness pried into Trunks’ body, slowly reattaching the broken meridians and then activated the surplus energy from the Rebirth pill to gather around the broken meridians.
Trunks’ body was much stronger than an ordinary person’s, but it was still far from Han Shuo’s. Hence, when Han Shuo treated Trunks’ injuries, he didn’t use up much demonic yuan energy. He only needed to get familiar with the precision of meridians and to proficiently set things right.
As time passed silently, Han Shuo who was seated behind Trunks didn’t need to focus that attentively as Trunks’ condition became better. The meridians only needed to be slowly nourished by Han Shuo’s demonic yuan energy. Hence, Han Shuo was able to divert his demonic yuan energy to other matters.
The disappearance of Trunks and the experts of the three powers from the cave in the mountain was discovered by the next wave of people. The three powers were all flustered, not knowing what had happened. Laureton, Florida and Adam Menlo had once again got together anxiously to investigate deeper.
However, no matter how they guessed, they couldn’t figure out how the extremely hidden cave was exposed. In the end, the three powers inevitably believed after deliberating that there was a spy within their men, inwardly thinking who among their men could be the culprit.
Without a doubt, the three experts understood that Trunks was rescued and it should be related to the Soul Destroyer mercenary band. The three powers who originally hesitated in taking action due to self-interest and all kinds of scruples now knew that there was no turning back. Laureton and the two others were experienced people, deciding together to immediately attack the Soul Destroyer mercenary band.
As matters stand, wanting to destroy the Soul Destroyer mercenary band while not incurring any losses by capturing Trunks clearly wouldn’t work. Although the three powers who have fought which each other for so long knew that this time around they would again incur more losses, they couldn’t care too much about it anymore.
At their orders, the Cairo mercenary band, Rainbow Sickle mercenary band, House of Menlo and another five or six smaller mercenary bands driven by profits rapidly gathered more than six thousand people who brazenly departed for the Soul Destroyer mercenary band.
They had no choice but to stop when they reached the location of the Soul Destroyer mercenary band. The various leaders gathered together and started to discuss how to attack the Soul Destroyer mercenary band.
The terrain of the Soul Destroyer mercenary band was extremely special. It was on a protruding wall under a precipice, like a piece of rock hanging halfway up the mountain. This location was just a sheet of whiteness when seen from below, totally concealed by fog. There was only one route that led from the precipice above.
However, if one tries to enter from above, people from the Soul Destroyer mercenary band would naturally discover it. Hence, attacking from above was an incredibly painful affair. It was certain that the losses of the few powers would far exceed their expectations.
As the proverb goes, it was easier to ascend a mountain then descend from it. This saying similarly applied to battling on such a terrain. Sieging a location was always extremely difficult. That was because the process of climbing up the city walls was truly too painful.
However, while climbing up a city’s walls, although it was extremely disadvantageous when facing the attacks from above, it was still possible to raise your head and clearly face the sky and use your weapon to block incoming attacks. However, in this location, when descending from the precipice, it would be tough to deal with attacks from below and might even be impossible to see the situation underneath.
Firstly it was because of the fog, secondly, they had to be more cautious while descending as a slip would cause them to fall to their deaths. For Trunks to find such a place to be the Soul Destroyer mercenary band’s base, it was an extremely wise decision. This location was hard to attack and if anyone tried to enter, they had to pay an unimaginable price.
Right at this moment, although Laureton and the rest had captured Trunks alive, they didn’t dare to rashly attack the Soul Destroyer mercenary band. However, after Trunks had been rescued, they had no other choice but to face this special terrain. Even the method of entering had caused them to debate for a long time.
The three of them were all the astute type and understood that the one who descended first would definitely suffer the most losses.They naturally didn’t want to be the first to descend. However, the others also weren’t fools. None of the powers were willing to lead such a suicidal attack. Hence when they really had to attack, the delegation suddenly halted.
As they discussed, none of them were willing to let their subordinates be the first to descend. When he recalled that the Soul Destroyer mercenary band were not in the least inferior to them and that this was an easily guarded terrain, Laureton had a headache, not knowing what to do.
“How about we would just keep watch over this precipice. They can’t always stay within their base. Otherwise, food and water would definitely become a problem. Once they emerge from their base, we can easily kill them with our strength. We would face cruel attacks if we descend. However, it would similarly be difficult for them to ascend. We can hound them to death by blocking up this position.” Florida had a darkened expression as he proposed this malicious plan.
Everyone knew that this plan was useful. However, this would cause the battle to become a long war of attrition. No one could guess how much provision the Soul Destroyer mercenary band had and if they truly wasted their time here, they were unsure if there would be problems at their own bases.
“All of you also know that that fellow Gilbert is a dark dragon. Furthermore, the Soul
Destroyer mercenary band also has many mages that can use floating magic. If they depart and use spatial rings to transport provisions, there’s no knowing how much time we would waste. I don’t think this plan would work.” Adam Menlo thought for a while, before suddenly voicing his opposition.
“In that case, what do you think we should do?” When Florida saw that his idea was overruled, his expression became more unsightly as he asked Adam Menlo.
Staying silent for a while, Adam Menlo seemed to be making up his mind. He raised his head to look at Laureton and Florida, saying, “Our House still has a batch of tamed flying creatures. Adding them to the current flying creatures present, they are able to carry three hundred people at one time. If these three hundred men are the experts from our three powers, if they utilize large-scale killing spells when they reach, they should definitely be able to hold for a short while. After that, the flying creatures will repeatedly shuttle our men down. In this way, I feel that we wouldn’t need to undergo the process of slowly descending.”
Hearing his words, everyone was overjoyed. Florida was equally excited as he smiled and said, “Old thing, you obviously have such a good method, why didn’t you mention it earlier?”
Adam Menlo’s expression darkened as his eyes twitched, thinking inwardly. Those are what is guarding my base and I originally intended to use them to deal with you all in the end. If not for us really no having other means, why would I bring them out? Of course, Adam Menlo naturally didn’t say these words aloud, only appearing calm and silent.
“Hey, with this method, every issue can be solved. If we are able to annihilate the Soul Destroyer mercenary band, the contribution of your House of Menlo is the biggest. Come, come, let us carefully discuss how many experts each power would send.” Laureton laughed refreshingly as he shouted at the leaders of the various powers.
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After a whole day and night, Han Shuo who had brought Trunks into the interior of the mountain finally exited the cave. Gilbert, Grant and the rest quickly hurried over when they heard the news. Once Gilbert saw Han Shuo, he hurriedly inquired, “Master, how is Trunks?”
“Don’t worry, after resting for a month, Trunks would be able to be as before!” Han Shuo consoled Gilbert. His expression darkened soon after as he said, “The three powers and other small mercenary bands are already in the vicinity and a currently discussing how to attack us. They have six thousand people, we must deal with them cautiously.”
“We have a thousand and seven hundred people here. Rely on the terrain advantage, they can forget about easily attacking us. Hmph, Leader had been tormented by them till such a state. We must make them pay the price. Whoever dares to descend will die by our hands.” Grant and Trunks were friends for many years and had even worked together in the Rainbow Sickle mercenary band. He was unable to restrain his anger and shouted loudly.
Han Shuo could totally understand Grant’s anger. However, he still shared what he heard, “The House of Menlo is dispatching their secret flying creatures. These creatures can carry three hundred men down each time. If there are tens of mages within this three hundred, large-scale killing spells would cause an enormous obstruction to us.
During that time, these flying creatures can bring another three hundred people down. At that time, the advantages of this location would no longer exist. Hence, we absolutely cannot lower our guard and must have the proper preparation. Otherwise, we would definitely lose this battle.”
Hearing what Han Shuo said, Grant was shocked and suddenly calmed down. He knew that if it was truly as Han Shuo described, the one thousand and seven hundred people in the Soul Destroyer mercenary band simply had no way of resisting the attack of six thousand people.
“What should we do then?” Grant somewhat anxiously inquired.
“Master, Lania and I will transform into our true forms and exterminate them from the sky.” dark dragon Gilbert shouted viciously, prepared for a massacre.
“If it was only three hundred ordinary swordsmen, Lania and yourself transforming into your true forms would be enough. However, there are many mages within these three hundred experts. The two of you definitely wouldn’t be able to resist the attacks of so many experts. Furthermore, their goal is only to descend here. How many people can you and Lania prevent from coming down? Although this is an idea, it doesn’t cover all grounds!” Han Shuo looked at the eager dark dragon Gilbert, calming stating the facts.
“What should we do then?” This time it was the hydra Lania who asked, the coquettish Lania and the wanton Gilbert were truly a match made in heaven. When the two lascivious races bonded, their turbulent feelings caused even Han Shuo to be stupefied.
“Yea. Master, what do you think we should do?” Gilbert had a puzzled expression as he bitterly asked Han Shuo.
“We’ll follow your suggestion, with Lania and yourself intercepting them in the air. In addition, I will summon many gargoyles to help you. When they are about to land, the archers below will fire constantly. As long as the first wave of the strongest experts is killed, it would be hard for them to win this battle.” Han Shuo sneered as he replied Gilbert.