Chapter 454: Cooperation
Various spells rained down on 'Tolga' like a storm.
Layers upon layers of energy exploded.
Tolga felt as if he had been struck in the chest by a tremendous force, his body involuntarily sent flying.
Yet, the chain connecting them pulled him back, slamming him into the ground.
Spell development must either be practical or powerful.
The barrage of spells continued to bombard him.
Even as a level 17 Boxer, he felt his internal organs shifting, nearly spitting blood.
Damn it, this isn't an illusion.
Illusions can't wield weapons or cast spells.
What the hell is this?
How can there be so many moves!
Thoughts flashed through his mind as he sprang up like a carp, punching toward the descending longsword.
Clang~!
A crisp sound rang out.
Tolga staggered, his fingers numb.
He retreated two steps, widening the distance.
What kind of strength is this?
Is he even a mage?
Wu Heng charged forward again, his skin turning red, veins bulging on his neck.
He activated [Latent Potential], enhancing all his attributes.
Simultaneously, he cast [Mirror Image], creating five illusionary clones that attacked alongside him.
Tolga flung out a hand, scattering a handful of iron sand.
The illusions shattered, leaving only Wu Heng with the sword.
Just as he prepared to strike…
Wu Heng gestured toward 'Tolga.'
Tolga's belongings shifted instantly: his belt unbuckled, pants dropped to his ankles, shoelaces knotted, and his sailor hat slid down, covering his eyes.
Tolga's attempted counterattack faltered, nearly causing him to fall.
The divination Wu Heng followed up, thrusting the sword at Tolga's forehead.
Prolonged sword training focused on precise and swift thrusts.
Blinded, Tolga instinctively raised a hand to block, his tiger claws deflecting the sword.
The force disrupted his energy.
His pants, shoelaces, and hat all tore apart instantly.
Tolga's face twisted with rage as he charged forward.
The evocation Wu Heng cast [Lightning Beam], and the conjuration Wu Heng cast [Acid Splash].
Both struck his chest.
He was sent flying like a broken kite, coughing up blood.
The necromancer and diviner shifted positions rapidly, their submachine guns firing continuously.
Bullets rained down on the fallen enemy.
Another shockwave erupted.
Bullets veered off course as Tolga pushed off the ground, creating a forceful tremor.
Dust billowed, obscuring vision.
"Identify the chain position," the diviner Wu Heng shouted.
The dust wasn't as dense as fog, barely obstructing sight.
The chain's tension and distance gave away Tolga's location.
Magic and bullets continued to barrage him.
Tolga's expression darkened. The costly [Duel Chain] had become his liability.
As the dust settled, the defensive Wu Heng grabbed an iron sword and joined the fray.
Wu Heng's intermediate swordsmanship combined with his strong attributes rivaled melee combatants.
But in technique, the gap remained.
Despite their numerical advantage, injuries were exchanged for injuries.
"Uncle, you're cracking again," Xiaoxiao and Glenda flew over from a distance.
Ghosts and necromancers shared a certain connection.
Upon Wu Heng's teleportation, the two ghosts instinctively followed.
The necromancer Wu Heng asked, "How's the guild?"
Glenda replied, "After you disappeared, there was some chaos. But your little fox and the elven assistant organized the defense. It seemed fine when we left."
"Good," Wu Heng nodded.
"Uncle, when we came, there were a lot of pirates with crossbows charging over," Xiaoxiao added, her vision keen on spotting life energy amidst foliage.
Pirates with crossbows?
It seemed they had more reinforcements.
Overhearing voices from midair…
Tolga, locked in combat, was puzzled before realizing it was the necromancer's ghosts.
Continuing the fight, he taunted, "Deputy Steward, what's the point of stalling me? Once reinforcements arrive, even if you had six or eighteen clones, you'd all die here."
No one paid him any attention.
Attacks continued.
"How many? What levels?"
"Many, most above level 10," Xiaoxiao reported.
Glenda added, "About 50 or so."
The diviner Wu Heng pulled a longsword from his spatial ring and tossed it to Glenda. "Hold them off. Xiaoxiao, keep scouting and warn us of any danger."
The two ghosts nodded and quickly flew off.
...…
Island Lord's Manor.
Sword light flashed, cleaving through several high-level professionals blocking the way. Their bodies split in two and collapsed.
Imiro held his sword with one hand, his spotless form advancing over corpses.
He had used several scouting scrolls…
Yet, he still couldn't find his target.
He expected them to hide but didn't anticipate such effective concealment.
Tap, tap, tap~!
Footsteps echoed as a leather-armored woman strolled out ahead.
She leaned against the doorway, scrutinizing him.
"Imiro, what are you looking for?"
Imiro's expression remained unchanged, his eyes narrowing. "Viola, I spared you once, yet here you are meddling in pirate affairs again."
Viola, Protector of the Divine Punishment Sect.
Last time, she distracted Imiro, allowing the Devil's Hand to ambush Wu Heng and Sheila Grey.
Imiro discovered this upon returning and intended to settle the score.
By then, Viola had already left the island. Yet here she was again.
"Oh, don't say that. Pirate business has nothing to do with me," Viola emphasized.
"Leave," Imiro coldly commanded.
"Why so rude?" Viola teased.
Imiro's eyes grew cold. Sword in hand, he stepped forward, unleashing sharp sword energy.
Like a full moon reflecting on the world.
Viola's expression grew serious. Her figure flickered as the wall and building behind her exploded into debris.
Shards scattered everywhere.
Viola took a deep breath, exhaling a cloud of mist that obscured her form.
"Don't be angry, Imiro. I'm not against you. I'm grateful you spared me last time. But I have orders to assist those guys. Let's not make it hard for each other. I'll leave by nightfall," her voice echoed from the mist.
Swoosh!
Another sword energy strike parted the mist like tofu.
"The Divine Punishment Sect is involved too?"
"Oh my, I didn't say that. You guessed it," Viola exclaimed.
Imiro found her antics maddening. "Who else is involved?"
"How would I know?"
Imiro said no more. He dashed into the mist.
Moving swiftly within the fog…
Sword energy radiated outward, filling the area.
Blood spattered.
Whoosh~!
A figure flew out of the building, landing heavily on the ground.
Viola clutched her chest, a long gash tearing through her armor and body.
"Why hit a woman? You're so mean. I told you I'm only stalling you."
She threw black, deathly energy-coated nails at him.
Then conjured hounds, lions, and crocodiles from mist, charging forward.
Clang, clang, clang~!
Imiro's sword deflected them, dispersing the mist creatures with a single swing.
He pointed his golden sword at the ground.
"Viola, you should consider running now."
...…
Outside the city, in the wasteland.
Sh-sh-sh~!
Grass and trees shook violently as figures rushed out from the dense forest.
Their clothing varied, with some wearing helmets or sailor hats.
They focused on the distant battlefield, where magic boomed and explosions roared, frowning slightly.
"That Deputy Steward turns out to be sextuplets."
"They not only look alike but are dressed identically."
"If their attack styles weren't different, one might mistake them for a single person."
"Prepare the ballistae. Be careful not to hit Captain 'Tolga.'"
"Stay here and set up the ballistae. Don't get caught in the magic blasts."
The pirates conferred among themselves, readying magical bolts, pulling strings, and nocking arrows.
With so many ballistae…
They could turn the opposing combatants into sieves.
The group busied themselves.
Suddenly, someone at the front looked up at the sky.
A floating longsword quickly approached as if carried by an invisible hand.
"What's that?"
"How is a sword flying over here?"
"Shoot a couple of arrows at it and see."
Whoosh whoosh~!
Several bolts shot into the air.
They passed through thin air, leaving no trace.
The pirates were puzzled.
The longsword floated into the midst of the pirates. The scabbard fell, revealing a gleaming blade.
"A magical artifact?"
One pirate leapt up to grab the hilt.
Swish~!
A cold gleam flashed.
The pirate's head fell, blood gushing from his neck like a waterfall.
The scene left all the pirates wide-eyed.
"It's an ambush! Scatter! It's a trap!" someone shouted.
The pirates scattered in chaos.
Swish swish swish~!
Sword flashes flickered continuously, heads rolling to the ground.
"Wait, it's an evil sword. Don't move."
By the time they realized the floating sword was cursed, only a dozen pirates remained, frozen in place, sweat pouring from their foreheads.
Silent Evil Sword.
It was over. None of them could move now.
...…
On the main battlefield.
Tolga, drenched in 'Acid Splash,' clutched his face, howling in agony as he stumbled backward.
While the damage wasn't immense…
The acid's corrosion on flesh caused greater suffering than the damage itself.
Combined with the effects of 'Sickening Ray' and 'Enfeebling Ray,' the pain was unbearable.
The "Animated Objects" spell activated again, lifting his briefs, tightening his collar.
Two sword-wielding Wu Hengs charged once more.
Blinded, Tolga grabbed instinctively, clutching a sword in each hand. His fingers clamped tightly, unable to release them.
Another spell drenched him, the pungent smell of grease filling his nose.
A foreboding sensation rose within Tolga. He roared, "Damn you, how dare you!"
Whoosh~!
A fiery projectile streaked through the air, landing on his chest.
Boom~!
Tolga was blown backward instantly.
Flames erupted in midair.
Tolga, engulfed in fire, screamed as he ran in all directions.
The six Wu Hengs maintained their distance, silently watching him burn.
A level 17 professional, screaming so pitifully in death and pain.
Gradually…
The burning figure lost strength, collapsing to his knees and then falling prone.
His wails ceased as he lay still.
Bang bang bang~!
The group approached, riddling the body with bullets until it resembled a sieve.
Only when they saw the experience notification did they cease fire.
They pulled out fire extinguishers, putting out the flames on the corpse.
As the smoke cleared, a charred body lay before them.
...…
Finally dead.
The six Wu Hengs collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
Unlike the previous battle against the level 17 Keramu…
That time, they had set up an ambush, luring their prey into a trap. Back then, they were hunters, and Keramu was the prey.
Even though Keramu escaped and was killed by Imiro, Wu Heng had controlled the battle.
This time, the roles were reversed.
Their opponent had prepared meticulously, bringing them to this location.
If not for their newly acquired first-class merit reward, defeating him would have come at a much greater cost.
This 'Tolga' was indeed formidable.
If the strongest pirate was tasked with stalling Imiro, then targeting Wu Heng made Tolga the second strongest.
The [Duel Chain] fell off. Wu Heng picked it up and stowed it away.
He scanned the area, confirming with Xiaoxiao that there were no other threats nearby.
Deactivating the magical robe, the six doppelgangers flickered, merging back into one.
The sudden pain of dizziness, piercing sensations, and fragmented consciousness struck Wu Heng's mind.
He held his head, resting for a long while before recovering slightly.
Rising to his feet, Wu Heng glanced at Tolga's corpse, removing the charred spatial ring. He cast [Raise Skeleton] on the body.
The charred flesh peeled away, revealing a white skeleton.
[Skeleton Boxer (Level 17)]
"From now on, you'll still be called 'Tolga.' Follow me."
Wu Heng commanded, and the skeletal servant followed behind him.
Taking a few steps forward, Wu Heng observed the pirates restrained by Glenda.
The recent battle had terrified them, sweat dripping from their foreheads as they maintained their stiff postures.
"Deputy Steward, we surrender."
"Yes, take us back to the guild. We'll help you catch pirates."
"I can be your informant."
"Please, spare us!"
The pirates pleaded loudly.
Even with the battle unresolved, maintaining their positions was exhausting.
They only hoped to be spared.
Wu Heng remained silent, pulling out a rifle and shooting several of them.
As bullets struck, the remaining pirates attempted to flee, only to be cut down by the evil sword's blade.
Heads rolled.
Once all were dead, Glenda sheathed the sword.
A sword slash cut through the space she occupied without causing harm.
The sword's attacks were ineffective against ghosts.
Wu Heng stored the evil sword, casting [Battlefield of the Dead] over the corpses.
Skeletons rose.
Wu Heng armed them with rifles and submachine guns, collecting the ballistae bolts.
He then pulled out a wireless earpiece, attempting to contact his allies. "Andviel, how's it going on your end?"
A delighted voice quickly responded, "Master, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. What about the guild?"
"There are too many pirates. Our people keep dying. We're trapped in the training room," Andviel explained quickly.
Wu Heng shared a soul connection with his allies.
If they died, skeletons would collapse, and bonded servants would suffer severe soul damage, leaving them catatonic at best.
Hearing Wu Heng's voice reassured Andviel of their survival.
It was, after all, good news.
Wu Heng continued, "Hold on. I'll be there soon. Tell everyone to stay strong."
"Understood," Andviel replied resolutely.
...…
Ending the call, Wu Heng sprinted toward the city.
He passed through the expansion area, deserted streets lined with half-finished buildings.
Using Xiaoxiao's airborne view, he assessed the path.
On the road to the guild, he passed his residence.
Through spirit sight, he noticed his residence was teeming with red glows.
That many people?
How could it be?
Wu Heng had fortified his home with four armored vehicles, machine guns, and over ten firearms.
Five level 15 skeletons and twenty level 10 skeletons defended it.
Even the pirate main force would struggle to breach it.
Approaching swiftly with his skeletons, he saw multiple layers of guards, likely belonging to various merchant groups.
"Who goes there?" someone shouted.
"I'm Deputy Steward Wu Heng. Who's in charge here?"
Upon hearing Wu Heng and seeing his appearance along with the numerous skeletons behind him,
the guards immediately straightened up and showed respect.
"Deputy Steward, the president and the managers are inside."
This person led Wu Heng directly into his building.
Upon seeing Wu Heng enter,
Minnie leapt forward, exclaiming, "Master."
Shanaila also wanted to rush forward but cautiously glanced at the other merchant representatives present and refrained.
Instead, she calmly asked, "How are things outside?"
"Outside, pirates are attacking the Guild and have occupied the port. Is everyone here uninjured?"
"We're safe. The first wave of pirates was killed by your skeletons, and no one else has come since," Shanaila said, then introduced the nearby people. "These are the residents from the surrounding area, representatives of various merchant guilds. We've gathered our forces here for defense."
Wu Heng nodded. Shanaila indeed had excellent organizational skills.
Gathering so many people had created a formidable defensive force.
"How many people do you have here?"
"About 500 or so?"
Wu Heng thought for a moment and said, "I need your people to take back the port. Can you do it?"
Hearing this, the other merchant representatives began to panic.
Shanaila glanced at them and said, "If your skeletons and equipment join us, we are willing to follow your plan. After all, if we don't reclaim the port, staying here will only lead to our eventual deaths."
Her final words were directed at the others.
Reclaiming the port would allow them to leave safely, which was far better than remaining.
The merchant representatives discussed briefly among themselves and nodded in agreement.
Wu Heng handed wireless earpieces to Minnie and Shanaila, saying, "Use these to stay in contact. Deputy Steward Sheila Grey has already gone ahead. Don't harm our own people, and take care of Milisen."
"Understood," the two women nodded.
"I'm heading to support the Guild. You should move out soon."
Everyone nodded.
Shanaila began mobilizing people.
Wu Heng, meanwhile, continued toward the Guild with his skeletons.
...…
Inside the Guild.
The members of the Guild were trapped in the training room.
Women sobbed softly, while the guards and squad members were all injured.
If not for 'Keramu' and 'Skull-Crusher,' the two skeleton attendants, these people would have been slaughtered long ago.
"The Guild's trash. Do you really think we're afraid of you?"
"A bunch of garbage."
"Come out and face us already."
"Those women, we won't kill you. Just come out!"
"Stop wasting time. Kill the men and have some fun with those women!"
"Yeah, kill them all!"
The pirates roared again.
Raising their weapons, they charged forward.
Bang~!
Suddenly, a dull thud echoed.
The door was kicked open.