Chapter 141: Bloodhand Kahn: Kill One of Me!
Matthew heard their murmurs and thought they were getting ahead of themselves—the battle wasn't over yet!
Though he was "complaining" inwardly, Matthew couldn't help but smile as he raised his staff high, under everyone's excited gazes.
The long-missed "Fireball" shot out, whistling through the air, exploding with a boom among the monsters.
The arcane bombardment descended!
Boom!
One fireball after another was released, familiar to the soldiers and adventurers.
They unleashed terrifying destructive power, tearing apart the packed monsters and experiment subjects.
In just a few dozen breaths, over twenty fireballs exploded, killing or severely injuring hundreds of monsters.
The pressure on the defense immediately lessened.
What excited Adam Smith even more was...
Dozens of mutated clay golems emerged from the tents, stomping with heavy steps.
These clay golems were larger, clad in metal armor, their defenses even more formidable.
"Where did they come from?"
A flash of the teleportation formation crossed Adam Smith's mind, and hearing the excited discussions among the soldiers and adventurers, he immediately realized.
"Whatever method the Arcanist used, I should keep it a secret and not pry..."
Even though the battle wasn't over yet, Adam Smith had already made up his mind.
From now on, he would focus on learning and training—if he couldn't gain great combat power, at least he wouldn't remain a weak link for others to exploit.
While Adam Smith was thinking, the mutated clay golems, stomping with heavy steps, smashed into the walls.
The experiment subjects that had just climbed up slashed at their chests with claws, only to create a few sparks on the thick metal armor.
Bam!
The spiked iron fists crushed bones and sinews of the experiment subjects.
Some that were hit directly in the head collapsed instantly, their twisted bodies going limp.
The remaining experiment subjects scrambled to climb but were thrown back down after colliding with the mutated clay golems.
As soon as the mutated clay golems appeared, they used their overwhelming strength and size, swinging heavy fists to suppress the experiment subjects' assault.
The heavily burdened heavy-armored soldiers finally retreated.
They watched the enormous forms of nearly fifty mutated clay golems, a touch of complexity in their eyes.
If their territory possessed such powerful war machines, what need was there for them?
Matthew didn't care about their thoughts; even if he knew, he couldn't be bothered to explain—there were other plans for these tools.
Seeing that the lines were temporarily stabilized, he discreetly observed a few "spies" among the adventurers, finding that they were also fighting hard.
It was clear that the terrifying methods and cruel actions of the enemy, led by Bloodhand Kahn, had even unsettled these planted "spies."
Who wouldn't fear allies suddenly going mad?
Of course, there was also a small possibility that these "spies" were still putting on a show...
Matthew didn't care what these adventurers were thinking. As long as the battle remained stable, he had no intention of acting against them.
Keeping them around might prove useful later!
As the mutated clay golems blocked the breach and firmly guarded the walls, the defensive formation was reestablished.
The soldiers and adventurers returned to their positions, unleashing their full combat capabilities.
The once tedious and numbing battle now seemed a blessing after the life-and-death ordeal.
However, many were still anxious about Bloodhand Kahn, who was still rampaging in the camp.
But now, Bloodhand Kahn no longer had the violent and terrifying ferocity he did at the beginning.
With Matthew's continuous "Enfeeblement," "Slow," and "Grease" spells, he hadn't even touched Yaya.
His left arm was completely severed, three of his six legs were crippled, and his body was covered in gushing wounds.
Even his once-powerful roars were now weak and filled with fatigue.
"Roar…!"
Bloodhand Kahn let out a final, feeble roar as Yaya severed yet another leg, his entire body collapsing, unable to rise again.
Seeing that Bloodhand Kahn had lost the ability to fight, his twisted, grotesque form slowly dissolved under Matthew's gaze.
The eerie transformation made Matthew's pupils contract slightly as he instinctively checked for a detailed explanation.
"Bloodline disintegration in progress..."
"Maximum life points reduced..."
"Strength weakening..."
"This creature is nearing death..."
The information made Matthew pause in silence before he chuckled, raising his staff and launching a "Melf's Acid Arrow," piercing Bloodhand Kahn's head.
No need to let him die on his own!
The information, data, and experience points—I'm taking them all!
"Ding! You have killed Bloodhand Kahn and gained 5,000 experience points (51,000), and 3 skill points (16)."
"Ding! You have changed the fate of 2,500 people and earned 3,300 Fate Coins (6,000)!"
"Ding! Your Fate attribute has permanently increased by 1!"
The unexpected "Fate" rewards confirmed to Matthew that the dead monster was indeed Bloodhand Kahn.
Feeling an odd sense of melancholy, he reflected on how someone who could have grown to a high-level legendary or demigod level had died in the swamp's mud.
Fate truly plays with people.
His eyes focused, and as he watched Bloodhand Kahn's body dissolve into a pool of blood, Matthew's resolve grew stronger:
"No matter what the future holds, I will hold my fate in my own hands!"
Matthew didn't know why Bloodhand Kahn had turned into such a monstrous form, but it wasn't hard to guess that it was the handiwork of the Pfizer Guild.
"Judging by this, if their attempt has failed this time, next time they will undoubtedly strike with full force."
"Or perhaps, their true goal has already been achieved..."
Matthew had initially thought of making the situation here public but quickly reconsidered.
If the events here were revealed, it might only attract more unwanted attention toward him!
After all, an Arcanist capable of casting dozens of fireballs would inevitably draw much interest.
What Matthew didn't realize was...
His low-key development plan happened to align perfectly with someone else's decision.
...
Bloodmoon City, outside the Redwood Manor.
The territory of the Bacon family.
The ground was littered with corpses, the stench of blood thick in the air.
Lark watched as his troops broke through the castle's final defenses, storming inside for a massacre, a cold smile creeping across his lips:
"Collaborating with you useless fools has been such a waste of time."
"But thanks to your stupidity, I didn't have to pay too high a price to solve this problem..."
Just then, the tall figure standing beside Lark suddenly trembled slightly.
Under the lingering light of the Blood Moon...
The once iron-faced Bloodhand Kahn now showed signs of confusion and twisted pain, before it finally returned to calm.
He hesitated for a moment, rubbing his chin, and curiously asked Lark beside him:
"I've died, but how did you know we would fail?"
Twirling a golden coin between his fingers and stroking its intricate engravings, the handsome yet cold and indifferent Lark replied softly:
"Mr. Sora told me—he couldn't locate the Fate trajectory of Bay Territory!"