Hysilens and her group proceeded at a leisurely pace, showing no urgency as if they were merely strolling. After about three hours, Hysilens raised her hand, and the marching column gradually came to a halt.
Looking up, several eagles were circling overhead, confirming that the Falcon Clan warriors were nearby and already aware of their position.
This wasn't necessarily bad news. The Barbarians of the Northern Territory rarely employed tactics like flanking maneuvers or raiding base camps. Knowing their location, the enemy was far more likely to charge headlong into a decisive battle, eager to prove their superiority.
Therefore, Hysilens' group could simply wait in place for the confrontation.
Roughly two hours later, a faint figure materialized on the horizon, growing steadily clearer. Then, the blurry figure began to expand outward, stretching across the horizon in both directions. Within moments, the horde filled Hysilens' entire field of vision, their numbers like a vast, dark sea surging relentlessly toward them.
In Hysilens' previous life, during morning assembly at school, the students gathered below the stage always seemed densely packed, creating the illusion of a vast crowd. Yet even a typical school might only have a thousand or two students.
The Falcon Clan, however, numbered a staggering three hundred thousand—at least 150 times the size of an ordinary school!
It had to be said, the sheer mass of humanity filling her entire field of vision exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure. Hysilens herself felt none of it, of course. She simply gave Dirk a direct order: "Have our ten thousand troops stand by." Then, turning to Aria and the others, she said, "Let's go."
Pan Ming, however, interjected, "If this humble monk can persuade their clan leader to join Her Majesty the Empress's Northern Territory Empire, we can avoid this battle, yes?"
Having lived in the Northern Territory Empire for some time now, Pan Ming had gained a basic understanding of the region. He recognized that his current actions were akin to warfare and territorial expansion—defeating enemies and incorporating their people into the Empire.
Pan Ming was fundamentally opposed to war and slaughter. However, after learning the true reasons behind the conflict, he resolved to help.
The reason was simple: to determine whether a ruler was fit to be Emperor, one needed only ask the people under their rule. When he lived in the Eastern Ancient Kingdom, the populace lived in abject poverty. One could hardly walk down the street without encountering emaciated figures, barely alive, their bones protruding through paper-thin skin.
In stark contrast, the barbarians of the desolate Northern Territory wore constant smiles. They worked joyfully each day, and any random passerby would enthusiastically declare their complete satisfaction with Boss Imperator's rule. Their standard of living had improved beyond measure compared to their former lives.
What was truly astonishing was that even now, the Northern Territory Empire had no concept of "currency." Before Cerydra's arrival, there had never been currency in the Northern Territory. The barbarian clans operated entirely on a distribution system, with the Boss fairly allocating resources. Rare inter-clan trade was conducted through barter.
Cerydra hadn't yet implemented her economic reforms, meaning all the Barbarians were essentially working for her for free, laboring tirelessly without compensation.
When Pan Ming learned this, he was stunned. This was the perfect nation he had always imagined—a flawless leader ruling over a united populace!
Coupled with his knowledge of the Northern Territory's dire situation before Cerydra's arrival—where starvation was rampant, clans clashed endlessly, and death was commonplace—Pan Ming resolved to help the Empress unify the region.
Guiding this land from barbarism into civilization would undoubtedly be a righteous act!
Hearing Pan Ming's words, Hysilens remarked, "If you can persuade them."
Though she considered it nearly impossible, Hysilens decided to let Pan Ming try. If a miracle occurred and they could subdue the enemy without bloodshed, it would be a welcome outcome.
The six of them broke away from the main group and advanced toward the Falcon Clan. As if sensing their approach, Jones, the Falcon Clan Leader, issued a command. The eagles circling overhead emitted piercing cries, and the entire Falcon Clan halted their advance, as if obeying a silent signal.
(Spy- Tho they use eagles, the falcon clan cannot tell the difference between the birds. Good ol barbarians)
It had to be said, this display alone justified the Falcon Clan's dominant position in the Northern Territory!
Soon, Hysilens and her group reached the Falcon Clan's front lines. Even at a distance, the Barbarians began taunting them with boisterous laughter. "What's this? Scared already? Coming to surrender?"
"Ha ha! Look at their numbers compared to ours! Tsk, tsk, tsk... is a fight even necessary?"
"I'd say they made the right decision. Just surrender and be done with it!"
Jones ignored his subordinates' banter, his brow furrowed as he studied the peculiar group of six before him.
A short, bald man (Pan Ming); a petite girl barely reaching 1.6 meters (Aria); a noblewoman dressed as if attending a banquet (Hysilens); and a Catfolk girl whose only redeeming quality was her cuteness (Cipher).
Only Feidric and Douglas seemed truly threatening. Feidric was clearly a Wizard, while Douglas's military bearing and soldierly aura radiated from his very stance, marking him as no weakling.
At that moment, one of Jones's men—the Clan Leader they had released earlier—pointed at Douglas and exclaimed, "Boss, that's him! He almost single-handedly took down my entire Clan! He's incredibly strong!"
Jones frowned slightly, about to speak and inquire about the group's intentions, when Pan Ming stepped forward. Being blind, he had no idea who the opposing leader was or where he stood. Taking a deep breath, he declared loudly, "This humble monk comes not to surrender, but to persuade you to surrender instead!"
"Submit to Her Majesty the Imperator, and you need never worry about food again. You won't fear being abandoned in your old age, and you can live out your days in peace and security!"
A moment of silence fell over the entire Falcon Clan. Then, uproarious laughter erupted, even louder than before.
"What nonsense is this? If we conquer your so-called Northern Territory Empire and kill that Imperator, won't we gain endless food anyway?"
"Barbarians don't yearn for a life of peace and stability. Dying in glorious battle is our true destiny, not wasting away in old age, tormenting ourselves!"
Jones frowned, his voice tinged with anger. "I thought you had the foresight to surrender. If that were the case, I wouldn't mind arranging a high position for you within our Clan. But you've come here to insult me?!"
Hysilens tilted her small head slightly upward, gazing into the distance. Her eyes fixed on Jones, she wasn't at all surprised by his reaction. Pan Ming's words might have seemed like persuasion to him, but to Jones, they were nothing short of a blatant insult.
In the very next instant, Pan Ming moved. He took a single step with his right leg, yet in the blink of an eye, he had covered a hundred meters and appeared beside Jones. He had pinpointed his opponent's location the moment Jones began speaking.
Pan Ming pressed his palms together in a gesture of reverence. Though his sudden appearance might have suggested an ambush, his solemn voice carried no hint of aggression. "Honored guest," he said, "I implore you to reconsider. Do not add to the senseless bloodshed. Surrender here is your best course of action."
During his time in the Northern Territory Empire, Pan Ming had learned that Cerydra and Hysilens were Demigods, and that this nation was blessed by divine protection. Against such power, the Falcon Clan across the field stood no chance of victory.
This sudden apparition startled Jones. Seeing the bald head materialize beside him, his first reaction was to seize his axe and swing it down with ferocious speed and force, generating a whistling sound. Yet Pan Ming remained motionless. Tracking the sound with perfect timing, he extended his right hand at precisely the moment the axe reached its midpoint, using the back of his hand to block Jones' wrist and push outward.
Thud!
The axe crashed violently into the ice, carving a shallow pit into the frozen surface and sending hairline cracks spiderwebbing outward.
His first strike missed, Jones pressed his attack, swinging his axe with such speed that his hands seemed to leave afterimages as he unleashed a furious barrage.
Yet no matter how fast Jones moved, Pan Ming parried each strike with perfect precision, either deflecting the force or pushing the axe aside. From a visual perspective, it seemed as if Pan Ming could foresee the future, assuming a defensive stance before Jones's axe struck, blocking the blow and pushing his arm aside.
This technique, known as "Listening Force," wasn't about sensing sounds but about feeling the subtle shifts in his opponent's energy, muscle rhythms, and momentum after blocking the first strike. By perceiving these minute changes, Pan Ming could predict the next attack and preemptively defend against it. In essence, once he made contact and blocked the initial blow, he could block every subsequent strike.
Throughout the entire exchange, Pan Ming never retaliated, nor did he retreat a single step. Meanwhile, he continued to implore, "Benefactor, cease your attack."
"The Northern Territory Empire's strength far exceeds your imagination."
"Surrendering now is truly your best option."
"Let's not waste any more energy. How about we sit down calmly and talk things over?"
If Jones's attacks were like a frenzied barrage from both fists, Pan Ming's relentless barrage felt like a relentless torrent of words. Watching from afar, Hysilens couldn't help but think of "Tang Sanzang reciting sutras"—the déjà vu was overwhelming.
Especially for Jones, each strike felt like hitting a slippery, cotton-like surface, leaving him deeply frustrated. No matter how much force he exerted, he received no feedback whatsoever.
"Aaaaaaaaah!"
The next moment, Jones staggered back and roared, his eyes glowing crimson. The blood-red tattoos on his bare upper body flared with an eerie light, converging behind him to coalesce into a colossal, blood-red wolf phantom, baring its fangs and locking its gaze fiercely on Pan Ming.
Jones had deliberately entered his Berserk State—or rather, if he hadn't triggered it himself, Pan Ming's relentless goading would have driven him into a rage anyway.
This Rage was no ordinary rage; it was a Divine Power bestowed upon Jones after countless Blood Sacrifices, a unique form of berserk state. Unlike typical Rage, this didn't rob him of his Reason, but it did make him bloodthirsty. Once he entered this state, he needed to constantly bathe in fresh blood to maintain it; otherwise, he would have to pay with his own blood until it ran dry, leading to his death.
In exchange, this special Rage granted an astonishing surge in power. If Jones had previously been merely a Gold-tier Barbarian, he had now ascended directly to Legendary-level, leaping over an entire tier.
With a thunderous stomp, Jones took a step forward, the ground beneath his feet unable to withstand the immense force and violently cracking apart.
He raised his axe high above his head, aiming at Pan Ming before him. His crimson-glowing eyes glared down, surrounded by a visible red aura like a mountain about to collapse.
Zzzt!
Electrical arcs crackled around Cipher as she entered Divine Speed State. She planned to intervene, pulling Pan Ming back into the group, and then letting Hysilens take over. After all, this Jones seemed to possess something truly formidable.
But at that moment, Cipher saw Pan Ming take his first step forward in battle—not backward, but forward!
Keep in mind, she was in her Divine Speed State, where everyone around her appeared completely frozen, motionless. Yet Pan Ming slowly raised his right leg and took a step forward!
Though his movements were agonizingly slow, as if he were moving in slow motion, the fact that he could move at all while Cipher was using Divine Speed proved his speed was beyond absurd!
Cipher immediately halted her actions, blinked, and continued to observe the fight. After taking that deliberate step, Pan Ming closed the distance to Jones's body and, with what appeared to be agonizing slowness, delivered precise punches to Jones's throat and the joints of his limbs.
Then, Pan Ming slowly pivoted, brushing past Jones.
To Cipher, the entire sequence moved at a snail's pace. But when her Divine Speed State ended, Jones's axe clattered to the ground.
BOOM!
An explosive roar erupted, the shockwave rattling even Cipher and her distant companions. Nearby Barbarians were hurled off their feet.
Jones remained hunched over, frozen in the axe-dropping pose for a full three seconds before his massive body toppled forward, slamming face-first into the ground.