Alexander Smith
Shortly after the duke made his presence known, Alex can't conclude whether the player that started attacking the duke with the gauss gatling gun is doing it out of panic or is proactively taking the initiative. In any case, the reason is immaterial since the hail of bullets aren't making a difference. The duke just hovered in the sky riding what appears to be a sword and remains steadfast until the attack stopped. It is apparently a show of force to boost the town defenders morale. The duke's action has definitely made a difference as the town defenders and residents are cheering loudly soon after.
"We better go all out if we don't want a total team wipe." Alex stating the obvious. "I have brought along the two level four lightning strike talismans master gave me. What about you guys?"
"Aside from the two level four fireball talismans master gave me, I have also purchased from the sect two level four entrapment scrolls and ten level three offensive spell scrolls." Daniel answers. Adding the royalty fees from his spirit energy battery patent to the amount of wealth at his disposal back on Earth, Daniel has a rather generous budget to prepare for the campaign. "I will make the first move. In case the duke somehow took notice, make sure to protect me until the entrapment scroll takes effect. It will be much easier for us to defeat an immobilized enemy that has speed and reflexes far out of our reach."
"Dan, make your move before all hell broke loose. Alex, make sure to follow up with your talisman after mine. It will be too late for us to salvage the situation once the other players started fleeing." Henry follows up quickly.
"I will make sure not to get in the way of you guys." Joshua awkwardly says. He is not in a position to contribute in anyway at the moment. At the same time, he has promised himself that once the campaign is over, he will make sure to assemble himself a skeleton warrior army that can use a battle formation. It hurts his pride standing there being "extra baggage" unable to contribute in anyway. However, this will be one expensive undertaking. The quality of the skeleton warriors he can raise will always be one major realm lower that his own cultivation realm. To upgrade his skeleton warriors, he will have buy a large number of concoctions to reinforce his skeleton warriors' toughness, artifacts to boost the skeleton warriors' might and a whole long list of other items to raise his undead army offensive and defensive prowess to the next major realm. His head hurts just thinking about the amount of money all of this will cost. Looks like the bulk of Alex's undead army will remain stuck in a mine for a very long time hard at work earning money. The only silver lining in all this is his undead army can be worked to the bone twenty four hours a day without getting tired or will have the mind to rebel due to the harsh treatment, unlike living beings.
The duke for whatever strange reason is overconfident that none of the players present is a threat to him. Such a mindset is extremely foolish in the cultivation world. One of the first lesson Alex's master taught him is never to underestimate his enemy. Even a mortal can threaten his life if the mortal unexpectedly pulls out an artifact or item that surpass his cultivation realm. He should always be wary in any confrontation since any cultivator that is worth their salt will always have a few trump cards up their sleeve.
It is this carelessness that gave Daniel enough time to activate his level four entrapment scroll without being attacked. Shortly after the duke has been immobilized, three consecutive attacks follow shortly after. Based on the might of the attack, Alex is certain some other players have used three level four talisman or scroll in sequence. However, the result is less than desired since the duke didn't even flinch from the attack. Taking notice of the flickering light encompassing the duke, Alex guesses the duke possesses a defensive artifact that can withstand a few strikes from a fourth major realm cultivator. The duke's confidence probably comes from this defensive artifact of his. Alex along with Henry and Daniel, each possesses a bracelet that offers the same level of protection. The bracelet was another welcoming gift from their master. What is important is such artifacts have its limit. The bracelet Alex owns can take up to three strikes from a fourth major realm cultivator.
"Everyone, I am the guild master of Tempest Sentinel. This is a joint statement with Dragon's Wrath and Crimson Legion. The duke has been immobilized by a level four trap and is now a sitting duck. Take this opportunity to launch your most powerful attack at the duke. Whatever defensive artifact the duke is wearing has a limit. We just need to overwhelm his defense. Either that or every one of us here will be dead."
Soon after the announcement, the duke received another five more attacks that has the strength of a fourth major realm cultivator. It will appear that there are more players with generous master or a few other guilds in this siege. Realizing that one of those attacks came from Henry, Alex quickly uses his level four talisman as well. Although the latest attack did not breach the duke's defense, his confidence has definitely been shaken. It is best for everyone to end this before the duke pull out an unexpected trump card to turn the table. Including his attack, the duke soon received another eleven more equally powerful attacks. The last group of attack has definitely overwhelmed the duke's defense and killed him as his corpse fell from the sky.
The duke's falling corpse is definitely a welcome sight as the players began cheering in joy. The duke's miserable end has definitely taught Alex a valuable lesson. It is foolish to posture simply because you are in a superior position. Forget fighting fair, he doesn't even enjoy fighting in the first place. It is safest for him to end a battle quickly with overwhelming force. More importantly, whatever universal truth he chooses to comprehend definitely doesn't need combat experience to progress. In conclusion, he should start hoarding as many level four attack scrolls or talismans possible. If not for the fact that level five and above items don't work properly in the lower realm, Alex will be tempted to store up on even higher grade items. Without any external aide, a cultivator might survive a few strikes from an enemy a single cultivation realm higher than them but they definitely won't survive even a single strike from a cultivator two major realm higher.
Alex's master has explained the reason why any items above level five doesn't work properly in the lower realm. It has something to do with the spirit energy density in the lower realm and also why cultivators above the fourth major cultivation realm gets forcefully sent to the immortal realm. Every cultivator is like a mini spirit gathering array, gathering surrounding spirit energy to reinforce themselves. The higher the cultivation realm, the more spirit energy gets pulled into them. A single fifth major cultivation realm cultivator will turn his or her surrounding into a spirit energy desert. If cultivators at the fifth major realm are allowed to roam freely in the lower realm, the barren spirit energy environment would have collapse an entire ecosystem that has evolved over the millennia reliant on spirit energy. At the same time, level five and above items don't work properly because it couldn't gather enough spirit energy prior to activation. Forget powering those items with a spirit energy battery, he will probably have to take out a few spirit energy batteries the size of a skyscraper just pull off the stunt.
After the duke's death, the town quickly sent an envoy to discuss term of surrender. The sight of the duke's death has definitely broken any will of resistance. Moving the town residence has definitely been the easiest of all the towns they have taken down to date. Alex is glad the campaign will shortly be over. One surprising development is all he can handle.