In Latin, the Sanguiis Hunting Ground is also translated as the Blood Plateau. Both the soil and the forests are a dark reddish-brown, like congealed blood.
Since the first Dark Tide outbreak in Rinascita, this place had become a breeding ground for Dark Tide creations. For a hundred years, the people of Septimont had continuously exterminated these creations to prevent the spread of the Dark Tide.
Oppressive dark clouds covered the sky. A group of people hurried through the misty red forest, and from time to time, the roars of various Tacet Discords could be heard within the black mist.
The gladiators from the Hunter's Camp had split up into a human net, working together to compress the activity space of the Dark Tide creations in the Red Forest Hunting Ground.
Like a surrounding line tightening the size of a circle, they aimed to drive all the scattered prey into a concentrated area.
The hunting process was much more complicated than in the original plot, but under everyone's united efforts, everything remained orderly amidst the chaos.
"Watch out for falling rocks!"
"There are Tacet Discords ahead."
"We're almost there."
Accompanied by the sounds of rolling gravel, shouts, and heavy breathing, the gladiators filed out from the Hunter's Camp and "swam" to the first location where a directional anchor needed to be placed.
An altar carved with great sun patterns had been waiting here for a long time. Without any wasted words, Noah punched the directional anchor heavily into the altar.
In an instant, the anchor boundary stone on the altar shattered and floated into the air, bursting forth with a warm glow that dispersed the nearby black mist. The frequency of Imperator's power spread out, forcing the nearby Dark Tide creations to retreat.
"Unexpectedly smooth." Augusta praised.
"Next, as long as we insert the remaining two directional anchors into their corresponding spots, all our enemies will be driven to the Asphodel Barrens."
While they were communicating, a ten-meter stone pillar came breaking through the air, whistling as it smashed toward Augusta. She reacted extremely quickly, spinning and leaping up. Her giant sword swung out in a circular arc. As the gravel poured down, the figure of the Corrosaurus was exposed.
After the attack missed, the Corrosaurus immediately withdrew. Its dragon spine and tail, covered in blue patterns, curled into a wheel and retreated at high speed while spinning.
"Want to run?"
Augusta snorted coldly. She stomped her foot fiercely on the ground and, abandoning the others, chased after it with all her strength.
"Laureate." Cartethyia looked toward Noah. "Should we go chase and kill that Tacet Discord?"
"No need." Iuno's voice cut into the conversation.
The two turned their heads and saw Iuno sitting on a giant rock, her long, fair legs swinging leisurely in the air:
"That tyrant Corrosaurus running away? Hah, it's just a deliberate smokescreen. In the Hunting Ground, the identities of hunter and prey aren't fixed. Augusta is simply going along with the plan—hey!"
Iuno suddenly called out, wanting to stop the two who had already turned and left. However, they ignored her completely.
"Damn it, they actually ignored me."
She had originally wanted to apply her anchoring ability to their terminals to help them track the traces of the Dark Tide creations.
Watching the two walk farther and farther away, Iuno could only jump back to the ground and quickly chase after them:
"Slow down! Do you even know where the other anchor boundary stones are? Stop running around blindly!"
Racing against time, every minute and every second felt accelerated. The group passed through damp and rugged caves and finally reached the location of the second anchor boundary stone.
Once again, Noah punched the directional anchor heavily into the altar. The second anchor boundary stone was lit up, and the surrounding Dark Tide creations retreated along with the black mist once more.
"Still no sign of Augusta."
Elder Falco looked around left and right, finally fixing his gaze on Avidius with some anger at his lack of initiative:
"Avidius, when the tyrant fled earlier, you should have chased after it together with Augusta."
The Hero King prophecy of the Tetragon Temple was well-known throughout Septimont. Ever since Augusta became Ephor, the Senate had been constantly frustrated.
For this reason, the Senate had focused on nurturing Avidius, hoping he could kill the tyrant Corrosaurus first during this hunt and become the Hero King from the prophecy.
Then, the Senate would use this prestige to cultivate Avidius into the next Ephor and regain control over Septimont.
Now that Avidius was not active about killing the tyrant, Elder Falco could not help but feel furious.
Avidius shrugged his shoulders: "Calm down, Lord Falco. I don't think Augusta can catch up to the tyrant in the black mist before the three directional anchors are inserted."
"Hmph!" Elder Falco snorted heavily, accepting the point, then turned his gaze toward Noah and Cartethyia not far away.
He muttered to himself in a low voice: "I thought the so-called savior would have some real ability, being personally led into the Hunting Ground by the Ephor."
From their performance along the way, these two hadn't taken action at all. They even detoured around ordinary Tacet Discords. Truly mediocre.
Fame is not as good as meeting in person, and meeting in person is not as good as fame.
"Augusta is really getting more and more blind. This time, the tyrant will definitely be killed first by people from our Senate."
On the other side.
"Hey, I say."
Iuno circled from behind to stand in front of Noah, her face showing displeasure:
"Aren't you the savior? Along the way, there were so many Tacet Discords. How come I didn't see you take action once? Instead, I've been shooting arrows from behind to protect you the whole time. I'm practically your babysitter now."
"Then thank you. Actually, there are three reasons why I didn't take action."
Noah spread his hands and continued:
"First, the gladiators have been preparing and conserving their energy for four years for this day. I can't let them work hard for nothing."
"Second, the Tacet Discords in the Hunting Ground are very cunning. If I make a move, it's easy for them to get scared and run around chaotically, ruining everyone's plan."
"Third—" He paused, then joked: "Because I'm kind."
"Huh?" Iuno stared with wide eyes in astonishment.
No way. No matter how strong you are, how strong can you really be? Can you slaughter all the Dark Tide creations in the entire Sanguiis Hunting Ground by yourself?
To actually boast shamelessly that if you take action, the other Tacet Discords will all flee.
This was truly the first time she had seen someone describe slacking off in such a fresh and refined way.
"Alright, stop dawdling. The last directional anchor is with Augusta. We still need to find her quickly."
The Senate not far away had taken over command. After the gladiators finished resting, everyone headed toward the final spot.
The path to the last point required passing through layers of rock caves. All the Dark Tide creations had witnessed the dispersing magnetic fields of the other two directional anchors. To hinder the group's progress, they launched a fierce counterattack.
Rock caves kept collapsing. Large numbers of Tacet Discords rushed forward, only to be repelled again and again by the gladiators' coordinated teamwork.
By the end of the fight, the Dark Tide creations had completely routed and fled.
"Beautiful! I stabbed at least two Tacet Discords with one spear."
"Looking at the scale of the Dark Tide clouds earlier, I thought it would be a tough hunt. I didn't expect it to be this easy."
"I was even ready to leave my life here, but now it looks like I can live another four years."
Amid the clashing of blades and spears, morale grew higher and higher. The gladiators' faces were all filled with excited smiles, their moods extremely relaxed.
They finally reached the last point. Augusta had already been waiting here for a long time, with the directional anchor already inserted into the altar behind her.
With this, all three directional anchors had been placed. Augusta watched the group arrive unharmed and her eyes showed appreciation:
"Well done, warriors. But we cannot be proud yet. Rest briefly, then we head to the Asphodel Barrens!"
"No need, Lady Ephor."
A gladiator shook his hand and raised his head:
"We're in excellent condition right now. We don't need rest. We can head over directly."
As soon as the words fell, everyone immediately echoed loudly:
"That's right! I'm already impatient to kill the final Dark Tide creations!"
"My hands are hot. Lady Ephor, let's set out quickly."
"I want to fight ten!"
"Good!"
Augusta showed a satisfied smile:
"In that case, we depart!"
...