landbeastnovel Chapter 125: Did they fall into a trap?
Chapter 125: Did they fall into a trap?
Chapter 125: Did they fall into a trap?
Oreg has already driven the smaller, limb-jointed noble descendant into retreat.
The knight from nowhere wielded his twin swords like a meat grinder, making him extremely effective against monsters with multiple arms and a very high attack frequency.
Not to mention that the latter had previously been injured by Xia Tong using the Hound Sword Technique.
In fact, the multi-limbed nobles don't pose much of a threat to Oreg; he just needs to keep attacking like a storm.
On the other side, Xia Tong rang the Soul-Summoning Bell, and Ruthel appeared in its form.
He picked up the Blue Dewdrop Holy Grail bottle and took a big gulp to replenish the magic he had just used.
"Bang!"
Ruthel suddenly used her shield to charge at the large, extended-limbed noble descendant that was chasing Xia Tong.
Under the immense force of the impact, the monster's heavy body staggered backward.
Meanwhile, behind the limb-splitting nobles.
Two dark blue magic light bullets shot out into the air without warning.
The two magic stones were extremely fast and angled sharply, hitting the back of the limb-splitting nobleman's head accurately.
This descendant of the aristocratic family, who had undergone limb extension, never expected to be attacked from behind. He was struck and let out a piercing scream as his massive body swayed wildly in place.
It turned out that Xia Tong had secretly released two surprise attack magic stones. This kind of magic, which is designed to attack from behind, is almost impossible to defend against.
Ruthel seized the opportunity and thrust out her Flame Spear.
"laugh!"
The sharp spearhead pierced the head of the aristocratic descendant who had undergone limb extension, pinning him firmly to the floor.
Then, the death flames on the spear suddenly surged up, and a strong smell of burning filled the air. The latter stopped convulsing completely.
Meanwhile, Oreg's battle was also coming to an end.
The smaller, aristocratic descendant with the limbs that had been stitched together had had most of his body torn apart and cut off.
As Oreg crossed his twin swords and swung them out with renewed force, the ugly head was severed off and rolled to the side.
The battle had just ended.
From inside the door came the faint yet dense sounds of clashing armor and footsteps.
Reinforcements are here!
Xia Tong and Rutil exchanged a glance, then suddenly leaped into the air in the courtyard and jumped towards the roof in front of them.
However, the distance was too great, and even with the extraordinary strength of the faded one, it was still impossible to leap directly onto the towering eaves.
Just as he was about to fall due to exhaustion, Ruthel appeared beside him in an instant.
She stretched out her strong arms to support Xia Tong's lower back, and then suddenly threw her upwards.
With a "thump," Xia Tong landed steadily on the roof tiles. Then, with a gentle swipe of his right hand, the flames on the Hound Fang Sword were extinguished.
The three quickly disappeared into the dim night of Stoneville.
To shake off her pursuers, Xia Tong raced across the rooftops.
When they encountered a ladder, they would climb it. When they encountered a gap between the eaves that was particularly wide, they would use the old method, with Ruthel throwing him across from mid-air.
Meanwhile, Oreg used the teleportation ability unique to the Knights of the Lost Land to scout ahead.
They ran like this for more than ten minutes, climbing over countless high walls and leaping over countless rooftops, until the firelight and the sounds of pursuit behind them gradually faded away until they disappeared.
Just then, a figure dressed in red and black cloth armor suddenly appeared at the corner of the roof ahead.
That was a soldier on exile.
The other person also saw Xia Tong, staring intently in their direction, their hand resting on the hilt of their sword.
Oreg lowered his twin swords, about to teleport over and deliver the fatal blow.
Xia Tong waved his hand, signaling not to act rashly. He keenly noticed that the other man's eyes were different from those of ordinary exiled soldiers.
"The faded ones of the Round Table Hall?" Xia Tong asked from afar, across the rooftop.
The man's body suddenly relaxed from a tense state.
"Yes!"
The other person replied in a low voice. Just as Xia Tong was about to step forward, the faded one seemed to have seen a ghost, swooped down from the roof and ran away, disappearing in an instant.
Xia Tong scratched his head helplessly, wondering if he was really that scary.
However, it's common for those who have faded to be wary of each other. After all, while private duels are forbidden in the Round Table Hall, there are plenty of scoundrels outside who fight each other for runes.
With Oreg and Ruthel standing on either side of Xia Tong, creating a formidable presence, it's understandable that the Faded One wouldn't dare approach in a three-on-one situation.
"It should be safe now."
Xia Tong leaned against the wall and gasped for breath to regain her strength.
Oreg and Ruthel, who were behind Xia Tong, had helped clear out many sentries along the way because of their teleportation abilities, and were now quietly standing guard by her side.
The three then climbed down the stone pillar from the top of the eaves and came to a hidden corridor.
As soon as they landed, a strange muttering sound came from the room inside.
66
...It's pointless to send them...
'
"—No, it's too dry."
5
After all, he's a nobody.
""
...Sigh, this one is too thin...
""
"How come there isn't a single usable one?!"
Xia Tong pressed herself against the wall, cautiously peeking through the window.
Inside was a commoner wearing a wooden yoke on his head and dressed in rags. At that moment, this slave, wearing a cast iron collar, was squatting beside a corpse that had recently died.
With his remaining right hand, he expertly pinched the muscles of the corpse's thigh and forearm, then disdainfully kicked the corpse over and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.
"Seriously, isn't there a single decent one among them? This kind of rotten flesh simply can't withstand the stitching of a limb—"
Upon seeing this guy and hearing his sharp yet cunning voice, Xia Tong immediately felt that he looked very familiar.
Isn't that the doorman, Gertock?
Xia Tong thought to herself. At that moment, Gertock was searching through the corpse with his back to the door. Xia Tong turned her head and gave Oreg a look, signaling him to subdue the man.
Oreg's figure slowly faded and disappeared. When he reappeared, he was already behind Gotok like a ghost.
The tall knight stretched out a large hand covered with an iron glove and tightly covered Gotok's mouth and nose, pressing his head back firmly against his breastplate.
Getok was instantly like a shrimp that had been caught, his legs off the ground, struggling wildly in terror.
Xia Tong walked slowly into the room with a smile on her face.
Da, da, da.
Hearing the unhurried footsteps and seeing the stranger in front of him wearing the heavy armor of the Kaidan mercenaries, Gertok's single eye was filled with extreme fear.
He knew that some powerful Faded Ones had recently infiltrated the city, wreaking havoc on the defenses of Stoneville.
Lord Grek was furious. The entire city has been under strict martial law for the past few days.
He never expected that someone could bypass all the patrols and appear behind him so silently.
Xia Tong slowly put a finger to her lips, making a "shush" gesture.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you, as long as you behave." Xia Tong tried to soothe the frightened boy.
Gotok nodded frantically, tears welling in his eyes—pure fear of death.
Looking at the trembling guy, Xia Tong slowly pondered how to make use of him.
Gotok was a complete villain in the border region.
In the game's lore, if you encounter him at the main gate of Stoneville, he will pretend to point you to a side path and then secretly follow you. Once the Faded One is killed, he will steal one-third of the runes from the corpse.
In addition, just as Xia Tong saw outside the window, Gertock was also a victim of limb reattachment. His left arm was cut off while he was still alive and used as material for the nobles' limb reattachment.
But now, in order to survive, he has become an accomplice to those nobles who perform limb-setting. He helps to pick through the corpses of his fellow countrymen like he's picking through pork, and even complains that they are too emaciated.
His despicable character made Xia Tong feel disgusted.
However, this guy still has great value. As a seasoned veteran who has survived in Stoneville for many years, Gotock knows the intricate network of secret passages, hidden rooms, and defenses throughout the city like the back of his hand.
This explains why, after Neferi took control of Stoneville during the subsequent political upheaval, he was able to quickly rise to the position of head steward. He was even able to sell top-tier forging materials like Ancient Dragon Rock Forging Stone.
This can only mean one thing: this one-armed watchdog had long ago secretly obtained the key to Golden Grick's private vault. It's important to understand that Grick was obsessed with the power of dragons, which is why he later went so far as to attach a dragon's head to his own severed arm.
It's not surprising that Gryphon has Ancient Dragonstone forging stones in his vault; what's surprising is that Gryphon had the ability to obtain them.
"Don't try to play any tricks on me."
Xia Tong coldly warned, "You've seen my two friends. If you dare to shout for help or try to run away, they'll appear behind you immediately and silently snap your neck. Do you understand?"
With his mouth covered by an iron glove, Gertock couldn't breathe or speak, and could only nod repeatedly while rolling his eyes.
Xia Tong then gestured for Oreg to release his grip, feeling much more at ease.
He was initially quite troubled. The city of Stoneville was simply too vast, like a three-dimensional, enormous maze, far larger and more complex than he remembered.
In the unguided darkness, he could hardly find the right path to the main castle; it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
But the Gotock before them was a living map of the entire city of Stoneville.
"Take me to Perm," Xia Tong ordered.
"Perm?"
Gatok gasped for breath, momentarily stunned, unable to process the name.
"That Forge Knight stationed in the city," Xia Tong added.
"Oh, you mean Lord Perm—"
Gottok immediately became conflicted, his face showing difficulty.
Having spent so much time in Stoneville, he naturally knew where the powerful Forge Knight lived.
Lord Perm has a strange temper, so why would he meet such a nobody? In the eyes of those big shots, he, Gertok, is just a spare material and tool whose limbs can be cut off at any time.
"Stop talking nonsense, where is he? Lead the way!" Xia Tong shouted sharply, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword.
"I—I'll take you there!" Gertock trembled in fright, but looking at Xia Tong's attire, he hesitated, "But, sir, your clothes—"
Xia Tong glanced down and immediately understood what the other person meant.
He was currently wearing the rugged Kaidan mercenary armor.
This set of equipment is common in the wilderness of Nymgford, but it stands out conspicuously inside the city of Stoneville and will definitely attract a large number of guards to attack it.
"You stay here and don't move. I'm going out for a bit! Ruthel, you keep an eye on him. If he tries to run away, kill him."
""
After giving their explanations, Xia Tong and Oreg climbed out the window.
About ten minutes later, Xia Tong returned carrying a bloodstained set of Grik soldier's uniform.
Then close and lock all the doors to the room.
Xia Tong gently blew the spirit horse's whistle, summoning Toret. He took out some dried meat and water from the pack on the horse's back, quickly ate a few mouthfuls with cold water to replenish his strength.
He then stuffed the Kaidan heavy armor he had taken off into Torret's baggage, then put on the armor of a Grik soldier, and finally recalled the Spirit Horse.
Sometimes Xia Tong couldn't help but marvel at how practical this spirit horse was. If the Blessing Point was a fixed teleportation warehouse, then Toret was like a mobile backpack that was always at your beck and call, only smaller in capacity, but more convenient and rideable.
"This—this is the legendary Spirit Horse, my lord?" Gertock asked in astonishment, his one eye wide open.
"Oh? You've seen the Spirit Horse before?" Xia Tong asked casually while fastening her corset.
“I’ve seen diagrams on fragments of ancient texts before.” Gotok swallowed, his tone filled with awe. “The horns on your spirit horse’s head are very distinctive. They are the Horns of a Hundred Phases! An ancient feature from the Age of the Forge of Life, as ancient and pure as the aura emanating from Lord Perm.”
Upon hearing this, Xia Tong paused slightly and fell into deep thought.
In truth, because Torret was so docile and practical, he had somewhat overlooked the origins of this spirited horse.
At this moment, he gently stroked the spirit horse whistle he used to summon on his finger.
This thing is called a whistle, but it actually looks more like an antique gold ring, with a faint golden glow on its surface, and its material is extremely special.
More importantly, it was when I met my wife Lani at the church in Arey.
When the other party handed the summoning bell and the ashes of the lone wolf to Xia Tong, they clearly stated that it was entrusted to her by Toret's "former master".
And within the profound historical context of the entire border region.
Who is best at crafting such exquisite gold artifacts that contain powerful laws?
There is only one answer: the divine being Michaela.
The child prodigy who never grew up was not only skilled at forging "pure gold" to ward off the Outer Gods, namely the pure gold needles, but also once crafted a golden tombstone for his deceased brother Godwin.
This exquisitely crafted and understated gold creation is a signature work of Michaela.
Xia Tong shook her head, forcibly pulling her thoughts back to reality.
Every time he thought about it more deeply, he felt a chill run down his spine. He always felt that the seemingly sleeping god, Michaela, was secretly plotting a huge game of chess that would sweep across the entire border region with a pair of invisible hands.
All changed.
The experienced Gertock led the way, while Xia Tong, dressed in Gertock's soldier's uniform, followed closely behind with her head down.
As for Oreg and Ruthel, they used their spiritual teleportation and stealth abilities to stay close in the shadows. They were like Xia Tong's shadows, always ready to deal with any unexpected situations.
As they walked, a patrol of exile soldiers came towards them from the long corridor ahead.
Xia Tong's heart tightened, but he remained outwardly calm. He walked behind Getok, his head slightly lowered, trying his best not to let the other man see his eyes, which clearly belonged to the Faded Ones.
Just as Xia Tong was preparing to launch an attack at any moment.
The soldiers merely glanced at them casually, then yawned and walked right past them without questioning them.
"It seems like the soldiers in Stoneville are just wasting their time."
Xia Tong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Grek was so engrossed in his horrific limb-resetting project that he had neglected the city's military discipline and defenses, resulting in a very lax attitude among the lower and middle-ranking soldiers.
"My lord, it's just ahead."
Gotock lowered his voice and quickened his pace. After passing through a long, moss-covered spiral staircase, he pointed to a heavy, dark iron door at the end of the corridor.
"Lord Perm is inside. He often stays alone in this windowless room, lost in thought, and strictly forbids anyone from disturbing him."
"Oh, really? Are you sure he's inside?"
Xia Tong stopped and asked a question. The house in front of her was unremarkable; the crack in the door was completely dark, with not a single ray of light shining through.
With his excellent eyesight, he could vaguely see some elaborate furniture inside, but it was too dark to see any corners at all.
"Come in with me," Xia Tong said with a forced smile, patting Getok on the shoulder.
"Ah? No, no, no, I'm not going in!" Gatok desperately shrank back, his face full of resistance. "Lord Perm hates seeing us crippled and lowly people the most, I'll be killed!"
"I told you to come in, so come in!"
Xia Tong's eyes turned cold, and she stopped talking nonsense.
He raised his leg and kicked Gertock hard in the butt, sending him flying into the doorway!
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