Chapter 16: The Sword Saint
After preparing the identification codes, the group continued forward.
There were generally two ways to clear an anomaly:
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Find the source and eliminate it. The source could be a specific monster (like Alexander’s corpse in the last undead anomaly), or some out-of-control supernatural item, etc.
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If the source couldn’t be found, then simply eliminate all the monsters within the anomaly, and the source would naturally be revealed.
Although the mechanism of the anomaly’s formation wasn’t clear yet, after all, this world originated from the “Steel and Fire” online game, and it was impossible for an online game to have “unsolvable dungeons” that forced players to grind endlessly and ruined their gaming experience. Naturally, this world wouldn’t have them either.
The two mercenary groups maintained a safe distance as they advanced. Azure Longsword on the left, Free Wind on the right.
This time, however, the members of Free Wind weren’t constantly gripping their sword hilts, seemingly having relaxed after the previous rest.
Countless figures suddenly appeared on the shadowy street ahead. The mercenaries stopped and readied their weapons.
The figures that appeared were shambling, their clothes tattered, their skin decaying, their limbs thin, their faces pockmarked by maggots, and their hair matted like withered leaves.
“Are these… zombies?” Medea asked through the mental link.
Zombies, walking corpses, were also common monsters among the undead. They had no vital points, high HP, and had to be decapitated to be completely killed. They were a lower-tier variant of ghouls and also contained one of the ingredients for the Flesh I formula.
Of course, judging from the previous situation, the monsters in this anomaly didn’t yield supernatural power or drop transcendental materials upon being killed, only Philosopher’s Stone fragments. This indicated they were basically all fakes created by the anomaly, not real supernatural creatures.
They had even fought real ghouls before, so they naturally weren’t afraid of these weaker fakes. It was just that there were too many of them. The ones in front had already reached within ten meters of them, and more were continuously emerging from the end of the street.
It was a rather oppressive sight.
“Captain, they don’t seem to have any desire to attack,” one of Matthews’ confidants observed. “It’s like… like ordinary townspeople taking a walk on the street.”
“Since they don’t intend to attack, let’s not attack either,” Matthews said slowly, staring at the zombies strolling leisurely with their heads lowered. “The middle of the road is clear, let them pass.”
“What should we do?” Medea asked in the channel on Azure Longsword’s side.
“Two options,” Asker said. “First, we attack and initiate combat.”
“Second, we wait for them to reach the middle of the road, separating us from Free Wind, then they suddenly attack, and we’re forced into combat.”
The girls: …
Then, of course, choose the first option!
Matthews had just ordered his men to stay on guard but not to initiate an attack… when Mia and Peggy from Azure Longsword suddenly charged forward.
“What the fuck!” Matthews almost spat out blood. Aren’t you Azure Longsword all beautiful girls? Why are you so eager to fight?!
“Draw your swords!” He couldn’t stop the two girls who had already charged, so he hurriedly ordered his mercenaries to draw their weapons and prepare for battle.
The two girls crossed the short distance of ten meters almost instantly. As they charged into the horde of monsters, two zombie heads flew high in the air.
“Wanna compete?” Peggy quickly asked, flicking the grime off her dagger. “I can’t use that sword technique.”
“Let’s do it.” Mia said excitedly.
With the death of their companions, the zombie horde, like a disturbed beehive, quickly fell into chaos.
Some tried to surround the two girls, while others, like sharks smelling blood, rushed towards the two mercenary groups.
“Into the alley!” Asker commanded immediately.
So the girls immediately turned 90 degrees and retreated into the alley between two buildings.
Eleanor and Sidlipha, one on the left and one on the right, immediately blocked the alley entrance. The ferocious zombie horde, rushing forward, crashed against them like waves against reefs, instantly scattered.
Medea, Miel, and Thira, the three ranged attackers, climbed onto the trash bins by the wall and began to unleash their firepower on the monsters outside.
The freest ones were Peggy and Mia. With their super-high speed and agility, they darted in and out of the zombie horde, the monsters unable to even touch them.
Peggy’s short sword was extremely lethal, every swing sending a head flying.
Mia’s daggers were much less effective. After all, daggers were more suitable for stabbing, so it took her two slashes to take down a zombie.
“Wow, Peggy! You’re trying to show me up!” Mia roared, realizing what was happening.
“Just admit defeat,” Peggy taunted her, then suddenly jumped back, kicking off the ground. A huge flame swept past beneath her, turning four nearby zombies into human torches.
“Medea!” She roared, turning her head. If she hadn’t jumped in time, that flame would have engulfed her too.
“Oops, my bad,” Medea said with a smile, summoning more fireballs.
“Asker!” Peggy hurriedly ran back to Eleanor, who was still fighting, intending to complain to the captain behind her. “Medea is bullying me! Asker…”
Her eyes widened in surprise. Captain Asker wasn’t in the alley.
Medea scanned the surroundings, her face changing.
The captain was gone.
…
Asker, one hand on his sword, looked around at the surrounding fog.
The expected change had happened.
A common tactic for Mind and Dream type anomalies was to deliberately separate the player team, commonly known as “swapping.”
He had just blinked, and the surroundings had completely changed. He didn’t even know when he had been swapped.
Hmm, perhaps his replica had already appeared among the girls.
Fortunately, Asker had given them special training and guidance on both how to identify replicas and how to fight without his command.
Since he had been teleported here, he could only hope they could handle it on their own. After all, if he always protected them, the girls wouldn’t be able to grow quickly and become independent.
Asker walked forward, his steps steady, his hand on his sword. The fog was thick all around, obscuring everything.
The ground beneath his feet seemed endless, making him feel like he was walking in a desert.
Then, a figure appeared ahead.
Asker drew his sword, and almost simultaneously, the figure opposite him also drew a sword and turned around.
Seeing his face clearly, Asker was stunned:
Holy shit, it was the famous physical demigod from “Steel and Fire,” the Holy Roman Sword Saint, the renowned NPC nicknamed “Old Man.”
Richard Tennar!
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