In the Mottled Town East District, the shadow cast by the Old Bell Tower shrouded a nearby aging barn used for storing hay and sundries.
However, at this very moment, billowing black smoke had replaced the Bell Tower’s shadow, twisting as it rose into a night sky stained red by firelight. The barn had already transformed into a massive torch. Raging flames greedily devoured the dry wood and forage, crackling and popping as they burned.
The scene was in utter chaos.
Townsfolk who had rushed over upon hearing the news were in a panic. Some carried buckets of water to fight the fire, but splashing that pitiful amount onto the inferno was a drop in the bucket; it instantly evaporated into rising white steam. Women clutched their crying children, weeping helplessly, while men shouted at the top of their lungs, trying to organize a more effective rescue. But their conflicting opinions led to red-faced arguments, making the situation even more chaotic.
The firelight danced across faces etched with fear and confusion, illuminating a doomsday-like scene.
A squad of Adventurer Guards pushed their way through the crowd, holding bright torches aloft.
"What exactly happened?" A young guard, whose face still bore a hint of childishness, panted heavily. His voice was filled with poorly concealed panic. He looked around nervously, his hand tightly gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist. "It feels like the whole town is crying and burning! Did the army of the Traditional Nobility attack?"
"Rookie, stop spouting nonsense! The two sides haven’t even started fighting in Lotte City yet!" another guard with a thick beard glared at him, then turned his head to ask, "Captain, should we go help too?"
The leading Guard Captain was a lean, tough-looking middle-aged man. He didn’t immediately respond to the suggestion of helping. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, warily scanning the chaos illuminated by the flickering firelight and the dark corners around them.
"Of course not. We have more important things to do." He lowered his voice, carrying the excitement of discovering an opportunity. "Orders came down from above a long time ago. Spies from the Traditional Nobility have slipped in, trying to create chaos everywhere! The bounty for catching just one is enough to keep us living comfortably for a long time!"
His gaze finally locked onto a deserted street shrouded in shadows. With a wave of his large hand, he ordered, "They must be hiding nearby. Come on, let’s go search over there! They might be lurking in some corner!"
Spurred on by the captain and driven by greed, the guards raised their weapons one after another and cautiously walked in.
The street was much darker than it appeared from the outside, and a foul stench of rot and filth permeated the air. The buildings on both sides blocked out most of the firelight, barely outlining the piles of garbage and the slippery ground. The freezing night wind blew through with a WHOOSH, sending chills down their spines and causing the torches to flicker erratically.
"Keep your eyes peeled, boys!" The Guard Captain swallowed uneasily. His deliberately lowered voice sounded exceptionally faint in the empty street.
Just as they had ventured barely a dozen steps into the street, passing a corner piled with broken wooden crates, a massive, foul-smelling shadow lunged out from the side without any warning.
It was an exceptionally strong Bear Goblin!
Accompanied by a low roar of Frenzy, the heavy Warhammer in its hand rapidly enlarged in the Guard Captain’s terrified pupils!
"Argh!"
The Guard Captain only had time to let out a short, miserable scream before his body flew backward like a broken ragdoll. He crashed heavily into the hard stone wall and lay completely still.
His torch flew from his grasp and rolled on the ground a few times, illuminating the Bear Goblin’s hideous, bestial face. Its gaping, bloody maw, jagged fangs, and the vicious eyes that glowed a faint green in the darkness looked exceptionally terrifying.
"A Bear Goblin!"
The remaining guards were frightened out of their wits by the sudden ambush. A few of them subconsciously wanted to turn and run, but in their panic, they shoved and pushed against one another, barely managing to take a few steps.
Having landed a successful strike, the Bear Goblin let out an excited roar and charged wildly at the huddled guards! Its massive paws pounded against the ground, letting out muffled THUDs. Every step nearly suffocated the terrified guards.
With no room to retreat, their survival instincts forced them to hastily fight back.
"Ah! Let’s take this beast down!" the bearded guard mustered his courage, roaring as he raised his War Axe and slashed at the Bear Goblin’s abdomen.
However, the Bear Goblin merely swung its arm casually. The Warhammer smashed into the axe’s blade with unrivaled Power, instantly sending the War Axe flying from his grip and knocking the bearded guard to the ground.
Another guard tried to thrust with his Long Spear. The spear tip scraped across the Bear Goblin’s Chain Armor Shirt, striking sparks but failing to pierce deep. The Bear Goblin reached back and grabbed the spear shaft directly. With a violent swing, it hurled the guard and his spear through the air, sending him crashing into the wall where he lost consciousness.
As for the young guard, he had already collapsed onto the ground, unable to move as a warm liquid spread across his crotch.
Screams, the clash of weapons, and the sound of breaking bones echoed endlessly through the empty street. The flickering firelight illuminated the guards’ desperate, pale faces and the Bear Goblin’s unstoppable giant silhouette, which looked like a Demon Deity. It was like a fierce tiger charging into a flock of sheep. The guards’ makeshift defense was as fragile as paper, instantly crumbling. They were on the verge of being slaughtered to the last man.
"Ignis!" A steady chant sounded from the mouth of the alley, carrying a strange rhythm.
The next moment, a scorching, orange-red Flowing Light pierced the darkness like a comet. It bypassed the panicked guards with unparalleled precision and slammed ruthlessly into the Bear Goblin’s bulging, muscular chest!
BOOM!
A small burst of Flame violently exploded, sweeping out a wave of searing heat and filling the air with the stench of burnt fur.
"Aroo!" the Bear Goblin cried out in pain. It let out an angry roar, its offensive stalling. It violently jerked its head, its bloodshot pupils locking dead onto the street intersection.
The one who had attacked was none other than the middle-aged Mage of the Ring of Steel.
At the same time the middle-aged Mage struck, the blond man charged forward with large strides, sprinting like an arrow released from a bowstring. He tightly gripped the Giant Sword radiating a faint magical glow with both hands and unleashed a horizontal slash at the Bear Goblin!
"Damn bugs! Die!" the Bear Goblin, not to be outdone, roared and swung its Warhammer to meet the attack.
CLANG!
A deafening metallic clash echoed wildly. The stone slabs beneath the blond man’s feet cracked inch by inch, yet his burly body remained as immovable as a boulder. In contrast, the Bear Goblin’s muscular body stumbled backward, staggering six or seven steps before it barely managed to steady itself.
The Bear Goblin clearly hadn’t expected to fall at a disadvantage in terms of Power. It froze slightly, then grew even more enraged. Just as its muscles bulged and it raised its Warhammer, ready to launch another attack, a slender, agile figure appeared silently behind its broad back like a ghost.
The Female Wanderer, dual-wielding Fine Steel Daggers, wore a twisted smile on her fair face. She suddenly traced two icy arcs in the Shadow, stabbing ruthlessly at the Bear Goblin’s lower back.
SQUELCH!
Despite the barrier of the Chain Armor Shirt, the dual daggers pierced through successfully, like cutting through cardboard, plunging deep into its tough flesh.
"Howl!"
The Bear Goblin’s scream this time was far more agonized than before; it was the pain of a truly vital strike!
In that very instant, the blond man spun halfway around like a whirlwind. Utilizing the momentum of his rotation, his Two-Handed Giant Sword carved out a perfect silver semicircle!
SWISH!
The sound of the blade slicing was muffled yet intimidating.
The Bear Goblin’s massive, ugly head flew spinning into the air, trailing scorching, foul blood. Until the very last moment, rage and unbelievable shock lingered in its faintly glowing green pupils. Its massive, headless body stood stiffly in place for a moment before crashing forward, splashing a pool of bloody gore.
This entire scene had occurred in the span of merely a few breaths. Before the surviving guards could even react, the three Professionals had already ended the battle.