Chapter 148: The First Casualty
Chapter 148: The First Casualty
At this point, there was no turning back.
The never-ending winter forced these Awakeners to take a risky move, and some even attempted to bypass Lord An Rui, heading towards the town's exit.
"Even if I have to go alone, you won't stop me..."
Bang! In an instant, their vision spun.
This was the first Awakener who tried to pass by Lord An Rui.
Before he could even realize what had happened, he had already lost consciousness.
Those behind him witnessed the event more clearly.
As their companion took a step forward, Lord An Rui, who had been standing still, suddenly rushed forward and grabbed him with his remaining right hand, lifting him high and slamming him to the ground in an instant.
There was no time to react, and no chance to resist.
This Second Stage Awakener fell to the ground, creating a human-shaped indentation in the thin layer of snow, and then there was silence.
If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, this scene might have suggested that he had been smashed to death.
A Fifth Stage warrior.
Even with the loss of an arm, he was still not someone a weakling could provoke.
...
The Awakeners exchanged glances.
In any other situation, facing the coercive force of Lord An Rui, a Fifth Stage Awakener, they would have chosen to submit.
But at this moment, in their eyes, staying in the town meant certain death.
When comparing the two options, fighting Lord An Rui became a viable choice.
"Attack!"
"Let's take him on!"
The Awakeners rushed forward, forming a semi-circle where they could support each other.
Alone, none of them were a match for Lord An Rui.
But with their combined efforts, focusing on Lord An Rui's injured left side, they could challenge the Fifth Stage Awakener before them.
The sounds of battle immediately filled the air.
The town's entrance instantly became a battlefield.
Lord An Rui, from a lineage of war scholars, was unafraid of combat. He skillfully employed his superior striking techniques, advancing and retreating with precision, seamlessly integrating offense and defense.
His solitary figure, even without support, could handle the crisis with his formidable strength.
He even dodged the sharp gaze of his opponents.
Snowflakes danced around them, as if praying for this final battle.
But at that moment, Lord An Rui noticed something peculiar—among the Awakeners surrounding him, Somjin was nowhere to be found.
The merchant had taken advantage of the distraction, while his companions were engaged with Lord An Rui, to slip away alone into a nearby alley.
Escape?
Lord An Rui's anger surged.
"I won't let you get away!"
At this very moment, the battle had taken a different turn from the previous lesson.
The Awakeners who had been knocked unconscious by Lord An Rui earlier had not directly attacked him; they only wanted to leave the town.
But now, the surrounding Awakeners were taking the initiative to attack.
Lord An Rui showed no mercy.
The training and combat he had received in Naluke Bandek a century ago were still with him, honed into refined skills.
When the axe in his hand clashed with the axe of his opponent, the ability to strike with superiority became evident in the absolute suppression of power.
The Awakener who initiated the attack was immediately pushed back several steps by Lord An Rui's sudden surge of immense strength, almost losing his balance.
Another Awakener rushed forward.
He wanted to cover his companion who had lost his balance, restoring their battle line.
But this hasty charge, born out of desperation, gave Lord An Rui an opportunity.
The lord of the border town lunged forward, and the long dagger in his hand pierced the other's chest like a bolt of lightning.
Blood gushed out in an instant.
The man with the pierced chest was then sent flying.
An Rui wouldn't leave his weapon on a corpse, so he kicked the enemy, whose chest had already been pierced, sending him flying.
This was the first person to die in the battle.
It was also the first person that An Rui had personally killed since the crisis in the borderlands began.
At this moment, the air around them seemed to turn even colder.
But the people's fighting spirit didn't cool down; instead, it boiled over, triggering an even more frenzied attack than before.
An Rui's eyebrows furrowed.
Even though the enemy had lost a man, the pressure of the battle he faced only intensified.
"Hmm?"
At this moment, the lord of the border town noticed something.
Somjin, who had been at the back, observing the siege without joining in, was now taking action.
But instead of joining the battle, he quickly retreated to the other side.
Running away?
What was this guy up to? An Rui knew he had to pursue him.
No matter what Somjin was up to, he had to stop him.
But the other Awakened Ones who were besieging him were now fully immersed in the fight, their brains dominated by anger and murderous intent.
Even if An Rui could take them down, he couldn't defeat them all in a short time.
He couldn't let Somjin escape at this moment!
An Rui made a decision and shouted, "Alen, hold them off for me!"
As soon as his words landed, people from outside the town rushed in.
It was Alen, accompanied by several other Awakened Ones who An Rui trusted deeply, and they were also the ones who had firmly stood by An Rui's side during the previous standoff.
Somjin understood the art of coalition and alliance, gathering strength.
An Rui, of course, understood this principle as well.
So after receiving the news from his informant, he wouldn't come alone; he had also prepared backup for himself.
However, An Rui's original plan was to suppress all these rebels by himself.
This way, he could further enhance his prestige in the town.
But Somjin's sudden retreat forced him to change his previous plan.
"Lord An Rui, leave this to me!"
As An Rui's protege, Alen rushed forward with his companions, immediately joining the fray with the other Awakened Ones. The siege on An Rui quickly turned into a chaotic battle between the two sides.
Having experienced battles against demon beasts, Alen not only possessed the skills of a warrior but also had a rudimentary ability to lead his companions in combat.
With this assistance, An Rui finally managed to extricate himself.
He took a breath and looked in the direction Somjin had left.
The merchant walked away decisively, showing no hesitation or concern for his companions' situation.
In just a few breaths, the entrance to the town was completely devoid of his figure.
An Rui's eyebrows rose, and his eyes shone with confidence.
As a merchant, Somjin was no match for An Rui's physical prowess.
Confident that he could catch up to this enemy, An Rui circled the battlefield and pursued the retreating figure, leaving a final instruction for Alen:
"Alen, show no mercy."
"In battle, enemies are just enemies, nothing more."
(End of Chapter)
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