Chapter 208: Close to the Breaking Point!

Chapter 208: Close to the Breaking Point!



Phil Kratz, upon seeing the unusually large white owl with a faint blue aura, was startled at first and prepared to turn back. However, he quickly calmed down and muttered to himself, "That's odd, it doesn't seem like a Wizard."

Marksmen are known for their exceptional vision. As he turned the corner, his eyes swiftly scanned the caravan where Marika and her group were located. He quickly disregarded the group of cavalry, but the two women by the wagon caught his attention.

Initially, it was their youth and beauty that drew his gaze, but now, seeing the giant white owl with a faint blue glow hovering around them, he realized this was no ordinary encounter with a Marksman.

To put it simply, an experienced Wizard or even an Apprentice Wizard would have a set of mature tactics to deal with a long-range Marksman. For instance, they might start by casting a slowing curse or a mist-type spell to hinder their opponent.

However, it was highly unlikely that this was the case, as the first instinct of a Wizard would be to cast protective spells on their contract creature rather than themselves.

At that moment, Phil Kratz's thoughts connected the dots. Considering the young appearance of the two women and the unusual behavior of the owl, he deduced that they were probably not formal Wizards, let alone experienced Apprentices.

So, what was there to fear?

As the blood-colored arrows sped towards him, Ren's Level 3 'Danger Sense' issued a strong warning. Clearly, the power of this attack was enough to pose a serious threat to Ren.

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It was him! He had met this man just two hours ago.

Upon spotting them, the man charged towards them, but strangely, he was holding a rope, seemingly dragging a humanoid object behind him.

The blood-colored arrows seemed to have a life of their own as they struck the greatsword, and then, hovering in mid-air, they furiously drilled into the spine of the gleaming greatsword, forcing Ren to take a step back from the sheer force.

He had actually captured the Poseidon Messenger! This realization filled both Marika and Veronica with excitement.

Once a bird's wings were damaged, their flying speed would be significantly hindered, turning them into easy targets.

Phil Kratz couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

Now, he had his revenge!

"Master, dangerous bow," Ren's thoughts echoed.

Unfortunately, he didn't have a shield in hand, which would have made it easy to block the attack. Now, it would be a bit more challenging.

Attacks like this could cause significant physical damage, and usually, he wouldn't use them, but he sensed that the two beautiful women across from him might not be ordinary. They seemed to be big fish.

The attack he had just used was his signature move, 'Blood Rage Strike,' which consumed some of his blood to unleash a strike far beyond his usual power.

Therefore, Ren had to break free quickly!

"Whoosh!"

This was the effect of a magic scroll used by Veronica, as a group of pirates, under the command of their second-in-command, were relentlessly hacking at the pale blue barrier.

Suddenly, Phil Kratz appeared, ready to 'play the hero.'

"Pfft!"

The one who could inflict such injuries with a single arrow could only be Phil Kratz, known as the 'Bloodshot Archer.'

Hearing Ren's words, Marika was taken aback. She turned to Veronica with a puzzled look and asked, "Veronica, did you understand what Ren said just now?"

Although they were at a disadvantage, it was impossible for their opponents to break through the protection of the magic 'Water Barrier' in a short time.

Hmm? Ren was startled as he received a fragment of consciousness. But soon, he realized that the Special Task Force must have encountered a formidable enemy.

Ren casually surveyed the members of the Special Task Force within the pale blue barrier, saying, "While magic is indeed mysterious, even spells have their limits. They can't sustain indefinitely."

The pirates cheered as they witnessed their second-in-command's impressive display of power.

Phil Kratz's arrows were incredibly accurate, and although the Great White Owl tried to dodge, its large size made it nearly impossible to avoid the rapid-fire barrage.

Moreover, the target wasn't just any pirate leader; it was a higher-ranking Poseidon Messenger, and he had not only achieved his goal but exceeded it.

The sound of approaching hooves was heavier and more muffled than usual, as if carrying a heavy load. Accompanying the hoofbeats was a distinct hissing sound.

As Phil Kratz turned to look at Ren, the two women also spotted him in the distance and couldn't help but feel overjoyed. "Hold on a little longer, everyone. Ren is here," Marika said with a relieved smile. Although she had appeared calm and collected, she was actually quite nervous inside. Seeing Ren's arrival eased her worries, as if his presence alone could vanquish their foes. And Ren, from atop his horse, quickly understood the situation.

The two drew closer!

Under the carrot-and-stick policy, the pirates in this area had been largely united under the Sea God Sect.

As he rubbed his eyes and looked intently, he heard the sound of a gong.

Sure enough, a formal wizard's creation or contracted creature would never be this weak.

"As long as I use it, this 'Bloodshot Archer' will surely die!"

Moreover, judging from the previous attack, the opponent was indeed just an apprentice wizard and most likely a novice, lacking experience in fighting against a marksman like himself.

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They had been humiliated for a while.

Could it be that the Special Task Force also encountered the Sea God Sect?

"I heard this move consumes a lot of energy, so the boss usually isn't willing to use it!"

It turned out that the Bloodshot Archer they had been searching for, Phil Kratz, suddenly appeared near the Special Task Force.

Phil Kratz calmly nocked a steel arrow and aimed at a figure behind the wagon, taking aim. A white seagull in the sky let out two sad cries and then swiftly circled around Ren before descending.

The Bloodshot Archer, Phil Kratz, was now full of regret. Damn it, those stupid birds in the sky had exposed his trail in the forest!

Ren quickly charged towards Phil Kratz.

They didn't understand the situation. Their vice-captain, Phil Kratz, had engaged in a fight with this unfamiliar knight that lasted less than ten seconds.

Poor Myrko of the Sea God Sect was dragged along behind them!

Additionally, spells had their endurance limits.

So, the two slightly agitated individuals quickly arrived at the side of the Sea God Sect envoy and began their inspection.

If they had known, they should have shot down all those birds from the start!

"How long can this barrier protect you?"

With a quick leap, he reached behind Phil Kratz, and a long, cold glow flashed!

Staring at Myrko, who was trapped like a dumpling and barely breathing, Phil Kratz's eyelids twitched, and his pupils shrank! It seemed the opponent was very strong!

"A rare sight indeed!"

Upon witnessing this, Veronica's face paled. If the Great Owl was merely injured, it would be fine, but if it died in battle, the loss would be significant.

"Clang, clang!" After deflecting two steel arrows, Ren barely managed to dodge the opponent's secret technique.

Even Myrko had been beaten to this state! So when Ren dismounted, drew the two-handed greatsword from his back, and approached them step by step, Phil Kratz felt a sense of dread.

For some reason, Marika felt a sense of reliability from Ren in her heart.

"It's here! It's the boss's 'Blood Rage Strike'!"

At that moment, he could no longer hold back and began shooting at Ren.

"Tweet!" A blood-red steel arrow flew at high speed towards the giant white owl in mid-air.

Damn it, they were selling out their own people? What about the brothers if he ran away? The members of the naval special task force, upon seeing this, were instantly invigorated and almost wanted to cheer. The seven or eight uninjured members quickly emerged from behind the pale blue water shield and began counterattacking in coordination with Ren.

"Rapid Fire!"

Was this what real combat was like? It was vastly different from the one-on-one, tutorial-like battles he had experienced before.

Ren immediately began dodging the opponent's attacks at high speed, but the arrows were too fast, and with the rapid rate of fire, he couldn't avoid several of them. Ren immediately started slashing at the arrows.

"Blood Rage Strike!" Phil Kratz used this signature move again.

With the birds' positioning, it not only made it easier for Ren to locate him but also allowed him to harass the opponent at critical moments! 'Bloodshot Archer' Phil Kratz, you shot my Great Owl! This time, Ren will definitely teach you a lesson! Veronica secretly rejoiced.

The Great Owl couldn't help but scream, immediately turning back towards Veronica and flying towards the wagon.

In their eyes, the outcome was still undecided!

Myrko inwardly cursed. A pale blue dome-shaped barrier had appeared next to the Special Task Force's wagon.

He immediately turned to look, and a tall, black warhorse carrying a knight appeared at the end of the road.

"Tsk tsk, the boss's secret archery technique, 'Rapid Fire'!" The Black Sail pirates, who were initially startled by the sudden appearance of the Great Owl, now calmed down and cheered excitedly upon seeing their boss's display of power.

Instantly, a group of elite pirates, grinning ferociously, raised their weapons and charged towards the wagon where the two women were!

There was a high probability that the opponent had some connection to this group of people.

Phil Kratz was extremely experienced in combat. He knew that when facing flying creatures, if he wasn't confident in hitting the body, choosing the larger area of the wings could be a wise decision.

This expensive knight's armor set was definitely not something an independent knight could afford, indicating that the opponent was likely a noble knight or employed by the Empire.

It seems that the one in front of them must be the messenger of the Sea God Sect. So, this is the big fish!

"Hurry, Veronica, request assistance from Sir Ren!" Marika quickly turned to Veronica and said.

"Bang!"

"..."

Ren shouted from a distance to Marika, "This, the one being dragged behind the black horse, is the messenger of the Sea God Sect!"

Ren naturally seized this good opportunity.

Veronica, looking at the 'Bloodshot Archer' Phil Kratz, seemed to have an idea. She immediately cast a spell, summoning a group of White Seagulls and Kingfishers to chase after the enemy.

Just as he was about to tell the other party to mind their own business, he suddenly noticed that Ren was wearing a water shield steel knight suit, and his expression changed slightly.

Immediately, Ren flicked the reins and swiftly controlled 'Black Pearl,' galloping toward the direction of their group.

In an instant, a blood-colored lightning bolt pierced through the pale blue water shield, hitting the large white bird's wing and pulling out a stream of blood with a hissing sound.

Without the slightest hesitation, Phil Kratz immediately fired several arrows at Ren again and then quickly retreated!

"Whoosh!"

"Damn! Isn't this the messenger of the Sea God Sect—Myrko?" He couldn't help but curse.

"Didn't he just say that the one being dragged behind the black horse is the messenger of the Sea God Sect?" Marika pointed in the direction of the black horse.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The group was completely overwhelmed by the 'Bloodshot Archer' Phil Kratz.

"Now it's been quite a while. At Sir Ren's speed, he should be here soon."

"If I heard correctly, I believe Sir Ren must have meant this!"

Phil Kratz keenly noticed that the white bird's wing was now marked with a small red dot.

If he didn't want to suffer the same fate, he had to retreat immediately!

"..."

This caused the pale blue water shield around the large white bird to flicker frequently, pushing the defensive power to its limit.

If he relied solely on his great sword for defense, it would eventually fail! Only offense is the best defense!

It was truly breathtaking!

Then, he quickly glanced at the Sea God Sect's envoy, who was tied up like a dumpling next to the tall, black warhorse. Phil Kratz knew he couldn't rescue him this time.

Ren, rarely, used the only defensive move in the Great Bear Sword Technique, plunging his great sword into the ground and using the thick, palm-wide edge to counter the 'Bloodshot Archer's' attack.

That's right!

Furthermore, from the White Seagulls earlier to the current large white Great Owl, it seemed the opponent's spells were all related to 'controlling birds,' which were perfectly countered by himself.

As a result, their deputy leader, the 'Bloodshot Archer' Phil Kratz, began to retreat.

Amidst the stunned gazes of the group, he shot off like an arrow, quickly chasing after Phil Kratz.

Previously, he would always think carefully before using such an attack because each time he did, it would take him ten to fifteen days to recover to his peak state. But after attending a prayer session of the Sea God Sect, he was granted a strand of Poseidon's power.

Since that's the case, this modified creature might not be very strong.

Inside the canopy, four or five sword-and-shield cavalrymen were either pierced through the chest or had their shields torn apart, with severe injuries.

He drew and shot arrows as if playing a piano, so quickly that his hand movements were a blur.

Now, when she saw the pirates charging at her with fierce momentum, she felt an inexplicable sense of panic.

When Phil Kratz was confident of victory, he heard a rhythmic sound of hooves behind him.

Judging from the blood on the ground, many cavalrymen were already injured.

A steel arrow, accompanied by a whistling sound, shot toward the large white Great Owl's wing.

Heavy, specially-made steel arrows, like bullets, rained down on the large white Great Owl.

Seeing Phil Kratz's smug expression, Veronica, inside the canopy, couldn't help but say angrily, "Major Marika, why didn't you let me use the 'Water Tomb' scroll?"

At first, Phil Kratz didn't consider Ren a major threat, thinking he might just be a lone knight.

Veronica felt a slight sense of guilt when she saw the injured large white bird and the similarly wounded special task force.

Their mission was to track the possible bases of the Sea God Sect and major pirate groups by following the pirates who came ashore, to facilitate the Empire's South Sea Fleet's targeted strikes.

Veronica's expression was also stunned, her beautiful eyes blinking a few times, and she looked at Marika before nodding:

"Companion... two dead"

Marika immediately shouted, "Everyone dismount and circle around the wagon, form a defensive line!"

Phil Kratz's expression turned serious, and he emitted a faint blood-colored glow, with the veins on his skin prominently bulging, which was quite terrifying!

Although the opponent was now in a terrible state, with a swollen face, it was definitely him!

Once Ren arrives, the tide of the battle will certainly turn!

The large white Great Owl flapped its wings forcefully, and the pale blue film around its body glowed. The high-speed steel arrow was deflected away.

"Great!" Veronica quickly snapped out of her daze and began casting a spell to send a message.

"Swish!"

The group of pirates who had accompanied Phil Kratz were left speechless, exchanging glances with each other.

Although his skin was rough and thick, he was not lightly injured. The wounds had initially healed, but after Ren's sudden acceleration, the jolting greatly increased, causing the previously healed wounds to split open again! Damn it, this bastard suddenly sped up!

"Veronica, your 'Water Tomb' scroll is your last resort. Even if your mentor, Master Einyus, were to create it, it would come at a significant cost. It's too precious!"

Nevertheless, the other party's killer move, a shot from the Bloodshot Archer, was successfully blocked by Ren! The slight dent on the gleaming greatsword's spine made Ren's heart ache.

Within seconds, the arrow bag hanging at Phil Kratz's waist, containing twenty specially crafted steel arrows, was emptied in an instant! Seeing the dozens of steel arrows flying towards him, forming a long line, Ren was also slightly startled. He hadn't expected the Bloodshot Archer's archery skills to reach such a high level.

The bowstring in Phil Kratz's hand was stretched to its limit, and intricate blood-colored patterns suddenly appeared on the steel arrow he was holding.

"Defensive stance!"

Poseidon's Power could counteract this side effect at least three times! Generally, the higher-ups of large pirate gangs had received numerous benefits from the Sea God Sect, while smaller gangs did not receive such treatment and were more likely to face punishment. Otherwise, the unruly pirates would not be so obedient to the Sea God Sect.

Moreover, Veronica's spell seemed to be precisely countered by the other party, making the entire scene a bit chaotic. The group took shelter within the pale blue water shield.

The skill Phil Kratz had just displayed was his secret archery skill, 'Rapid Fire!'

But at that moment, Phil Kratz started laughing.

This joy made both women overjoyed! At the same time, Marika recalled how Ren had chased after an enemy while dealing with the fourth position.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Phil Kratz immediately nocked an arrow and aimed at the white owl, shooting rapidly.

As expected, after Veronica cast a detection spell, the dense evil demigod power on the other party's body instantly verified their identity.

Despite its large size, it was still young and had never faced such a formidable opponent. It was momentarily overwhelmed by the enemy's imposing aura and fled in a panic.

"If it's really too late, you can use it then," Marika said calmly.

The two women instantly realized that everything Ren had said was true!

The twelve-person squad, being the elite of the navy, reacted swiftly. Ten cavalrymen, led by two official knights, arrived with four sword and shield-wielding soldiers at the forefront, while the other four shot arrows, and the rest prepared to engage.

Ren quickly approached Phil Kratz, guided by the white seagull and kingfisher.

Suddenly, seven or eight white seagulls and kingfishers fearlessly dove towards Phil Kratz's head, causing him to frantically defend himself.

Evidently, this was because the protective spell could not completely negate the damage from his arrows.

Unexpectedly, the pirate leader, who was supposed to require meticulous planning and a long time to capture, was caught so quickly.

"Go! Capture those two women, and kill all the men!" Phil Kratz waved his hand and laughed triumphantly.

Phil Kratz then carefully examined Ren, and when he saw the person Ren was dragging on the ground, his expression changed.

Phil Kratz witnessed his strongest attack being ineffective against his opponent, and his heart skipped a beat.

Although the damage was minimal, he hadn't used his full strength earlier! "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

"Yes, after so long, I've never seen anyone withstand it completely unharmed. Even the twin hammer and shield knights in Fishing Harbor Town were injured," another pirate exclaimed.

A minute later, Ren returned to the wagon, dragging Phil Kratz like a dead dog, and threw him heavily next to Myrko, the Poseidon Messenger.

At that moment, the half-dead Myrko opened his eyes, and the next second, his eyes widened in shock!

Damn it! How could it be Phil Kratz? Had he also been... Phil Kratz and Myrko, the two unfortunate brothers, stared deeply into each other's eyes, both seeing the same feelings of helplessness and despair.

Damn it! Who could have foreseen this! Just two hours ago, the two had eagerly discussed their future plans, full of confidence. But two hours later, they had both become prisoners of a young man!

The speed of this transformation was truly astonishing,

so fast that no one could have accepted it!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end