Chapter 443: The Centaur Tribe

Chapter 443: The Centaur Tribe

One hour ago.

Deep within a dense forest, over ten kilometers away from the location of the Serpent Sect's grand prayer ceremony.

Three ironwood guardians, each standing four to five meters tall with human-like forms, stood behind a man and a woman. Their rough trunks bore the visage of an elderly human, and on each side, a particularly thick branch extended like arms. These were the unique guardians of the elven race.

However, they consumed a significant amount of energy when moving, so they usually remained in a state of rest, rooted in the ground, slowly absorbing nourishment from the earth.

Understanding this, the elves not only used nature magic to aid their growth periodically but also strategically placed ironwood guardians in vital areas of the Ferdinand Forest as a hidden line of defense against invaders.

This particular spot was one such guardian outpost.

Lambert, who had just returned from a stealth attack, was speaking with Anna.

"Miss Anna, I'm sorry I couldn't save your tribesmen," Lambert said with a hint of apology.

"No, no! Lord Lambert, please don't say that. It's just that the opponent was too strong," Anna quickly waved her hands, interrupting him.

She glanced at the two holes in Lambert's light-colored outer garment and knew that Lord Lambert had already done his best.

No one had anticipated that there would be an epic powerhouse among the Serpent Sect's forces.

It was due to this unexpected power that Basharan's defenses were swiftly crushed by the sect within a short time.

If not for Lord Lambert's rescue, Anna's fate might have been the same as her captured tribesmen, used as sacrificial offerings in the sect's prayer ceremony. So, she was genuinely grateful for Lambert, a friend of Rayen's.

However, asking Anna to give up on rescuing her tribesmen was something she found extremely difficult to accept.

After her mother's disappearance, Aunt Delana was her only remaining family member, and although some pureblood elves looked down on her as a half-elf, many others had shown her great care.

As a result, Anna's current state of mind was filled with turmoil.

Attempting a rescue with her own strength was almost impossible.

Yet, she couldn't bring herself to ask Rayen's friend to try again.

"Miss Anna, I'll go there again later. At the very least, I can disrupt their ritual formation and delay their prayer ceremony. As long as your tribesmen are alive, we'll always have a chance to rescue them," Lambert said after a moment of thought.

"Also, I've calculated the time, and Lord Rayen should be arriving soon."

Lambert remembered clearly that according to Rayen's earlier words, he was supposed to arrive a day later, and by now, he was most likely already in the Ferdinand Forest.

In fact, Rayen might already be on his way to meet Lambert.

Hearing Lambert mention Rayen's imminent arrival, a spark of hope flashed in Anna's beautiful eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a look of deep concern. She whispered, "But if Rayen confronts that person, I fear..."

In Anna's memory, although Rayen was incredibly powerful, he wasn't yet an epic powerhouse. Facing that individual might be beyond his capabilities.

Most importantly, she didn't want Rayen to take risks because of her or her tribesmen.

When the sudden change occurred, Anna had initially wanted to send a message to Rayen immediately. But after some thought, she dismissed the idea.

At the time, she had underestimated the enemy's strength, believing that the elves could easily repel the attack. However, the reality was quite different.

After the battle commenced, Anna never had another chance to contact Rayen.

This was why Rayen, back in the imperial capital, hadn't received any messages from Anna.

"Rest assured, Miss Anna. Once Lord Rayen arrives, all these difficulties will become manageable," Lambert said confidently.

Although the epic powerhouse from the Serpent Sect was formidable, Lambert had witnessed Rayen's battle against the incarnation of the Sea Goddess in the Dragon Valley secret realm. He had absolute faith in Rayen's abilities.

Even if things didn't go as planned, Rayen's arrival would provide an opportunity to rescue the elves.

"Lord Lambert, why don't you continue harassing them here, while I make a trip to Ferdinand City to report on what happened in Basharan?" Anna suggested.

"Look, my injuries have fully healed," she said, standing up to indicate that her leg injury had completely recovered.

During the previous battle to protect Basharan Town, she had sustained an injury to her left shin, which was why she had stayed in this hidden location to recover.

"That's true. Your injuries healed quickly, but your stamina hasn't fully recovered yet," Lambert shook his head.

"Miss Anna, logically, with such a significant incident occurring in the southern part of the forest, there should be some response from Ferdinand City. But there's been no news. Don't you find this strange?"

"If you think about it, you'll realize that something must have happened in Ferdinand City as well. So, even if you overcome countless difficulties to get there, it might not make any difference."

Lambert's words were like a revelation to Anna, a sudden clarity in the midst of her anxiety.

When it came to combat experience and the intricacies of human affairs, Lambert's insights were far superior to Anna's naivete.

"But..." Just as Anna was frantically pondering what to do next.

"Who's there?!"

Suddenly, Lambert's expression turned serious as he looked towards the dense forest.

Clang!

In the next instant, Lambert drew his sword with lightning speed, blocking something.

A short feathered arrow was embedded in the ground with a hissing sound.

"As expected, very fast!"

A young man with blonde hair, dressed in noble hunter's attire, emerged from the forest, holding a long pipe in his hand.

Lambert was infuriated by the enemy's surprise attack, and he was well aware that there was only one person nearby. Therefore, he decided that the battlefield should not be here.

He had promised Ren to protect Miss Anna's safety, so it was better to move the battlefield as far away as possible.

"Miss Anna, hide behind the Ironwood Guardian!" Lambert said in a low voice.

As soon as he finished speaking, Lambert disappeared from the spot like a gust of wind.

Minos, the 'Evil Snake', who was about to say something, suddenly narrowed his pupils as Lambert's greatsword appeared before him, faster than he had anticipated.

This caused Lambert to tiptoe and quickly fly backward.

From Anna's perspective, she heard two 'swish' sounds, and both figures disappeared into the depths of the dense forest.

She only heard the sound of high-speed airflow pounding and trees breaking and falling from that direction, and the expected sound of metal clashing appeared only a few times.

After less than ten seconds.

Suddenly, a familiar figure flashed out from the forest, it was Lambert. Just as Anna's face lit up, thinking that Lambert had defeated the opponent, her expression changed again.

Because on Lambert's left shoulder, there was a thumb-sized emerald green snake biting him!

"Shh!"

Lambert, expressionless, swung his sword, instantly slicing off a piece of flesh along with the small snake.

However, the toxicity of this emerald green snake seemed very unusual. Although Lambert had handled it exceptionally decisively, the blood flowing from the wound at this moment was a mixture of crimson and eerie pale green fluorescence.

"Not good! It's highly venomous!" Anna hurried over, her face turning pale, and said.

Before Lambert could say anything, Anna immediately cast the Level 1 Nature Spell 'Healing' that she had mastered. Instantly, a small tornado formed by green leaves emitting a pale green glow enveloped Lambert.

The green leaves, like moths drawn to a flame, continuously flew towards Lambert's wound, attaching themselves and rapidly forming a green light membrane.

But to Anna's surprise, Lambert's wound did not heal, and blood continued to ooze from it. Her bright green natural energy seemed unable to cleanse the dark green poison remaining on the wound.

Just as Anna was about to cast another spell, Lambert waved his hand, stopping her from casting again, and said:

"The opponent's poison is very unusual. Miss Anna, there's no need to waste more spiritual power. The urgent task now is to immediately relocate."

Although Lambert didn't know any spells, his robust physique was no less effective than a typical spell treatment. However, he still couldn't withstand the opponent's toxicity, and Lambert knew that the poison was very potent.

Anna's additional casting had little effect, but stabilizing the toxicity was already a significant achievement.

"But..."

"The opponent is also severely injured and won't dare to return in a short time. What I'm worried about is that person." Lambert shook his head and said.

Lambert was very confident in his strength. As long as the opponent wasn't an epic-level power, eating his near-full-strength sword strike would be unbearable.

Although the two had only just exchanged blows, they had already gauged each other's strength levels. Moreover, Lambert discerned from the opponent's techniques the close connection between the opponent and the snake.

Obviously, the opponent was a legendary peak power from the Serpent Sect, and he was in the same group as the Serpent Sect followers who had invaded Barashan.

With this analysis, Lambert naturally understood that he and Anna must immediately change locations.

"Yes, Lord Lambert, I know of a secret shelter nearby that should be safer." Anna nodded and said.

Several kilometers away.

Minos, the 'Evil Snake', was also in a bad state!

"It seems to be the way of the Tide Sword Saint, and his strength is formidable!"

Minos licked his lips, his face showing an abnormal flush. His right hand covered his abdomen, and a long, narrow wound still emitted a faint white light, with Lambert's Sword's Creed dominating it.

This was the reason why Minos's body couldn't heal quickly.

After finding a safe location, Minos took out a potion from his pocket and applied it to the wound. Then, he immediately fired a signal flare into the sky, and a green snake-shaped firework signal appeared in the sky.

Not far away, Quirut, the Vice-Patriarch of the Serpent Sect, and his companions naturally saw Minos's signal flare at the first opportunity.

This made Quirut smile and say, "As expected of the number one Serpent Agent, the 'Evil Snake', to find that guy so quickly."

"Yes, Lord Minos's efficiency is indeed very high." The Serpent Sect followers beside him laughed and echoed.

"Let the search team head in that direction and release the Mutant Flying Snake Swarm. Once they track the guy's trail, immediately fire a signal flare. As for the rest of you, continue repairing the ritual formation."

Quirut gave orders while standing up.

"Yes, Vice-Patriarch." The other Serpent Sect followers bowed and said.

Just as Quirut decided to head towards the signal's location, he took a step and stopped.

He suddenly looked towards the forest on the left, smiled, and said, "Hmm? It seems we have visitors."

Suddenly!

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The next second, dozens of feather arrows and throwing spears flew towards the Serpent Sect followers who were setting up the ritual formation, but in an instant, they were blocked by a huge, thin, dark membrane shield.

These feather arrows and short spears were very sharp and thrown with great force, but they couldn't penetrate the black membrane. From this, it could be seen that the attacker's strength was inferior to Lambert's, who could split open this shield with a single sword strike.

The Serpent Sect followers turned and unleashed their innate sorcery, and they also got a clear look at the newcomers—a group of tall centaurs.

These centaurs stood over two and a half meters tall, with strong human upper bodies and four-hoofed horse bodies below. Most of them had brown or gray hair.

However, the leader was a white centaur over three meters tall, with a middle-aged man's face, a goatee, and tied-back hair. He held a spear and shield, appearing exceptionally robust.

It was he who had successfully speared and killed one of the Serpent Sect followers.

"Invaders, die!"

The centaurs, seeing their long-range attacks were ineffective, shouted as they charged towards the Serpent Sect followers with fierce momentum, seemingly intending to engage in close combat.

With their four hooves, they were incredibly fast. As dozens of centaurs charged, it felt like thousands of cavalry were on the offensive!

The Serpent Sect members were initially taken aback by the centaurs, as they were rarely seen outside and were considered an auxiliary race to the elves, only found in small numbers in Ferdinand Forest.

The unknown represented uncertainty in strength.

So, when the Serpent Sect followers saw the centaurs' charging might, they momentarily showed fear.

"Centaurs? Excellent, the offerings we receive during the prayer ceremony will be even greater." The Vice-Patriarch of the Serpent Sect, Quirut, seeing this, smiled.

"Late-stage legend?" Quirut glanced at the white centaur leader, his smile widening.

In the next second, Quirut appeared in the center of the battlefield, right in front of the charging centaurs.

The white centaur leader, caught off guard by Quirut's sudden appearance, hesitated for a moment. But then, his right arm suddenly swelled to twice its size, and he thrust his spear towards Quirut!

In the centaur leader's mind, any enemy facing his charge would have to dodge, allowing him to break through and rescue his comrades.

But the outcome was beyond his expectations.

Quirut firmly gripped the metal spear, but that was not all. In the next instant, to the centaur leader's horror, he found himself lifted by the arm holding the spear, single-handedly hoisted by Quirut.

With one hand, Quirut withstood the charge of the white centaur leader, who was traveling at hundreds of kilometers per hour and weighed over half a ton.

Such strength...

A terrible premonition rose in the centaur leader's heart. And indeed, a terrifying willpower radiated from Quirut, enveloping the area.

Instantly, on each centaur, a dark-colored python with intricate patterns appeared and began to coil, roll, and constrict.

Cries of agony filled the air as the powerful centaurs fell to the ground, struggling against the pythons. But the size of these pythons seemed to match the centaurs' strength.

The stronger the centaur, the larger the python!

Especially the python confronting the white centaur leader was as thick as a millstone and over ten meters long.

"This is a domain! You... you're an epic-level power!"

The white centaur leader now understood. The unassuming hooded man in black robes was an epic-level power.

"You guessed right, but it's too late!"

"Crack!"

As Quirut clenched his right fist, the thirty-plus centaurs on the field were strangled by the pythons, their bones breaking with loud snaps.

"Vice-Patriarch Quirut's python domain is becoming more powerful."

"Indeed, this centaur leader seemed strong, but he couldn't withstand it."

"The Vice-Patriarch's power is undoubtedly formidable. Otherwise, our attack on the elven town would not have been so easy."

". . ."

Several Serpent Sect followers immediately agreed.

"I've always heard that Ferdinand Forest is home to centaur tribes that have long disappeared from the outside world. This is the first time I've seen them alive."

"Go, capture these centaurs. We'll sacrifice them during the prayer ceremony." Quirut, in a good mood, pointed to the centaurs lying on the ground and ordered.

"Yes, Vice-Patriarch."

The Serpent Sect followers were delighted, bowing in agreement.

Although the prayer ceremony benefited the high-ranking and powerful members of the sect the most, the lower-ranking members could also gain significant improvements in strength.

Of course, the extent of their gains could not compare to the sect's leadership.

But it was still a gain, nonetheless.

This was why they were more enthusiastic about holding prayer ceremonies than individual cultivation. As long as the offerings were of high quality, their strength would increase rapidly!

So, originally, most Serpent Sect followers saw the various formidable creatures in Ferdinand Forest as obstacles to their progress. But now, they realized these creatures were resources for their strength enhancement.

At the same time, dozens of kilometers away from the Seventh Sentinel Post, a slender airship, resembling a date pit, suddenly appeared in the sky, catching the attention of the logistics team left by Rein.

"Lady Bianca, come quick! This airship seems extraordinary!" exclaimed a team member responsible for observation on the airship.

Ian, inside the post, also received the report about the mysterious airship.

Everyone's attention was now focused on this unusual airship.

The sleek airship began to slow down and hovered several kilometers away from them.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end