Chapter 736: The Ambush
Chapter 736: The Ambush
After leaving the indigenous settlement, the three execution squad leaders led their teams through the dense forest, guided by several locals. With a large group, their previous treks often disturbed the local creatures, slowing their progress and leaving noticeable traces. But this time, they encountered no such dangers, easily overcoming minor obstacles along the way.
Their pace was several times faster than usual, and they even had the leisure to erase their tracks. This was all thanks to the skilled guide, and the leaders couldn't help but think that if they had such help earlier, they might have already found the relic.
Despite this, the squad leaders remained vigilant towards the locals, but they reasoned that even if these people had ulterior motives, it would likely be related to the relic. So, until they found the relic, they were probably safe.
After walking for half a day, the guides examined a river ahead and, sensing something, conferred among themselves. They suggested a rest, even though the squad's stamina could easily handle more. The leaders knew there must be a reason for this, and Captain Hai immediately ordered the team to halt for a break.
Captain Hai took a sip of water and glanced at Captain Lu, who sat nearby with a furrowed brow. "Captain Lu, are you still worried about Captain Xu? I don't think you need to."
Captain Lu looked at him in surprise.
Captain Hai took another sip, slowly twisting the cap back onto his water bottle. "Captain Xu is very capable, and he's always cautious. Even if we run into trouble, he's unlikely to be affected."
Captain Lu frowned. "Xu is a formidable fighter, but he's still just one person."
"We've been out of communication for days," Captain Hai said. "The Defense Department won't just sit idly by. I think they'll send reinforcements soon."
Captain Lu considered this, but he wasn't optimistic. The Defense Department's main forces were all deployed at the World Ring gap, and while there were still capable individuals in the Central City, they were tasked with protecting officials. It seemed unlikely they could spare anyone.
But then, he thought of one person who, if sent, might provide real support against their formidable pursuers. Even so, finding them in this vast area would be challenging.
Still, some hope was better than none.
He exhaled. "Let's hope so."
Captain Hai didn't push further, trusting Captain Lu to manage his emotions. His thoughts, however, differed from Captain Lu's. "Captain Lu, Captain Hu, let's do our best to find the relic. That way, Captain Xu can relax."
Both Captains Lu and Hu nodded. They had already agreed that as soon as they located the relic, they would fire signal flares and leave secret signs in key locations to notify Xu Chan. In theory, the faster they found the relic, the safer Xu Chan would be.
The last time they felt the relic's resonant trace was four days ago, and they had been following that trace intermittently since.
They were now certain the relic had been swallowed by a creature, so they relied on both the relic's resonance and tracking the creature's traces. The local guides were invaluable here, as only they could identify the specific creature.
Suddenly, a loud rumbling sound came from ahead, and countless four-legged creatures, each the size of a horse, thundered past the riverbank. Despite their relatively small size, they seemed incredibly heavy, leaving deep pits in the ground and crushing even the stones in their path.
After waiting for over a quarter of an hour, the creatures finally departed, leaving behind a changed landscape. Trees lay toppled on both sides of the river.
It was then that the team realized why the guides had suggested a break. Had they continued, they would have collided with this herd, and few would have survived.
The guides signaled it was safe to proceed, but Captain Hai approached them for a quick conversation. After confirming the situation, he didn't immediately lead the team forward. Instead, he ventured out of the forest, crossing to the opposite bank to survey the area.
As he did, he suddenly felt a faint tremor in his pocket. He stopped, turned a few times, and with his exceptional sensing ability, quickly fixed on a specific direction. He took a few more steps forward, and the sensation persisted, showing no signs of fading.
He looked in the direction he was facing, his eyes lighting up. Yes, this was it. After days of intermittent searching, they had once again found traces of the relic.
Chen Chuan spent another night in the Union's camp and set off at dawn, this time without the motorized vehicles, relying solely on his own two feet.
Despite this, his normal running speed was only slightly slower than the vehicles, and any energy depletion was quickly replenished with a few nutrition bars.
Identifying the traces around him was more challenging, but he soon discovered that the further he ventured, the clearer the traces became, indicating he was getting closer to the others.
After about a morning's worth of travel, he discovered the third camp along his route.
This time, he was surprised to find that it was actually guarded, with around seven or eight armed personnel. They seemed to be waiting for someone, as they were mostly looking behind them.
Of course, it was also possible that they were guarding against enemies approaching from the rear, but this was less likely. Otherwise, they would have tried to conceal themselves instead of being so obvious.
After a quick observation, he set down his travel bag and approached the camp with his Snow Lady Sword. The guards at the camp immediately opened fire, but the shooting stopped after just a moment.
In just half a minute, he had eliminated all the armed personnel in the camp.
He inspected the camp and found some records and documents, confirming that the camps and traces of activity along the way were indeed left intentionally to facilitate the rendezvous with their comrades from the rear. Those coming from behind must have been informed in advance and knew how to avoid the camp's guardian creatures.
The fact that he had reached this point meant that he was getting closer to the main force of the Coalition.
Since it was still early, he didn't linger for long. After taking a sip of water, he continued on his journey. In the afternoon, around three or four o'clock, he found another camp with several armed guards. He easily dealt with them and discovered a new situation.
After leaving this camp, the group split into two, each heading in different directions.
He guessed that the Coalition and the Linax Federation had been traveling together before splitting up here. These two forces were not allies, so it made sense for them to search separately, which would be more efficient.
Through the captured guards' confessions and the traces on the ground, he confirmed that the Coalition was only two or three days away. If he could move faster, he might be able to catch up with them in just a day or two without any major setbacks.
After determining the Coalition's route, he decided to follow it the next day.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
