Chapter 187 - 125: Tit for Tat
Percy’s Kobolds, a type of Beast-headed People under the broader Beastman category, stood between 1.2 and 1.4 meters tall. However, their lives spent mining in caves had left them perpetually hunched over, so they only looked to be about a meter tall. Atop their heads sat a constantly lit oil lamp.
They swarmed onto the battlefield without any semblance of formation, relying purely on momentum. They were just a group of Low Level miners, not part of the Combat Sequence, but at this moment, they had indeed become a Power that could not be underestimated.
Though not as tall as the Skeleton Undead, the Kobolds could jump. They leaped into the air, swinging pickaxes and Hammers. Thanks to their mining skills, their strikes were remarkably precise. The Skeleton Undead, focused solely on attacking and with no concept of defending themselves, were successfully ambushed by the Kobolds one after another.
One by one, the skulls of the Skeleton Undead were shattered, their Soul Fires rapidly dissipating and vanishing in the sunlight. The Kobolds were stunned. They never imagined they were so powerful. ’The Undead look ferocious, but they’re actually pushovers! What’s there to be afraid of? Charge!’
The constant kills greatly boosted the Kobolds’ morale. With bizarre cries, they swung their mismatched Weapons and charged even more fiercely. Getting carried away, they rushed past the line formed by the Jackal Wolfman Warriors’ Shields and plunged recklessly into the Undead horde.
The Jackal Wolfman Warriors fought methodically. They gave the Kobolds’ bravery a mental thumbs-up, then watched as the charging Kobolds were frantically swarmed and beaten down by the Undead. The Jackal Wolfman Warriors had no intention of helping; they just gripped their Shields tighter and smashed the skulls of any Undead that got too close.
One Kobold, having gotten carried away and charged into the Undead horde, looked up to see an endless sea of nearly identical Undead. Skeletal claws reached for him from every direction. He could kill one, maybe two, but they were everywhere. He turned to flee, only to find that he had charged in too deep; his path of retreat was already cut off by the Undead. He let out a despairing shriek before being overwhelmed and killed.
BANG! BANG! BANG!...
The sound of Firearms was incessant as the Jackal Wolfman Long Spear Team maintained their constant barrage. They loved this feeling—all they had to do was hide in a safe spot and fire without reservation. Those Undead were so foolish they couldn’t even break through the Jackal Wolfman Warriors’ blockade. As long as they had enough Ammunition, they felt they could keep killing until the end of time.
The Undead Army was like an ocean tide, but the Jackal Wolfman Warriors were a cliff face, staunchly blocking their advance. The Undead came in waves and died in waves. Despite outnumbering their enemies several times over, they were unable to inflict any effective damage, and their efforts were utterly futile.
"Hahahaha... Victory is ours! The Deities are with us! Percy, do you hear that?" Benjamin laughed maniacally, grabbing Percy as he asked.
"Hear what?" Percy shot back, his expression grim.
He just couldn’t understand why his Kobolds were so stupid. ’Look at those Jackal Wolfmen, killing from a safe distance. Isn’t that great? Their losses are minimal.’
’Now look at my idiots—they actually charged right into the Undead horde. They’re brainless! My losses are going to be huge. I worked so hard, pouring my heart and soul into raising those Kobolds.’
"It’s the horn of the Goddess of Victory! We’re going to win! Woohoo!" Benjamin cheered, dancing with joy. ’What does it matter how many Undead there are? My Jackal Wolfman Warriors and Long Spear Team are more than enough.’
WHOOSH—
A White Bone Long Arrow shot through the air. Before a Jackal Wolfman who was about to fire his gun could react, the Long Arrow pierced him between the eyes. The momentum snapped his head back with a sickening CRACK from his neck, which had obviously been broken. But the stricken Jackal Wolfman felt no pain from the fracture; after all, he was already dead.
Losing none of its momentum after piercing the Jackal Wolfman’s head, the Long Arrow slammed into the protective plating of the Jackal Wolfman Fortress.
The Jackal Wolfmen of the Long Spear Team were engrossed in firing and failed to notice their dead comrade. Only when more arrows flew from behind the "wall" of Undead, felling Jackal Wolfmen one by one, did they finally realize what was happening.
’Holy shit, Archers!’
In most battles, the fortress’s height was enough to protect the Long Spear Team from attack, so Benjamin had never bothered to add any extra defenses for them. This time, their luck had run out. The Jackal Wolfmen of the Long Spear Team stood on an elevated firing platform. To the Skeleton Longbowmen, weren’t they just a line of living targets? A shot couldn’t possibly miss.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!—
White Bone Long Arrows flew relentlessly, inflicting heavy casualties on the Long Spear Team. They scrambled to aim their firearms at the Skeleton Longbowmen, but Li Ziyu had already positioned his archers behind Light Armor Shields. Hitting them was now next to impossible.
The Jackal Wolfman Long Spear Team unleashed a volley. Bone fragments flew as the Light Armor Shields were peppered with bullet holes. Yet, the Skeleton Longbowmen behind them were completely unharmed. Their Soul Fires pulsed. A Skeleton cocked its head to look at the enemy, then silently nocked a Long Arrow. Aim. Lock. Fire!
Just as the Jackal Wolfmen were busy reloading after their volley, the White Bone Long Arrows arrived. The sickening THUD-THUD-THUD of arrows sinking into flesh was followed by screams, and another wave of Jackal Wolfmen fell dead.
Li Ziyu stood atop the main tower, looking at the decimated Jackal Wolfman Long Spear Team. A disdainful smile touched his lips. ’Is that all? Really?’
’Did you think you could conquer the world just because you have Firearms?’
’How naive.’
’This world has Magic. Relying solely on Firearms might be enough to bully small Native Tribes, but it doesn’t make you invincible. You left your Long Spear Team sitting out in the open, arranged in firing lines like some ancient regiment of Gunmen. If I didn’t wipe them all out, I’d be letting your kind gesture go to waste.’