Chapter 240: The Unmovable Wall [III]
SWISH!
THWACK! BANG! CRASH!
The heavy steel blade attached to the rattling chain flew like a striking serpent, cracking against shoulder guards, sweeping legs out from under heavy armor, and delivering precise knock-out strikes to jawlines.
She intentionally avoided lethal pressure points, calculating her output to wound and incapacitate without taking a single life, strictly following her Lord’s orders.
Suddenly, a massive armored warrior wielding a two-handed battleaxe managed to pinpoint her location using an earth-detection spell.
He materialized out of the dark mist right behind her blind spot, throwing his entire body weight into a stealth ambush strike.
"DIE, INTRUDER!" the warrior roared, swinging his giant axe in a horizontal arc aimed straight for her spine.
Tasmin didn’t even turn around.
Her sensory perception picked up the displacement of air micro-seconds before the steel could touch her leather tunic!
"Heh!"
ZIP!
Tasmin executed a lightning-fast forward duck, letting the massive battleaxe whistle harmlessly over her head.
Before the warrior could recover his balance from the heavy swing, Tasmin pivoted on her right heel, driving her body straight into his chest guard.
STOMP!
She planted her left boot into his knee, breaking his stance, and unleashed a combination directly into his exposed stomach!
BANG!
The first hit was a heavy mana-infused fist straight to his solar plexus.
BANG!
The second hit was a brutal palm strike to his ribs.
BANG!
The third hit was a rising knee strike that shattered his iron belt buckle.
"Augh!"
BANG!
The fourth hit was a point-blank shadow-wave palm that made his entire stomach rattle inside his armor and finally the fifth hit was a devastating spinning high kick straight to his jaw!
BOOM!
The massive armored warrior let out a pathetic muffled groan as his eyes rolled back, his body launched five feet into the air before crashing heavily into the mud, completely unconscious.
THUD!
Within three minutes of continuous clashing, screaming, and heavy impacts, the last two scouts were hurled out of the dark dome, tumbling across the mud clearing to land directly at the base of Lord Sky’s iron war-rig.
FWOOSH!
Tasmin released her spell.
The giant dome of black shadow mana dissolved into fine black particles, floating away into the warm afternoon air.
The mud clearing was revealed once more.
All nineteen scouts, along with the silver-haired Demi-Human Hero, were lying scattered across the dirt in various states of unconsciousness.
Some were groaning softly with bruised ribs, others were completely out cold, but not a single one was dead.
Standing in the very center of the cleared field, holding both of her shortswords casually at her sides, was Tasmin.
Her silver-streaked hair fluttered in the gentle breeze, her breath perfectly steady as if she hadn’t even broken a sweat.
She slowly raised her dark eyes, locking her gaze directly onto Lord Sky standing up on the observation deck.
STEP!
Lord Sky took a subtle half-step back, his boots grinding against the iron deck. A cold drop of sweat trickled down the inside of his silver mask.
’She... she took down an entire twenty-man elite scout detachment and an A-Rank Demi-Human Hero in less than three minutes...’ Sky thought with his mind racing. ’And she didn’t even use lethal techniques! She calculated every single strike to knock them out cold without killing them!’
Beside Sky, a tall, imposing man stepped forward.
He wore a dark blindfold wrapped tightly over his eyes, carrying a massive double-edged broadsword strapped across his broad back.
This was Sky’s Main Hero... Toronto, the blind swordsman.
The blindfolded Hero reached back with his calloused hand gripping the pommel of his broadsword as his aura flared with dense steel mana.
"Let me handle this, Master," the blindfolded Hero spoke, his voice deep and raspy. "Her shadow flow is sharp, but my blade can cut through her dark domain."
Sky looked at his main Hero, then looked down at Tasmin standing alone in the clearing.
He raised his left hand, placing it firmly on his Hero’s broad shoulder.
"Stand down," Sky instructed quietly. "We’re not here to start a senseless war of attrition."
The blindfolded Hero paused, then released his grip on his weapon, bowing his head respectfully. "As you wish, My Lord."
Sky ran a hand over his short black hair, taking a deep breath before stepping down the iron ramp of his mobile fortress into the mud clearing.
He walked forward until he was twenty paces away from Tasmin, holding his hands out in a open non-threatening gesture.
"Congratulations on a flawless victory," Sky called out, his voice echoing across the quiet field. "You possess remarkable skill. May I ask for your name and title?"
Tasmin didn’t lower her weapons immediately.
She glanced around the clearing, noticing that the remaining hundred and eighty troops standing around the mobile fortress still had their bows notched, their spears leveled, and their elemental spells primed, looking at her with terrified hostile eyes.
Sky noticed her sharp gaze and immediately turned toward his army, waving his arm aggressively.
"Lower your weapons! All of you!" Sky commanded loudly. "Drop your guards! We are guests at their border!"
The two hundred troops hesitated for a second, then lowered their bows, sheathed their swords, and dispelled their glowing elemental circles, though they continued to stare at Tasmin with wide nervous eyes.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Out of the dark purple tree line, Luna... the massive female Blessed Wolf with glowing silver-white fur trotted smoothly into the clearing, pulling up right beside Tasmin.
Tasmin reached out with her single hand, gently patting Luna’s soft fur behind her ears.
The giant wolf let out a low, content huff, resting her large head beside Tasmin’s shoulder.
’I should remain formal and dignified as a representative of Blessed Land, right?’ Tasmin thought silently, centering her breathing as her Lord had taught her.
She sheathed both of her shortswords with a crisp metallic CLANG and crossed her arms over her leather chest guard.
"I am Tasmin," she announced clearly, her voice carrying an unshakeable authority. "I am one of the primary Commanders of the Blessed Land. You and your mobile fortress are currently intruding upon our domain’s outer jurisdiction. Therefore... you cannot proceed any further."
Sky stopped ten paces away, nodding his masked head in slow understanding.
"I understand completely, Commander Tasmin," Sky replied politely. "We will halt our forward march right here at this clearing. We have no intention of breaching your borders unannounced."
He looked around at the dark, misty forest surrounding them, tilting his head. "If you don’t mind me asking... what kind of monster ecosystem resides in this region? The atmosphere feels unusually heavy."
Tasmin looked at him neutrally, her silver-streaked hair swaying in the wind.
"The Umbral Basin is populated mainly by wild beast packs however in this area," Tasmin reported plainly. "There are corrupted dire-bears and wolves as well as other monsters like Umbral Bats that sit consistently around Tier 2, and occasionally... high-tier Tier 3 Alpha beasts roaming alongside them. As long as you don’t wander into any strange caverns or provoke the deep forest zones, you probably won’t get yourself and your territory killed."
Sky let out a slow, long sigh behind his alloy mask, shaking his head.
The casual nonchalant way she described Tier 2 and Tier 3 monsters roaming around like regular street stray dogs was mind-boggling!
What kind of absolute hellhole grid did Blessed Land establish its Territory in?!
In standard starter sectors, a single Tier 2 monster was a raid-boss threat that required fifty men to clear, yet here they were just regular border fauna?
"Right... Tier 3 beasts just wandering around," Sky chuckled dryly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Good to know."
Sky turned toward his logistics officers near the iron ramp. "Set up the meeting table! Bring out the luxury spread and prepare fresh tea!"
"Yes, My Lord!" the logistics staff answered immediately.
Within minutes, several soldiers carried out a grand carved mahogany meeting table and set it up right in the center of the mud clearing.
They laid down a fine white tablecloth, set up padded leather chairs, and brought out polished silver trays filled with steaming hot herbal tea, delicate pastries, and iced fruits.
At the same time, a group of terrified scouts scurried out into the field, picking up the twenty unconscious scouts and the silver-haired Demi-Human Hero from the dirt.
’Monsters... she’s a complete monster...’ one scout thought frantically, his hands trembling as he hauled his comrade’s heavy armor out of the mud. ’She knocked out twenty of us without even trying! Don’t look her in the eyes! Just pick them up and run!’
’She didn’t even use lethal strikes...’ another scout gulped, stealing a terrified glance at Tasmin’s shadow weapons. ’If she wanted to, she could have decapitated all of us in the dark...’
Sky walked over to the mahogany table, pulling out a chair and gesturing toward Tasmin with a polite smile.
"Commander Tasmin, please, come forward and sit," Sky offered warmly. "Have a drink and enjoy some refreshments before you relay my message back to your Lord."
Tasmin stood perfectly still beside Luna with her arms crossed, her dark eyes looking at the steaming cup of tea with cold suspicion.
"I don’t eat or drink food offered by strangers," Tasmin refused flatly, her voice as sharp as a razor. "I only eat what my Lord feeds me directly. Who knows? You could have laced that tea with paralyzing poison."
Sky blinked behind his mask, holding his hands up defensively. "I assure you, it’s just regular herbal tea—"
"And regardless," Tasmin interrupted smoothly, a proud smile touching her lips, "my Lord will arrive shortly."
The second those words left her mouth—
THUD! THUD! THUD!
A heavy thunderous pounding echoed through the canopy of the western woods.
Sky snapped his head toward the tree line.
Emerging from the forest at blinding speed was another massive majestic Blessed Wolf... Valkyrie, the gold Alpha mate.
Riding atop Valkyrie’s broad back was a striking, incredibly beautiful woman with long, sleek black hair falling to her shoulders and glowing mysterious purple eyes.
She wore a simple, fitted black button-down shirt and black trousers, though her left sleeve dangled empty from her shoulder, rolling loosely in the wind.
Sitting right behind her on the wolf’s hindquarters was a short, muscular dwarf woman holding a massive blacksmith hammer.
THUD!
Valkyrie came to a smooth halt right beside Tasmin and Luna.
Sky stared at the black-haired, single-armed woman in stunned silence.
Vespera looked down from Valkyrie’s back, her purple eyes scanning the twenty unconscious scouts being carried away before settling on Tasmin.
"Tasmin," Vespera spoke, her smooth, raspy female voice echoing through the clearing. "Did you kill anyone?"
Tasmin’s entire demeanor instantly transformed.
The cold ruthless and terrifying Commander who had just single-handedly butchered twenty men in a dark dome completely vanished.
Instead, Tasmin turned toward Vespera, her dark eyes widening with pure devotion as her cheeks flushed a bright delicate pink.
"No, I didn’t, My Lord!" Tasmin answered softly. "I strictly followed your orders and only knocked them out!"
Vespera smiled warmly, reaching down with her single right hand and gently patting Tasmin’s silver-streaked hair, stroking her head affectionately.
"Good girl," Vespera praised her gently. "You did a fantastic job."
Tasmin let out a soft breathless gasp with her face turning bright crimson as she leaned her head deeply into Vespera’s hand, purring like a spoiled kitten!
"Yes, My Lord..." Tasmin stammered adorably, her hands clutching her chest. "I’m... I’m your good girl..."
"PUFFT—!"
Lord Sky almost spat out his own saliva behind his alloy mask.
He stood there, staring at Tasmin in total mind-boggling shock.
’WHAT THE HELL?!’ Sky screamed internally, his eyes bulging behind his mask. ’WHERE DID THAT BRUTISH, TERRIFYING SHADOW DEMON GO?! WHY IS THIS WOMAN WHO LOOKS LIKE SHE LOVES CAVING SKULLS IN ACTING THIS ADORABLE ALL OF A SUDDEN?!’
Vespera withdrew her hand, patting Valkyrie’s neck as she swung her leg over and dismounted the wolf with fluid grace.
"Come along to the meeting table, Tasmin," Vespera instructed smoothly, turning to Thora as the dwarf forge-mistress hopped down beside her. "You too, Thora."
"Right behind you, Lord!" Thora grinned.
Vespera stepped forward across the mud clearing, walking directly up to the mahogany meeting table until she stood face-to-face with Lord Sky.
She offered him a breathtaking, smooth, and alluring smile, her deep purple eyes gleaming under the afternoon sun.
FLASH!
The six hovering camera drones surrounding Sky’s head captured her gorgeous face in crystal-clear high-definition, broadcasting her image instantly to over fifteen million active viewers across the world.
Sky’s stream HUD went into catastrophic overload.
The comment chat exploded so fast the text turned into an unreadable white blur as ten specific comments flashed prominently on his overlay.
[@GamerGod99: HOLY SHIT WHO IS THIS GODDESS?!]
[@SovereignWatcher: ONE ARM?! BLACK HAIR?! PURPLE EYES?! MY QUEEN!]
[@ValoriaFan: IS SHE THE LORD OF BLESSED LAND?!]
[@NoobMaster69: SHE IS 10/10 BEAUTY BRO!]
[@PVP_Legend: LOOK AT THOSE EYES! SHE’S MAJESTIC!]
[@DarkKnight_00: Blessed Land has the highest tier women in the game hands down.]
[@AnimeFanatic: I’M SIMPING SO HARD RIGHT NOW!]
[@TacticalNuke: WIFE MATERIAL! WIFE MATERIAL!]
[@Degenerate_99: Yo Sky ask her to breed with you on stream lmao!]
[@Coomer_X: BREED THIS WOMAN LORD SKY!]
Sky’s eyes caught the last two perverted comments scrolling across his vision, and a vein popped on his temple beneath his mask.
"Moderator! Ban [@Degenerate_99] and [@Coomer_X] permanently from the feed immediately!" Sky barked into his internal channel, clearing his throat awkwardly as he looked back at the stunning woman standing before him.
Sky cleared his throat, bowing his head politely. "May I ask for an official introduction?"
Vespera smiled smoothly, placing her single right hand over her chest as she delivered an elegant bow.
"I am Lord Vespera of the Blessed Land," Vespera introduced herself with her voice captivating the entire stream. "I am the one you requested to see."
She tilted her head slightly, her purple eyes twinkling with a sly warmth as she added.
"To have a legendary Classic Lord like you personally travel all the way to my territory... Lord Sky, it makes me quite happy. I must admit... I’m a big fan of yours."
Inside her mind, Silas Graves was grinning like a scheming mastermind.
’Butter him up,’ Silas thought slyly behind his female disguise. ’Flatter his ego, praise his reputation, and play the polite fan... so that when we sit down to draw up the formal Lord War terms and I ask what I get when I win... I can list off a massive pile of high-tier loot!’
That was the true art of Lord-to-Lord diplomacy before an official war... one Lord maneuvering to extract maximum profit from the other before the first blade was even drawn.