It might seem like a lot to have more than a hundred thieves, but in such a complex mountainous forest, it’s really not much. Searching for several dozen people in such terrain is like looking for a needle in the haystack.
Nie Yan didn’t take the situation seriously enough. In his mind, who in Carol City could rival Cow Manor? The Triumph Empire was under such tight surveillance that even players from Battle Blades Bloodthirsty, Mage Alliance, and Sacred Guardians would find it hard to come over.
Cow Manor had deep roots in Carol City. Among every ten players, at least one had some connection to Cow Manor. Once they got any information, Cow Manor would immediately know. It was difficult for any group of hundreds or even thousands of players to escape Cow Manor’s watchful eyes. Therefore, having two thousand people for the escort was sufficient.
The six elemental shamans used teleportation techniques, secret arts of the priest temple. Usually, secret art skills were the most unpredictable. Moreover, they were well-prepared, having previously set up teleportation points near Glory City. Each teleportation could bring over fifty to sixty people.
Battle Blades Bloodthirsty had been planning to attack Cow Manor’s fortress for a long time. This time, due to the appearance of black powder, they temporarily changed their strategy—to destroy the black powder first!
Black powder was a military supply, and large quantities were difficult to carry in backpacks. Putting black powder into small porcelain bottles would require at least tens of thousands of bottles, which would take several days to prepare. They had to carry it by hand for now. It would be much easier if they could make carts for transportation later.
Black powder had many uses, such as making various city defense and siege weapons, like explosive magic bombs, fire crossbows, and incendiary catapults.
As for goblin arcane cannons, everyone had heard of them, but the blueprints were hard to find.
If Nie Yan could transport all this black powder and materials back, he could produce goblin arcane cannons. Even having one or two would be very beneficial.
“Boss Nieyan, it’s safe here. We encountered a few players leveling up, but we chased them away.”
“We’re fine here too.”
The more than a hundred thieves sent out returned with messages one by one.
These messages reassured Nie Yan somewhat. Looking behind, all the black powder was being transported together, which was quite dangerous. Thinking for a moment, he divided the powder-carrying team into seven groups and dispatched large groups of thieves and warriors to patrol the nearby jungle to prevent anyone from getting close.
“Nie Yan, I just received news that a group of top players from Battle Blades Bloodthirsty, Mage Alliance, and Sacred Guardians suddenly disappeared. No one knows where they went. Twenty minutes ago, they were gathered in Glory City. I had someone closely monitor Carol City’s teleportation gates, but we didn’t see them come through. Could they have gone into a dungeon?” Guo Huai said. The sudden disappearance of the top players from these three guilds was too strange. As soon as he received the news, he immediately relayed it to Nie Yan.
Since those people hadn’t used Carol City’s teleportation gates, even riding the fastest horses, it would take at least seven or eight hours to cross the border between the two cities and reach Carol City. Therefore, Guo Huai couldn’t imagine them suddenly attacking Nie Yan. However, as soon as Nie Yan heard Guo Huai’s words, he immediately felt a sense of crisis. They were transporting black powder here, and at the same time, the top players from Battle Blades Bloodthirsty, Mage Alliance, and Sacred Guardians had disappeared together—there must be something suspicious.
In Faith, various magics and items were the most unpredictable. If those people had obtained teleportation scrolls or similar items, it would be hard to say.
“Order all the guild members who have completed their class changes to come here immediately, as fast as possible! Also, gather five thousand brothers for reinforcement!” Nie Yan said in a low voice.
Guo Huai was taken aback. Hearing Nie Yan’s tone, he immediately understood the seriousness of the situation. “Understood, I’ll go right away.”
More than two thousand people marched through the jungle. Nie Yan looked into the woods. In such dense forests, hiding dozens of people was extremely easy!
Nie Yan felt a strong sense of unease. In the regional guild chat, he shouted, “Everyone on alert, prepare for battle!”
At that moment, the magical elements in the air suddenly became turbulent. Nie Yan turned his gaze toward the front of the team. A crimson cloud gathered, flames surged violently, and the front ranks of Cow Manor instantly descended into chaos.
“There’s an enemy attack!”
Players at the back were preparing to rush forward for rescue but were stopped by Nie Yan.
“Hold position, protect the black powder!” Nie Yan shouted. The reason the enemy attacked the front first was to lure the high-level players guarding the powder at the back. They must have other people hidden elsewhere.
The line for Cow Manor’s team was long. At the front, there were about three to four hundred players, with an average level around forty-five. Though their strength couldn’t compare to top-tier players, they were quite formidable among ordinary players. Cow Manor had no weaklings!
At the forefront of the team, seven players clad in distinct equipment emerged. They hailed from Angel Dominion, Battle Blades Bloodthirsty, Mage Alliance, and Sacred Guardians: an Arcane Mage, a Holy Words Mage, a Priest, a Berserker Swordsman, a Paladin, and an Elemental Shaman.
On a protruding boulder in the distance, the arcane mage stood proudly, waving his staff and chanting a series of obscure incantations, low and powerful. A strong magical force surged in the air.
Advanced magic, Arcane Inferno!
Generally, the coverage area of an advanced magic could often reach over a hundred yards. Unlike ordinary area-of-effect spells, it was hard to dodge, and the magical damage was extremely high. Basically, no one could withstand several waves of advanced magic attacks.
The players of Cow Manor became restless. The first five paladins of Cow Manor activated their “Mighty Charge” and rushed toward the arcane mage. Whatever happened, they had to silence him. Otherwise, one advanced magic could severely damage at least half of these three to four hundred players.
Behind the five paladins followed six warriors.
These melee units charged straight at the arcane mage. An advanced magic chant usually required at least two sets of syllables, which meant twenty seconds. If the paladins approached within five yards of him and silenced him, his advanced magic would be interrupted.
Seeing Cow Manor’s players charging forward, the people around the arcane mage naturally wouldn’t stay idle.
The elemental shaman waved his staff and planted a Windfury Totem on the ground. He uttered a few orcish syllables in a low voice. Electricity surged from his hand, and three lightning bolts shot out, cutting straight through the air and striking a paladin. Boom, boom, boom—the paladin’s head showed three critical hits of over 800 damage, and he was knocked flying, crashing to the ground.
A clean and decisive kill!
The Windfury Totem could make everyone in the team’s attacks critical hits.
This elemental shaman was quick. The nearby players from Battle Blades Bloodthirsty, Mage Alliance, and Sacred Guardians couldn’t help but look sideways. The members of Angel Dominion were indeed fierce.
“Frenzy, the brothers from Angel Dominion showed us their skills. We can’t lose face either!” The berserker swordsman shouted, charging forward with a charge toward those paladins.
“Understood!” The holy words mage waved his staff and cast several holy light spells to enhance his attack, then unleashed a Holy Judgment on a Cow Manor paladin.
Boom, -2321. A paladin was knocked flying and instantly killed!
The holy words mage was stunned. Such high damage was unexpected even to himself. His gaze fell on the nearby Windfury Totem. This totem was clearly just a slightly processed piece of wood, yet it had such a strong effect!
“Awesome! Brother Darkwing’s Windfury Totem works great!” The holy words mage praised. It must be a Windfury Totem of at least level five to have such an effect. He waved his staff again and cast another Holy Judgment, knocking another paladin flying.
The holy words mage, Frenzy, had successfully completed his class change to a grand mage. His attacks on untransformed players were naturally very strong. With the Windfury Totem’s enhancement, his magic could instantly kill people.
Charge!
Charge!
One by one, the warriors of Cow Manor accelerated and charged forward.
The berserker swordsman roared and met them head-on, blocking two or three, then executed a whirlwind strike!
“Block the paladins. Don’t let them silence Starlight at any cost!” The berserker swordsman shouted in the team chat. He roared and used Shockwave, pushing three nearby warriors back.
“Don’t worry, we’ve got it!” Elemental shaman Darkwing said. He waved his staff and cast Hex!
A warrior had just charged to Darkwing’s side when he was hexed, his body rapidly shrinking and transforming into a frog.
After hexing the warrior, Darkwing ignored him and turned to deal with others.
A paladin charged to the side of the arcane mage Starlight, preparing to use the silence skill. At that moment, the holy words mage Frenzy used Dispel, a powerful force striking the paladin and knocking him flying—no silence achieved!
Although this group was cooperating for the first time, as top-tier players, their awareness was exceptional. With just a little coordination, they could understand their teammates’ fighting styles.
The magic attacks from Cow Manor’s mages were shooting toward this side, while priests and paladins quickly cast healing spells on Starlight and others.
“These guys are more formidable than expected. Be careful and watch your health!” A paladin cast healing on the berserker swordsman and said.
The berserker swordsman’s health was dropping quickly, and the paladin’s healing couldn’t keep up. The swordsman drank a mid-tier instant recovery potion and used Crippling Strike, causing the charging warrior to become crippled. He quickly retreated.
Despite the intense battle, these seven people remained organized and methodical.
Twenty seconds was actually a short time. Cow Manor’s players noticed Starlight the arcane mage charging forward, and already seven or eight seconds had passed. Time flew like a white horse passing through a crevice. Before Cow Manor’s players could retreat, they heard Starlight utter the final heavy syllable—Arcane Inferno!
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