Chapter 54: A Minor Victory

The heavy cannons continued to roar, this time firing only conventional shells. Clumps of fire exploded within the Blood Race’s formation, each blast sending more than a dozen blood slaves flying.

However, since humans often used guns and cannons in warfare, the dark races would typically form a scattered formation when charging at human forces. Although the heavy cannon fire was impressive, it caused limited damage.

Moreover, blood slaves were purely expendable, used as cannon fodder to consume enemy ammunition. No matter how many Blood Races died, it wouldn’t cause any heartache. But because Blood Race warriors were accustomed to hiding among the ranks of blood slaves while charging, the covering fire from the heavy cannons proved effective.

Lower and mid-level dark warriors, though physically robust, dared not take direct hits from cannon fire. Their evasive maneuvers were far more agile than those of the ordinary blood slaves, often making them targets for human snipers.

At this moment, Viscount Domo found himself in a difficult dilemma. Most of the blood slaves had lost their mobility under the recent illumination round, making it hard for the formation to advance. If he ordered his troops to continue forward, the Blood Race warriors would be completely exposed to the Darkflame soldiers’ guns. Yet, if they held their ground, they would be continuously pummeled by the heavy cannons.

Even the sparsest formations couldn’t withstand the repeated bombardment, plowing through like a harrow. Domo, with tears still streaming from his eyes, fell into a state of rage. He pointed forward and roared, “Kill! Slaughter those lowly humans!”

This was the signal for the full assault. Under the viscount’s command, the Blood Race warriors began their charge, showcasing astonishing speed and agility, rushing towards the Darkflame defense line faster than leopards.

Qian Ye withdrew his fist and pointed forward. The order relayed down the line. The Darkflame positions erupted with both light and heavy weapons, cutting down the front line of Blood Race warriors like grass.

The Blood Race launched their counterattack. The high-pitched sounds of their Origin Force guns echoed, beams of Origin Force energy slicing through the night sky, landing on the defensive positions. The elite Blood Race warriors displayed their prowess, rarely using gunpowder weapons. Each Origin Force bullet followed the trajectory of the Darkflame soldiers’ shots, nearly entering the gun barrels like reflections.

In an instant, Darkflame suffered over a hundred casualties.

Qian Ye’s expression remained unchanged, silently observing the battle.

Stimulated by the terrifying enemy, the Darkflame soldiers poured bullets onto the battlefield. Dense curtains of fire formed a web of flames, enveloping the Blood Race warriors.

No matter how they dodged, the Blood Race warriors kept falling. They retaliated, almost hitting with every shot, but the number of casualties was decreasing.

Snipers like Zhu Wuya and Wu Shiqing were firing furiously, even the lightning-fast high-tier warriors couldn’t escape their crosshairs.

Finally, the Blood Race warriors breached the death zone and rushed the frontline. Several black shadows were thrown into the position, followed by earth-shattering explosions, matching or even surpassing the power of the Darkflame heavy cannons.

The Blood Race Origin Force grenades were always this terrifying, regardless of when they were used.

But seeing the meager few explosions, Zhao Yuying spat, mocking, “Just a few of these? True country bumpkin vampires, too poor.”

“If they were rich, I’d be crying,” Qian Ye said, rare humor in his voice.

In a blink, over a hundred Blood Race warriors charged the position, turning the fight into a melee. The Darkflame officers let out war cries and leapt out of the defenses, meeting the attackers head-on.

Suddenly, Domo let out a sharp call. The Blood Race warriors in the position split into two groups. One group engaged the defenders, while the other rapidly pushed deeper, aiming to disrupt the overall Darkflame line and destroy the snipers and heavy cannon positions at the rear.

However, Darkflame was no ordinary force. Especially the three regiments Qian Ye brought, with a higher proportion of combatants than typical expeditionary units. The high-tier Blood Race warriors who pushed deep into the lines found themselves surrounded by countless fighters.

Domo, from afar, noticed the colorful Origin Force glows on the Darkflame positions. Though the levels weren’t outrageous, the sheer number was overwhelming. He had never seen an expeditionary unit with so many combatants!

Even a civilian could see that the Blood Race warriors rushing the position would soon be annihilated.

Domo looked around. His army was fully engaged, with only his personal guard remaining by his side.

When the encircled Blood Race warriors were decimated, it would be their turn. Domo hesitated, then let out a long, mournful cry signaling retreat, and turned to flee into the night.

In Domo’s mind, as long as he survived, it wasn’t a failure. The number of warriors and descendants who died didn’t matter; he could restore his strength with time and resources, and the blood slaves weren’t a real loss.

As Domo fled, Zhao Yuying glanced around, realizing Qian Ye had vanished without a trace.

At that moment, a Blood Race warrior, staggering through the blockade, approached Zhao Yuying. This was a Blood Knight, drenched in blood, with a monstrous wound on his chest. Yet, the Blood Race’s tenacity allowed him to continue fighting.

Seeing Zhao Yuying, his eyes lit up, and he lunged forward with his sword, clearly wanting to take a significant trophy before dying.

Unfortunately, Zhao Yuying was too formidable. She didn’t even raise a hand, just spat in disgust. The saliva shot like a bullet, hitting the Blood Knight’s forehead, creating a star-shaped hole, and blood gushed out.

The Blood Knight’s eyes lost all luster, and he took a few steps forward from inertia before collapsing.

The Darkflame soldiers around Zhao Yuying, fearing her, quietly distanced themselves. A ruthless Blood Knight, killed by a mere spit, was hard to believe without witnessing it firsthand.

After the Blood Knight fell, the battle sounds in the Darkflame position gradually subsided. Most of the Blood Race warriors were dead, some surrendered, and a few managed to break through and vanished into the night, never to return.

In the distant forest, Domo was sprinting through the woods, moving faster than even high-tier werewolves. The terrain and darkness, rather than being obstacles, were his best cover.

As Domo ran, he cursed Darkflame in his heart. He wasn’t worried about his safety; he was already safe. No human could catch him now.

But just as he exited a grove, he halted in shock. Not far ahead, Qian Ye stood waiting for him.

Domo recognized him as the Darkflame commander but didn’t understand how he had appeared there, intercepting him. Just moments ago, Qian Ye had been directing the battle on the Darkflame position.

Domo roared, accelerating, and launched himself at Qian Ye. He drew his Origin Force pistol and fired.

But as Domo pulled the trigger, a sharp pain struck his heart, causing his hand to tremble and the bullet to miss. Domo, enduring the agony, lifted his head, seeing Qian Ye pointing a double-barreled pistol at his forehead!

Domo’s face twisted in a grimace, and he let out a high-pitched scream.

Qian Ye felt dizzy, the scream laden with intense Origin Force fluctuations, directly impacting his nervous system. Qian Ye closed his eyes, relying on instinct to pull the trigger. The twin flowers roared, mixed with Domo’s cry of pain.

When Qian Ye opened his eyes, the dizziness had passed, but the Blood Race viscount was right in front of him. Domo’s right shoulder and upper arm were a bloody mess, the wound blackened like it had been burned. Though the twin flower shot missed slightly, it still dealt a heavy blow to the viscount.

Domo, having paid a high price to get close, refused to let the opportunity slip. He slashed with his left hand, baring his fangs, ready to bite Qian Ye.

Qian Ye reached out, easily gripping Domo’s wrist, halting the sword mid-air.

Domo was shocked. How could a mere human have such strength?

He saw Qian Ye’s left arm flash in front of him and, without thinking, bit down. His fangs pierced Qian Ye’s arm deeply!

Domo, eyes filled with cruel excitement, stared at Qian Ye. This man, though powerful, lacked experience in fighting the Blood Race. Most people wouldn’t dare engage a Blood Race in close combat, for a single bite could turn them into a blood slave.

Qian Ye was undoubtedly a formidable opponent, and Domo felt a thrill imagining him as a blood slave.

But Domo noticed Qian Ye’s calm expression, unnaturally calm, as if the bitten arm wasn’t his. Domo sucked hard but felt no intoxicating blood, and his fangs, sealed, couldn’t inject venom.

Qian Ye’s arm was as hard as rock, and Domo’s fangs were trapped within.

Qian Ye sneered, pulling his arm back, tearing free from Domo’s mouth. Two fangs remained embedded in Qian Ye’s arm, with bits of flesh still twitching.

Domo let out a blood-curdling scream, rolling on the ground in agony. The pain of having his fangs forcibly extracted was unbearable.

Qian Ye stepped on Domo, drew his Crimson Tooth, and stabbed through Domo’s blood core.

Domo, staring at Qian Ye, laughed crazily, spewing blood from his mouth, and said, “You’ve been bitten, you won’t live long, and your kin will burn you alive!”

“You think too much,” Qian Ye said calmly. The Crimson Tooth intensified its suction, drawing Domo’s essence blood.

Domo’s face changed, horror-stricken, shouting, “You! A Saint Blood descendant? Why?”

He got no answer, as the Crimson Tooth shattered his blood core, draining his essence. Qian Ye had no habit of satisfying his enemies’ curiosity.

Qian Ye stood, feeling as if he were submerged in warm water, a profound comfort. This was a sign of overflowing essence blood; he couldn’t absorb more, even from powerful enemies.

Qian Ye surveyed the surroundings, still silent, with no stragglers. He picked up Domo’s corpse and walked back.