After a brief respite, Qian Ye emerged from the defensive fortifications. At the edge of the battlefield where the two war generals were clashing, several high-ranking arachnids and werewolves were engaged in fierce combat with General Wei Baining’s elite guards. Evidently, these dark warriors had also come to support, but they were firmly blocked by the well-prepared guards.
General Wei Baining had gathered all the officers and main forces of the 7th Division here. Compared to the vanguard force of hundreds from the dark army, his troops already held a significant advantage in strength. Even if the vanguard general of the dark army was a formidable warrior like Brahms, as long as Wei Baining could withstand the attacks of the Viscount Arachnid, his subordinates could exterminate the dark warriors and ultimately converge on Brahms.
This was a rather conservative tactic, but looking at the situation in Black Mire Town where the expeditionary force was gradually gaining the upper hand, it proved to be highly effective. When compared to Wei Baining’s aggressive strategy of narrowing the front line and concentrating heavy forces in one corner, this less prominent general of the Wei family, despite not having outstanding individual strength, was a true leader. It was no wonder he held a position close to Lord Wei.
Alone or with his comrades, Qian Ye once again slew several arachnids and werewolves, inadvertently drawing closer to the battlefield between Brahms and Wei Baining.
Brahms and Wei Baining had been locked in a grueling battle for some time, both showing signs of fatigue. Though the Viscount Arachnid had eight spider legs, the consequences of losing one were becoming increasingly evident.
Qian Ye concealed his aura, activated his bloodline to blend in, and slowly approached Brahms from the side, holding a heavy hammer.
Wei Baining saw Qian Ye’s movement clearly from the front, but as soon as Qian Ye concealed his aura, he instantly vanished from his perception. Even with Wei Baining’s calm, he couldn’t help but be startled.
However, his surprise was fleeting. With Wei Baining’s rich combat experience, he wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. He changed his stance twice, let out a roar, and charged full force into Brahms, sending him stumbling backward.
Qian Ye finally got his chance. The energy surge of his Blood Rites had been building up for over twenty rounds. He suddenly channeled all his origin power into the war hammer. The hammer’s surface glowed with a deep crimson light, which intensified and condensed into a bloody glow!
The hammer, carrying a fierce wind, struck one of Brahms’ rear legs. The thick, solid carapace dented deeply, almost piercing through, and ichor spewed from the cracks.
Without hesitation, Qian Ye swung the hammer again, smashing it with full force into the damaged spot before Brahms could react.
Brahms let out a deafening howl of pain, and the spider leg snapped with a crack.
Qian Ye discarded the deformed, cracked hammer, leaped up, and leveled the Twin Flowers at Brahms’ head. As the Viscount Arachnid turned, two blasts of origin power exploded on his face.
Qian Ye landed sideways and immediately took off running, paying no attention to his results. The Twin Flowers, at level four, could hardly inflict any significant damage on the Viscount Arachnid; they couldn’t even penetrate Brahms’ vital areas. But the direct hit on his face left Brahms dazed, bloodied, and temporarily blind.
Wei Baining, who had positioned himself just right, released a burst of intense light from his giant shield, slamming it into Brahms’ spider abdomen like a powerful origin cannon.
This blow was devastating, and Brahms’ abdominal armor caved in deeply. Although the carapace beneath the armor only deformed without shattering, the sound of the muffled splashes indicated that a large area of flesh under the armor had been crushed. Brahms was severely injured.
Brahms swept his war pike, chasing after the retreating Wei Baining, who managed to block the most lethal edge with his shield. A colossal explosion echoed as the two powerful forces collided, sending Wei Baining flying over ten meters. He spat out several mouthfuls of blood mid-air, and a cracking sound revealed that he had suffered a broken bone.
Yet, Wei Baining, known for his resilience, stood up after spitting out more blood as if nothing had happened. Brahms, on the other hand, was struggling to maintain balance after losing two spider legs. Moreover, Wei Baining’s shield strike was perfect for dealing with such thick-skinned behemoths. The damage from the shield hit was comparable to being struck by a hammer of the same size, inflicting heavy, not minor, injuries.
At this moment, the sharp sound of Eagle Strike echoed. A stern-faced middle-aged officer, stationed at a vantage point several hundred meters away, managed to shoot while half-kneeling. Like the Twin Flowers, Eagle Strike, though not causing much damage to a war general, could significantly disrupt Brahms’ vision, creating opportunities for Wei Baining.
However, this opportunity only arose when most of the high-ranking dark warriors had been eliminated. Otherwise, the traditional first-strike tactic of dark warriors to eliminate human snipers would have put the auxiliary combat teams in peril.
Qian Ye hid in the ruins of a house, gripping a blood crystal in each hand, rapidly channeling his bloodline to absorb the energy within. The brief fight with Brahms had nearly exhausted his origin power, making an attack on a war general nearly suicidal. Even with his current physical strength, Qian Ye could not withstand a direct hit from the Viscount Arachnid; a single thrust from Brahms’ spider leg could easily impale him.
After a few minutes of rest, as his origin power began to recover, Qian Ye rushed out of his hiding place and followed a werewolf that ran past. The werewolf, completely unaware of Qian Ye, was focused on a fleeing expeditionary major. Just as it was about to pounce, it was struck on the back as if by a charging rhinoceros, collapsing to the ground in a cloud of dust. Its back felt cold, and all its strength seemed to vanish in an instant.
Qian Ye’s stab was precise, penetrating the werewolf’s heart. The glowing teeth of Radiant Edge absorbed a thick, vibrant dark origin power, revitalizing Qian Ye.
He mentally chuckled, recalling his earlier suspicion of Radiant Edge’s ability during the Eastern Heavy Industries mine battle. This time, the sensation was even clearer. Not only did the three-colored blood aura within Qian Ye absorb the surrounding blood essence, but Radiant Edge itself seemed to draw in the prey’s blood essence.
After slaying the werewolf, Qian Ye climbed to a vantage point and surveyed the battlefield. The fighting was beginning to thin out. Most of the dark warriors had been killed, with only a few still resisting. As their leader, the Viscount Arachnid, had not issued a retreat order, few dark warriors fled, and those in a desperate situation remained deadly and dangerous. The expeditionary force became more cautious in their encirclement.
In the distance, Brahms and Wei Baining were still fiercely battling, though the commotion was not as intense as at the start.
Qian Ye headed towards that battlefield. It was now the opportune moment to eliminate the Viscount Arachnid. If Brahms fell, it would be a devastating blow to the dark races. If he escaped, even eliminating the remaining dark warriors would mean only a partial victory.
When Qian Ye arrived, the battle between the two war generals was nearing its end. Wei Baining was mostly on the defensive, only launching fierce counterattacks when Brahms moved or made a mistake. Despite losing two spider legs, Brahms’ escape to the nearby Great Swamp would create a significant problem.
Brahms’ body was continuously enveloped in explosions of fire and origin power. More and more high-ranking expeditionary officers joined the encirclement. Most of them stayed at a distance, firing from medium to long range. Some, with depleted origin power, switched to large-caliber powder rifles. While these might not penetrate the Viscount Arachnid’s upper humanoid skin, continuous shots to the head and face were extremely annoying.
Brahms’ wounds multiplied, and his roars grew quieter. Though the officers’ attacks caused only minor damage, the cumulative effect was significant.
Qian Ye did not intervene, circling around Brahms from a distance of several dozen meters, waiting patiently for an opportunity and occasionally assisting his comrades in evading the Viscount Arachnid’s energy waves.
This time, however, Qian Ye did not get many chances. Suddenly, Wei Baining let out a long, piercing cry, and his body glowed brightly yellow. No longer holding back, he launched a series of devastating attacks, even taking a few hits from Brahms. Wei Baining’s relentless assault broke Brahms’ defenses and deprived him of his last chance to survive.
Wei Baining, wielding his shield with both hands, swung it with all his might. A dazzling yellow light, like a comet, swept through the air, sending the Viscount Arachnid flying several meters. Brahms’ massive body skidded another ten meters, coming to a stop just short of Qian Ye.
Brahms, now prone on the ground, could only feebly move half his limbs, unable to rise.
Wei Baining gestured to Qian Ye and shouted, “Qian Ye, finish him!”
This was a great honor on the battlefield, and a recognition of Qian Ye by Wei Baining. Neither the high-ranking expeditionary officers nor Wei Baining’s guards had any objections. Qian Ye’s two attacks on Brahms, breaking one of his spider legs each time, had greatly influenced the battle.
Moreover, Qian Ye’s performance on the battlefield was undeniable. He fought almost entirely alone, without support, and proved to be a formidable combat unit. No enemy, regardless of their rank, could stand after a few strikes from him, showcasing true power.
His assistance to other units was also impeccable, whether working with sniper teams or close combat groups, proving his versatility.
For soldiers, only battlefield prowess could earn their genuine respect.
“Qian Ye, finish him!” Wei Baining urged.
Without hesitation, Qian Ye leaped onto Brahms’ spider body and plunged Radiant Edge deep into his heart!
As the blade pierced the heart, the patterns on Radiant Edge lit up, revealing several deep purple lines that had never appeared before. Qian Ye suddenly felt a flood of blood essence surging from Radiant Edge into his body, filling every corner with a surging, increasing power.
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