Chapter 57: Murder and Robbery

In the distance, clouds of dust rose as a heavy, rhythmic pounding echoed, beating like muffled war drums against the hearts of all present. First, a line of gleaming long blades caught the eye, then, one after another, the powerful figures of orc wolf riders, astride their massive wolves, emerged into view.

These wolf riders had clearly just finished pillaging. The pouches slung beneath their giant wolves bulged with loot, leaving no doubt that the shops of Doro Town had been stripped bare. Perhaps it was precisely because the wolf riders carried so much plunder that their wolves’ speed had been hindered, allowing Briel’s party, mounted on their frail warhorses, to hold out and reach this point.

Concealed behind a boulder, Han Shuo gripped a sturdy crossbow, calmly aiming at the most formidable orc in the vanguard. Beside him, Fanny also wielded her crossbow, adjusting its direction with each breath. Her bright eyes shone with resolute determination; it seemed that, when life and death hung in the balance, she too knew when to harden her heart.

Lisa’s hands were empty, but near her and several other students, Han Shuo had positioned large boulders, ready to be pushed with a single heave. Once set in motion, these stones would surely wreak more havoc than any crossbow.

With the howls of the giant wolves, dozens of wolf riders charged like the wind, surging into the mouth of the pass. Their speed was ferocious; they clearly never expected an ambush and, brandishing their long blades, shouted wildly as they spurred their wolves forward.

Suddenly, a few leading wolves had their forelegs caught by tripwires, stumbling violently as their balance failed. They let out shrill, pained howls, and four orc riders, thrown by inertia, were flung from their mounts.

With heavy thuds, the four orcs, arms flailing, landed squarely in the acidic mire before them. Instantly, they let out the same agonized wails as the wolves. Their robust bodies, as if doused in vitriol, saw flesh, hair, and clothes dissolve into blood, which quickly seeped into the marsh. In the blink of an eye, the four orc wolf riders were reduced to four colossal skeletons.

These four were merely the first victims. Three more, unable to halt their charge, also plunged into the acidic bog and just as swiftly became nothing but bones.

"This acidic mire truly deserves its reputation as a high-level necromancy spell, Miss Fanny, you’re incredible! Once we return to Babylon Magic and Martial Academy, you must teach me this spell!" Han Shuo, seeing the spell’s deadly effect, whispered excitedly to Fanny.

But as soon as he finished, he noticed Fanny’s face had gone deathly pale, her gaze at the marsh troubled. He nudged her gently, asking, "Miss Fanny, what’s wrong?"

Startled by Han Shuo’s touch, Fanny snapped back to herself and stammered, "N-nothing. This is the first time I’ve cast the acidic mire since mastering it. I never imagined it would be so lethal."

While Han Shuo and Fanny spoke, the remaining wolf riders were thrown into chaos by the sudden halt—wolves in front stopped short, while those behind crashed into them. A few more orcs tumbled from their mounts amid the confusion.

Now, however, the tripwires and acidic mire had lost their effect. At the guttural commands of their leader, the orcs frantically struggled to regroup.

"Attack!"

At that moment, Han Shuo suddenly mustered all his strength and roared. Lisa and the others, blades long since sharpened and patience worn thin, responded instantly. With wild cries, they shoved the massive stones down the slope. With thunderous crashes, more than a dozen boulders hurtled down, rolling and flying toward the wolf riders below.

In an instant, those who had been the hunters became the hunted. The tumbling boulders were instruments of death, swiftly reaping orcish lives. The crowded wolf riders, unable to reorganize, paid dearly as the rocks crashed among them. Four boulders struck down, crushing six orcs and their wolves into bloody pulps. The remaining stones, rolling with unstoppable force, drew forth a chorus of wailing as they smashed through the ranks.

When the barrage ended, fifteen more wolf riders lay dead, and over ten were wounded to varying degrees. As the survivors screamed in panic, they realized their retreat was blocked by boulders as well. Suddenly, figures emerged from both sides of the slope, and with curses, a hail of crossbow bolts and magical attacks rained down.

"You crude, barbaric orcs, go to hell!" On the other side, Irene of the Light School stood atop the slope, her face twisted with disgust. She began chanting a light spell, joining Briel in the assault. After being so mercilessly hunted, the time for vengeance had come.

Now, some thirty wolf riders remained in the passage below, forced to endure the magical onslaught from above. Han Shuo, crossbow in hand, fired with deadly calm; any orc struck by his bolts, even if not mortally wounded, would collapse and never rise again.

"Strange—any orc hit by your crossbow, even if just grazed, collapses. But when mine hit, unless it’s a fatal wound, they’re fine. Why?" Fanny, frowning, asked in confusion.

Han Shuo grinned. "Of course! I dipped my latest batch of bolts in poison. Even a trace is enough to finish them off!"

Fanny stared, then angrily pointed at Han Shuo. "You—you really are devious! Where did you learn such vile tricks? Even in war, we’re not supposed to use poison arrows—that’s an unspoken rule of the Chiao Continent!"

Han Shuo shrugged. "In a battle where it’s kill or be killed, who cares about such rules? The right thing is to win at the lowest cost. You’re too old-fashioned!"

"Exactly," Lisa interjected, siding clearly with Han Shuo. "These damned orcs burned and plundered Doro Town—and every winter, they raid our borders. There’s no need for rules with scum like them."

"Hmph! You two brats are equally ruthless. No wonder you get along so well. Bryan, never mention this once we’re back in the Empire, and don’t do it again. If anyone finds out, you’ll be condemned," Fanny warned sternly, glancing at them both.

Han Shuo understood she meant well. The poisons sold in Doro Town were meant for the savage magical beasts of the Dark Forest, and rarely, if ever, used openly against enemies.

Still, Han Shuo only listened half-heartedly. Deep down, he felt that when life and death were at stake, he would use any means necessary, no matter how ruthless.

With the defenders holding the high ground and superior numbers, the remaining wolf riders could do little but fire their crossbows uphill. One after another, they fell in pools of blood, powerless to change their fate.

When only five wolf riders remained, fear overtook them. Their wolves unable to leap the boulders, the orcs abandoned both their mounts and loot, fleeing in panic.

"They’re escaping! If they get away, more wolf riders will come. Hurry, after them!" Han Shuo shouted, though he himself did not move.

At his call, the others panicked and chased after the fleeing orcs. The three warriors who had been hiding darted ahead, moving nimbly over the slope. Behind them, led by Briel, the mages—including several necromancers—followed, robes in hand.

Just as Fanny was about to emerge from behind her boulder, Han Shuo grabbed her around the waist and whispered urgently, "It’s too dangerous, what are you doing?"

Fanny’s slender waist was suddenly encircled; she went numb, and, glancing back, saw the necromancy students watching oddly, especially Lisa, barely suppressing her anger.

Flustered, Fanny’s face flushed as she struggled and snapped, "What are you doing? Let go of me—why are you stopping me?"

Han Shuo released her with a chuckle. "There’s something more important to do."

"And what could be more important?" Fanny and the others asked, puzzled.

"Looting, of course! The gear in those wolf pouches will fetch a fortune in the capital!"

Laughing heartily, Han Shuo dashed down the slope, with Fanny, Lisa, and the rest stunned for a moment. When they saw several other quick-witted strangers doing the same, they whooped with joy and ran, abandoning all decorum, to strip the fallen wolf riders of their spoils.