Chapter 4, The Guardian of the Withered Tree
Hehe, seeking death! A young man slashed the throat of an elven warrior and loudly commanded: "Kill all their men, seize their property, and bind all their women!"
After being captured by several black-clad warriors, the long-haired girl struggled desperately. Seeing that her grandfather could not rush over to rescue her despite his utmost efforts, and glancing at the young man who was lewdly approaching step by step, she could not help but burst into tears
Indeed, after gathering the twenty-five withered wood guardians, the situation changed dramatically once again. Faced with the thick and long wooden staffs of the withered wood guardians, the black-clad warriors dared not swoop down low, while the elven warriors hid behind the withered wood guardians, drawing their bows and shooting down the black-clad warriors within range one by one
"Quick Wind Technique, now!" As the withered wood guardian swept through effortlessly, the terrified young man shouted loudly, "All mages, step back and empower the warriors with the Quick Wind Technique, hurry!"
After shivering, Yang Ling once again calmed the eager Horned Bee Beast that had caught the scent of blood, while simultaneously channeling the witchcraft within to keep warm. Observing ice sculptures is a form of enjoyment, but being frozen alive into a specimen by someone else is an entirely different matter
Yang Ling was dumbfounded, and the black-clad warriors were even more horrified. The Withered Wood Guardian is the protector of the forest spirits, tall and strong, with immense power. Although they understood that it was very likely they would encounter such a terrifying being, the black-clad warriors never expected that the long-haired beauty would summon a total of twenty-five with a single * picture * book.
Staring at the menacing black-clad warrior, the long-haired beauty commanded the withered wood guardians to charge fiercely. Unfortunately, after the opponent employed the Swift Wind Technique, their speed was astonishing, often just as the withered wood guardians raised their large wooden clubs, the black-clad warrior had already soared away on a griffin. It was like trying to catch fish with a bamboo basket, unable to touch a single one after a long time.
The joints, such as the knees and elbows, were covered with protrusions. Although they were only the length of a dagger, they were as sharp and pointed as a triangular bayonet. Yang Lin had no doubt that they could easily penetrate the hardest human skull.
"Sophia, gather all the Withered Wood Guardians quickly!" As he watched the swiftly moving black-clad warriors, the elderly man in command felt a stir in his heart. Since the Withered Wood Guardians were futilely unable to catch up with the figures of the opponents, it would be better to concentrate them for defense.
Elder, we will hold the rear; you lead the clan in retreat. If we do not leave now, it will be too late
Just as the long-haired girl despairingly closed her eyes, suddenly, the black-clad warriors beside her were shouting hoarsely, their eyes streaming with blood, as they fell to the ground, rolling about recklessly. She opened her eyes and saw many horned bee beasts frantically tearing at the eyes and foreheads of the black-clad warriors, targeting their vital areas.
The young man, clad in heavy armor and with a sinister gaze, charged through the crowd of guards while riding a griffin. After breaking the formation of the elves, he lunged straight towards the long-haired beauty.
According to the report from the scouting hornet beast, there were no ambushes from either side in the vicinity, which reassured Yang Ling. He certainly did not want to risk his life just to witness some excitement. This world is too crazy; rabbits can breathe fire, pythons can spray water, and now even a tree can become sentient. Who knows what other monsters he might encounter next
"Damn it, don't kill the young elven women; they are all worth money. Tie them all up!" The young man loudly reprimanded a warrior whose eyes were bloodshot from killing, leering at the beautiful elven women. "Hehe, warriors, come enjoy yourselves with me, Imiya, today!"
After understanding the intentions of the young people, the black-clad warriors roared loudly and crazily attacked the retreating elves. Some of the individuals became particularly beastly, tearing the clothes of the female captives right on the spot and lunging at them with a ferocious expression.
The speed of the cloud hawk and griffin is already remarkable, and after being enhanced by the Swift Wind Technique, their speed becomes astonishing. Some elves, caught off guard, had their throats slashed by a descending black-clad warrior in a single encounter. Others fared even worse, being torn apart by griffins the size of calves, with blood, brain matter, and intestines scattered across the grass.
"Frost Spell, freeze these withered wood guardians!" After circling in the air for half a turn, the young man issued the command loudly. As several mages murmured incantations, the temperature around them rapidly dropped, causing Yang Ling, who was hidden in the treetops, to involuntarily shrink his neck.
After gritting his teeth, an elven warrior, carrying a full quiver of long arrows on his back, stepped forward. However, before the elder could give the order, as the wizards in the air simultaneously raised their right hands, flakes of snow, as light as goose feathers, began to fall from the sky, quickly freezing the sluggish drywood guardians into popsicles
After receiving the command, several wizards clad in long robes rode griffins back into the sky. They paused only after confirming they were out of range of the elven warriors. After a series of murmurs, they cast the Windwalk spell on the black-clad warriors. Instantly, the black-clad warriors were invigorated, easily evading the slow-moving withered wood guardians and charging fiercely at the elves, who were not adept in close combat.
The withered tree giant has a brownish-yellow complexion, with its skin covered in dense, intricate stripes, resembling the growth rings of wood, one circle after another. The pectoral muscles are prominently raised in distinct sections, appearing from a distance like solid blocks of basalt.
As the withered guardian was unable to move, the morale of the black-clad warriors surged, and they all rushed frantically towards the elves.
In a desperate attempt to evade, some black-clad warriors frantically maneuvered on their flying beasts, but soon realized that all their efforts were in vain. They were either shot full of arrows by the elves or swatted down like flies by the withered wood guardians. Following this, as a foot the size of a tractor came crashing down, they were crushed into a thin meat patty, leaving Yang Ling with goosebumps.
After suffering heavy losses, the sinister young man, in a fit of rage, glared at the long-haired beauty holding a dark green staff on the ground, gritting his teeth in hatred. According to the mercenary's intelligence, this was merely a small elven tribe, and he had thought it would be easy to conquer them in one fell swoop, only to find so many withered wood guardians protecting it.
... ...
Let me go, you beasts, let me go
In Tbilisi, after having enough fun, I will sell you to the lowest of the low, letting you entertain seventy or eighty brutes a day, damn it!" The young man cursed fiercely. Only by selling these young and beautiful elven maidens to various nobles or brothels can this loss be compensated; otherwise, it would be a significant loss.
Haha, beautiful one, I have arrived!" Looking at the celestial-like maiden, the Ymir Beast was eager to pounce, saying, "My light beauty, do not be anxious, your brother will serve you well!
Under the cover of the Guardian of the Withered Wood, the elves launched a desperate counterattack, with dark green long arrows falling like a continuous downpour, turning the nearby black-clad warriors into porcupines. In an instant, morale soared.
The weapon in the hands of the withered tree giant is so massive that it is suffocating; rather than being described as a giant version of a mace, it is more akin to a gigantic log, thicker than the beams used when building brick houses back home. Yang Ling and the librarian have no doubt that a single strike would likely reduce even the latest T92 tank to a pile of scrap metal
Ah, the hornet beast, help!
It is truly shocking, absolutely shocking!
Caught off guard, the black-clad warriors were filled with terror as they faced the towering treants, which stood over ten meters tall. They frantically beat the clouds or griffins beneath them, striving to ascend. Although these treants had not yet advanced, their sturdy bodies were beyond the capability of these swordsmen to contend with. Apart from the accompanying mages, no one could inflict significant harm on these guardians of the elves.
Ah ... my eyes
At a critical moment, Yang Ling dispatched the army of beasts that were eager to move upon sensing the smell of blood
Tsk tsk, ice sculpture
Upon hearing the wizard's incantation and sensing the increasingly surging magical power in the air, the elder elf in command was taken aback. The withered wood guardians had not yet advanced and were unable to attack aerial targets. If they were to be frozen and rendered incapable of attacking ground targets, the consequences would be unimaginable
Under the command of the long-haired beauty, the withered wood guardian charged towards the black-clad warriors with a series of loud thuds, each step raising a cloud of dust. Although the movements were slow, each stride covered nearly ten meters, and in the blink of an eye, it had rushed to the front of the black-clad warriors
A single strike came down like thunder, producing a muffled sound of 'bang' that smashed the black-clad warrior and his mount into a puddle of flesh, leaving behind pools of bright red blood.