Chapter Seven: Courage
Ad did not know how to refuse a woman like this, especially at this moment when her chest was pressed tightly against him, peeking subtly from the neckline
After the blacksmith lady struck with the hammer, she switched to the chisel
Wein is very pleased: "Our chances of success have increased. In the coming days, we are likely to be unable to rest, so let's take this opportunity to sleep now"
James—still shedding tears
Adem clearly saw Borman polishing his dagger, secretly laughing in a sinister manner. Could it be that he and Wayne have abandoned the prince and his confidants to die in the wilderness?
What is going on? Adé was worried that the gem might be damaged, so he quickly examined it carefully. The gem was undamaged, but it was unusually hot. I understand now, this gem has absorbed all the heat!
No wonder they would say that! Hahaha! Let's go!" James laughed as he wanted to take Adela away
No negotiations! Do not look down on others!
"Your Majesty Wayne, those ogres are not very intelligent creatures; they cannot possibly wield advanced magic. How could they accurately know our location and immediately sense our arrival and hostility?" Ade appropriately expressed his concerns to Wayne.
Ah, it is profoundly significant! Before Wayne could speak, Berman had already interjected, "His residence was attacked at the same time last night, all his confidants were killed, and the bodies were completely devoured. He has decided to leave here alone immediately and will no longer trouble us!"
A sharp pain radiated from his shoulder; if it weren't for the chainmail given by Wayne, it would have hurt even more. However, this was not the worst part. The nearby ogre showed no regard for the life of its companion and swung its spiked club down mercilessly. Ad let out a scream, not knowing where he found the strength to push up with his shoulder, narrowly dodging to the side. The spiked club struck the head of the creature that had bitten into Ad's shoulder, splattering brain matter while also grazing Ad's face, leaving a trail of blood from his left eye across his cheek to his forehead. Ad gritted his teeth against the pain and thrust his sword forcefully into the belly of the ambusher. The ambusher roared in anger, gripping the sword that had pierced his abdomen with one hand while raising the spiked club with the other, ready to strike again. Yet, his entire body collapsed onto Ad.
May I ask ... ...
Adé—"Hey! Hey! Hey!"—moved around the tree stump, the sword like a dancing dragon, with wood shavings continuously falling, completed.
Miss Blacksmith was also taken aback and looked at Aden with new eyes: "You understand too?"
Well then! Ade took the Sword of Lac from the box and explained the difficulties
The scene before him was shrouded in a reddish haze, with ogres swaying in every direction, and the air was filled with the furious roars of the enemy. Ad was pinned down by the bodies of two ogres, his body no longer possessing the strength to move even slightly, with his sword still lodged in the belly of the deceased, unable to be pulled out.
Cindy? Claire, call me Cindy! Are you British? Are you going back to the UK? Can you take me with you? I am also British! I want to leave this dreadful place! I beg you! Please!" Cindy's gaze was almost one of admiration, ... she gently tugged at Ade's sleeve with her hand ...
Ade and Wayne exchanged a glance, their hearts clear as day. The two of them risked their lives to charge into the enemy ranks, galloping fiercely straight towards the hillside. The ogress on the hillside immediately sensed something was amiss, let out a few loud roars, and instantly a large group of ogres surrounded Ade and Wayne.
No way! James's shout pulled Ad from his memories, and it turned out they had already arrived in front of the "not very busy" blacksmith shop
"Impossible!" the two shouted in unison. The sword emitted not even a trace of heat, let alone turning the blade red.
Wein, with a blank expression, said: "Then Shalu, you will be the heir to the throne from now on! You must respect your father's opinions!"
Before him, the stunning visage of Zumu Erde Na seemed to appear, smiling down at Ade. The smile gradually transformed into the unkempt, bearded face of Wayne, pulling Ade's thoughts back to the realm of reality
"Stop! What did they say?" The blacksmith lady seemed quite intolerant of others' comments, "Are they saying that women cannot forge a decent weapon?"
"You cowards! If you want to leave, then go with that coward! Is there anything more worth defending than our homeland?" Ulak's speech was highly stirring, and many people abandoned their thoughts of fleeing and began to join in the labor. However, some whispered, "Our prince is not a coward; many strong warriors follow him!"
A De: "I swear by the names of the Jade Emperor, Bodhisattva, Buddha, and the True Lord, that woman is a blacksmith!"
James—"Ha!"—a quick upward and downward motion, followed by a downward V-shaped cut, and it's done
Adé suddenly thought of Cindy's ore and exclaimed, "There is ore here! Gather all the sulfur ore and saltpeter from the blacksmith shops! I will make explosives!"
Soon, Ade mastered the V-cut with both hands
James—tears welling up
Adel was about to deliver a heavy blow when he suddenly lost his balance and fell into the arms of an ogre. The ogre was just about to strike from behind Adel's head, but missed completely. In a panic, Adel grabbed the ogre's waist, pulling him down as well, and they became entangled. However, the heavily armed ogre ultimately gained the upper hand and lunged at Adel's throat. Adel managed to dodge just in time—this agile reaction was entirely due to the ogre's refusal to brush his teeth, which resulted in a foul odor that was impossible to ignore. How could one not turn away!
At dusk, a strange drumbeat echoed from the distant valley. Accompanying the sound of the drums, a dark mass of troops arrived at the hillside in front of the village, numbering around one thousand, all mounted on horses and wielding spiked clubs, awaiting the command to attack. Their leader wore a bear headpiece and appeared somewhat robust. Once the formation was arranged, with a loud roar from the leader, the ogres let out a heart-wrenching howl and charged forward with a terrifying momentum. In an instant, the sound of hooves kicked up clouds of dust, shaking the earth. However, the village seemed to awaken suddenly from a dream, as hundreds of torches were lit simultaneously, and countless arrows flew aimlessly overhead, landing among the ogres' charging cavalry, illuminating the sky.
Ad dodged the incoming mace, turned, and thrust his sword into the monster's ribcage. The creature let out a deafening roar that made Ad's ears ring, yet the sword failed to penetrate; the monster's body was exceedingly tough. Before the sword could sink in, it grasped the blade with its hand, which surprisingly did not break. A gust of wind rushed over Ad's head as the mace came crashing down again. Unable to withdraw his sword, Ad had no choice but to abandon it and retreat. The monster, having missed its strike, was about to pursue him when another creature flew in from the side, colliding directly with it and sending it crashing to the ground. It turned out that Vam had just felled the airborne creature with an axe and had noticed Ad's predicament, sweeping the grounded monster away with a powerful strike. Seizing the opportunity, Ad lunged forward, drew his long sword, and executed the move "Plum Blossom Three Variations," blinding four eyes. He then forcefully drove the sword tip into the mouth of the one with lighter injuries, shaking the blade vigorously. Seeing that both were incapacitated, he quickly withdrew his sword and joined another group in battle.
May I borrow your tools for a moment? I would like to write something. How about one hundred gold coins
No, look, the area near the pliers has melted a bit, indicating that the heat is indeed very intense!" Ade cautiously touched it with his hand, and it was really not hot
Cindy lunged at Ad, embracing him and rolling to the ground, staring intensely into his eyes, and said fiercely: "You will take me away, right?"
The ogres were ferocious, completely disregarding ordinary attacks, and merely launched reckless assaults. Those struck by them would instantly be sent flying or have their brains splattered, turning into a puddle of mush, instilling fear in all who witnessed it. Although the humans employed long spears and continuously fired rockets from behind the walls, gaining considerable advantage, their defenses still continued to retreat.
Why not try the Sword of Lac? Such a move is most suitable for honing one's weapon skills
Ad looked into the distance in the direction of his finger and discovered the leader of the ogres standing on the hillside. A small ogre, adorned with a peculiar headdress, was conversing with him. A rocket flew by, illuminating the hillside, and Ad saw that she had two repulsive breasts exposed on her chest, seemingly an old woman. The leader of the ogres spoke to her with great respect.
In just a moment, yet it feels as if a long time has passed, Ade's consciousness was pulled into a void space, where a voice said to him: "I am the soul of the brave Braho, now the soul of the sword, I acknowledge you as a hero"
Adel immediately understood that when dealing with monsters like ogres, simple and efficient techniques are more effective in maximizing force while conserving energy and time. Exquisite swordsmanship is difficult to execute effectively against the tough ogres and fully armored knights. He attempted to move like James, but with one strike, the stump flew up along with the sword, firmly lodged on the blade, making it impossible to strike again.
Ad's opponent struck the roof with a bat, causing it to scatter upwards, but Ad showed no gratitude; not only did he pierce the opponent's sole, but he also delivered a blow to his genitals.
Thus, Ade and James wandered around the village, hoping to find a good blacksmith. There were seven or eight blacksmith shops in the village, all of which were quite busy. Uralak's speech seemed to have been quite successful, as each shop was bustling with activity
Skwelsh said: "I believe the effectiveness of rockets will be better; they are hairy and wear bear skins, and using fire at night is more advantageous for us"
The V Slash is the essence of knightly swordsmanship! James patiently instructed Ad, "The key lies in the finesse of the wrist..."
Nowhere can one find the Skwerlish; only the constant ambushes of ogres, accompanied by their wretched screams.
In an instant, Ade understood the profound meaning of the swordsmith; those without courage, even if they obtain this sword, will likewise have no fortune. The sword is forged to bring luck to the brave
Each time Wam let out a loud shout, a tree stump was firmly driven into the ground. The people followed him to connect the walls into one piece and were also preparing to erect two watchtowers
Thus, Ade and Cindy began to work together. The two experts moved particularly quickly. After applying a high-temperature catalyst and some strong oxidizers to the blade, and coating other parts of the sword with a heat-dissipating agent, they started to bake it with fire. Soon, a violent reaction occurred with sparks flying. Ade leaned slightly forward to shield Cindy, who was working with a joyful laugh. Before long, the reaction was complete. Cindy extracted the sword, and Ade raised his hammer—however—Ade's hammer stopped in mid-air.
With a clang, it was as if something had happened. The sound struck James's armor, and he let out a shout, but evidently he was unhurt, for immediately afterward, the other party cried out even more pitifully
Although the ogres suffered heavy losses, they quickly regrouped for another attack formation. Perhaps due to their innate bloodlust, the deaths of their companions had no effect on them as they relentlessly pursued James. Without a horse, James was being chased by hundreds of starving ogres, and the armor he wore was unbearably heavy, leaving him in a dire situation. That said, if it weren't for the sturdy armor, he would have perished long ago from the terrifying explosives. Ade and his companions opened the gate and came to his aid with horses, while hundreds of soldiers armed with spears leaped from the trenches behind the barricades to launch a fierce attack on the ogres and their mounts. James finally reached his camp, where Ade handed him a horse. Climbing onto the horse's back, he felt relatively safe for the moment, panting heavily, his face filled with excitement: "I am still alive! From now on, please call me the immortal James!"
However, the effective surprise attack did not succeed. The people in the room sprang up from the ground; three struck upwards, while four advanced towards their respective fronts, engaging in a desperate melee in the darkness
If there is a way, it would be in Master Liu's shop. Ade could not help but recall the joyful times he had as an apprentice back in the day
Ad and James felt helpless, yet they understood that everyone was speaking the truth. The sword blade was engraved with characters and inlaid with rubies, but it had not been sharpened. Now, to sharpen it, such hard star iron could not be remelted; it would likely take millions of strikes with a heavy hammer. Naturally, no one was willing to expend such effort during such a busy time
The ruby absorbed a significant amount of heat, becoming a more vivid red, yet some areas did not change, remaining the previous deep red. In comparison, it seemed to take the shape of the letter "p".
Wein's swordsmanship was grand and magnificent, exceptionally skilled, and combined with his unique kingly aura, killing ogres was no different from killing ordinary people. Ade admired him greatly; holding a divine weapon, he could not fall behind. He exerted all his strength and charged alongside Wein up the hillside. The ogres surrounded the two of them, and they relied solely on their warhorses' reckless charges to evade attacks, surprisingly getting closer to the hillside. However, the ogre mother noticed this; she extended her withered hands and pointed at the two loyal warhorses, muttering incantations. Suddenly, Ade and Wein's warhorses were cursed, letting out painful whinnies and collapsing to the ground, plunging their masters into an unprecedented predicament
In the darkness, the roars and curses from both sides echoed continuously, and the melee made the already fragile walls even more riddled with holes. People kept crashing into them, or blades and axes struck against them. The poor warehouse collapsed in just a few minutes, with the roof crashing down on both sides of the brawl, creating even greater chaos
With a loud "bang," a large hole collapsed in the roof above their heads, and three massive figures jumped in. At the same time, the wooden walls around them were simultaneously smashed, and the sound of wolf-like clubs mixed with beastly roars surged in.
Adé is right; the foolish ogres must have a very clever and somewhat supernatural spiritual pillar, probably akin to their mothers. There are legends that ogres belong to a matriarchal society, perhaps the mothers are the more intelligent ones. Ulaq, the assassination task is entrusted to you
Square was very interested in this, shouting that he must learn and ran out to collect ore. James, with a "clang clang" sound, patted his chest and excitedly said: "Leave the dangerous task of igniting explosives to me!"
James was inexplicably pulled into the shop, "It's not me, hey, hey, ah—! What are you doing!"
A foul, burnt odor permeated the air, causing the formation of the ogres to momentarily falter, yet they did not cease their advance, continuing to charge towards the village walls with a speed that was both swift and overwhelming. Suddenly, a row of caltrops sprang up from the ground, with sharp stakes slanting into the bodies of the first wave of ogre riders, causing them to tumble and fall. As the front ones collapsed, the ones behind were unable to push forward, resulting in a chaotic pile-up.
Adé lay on the ground, his eyes fixed on the sky, feeling as grounded as he had last night while staring at the ceiling in the warehouse. The surroundings were in complete disarray, but it no longer mattered.
Then, when combined with the following 'luck', it actually becomes 'Pluck', which means courage. Therefore, this is not the Sword of Luck, but rather the Sword of Pluck, the Sword of the Brave
Alright
At the construction site, Square is busy at work, instructing people to produce large pointed stakes as much as possible, which will then be nailed together to form peculiar barriers that can be easily lifted, to be placed at various key locations
Ad: "... ... Let's talk about it after we survive!"
The blacksmith's movements are quite skilled, her beautiful brown curls tied back slightly with a rope, swaying behind her. Well, this does not help in describing her proficiency in blacksmithing. Alright then... As she forges, her chest rises and falls slightly with exertion, and one can see a small patch of white on her blacksmith apron where fine beads of sweat have formed. Looking further in... Is this professional enough? (Various tomatoes, electrically charged potatoes, and ice-element eggs are flying around... and someone shouts, "Celestial Horse Flowing Fist!") As she forges, her chest rises and falls slightly with exertion, and one can see a small patch of white on her blacksmith apron where fine beads of sweat have formed. Looking further in... Is this professional enough? (Various tomatoes, electrically charged potatoes, and ice-element eggs are flying around... and someone shouts, "Celestial Horse Flowing Fist!")
Everyone was taken aback. Wayne slowly said, "Are you saying there is an explosive more powerful than gunpowder? An explosive from the mysterious technology of the East? Kid, you really shouldn't keep surprising me like this"
Ad and James are chopping a tree stump
With this thought, Ade focused even more intently on the ceiling, as if trying to discern the radiant face of Zumuld from it. However, the ceiling trembled slightly, and a speck of dust seemed to fall. Ade suddenly became alert and gently nudged Wam on his right side. Wam immediately awoke, making no sound, only tightening his grip on the massive axe. On the left, Ulaq had opened his eyes at some point. Ade thought that any movement within this vicinity would likely not escape Ulaq's ears. Yet again, the ceiling trembled slightly, and a speck of dust seemed to fall. Ade became alert once more and gently nudged Wam on his right side. Wam immediately awoke, making no sound, only tightening his grip on the massive axe. On the left, Ulaq had opened his eyes at some point. Ade thought that any movement within this vicinity would likely not escape Ulaq's ears. Everyone was poised and ready, and Ade faintly heard a weak gasp coming from the roof, causing cold sweat to form in his palms.
Haha, this way your armor will fit the shape of your back even better! The blacksmith lady has avenged her grievances, smiling happily with the books.
Adé—"I truly love her!"
I am not available, go to another place! Before Ade could say anything, he was rejected; the blacksmith lady was in a fit of anger
Shut up! If you don't want me to brand you on your backside, then be quiet! Those little ponies didn't scream as loudly as you did when I branded them with cute marks
Adé and the others were exhausted, without horses, and could only let them leave. Wayne stood firmly on the ground, leaning on his sword, his face still expressionless, as if contemplating the next course of action. Once they regained their strength, they discovered that the ogres had removed all the bodies that could be moved. Not only did they eat humans, but it seemed they also feasted on their companions. This revelation filled the seven warriors with an unsettling feeling and an indescribable loathing.
Wam raised his large axe, rampaging through the enemy ranks, cleaving both men and horses with unstoppable force, turning the tide in many situations
Your Majesty, how did your conversation with the prince go
Thus, everyone assigned tasks while having lunch
Thus, Ade switched to the Sword of Lac, practicing the V Slash. However, it was not as smooth as before; despite the movements being fluid, he repeatedly failed. Only by exerting all his strength, striking quickly and fiercely, did he succeed once. James was puzzled; such a heavy sword should possess immense power, so why was it so difficult to chop through the log?
Wien pressed down on Ade's corpse, kicking it aside, and helped him up from the ground. All around were ogres fleeing in panic, and Wam and the others were rushing over from behind, their angry shouts audible from a mile away. On the hillside, the ogre leader was urgently shouting for a retreat while holding their spiritual leader, who lay sprawled on the horse, convulsing incessantly, an arrow swaying in her chest.
In the midst of chaos, an ogre with horses rushed over from several zhang away, blowing the horn twice with a "woo woo" sound. All the ogres immediately began to retreat, nimbly leaping onto their horses, disappearing in a gust of wind
Get up! We have won!
Adé: "Hmm, this sword doesn't seem to need sharpening..."
Richard! Look! Wayne has come over from one side and pointed towards the distance.
Well, it makes sense. They seem particularly adept at operating at night. We must seize the opportunity to fortify our defenses during the day, so let's discuss this shortly. First, we need to address the prince's lack of cooperation and rally the people; otherwise, when they launch their formal attack, it will only be the few of us left to defend. Burman, come with me!" Burman followed Wayne, while Ulak headed to the center of the village to deliver a stirring speech to encourage more people to either work or take up arms. Burman, come with me!" Burman followed Wayne, while Ulak headed to the center of the village to deliver a stirring speech to encourage more people to either work or take up arms. Ad and others were busy constructing barriers and walls around the village in preparation for a large-scale attack.
We also need to create the xx broadsword and the xx spear. It is very difficult to sharpen this sword, and we do not have time. Almost all the shops responded in the same way, with only one providing a bit of advice: "Perhaps you could try that shop; it shouldn't be too busy."
Ader wielded the Sword of Plak, his spirit soaring, and wherever the sword's light reached, there was no obstruction. The terror of the ogres drove him to madness, igniting an unparalleled fighting spirit for survival, with strength surging forth continuously. The Sword of Plak, which usually felt somewhat heavy, now flowed effortlessly in his hands. Each time he unleashed his full power, the sword's light would blaze forth, overwhelming all who stood before him. In no time, both man and horse were drenched in blood. However, the ogres, undaunted by death, continued to surge forward in waves.
At this moment, the shopkeeper expressed considerable dissatisfaction with James's call—her eyebrows arched, her eyes wide open, and her high nose combined with the corners of her mouth turned up formed a cold snort of "hmph"—swearing by the names of the Jade Emperor, Bodhisattva, Buddha, and the Almighty, that the blacksmith is a woman
Suddenly, with a loud "boom," a massive explosion erupted from beneath the feet of the crowded ogres, sending countless sharp metal shards flying amidst the sand and gravel. A large pit, measuring ten feet on each side, appeared on the ground, and many ogres fell around it. From the pile of ogre corpses crawled a figure clad in armor, desperately running back—it was James, who had gone to fetch the gunpowder. "I am still alive! I am still alive! Come save me!"
Twenty gold coins! The blacksmith lady is quite unapologetic with her pricing
Richard Norman
Oh! This is quite unexpected! Others are discussing it, but everyone is very happy, as the library is rid of its nuisance, making meals much more enjoyable.
Ad deliberately replied, "No, they didn't say that! They recommended you, saying that you are very skilled at horseshoes"
Ah! Upon closer observation, both individuals exclaimed in frustration, for the precious and exquisite Lac sword, the heirloom of the Wayne family, had never been sharpened.
Wam swung his giant axe wildly, with wooden planks and tiles flying around him, and nothing dared to approach him
We will all see how capable the warriors under his command are! Now, get to work! Otherwise, by tonight, you will have no opportunity to witness it! Uralak diligently urged everyone forward.
What! These ignorant bastards! The blacksmith lady's face turned pale with anger, "Come here!"
Impertinent! One should introduce oneself before asking for the lady's name
Miss Blacksmith tripped James, pushing him onto the anvil, and began hammering on his armor, where a dent had been left by the ogre the previous night
Why didn't you say so earlier! What is it?
Well, actually it is I who wanted to find you
King Jacob had torches brought forth, and the people cheered as they beheld the corpse of the ogre for the first time. It was also the first opportunity for Ad and his companions to observe it closely, as the earlier chaos in the darkness had obscured everything. These creatures had red, coarse hair resembling bristles, sharp teeth protruding from their lips, and their skin had a slight bluish tint. Their bodies were covered in hard bristles that were resistant to blades, and if it were not for their human-like proportions and the fact that they wore clothing, one might easily mistake them for a type of gorilla. Their claws were thick like a bear's paw, yet their fingers were short, stout, and powerful. They wore leather garments made from bear skin, and their clubs resembled oversized bear paws, suggesting that the trees had been felled by these clubs.
What is it! They must be pushing back and forth because they cannot do it! Unexpectedly, Miss Blacksmith readily agreed, which surprised Ade
Did I just exert too much force and become exhausted? Am I just here waiting to be crushed and turned into food for the ogres? Is it all over? Zumuld, are you watching me?
"Holy Mother, save me! Quickly, take care of this madwoman!" James shouted in desperation, unable to exert any strength.
James was put away, the armor on his back was already as smooth as a mirror, yet James's back also...
What is that?! James felt the texture on his back, and for the first time in his life, he unhesitatingly removed his armor during the day—two crescent-shaped marks appeared there...
Zumu'er, I miss you so much. I am sorry, but I cannot take you back to my hometown in Hangzhou...
Adé nodded and said: "May I ask for your esteemed name?"
Hehe, my personal mark, another knight should admire it! The blacksmith lady's scheme has succeeded, and she smiles wickedly
The craftsmanship here is outdated, and there are no advanced bellows for forging. This young lady speaks so arrogantly; could she possibly possess some secret technique? As Ade looked around, he noticed a pile of ores in a box in the corner, and suddenly it dawned on him, prompting him to exclaim: "Do you know how to use a catalyst?!"
Could we be mistaken
When Ade once again saw the scene before him, half of Cindy's blacksmith shop had already vanished. There was a large hole in the wall, and Cindy stood there foolishly holding two small hammers, while James had also stopped his tears, staring blankly at him.
Oh my, no wonder it wasn't sharpened. How was it done back then?" Ade could not imagine. He wiped the blade clean with a cloth, and when he reached the ruby, a sudden surge of heat passed through the cloth and burned his palm.
"So, am I someone who first had luck and then discovered courage?" Ade said with self-deprecation, holding his sword, and a surge of boldness welled up within him. He raised the sword high and shouted loudly: "Let me show you my courage!" The scenery before him seemed to transform into a giant ogre. With immense momentum, Ade swung his sword with all his might, delivering a magnificent strike—at that moment, it felt as if only a tenth of a second had passed, the characters on the blade glowed, pluck! ... He shouted loudly: "Let me show you my courage!" The scenery before him seemed to transform into a giant ogre. With immense momentum, Ade swung his sword with all his might, delivering a magnificent strike—at that moment, it felt as if only a tenth of a second had passed, the characters on the blade glowed, pluck! ... The sword's edge shimmered with a red light, and a powerful sword wind swept forward like a storm, effortlessly piercing through everything, as if all that was caught in the sword wind was set ablaze like it had been scorched by fire...
Ulak happily agreed
At noon, seven brave warriors held a meeting in Jacob's castle