Chapter 447: Swamp Brothers Company

Major Ron was indeed skilled in the “art” of speaking. Despite his usual joking demeanor around Colonel Frayzer, when faced with real situations, he could also spout quite a bit of crooked wisdom.

That speech about “courage and dignity” essentially eliminated any thoughts of evasion or cowardice from the military officers beside him, unless they were willing to tear off their own face and stomp it into the mud themselves.

All of them came from military families, raised from childhood under their fathers’ discipline to value a man’s face more than life itself, who the hell would want to be called a coward in this rotten swamp?

But this provocation was also born of necessity.

Although Colonel Frayzer and Major Ron were confident that most of their team consisted of fine young men, they had to admit that there were indeed true cowards who came just for glory among this military observation group.

Once they found room to maneuver, the cowardice of just two or three people would affect the actions of the pioneer vanguards, and might even cause the entire legion to lose face on the Black Plague battlefield.

The incident at Malo Town had already made Marshal Loren angry and frustrated. If anything else went wrong with the vanguard forces, Frayzer and Ron would definitely face severe punishment!

Therefore, Major Ron’s seemingly extreme actions were actually planned in advance with Frayzer.

Since Frayzer was still handling the final details in Malo Town, as the current chief officer of the military observation group, Ron had to maintain this stance and momentum.

As for the somewhat arrogant questioning from the student party…

This wasn’t really part of Ron’s considerations. Though born noble, his personality had partially crystallized into military habits after rolling around in army camps since before coming of age.

Major Ron would also give necessary respect to those with real ability.

Soldiers tend to see the world very simply, either as friends or enemies, rarely any third identity.

The young vampires of the student party had managed to break through the swamp blockade and occupy three outposts in a short time. The power hidden beneath such actions deserved respect.

In any case, by that evening, 400 pioneer soldiers from the Goldflower Kingdom had moved into the three captured outposts under Major Ron’s command. They would face skeleton armies that would become particularly frenzied in the night environment.

Although the nearby undead had been routed by the student party, once these fellows reorganized, the soldiers would face attacks from enemies over a hundred times their number.

They weren’t yet familiar with the terrain, nor did they have experience fighting in swamps. The enemy was undead who knew no fear of death, with their controllers hiding in the background. The only advantage was that the nearby undead weren’t elite troops, they were the kind of trouble that could be dealt with using bullets and warhammers.

To be honest, such enemies could hardly be considered dangerous in this “fertile land” of Transia teeming with vibrant life.

“Are you really going to hand over all three outposts to these Goldflower soldiers?”

In the evening darkness, Cheche floated in the swamp’s night sky clutching his staff, looking down at these foreign soldiers who were changing shifts and entering the outpost positions. He looked doubtfully at these well-equipped warriors and quietly asked Pigeon who was preparing a large-scale detection spell beside him:

“I’m not doubting their combat ability, I imagine that short Marshal wouldn’t pick a bunch of chickens to come embarrass him in circles in Transia. The problem is there’s absolutely no need! Hasn’t our guild already applied to the People’s Army for assistance?

Wouldn’t using our own people be more convenient?

Plus, Maxim’s soldiers all have rich experience fighting undead.

Look! These cowards from East Prussia are even carrying guns. They haven’t realized that when fighting undead, fire is much more useful than bullets.”

“When people are so eager to come risk their lives, wanting to experience Transia’s combat intensity, guests should be treated with proper hospitality.”

Leading Pigeon casually explained while completing the spirit energy model for the detection spell, making it begin resonating with the surrounding spirit energy to shape and confirm the detection range:

“Besides, they are our support forces on this western front, arranged by the development team, not chosen by us. This means that whether we like it or not, we must grind reputation with the Goldflower pioneers.

Better sooner than later.”

Pigeon’s fingers trembled as he cast spells skillfully like a qualified spirit mage, fully forming the detection spell formula, allowing him to instantly gain hidden detection status for all areas within nearly 1,500 meters of the outposts below.

As long as he as the spellcaster didn’t leave this range, the detection effect would remain active.

Having completed the spell formula, Leading Pigeon let out a long breath, feeling proud of his successful spellcasting.

He indeed had reason to be proud.

Because spellcasting in this damn game wasn’t as simple as double-clicking with a mouse, as a spellcaster one had to skillfully master the spirit energy spell formula models, and through repeated practice master the spellcasting tricks, occasionally even having to apply complex formulas to precisely control spirit energy flow and resonance frequencies.

It could be said that the spirit mage career path was completely different from hack-and-slash melee combat. Spellcasters pursued artistic and ritualistic precision.

Currently many players wanted to become spirit mages, and quite a few had switched secondary professions to the spirit domain, but so far those who could become excellent spirit mages were still as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. The rest could only be uniformly evaluated as “mediocre” by both Grand Duchess Tris and the Young Lady.

Leading Pigeon and Cheche happened to be two of that small group of “excellent ones.” Besides their character traits being more inclined toward spellcasting, it was also sufficient proof that these two college students hadn’t lost their peak learning abilities, diligent qualities and scholarly accomplishments from their lives.

“You go to outpost number two.”

Leading Pigeon started preparing another concealment spell formula to cast on himself. While preparing to cast, he quietly said to Cheche:

“Just like on my side, hide and maintain detection. Based on our previous experience fighting skeleton armies in Smuggler’s Woods, although the gnoll mages have made a strategic withdrawal, there must still be fellows hiding nearby controlling the skeleton armies.

I estimate they’re probably corpse mages or netherworld knights, and shouldn’t be too many in number.

Now that we have these Goldflower people helping us garrison the outposts to attract attention, we can slip into the darkness and move freely. Tonight’s combat objective is to wipe out all those skulking corpse mages in one fell swoop.

If we can’t do that, then at least drive them toward Plague Town.

We not only need to take these outposts, but also hold them!

If we can successfully take Plague Town, then these outposts planted on necessary routes can become safe roads extending outward from our strongpoint.”

“Mm-hmm, okay, I’ll go right now.”

Cheche adjusted his direction without complaint. Before leaving, he praised Leading Pigeon:

“You finally have some leader’s dignity, look at you, Pigeon! Now you’re like a both awesome and wise spirit energy user, tsk, even studying military strategy.”

“Same to you, my dear Cheche.”

Pigeon also gave a polite business mutual-praise saying:

“As a spirit mage already recognized by the Young Lady, I still have many details to learn from you in quick spellcasting and spirit energy rituals. When the Young Lady’s ‘Scarlet Devil Mansion’ officially opens for business, we two will need to help each other in there.” 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

“Say, could you two have some shame?”

Just as these two were engaged in business mutual-praise, Ah Yuen’s helpless voice rang out in the communication channel. He complained:

“When you two are mutually flattering each other, could you turn off team sharing? Everyone can hear you, damn it, the sports students are laughing so hard their stomachs hurt. Could you not embarrass our dorm? If you keep this up, believe it or not we’ll give you both a good public beating on the sports field when this is over!

Get to work!

The Eight Demon Elite Group and Shadow Trail brothers are all familiarizing themselves with using the Command Scepter at Blood Claw Beast’s Lair. They’ll probably arrive here tomorrow to provide support.

Deal with these corpse mages before they arrive! Show them our Beast Team’s strength!”

Ah Yuen’s scolding sent Pigeon and Cheche scurrying off to work.

Well then.

As the one in the student party with the most “big picture view” and keen observation, Ah Yuen was the true strategist of the Beast Team. Tonight’s pursuit battle was planned and implemented under his direction.

Speaking of which, the little players had quite a bit of experience dealing with undead creatures.

After entering the game they encountered threats from ghouls and wraiths one after another, even cleared the city sewers twice. After encountering skeleton armies in Smuggler’s Woods they had been studying their battle methods. Fortunately, this continent’s “undead sea” wasn’t too different from undead systems in other otherworlds.

Numbers were always an advantage that couldn’t be ignored.

Morale lock and fearlessness were key points that had to be noted, but general mindlessness and reliance on core command were equally the biggest weaknesses of skeleton armies and the undead sea.

The undead had difficulty thinking through actions, so once they gathered into armies their biggest problem was whether they could have good central command.

This typical “hive” structure quickly led the little players to conclude the best way to deal with them, don’t waste time fighting wars of attrition with them. A decapitation strategy aiming for one-hit kills was the true undead killer.

Based on this experience, the student party’s tactical arrangements tonight were very appropriate, which also satisfied Governor Murphy who was observing the swamp battlefield through Revnor’s vision.

He had just finished today’s sword duel with Necessary Evil and was preparing to take a good nap in the night. Before sleeping Murphy paid special attention to the situation of the student party who had already begun battle in the swamp.

These guys were currently very special “Murphy’s Descendants” in the game. The first batch of student party held a special position in the Blood Vulture Clan, they didn’t belong to any of the three major factions but reported directly under Murphy.

Although not Murphy’s warriors, when it came to players most trusted by the vampire lord, Ah Yuen and the others definitely made the list.

“Although these guys have been active in Hog’s territory lately and haven’t come to pay respects at Crimson Citadel, making me rather lonely not hearing these little fellows’ witty remarks, their rate of progress is truly not to be underestimated.

Indeed!

Even though all players have 1.5x learning ability, these young people in the prime of their lives still have the fastest learning and improvement speed. They are already qualified vampire warriors.”

Murphy leaned back in his chair, watching with an appreciative posture as his faction members formed concealed hunting formations in the swamp darkness, dividing into three groups around the three outposts to lurk and prepare to handle this clamorous night and complete excellent one-hit kills.

“Adele, help me watch them.”

Murphy felt sleepiness rising, he yawned and instructed Lady Adele who was also in the swamp through the mental link between lord and descendant:

“If danger occurs, remember to ‘fish’ them out.”

“Yes, master, I will give them special care on your behalf.”

Adele’s gentle voice rang in Murphy’s mind as she softly said:

“Good night, sweet dreams.”

“Mm, remember to handle the spam posts on the forum.”

Murphy closed his eyes, before deep sleep embraced by the night arrived, he reminded:

“Also those primers about otherworld intelligence organizations in the special knowledge section. As commander of the Shadow Intelligence Bureau, you should learn from more excellent peers, don’t be like Femis indulging in boring otherworld soap operas.”

“I never watch those things that interfere with thinking, nor do I like decadent music.”

Adele firmly replied.

After sensing that her master had fallen asleep, the Baroness of Shadow pouted, picked up her Computation Bead in her chosen “swamp treehouse” and skillfully logged into the forum to check today’s updates in the film and television section as usual.

After discovering that several dramas she was following hadn’t updated, she opened those study materials with an unhappy mood.

“If only there wasn’t a world between us…”

The vampire lady complained:

“I would catch you all and give you the Embrace to make you update 24 hours a day. Otherworld entertainment methods are too addictive! Adele oh Adele, you mustn’t be so lazy… oh? Little Ashina uploaded a new episode, with such high ratings?

Well, I’ll study the work methods of Pinkerton and KGB after watching this episode.

After all, the night is still long.”

————————

“Bang”

A bone spear carrying corrupting power tore through the foul air and smashed hard into the stone watchtower of the swamp outpost.

This fragile thing exploded instantly on impact, but the cold power carried within spread outward with the bone spear’s explosion, like an expanding ring of light drawing in several infantrymen who couldn’t dodge in time.

No tragedies of immediate death occurred, but the vicious weakening spell was still applied to them. The infusion of negative energy instantly made their limbs weak as if severely ill, unable to even grip their shields.

The subsequent barrage of bone arrows, though not particularly accurate, still pierced through the thighs of several unfortunate ones.

However, the Pioneer Army soldiers’ level of training was very high. As vanguard chosen soldiers they were elite among elites. Even when injured they didn’t emit cowardly wails, just rolled into the newly dug trenches behind and were hurriedly carried by others to the center of the outpost for emergency treatment.

Major Ron guarded the top of the watchtower.

Like the finest sniper he leaned against the firing port, skillfully pulling back the bolt to load two Combustion Gold bullets. In the mental focus brought by steady breathing he silently counted time, rising to aim his rifle the instant the bone arrow barrage ended.

He activated some kind of shooter skill that made his lock-on aim lightning fast.

Two bangs, the bullets left the barrel with piercing whistles into the shadowy swamp mud ahead, not killing numerous skeleton cannon fodder but shattering the skulls of two skeleton mages who posed the greatest threat to the outpost.

This sudden kill caused the bone fire incineration spells the skeleton mages were brewing to lose control. The cold phosphoric fire splashed outward, engulfing nearby skeleton armies and quickly burning them to ash.

However, this spectacular kill couldn’t reverse the dangerous situation at outpost number three where he was located.

Before they arrived, Ah Yuen had warned him that outpost three’s position had entered the core of the skeleton army’s first defensive line. The counterattacks they would face here would definitely be fierce and dangerous. Major Ron had already mentally prepared himself before coming.

The 100 soldiers he deployed here were absolute elites his father had privately allocated to his command.

These Goldflower warriors showed no fear when faced with skeleton armies surrounding them from all directions in the night.

They formed shield walls along the trenches encircling the outpost and countered with muskets. Once skeleton armies approached en masse they would use explosive rounds. The series of coordinated moves worked quite well. The only regret was there were no spirit mages in this force.

This was understandable, even though the Goldflower Kingdom had the famous Circle Tower, King Louis couldn’t be extravagant enough to assign spirit mages to frontline small units.

Spirit manipulation was a talent.

Once anything rises to the level of talent it’s destined to not exist in large numbers, and definitely won’t reach the level of widespread availability.

The intense battle had continued from nightfall until now.

As is well known, men in combat states often experience distortions in their perception of time, frequently mistaking 10 seconds for 10 minutes, such illusions are quite fatal on the battlefield.

“Report battle status!”

Major Ron called out while accepting an ammunition bag passed by his adjutant. Soon a junior officer shouted:

“Our lines are complete! Sir, they cannot break through our defenses, we can hold here until we die of old age!”

“Damn it Bob, that’s not what I wanted to hear.”

Ron was amused by his subordinate’s confident roar. He scolded:

“The wounded! How many wounded do we have?”

“Just a few unlucky ones, sir. We’ll send them to the rear at dawn, won’t delay anything.”

The lieutenant named Bob replied in a loud voice:

“Hey, if this is the battlefield that Transians pride themselves on, it’s too amateur. This not only can’t compare to our fierce battle below Seicob City, it can’t even match the mountain folk’s offensive strength.”

“Hmph, I feel the same way.”

Major Ron grinned, turning to aim again as he said:

“It’s time to teach these fellows a lesson, let them see the invincible battle stance of Goldflower warriors, brothers… hm? What’s that light? Why is it so dazzling?”

“There are high-level spellcasters hidden in the enemy formation! Sir! Get down!!!”

“Hm???”

“Boom”