Chapter 654: Chapter 678: Approaching the Battlefield
Three days after the encounter battle, or the fifth day since the team left Twin Bridges Town, Volcano Fortress finally ca into the rcenaries’ view.
Even from tens of miles away, the silhouette of the black fortress was the most striking sight on the horizon. The main body of the fortress was completely hidden within the mountain, with only its walls, over eighty feet tall and made entirely of obsidian, exposed. Manually cut stones stacked together ford a resistance against Transformation System Spells, limiting what Spellcasters could do in siege warfare. Furthermore, the obsidian itself had a resistance to flas, rendering the demons’ war machines that launched giant Fireballs ineffective against it.
But even soone with no military knowledge could tell from an intuitive sense about Volcano Fortress that it was an impregnable stronghold. The only passage that permitted the passage of a large army was a stairway at the front with a slope of over sixty degrees, carving deep into the wall of the fortress. Any sane commander would not send troops to assault such a steep staircase, not to ntion that at the top of the staircase there was a huge tal door.
However, Lancelot, with his extraordinary vision, noticed that the demons had actually tried it before—although there were no corpses on the steps, there were nurous Large Cleavers specific to Beard Demons scattered around, and apart from being defeated, there was no reason for them to discard their weapons. Speaking of which, the demon’s army emphasized unconditional obedience to orders and could be resurrected in Barto Hell, so only they would undertake such a futile attempt.
Suddenly, a large flock of vultures took flight in front of them; those birds with black wings swirled up into a tornado, then soared high and refused to leave, turning into a cluster of ominous clouds on the horizon.
“Those fellows must have slled sothing,” Bruto frowned and said, “just waiting to have our corpses for lunch.”
As the army continued to advance, everyone began to sll another peculiar stench. This stench was so unique, mixed with rotting flesh, yellowish-green pus, and maggots’ excrent, that it drilled into your nostrils as if a person with a tongue full of blisters had eaten a dozen rotten eggs before giving you a lover’s kiss. That long, slimy tongue pierced from your mouth all the way to your throat, forcing an unstoppable urge to vomit.
Most mortals, upon slling this odor, would instinctively feel fear even though they had no idea what the sll represented, but it seed their blood rembered that scent. As for the rcenaries, this sll was all too familiar; if you showed confusion, it only ant you had falsified your resu.
The source of the stench soon ca into view: a hill completely made of amassed corpses. Near the top, the bodies had turned into skeletons, likely the handywork of the vultures just seen, while the lower half was severely decomposed, leaking a large amount of foul-slling liquid into a brownish-yellow pond ford around the base on the ground.
If one could overco the fear and observe a bit closer, it was easy to identify that all the remains belonged to demons. That hill was like a monunt commorating a significant victory the demons once had here and a warning sign indicating the consequences any creature might face moving forward.
It was difficult for even the most seasoned rcenaries not to be impacted by that striking scene. Yet, they continued walking, no one stopping, because they were in a group that was still moving forward.
After walking a bit further, Lancelot’s ears twitched as he heard so unusual sounds in the wind. An Elf Priest, who had long ears and almost rivaling sensory abilities, looked at him with an inquiring expression.
“Yes,” Lancelot nodded, “they have already started fighting ahead.”
“Are you sure?” asked the six-ard Serpent Demon, suddenly twisting his head to look at the Human Knight as he walked ahead. Unnoticed, Sonam had changed his previously disdainful attitude towards Lancelot and even began to rely on his opinions sowhat.
“This isn’t a guess, I can already hear the sound of tal clashing.” Lancelot pointed to his ears, “I suggest we order everyone to don their armor now; otherwise, we might be rushed in a while.”
“Alright.” Sonam nodded, then using a wide-range sensory ability, he shouted to everyone around:
‘Everyone stop!’
The sensory ability was very effective for issuing commands, and the rcenaries imdiately halted, looking at the six-ard Serpent Demon with so confusion.
“Anyone who needs to piss or shit, I’m giving you three minutes to sort yourselves out,” the Serpent Demon shouted to everyone, “What are you dawdling for? I’ve already started timing!”
A few rcenaries left the group, following the routine of the past few days, those who could stand went to the left, those who needed to squat went to the right. The air was originally so foul that the living slls they emitted were sohow comforting.
“Is everyone done? Very good, this way, no one can shit in their pants later, which would be very troubling for because theoretically I shouldn’t swing my longsword at any of you, at least not until the day after tomorrow. But I worry I might not be able to restrain myself. Now, everyone get your armor on and weapons in hand, because you will be fighting those sons of bitches from Bartez again soon.”
Hearing this, the rcenaries quickly got moving, and so heavy, complex armor indeed took so effort to don. Lancelot also went over to help Alamir. He himself had put on his armor early, as his physique ant there was almost no difference for him whether he wore armor on a long march or not; in fact, being without armor made him uncomfortable.
Five minutes later, the rcenaries who had sorted out their gear set off again and soon caught up with the group of Demon spiders ahead. About ten more minutes of walking, everyone’s ears were filled with the roars of the beast called war—a symphony composed of tal, flesh, and vocal cords that made anyone tremble and their heart race at the sound.
The Demons walking in front of the rcenary troops suddenly stirred and then started running forward with all their might. So of the rcenaries wanted to follow, but Sonam sternly stopped them.
“Maintain our current pace, you fools, save your energy for the fight,” hissed the six-ard Serpent Demon, his voice hoarse, hair-raising, and filled with malice, “You’re now fully equipped and at ease; what better state is there to et death? But please, before you die, take down a few more from Bartez. You’ve already been paid a week’s wages; if you haven’t killed even one before dying, perhaps the God of the Dead might send you back to this plane… of course, in the form of a human-faced maggot.”
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