novelraw Chapter 148 - 146: Untainted by Knowledge
Chapter 148 - 146: Untainted by Knowledge
As it turned out, Westheid’s decision to push his logistics team to the limit was entirely necessary.
Because just after Shamuel finished delivering the equipment, the forward base came under attack by Chaos Demons.
It was noon when the Detection Techniques deployed at the forest border blared to life. Within a quarter of an hour, all personnel at the forward base were ready for battle.
The Chaos Demons entrenched in Qinghui Territory were mostly concentrated around Purity Forest. When they finally poured out, all previous efforts to reclaim the land seemed like mere skirmishes in comparison.
THUD THUD THUD—
On the flat plains previously scorched by flames, the earth began to tremble as a great wave of black and brown swept forward.
A thousand? Ten thousand? A hundred thousand? They were simply impossible to count.
Against the impact of the Chaos Tide, any unprepared defensive line would be like a sandcastle facing a tidal wave, obliterated in an instant.
It was just like over two years ago, when no one had predicted that the Barrier protecting Qinghui Territory for a millennium would suddenly shatter, allowing the Chaos Tide to surge straight in.
Fortunately, this time, they were fully prepared.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—
From the artillery positions in the rear, the jet-black Rune Cannons roared. One after another, specially treated High-Explosive Alchemy Shells were launched high into the sky, and then... they burst apart.
Countless cluster munitions rained down like a torrential storm—a tempest of thunder, flowing fire, and explosions. The lowest-Tier [Chaos Eggs] and [Fallen Beasts] were instantly blasted into pulp.
Despite suffering a saturation bombardment, the Chaos Tide showed no intention of dodging or scattering. Its momentum never faltered, so the Rune Cannons needed no recalibration; they simply continued to fire using fixed parameters.
It wasn’t just the Rune Cannons. Arrows, gunfire from the watchtowers, and the Casters’ Techniques were all unleashed without restraint, causing the Demon Tide to melt away like snowflakes.
The Demons, however, seemed not to care. Those blown to bits by the artillery were casually devoured by their own kind trailing behind, not a single scrap of flesh left behind. Even faced with overwhelming firepower and the gruesome sight of their comrades being torn to bloody shreds, they still surged forward, one wave after another.
"Chaos is just too predictable, always charging straight ahead like this."
Westheid watched, feeling an incredible sense of relief as the tide of black and brown visibly thinned under the baptism of superior firepower.
’Chaos Demons are nothing but stat-monsters. If you were to just compare raw stats, the forces of Order wouldn’t stand a chance.’
’But they’re just too stupid; the vast majority act purely on instinct.’
’Huh? Schemes? Tactics? Tools? Positioning?’
’Impossible! How could the scions of Chaos Undivided ever resort to such filthy methods? To them, wisdom and thought are utterly foul things!’
’In any case, Chaos Creatures possess a certain innocent beauty, untainted by the pollution of knowledge.’
’Aside from the Yonglan Order, who are crazy enough to charge headfirst into a Demon Tide, the other Realms of Order all deal with a Chaos Tide via overwhelming firepower. The Celestial Vault Kingdom, in particular, uses over-the-horizon strikes that ensure the Chaos Tide can never even touch the edges of their Floating Cities.’
’What’s more, we’re fighting on purified land, so the high innate damage reduction from the Chaos Demons’ [Primordial Shell] Talent is nullified. That’s why the casualties among the Chaos Demon Tide are so staggering.’
"Low-Tier [Chaos Hundred Forms] can be handled with overwhelming firepower, but higher-Tier Demons won’t be so simple. Brother, we cannot let our guard down."
Yolanda, leading a unit of the Guard, walked onto the walls forged from Fine Steel and said,
"Besides, we can’t maintain this level of firepower forever. Our ammunition reserves are being depleted by the second, while the Demons are endless."
"Then conserve your ammunition. The Demon Tide’s density has been thinned out enough. Have the Guard hold the line."
Westheid ordered, then drew Shadow-Born.
"And I... will save some ammunition with my sword."
The roar of the cannons gradually subsided. Once the smoke cleared, the fields as far as the eye could see were a mangled mess of blood and gore.
At least seventy percent of the Demons had died under the barrage of artillery and Magic that scoured the surface of the earth.
But the number that remained was not to be underestimated. After a brief pause, the Demon Tide surged forward once more.
Having weathered the endless barrage, the ones running at the forefront were the [Mad Beast Vanguards]. Their bodies were covered in thick carapaces far tougher than an equivalent amount of steel, overlapping in layers like Dragon Scales.
Their spiky heads were mostly protected by thick, lustrous Red Jade, and their weapons—scythe-like wings and blade-sharp claws—looked as if they could shred steel with ease.
Their explosive speed was incredible. In just a few breaths, they crossed a vast distance, leaving the rest of their kind far behind as they began to scale the base’s outer steel shell.
Charging alongside these Demons were the [Winds of Calamity], which appeared to be completely incorporeal.
Embedded within their illusory, black-mist forms were shattered gemstone fragments, making the attacks of these seemingly fragile and slender Demons unbelievably sharp and vicious.
The [Winds of Calamity] serve as the vanguards and assassins among the [Chaos Hundred Forms]. The instant the cannons fell silent, they charged madly toward Westheid’s position without a moment’s hesitation, like moths drawn to a flame.
Apparently, even these mindless Demons knew who the top-priority target was.
But Westheid was not the type to wait for his enemies to come to him.
Everything a man who pursued strength to his very core did was for this: to have, in this very moment, the right to embrace the glory of battle he had always dreamed of!
"Mivana... if you would."
Westheid spoke softly to the Wolf-eared Maiden at his side. She nodded calmly, slit the pad of her index finger, and offered it to him. He took her finger into his mouth.
’Until I can share her Tier T0 Talent, Mivana’s blood essence is a good way to satisfy the craving.’
[You have ingested an excessive amount of "Cursed Source Blood"]
[You have entered the "Blood Fury" Status]
[You have entered the "Bloodthirst" Status]
As a familiar impulse surged through him, Westheid was once again empowered by the derivative traits of the [Cursed Source Blood], and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.
"Hahaha..."
His desire for slaughter was surging!
Just then, the first [Wind of Calamity] to arrive completely ignored the surrounding crossfire, becoming the "lucky" one to reach Westheid.
And then, the swift, formless Demon was cut down by the instantly unsheathed Shadow-Born.
There was no retaliation, no struggle. [Shadow-Born]’s extreme effectiveness against Chaos wasn’t just in the derivative flames it produced—its very edge was a taboo, bringing instant death to any Chaos Creature it touched.
Westheid threw his head back and let out a wild laugh that shook the very air. A crimson fire erupted around him.
Emerald Dragon Thunder spilled from the gaps in his armor. An incredibly profound Magic Power radiated from him in visible shockwaves. After absorbing the Cursed Source Blood, Duke Qinghui’s body grew restless, yearning for slaughter.
Action came faster than thought. In the next instant, Westheid became a streak of explosive light, charging head-on into the Demon army, trailing crimson embers and a sonic boom that shattered the air.