Wolves of Hader

Chapter 80

There were a large moon and a small moon in the sky.

The large moon was full, while the small moon in the opposite direction was a half-moon.

Because the large moon was a full moon, the entire basin, without even a single bonfire, was truly bright as day.

The armor and greatswords of myself and my squad members were all black.

We had applied a dark camouflage paint brought in preparation for an ambush.

It was a concealment coating mixed with oil.

After sunset, watching the village from the forest, it was truly devastating.

Targal tribe not only enslaved the minor tribes but also killed other tribe warriors for fun.

Just as Chief Aktun had said, they were preparing to invade human lands.

In the distant fields, they were making things like catapults, and the sound of hammers didn't stop in the smithy even deep into the night.

About ten members of the Dran tribe, treated as slaves, could be seen, and, surprisingly, there were also Elin women present.

The Elin, almost naked, were being dragged by Targal warriors, and it was obvious what happened every night, even without seeing it.

"We must save the Dran and Elin."

"If Chief Aktun unites the tribes, won't they become free?"

"Both tribes have become exhausted in body and spirit. If they don't heal in the Elemental Forest, they might not recover."

"Are you taking them to Ta-iki Island?"

"Yes."

The squad knew this was dangerous and would not be easy, but no one objected, as long as I wasn't intending to rush into certain death.

"Deputy Hans, take three others, and when I lure them away, rescue the Dran, then get them over the outer barricade toward the retreat route."

"Understood."

"Donnie, you and the other three will handle the Elin. There are surely some in the Targal chieftain's house with the warriors as well."

"We'll lead them out and join you immediately."

"Open the retreat route with Aktun, then move as you see fit after that."

"Yes."

"Everyone, stay alert. If you get surrounded and chopped with axes, even Racrom armor can't stop it."

Donnie and the squad nodded. Even if we were surrounded, we'd escape using Whirlwind.

So, what I meant was to avoid getting hit as much as possible.

This raid could be seen as underhanded by the Tak tribe.

But since we were human and couldn't face them one-on-one, we decided to proceed as planned.

"The clouds are covering the large moon."

"I'll go down first."

I started descending the cliff by rope.

The Tak tribe is said to be too heavy to climb cliffs easily.

For this reason, the Targal never expected an assassin to climb down the cliffs.

Furthermore, the cliff was quite high for anyone to descend.

I went alone to lure as many Targal warriors as possible.

I'd draw so many that no one would have time to care about other places.

Then, I'd cut them down together.

While I fought in the clearing, the squad would climb down from the cliff to carry out their rescue mission.

Afterward, they were to act based on their own judgment as the situation demanded.

I waited a moment underneath the cliff.

The spot I descended to was behind the chief's house.

There were quite a few sentries at the perimeter barricade, and four guards were patrolling around the chief's house in rotation.

As soon as two of them rounded to the back of the chief's house, I dashed toward the back door and, without hesitation, kicked it open.

Crash—

With the door shattering, I rushed inside.

Just as rumored, the Targal chief lived together with his guard warriors in the same house.

As I barged in, the guards woke up, scrambling to grab their weapons, still not fully aware of the situation!

Using that moment, I kicked off the ground and flew toward the chief's bedroom.

At that moment, the chief, stark naked, was getting up. Beside him were naked Elin women.

"Uoy era ohw!"

I thrust my dagger at the chief, who yelled desperately.

But he wasn't chief for nothing—he quickly rolled aside, dodging my strike.

Just as I moved to attack again—

Whish whish whish—

With the sound of air splitting, several axes flew toward me at once.

A few quick-witted guard warriors had hurled their axes!

Tang—

I deflected one and rolled to dodge the others.

Axes thudded into the bedding and wall, with one embedding beside an Elin's head.

Meanwhile, the chief made his escape to the left without even trying to counterattack.

His face, and his blue naked body, looked hideous.

I immediately pursued the chief.

Seeing the guard warriors dual-wielding axes, another volley of axes came flying.

Tatang— Thumpthumpthump—

Out of six axes, I deflected two and evaded four. Their skill in handling axes was decent.

While I blocked, the chief slipped behind the guard warriors gathered in the middle of the room.

"Woorah!"

The guards, having thrown both axes, shouted and charged at me, while the chief fled.

With the chief gone, I changed plans.

First, eliminate all the guards!

I hurled myself at the charging warriors, and, at the same time, drew the greatsword from my back and unleashed [Horizontal Swordline].

Ching— Swoosh swoosh swoosh—

With a sharp rasp, a red ray extended forward, splitting the air vertically.

I sheathed my greatsword and turned back toward the chief's bedroom.

Splat splat splat—

Behind me, the sounds of spurting blood rang out one after another, followed by the noise of torsos being split in two.

Boom— Crack!

Even the house pillars could be heard being sliced.

In the chief's bedroom, there were three naked Elin women.

Despite the carnage, the three Elin showed no expression.

I took a thick blanket and covered the frail naked bodies of the Elin.

Then, sitting in front of them, I spoke.

"I am human. More people like me will come to rescue you, so hold on a bit longer. You won't have to live with the Tak tribe anymore."

The three Elin said nothing, only looking at me.

Two of them were already broken mentally, while the remaining one was a little better—at least her eyes were welling up with tears.

Thud—

I caught a falling beam in the bedroom with my hand, then braced it against the collapsing roof and turned away.

Rumble—

As the cut pillars shifted, the roof began to give way.

Scattered on the floor were the severed bodies of guard warriors.

I jumped onto the half-collapsed roof, greatsword in hand.

Outside the chief's house, Targal warriors had already rushed out.

Spotting the chief's house caving in and me standing on the roof, they shouted something at me.

I leapt down in front of the chief's house. Those charging out from sleep were all bare-chested, wearing only their pants.

As I walked into the center of the clearing, they started to surround me.

The squad had yet to move; they were waiting until I had drawn the warriors' attention.

A man who looked like the chief raised his axe and shouted. I heard something about the Elin—seemed they mistook me for an Elin warrior.

I planted my greatsword into the ground, silently watching them.

The Targal tribe numbered around three thousand, with about a thousand warriors.

I had to eliminate as many warriors as possible here, or they would surely seek revenge after.

Perhaps because hundreds of warriors had gathered—

The chief I had chased returned, now in full armor, squeezing through the warriors surrounding me.

Unlike earlier, he now moved with authority, accompanied by other guard warriors.

The Targal chief shouted something.

Regardless of his shouts, I simply waited for more warriors to gather. I saw no sign of other tribes' warriors.

Then, from the eastern mountain, a fire signal appeared—Chief Aktun and his warriors had secured the retreat route.

There was no need to wait any longer.

If I fought like this, all the Targal warriors would converge on me.

The Targal chief, perhaps seeing the signal from the mountain, shouted again.

The warriors surrounding me roared and rushed in together.

"Woorah!"

At the same time, I swept my sword horizontally.

With one blow, I sent five or six charging warriors flying. Then with ease, I unleashed Whirlwind.

Tukakakang— Thumpthumpthump—

The charging Targal warriors swinging axes were flung away or toppled.

They kept on charging, but all were struck down by my spinning greatsword.

After performing Whirlwind a dozen times in a row, they didn't dare approach and retreated to a distance.

As I stopped, they took their chance and hurled axes.

As soon as I saw them flying toward me, I kicked off the ground and leapt toward the chief.

Vaulting almost ten paces, I brought my greatsword crashing down toward the head of a tribal chieftain near the chief.

The chief dodged, but the chieftain, even seeing me coming, could not move.

He raised his axe in panic, but it was useless.

Thwack—

My greatsword split the chieftain's crown down to his groin.

A red line appeared on his body and blood burst forth.

Splurrrsh—

As blood sprayed, I turned toward the chief. The chieftain beside me was splitting in two, the wound gaping wider.

A human would have been terrified, but the Tak warriors only grew excited.

Like moths to a flame, they screamed as they charged.

"Krrha!"

Once more, I unleashed Whirlwind, slicing through every single charging warrior as I passed.

The same attack followed again and again.

The Targal warriors were swept aside wherever I moved, desperately trying to land an axe blow on me.

The Targal chief looked at me as if realizing something had gone terribly wrong.

His face showed profound suspicion and confusion toward my existence.

I kept strictly to attacking only the warriors, leaving the chief untouched.

If they gathered, I struck them with Whirlwind; far away, I leapt and brought my sword down on them.

I refrained from mana-draining grand techniques like Horizontal Swordline.

Instead, I only used sword techniques that achieved maximum effect with minimal mana, cutting down foes one after another.

Swordline skills might be the lowest among advanced skills, but even that was unnecessary here.

The Tak warriors were little more than strong fighters.

Then, a trumpet sounded.

As the Targal warriors fell helplessly, I thought perhaps they were summoning other tribe warriors.

But no—it was the Vargar warriors beginning to cross over in force. Our squad as well.

As reinforcements poured in, the Targal chief shrieked and shouted. Again, Targal warriors howled and charged.

"Woorahk!"

"Htaed em wohs!"

The chief, hoping I would tire out, pressed his warriors to attack, but it was pointless.

I wasn't expending stamina, I was using mana.

Severing the upper bodies of those who came close, I leapt again toward the chief.

He dodged hurriedly, but my true target was the shaman beside him.

Thwack—

Once more, a top-tier enemy was split vertically, blood spraying.

Aiming for the retreating chief in defensive stance, I lunged forward.

The chief, rushing to block my greatsword, failed as my attack struck his guard warrior instead.

Slash—

With one blow, the guard's head flew from his shoulders, blood jetting onto the chief's face.

I walked toward the chief.

Though about thirty guards surrounded him, none dared approach. The same went for the warriors encircling me.

Not a single warrior was gripped by fear.

They simply rampaged, unable to find a solution. As expected of men who saw dying for their tribe as an honor.

In contrast, the chief kept darting his eyes, looking for a chance to flee—a coward who seized power by treachery.

Did his warriors not know what kind of man he was?

"Mih yortsed! won thgir!"

At his desperate shout, four guard warriors finally rushed at me.

Stab— Slash slash—

The first fell with my greatsword through his throat, while three others were slashed through the chest and thrown aside.

And then!

I kicked off and dashed, plunging my blade into the heart of the guard right beside the chief.

Chwak—

The warrior at the chief's side spewed blood and collapsed.

Only then did the chief realize it—I had purposely not attacked him until now.

Then, it happened.

"Kwante!"

With a resounding shout.

Chief Aktun was entering, wielding twin axes, drenched in the blood of Targal warriors.

Aktun stopped in front of the Targal chief. Then, he tossed one of his axes aside.

He challenged him to a one-on-one duel.

In front of all the warriors.

To determine the true great chieftain of the central lands.