Chapter Twenty-Five: Seizing the Weapons (Part One)

Storming the underground prison head-on? Even Wei Wujie, bold as he was, dismissed such a reckless plan. Having witnessed more and more races and formidable individuals on this continent, he realized he had been somewhat overconfident before.

“We’ll head back first,” Wei Wujie and Lyard agreed, deciding to return to camp. The two left the city and walked toward their encampment, which lay in a dense forest some ten kilometers east of Gaul City. As they traveled, they discussed their options. Lyard suggested seeking reinforcements from Comminesson, whose base was not far away. With Gamio’s speed, he could make the round trip within a day.

Wei Wujie found himself at a loss. His own inclination was to rush in and rescue their comrade, but even he could not guarantee they’d get out again, especially with an ordinary person in tow. Reluctantly, he agreed to Lyard’s plan for now.

As they neared the forest where their camp lay, Wei Wujie’s brows furrowed, and he muttered a warning before dashing forward. Lyard, puzzled, hurried after him. After a few strides, the faint sound of gunfire reached his ears.

Startled, Lyard quickly cast Shadowstride upon himself. Shadow magic was mostly used to influence others’ states; few spells enhanced one’s own abilities, and those were usually high-tier and limited in effect. Shadowstride was a sixth-tier shadow spell that comprehensively improved the caster’s state but only within shadows.

Fortunately, they were nearly at the forest, where shadows abounded. Lyard’s speed increased sharply, and he swiftly caught up.

Gunshots and the clamor of battle echoed fiercely from the other side of the woods. Passing through the heart of the forest, Lyard saw Wei Wujie already embroiled in combat with a dark-skinned elf—a true black elf, neither a half-blood nor one of those wild elves who, despite pure lineage, had fallen from grace.

Wei Wujie’s Gengjin sword radiance pressed the black elf hard. Yet this elf was formidable, no less than the wild elf leader Yetan, his movements astonishingly agile. Again and again, he dodged the sword radiance, and in the intervals, he lunged at Wei Wujie with a short blade, aimed at vital spots. The blade was coated in black poison, and seemed to shimmer with a deep, obsidian glow. When swung, it flashed like black lightning, dissolving the Gengjin sword radiance at close range completely.

Obsidian battle aura—the advanced form of dark battle aura, just as the wind element’s battle aura had Azure Mist, which advanced to Rift Sky; so, too, did dark battle aura advance to Obsidian.

Wei Wujie secretly admired the dark-skinned elf. Aside from Fei Liguo, this was the most formidable foe he’d met since arriving on the continent. If he fought solely with Gengjin sword radiance, with no hidden trump cards, he would hold the advantage and eventually defeat him—but to kill such an agile, elusive adversary would be difficult. This elf was a born assassin and killer. Fortunately, Wei Wujie’s goal was not to slay him, but to force him back and rescue the Hegel couple.

“Stop, stop fighting! We’re all on the same side!” Despite the boost from Shadowstride, Lyard was exhausted keeping up with Wei Wujie, but seeing the two locked in battle, he ignored his fatigue.

Wei Wujie’s fingers moved in a blur, sending a torrent of Gengjin sword radiance to force the black elf back. The elf could harass Wei Wujie, but could not withstand a frontal assault.

Wei Wujie finally stood before the Hegel couple, who remained composed throughout, perhaps knowing that, before both Wei Wujie and the black elf, they were mere prey.

The black elf hesitated, weighing whether to continue the attack and snatch Hegel from Wei Wujie’s grasp. He knew it would be difficult; finding a chance to kill Hegel would be easier.

In that moment of hesitation, Lyard emerged from the shadows, thanks to Shadowstride, and interposed himself between the combatants. “We’re all comrades here. This is Leonardo, commander of the First Battalion of our Revolutionary Group, and this is a friend from the Far East.”

Both the black elf and Wei Wujie paused, realizing they had been fighting under a mistaken assumption—each thought the other meant harm to the Hegel couple.

The battle continued on the other side of the woods. Lyard quickly asked, “What happened? Why are you here? Wasn’t Gamio supposed to be guarding Mr. Hegel?”

“We’re raiding the munitions convoy. You’ve come at the right time, Lyard. Guard Mr. Hegel for me—I need to assist the First and Second Battalions.” The black elf briefly explained, glanced at Wei Wujie, and vanished into the woods.

“Raiding the munitions convoy?” Lyard murmured, glancing at the direction Ismile, the black elf, had disappeared, then at the Hegel couple, uncertain.

“Mr. Wei, may I ask you to help my comrades?” Lyard calculated—if Wei Wujie joined the fight, it would be a greater advantage than himself.

Wei Wujie arched a brow. “Why should I help them?”

“No, no, not help them—help us.” Lyard began to exercise his persuasive talents. “Consider this: we went to Gaul City to rescue Cecily. Just the two of us, it would be difficult. Didn’t we agree to seek reinforcements? My comrades are fighting now. If you help them, they’ll surely help us rescue Cecily.”

“What’s happened to my Cecily?” The mention of his daughter’s plight sent Hegel into a panic; he rushed forward, grabbing the shadow mage and shaking him.

Madame Seraph anxiously pushed Hegel aside and pressed Lyard, “What’s happened to my daughter? Please, tell me.”

“Madame, I’ll explain Cecily’s situation to you shortly, but right now, I hope Mr. Wei will help them,” Lyard said, looking to Wei Wujie.

“Very well,” Wei Wujie decided, conceding that the shadow mage’s reasoning was sound.

Casting Divine Horse Speed upon himself once again, Wei Wujie dashed out of the woods and witnessed the scene outside.

A highway ran beside the woods, where a fierce battle raged. On one side were defenders, about a thousand strong, all in uniform—black tricorn hats adorned with feathers, narrow-sleeved red tunics, black trousers, slip-resistant brown leather shoes, and holding modified firearms without matchlocks, unmistakably professional soldiers. Their ranks were tight, guarding the convoy, taking turns loading and firing.

The attackers included Gamio, and the newly recruited Bearmen were with them, though the fear in their eyes showed the battle was not going well.