Chapter 50: Confrontation

Liz’s bold appearance stunned everyone, especially the Pebble Stone beasts, whose morale plummeted; even their usual battle cries ceased abruptly. One of Pebble Stone’s leaders, Dorgi, frowned. “Judging by this, none of us seems likely to win.” Another leader, Tamro, remained unfazed, continuing to file his nails with a human woodworking file. “Then let her win!” “But that way…” Tamro glanced at Dorgi and interrupted, “Do you think 3,000 humans are some huge piece of fat?” Dorgi thought for a moment before nodding quickly. Tamro, whose temples and beard already showed signs of gray, said, “I agree with you, but there’s a condition: there can’t be too many bones in that meat.” He pointed at Liz in the field. “This woman is a tough bone. If there’s another one, Dorgi, can you tell me what that means?” “It means we’ll both lose in a direct fight, or die,” Dorgi replied hesitantly. “You’re right. That’s what I mean by a tough bone tripping up our teeth. We need at least one or two sharp teeth to tear through the meat—only then can we enjoy it, don’t you think?” Dorgi flapped his nostrils a few times before finally understanding. His attack on the Blood Bone clan in Wurtzburg had been like a tough bone tripping up their teeth—Sarug needed him and at least one centurion to counter them, while the Blood Bone’s thousandth commander required 2–3 centurions. In that case, their side would have no sharp teeth to tear through the meat, leaving only a brute-force struggle. And if he hadn’t suffered heavy losses in Wurtzburg, would he have agreed to the Wood Elves’ mediation? With 2,000 warriors and those over 20 Wood Elves joining the humans, what was there to fear? Seeing Dorgi’s gloomy expression, Tamro smiled slightly. “Don’t worry. Even if swallowing this meat is tough, we have those with strong teeth. We only agreed not to attack these humans again if we lose, but we didn’t agree not to sell information.” Dorgi’s eyes lit up. “Tamro Bi, you’re wise. We can sell this information to other tribes and get a good price.” Tamro shook his head. “It’s not the tribes who can offer a good price.” He took out a letter—a message from an agent of the Black Scorpion Mercenaries to the Pebble Stone tribe, seeking cooperation to eliminate the greatly weakened Blood Bone clan. “By selling it to these heartless humans, we can get more. Besides, it’s a fact that the dark forces collaborated with the Blood Bone clan to kill their agents. There’s no need to fear investigation. Do you understand what I mean?” Dorgi nodded firmly. “I understand! The dark forces killed so many of our people—we must avenge this!” Tamro added, “And we’re good at patience and waiting.” Dorgi’s expression relaxed, and he felt like joking. “But what if we win today?” Tamro waved the letter in his hand. “Humans are currency. We get what we want and head back to Monstoke early.” Dorgi slapped his front leg. “Haha! Exactly!”

In the center of the battlefield, Liz was fighting against that boulder-like beast. The beast was strong and powerful, with formidable attacks, and had no disadvantage in speed or agility. Yet even so, against Liz, it was on the defensive from the start and now was exhausted, sweating profusely, with three moderate wounds on its body.

“I really didn’t expect this Little Widow to be this strong!”

“Did you call her Little Widow? She should be called Miss Daknis. Only those who are close to her, like us, can call her by her name, Liz.”

“Tch! You were just sick for a few days—does that count as being close?”

“Of course!”

The tall and burly Cordim was beaten into a mess by none other than Liz, the former innkeeper who later became a medical officer in the migration group. As soon as this dramatic news spread, it caused a huge reaction, especially among the young people, who already had a high regard for Liz for her kindness in saving lives. Now, her image was further enhanced with a sense of violence and mystery, which was clearly more eye-catching than Valentina’s simple image.

Of course, not everyone thought so simply. Many drew less favorable conclusions based on past events. For example, in Tulip Town, Liz was also one of the victims—her husband, Malfoy, had been persecuted to death. If she was so powerful, why would she tolerate humiliation? Or what was the truth behind those events?

Some blunt people voiced these thoughts, which immediately displeased those who had a high opinion of Liz. “Some people only remember others’ faults and ignore their good deeds. She offers help out of kindness, but they pick faults and doubt her. I think it’s people like these who have ruined Frey’s reputation, making everyone think we Frey people are selfish, ungrateful, cunning, and heartless!” These harsh words angered some and made others blush.

The biggest problem exposed by this invasion by dark forces wasn’t just how dark the world was or how shameless the nobles were, but the general selfishness and weakness of the people. It was this selfishness and weakness that created an environment of indulgence, allowing dark forces and later foreign invaders to run amok.

“This is still the border, where there’s still a threat from foreign invaders. If this is the case, what about the interior? What about those fertile lands? How corrupt must they be?” Some insightful people couldn’t help but ask such questions.

“Magic, technology, material wealth, money… Frey has always used these to disguise its strength. Now that this facade has cracked—though just a tiny corner—those who covet it can see the weakness within. The broken window effect has begun, and disaster will soon turn into a catastrophe!” Although such ideas were considered seductive propaganda and banned from being spread within the migration group, they still circulated privately and found a significant following. A small group of people had already started taking action to find solutions. Unfortunately, this subtle awakening of public awareness and concern for the country went unnoticed by those in power…

Xavier, Valentina, Dave, and the other leaders of the migration team were unaware of the complex details behind the waves of cheers and applause coming from the edge of the jungle just dozens of meters behind them. They were now focusing almost all their energy on winning the three duel rounds.

“If only Liz could fight in the second round!”

Although Xavier was also considering the overall situation, the greed shown in his words made Valentina feel somewhat disappointed. She said outright, “I don’t think we have the right to demand anything from Liz. Besides, she’s injured.”

Valentina was telling the truth. Earlier, to help Neo escape, Liz had used her clones to fend off over a dozen attacks alone, including the dark energy blasts from the Eternal Night Warrior Gorton, which had already injured her.

Some people have extremely strong bodies that rarely get sick, but when they do, the illness is severe. The same is true for battle spirits. Even though Neo had achieved great success in the Dark Regions, allowing sacred artifacts represented by Nancy to recover 40% of their strength and thus boosting Liz’s power, her battle spirit’s injuries had not fully healed. When the battle spirit was damaged, Liz also suffered, which was why she made such a grand entrance—to take the initiative, dampen the opponent’s morale, and then launch a fierce attack to push them into a vicious psychological cycle, thereby achieving psychological victory.

Although this man-beast already had the strength to become a centurion, it clearly lacked combat experience. Fearing defeat, it tried desperately to turn the situation around under Liz’s relentless pressure. By the time it realized that Liz’s attacks weren’t as powerful as it had imagined, it no longer had the stamina for a prolonged battle. Blood flowing from over a dozen wounds drained its strength; it was dizzy and weak, unable to gather enough energy for another strong counterattack.

In fact, Liz was also a novice. Although the Sensitives and the dark forces were completely different organizations, many Sensitives shared a common trait with the corrupted and demonized members of the dark forces: their power came too easily, leaving their foundations weak.

Liz was talented and spiritual. The strategy she used in fighting this man-beast was one she had learned secretly while watching Neo and Valentina battle Vladimir and the corrupted Tim in Wurtzburg. When strong, she pretended to be weak and struck with a sudden, powerful blow; when unable to sustain a fight, she pretended to be strong and pressed relentlessly. These tactics allowed her to start fighting even before the actual battle began, using psychological warfare to secure victory. Although Liz made many mistakes on her first attempt, her opponent was a half-competent Codim, making it a good opportunity for practice.

In terms of combat skills, Liz’s techniques were clearly crude and weak. Aside from her highly destructive yet messy aurora-like energy waves, they weren’t even as skillful or fierce as the man-beast’s sweeping and slashing attacks. However, Liz’s advantage was fighting one-on-two, which was more than enough to cover up any flaws.

Having reached a new level of strength, Liz’s use of clones had reached its limit. With her purple light protection, it was impossible to tell which was the real her and which was a clone, unless someone possessed special eye techniques or was far stronger.

The clones possess physical defenses and high resistance to energy attacks, while the main body can use special techniques. It was precisely because the Tanstone Warrior couldn’t tell who was who and made repeated misjudgments that Liz seized the opportunity to attack repeatedly, weakening him more and more. As his body grew increasingly unstable, the Tanstone side finally signaled the Arbitrator’s Senmu clan to surrender.
“Oh! Victory!”
“Go back to Monstoke and graze!” …
The crowd cheered loudly, with their voices growing louder and louder. Only a few like Valentina and Ebute saw something different in this duel. Compared to the Bloodbone man-beasts they had encountered before, these Tanstone man-beasts, with their blue-tinted tattoos, were as tenacious as chewing gum. Looking at the clusters of bright red on the snow, it seemed the Tanstone Warrior had lost half his blood yet still fought with instinct and determination, performing admirably. Such a stubborn enemy would be a headache for anyone!
On the battlefield, the clone and the main body merged into one. Liz soared into the air, flying toward the woods, then stepped across the snow atop the pine trees and disappeared.
The Tanstone man-beasts saw only Liz vanish into the snowy treetops with her graceful figure, thinking she had returned to the human camp.
This was Liz’s final act of deterrence for the Migration Team.
Having lost the first battle, the Tanstone man-beasts were indeed shaken. But for them, who were resilient and determined, this setback was nothing. When Tamro raised his long sword, “Rock Cutter,” and slowly stepped out of the formation, the Tanstone man-beasts struck their weapons and armor in unison while shouting loudly to cheer for their leader.
Clang! Whoosh! Clang! Whoa! …
The sound was unique and imposing. In contrast, the humans’ repeated cries of “Victory! Victory!” seemed pale and monotonous.
Tamro’s “Rock Cutter” had a rugged design, like an extended axe—narrow at the back and wide at the front, with clearly defined edges. Its blade alone was two meters long. With just a slight swing, a strong gust of wind cut deep grooves in the snow on the ground.
Unlike the showy behavior of the previous Tanstone man-beast, Tamro raised “Rock Cutter” to silence his subordinates’ cheers, then planted his sword before him, eyes slightly closed, standing motionless in the battlefield as he waited for his opponent to enter.
The only one from the Migration Team who could step forward was Valentina.
Tamro and Valentina had observed this man-beast before. She was certain it was the strongest in the enemy camp, its strength likely reaching or exceeding level 10.
Levels 5, 10, and 15 in professionals represented significant thresholds, with level 10 marking a qualitative improvement in combat ability. This showed in higher energy activity—what people often described as a flame-like state. Though this description wasn’t entirely accurate, as it varied from person to person, any professional with combat ability would be highly sensitive to it, just as ordinary people could tell which flame was hotter.

The qualitative improvement in combat energy corresponds to more precise and effortless control. Thus, fighters above level 10 rarely make themselves as conspicuous as a bonfire—there’s no need for such waste. Tamro is a prime example of this; time has left too many marks on its face, making it appear aged and worn, its physique no longer as robust as that of a human-beast, and even its armor seems dull and tattered.

Yet, such an appearance only confuses naive beginners. Tamro is far from achieving true simplicity. With focused attention and careful observation, even ordinary people can sense the astonishing presence in every move it makes—this presence emanates subtly and continuously from every part of its body. The wiser and perceptive one can see it even clearer.

“Don’t carry any burdens—go all out!” Xavier’s subtle words struck at Valentina’s heart, leaving her with even fewer options. She had already secretly decided that if sacrificing herself could bring victory, she would not hesitate!

A cyan glow appeared not only on Valentina but also on the hooves of her horse Black Boots. As one, they moved like the wind. Equipped with heavy cavalry gear, Valentina, fueled by her combat energy, reached speeds typical of storm cavalry. With a cyan light trailing behind her like a cape, she charged straight toward the battlefield. At 10 meters away, her horse leaped high, as if crossing a chasm, and she swung her sword in the air, its light blazing like a rainbow.

Tamro’s eyes widened in surprise. Valentina’s opening strike was nearly perfect for her level—especially from a technical standpoint, it was almost flawless. If the gap between Tamro and Valentina’s strengths hadn’t been so vast, this strike might have dealt it a setback. But now, thanks to its superior combat power, it could counter it with brute force.

Boom! Blue and cyan lights collided, creating a massive cloud of light and mist that scattered the snow around.

Ahh…

Great…

Both camps cheered for their representatives!

Knightly battles are honorable, but in Monstoke, bravery, directness, and ferocity are common fighting styles among many alien races. The clash between these two styles results in intense and fierce confrontations. Such open and dramatic battles are the most straightforward to understand, filling everyone with excitement. The cheers never ceased, with some people even hoarsening their voices yet still shouting passionately, jumping up and down, even more excited than the fighters themselves.

Yet, such heart-stirring battles are often the cruelest and least unpredictable. Strength reigns supreme, without question. Just in terms of combat energy consumption, Tamro already had the upper hand over Valentina. It had a higher upper limit for combat energy, used it more sparingly and effectively, generating greater and stronger power with the same amount. Moreover, it possessed a resilient will and rich experience, always adhering to a strategy of patience and methodical progress—“No matter how many attacks come, I’ll take only one path.” After over 10 minutes of fighting, Valentina had lost all her fighting spirit.

When the wind ceased to be fierce and violent, it actually signified failure. Yet Valentina was already trapped in a moral obsession; she burned her life to create another form of wind—fury! She launched a new round of attacks.
Tamro frowned. He hadn’t expected this young human woman to be so stubborn and competitive, to the point of recklessness. “With such potential, she could surpass us in just 5 years. Yet she doesn’t cherish it at all. Hmph!”
Tamro had no intention of showing mercy or valuing talent. Since the other party insisted on forcing him to fight to the death, then so be it! Who was afraid of whom? At worst, he’d be injured, but she’d lose her life. Was her life really worth enough to defy fate just by burning?
Valentina couldn’t back down. She could only hold fast to her belief, burning herself like a meteor to achieve brilliance in this moment. Victory or defeat was already far away from her. From the moment she began burning her life, all she could do was give it her all.
In the migration camp, Xavier slowly closed his eyes. Human nature was so complex, and most people inevitably suffered due to various reasons. Although Xavier had his reasons for going forward without hesitation, he couldn’t be completely at ease. He knew that success couldn’t be achieved through deceit and villainy, but he also understood that someone had to do such things.
“I might die a tragic death and even be spat on after death, but my son won’t. I must do everything in my power to pave the way for him, do everything…” Xavier’s lips curled slightly as he tightly grasped a crystal tube in his hand. Everyone thought he had no way out, but in reality, he did—only at an unimaginably high cost…