Chapter 020: Combined Attack

“As expected of a ninth-tier powerhouse—such mastery over combat energy. It seems today’s mission will be difficult to complete.” With a cold sneer, Alexander led the other two of the Four Fierce Beasts to Utreid’s side. Together, they tried to counteract all the sword energy around Utreid, but they still couldn’t save their comrade.
“Did Fernando send you here to steal these things and kill me?” Du Fan glanced casually at the ugly-looking Four Fierce Beasts.
Actually, as soon as he left Mengdesha City, Du Fan saw someone speeding out of the eastern gate—none other than Bernice, the head administrator of Mengdesha City’s mansion. Sending people out of the city in such a hurry, Du Fan wondered what other urgent matter could be besides seeking revenge from Marquis Fernando. However, while in Els Province, he hadn’t paid much attention. At least Marquis Fernando wouldn’t be foolish enough to seek revenge on him within his own territory. What truly worried Du Fan was returning to Siluo Province, his own territory, where even the soldiers from the Northern Legions had been sent to guard the borders. Now, the only ones he could rely on were himself and Old Mark. It was also a great surprise to him that the members of Baty’s caravan had such strength.
Stunned for a moment, Alexander laughed and said, “Duke Du Fan not only has extraordinary strength but also a sharp mind. But you’re dead today, even though you’re at the peak of the ninth tier.”
“Marquis Fernando colluding with bandit gangs has always been just a rumor, but it seems true today.” Baty sighed helplessly, gathering his companions and drivers to stand behind Du Fan and confront the Four Fierce Beasts.
“Heh, Marquis Fernando, do you really think it’s that simple? If he hadn’t cooperated with these bandit gangs, how could Mengdesha City have returned to normal so quickly? Even if the Lanxi Empire’s army hadn’t looted it, would these bandit gangs have left it alone?” Du Fan also sighed.
When he first entered Mengdesha City, Du Fan already knew that Fernando wasn’t only in contact with bandit gangs but also had intricate ties with the Lanxi Empire. Otherwise, such a large city wouldn’t have gone unscathed, let alone allowed the Lanxi Empire’s army to enter repeatedly.
“Baty, Grandpa Mark, take the caravan and leave first. Their target is me. Even if they lose the goods, it doesn’t matter to them.” With a shake of the Frostfall Snow in his hand, Du Fan spoke calmly.

“Young master, let me take one for you.” Looking at the four fierce beasts, Old Mark frowned. Though he didn’t know exactly how strong they were, he was certain they weren’t at level nine—because a being at level nine would naturally exude a kind of pressure, the pressure of a true powerhouse.

It might not be easy for a level-nine warrior to kill four warriors below level eight, but it certainly wouldn’t be dangerous. Yet these four bandits clearly knew this and still acted unafraid. If they had no hidden strength, Old Mark wouldn’t believe it even if they killed him. Of course, Old Mark also didn’t want his young master to bear the risk alone.

With a comforting smile, Du Fan said, “Grandpa Mark, don’t worry. I’ve never disappointed you before. Besides, we don’t know if there’s danger ahead. Please keep an eye out until we reach Doha City.”

Old Mark sighed helplessly and said nothing.

Du Fan was fine in most aspects, but once he made a decision, it was rare for him to change his mind. Old Mark knew his temperament well. Other than sighing helplessly, he could only silently accept the order.

Under the gaze of Du Fan and the four fierce beasts, Barty and Old Mark continued to move forward slowly in the carriage, leading the convoy.

“Hmm, confidence is a good thing,” said Alexander, drawing his weapon. The four fierce beasts also took out their weapons.

“Only you seem to be at level eight. The rest are all at level seven. Do you really think you can stop me with such strength?” Du Fan sneered.

“Hmph!” Alexander laughed bitterly. “Our strength can’t be measured by that of you noble princes. We’ve mastered these skills through life and death—something you pampered noble princes can never imagine.” His expression darkened, his muscles trembling with anger, making his already fierce face even more terrifying.

Du Fan suddenly felt a surge of fear—a fear that stemmed from deep within. The aura around the four fierce beasts instantly changed; it was no longer the aura of ordinary powerhouses but one filled with bloodshed and despair.

“Die!” Alexander roared suddenly, swinging a giant sword as long as his height and as thick as his arm, charged with fiery combat energy, straight at Du Fan.

At the same time, the other three also moved. Utrede rushed to Du Fan’s back in just a few steps, swinging his war club like a gust of wind at Du Fan’s legs. The other two giants also wielded extremely powerful weapons, attacking Du Fan from both sides, leaving him with no chance to dodge.

“Hmph, I’m curious to see just how strong you really are,” Du Fan said coldly. Without dodging, he immediately raised his Frost Snow Sword. In an instant, cold energy surged, and sword energies emitting frost separated and formed an ice barrier around him. Du Fan intended to use this ice barrier to test the strength of these so-called four fierce beasts.

Boom! Alexander’s attack struck the ice barrier first. This time, however, it didn’t slip away. His scorching flame martial energy, carried by his sword, relentlessly attacked the barrier, producing loud explosions. The ice barrier weakened under the assault of the flame martial energy.

Du Fan had to admit that even at the same level, Alexander’s damage output was terrifyingly high. Judging by the intensity of his attacks, no one would doubt that he was a ninth-tier powerhouse.

Boom!

Just as Du Fan was momentarily distracted, attacks from the other three sides arrived. He had initially dismissed their attacks, but when he was actually hit, he realized how drastically he had miscalculated. None of the three had much weaker damage output than Alexander; in fact, Utrede’s damage was even greater. The ice barrier behind Du Fan began to show signs of cracking.

Without time to think further, Du Fan rushed forward, aiming at the giant on his left whom he thought was weaker. He didn’t want to hold on any longer—otherwise, even as a peak ninth-tier warrior, he would have little chance of survival under simultaneous attacks from four weapons.

With a sinister smile, the giant on the left seemed to have anticipated Du Fan’s move. As soon as Du Fan started moving, the giant suddenly retracted his weapon—a massive shield. Immediately, martial energy flared around him, with several layers of it poured into the shield, blocking all of Du Fan’s paths forward.

Now Du Fan had no room to maneuver. He hadn’t expected these four fierce beasts to be so powerful and quick to adapt. The moment Du Fan tried to break free from the encirclement, it seemed they had received some warning in advance. Aside from the burly man blocking him, the others turned their weapons, and three powerful combat auras surged forth, sealing off everything behind Du Fan.

“Frost Nine Heavens!” Du Fan roared, thrusting Frost Snow forward with force.

This time, the cold energy emitted by Frost Snow didn’t form an ice shield, as Du Fan understood that such a shield couldn’t block all attacks from behind in such a hurry. Instead, the sword energy mixed with cold formed sharp ice spikes that fiercely attacked the shields in front of them.

A single attack is always the most precise and effective method, but Du Fan’s attack had no effect at all. The blue, water-patterned shield on the burly man’s arm kept rippling; each time the sword energy struck, it rotated like flowing water, firmly countering Du Fan’s attacks.

“To think of breaking through my Water Combat Aura defense—is that really possible?” The burly man sneered at Du Fan, his shield seeming to grow even larger at that moment.

“Give up resisting. You should rest…” Just as the burly man looked down on Du Fan, this ninth-tier powerhouse, Du Fan’s voice suddenly rang in his ears.

“Give up resisting? Yes, I am indeed tired.” “I guess I’ll put down my shield. It’s so heavy!” Unconsciously, the burly man found Du Fan’s voice incredibly tempting and believable, which made him slowly lower his shield and withdraw all the combat aura from it.

With a thrust and a spin of Frost Snow, Du Fan dashed forward in the blink of an eye.

Thud!

Blood rain suddenly poured from the sky. The burly man, who was using Water Combat Aura to defend himself, had his head blown away by a gust of wind as Du Fan passed over him. The cold of Frost Snow could no longer contain his blazing passion, and his blood gushed out like a fountain.

“Third Brother!” Alexander cried out in anguish, stopping his pursuit of Du Fan and catching the burly man’s body before it fell.

“Du Fan!” With bloodshot eyes, Alexander and the other two fierce beasts glared fiercely at Du Fan, radiating violent anger.

“Hmph, thinking you can kill me just by combining your strengths? That’s pure delusion.” Standing not far away, Du Fan leisurely wiped his weapon, looking utterly unconcerned.
In truth, Du Fan was also extremely surprised. After all, he was a warrior at the peak of the ninth rank, yet he was being pressured by four warriors at only the seventh or eighth rank. If it weren’t for Du Fan noticing the shield-wielding man’s mental weakness at the last moment and promptly using his verbal magic, he would likely have been severely injured, if not killed.
“Big brother, let me take care of it!” Glaring at Du Fan, Utreid thudded his war club to the ground and began drawing strange patterns in the air with both hands, muttering words under his breath.
Suddenly, a strange atmosphere filled the battlefield as a black aura emanated from Utreid’s body. As his emotions grew more intense, black patterns appeared on his body. These patterns seemed to have their own life, growing and extending rapidly on his body, becoming thicker and faster with each passing moment.
Ah!
Utreid roared, his size suddenly doubling, and his appearance becoming even more terrifying. Originally, Utreid was already nearly two meters tall.
Du Fan stared in shock at Utreid, unsure of what was happening to him. But seeing those black energy patterns, he had a vague sense of familiarity, especially with those black markings.
Dark magic, dark tattoos!
Suddenly, Du Fan remembered. The sacred texts given to him by Archbishop Anthony the Red contained information about dark magic and dark tattoos. Though it was only a brief mention, Du Fan had been curious at the time and had studied it carefully several times.
Dark magic was a magic unique to the dark elves. Although it was similar to the black magic on the continent, it was fundamentally different. The black magic on the continent was based on dark magic elements. Though powerful, it wasn’t much different from other types of magic in terms of strength. Moreover, black magic had its own advantage: it allowed one to conceal their presence.
But the dark elves’ dark magic was different. These uniquely developed magics could never be learned by other races. Most of these dark magics required cruel and bloody practices to enhance one’s power. Such dark magic was rejected by the entire continent.

If even their thieves are dark demons, then how could their leader not be one as well? Du Fan felt a sense of dread—such dark demons could live openly in broad daylight, meaning it was possible there were more of them elsewhere. “Hahaha! Forcing me to reveal my true form—you’re truly the best in the continent these days.” Utred laughed maniacally, not rushing to attack but instead mocking Du Fan. “Are all of you thieves dark demons? What about Marquis Fernando? Is he one of you?” Du Fan asked in surprise. Though he knew he might not get accurate information from them, he still couldn’t help asking. After all, if the ruler of a province and the nobles of the Gavin Empire were all dark demons, the situation in the south would be even more dire, and Du Fan’s strategies for the south would need to be changed immediately. Book 29: Dark Demons