“Xia Li! Xia Li Bara!!”
In the dim cave, a sturdy pink little monster held a sharp stone spear, sitting atop a Giant Rat nearly two meters long.
It wore a simple loincloth made from unknown materials, and its face and body were covered with sharp, twisted tattoos.
At this moment, the tip of its long spear was pointed straight at the line of humans ahead!
Its bat-like face twisted into a grotesque expression.
Although its features were quite different from a human’s, anyone who could make them out would know…this was an expression of extreme anger.
“Xia Li Bara!! Aru Kukuyah!”
The other cave dwellers, upon hearing the leader’s words atop the Giant Rat, all shouted loudly, weapons in hand, charging fearlessly toward the human ranks!
“All of you! Form up! These guys only look scary, we’ve all seen them before…there’s really nothing to fear!!”
Blue Crow, standing at the front of the formation, shouted loudly!
This was experience he’d learned from the bandits who had attacked them before.
As long as these strong guards formed a battle line, they could hold off the monsters charging at them, minimizing casualties.
Of course, this method might go against their original intention, as it prevented the Noble Youths and Noble Ladies who had come along from receiving proper training.
But as Blue Crow put it,
“Take it step by step”—first temper the mind, then hone the skills.
Indeed…these cave dwellers all charged forward with murderous intent, and even if their physiques were far inferior to adults, they were still terrifying enough.
They were certainly not something these Noble Youths and Noble Ladies, who came for ‘training,’ could easily resist.
So…regarding the Captain’s decision, no one had any objections.
On this brutal battlefield, they only occasionally took action…striking the enemy through gaps in the guards’ “shield wall.”
“Ari Xia Bara!”
The cave dweller leader atop the Giant Rat, seeing the warriors’ charge blocked by these humans, instantly flew into another rage!
14….
Go!
The whole creature flailed its arms and legs, roaring!
“Ari Xia Bara! Xia Bara Xia Bara!!”
Looking at the crazed cave dweller, the guards, temporarily formed into a battle line, all wore mocking expressions.
These little monsters were indeed numerous, and their assault was fierce.
But it was useless.
Individually, they were even weaker than ordinary people—without weapons, their strength was about that of a seven- or eight-year-old human child.
Against these guards, most of whom were “Bronze Rank” or higher, it was like slicing melons and chopping vegetables.
“Squeak, squeak, squeak……”
At that moment, in the tunnel ahead, countless scarlet “little lights” suddenly lit up. Before anyone could react—
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!
Countless black, needle-like bristles shot toward them like a rainstorm!
It was…
Giant Rats!
But everyone was prepared.
After all, Blue Crow and the others already knew these cave dwellers had a domesticated relationship with the Giant Rats.
And Giant Rats were not rare monsters in East County—their attack patterns were well-known…
As for how to counter them…
Whoosh!
The Noble Youths and Noble Ladies in the back row excitedly pulled a small bottle from their waists and shouted as they hurled it forward.
“Take this!”
“Haha! Come on!!”
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!!
Crash!
Clatter!!
The glass bottles shattered instantly against the cave walls, releasing a pungent, or rather, a stinkingly fragrant odor!
The smell spread through the entire cave in an instant…
“Squeak squeak squeak squeak!!”
The Giant Rats instantly grew agitated!
Completely ignoring the cave dwellers’ loud shouts, they scattered in panic.
Even the Giant Rat beneath the cave dweller leader grew restless, as if wanting to flee!
This wasn’t any poison aimed at the Giant Rats, but an extract of pungent pollen.
For creatures like the Giant Rats, with their sensitive noses, this was an extremely strong irritant!
It was like chili powder to the eyes—making them lose their senses, panic, and want nothing more than to escape!
“Now’s the time! Press forward!!”
At Blue Crow’s command, he led the guards in the center, while Nolan commanded the rear unit, including the Noble Youths!
With the Giant Rats gone, everyone’s advance sped up considerably!
“Aru Xia Li…”
At this moment, the cave dweller leader covered in sharp tattoos did not retreat…
Instead, it gripped its stone spear tightly, its small eyes full of ferocity.
Behind it were the newborns of the Tribal Village—the future of the tribe…
If it ran, who would fight?
“Aru Yi! Warriors of the Dark Tunnel Tribe…today we will die here! Are you afraid!?”
The leader raised its long spear, roaring in their unique language.
“Not afraid!!”
The nearby cannon-fodder cave dwellers also raised their tattered weapons and howled loudly!
But to the humans, it was just meaningless howling, indistinguishable from a dog’s bark.
“Hold the resolve to take at least one enemy down with you—follow me and die!! For the Dark Tunnel Tribe! For the [Giant Tree]!!”
The leader pointed its stone spear forward, and under its urging, the Giant Rat beneath it charged ahead on all fours!
“These guys want a desperate fight…Don’t take them head-on! Split left and right!”
Whoosh!
At Blue Crow’s command, the guards instantly split into two teams, hugging the cave walls, with Blue Crow and Nolan each leading a side, avoiding a direct frontal assault.
The cave dwellers in the front, like rabbits in a trap, were hacked to pieces by sword blades from all sides!
Actually, after wiping out a wave of cave dwellers, the formation should have immediately shifted back to forward defense, to strengthen the core and block the leader and Giant Rat’s charge, reducing injuries…
Point!
Unfortunately, the Blue Crow Mercenary Group had no coordination at all.
Blue Crow realized this, but he couldn’t command these people like his own limbs.
“Hurry, reform…”
“Aru Yi——!!”
Whoosh -!
Bang!!
“Ugh!!
The two-meter-long, fat Giant Rat’s thick fur could even ignore some slashing attacks!
With its fastest turn, it crashed into the front of Nolan’s half of the squad!
The huge impact sent several warriors in the front row flying as their feet lost traction!
“Warriors of the Dark Tunnel Tribe! Bite them to death!!
“Awoo! For the Dark Tunnel Tribe! For the [Giant Tree]!!”
With the gap in their defense, Nolan’s formation was on the verge of collapse!
“Don’t panic! Reform ranks! If we can join up with Blue Crow…we can…mmph!!”
Nolan tried to command, but was immediately interrupted by a cave dweller leaping at him!
And then…
“Ah…ahhh! Don’t come any closer!
“Damn it! You dare bite me…get them…kill them all!!
“No…stay away, hurry…protect me, all of you!!”
The disadvantage of the Blue Crow Mercenary Group showed itself again in that instant!
After the formation was scattered, the guards’ first thought was not to regroup, nor to listen to Nolan’s orders.
But to protect their own nervous, panicking masters from harm!
In just a few seconds, the scattered formation turned into several small defensive pockets, each fighting for themselves…
Nolan was completely unable to command!