Chapter 259: Ferocious Mercenaries

Chapter 259: The Mercenaries' Ferocity

A few hours later, within Han River City.

Li Xian stood before the great bridge, his expression tense as he fixed his gaze upon the monster across the river.

It was a creature known in the wastelands as a “Blade‑Armored Beast,” resembling a massive lizard yet lacking a cumbersome tail, replaced instead by a regressed, stubby caudal vertebra.

Its hind limbs were powerfully built, and with a body scarcely ten meters long, it could unleash astonishing speed in an instant.

Li Xian still recalled that his first campaign after joining the Guardians of the Faith was a hunt near Jinling City for a beast of this very kind.

At that time, he was but a raw recruit, fresh from the apprenticeship.

Yet, for reasons unknown, he felt no fear of the monster.

Perhaps it was faith’s guidance, or a yearning for power and glory; in any case, during that battle, though he wielded only a battered single‑shot rifle, he charged forward without hesitation.

Many brothers of the Guardians fell beneath the beast’s razor claws, or were frozen in terror by the deep, resonant roar that emanated from its maw.

Their blood splattered upon his face and body, yet it acted like a stimulant, spurring him onward.

In the climax of that fight, he and two other brothers surged straight to the beast’s feet.

He kept pulling the trigger, bullet after bullet piercing the creature’s flesh.

When his ammunition was spent, a brother seized the moment and hurled the explosives he carried into the monster’s gaping maw.

With the ensuing explosion, the beast’s skeletal remains became a ladder for his ascent.

——

Back then, he could be said to have been utterly fearless.

So why, now that he possesses countless weapons and legions of warriors, does he feel a tension and dread that swells beyond measure?

It is merely a Blade‑Armored Beast!

Li Xian drew a deep breath, forcing his racing heart—spurred by the beast’s roar—to be stilled.

Then he spoke, issuing orders:

“Artillery, prepare!”

“Aim at a point one hundred meters ahead of the beast, and await my command!”

“Do not fire hastily; its speed is great—wait until it draws near before you strike!”

“Yes, sir!”

The red‑cloaked priest, clutching incense, moved toward the already‑raised muzzle, seemingly intent on performing the customary prayer to the Machine Soul as the Guardians dictate.

Such a rite is required before every engagement, yet this time Li Xian found himself suddenly overwhelmed with disdain.

“Red‑cloaked priest, step back!”

“Do not impede the artillery priest’s aim!”

“The prayer can wait until after the battle; the situation is urgent, and the Machine Soul will not mind a moment’s delay!”

His words hung in the air, and the red‑cloaked priest turned, bewildered, to stare at Li Xian.

He could not fathom why Li Xian halted the prayer, yet upon meeting his unflinching gaze, he wisely withdrew.

Deprived of that interference, the artillery priest stationed beside the cannon swiftly completed his calculations.

Following the priest’s guidance, the machine servitors promptly aligned the barrel, pointing it toward the monster on the opposite bank.

A hushed battery of cannons stood in stark contrast to the beast’s relentless, distant snarls; each side seemed to broadcast its own brand of threat.

Li Xian’s pulse quickened, his grip tightening on a Conqueror rifle; the instant he saw the beast advance toward the bridge, he did not hesitate to pull the trigger.

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The gunfire erupted, and immediately the line infantry arrayed before the battery discharged in unison.

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang—”

The successive volleys tore the still air, projectiles piercing the Blade‑Armored Beast’s flesh, provoking a heart‑stopping, feral roar.

“Roar!”

It’s coming!

Li’s muscles tensed explosively, and at the same moment, the Sanctified Bloodmen led by Zhou Qin drew their weapons.

They would form the final line of defense.

Should the Guardians’ artillery fail to fell the beast before it breaches the bridge, these Sanctified Bloodmen must hold it at all costs, buying the artillery a chance to retreat.

“This is risky.”

Zhou Qin spoke.

“If it breaks through the bridge, your Guardians could face annihilation!”

“I have no choice.”

Li Xian’s fingers began to tremble slightly,

his anxiety had peaked, yet the notion of retreat grew ever fainter, nearly vanishing.

“I can only do this.”

Li Xian continued:

“It is a perfect opportunity—a lone beast.”

“Eliminating it will not only weaken the siege force, but also test the limits of our current contingent.”

“Moreover, it will forge confidence in my troops.”

“Confidence is paramount; we are in dire need of a victory.”

“But you are merely gambling!” Zhou Qin frowned.

“After all, it is a level‑four monster; if we cannot stop it, if we are defeated, we—

“No need to continue.”

Li Xian raised his hand, aimed at the advancing beast, and unleashed a rapid string of bullets.

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang—”

The gunfire cracked, and smoke billowed.

Then he went on:

“It has always been a gamble.”

“Betting that the Huaxia forces will arrive in time is a gamble, betting that we can

survive a week is a gamble, confronting a level‑four monster is a gamble!”

“But once we win a single time, our odds will keep expanding!”

“Prepare for battle!”

Li Xian’s voice was nearly hoarse; seeing his slightly hysterical expression, Zhou Qin fell silent at once.

He stared at the beast before him and drew the long blade strapped to his back.

At that moment, the third line of infantry had finished firing and began to fall back step by step.

And after them, the doctrinal guards, rifles in hand, surged forward, firing as they fell back.

The dense crack of guns receded along the bridge, the monster's advance slowed, and at that moment Li Xian finally seized his chance.

"Fire the cannons!"

He shouted the order.

A few seconds later, the artillery positions erupted with deafening booms of cannon fire.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Shells, trailing smoke, hurled toward the distant beast; Li Xian watched the arcs with hopeful eyes, only for his pupils to snap shut in the next heartbeat.

Too slow.

At the instant of the barrage, the monster, as if sensing danger, lunged forward dozens of meters.

And the shells that were meant to land around it instead traced a low arc, skimming over its crown!

Li Xian's hair stood on end; he suddenly realized he had overestimated the prowess of his artillerymen.

Even though he had poured all his effort into guiding them to emulate the tactics of the Huaxia army, they were, after all, not the Huaxia.

Indeed, their imitation scarcely resembled the original!

There was no time left.

The monster and the doctrinal guards, who had not yet retreated beneath the bridge, were now less than a hundred meters apart.

In a handful of breaths, those brave warriors would be torn to shreds!

Li Xian's face twisted in agony; at that moment he began to doubt the very purpose of his gamble.

Yet there was no room for regret.

Instinctively he stepped forward two paces, a crushing helplessness enveloping him.

The fate of the city seemed sealed in that instant.

Zhou Qin, calm, fell in step beside Li Xian and spoke:

"Retreat."

"We will cover you."

"There is still a chance, we still—"

"Bang!"

Before the words could finish, an explosion roared.

Then massive flames erupted beneath the monster's feet, and behind the crowd rose a chaotic, dense, frenzied roar.

"Take it down!!"

"The squad that kills it may go to New Jinling!"

"Move up! Move the hell up! Don't let the Wolf Brigade get there first!"

"Grenades! Grenades! Throw them up!"

An unfamiliar voice drew nearer; Li Xian turned in astonishment as a squad, origin unknown, sprinted past them.

Then those men charged straight toward the distant beast.

As if it were a colossal……………

It seemed not a monster at all, but a massive bounty?!

He suddenly understood: they were mercenaries.

But when had mercenaries' arms become so fine?

A torrent of automatic rifles spat bullets as if they were free, and they even bore rocket launchers.

Li Xian stared, mouth agape, at their retreating silhouettes.

A thought flashed through his mind.

Is this the Huaxia army's reinforcement?

Do they intend to use these men to eradicate every monster near Han River City??

No, how could that be?

Or perhaps.

These mercenaries are merely the beginning?

(End of Chapter)