Chapter 73: Bait!

Chapter 73: The Bait!

The carriage thundered forward under Kuna’s guidance,

a storm of dust trailing behind.

Lanya shouted over the roar, “We’ll be safe once we’re beyond the orcs’ blockade—stay alert!”

Gurgle, gurgle!

Levi clung to the handrail, terrified of being flung from the speeding carriage.

With no suspension, every stone on the road jolted his body violently up and down;

he nearly flew out more than once.

“Shadowguard, hold me tight.”

Shadowguard seized Levi, anchoring him to the carriage.

He exhaled in relief, loosening his left hand from the rail.

Levi twisted to peer into the carriage, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lord Oats.

But seeing the vehicle still racing forward, he dared not move.

After a while, the speed eased, settling into steady momentum.

True swiftness wasn’t endless sprinting—it was endurance.

Kuna knew how to drive; he understood that pushing the horses too hard would exhaust them too soon.

Dias glanced around and sighed, “Lucky—we’ve run this long without seeing any enemies.”

No sooner had he spoken than a group of orc soldiers appeared ahead.

Lisa cursed, “Jinx! Dias, can’t you just keep your mouth shut?”

Dias protested innocently, “How is this my fault?”

Lanya leaned out, saw the situation, and snapped, “Stop bickering—prepare for battle.”

Kuna began to slow.

But Levi shouted, “Faster! Charge straight through—I’ll deal with them.”

Kuna hesitated at the command.

Lanya roared, “Do as Levi says!”

No longer uncertain, Kuna cracked the reins. “Hyah!”

The carriage surged forward, hurtling toward the mass of orc soldiers.

Levi stood, bracing against the carriage frame. Shadowguard gripped his body, keeping him from falling.

He raised his staff, feigning incantation for a moment.

As the enemy entered range—

“Chain Fireball Barrage!”

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Small fireballs arced forward at measured pace, striking the clustered orcs.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A rapid succession of magical explosions sent the orcs scattering, fleeing in panic.

They thought they’d stumbled upon a squad of mages.

Huff!

The carriage veered past the battlefield, vanishing into the distance.

Lisa stared, eyes wide, jaw slack. “Incredible!”

Even Lanya was stunned—she hadn’t expected Levi to become so powerful in just one month.

One man alone had effortlessly routed an entire troop of orcs.

It wasn’t just impressive—faced with such numbers, even a full team of adventurers would struggle.

After the skirmish, they galloped onward in uneasy peace.

Then, suddenly, a dark line emerged on the horizon.

Levi strained to see what lay ahead.

Lisa screamed in terror, “Orcs! So many orcs—we’re surrounded!”

Lanya’s heart sank. *No—did Levi go too far? Do the orcs think we’re guarding the real target?*

She didn’t believe the true target could be inside this carriage.

Oren would surely assign the strongest team for that duty.

Grass Fox Team, even with Levi, ranked barely mid-to-lower among ten squads.

Several others were led by second-tier professionals, far stronger.

Her fear now was that the orcs had been misled—that they’d throw their full force against Grass Fox Team.

If so, escape would be impossible.

“Kuna—change direction!” Lanya cried.

No warning needed—Kuna had already turned, steering away from the approaching orc army.

But after several desperate turns, they realized, with sinking hearts, that orcs loomed in every direction.

Dias wailed, “We’re finished—truly surrounded!”

Kuna hesitated, then asked, “Should we return to Hansha City?”

It wasn’t clear whom he was asking.

Levi replied, “No use—the rear’s blocked too.”

“We can only push forward in one direction, break through before the encirclement seals.”

“We’re not the only squad trapped—nine others are caught in this net as well.”

“The orcs have stretched their ring wide—somewhere, it must be weak.”

“But even if there’s a gap,” Kuna said helplessly, “we don’t know where.”

Shadowguard crawled back from beneath the carriage, returning to Levi’s side.

“Head east—fewer orcs that way!”

He had scouted the surroundings, bringing word that the eastern forces had not yet closed.

And this, strangely, was tied to Levi.

For three days, Levi had taken the outpost-clearing quest each morning,

and each time, he struck at orc outposts east of Hansha City.

Those eastern posts had suffered relentless, devastating raids—wiped out completely, no survivors.

Nearby orcs now feared approaching the city,

terrified of encountering that monstrous human mage.

Li Wei had already gained a fearsome reputation among the orc outposts east of Hansha City.

Blast Mage, Phantom Mage—these were the nicknames the orcs had given him.

And so, when the orcish army launched their encirclement, the eastern troops hesitated, slowed by half a breath, leaving behind a gaping void.

To the uninitiated, it seemed like a deliberate ploy—a classic tactic of surrounding three sides while leaving one open.

Li Wei continuously dispatched shadow attendants to scout the surroundings, guiding Kunan to veer away from enemy forces.

They sprinted forward relentlessly, soon becoming the vanguard of the escort convoy.

Seeing this, the other escort teams quickly followed in their wake.

Lanya observed the scene with growing unease.

If all the escort groups fled in the same direction, wouldn’t the strategy of scattering and confusing the enemy be completely undone?

Just as the thought crossed her mind, a thunderous battle cry erupted from afar.

A wave of human soldiers surged forth, descending upon the orcs who had been pursuing them.

The orcish ranks were caught off guard—men and mounts tumbling into chaos.

Shouts of war rose from every side. Li Wei turned sharply, scanning the surroundings, his heart leaping in alarm.

After a moment’s reflection, understanding dawned.

Oren had used the city lord as bait, luring the enemy into an ambush.

In their eagerness to intercept the carriage fleeing with the lord, the orcs had spread their forces thin across the vast expanse around Hansha City.

Now, when the human army struck, the scattered orcish troops could not rally in time.

Only now, seeing human soldiers bursting from hiding places all around, did Li Wei realize Oren’s scheme had been long in motion.

How else could there be human troops lying in wait in such a desolate wilderness?

In the distance, radiant light shimmered with water magic. Li Wei gazed toward the horizon.

“A third-tier water spell!”

Within the entire region of Hansha City, only Mage Marina possessed the ability to cast a third-tier water spell.

Though ranked as a second-tier mage, as a traditional spellcaster, she could employ magical components to assist in casting higher-tier spells once learned.

There was no doubt—Oren had meticulously planned this battle for some time.

Otherwise, how could Marina, who should have been stationed at the front lines, appear here so conveniently?

Even from afar, Li Wei could see the devastation wrought by the third-tier water spell.

A monstrous tidal wave shattered the orcish defenses in an instant.

Relentless. Unstoppable.

Human soldiers plunged through the broken lines, carving a path of victory.

It was only a matter of time before triumph was sealed.

The battle no longer concerned Li Wei and his group. Kunan drove the carriage beyond the encirclement,

racing ever farther from the battlefield.

(End of Chapter)