This World Needs a Hero - Chapter 160
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Chapter 160
Just before the clash of the investigation teams.
As the hero had suspected, there were numerous Canis investigation teams rushing into the demonic realm.
Although the scale of the investigation team affiliated with the Black Arrow was the largest.
There were considerable numbers of rival organizations, the “Harvesters” and the “Blind Spots,” as well.
Even the minor organizations had raided their coffers to assemble investigation teams.
A reward of 50,000 gold.
A treasure worthy of such an unprecedented amount of money.
Bounties hanging around the necks of swarming fireflies.
The equipment they were wearing.
For those involved in all sorts of illegal activities, it was a windfall they hadn’t encountered before.
“Even if we can’t eat, we’ll go! Anyone who backs down from such a deal is an idiot.”
However, they soon realized that their anticipated windfall plan had encountered a major obstacle.
The Black Arrow investigation team, gathering key fragments at an unmatched speed, was the cause.
“We can’t just let these bastards have it easy.”
Therefore, the investigation teams of each organization, momentarily forgetting past grudges,
Reached a temporary alliance for the sake of “striking at the Black Arrow.”
Thus, the alliance leader, Jonathan, the captain of the Harvester investigation team, chuckled as he fondled the lump of fragments in his pocket.
“These guys. It seems they’ve been diligently collecting.”
They were waiting for the 26th investigation team while occupying a favorable position for ambush.
This surprise required tremendous effort.
They had to spend a whole day preparing the terrain for the ambush.
To gain such time, they had to rush through the demonic realm.
The 26th investigation team were veterans of the demonic realm, and it was inevitable for them to make unexpected surprises.
“Thanks to them, we lost many members.”
But it was okay.
They were being replenished one by one.
A few days ago, about twenty members of the Blind Spot investigation team, who had been routed and fled from the hero, joined them.
In addition, twenty more investigation teams from minor organizations joined.
With the addition of the existing thirty Harvester investigation teams, it was a large-scale force totaling seventy.
Jonathan raised his head and looked in the direction the 26th investigation team was coming from.
“Look at those fragments vibrating. There must be at least three.”
He currently possessed three fragments.
Those guys must have a similar number.
Jonathan blinked.
“In the manuals, it says if you gather about ten fragments, you can access the location where the treasure is hidden.”
In other words, if they snatch those fragments, they can access the treasure faster than anyone else.
If they achieve such results, the organization will reward him with at least thousands of gold coins.
…No, judging by the situation, it would be okay to just take the treasure and run.
“Damn, it’s a turning point in life…!”
Excited by anticipation, Jonathan suddenly glanced at the adjacent seat.
There, the members of the Blind Spot, as well as other miscellaneous groups, were silently preparing for the ambush.
“Hey.”
He called out to the leader of the Blind Spot investigation team, who was among them.
His complexion was strangely pale.
“Heh, you’re getting old too, it seems.”
“……”
“Why are you worrying so much? No matter how elite they are, they can never overturn this difference in numbers.”
“Kasim.”
“What?”
“…Have you heard that Kasim likes dolls?”
Jonathan grinned.
“Kasim, Kasim… I think I’ve heard of it. Is this the newcomer that Black Arrow recently recruited?”
“……”
“Tsk, he even came up with a nickname.”
Without responding, the leader of the Blind Spot trembled once.
Jonathan scanned him with a contemptuous gaze.
‘…He’s like an old scared dog.’
Behaving like that, he might end up rolling in the back alleys with only his bones left soon.
He chuckled at the scattered subordinates.
‘With such a force at my disposal, why worry.’
As the encirclement was completed, he advanced without hiding his presence.
The preparations for the surprise attack proceeded smoothly.
Regardless of who they met, victory was not only assured but overflowing….
.
.
.
It didn’t take long for him to realize that it was a fatal mistake.
* * *
Techniques that risk being identified cannot be used.
Halo, Nova, none of them work.
‘I wonder if I can apply just a bit of Flare.’
Moreover, his main weapon, the Black Hope, was securely tucked away with the Key of Valber.
The only things he could use freely were the weapons he retrieved from Valber.
If he had been standing here a few months ago, he would probably have been surrounded and beaten by them in an instant.
Each of them was of the caliber that had faced at least the minimum at the auction house, and some were even stronger than Desmond.
But now, having inherited nearly half of Ted’s martial arts, the “Carnis Alliance” looked no different to the hero than stationary wooden figures.
Regardless, the morale of the 26 investigation team members seemed to be diminishing in real-time.
“What, what is this! Why are there so many!”
“Damn, isn’t this excessive?”
The opponent’s numbers were overwhelming, and the terrain was unfavorable.
Moreover, the encirclement was almost complete.
Due to the demonic realm’s demonic energy, detailed detection was impossible.
It was a surprise attack aimed at exploiting that weakness.
“They’re coming from behind too!”
“Dammit, how many are there!”
At that frozen moment.
Bang-!
The hero spurred the ground and rushed towards the encirclement.
The enemies could only watch in astonishment.
“Hey, what’s he doing?”
“Has he gone mad with fear?”
“He’s reckless!”
“He must be suicidal.”
Such voices echoed in his ears belatedly.
However, the hero’s mind was calm.
‘It’s perfect timing. I should use this opportunity to test the kids’ skills.’
He surveyed the battlefield as he ran.
It was time for his analysis, his long-practiced skill, to come into play.
The distance between him and the enemy front line was roughly 80 meters.
Half consisted of melee fighters and the other half archers.
Half of this formation blocked the front while the rest flanked and encircled from the sides and rear.
The biggest problem was the steep slope in the front.
‘They paid attention to details.’
The terrain was dotted with rocks of various sizes, making it difficult to gain speed.
It was a highly disadvantageous terrain, leaving the members of the 26th investigation team unable to even contemplate movement.
If he hadn’t been there, they would have been left unable to move, stuck in a hail of arrows.
They would have been decimated by the reinforcements coming from the flanks and rear.
It took one second to assess the entire situation.
And even less time to come up with a suitable breakthrough strategy.
‘Evergreen’s archery should be effective.’
The archery of Solintail had evolved over centuries, guarding the realm against large-scale monsters crossing the mountains.
As a result, it was highly specialized in rapid shooting and multiple targets.
As he ran, he drew the bow on his back, Lute, the bow of atonement, which was the 17th weapon of Valber, possessing the unique ability to increase gravity on the target upon impact.
“Hey, you idiot! What are you doing alone!”
“Heh heh, come on and try your luck!”
“Eat this!”
Jeers and arrows rained down from the slope.
However, the hero ignored them and focused on replicating Evergreen’s essence.
Swoosh-
A large hand delicately moved through the quiver at his waist.
With four gleaming arrowheads nocked, aimed at the enemies almost simultaneously.
By then, their faces still bore mocking smiles.
“That guy’s drawing his bow on that incline.”
“He’s all show.”
By that point, even the allied investigation team members didn’t look at him.
They were just busy finding their ways to escape.
Ping-!
Thus, amidst indifference and ridicule, Lute’s siege was unleashed.
And in the next moment,
Everyone felt as if they were seeing an illusion and blinked repeatedly in disbelief.
“…A rain of arrows?”
“What’s that?”
There was only one person holding the bow.
But the quantity of arrows fired wasn’t just one.
A rain of arrows arced through the air.
They hastily raised shields or hid behind nearby rocks.
They realized something was off as the arrows landed on the slope.
Thud- Thud- Thud- Thud-
The sound of arrows hitting the ground was too scarce.
The hero murmured quietly.
“Well done, Larze.”
[Illusion magic is basic.]
A free turn seized.
In the skirmish between archers, what that meant didn’t need to be explicitly stated.
Unable to aim at him due to hiding behind cover, the enemy archers couldn’t even retaliate.
He made the most of that brief moment of freedom.
Bang-!
The hero spurred a rock and leaped into the air.
For an instant, they were at the same height.
Again, the bowstring, laden with arrows, was tightly gripped in his hand.
Twang-
Twang-
Arrows were fired in groups of five at once.
With such a short interval between shots, it felt like being suppressed by several skilled archers at once.
The problem was the remarkable accuracy, making it hard to dodge.
“Argh!”
When one brave archer exposed himself and got hit in the head, they couldn’t stay hidden behind cover anymore.
Their negligence was severe.
All they could do was watch the hero climbing the slope with his fingers moving swiftly.
The moment the 26th investigation team moved was then.
“Charge! Break through the front!”
“As expected of Kasim! I knew we could trust him!”
Originally, they wouldn’t have dared to charge straight ahead.
But thanks to the hero’s actions, a gap opened up, and the veterans of the 26th investigation team didn’t miss the opportunity.
Ignoring the flanking and rear forces, they surged forward.
When the hero reached the top of the slope, Gerald’s replica were ready.
Crunch-!
It was an extreme display of spear technique.
Thick leather, hard steel, and even softer flesh and bones were all shattered and torn apart.
Already, the hero’s spear technique had surpassed the original due to the “upscale.”
The spear strikes that tore through the united investigation team now were more fitting of Roland Bryce, the head of the Bryce family, than Gerald.
When Commander Jonathan couldn’t hold out any longer, the enemies on the slope lost their will to fight.
“Run away!”
“Damn it, what did I say? I warned you about Kasim!”
“He looks like a damn thief! Carrying dolls around!”
The 26th investigation team that followed easily seized the high ground.
With no other option due to the terrain disadvantage, the forty enemies fled.
“…As expected.”
Watching their backs, the hero turned his gaze to the new comment.
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…The seasonal production is proceeding smoothly.
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