Chapter 270

Chapter 270: Adventurer

First came the three adventurers.

One found himself impaled by countless shadow-forged weapons, screaming horribly until death claimed him. Another had parts of his body sliced off every five seconds, starting from his feet and moving up to his head, until his Health Value dropped to zero. The third was bisected diagonally by a shadow transformed into a massive blade, entrails spilling across the ground as blood rapidly pooled outward…

Since the human race’s vital organs reside in the upper torso, the man didn’t perish instantly but remained agonizingly conscious. Moaning wretchedly, he propped himself up with trembling hands, dragging his mutilated form across the earth to leave a crimson trail before finally succumbing. Each death surpassed the last in brutality.

At the city gates, spectators from the human race—common citizens, soldiers, cavalrymen, ordinary adventurers, even Army Lady and Stealth One who’d rushed from the tavern—all wore expressions of visceral revulsion. The weak-stomached vomited openly while others trembled uncontrollably. Army Lady and Stealth One, though accustomed to Darkling Stalker’s hunting methods, still paled considerably.

Even the battle-seasoned ant tribe members Red Pupil and Weak Sound showed signs of discomfort. If mere observers reacted thus, the condemned pair—Sylvestre and Martina—shook like leaves in a storm, tear-streaked faces muffled by gags as they pleaded wordlessly to their captors. Yet the two women remained frostily unmoved, their aloof demeanor unchanging.

Lin Yu observed them sidelong. That icy detachment… were they mimicking her?

…

The shadows—reapers wielding Death God’s scythe—soon descended upon Sylvestre and Martina. Five inky tendrils snared Sylvestre’s limbs and throat, stretching him taut. His face purpled as the shadow-noose constricted, hands twitching uselessly against their bonds. After minutes of savoring his thrashing torment, the shadows jerked violently—limbs and head ripped from his torso in a scarlet geyser.

Martina fared no better. Shadows cocooned her body into a writhing "zongzi," leaving only her terror-contorted head exposed. Gradually, the darkness tightened. Her eyes bulged grotesquely, mouth gaping soundlessly before blood seeped from every orifice—a crimson mask hardening over her final, silent cry.

When the fifth adventurer’s punishment concluded, the shadows slithered back to their origins as a contented sigh rippled through the ant swarm. Across the battlefield, silence gripped the city gates. The human race stood paralyzed, freshly traumatized by this exhibition of carnage.

The purpose of the public execution was to intimidate the human race, and it appeared to be achieving remarkable effectiveness.

The silence was shattered by an adventurer’s startled cry.

"I remember now!"

He pointed a trembling finger at the mutilated remains of Sylvestre and Martina.

"Th-these two! They’re Sylvestre and Martina from the Wings of Freedom Squad who vanished months ago!"

"Oh gods, yes! It’s them!"

Following the first adventurer’s outburst, others soon followed suit in recognizing the corpses.

However, Sylvestre and Martina had been notoriously unpopular among their peers. After the initial shock faded, many adventurers wore expressions of grim satisfaction.

…

"This is the consequence of opposing us."

Having concluded the execution, Magic Rainbow activated Psychic Call once more.

"Now then… humans. Have you decided your choice? Surrender? Or share their fate? Should you yield without harboring malice, refrain from harming my daughters, and keep our antkin’s secrets, I, your Queen Ant, vow to spare innocent lives."

"How can we trust this vow?"

As the challenger prepared to continue, Philid employed the Psychic Call skill, establishing direct communication.

"Oh? Your name?"

Magic Rainbow severed her psychic link with the other townsfolk, focusing solely on Philid.

"I am Philid, deputy to Lord Simon of Aowenduo Town."

After a deliberate pause, he continued:

"You claim this invasion is retribution, yet those five acted independently. Why maintain your siege after their deaths? Do you truly consider us soft persimmons to be squeezed at will? Such presumption gravely underestimates us."

"Underestimates? You perceive yourselves as formidable?"

"For centuries, Aowenduo has endured countless monster sieges yet still stands. This resilience speaks volumes. Since you withhold your… daughters from attacking, does this not betray your own caution? I presume mutual destruction serves neither party."

Philid… Deputy and strategist to Lord Simon?

This posturing—an attempt to bluff our forces? How amusing that he still views antkin as ordinary, witless monsters.

The true underestimation flows from your side.

Yet this serves my purpose…

"Your observation holds merit—I indeed seek to avoid unnecessary losses. Therefore, I propose a trial."

"A trial? Of what nature?"

Philid’s voice quivered with restrained anticipation.

"Observe my two daughters who’ve achieved humanoid forms?"

"I see them."

Philid’s gaze fell upon Red Pupil and Weak Sound flanking the ant battalion—two deceptively adorable girls whose true nature only his Identification skill could unveil.

"Dispatch your town’s two mightiest warriors to defeat them. Should you succeed, my forces withdraw. Should you fail, unconditional surrender follows."

As if recalling an afterthought, Magic Rainbow appended:

"Fear not—even in defeat, we shall mercifully spare your champions."

"If these are the terms…"

The Queen Ant had taken the bait! Though full retreat wasn’t secured, this gamble offered survival’s slender thread. Victory merely required crushing two insectile pretenders…

"I accept your proposal."