Monsters Will Die if They Are Killed

How long does it take to cross an entire continent?

‘Red Hand’ doesn’t know the answer to this question, but to this day, he has indeed led his men across most of the continent, from the southern cape to the edge of the northeastern region of Aian.

Red Hand is the mercenary code name used by the man. He is a demonizer. His arms have become atavistic due to the deformation of demonization syndrome. They have become as big and red as blood like the Infernal Balrog, except that his strength is comparable to that of a giant. In addition, you can also control various fire abilities.

He actually wanted to call himself 'Fire Fist', which was more appropriate and more handsome. However, the nickname was given by others, so he could only recognize this name until now.

Thanks to this obviously deformed hand, Red Hand cannot enter the inner city of the mobile city, and the prostitutes in the outer city are unwilling to entertain him. Even eating on weekdays is very troublesome, and even the table will be burned if he is not careful. crumb.

But thanks to this hand, the man who was originally just a farmer's son has traveled across most of the continent. From the initial mercenary boy to the leader of a mercenary group, he has met countless people. A farmer's son will never Possible sights.

Hongshou doesn't hate his demonic disease, nor does he hate his hands, but he is getting older. A Xinguang-level mercenary in his forties is almost reaching his final moment of heyday. , the erosion of the demonic disease and the pain of source energy will tear his soul apart.

Even if it wasn't for himself, he had to find a place to settle down for the sake of his comrades in the mercenary group. It could also be regarded as finding a cemetery where he could retire and be buried.

After fighting all his life, he planned to stop.

Ayvind City, this industrial city in the south of the empire, is the place chosen by Red Hand for retirement. After all, this is barely a progressive area. You must know that in the central area where the core of the empire is located, slavery is still practiced most of the time. Due to the system, demonized people do not even have the status of untouchables and can only become slaves of nobles and wealthy people.

In Ayvind City, although demonized people are still exploited, at most they are thrown into the slums and become cheap factory labor.

The Red Hand Mercenary Group has taken root in the outer city here. After several years of operation, it has become a force that dominates the outer east city.

During this period, the top players in the regiment, 'Quick Sword' Cicero, 'Hot Sword' Salal and others, all left the mercenary regiment one after another and lived in retirement.

This is not surprising, it was even an order from Red Hand himself. He planned to disband the mercenary group bit by bit, and then transform the remaining members into the Red Hand gang, slowly giving this demonizer mercenary group a rare A good ending.

Hongshou was really tired and old, and he didn't want to fight anymore. Demonizer mercenaries can do anything and kill everything. It sounds very refreshing and gratifying, but only madmen like this kind of life of licking blood because it means that others can do anything to them. Yes, you can kill without any reason.

What's more, if you want to climb up, you must become a noble or an officer's dog, becoming their tool and a glove for doing dirty work.

He really doesn't want to be a submissive dog, he just wants to live in peace and then die in peace.

Unfortunately, many times in this world, even such a dull ending is not willing to be given.

Something happened in Ayvind City. The nobles planned to take action against the Demonized Ones. Many local gangs went crazy and began to arrest the helpless children and marginalized people in the slums. Some family members of the Red Hand Mercenary Group were arrested. , which undoubtedly aroused the resentment of this retired mercenary group: they went to war with the guards of Ayvind City just to take back their families.

A tough battle. In particular, the participation of the Earl's Palace Guards completely suppressed the mercenary group.

The Red Hand group is indeed strong enough. The leader is Xingguang and the main members are Linghui. If they are not demonizers, they are enough to serve as the private army of the nobles. However, Earl Ayvind is a red man of the imperial sect. His guards' equipment was too good to be blocked by the mercenary group.

If there wasn't something wrong with the local nobles, a warship attacked the city, and a strong man raided the Earl's Mansion to attack Earl Ayvind, causing a group of guards to panic and return to defense, it is very likely that the Red Hands and the others would have been wiped out on the spot.

Later, it was said that the earl died, and the entire Ayvind City was in chaos. The Red Hand Mercenary Group took advantage of the chaos in the mobile city to seize a medium-sized mobile battleship and escape from Ayvind City, while Ayvind's defenders It was so chaotic that they couldn't send out chasing troops to allow them to escape safely.

After a few years of peaceful life, they became homeless wild dogs again and were wanted by the empire.

Fortunately, in the fringes of the Southern Alliance, the empire's wanted status was almost non-existent. Red Hand and the others were not afraid of being caught up and exterminated. However, life became difficult again and they had to start doing tasks to support their families.

And after doing a few old jobs and helping some fixed villages to exterminate energy beasts around them, Hongshou himself received a letter.

A letter from the old brother in the regiment, Cicero the Swift Sword.

On the deck of a dilapidated medium-sized mobile battleship with a lot of additional equipment, a middle-aged man with gray hair and an old face silently took out a crumpled letter with his left hand. His red right hand was as huge as a giant's, with ferocious carapace and barbs all over it, and he was holding a big sword tightly.

Hongshou stared at the letter in his hand, which had the man's crooked handwriting on it.

[——Captain, I heard that you are still alive. This is really the best news. I asked a very professional messenger to deliver the letter for me. I just hope you can know that we are gathering a group of demonizers to go to a building and a half. Let’s try our luck at the damaged mobile city. If we’re lucky and the city can still move, then we might be able to have a city of our own!

Where can I go to work instead of doing it? Why don't you come and contribute to us demonizers? I met a big man, and he taught me the cultivation method that can suppress the demonic disease. If the city can move this time, I will drag the city to join him. I have a hunch, This adult can change the fate of our demonizers!

Come on, captain, we need you, we need professional demonizer warriors. Most of the people here are civilians. If someone attacks, Funya and I can't protect everyone.

——Cicero, the Swift Sword. 】

The entire letter was relatively standard for this name. After Hongshou read the letter carefully, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Xiguang Association. The organization behind Cicero did not lie. Professor Svitley was indeed the person who could change the fate of the demonizers. He really wanted to know what kind of paradise there was, and whether it was as beautiful as the many demonizers said. , with quiet villages, vast wheat fields, and lush cornfields.

I heard from other demonizers that the Xiguang Society is still building a huge mobile city where all the demonizers who join them can live.

Pity.

This was a letter from half a year ago, and he only received it two months ago.

He missed the Starfire Expedition.

But even if he received it on the spot, Hongshou could not guarantee that he could go to the wandering city smoothly.

After all, today's Red Hand Mercenary Group is more than just a mercenary group.

Is there enough fuel?

He asked a member of the group beside him, and received a rather unpleasant answer: How can that be possible? It is estimated that we will have to stop again in the Yanshuang Army to trade some source energy crystals with the locals.

I'm not telling you that, Captain. Although we are indeed not evil people, if we accept so many demonized people on the ship, our rations will not be enough for our brothers!

The red hand was silent.

Since leaving Ayvind City, the Red Hand Mercenary Group has received a group of demonized people in Ayvind City and rescued them from the city that has fallen into madness.

This is not a bad thing. After all, the demonizers on the ship can also do some work and are much more professional than the big bosses. They cooperate with the mercenary group, and the life on the ship is quite comfortable.

But it ultimately slowed down the mercenary group.

Moreover, since the emergence of the Wandering City, the number of demonizers leaving mobile cities and villages has increased. When Red Hand and others who received Cicero's letter moved towards the Eastern Higuang Mountains, they could occasionally see one or two The team of demonizers also rushed towards the Xiguang Mountains.

These demonized teams either escaped from the city, or wanted to move forward on their own initiative. In short, they were all chasing the glory of the Xiguang Association and wanted to go to the legendary paradise of equality.

For those teams of demonizers who want to go along the way, or take refuge to avoid the slave-catching soldiers, Red Hand always welcomes them.

Today, including the mercenary group and family members, there are more than a thousand demonizers on the entire Red Hand Ship, and the daily food and energy requirements are not a small amount.

But if we leave behind these demonized teams that are being hunted, what's the difference between us and the beasts?

Regarding the complaints from the members, the old man could only sigh: Isn't it because we don't want to be worse than shit, that's why we persist all the way and use the swords in our hands to earn a living?

This immediately made the group members a little embarrassed: I don't blame you, group leader, I just want to complain when I don't have enough to eat...

I see……

How long does it take to cross an entire continent?

Red Hand didn’t know it, but the Red Hand mercenary group, which was moving at full speed, drove a mobile warship and traveled for more than two months before reaching the northeastern area of ​​the central plain from the southern border of the empire, which was still quite far from the end of the continent. some distance.

Next, they will repair in the Yanshuang Army area, and then continue to move towards the east and enter the area where the Xiguang Association is located.

At that time, perhaps there will be golden wheat ears to welcome their arrival.

But before that happens, they need to deal with some more dangerous situations.

Captain!

A young woman walked down from the sentry platform. She was thin and blind in one eye, but the remaining eye was as bright as a golden gem. The female demonizer gasped and looked nervous. When she came to Hongshou, she swallowed, and then reported: It appeared again! That shadow is still following us. Another one followed us and the small ship was destroyed!

Jin Tong, calm down...you mean, that shadow hasn't left yet?

With his brows furrowed and anger rising in his heart, the gray-haired old man subconsciously clenched his sword tightly, wanting to fight to the death with the shadow that had killed so many of his compatriots.

But he still reassured the other party in as calm a voice as possible: We are about to leave the empire's border, and he is still chasing us, and this time he directly destroyed a small ship?

yes!

The woman with golden eyes nodded in panic: What a big explosion! You may not be able to see it, Captain, but he really destroyed the small ship at once... This shadow is too strong, and we have no way to resist!

Eyes closed tightly, Red Hands pondered.

In fact, there is not only one battleship of Red Hand. In the process of accepting demonizers and marching towards the Xiguang Association, there are also other demonizers who have obtained merchant battleships for various reasons.

Of course, most of them are small ships. There is not a single medium-to-large warship like Red Hand that was captured from Ayvind City. All the small ships are following the mercenary group.

However, since two weeks ago, there has been a strange shadow following this small demonizer fleet.

At first, it was just simple harassment and fright.

But soon, the shadow began to kill people, spreading panic and panic within the fleet.

He killed people and quietly hung the bodies on the flags on the deck; he destroyed various equipment on the ships, and the engines of several small ships had their key parts removed, causing violent explosions.

He even directly attacked and killed the few captains who could control the warships, causing the ships to break down.

The battleship where Red Hand was located accepted many demonizers who had to abandon the ship due to such accidents. This was also the reason why the food they prepared was not enough.

Several old mercenaries sent to other ships also died as a result, making Red Hand and others resentful.

What's more, the atmosphere in the entire fleet has become full of panic. All the demonizers are extremely nervous, and many people's demonization symptoms have even worsened.

If the Ember Fire version 2.49 spread by Professor Sweetley had not spread across the entire continent, most of the people in the entire fleet would have died due to madness at this moment.

Just a shadow can control an entire fleet and two to three thousand people in the palm of his hand.

Taking a deep breath and suppressing his anger, Hong Hand speculated that the shadow should be a secret force of the empire. But the strange thing is that this secret force did not seriously prevent him and others from leaving the empire, but allowed them to move towards the border. And go.

But now, he started to take action again, and showed his strength far better than before. This shadow directly destroyed a small ship and killed more than two hundred people on board.

The old man clenched his fists, but there was nothing he could do.

He didn't even understand the other party's purpose.

accelerate!

Suppressing his anger and confusion, Hongshou could only give this order: We are very close to the Yanshuang Territory. Let's leave the empire border!

The fleet accelerated, without hesitation on squandering fuel, and the moving warships let out a high-pitched roar. It was the sound of the water cooling the furnace core being evaporated into steam and gushing out from the pipes.

This was indeed the border of the empire, and they soon saw the dividing river between the Yanshuang Territory and the central plain of the empire. The Yanshuang Army was still nominally part of the empire, but since one hundred and fifty years ago, the imperial supervisors had been expelled. The Yanshuang Army is considered independent in a substantial sense.

After entering the Yanshuang Territory, as long as the empire does not want to go to war with the Yanshuang Army, no matter how cold-blooded and ruthless the secret forces are, they will never take action to cause conflicts.

Standing on the deck, Hong Hand could already see the low jungle behind the dividing river. Moving the warship at full speed required too much fuel. Even if the enemy retreated, they had to find the village or the village as quickly as possible. Move the city and obtain enough fuel energy so that you can go to the Xiguang Society.

After fighting all his life, he really didn't want to fight anymore. He hoped that the Xiguang Society was really like what Cicero said, a place where demonizers could live peacefully.

Thinking like this, Hongshou forced himself not to think about the exploding ships, not to think about the faint roar passing by his ears, not to listen to the screams coming from the golden eyes, not to recall those who died. Comrades.

He just closed his eyes and prayed, praying that he and others could reach a safe place as quickly as possible.

I pray that I and others can survive.

But prayer is of no use.

At this moment, the attack of the mysterious shadow suddenly stopped. Just like every time before, this shadow clearly has the ability to surpass the entire team of demonizers, but it always does not really take action, but only creates panic, just like a pack of wolves driving away Like a flock of sheep, driving the entire fleet in the direction they want.

What exactly does he want to do?

who knows.

In this silence, the helpless red hand opened his eyes.

He turned his head and looked behind him.

After the large ship, there should have been more than a dozen small ships. The entire fleet totaled more than 3,000 people. It was quite a large team of demonizers with a very high average level.

But now, only six of the original dozen or so small ships are left, and more than half of the small ships have been destroyed for various reasons, anchored, and can no longer move forward.

Along with this, nearly a thousand people died, and several mercenary comrades died.

In order to live with dignity and get a stable life, the Red Hand Mercenary Group has fought for a lifetime. From the leader to the members, every member is a demonizer. They are all mercenaries and have fought for a lifetime. , I just want to live a life where I don’t need other combatants to help me stay vigil while sleeping.

Red Hand saw the small ship that was attacked. On the mobile ship made of steel, flames were spreading. High-concentration source energy radiation had spread through half of the ship. On the deck, there was an innocent demonized child being held in his arms. The dead mother cried, but her father had a broken hand and could hold his daughter, but could not hold his wife's body.

It's no different from before... Demonized people are still being killed and tortured.

——Is it useful to escape?

This doubt could not help but arise in his heart. Hongshou looked around the world. He seemed to be looking for the mysterious shadow, but he found nothing.

——Can running away change anything? Can the shadow not kill me?

In silence, the leader of the mercenary group took a deep breath. He looked at the boundary river not far away, and then suddenly thought of something, a possibility that made him feel like falling into an ice cave.

He just wants to start a war.

Hongshou murmured: He destroyed those small ships before to create panic and make most people gather on the big ship. Then it will be more convenient to kill...

He just wants to kill those of us who are going to join the Xiguang Association in the Yanshuang Territory, and then put the blame on the Yanshuang Army and provoke a conflict between the Yanshuang Army and the Xiguang Association. That's why he has not officially taken action before. Create panic!”

Red Hand's guess stunned all the members of the mercenary group who could hear him. They had never thought of this possibility.

——By escaping, can you change your destiny, so that when you die, you can close your eyes and smile at all your comrades who have left before?

Obviously, no.

Sonorous.

Red Hand drew his sword.

The red devil's hand ignited with flames, wrapping the specially modified alchemy sword in a ball of blazing flames.

Stop the ship!

He shouted in a deep voice: Members of the mercenary group, come out!

Other civilians, please leave this battleship and go squeeze in other small ships. We are very close to the Yanshuang Territory. You will soon reach the border village. After replenishing energy there, go directly to the Xiguang Association. Bar!

Upon hearing this order, many members of the mercenary group and ordinary demonizers on the battleship were stunned, but their subsequent reactions were completely opposite.

The members of the mercenary group showed relieved smiles, while the average demonizers showed confusion.

What's wrong?

A woman who was not a member of the mercenary group looked around in confusion: Aren't we going to the Xiguang Association together? Why do you suddenly want to stay...

I just said it was time for a fight.

And a mercenary with a scar on his face laughed and raised the warhammer in his hand. He cheered: Long live the leader! I knew you wouldn't continue to coward like a bitch, what a trash shadow, kill him. We brothers, all we can do is run away? The Red Hand Mercenary Group has fought all our lives, when have we ever been so cowardly?!

Yeah, damn, I've really had enough in the past two weeks. I have to pull out that shadow's intestines and strangle him!

Although the scarred mercenary was soon kicked in the crotch by the demonizer in the regiment, and the pain was so painful that he could not speak, but his core meaning was felt by everyone.

That's fighting back.

Even if we die in battle, we will die within the borders of the empire, together with our former comrades. We will not become a tool for despicable people to blame, and we will use all our strength to hold down those disgusting guys!

Hongshou ordered in a deep voice.

He did not cheer with the members. He just held his sword and watched the small ships behind gradually approach the battleship. Then he took away all the non-mercenary group members and disappeared behind the battleship.

The old man led the mercenary group that had been formed and stood on the deck. He exhaled and raised the corners of his mouth, waiting for the enemy who would definitely appear in front of him.

——Red Hand and his mercenary group have been fighting for a lifetime.

They yearn for a quiet life, a peaceful land, and even beg for a warm home where they can relax.

They want it.

But they're really not good at escaping.

They are not good at turning their backs to the enemy, not good at being captured, not good at being slaughtered, not good at running away, as if running away can avoid the suffering they are destined to suffer.

There is no escape.

The weak have nowhere to hide, and only those who face their fate can see the future.

[The foolish demonizer. 】

In the wind, there was a vague mocking voice: [So what if you guessed my purpose? 】

[After killing you, I will still have enough time to catch up with those civilians and kill them within the Yanshuang Army. 】

Red Hand said nothing.

He just wiped the blade of the great sword with his demonic hand, causing the flames to burn along the blade. His red pupils stared behind the blade at the shadow that gradually appeared in the sky.

- Come on.

Although he didn't say a word, there was a provocative thought spreading in the air.

The battle is about to break out.

The imperial secret guards don't care about this mercenary group, which is only a high-level demonizer in the Heart Light Realm. Even if the opponent has indeed formed a formation, it's just a little more difficult and takes more than half an hour at most. , he can kill all the opponents.

The only thing that gives him a headache is that without the endorsement of such an armed force, the Yanshuang Army's reasons for destroying the demonizer fleet will appear unconvincing - after all, for the Yanshuang Army, which lacks talents, the demonizers are here Although the treatment is not good, it is not like a slave or a pariah who can be killed at will.

【Whatever. ] He thought a little casually: [It will be the same if I bring a few corpses there. 】

[But in this case, maybe another border village will be massacred... leaving a few bodies of demonized people in the village, pretending to be demonized people and causing conflicts with the villagers. The demonized people massacred the village, and then Yanshuang It looks like the army has wiped out this group of criminals. 】

If you think of it, do it.

The strength of the Imperial Guard is also at the high level of Heart Light, but after various physical transformations and holding secret treasures, the strength of the imperial guard is far beyond that of ordinary Heart Light level masters. If it really fights, it can easily wipe out an entire team of Demonizer mercenaries.

With all his strength, he could barely see an almost invisible shadow flying towards the others. The pupils of the red hand tightened, and the flames of the crimson flaming sword in his hand suddenly shrank, but the color became deeper, like bloody magma. .

Although his body had aged prematurely due to years of fighting, he was still in his prime.

Now, the man must burn his remaining life in exchange for the flames of sacrifice, and use his unique skills to ignite the souls of the imperial guards in front of him.

But right now.

The sky in the distance is lighting up rapidly.

Just like another sun rising, or like a meteor flying across the sky, behind the clouds, there is light igniting the atmosphere, and surging source energy fluctuations are invading the sky and the earth at the same time, rolling in from the distant east.

Peiran's incomparable source of light illuminates everything.

【Ah ah ah ah! ! ! ! 】

Inhuman screams came from the atmosphere, and a figure fell out of the speeding shadow. It was the true body of the imperial guard. He completely transformed his body into energy and condensed it into a shadow source using secret methods. The secret method of power!

This secret method allows people to convert their body into a special kind of mind-light body, and gain some divine power in advance. Moreover, placing one's will completely on the formless and qualityless mind-light body, leaving and leaving invisible, coming and going without a shadow, makes it even more ghostly in battle, and ordinary people will be killed even if they can't find it.

However, this extremely powerful secret method was ignited.

The mind-light body filled with curses and hatred could originally arouse fear and hallucinations in the enemy, but now, it has become the most powerful fuel for the karmic fire.

The shadow was like a meteorite, falling from the sky with flying sparks, burning until it made no sound and turned into a ball of fly ash floating in the air.

In the distance, a second sun lights up. That sun does nothing but illuminates everything and illuminates all darkness.

Just like the light of hope, suspended in the eastern sky.

Everyone in the mercenary group raised their heads, opened their mouths slightly, and looked at the sky in the distance. Behind the rolling clouds, thunder was exploding, and the sun was shifting. With the rumble of thunder, it passed from the top of the sky, bringing with it a line of light. A trajectory is like a guiding path.

Follow this track and you can reach the Xiguang Society.

At this moment, Hongshou heard a loud voice. This voice was rich and powerful, and thunder was brewing in it: No one will attack again, and there is no need to worry about fuel. Someone will respond on the way.

Let's go and don't look back.

In the sky, Su Zhou glanced at the fleets below him that were turning and traveling along the track left by him, and then raised his head.

He looked towards the distance and noticed his own aura, the rising Yanshuang Army, and in the center of the army, the very familiar aura belonging to Yala's family.

The aura of General Yanshuang rises gradually, as if all the desires in the world are condensed, the strongest hatred and the most extreme love, the hottest anger and the saddest sorrow, all merged together into a A whirlpool of chaos.

[Why are you here, Xi Guang’s Svetre? 】

A dull sound like the roar of a volcano exploded in the air, and the sonorous collision of gold and iron made his tone full of sharpness: Even if you don't help us, why do you want to help the empire and be our enemy? 】

I don't mean to be your enemy.

And Su Zhou's voice echoed from afar, suppressing the volcano that was about to erupt: General Yanshuang, I'm not here to fight you and compete with you.

I am here this time to protect you.

Quiet.

As soon as Su Zhou's words came out, the sky and the earth, which were originally full of thunder and signs of volcanic eruption, fell into the most complete silence.

Not only the Yanshuang Army formation, but also the Red Hand Mercenary Group became quiet, as if they heard something incredible.

Until a voice of confusion and suppressed anger sounded.

【……Can you say that again? 】

And Su Zhou fulfilled his strange request.

He said it again.

I'm here to protect you.

Asking for a monthly ticket!