Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 388 - 257: Suppression (Part 3)_2

Chapter 388: Chapter 257: Suppression (Part 3)_2

Duke Gallo’s great swordsman was unmatched in the world and did not need a toy like the crossbowman. Now, the tall tales he had boasted in front of the northerners had all blown up in his face.

In battles like this, great swordsmen simply couldn’t free up their hands, but if they charged out, they would quickly be overwhelmed by Chaos.

That Chaos leader was still beating the drum, likely summoning reinforcements.

Thereupon, Baron Gallo desperately hoped that the young man Malin Gaiate, brought by Lady Anna, would come to no harm—if he didn’t, he could bring over his four mages to find Gallo, and then the tide of battle would likely turn in his favor.

But if it was the forces of Chaos coming from that side, then Baron Gallo... would soon become a dead baron.

"Something’s coming from the far west!" Alarmed cries came from the western defenses.

Baron Gallo, standing at the peak of the hill, gazed westward. With his Wood Elf blood, he could see a force indeed approaching in the distance, carrying torches: "It’s our people!"

Chaos Folk had night vision and had no need for torches!

Then he saw something... not human, absolutely something, charging out from that group.

Baron Gallo simply watched as the thing stumbled its way closer, and when the moon once again pierced through the clouds, illuminating the area, he saw a blade as white as snow, a... an axe with legs, cutting through Chaos forces?

What the devil was this?

Baron Gallo just watched the axe sweep across the entire western defensive line of Chaos. Neither the Chaos beings themselves nor the weapons in their hands could stop the edge of this axe—it swiftly cleaved through all the Chaos in its path, even the Chaos warrior who had been commanding at the rear was split in two, with both body and sword, as it rushed forward.

"That must be an Awakened Weapon, Your Excellency!" the captain of the great swordsman team whispered to the baron.

"A formidable device?" The baron was not well-versed in such exotic items—after all, he was only a baron and did not have too much spare cash to spend on such wonders.

"Yes, Awakened Weapons usually possess self-awareness, and those not recognized by them, if they try to seize them, will only be mercilessly killed, unless by a Legendary Professional who might be accepted by them."

"So, this weapon has a master who is at least a Legendary Professional?" The baron’s expression turned serious—he had never even contemplated acquiring this weapon for he knew well that such precious artifacts were only befitting a true mighty warrior, and in the circle of the mighty, he was but naught.

"Yes, but it’s more likely that it’s loaned to Mr. Malin by Lady Anna," said the great swordsman in response.

"That’s great, which means our Mr. Malin is coming with his four mages." No sooner had Baron Gallo finished speaking than he had to shift his attention once more to the west—he sensed the activity of a Spell Formation.

Indeed, the baron was a Mage of the Fourth Circle. He knew he was no genius in the Mage Tower, but in the Farol Principality, he was an unparalleled talent.

In these parts, people were naturally adept with swords, and the chance of a Mage being born was lower than that of a simpleton.

Quickly, his eyes widened, for he sensed the presence of a Thunderfall Spell, its strike location... right above the Caster’s head!

Was he committing suicide?!

Before Baron Gallo could grasp what was happening, he sensed the rapid descent of the strike; he couldn’t even turn his head quickly enough, barely catching a glimpse of the Chaos leader falling from the platform in the distance.

At the same moment, he saw the leader being struck by lightning.

"What in the world?!" The captain of the great swordsmen was completely ignorant of spellcraft, and Baron Gallo had to patiently explain to him—after all, this middle-aged man was his grandfather’s subordinate, not his own.

After hearing the Baron’s explanation, the Captain of the Greatswordsmen immediately drew his weapon, "Your Excellency, the enemy’s leader has died, look, those Chaotics seem to be getting confused."

Indeed, as the ax hacked further, the line of Chaos began to falter; some continued to assault the defenses, while others fled from the ax’s onslaught. A few of the Chaos warriors tasked with keeping order tried to control the situation but were slain by the ax.

"It won’t hurt us, right?" Baron Gallo still had some unease — after all, he had lived nearly twenty years and truly had never seen an ax that moved on dozens of vine legs and chopped Chaotics on its own.

"Yes, otherwise it wouldn’t just be hacking the Chaotics in front of our defenses," the Greatswordsman replied with certainty.

"Attack!" the Baron ordered, then added, "And! Stay a bit further away from our ally, the ax! Don’t let your necks get too close!"

With the order given, the human soldiers, whose morale had been greatly boosted by the appearance of the ax, began to advance, while the Chaotics were clearly disorganized — the deadly ax struck down anyone it met, powerful Chaos warriors were beheaded, and their leader had met an untimely death, not to mention the crossbow bolts flying from their flank and the pressing human troops.

What ultimately broke them was the Mages’ Spell Formations cast from afar. When Flame Bursts and Thunderfalls exploded and swept through the crowd, the Chaotics finally began to rout.

A few walls of fire blocked their escape paths. To avoid them, they were squeezed by the advancing human infantry — some Chaotics were pushed either into the walls of fire or onto the spear formations by their comrades desperate to flee.

Baron Gallo followed closely behind the frontline, occasionally launching a Flame Burst — he realized all his previous dissatisfaction and worry had been unnecessary. In this battle, he had eliminated at least fifteen hundred Chaotics at the cost of less than three hundred of his own men!

Although the arrival of the allies had indeed led to victory, he had maintained his army before their arrival, with neither fault nor fail. What could be better than such a first battle?

Think about it, Mr. Anthony Gallo, how many of your cousins have lost the family’s trust due to poor performance in their first battle, and how many people have carelessly lost their heads.

The young Baron was overjoyed.

So when Mr. Malin, surrounded by four Mages, appeared, he immediately showed his concern, "Welcome, my friends, without you, we wouldn’t have this victory."

In front of the Lord of Justice, hogging the credit is the most foolish form of suicide — Mr. Anthony Gallo had seen his fair share of fools who had outsmarted themselves to death.

"Hello, Baron Anthony Gallo, you divide these heads, pass on some of them to this Baron," Malin said with a smile.

This surprised and then delighted the Baron — it meant he could rightfully and legally claim a small portion of the spoils that weren’t his, Mr. Malin was indeed considerate!

Of course, Anthony Gallo shouldn’t be small-minded and forget generosity; following such a formidable figure, there should be plenty of spoils to come tonight.

So promptly, three hundred Chaotic Believer and Zealot heads, along with five Chaos Warrior skulls, were selected and handed over to the Baron.

The latter and his soldiers already had not a few trophies at their belts, truly enviable, and they obviously couldn’t carry away so many. Therefore, the Baron gestured, calling the carts waiting at the rear to come forward; they would take both sides’ trophies and then head to the next target.

As the village was burned, the Baron noticed one particular head at the Baron’s waist.

Baron, why didn’t you throw that head onto the cart?

Of course, a Gallo child wouldn’t ask something so foolish because Anthony had recognized the head — if he was not mistaken, this must be the head of a Chaos Priest, a tough character.

See, Mr. Malin is so impressive, he even gives such trophies to the common folk.

Anthony, behave well, and the next time it will be your turn to feast.