Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 391 - 260: Rescue (Part 2)

Chapter 391: Chapter 260: Rescue (Part 2)

Having taken down the granary, the battle was nearing its end. A Messenger from the Central District found Malin and his group, informing them that the entire city had been suppressed and instructing Malin’s team to begin the on-site eradication of any potential Chaos lingering in the houses.

This was something Malin was familiar with. Just then, Baron Anthony, limping over, approached them, so Malin called the Baron and the Baron together to first inquire about their methods for clearing the houses.

"Well, we grab a small shield in one hand and a short sword or hatchet in the other, entering by breaking down the door in groups of ten," said the Baron, while showing Malin the little ax hanging at his waist.

"We do similarly, only we prefer this." The Baron lifted his cloak to reveal a flintlock pistol at his waist, "Of course, after we shoot, we discard it, so it is far inferior to what Your Excellency has on your belt."

Malin nodded, whilst confirming again the harsh reality of poverty in the Farol Principality.

Even if a Baron still used a muzzle-loading single-shot pistol, it was no wonder the rank-and-file soldiers were still equipped with melee weapons. But honestly, Carterburg was a major port, which through trade with Thainan alongside several other western ports, brought substantial profits to the Sydney Union. The Farolians also had decent coastlines, so why didn’t they have any major ports?

Malin decided to seize an opportunity to ask about this later, whilst also offering advice on how to breach and enter at the same time.

When breaching, the element of surprise is crucial; therefore, if a house has both a front and back door, they should be broken simultaneously to catch the Chaos inside off guard.

The first two who enter should use Field Shields—kite shields with nails, which, though somewhat heavier due to their thick wood and iron construction, offer substantial protection. The two who breach the door with these shields would be followed by two others who would carry a hatchet in each hand with short swords clutched in their mouths. Upon seeing Chaos, they should throw the hatchets and then join the attack with their short swords, while the rest of the team follows up.

Regrettably, in lands ruled by Sydney, Malin could have equipped such teams with sawed-off double-barreled shotguns, which would allow them to blast upon entry. Most Chaos concealed inside would be humanoid and typically powerless against buckshot, thus making for a battle of sheer joy.

As for those tough enough to stand unflinched against the buckshot, they were unlikely to hide their mighty presence and probably would have been killed in earlier fighting—only cowards and the cunning would seek to hide. For the former, there was no concern, but for the latter, Malin checked his own shotgun.

"Once inside, move to the sides; don’t block my line of fire," Malin instructed.

The breachers at the door nodded.

Malin blessed the two with Holy Armor, then shook his left arm, transforming it into a life-sized shield—Lorrin turned into one. He had handed the Battle Flag to Baron Anthony. Since the limping Baron had a leg injury, he had to serve as a living flagpole.

The breachers smashed open the door, and though Spell Formations struck them, the Holy Armor blocked the Chaos’s attacks from inside the room. Malin advanced with his shield up, the shotgun resting on a support on the side of the shield. He fired at the Chaos Priest who used a chair and a box as cover, totally unable to comprehend why his spells failed to harm or even break a wooden shield, getting his face smeared by a blast of buckshot.

The buckshot was standard, unable to inflict fatal damage, but the agony it caused made the Priest’s next Spell Formation completely fail, turning him into a torch.

Then, the hatchet-thrower who had followed Malin in landed an axe on the Priest’s head, interrupting his rushed attempt at a suicidal attack on Malin.

Malin continued to advance, using the shield to block a sweeping Hammer on his right. Its wielder couldn’t believe he was unable to move the small shield, but Malin didn’t pay him any attention and instead fired at another Chaos on the left who was charging with a dagger at a breacher. This one, clearly lacking the Priest’s toughened skin, met a conclusive death.

As the breacher was busily smashing the shield against a Chaos entangled with his comrade, he stood, threw his shield, and knocked down the Hammer-wielding Chaos about to strike Malin. He was immediately tackled by another Chaos.

During a break in his cheerful shooting, Malin had to kick a shortsword on the ground towards that Chaos, who had raised the blade only for the sword to pierce his neck.

With his ammunition depleted, Malin stepped two paces to the left, slapping his shield upon the waist of a Chaos wrestling with a soldier, causing the Chaos to bend at a horrifying angle. Without hesitation, the soldier grabbed the Chaos’s head and greeted it with the protruding wall.

More soldiers rushed in and slaughtered the remaining Chaos on the ground.

Leading his team while dragging out the Chaos corpses from the house, Malin advised his group, "Remember, whether indoors or outdoors, it’s always about outnumbering the enemy in small areas. After throwing your axes, you might want to practice more. Don’t worry too much for now, with so much Chaos around, there will always be some unlucky ones to catch your axes."

The breachers chuckled heartily, and the axe-thrower also smiled bashfully.

"All right, there’s no spell fluctuation in this room, and I can’t sense any strong Chaos targets, so I’ll leave it to you," said Malin. As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers neatly marched toward the house.

Watching them charge in, Malin turned to glance at the Wood Elves treating the wounded outside the house... Although they seemed somewhat annoying, in all honesty, Malin couldn’t fathom why he should dislike them.

Eventually, he cast this question aside and joined the attack on another house.

.........

"Silvio, you’ve arrived." Standing in the small square at the center of Dolce Town, the Paladin greeted his good friend who emerged from a portal, "I just witnessed the Lord of Justice’s divine punishment. How is the situation in the City of Selvo?"

"’Very well, the Lord of Justice’s divine Purification has cleansed that important minion of the Evil God...’" said the young Mage as he glanced around, "’Has Malin Gaiate not arrived yet?’"

"He has already arrived. I sent him to the north of the city where the power of Chaos is weaker, suitable for him to practice his skills." The Paladin said with some curiosity, "Why do you take an interest in him?"

"It was Lady Anna who asked me to check on him; I need to give her a response." The young Mage finished speaking and had his messenger sprite start working; it leaped into the void.

"Your Excellency, there’s a fire in the north of the city." The Paladin’s Attendant came over to report.

Thus, the Paladin and Mage turned around and saw the fire in the direction of the north of the city.

"It looks like the granary can no longer be saved." The young Mage shook his head.

"This was already within our expectations. Chaos has occupied this place for a whole half-month. Those three granaries filled with flour and grain should have been consumed by now. Considering the effort needed for Purification, it’s better to just burn them and rebuild." The Paladin said this and then instructed the Messenger who came running, "Go tell Malin Gaiate to clean up the remaining forces of Chaos on the spot."

After the Messenger had left, the Paladin looked at the burning town hall and shook his head, "Silvio, the Principality took ten years to establish this northern province to build a trade route with the Sydney Union, and Chaos destroyed it in only half a month... Fate is too harsh for the Farolians. The Furious Sea blocks our maritime trade, and even the boldest captains from Thainan don’t want to pass through our waters..."

"The Sydney Union truly is a nation favored by the Goddess of Fortune." The Mage also sighed such feelings as he walked to his old friend’s side, "The town’s officer, if I remember correctly, was the son of the Principality’s head steward, right?"

"Yes, we’ve found his remains, a true Farolian to the core, he didn’t fall into corruption until his death." Mentioning this young man added a look of appreciation and recognition to the Paladin’s face, as well as a hint of sorrow, "At first, when I heard that this young man was the officer, I had some concerns that he might be tempted to fall. Therefore, I even had a dispute with the ruler... Now it seems I underestimated the young man’s loyalty to his country. I should apologize to him."

"True heroes do not need to be asked about their origins." Silvio nodded in agreement with his friend’s words, and also quoted the maxim of the Lord of Justice, "You also shouldn’t blame yourself, skepticism is the way of survival." With that, he patted Silvio on the shoulder.

At this moment, a group of soldiers lifted the nearby coffin, and the Paladin stepped aside to clear the path, bowing his head in respect.

The young Mage Silvio also bowed his head.

..........

Tossing aside the head of the Evil God’s minion in her hand, Lady Anna caught the sprite messenger, confirmed the news about Malin, released the messenger, then turned around, her longsword parrying an incoming cutlass, her left hand striking the breastplate on the chest of Chaos, the blast of Spiritual Energy passing through the breastplate, turning the flesh behind it into a bloody mess.

Pushing away the corpse, Lady Anna turned to glance at the battlefield, now secured—soldiers put finishing blows to the forces of Chaos or tended to their own wounded.

"The last area of resistance in the City of Selvo has been recaptured," she turned around and murmured to herself in exclamation.

This had once been a very beautiful city with fond memories of Anna’s youth. At that time, her Mentor had brought her here when Selvo was still a small city, the farthest north of the Farol Principality, the start and end point of trade with the Sydney Union.

But Chaos had destroyed everything here. Lady Anna watched the small building in front of her, burning and on the verge of collapsing.

"My lady." A Baron’s Captain approached her, "Thank you for your assistance." His troops had suffered heavy losses while attacking this area, and more would have died if not for Anna’s intervention.

"It’s nothing. I was just... just here to see my youthful dwelling one last time." After she spoke, the small building finally collapsed.

The Baron’s Captain removed his helmet, but Anna commanded him to wear it.

"That is the guarantee of your life; do not take it off," she said.

"Then, my lady, shall I record the location of your dwelling to inform the civil officer to..."

"No need. I do not wish for immovable time," Anna cut him off, declining his kind offer.

Listening to his inquiry, Anna ultimately rejected his good intentions.

The Mentor was no longer with them, and these last Apprentices had each embarked on their own paths in life.

Let those immovable moments live on in their minds.

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