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Chapter 396 - 393 - ’Captain, you look impressive today.

Chapter 396: Chapter 393 - ’Captain, you look impressive today.

The Soul Hunters wielded long swords and had pistols at their waists, men and women, old and young alike.

Among them, the youngest was only sixteen, still at the age where their blood ran hot, while the eldest had white hair, but even though they had retired, they had returned.

At this moment, everyone’s expression was serious, and when they looked beyond the Barrier, their eyes appeared especially distant.

Their stances were tall and erect, their sword handling unified and practiced, as if they had undergone countless drills, and they exuded the spirit of soldiers. An awe-inspiring air radiated from them invisibly, and they stood as still as statues.

Then, groups of commoners in plain clothes slowly walked up.

Unlike the Soul Hunters, their hands, holding various farm tools, trembled, but that did not stop them from continuing forward.

Even with shaking legs and trembling bodies, they took steps forward.

These were ordinary residents.

The reasons they signed up to join the ranks varied. Some said, "I’ve always wanted to be a Soul Hunter since I was young, and that hasn’t changed today. I want to survive with the honor of a Soul Hunter, to make my mother proud," while others declared, "The girl next door likes heroes, so I want to become one," and some purely admired Su Rin and the other famed Soul Hunter leaders, wishing to stand with them in one team.

Among them, some were filled with passion, fighting to protect their homes, some knew that once the squad was annihilated, everyone in Pulaya would be doomed, so they chose to join the fight on the battlements, hoping for a slim chance. Some were after the benefits, to brandish the honorable title of a Soul Hunter.

But no matter what, those who stepped forward were all prepared to face death.

By act if not by heart, their choice to battle for their homeland, facing life and death head-on, was enough to inspire awe in everyone.

The Soul Hunter leader, Karocha, had made the dangers of this operation very clear to them.

By now, this team had gathered two hundred and sixty-eight local Soul Hunters. The reason for such a large number was that, aside from those gravely injured or dead, many retired Soul Hunters, including those who hadn’t yet joined the official teams, had also invariably arrived from all over to take part.

Some of them still had young, tender faces, as if they hadn’t yet fully grown, while others were grey-haired and could barely grasp their swords steadily.

The residents serving as bait numbered four to five hundred.

The number of residents was far greater than that of the Soul Hunters, which meant that inevitably there would be situations where the Soul Hunters couldn’t cover all the residents.

In the course of the team’s march, there would undoubtedly be severe casualties.

But even so, aside from a small portion of residents who decided to back out after seeing the difference in numbers, the majority stayed.

...because they saw someone who had been a part of stories passed down in Pulaya for more than sixty years.

Even though the Royal Family sealed the news at that time and many people were unaware of his achievements, with the recent lifting of the lockdown, the older generation began to spread tales of his deeds.

He had lived through the most dangerous era in Pulaya, devising methods to protect the whole of Pulaya, and received blessings from a deity, extending the glory of the Pulaya Soul Hunters to this day.

He had, with the meager power of a human, fiercely opposed a natural disaster that could easily destroy this land, and achieved miraculous success.

Not to mention, just two days prior, he alone had charged into the most perilous place, a feat that lay before their very eyes.

The legendary world-saving hero, Su Rin, climbed onto the city wall.

He was dressed in a very normal set of black clothes, the topmost button of his collar fastened, and his youthful face looked as though time had never left a mark on him.

Not even the greatest tsunami could destroy him, nor could the claws of the King of Blood Sea Demons bring about his death. He appeared miraculously before everyone’s eyes yesterday, still sporting the young visage from sixty years ago.

People say he is favored by the gods, a lucky soul watched over by the world.

He walked to the front, closest to the Barrier, to the outermost edge of the city wall, and turned around.

With his back to the Barrier, he faced the gaze of all those people filled with either admiration, fear, or jealousy, and lifted his eyes to meet theirs.

Even the Players and residents occupied with auxiliary work beneath the city wall raised their heads at this moment.

The Players’ whispered incantations and complaints ceased.

Facing this inexplicably heart-fluttering situation, they felt as if idle chatter couldn’t escape their lips.

Atop the city wall,

a brilliant azure Sea Monster appeared behind the man at the forefront, her form resembling the flowing blue waters of a river, exuding an extremely pure and clean otherworldly beauty.

The splendid light was splashed over Su Ming’an’s hair and face and seemed to lock deep memories in his calm and almost indifferent eyes.

He was gazing at the people looking at him.

Some were tall and vigorous, others emaciated with sallow complexions and sharp features.

But without exception, ever since they stood here, none showed any intention of turning away.

They might be wearing coarse linen or splendid brocade, their appearances and temperaments differed, as well as their past experiences.

But now, they all stood here, with no differences between them.

The sea breeze howled, and their thin robes fluttered up and down, making the surroundings seem noisy and cold.

An unstoppable fear spread among the crowd, rendering this group of more than six hundred people exceptionally silent.

Su Ming’an saw many familiar faces within the neatly organized Soul Hunter squads.

There was Karocha, the stern Southern District minister; Aiske, the Eastern District minister with an ear full of piercings and strong individuality; Clifford, the old man with white hair; Duoya, the charming deputy minister; Christie and Ed, black-clad S-rank Soul Hunters, along with many other high-ranking officials he did not yet know.

They all stood within this group.

Even Shadow, the leader of the Soul Hunters, was leaning against the city wall, toying with a silver handgun.

Facing this mission, they held nothing back, not a single minister was cowardly enough to think that as an upper echelon they should avoid danger.

They knew that if this mission failed, only a slow death awaited them. The island’s Barrier could not hold back the endless Sea Monsters, and the Royal City Barrier had a very limited capacity for shelter. Unless the Deity bestowed grace once more, total annihilation was just a matter of time.

Being a minister didn’t mean they could always survive on their status.

On the contrary, in the statistics over the decades, the turnover rate of the high-ranking officials in the Soul Hunt was the fastest.

Because they often died faster, some even more quickly than the average Soul Hunter.

Honor was not their crutch, but a symbol for which they swore to fight to the death. When duty called, they often fought on the front lines of crisis.

...Just as they were at this moment.

Su Ming’an’s gaze shifted.

At this moment, Noel, Lv Shu, and Lin Yin were not in this group.

Noel went to the north side of the Royal City, responsible for guarding the Pope, soldiers, and maids attempting rebellion.

Lv Shu was in The Great Library.

Lin Yin was searching for clues in the Eastern District, where the situation was too dangerous. Since the Eastern District was close to the Royal City Barrier, as a nanny and an Occupier, she was safest there.

Among this team, there were no Royal City Knights. Loyal to the Royal Family, if they knew the King of Sea Monsters was transformed from Princess Tulip, there would inevitably be some mishaps.

Not all knight-class NPCs are Sherrod.

...And at this moment, as he swept his gaze over the people awaiting their departure, Su Ming’an also caught sight of Sherrod.

Today, he wore a set of armor different from usual, seemingly the new armor he received after being promoted to Head Knight, with Pulaya’s unique emblem engraved on the metal shoulder piece, making his armor look exceptionally exquisite.

A bright red cloak fluttered behind him, like a blood-colored banner gradually unfurling in a snowstorm.

Clothes make the man, not to mention Sherrod, who was already outstanding, now appeared even more heroic. A number of women couldn’t help but look his way by now.

As the "Brave," Sherrod was included in the team by Su Ming’an.

But even if Su Ming’an hadn’t included him, Sherrod would have volunteered to participate, regardless of having awakened self-awareness. This knight still saw himself as part of Pulaya and would not consider fleeing to another world at a time like this.

He stood at the position closest to the Barrier, just like Su Ming’an. Under the glow of the Barrier’s shimmer, his golden short hair edged with a translucent light, and his jade-like eyes, glowing like fireflies, silently watched from there.

Around his neck hung the necklace that Su Ming’an had returned, containing a photo of his sister.

Seeing Su Ming’an looking over, he gave a slight smile.

"You look really impressive today, Captain," he said.

Earlier, Su Ming’an had clearly explained to Sherrod the role he was to play in this operation.

As the strongest knight with Divine Power, capable of suppressing the King of Sea Monsters—when the team made it through the sea monster horde and reached their position, as Su Ming’an began setting up the Barrier, Sherrod’s responsibility would be to draw away the sea monsters caught between the two Barriers, luring them out of the area.

His role was almost as vital as Su Ming’an’s.

"Say something, Sir Su Rin," suggested old man Clifford, wearing a slightly oversized uniform, beside him.

Su Ming’an nodded.

Around his neck, he wore a megaphone, a device the old man Clifford had just given him.

Clifford had said he hoped Su Ming’an would make an encouraging speech to these imminent sacrifice-bound bleeders in what might be a no-return operation.

As the only legendary figure who had returned from Yun Shang City, Sir Su Rin, they eagerly needed his voice to soothe the anxious hearts of these citizens.

These people, these brave souls who dared to stand on the city walls, whether Soul Hunters or common citizens, were all prepared to face death.

No matter how well they concealed it, they were afraid, born of an innate human fear of death that could not be controlled.

Looking at these people with varying expressions, some with trembling legs, Su Ming’an spoke up, coughing to test the sound.

The moment his voice was released, it spread across the entire city as though amplified, just as the megaphone would have allowed.

Even the rest area below the city walls, the far-flung eastern and western districts, even the very top of the Royal City, could hear his voice.

The players who were busy looking for opportunities to score points, the people who were busy searching for hidden routes, all looked up.

"Whose voice is that? Why is it coughing?" asked a female player who was infiltrating the Royal City searching for clues.

"It’s a character played by Su Ming’an. I’ve recognized his voice," the short and stout player beside her responded.

"He must really be bored out of his mind. To give a speech at a time like this?"

"I heard that people from the Southern District have formed a suicide squad. They want to pave a road with their lives to reach the outermost barrier. Perhaps that’s what this speech is about."

"That’s it?" The female player scratched her cone-shaped face disdainfully and sneered, "He really cares about those NPCs, going to the trouble of comforting them with a speech? Does he actually consider himself one of them? If those NPCs die, they die. It’s convenient for us to search for clues with the Royal City now empty."

"Maybe so, but if their team doesn’t succeed, we’re all in trouble too," the stout man said. "I heard that quite a few players have rushed over as well. This must be a temporary large-scale event with quite a few rewards. Aren’t we going?"

The female player let out a cold snort.

"We’re not afraid of our homes getting destroyed. Why should we go? It’s too dangerous, and it’s better to wait here for other opportunities. If the Number One Player dies in that squad, so much the better. He can’t win forever."

"You better hope no one else hears you say that."

"Hmph, what’s wrong? Doesn’t anyone else share my perspective...?"

Similar conversations sprang up in various corners of Pulaya.

Players looked up, unsure what the Number One Player was up to and whether his actions might affect them.

But no matter what they said, at this moment, they all looked up and listened to that voice, potent enough to spread across the entire island.

...

Su Ming’an shifted his gaze.

He saw Nailuo standing beneath the city wall.

Even though she had been rejected, she had still come. Her red hair fluttered amidst the snowstorm, particularly conspicuous against the grayscale crowd behind her.

To the left, he saw Rinna, the Female Pirate leaning against a grocery store as if flirting with a man. She had surprisingly stayed, and she seemed to be living well. When she met his gaze, Rinna gave a coquettish smile, as if extending a suggestive invitation to him.

In the crowd to the right, stood Yamada Machiichi, looking up in a merchant’s garb.

And his former "teammates," the chuunibyou swordsman Ye Changtian, the ice mage Alna, as well as their original player squad, were all below the city wall.

He even spotted the Soul Clan members hiding in the shadows; they looked no different from ordinary humans. He even caught their scent—members of the Soul Clan were also part of this team.

He saw "Moonlight Watcher" from the Soul Clan, Lucia, who had once delivered a speech in the Eastern District Underground. She stood among the team, also watching him, her eyes filled with a complicated, indescribable emotion.

Many players working on temporary tasks here turned their heads toward him upon hearing his voice.

It seemed that every time he gave a speech, he was the center of everyone’s attention.

In front of the eyes of an entire world.

"I’m glad to see you all here," Su Ming’an began.

At that moment, countless gazes converged upon him, like a spotlight.

The amplified voice carried far and wide as he stood atop the tallest city wall, seeing into the distance.