Chapter 48: Laying an Ambush

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Laying an Ambush

As evening fell, Lorin and Pip arrived at the location before the agreed time, finding that many people were already standing by the riverbank.

Anya stood tall on a high vantage point along the bank, directing several of the town’s Guards. "Pour a third of the bait into the river, right by the backwater bay... Yes, and scatter the rest all the way to the center of the Shingle Beach so it can follow the scent."

"Yes, milady!"

The Guards dumped the bloody meat and offal of pigs and sheep into the river, dyeing the grayish-blue water a vivid red. The thick stench of blood was so strong that even those standing on the high ground could smell it.

Pip muttered softly, "This smells like someone knocked over a Vampire’s bathwater."

Lorin nodded in agreement. Even though he had no idea what a Vampire’s bathwater actually smelled like, the little guy always managed to come up with these bizarre analogies.

His gaze was then drawn to Anya. The Priest of the Dawn Lord had changed into a set of rose-gold Half Armor today. The Shoulder Armor was neatly tapered, contouring perfectly along the curve of her shoulders and overlapping with the Arm Armor at the crooks of her elbows. In her hands, she held a triangular One-Handed Shield and a Nail Hammer. She looked remarkably valiant and heroic, a stark contrast to the gentle and elegant woman they had seen earlier in the reception room.

Anya quickly noticed the two approaching. Her gaze lingered on Lorin’s Chest Armor for a moment before shifting to the Warhammer slung across Pip’s back. She smiled warmly. "You’re here. Was the Enchantment successful?"

"Yes, yes! Mr. Horton is the most amazing Blacksmith I’ve ever seen!" the dwarf replied excitedly.

"That puts my mind at ease. Please wait a moment, the Guards are still preparing the bait," she said, pointing at the men scattering meat along the beach.

"It’s the least we could do." Lorin nodded, seeking to confirm the upcoming plan. "Should we participate in the encirclement later? Or do we just need to block its escape route?"

Anya shook her head, tactfully declining his offer. "A Rock-dwelling Salamander is far too dangerous for anyone who isn’t an Official Professional. You only need to harass it if it tries to flee. Absolutely do not fight it head-on. If necessary, Rain will come to your aid."

"Thank you for your generosity," Lorin said with a slight bow.

He marveled at their luck; they were going to earn sixteen Gold Coins each just for loitering on the sidelines! He hadn’t expected Anya to be so easy to get along with. Her demeanor even gave Lorin a slightly better impression of the Dawn Lord. As expected of an Official Priest—she was a true professional.

Once the trap was set, the Guards quickly withdrew, leaving only the five of them by the riverbank.

The sky grew completely dark, the moon obscured by thick clouds. The only illumination came from the surface of the Black Water River, which reflected the faint, weak glimmer of the Frost Array. However, after Erin muttered a few low incantations, even that slight gleam vanished.

Following the plan, Lorin and Pip crouched behind several half-person-tall boulders. The gaps between the rocks provided them with a clear view of the entire Shingle Beach.

"Do you think it’ll be lured out?" the little guy asked, lowering his voice.

"The chances are high."

If what Erin said earlier was true, and the Rock-dwelling Salamander had only attacked the merchant caravan for food, then it would definitely show up. With such a massive amount of bloody meat freely available, it would save the beast an unknown amount of time compared to hunting on its own.

Lorin then observed the positions of the other three.

The Red-haired Mage, Erin, was hidden in the crevices of the oak tree’s roots in the thicket, exactly as planned. Anya and Rain lay prone, one in front of the other, in the clearing between the thicket and the riverbank. Under the cover of night, they practically blended into the gravel ground.

A long silence followed. Lorin could only hear the SWISH of the river flowing over the rocks and his own suppressed breathing. The prolonged wait made him a bit nervous. He glanced at Pip crouching beside him. The little guy had laid the Warhammer across his knees, gripping the handle tightly with both hands, staring unblinkingly at the river’s surface.

Lorin realized that the dwarf was just as nervous.

"PHEW—" he exhaled softly, allowing his heart to slowly calm down.

The fog on the river gradually thickened.

Amidst the gentle sound of the flowing water, a strange noise gradually emerged. It sounded as if someone were wielding a massive spatula, stirring the thick ingredients settled at the bottom of a soup pot.

Pip gently nudged Lorin. The two exchanged a glance, knowing that it had arrived.

A moment later, Lorin saw a massive Shadow faintly materialize within the pale, grayish-white fog over the river. The water began to ripple as a grayish-black spine broke the surface. It was draped in aquatic weeds and mud, and even bits of the offal that had been dumped into the river earlier.

It slowly crawled onto the shore, finally allowing Lorin to get a clear look at its appearance. This Rock-dwelling Salamander was even larger than Erin had described. At a rough glance, its body was a staggering seventeen or eighteen feet long. It had a flat head, thick and sturdy limbs, and a long tail dragging behind it.

It didn’t immediately rush toward the bait. Instead, it raised its head, its nostrils flaring as it caught the scents in the air.

Watching Anya and Rain, who were only a dozen paces away from the Rock-dwelling Salamander, Lorin couldn’t help but grip the hilt of his sword nervously, breaking a sweat for them. The beast hadn’t yet entered the range of the Frost Array, and the three of them weren’t particularly close to it either. If it spotted them now, whether it turned tail and fled or charged forward to attack, it would be a disastrous outcome that Lorin didn’t want to see.

However, perhaps because the stench of blood in the air was too overwhelming, or perhaps the blood-soaked trail was simply too enticing, the creature failed to notice the two people hiding nearby. The Rock-dwelling Salamander appeared to be starving. Detecting no surrounding danger, its four short legs moved rapidly, crawling happily forward along the blood trail.

Beneath its immense weight, the gravel on the riverbank emitted loud CRUNCH CRUNCH sounds as it shattered.

Five steps, ten steps, fifteen steps.

The edge of the Array flickered slightly. Erin still didn’t activate it. The Rock-dwelling Salamander’s position was too far back; she was waiting for it to fully enter the riverbank.

It paused as it passed the first bait point, opening its massive maw to swallow a blood-soaked piece of sheep offal whole. Then, as if satisfied, it shook its head and continued crawling forward.

"Now."

Erin rose and waved the Magic Staff in her hand. Tugging at the Magic Net, she poured her Mana into the Array laid out on the ground. Ice-Blue light immediately burst forth from the Runes on the ground, erecting a translucent barrier condensed from the Power of Ice and Cold between the Rock-dwelling Salamander and the river.

"CROAK—"

The Rock-dwelling Salamander let out a panicked cry. It abruptly spun around, attempting to rush back into the water, but the moment it neared the barrier, the freezing cold forced it to recoil.

"HYAH!"

Rain leaped up from the ground, letting out a low shout as he took massive strides forward. Lorin couldn’t be any more familiar with this sight. Without a doubt, it was the Warrior’s most Basic yet most practical Combat Skill—Charge!