Chapter 106 - 37: [Witch Gold, Nether Copper, and Ace Tactician]

Chapter 106: Chapter 37: [Witch Gold, Nether Copper, and Ace Tactician]

Cold stars burned deep within the dark sky. As the twin moons hung at the edge of the night, their moonlight illuminated the Witch Gold Compass with its trembling needle, casting a shadow as slender as a sword.

Following the changing direction of the compass needle, Musa-Salamander gazed at the distant wheat field. He slowly rose from the Exiles’ wagon camp, roughly shoving aside the Exiles blocking his way.

Behind him, the five demonizers rose one after another.

Two figures on the wagon frame climbed up, lightly vaulting over the shaft with one hand. Another sitting on the roof flipped and leapt down, unfurling membranous wings to glide right behind Musa before landing. The remaining two, carrying Large Metal Canisters on their backs and holding kerosene flamethrowers, pushed their way through the Exiles.

"How interesting," Musa said, reaching out to grip the handle of the barbed whip coiled around an old man. He gave it a violent yank.

Amidst the old man’s muffled groans of pain, the whip tore through his sheepskin coat, leaving a deep, bloody ring of mangled flesh.

"You, stay behind and keep an eye on these vagrants. We’ll still need them on our way back." He pointed to one of the demonizers armed with a Large Metal Canister and a flamethrower.

The demonizer nodded, stepping away from the group to guard the camp. He sneered, aiming his flamethrower nozzle at the Exiles.

Musa grinned.

The moonlight shone on the five figures lined up side by side. Scorpion tails, pincers, pitch-black clawed exoskeletons, membranous wings, and hook claws protruded from beneath their black robes.

With a soft, metallic SCHWING, Musa—standing in the center—drew his Witch Gold Long Curved Saber from his waist, dragging the blade at an angle behind him. Holding his whip, he turned his body slightly sideways, using his white robe and corded, brown-muscled physique to conceal his wrist movements and grip on the hilt. Leading the four demonizers, he strode toward the wheat field with great, sweeping steps, descending upon them like an arrogant five-man army.

"It seems you finally understand that death is inescapable, Ronov." He cracked his barbed whip with a sharp SNAP, growling hoarsely. "Your destiny is already dead. The vultures and sand hyenas are merely drawn here by the stench of rot."

"I will no longer fear death," the slender, Black Armor-clad figure in the wheat field replied.

Another person stepped forward slowly from behind her. The moonlight illuminated his silhouette, revealing a set of dark green Rusted Copper Armor, a sword, and a shield.

"There is no death here, only me," he answered.

In the next instant, the Witch Gold Blade flashed with a cold light.

CLANG-HUM! With a bizarre cutting sound, the Nether Copper Kite Shield was diagonally sliced, losing a small chunk! The severed edge was perfectly even and sharp, gleaming with a bluish, dark-gold luster.

Talia’s Hammer Spear violently struck down from the side, while Samael countered with a backhanded sword thrust. However, Musa’s white robe fluttered like an ethereal desert mirage; he dodged with a powerful and vigorous backflip akin to a dance, laughing heartily.

[Scanner activated.]

[Race: Space Sub-Human.]

[Biological Structural Integrity: 82%.]

[Stamina: 97%.]

[Spiritual Energy: 93%.]

[Biological Stance Detected: War Dance.]

[A blend of humanoid Warrior dance and close-quarters combat. Originated from the ancient Barbarian Race Warriors’ sacrificial dances and wrestling techniques upon returning from a hunt. Swift, vigorous, both practical and ornamental, focusing on a sense of power. Incorporates numerous kicking techniques, leg strikes, inverted spins, and flips.]

[Database updated.]

[Engraved into the "Artificial Life Studies - Biological Stance Materials" content library.]

[Unit can utilize.]

"Identification Magic? Are you the ally Ronov encountered along the way?" Musa sneered and waved his hand in a beckoning motion. "Kill."

He pulled a Sharpening Wheel from his robe and gave it a violent yank. With a sharp ZZZT, sparks flew off the Wheel as he repaired the deformation on his Witch Gold Scimitar caused by slashing the Nether Copper Shield moments ago.

Two Sand Dune Battle Scorpion Demonizers, dragging pincers as slender as blades and thick, pitch-black scorpion tails, quickly flanked from both sides. They charged at high speed, their pincers flashing!

[Biological Stance Detected: Charging Slash.]

[A combat technique for attacking enemies in passing while moving at high speeds. Suitable for flanking harassment and hit-and-run tactics. Can be executed with the aid of a vehicle. Commonly seen in light cavalry and light infantry combat.]

[Database updated.]

[Engraved into the "Artificial Life Studies - Biological Stance Materials" content library.]

[Unit can utilize.]

BAM! The War Scorpion Demonizer on the left had his charge interrupted by a Hammer Spear, flying straight back like a baseball struck by a bat! Half of his carapace caved in, flickering with a smoldering dark red!

Howling in agony, he struggled in terror, scrambling up to retreat with heavy injuries.

Talia’s combat skill, [Conquest], though relatively slow in execution, packed immense power and impact. Its attack range covered a wide swathe in front of her and could interrupt enemy actions. Her Hammer Spear was plated with a layer of Nether Copper and burned with her Demon Fire. Influenced by the flame color reaction of the Nether Copper, the originally pale Demon Fire transformed into deep, azure-green roaring flames.

CLANG! The Charging Slash of the War Scorpion Demonizer on the right crashed against the Nether Copper Shield, the sharp edge of his pincer resolutely intercepted by the chipped metal. Stunned, he wanted to continue his charge and bypass Samael, but the shield blocked his path once more. The dark green shadow of the Nether Copper Knight Sword hidden behind the shield flashed repeatedly in rapid succession, executing swift, continuous thrusts.

The first strike of [Precision Combo] was blocked by the battle scorpion’s demonized carapace; the second strike cracked it. The third and fourth strikes created a fissure wide enough for death to slip through, and the fifth, sixth, and seventh... each precision thrust drove deeper than the last, carrying the chill of the Nether Copper as they pierced deeply into his internal organs!

The Undead Traits of the Nether Copper began to take effect. The War Scorpion Demonizer, wounded by the Nether Copper blade, trembled. The cold spread from his organs and gradually seeped into his bone marrow, weighing on his spine like the heaviness of a tomb, bringing an apathetic numbness and stiffness. A rigor mortis-like ache permeated his joints, causing them to jam like rusted machinery.