QT: Against My Will-Chapter 524 - 8.41 - What’s Wrong With The New Reqruits?!
Deeper into the forest, they heard a strange sound in the distance. It sounded like a human cry, but it wasn’t a human at all. It was a bird, imitating the sound of a person in distress. The bird’s cry was eerily accurate, with a high-pitched wail that echoed through the trees.
These birds only made such sounds near humans to alert nearby predators, almost like a form of currency to avoid being preyed upon.
The team quickened their pace, following the direction of the bird’s cry. As they moved deeper into the forest, they could see signs of a struggle ahead. Broken branches and trampled undergrowth littered the ground, and there were clear signs of a recent battle.
Approaching the scene, they noticed a few Feroces Bellatores engaged in a fierce battle with the LAD team. The creature resembled a massive black panther with sharp claws and teeth. Adding to its ominous aura, the creature had a shadowy gas enveloping its limbs and tail.
Bing Shi asked for a connection with the other group, "This is Marcus’ team. We have been sent to provide support and backup to your mission. Does anyone need medical assistance?"
The team looked around at each other, checking for any injuries.
One of the soldiers raised his hand and spoke in a stoic tone, "I twisted my ankle earlier."
Despite his injury, he remained focused and continued to shoot at the attacking beasts, determined not to let his injury hinder the mission. However, one of his shots missed its target as the beast swiftly dodged the bullet.
Juliet drew the attention of the beast away from the injured soldier. The beast turned its head towards the gust of wind, giving the soldier an opportunity to take a moment to catch his breath and for Alain to assess his injury.
As the battle raged on, it became clear that the Feroces Bellatores were not just a mindless horde of beasts. They could manipulate shadows to conceal themselves, making it difficult for the LADs to anticipate their movements.
They were intelligent and cunning, seemingly toying with their prey before going in for the kill— using the forest as a cover and slowly exhausting the LADs.
Flying around the battlefield, Bing Shi caught a rare sight of a few crying birds, "What’s your mission? We want to ensure that we’re aligned with your objective."
The bird shapeshifted into a branch of a tree as soon as she got closer, it disappeared from her sight, its cries becoming louder.
The LADs’ magical abilities were impressive as they tried to disrupt the shadow magic with light, but the Feroces Bellatores seemed to have more stamina.
"Feroces Bellatores had been launching deadly assaults on nearby mines. We are here to intercept their attacks and neutralize their forces."
"Understand," Bing Shi called out, "Liam, Juliet! Create a dense smokescreen!"
Liam and Juliet quickly complied with Bing Shi’s order, casting a spell to create a thick cloud of smoke that enveloped the battlefield. The Feroces Bellatores seemed to navigate effortlessly through the obscured battlefield, guided by their instincts. In contrast, the LADs found themselves disoriented and struggling to maintain cohesion amidst the confusion and chaos caused by the smoke.
"Aaah! My leeg! My leg is gone!"
A female’s voice shrieked out in agony. The sound of her distress sent a wave of alarm through the group, and they rushed to her side to assess the damage.
"Fucking recruits!" The LADs cursed as they flew to their rescue, "Who drafted those weak pussies?!"
The Feroces Bellatores, attracted by the distress calls, began to move towards the sound.
"Now!" Bing Shi shouted as the Feroces Bellatores emerged from the shadows. She swiftly flew up leaving the place where she had been a moment before to be met with a barrage of magical attacks and gunfire.
As Bing Shi’s cries for help echoed through the forest, Bertha, Aria, and Laura joined in, their voices blending together to create a convincing illusion that they were on a losing end.
The beast expected an easy target, their instincts confused by the distress coming from the LADs. But instead of finding helpless prey, they found a group of bloodthirsty recruits who were well-prepared for the battle. Their magical attacks were now enhanced by the element of surprise, catching the Feroces Bellatores off-guard.
As the smokescreen changed into a vortex of wind, Juliet quickly utilized her magic to create small but potent tornadoes with a vacuum-like effect. Her intent was to disrupt Feroces Bellatore’s emergence from the shadows, confuse their sense of direction, and prevent their escape.
The LADs took advantage of the confusion caused by the tornadoes, launching a coordinated assault on the Feroces Bellatores. They combined their magical abilities, raining down bursts of light and energy, illuminating the battlefield and weakening the creatures’ connection to the shadows.
Some beasts turned tail and fled while dragging the lifeless bodies of their fallen brethren as if unwilling to leave any trace behind. Their black, shadowy forms melted into the surrounding darkness, blending with the shadows and disappearing from sight.
The wilderness was the domain of the beasts, and within this untamed realm, the natural order was upended: humans became the hunted, not the hunter. The creatures that called this forest home had adapted to their surroundings with ruthless efficiency, their instincts honed by centuries of survival.
The LADs were quick to commence a chase. The remnants in their jaws were not just lifeless remains; the fallen beasts carried the wisdom of their lineage, an ancestral knowledge that fueled the very essence of the forest’s existence. It was through this that the forest thrived. If they let them run away, the beasts would come back stronger than before.
The cries of the mimicking bird added to the eerie atmosphere, as the LADs realized that they had to retreat too. They knew that venturing deeper into the forest meant crossing a dangerous threshold, where the beasts they dreaded lay in wait.
Before they could react, Shina Night appeared, leaping from branch to branch with astonishing agility. She landed in the midst of the Feroces Bellatores, surprising them with her sudden appearance. The beasts were momentarily stunned by her arrival, and she took advantage of the moment to strike.
With swift, precise movements, she lashed out at the creatures, her fists and feet striking with deadly force, crushing their skulls together with the invisible barrier surrounding their heads. The ferocity of her attack was matched only by the brutal force inflicted upon her own protective gear.
Bing Shi leaped back as she passed by the LADs, her command echoed through their communicator, "The LADs will take over from here! Rest up, drink some fluids, and get ready for round two!"
Her team gathered, assessing their wounds and ensuring everyone was accounted for and safe.
Their plan was simple— make the Feroces Bellatores think that they had the upper hand, lure them into a false sense of security by confusing their opponents (use the LADs as a lure), and then unleash a barrage of swift and deadly attacks that would leave them reeling and confused.
