## Chapter 115: Vanguard Battle
The footsteps of the Monster Army did not change with the activity in Vita Village. In this ordinary village, at an ordinary twilight hour, a thunderous muffled sound suddenly came from the Northwest, accompanied by a slight trembling of the Earth. At the End of the lush Plains, a red and blue "carpet" appeared, slowly covering the Plains before their Eyes. The Blood-like red, the eerie light blue, accompanied by countless sharp Weapons that shone with a chilling Glow under the Setting Sun, like flashing white Glow Sticks.
They advanced with messy, uneven Footsteps, they danced strange and comical dances, they brandished various Weapons, spreading their terror to everyone—I am weak! But we are incredibly Powerful!
The thunder continued to grow, the earthquake intensified, and tens of thousands of Fallen Ones laid a red and blue carpet on the green Plains. Separated from them by a distance were thousands of fearless Warriors. Between them lay a huge Ravine over ten meters wide and ten meters high. Hundreds of High-Level Adventurers raised their Shields high, forming an unshakable Wall of people on the other side of the Ravine. Any Monster attempting to climb up from the bottom of the Ravine would be pushed down into the bottomless Abyss by them...
Behind them was a sturdy Wooden Platform several meters high. Thousands of Archers and Sorceresses stood upon it, ready for Battle. Arrows were already nocked on their Long Bows. The sharp rhomboid Arrowheads would pierce through the Flesh and Blood and Innards of the enemy in a single breath, then embed themselves in shattered Bone. The tightly gripped Staffs also shone with Magical Radiance. Arc Light shot out, dazzling white Lightning Glow. Fire Serpents coiled, the scorching deep red Flame flickering uncertainly. The chilling light blue Frost announced the Death God's decree to the enemy.
Ten kilometers, eight kilometers, five kilometers... Closer, even closer...
The Archers slowly raised their Long Bows. The rock-solid Arrows were tightly locked onto the swaying figures opposite. The right hand gripping the fletching pulled back slightly, and the taut Bowstring gradually bent into a full moon. The heavy Footsteps of the Fallen, the creaking sound from the Wooden Bows, and the "gulping" sound from Throats made the entire Battlefield even more solemn and silent. The burning Setting Sun, as red as dripping Blood, seemed to foreshadow the impending War. The Stench of Death permeating the heavy Air caused the Warriors' Blood to boil constantly. The Bloodthirsty Factor had already erupted deep within their Souls.
"Kill... Kill... Kill..."
The slightly trembling, hoarse roar of the Scout standing on the temporarily erected Watchtower echoed throughout the entire Village. It was as if a large piece of red-hot Branding Iron had been thrown into a small pot of warm water. The instantly boiling Bubbles, carrying thick Steam, erupted across the entire Battlefield. Thousands of Arrows poured towards the opposite side like locusts, whistling through the Air, piercing into the enemy's Flesh and Blood, making a "splatting" sound like Bubbles. Powerful Amazon Warriors could even shoot Magic Arrows and Fire Arrows, completely penetrating the enemy's Body and leaving behind a charred Blood Hole that was difficult to heal.
Red Fire Balls and blue Ice Bolts streaked across the Sky above the Battlefield, leaving hundreds of brilliant Tails, more dazzling than Fireworks, more vibrant than a rainbow. In a single breath, they accurately landed in front of the red and blue carpet several kilometers away. Fiery red roses and Ice-Blue Snow Lotuses bloomed in the enemy formation. Meanwhile, Charged Bolts flashing with dangerous white Light, like a Magic Trick in the hands of highly skilled Sorceresses, passed through the Gap between Warriors, crossed the deep Ravine, and also inflicted huge Damage on the enemy.
"Continue, continue, continue..."
Without needing the Scout's Command from the Watchtower, in just a few breaths, the Archers nocked Arrows again, and the Sorceresses' hands once more shone with strange Glow. Then, another round of Heavy Rain-like Sweep.
"Ah... ah..."
Countless Screams erupted from the mouths of the Fallen along with the Heavy Rain of Arrows and the Fireworks-like Magic. The Fallen charging at the very front panicked. Cowardly and weak, they couldn't bear the Fear of Death and retreated one after another, while the Fallen behind continued to bare their Teeth and claws and advance. For a Moment, tens of thousands of Fallen were like a pot of stirred Porridge, red and blue mixed together, constantly flowing. Shouts of anger, shouts of defiance, and Screams mixed together.
"As expected, they are a group of undisciplined Monsters."
On the largest Watchtower in the front, Druv, Lars, and I stood, observing the chaotic Fallen. I said with a sigh of Helplessness.
"Don't be careless. These are just the vanguard troops serving as Cannon Fodder. The true threat from the enemy hasn't arrived yet. This is barely a warm-up." Druv's expression also relaxed from the tension of the earlier standoff, but he still refuted.
"That's right. If it were just this Junk, the moat we spent several days digging would be more than enough."
"Sigh, if we could transport a few Magic Siege Weapons from our great Barbarian Hometown, Harrogath, what kind of Monster would matter? Even if Andariel came, we could smash her into Meat Paste."
Doug, being a melee Barbarian, was useless in this situation. He could only stare longingly at the distant Monster Army of Fallen, like a Restless flea, waving the Double Axe in his hand, pacing back and forth anxiously. The burning desire and Helplessness in his Eyes were like a starving tiger seeing Food in front of it but unable to pounce.
We exchanged a Bitter Smile. Among the people here, perhaps only Doug didn't know the Rogue Encampment's Plan. If those Magic Siege Weapons were really brought here, what Meaning would this Battle have?
During this Time, the third round of Attack had also been launched. In the enemy's Cannon Fodder Army, another wave of spine-chilling cries erupted. Fear unleashed infinite Strength, causing the Fallen retreating at the front to finally overwhelm the Fallen advancing from the rear. The entire red and blue carpet began to slowly shift backward.
Beating a drowning Dog – this simple Principle is widely applied in any Act. At this Moment, the Monster Army of Fallen was like a target struggling to advance or retreat, left for us to slaughter. After the third round of Attack, the Sorceresses' First Tier Spells were exhausted, but it didn't Matter. Although the Damage of First Tier Spells is not high, their only advantage is a short Cooldown. Therefore, even Sorceresses proficient in a single element would honestly learn the three First Tier Attack Spells: Fire Bolt, Ice Bolt, and Charged Bolt. By the Time the third Spell was cast, the first Spell had already cooled down. Thus, First Tier Spells are truly the Method that allows Rookie Sorceresses who haven't mastered enough Spells to Attack infinitely, provided they have sufficient Mana, of course...
While leisurely drinking a bottle of the smallest Light Mana Potion, they threw their already familiar Spells forward. Fire Bolt and Charged Bolt were the best choices at this Time. Among the three Spells, Fire Bolt had the lowest Consumption but the highest Damage. Level one Charged Bolt and Ice Bolt both consumed 3 Mana, while level one Fire Bolt only consumed 2.5. Don't underestimate this 0.5 Gap. An excellent Sorceress must calculate Mana Consumption down to the 0.1 Range.
Although Charged Bolt consumed 0.5 more Mana, it could simultaneously shoot three Electric Arcs, so theoretically, it was the Spell with the highest Damage. However, due to the Irregularity of Lightning Magic, it required higher Operation skills from the Sorceress. Rookie Sorceresses should probably not show it off, lest they injure their own people.
As for Ice Bolt, it couldn't be said to be the worst. Its Freezing Effect was sometimes far more important than the high Damage of Fire Bolt and Charged Bolt. It just wasn't very effective in this kind of Large-scale War.
After the initial Fear, the Warriors' expressions gradually relaxed. At first, the shocking Presence of tens of thousands of Fallen indeed made them somewhat at a loss, as they had never experienced such a Situation before. During Trials, they had only dealt with groups of up to a hundred Monsters at most.
But seeing the dense Arrow Rain in the Sky and the countless flashing Magic, they were stunned. It turned out that the enemy wasn't the only one with many numbers! Yes, now it wasn't just three or five Teammates like during their Trials, but thousands of Warriors! Steadfast Archers and Powerful Sorceresses stood beside them. The Spirit of Life summoned by the Druid made their Life boil. The faint Aura emanating from the Paladin's feet enveloped them like Holy Water. With such Powerful Teammates beside them, what was there to Fear about these enemies?
When infinite Battle Intent replaced the Inner Heart's Fear, the Warriors began to Shout. Their flushed faces shone with Excitement. Anyone who could use a Bow and Arrow took out their Weapon and shot at the collapsing enemy.
"It's not just the enemy that's scattered."
Druv on the Tower couldn't help but give a Bitter Smile when he saw even the Warriors standing at the very front, bearing heavy responsibilities, taking out their Bows and Arrows to shoot.
"Forget it. Being able to achieve this Degree is already quite good. At the Moment of true Battle, I think they will still be able to distinguish the Importance of things."
I looked at the Warriors who were completely engrossed in the Battle and said with a light smile. Those who could undergo Job Advancement to become Adventurers were definitely not Fools, so at the Critical Moment, they shouldn't cause any trouble. A Party that had never undergone Training or Coordination could achieve such a Result right from the start. It was still worth Praise.