Chapter 147: Section 148: My abilities are limited


    “Shoot!” Lan Zao shouted hoarsely.


    Swoosh.


    The next moment, crossbows fired simultaneously, forming a dark curtain of arrows.


    Under the cover of the arrow screen, bat monkeys fell to the ground one after another.


    On the hillside, the remaining giant Magic Beasts still attempted to charge forward. A monkey-tailed brown bear was at the forefront.


    Thump.


    ...


    Suddenly, a huge crossbow arrow, like a war spear, shot out, wrapped in a strong wind, and instantly hit the monkey-tailed brown bear. It penetrated through its chest and abdomen and exited through the body.


    The monkey-tailed brown bear was instantly killed, and its body was even carried away a short distance by the crossbow arrow.


    “Well done, Hei Juan!”


    The morale of those around soared after witnessing this scene.


    The giant crossbow arrow was fired by a crossbow cart, and Hei Juan was the one who shot the arrow.


    When it came to shooting skills, he was recognized as second only to Lord Zhenjin in the camp.


    “Woof woof woof…”


    At the rear of the Demon Beast Army, several Blue Dog Fox Wolves barked together, and the Demon Beast Army began to retreat.


    “We’ve succeeded!”


    “Another victory, we’ve held this place.”


    “All thanks to Lord Zhenjin and Lord Zong Ge!”


    Everyone cheered, almost all eyes were on Zhenjin and Zong Ge.


    Since Zhenjin’s night raid annihilated an entire Demon Beast Army, more than half a month had passed.


    During this half-month, the situation worsened sharply.


    Noticing that scattered Demon Beast Armies could be ambushed and annihilated, after Zhenjin’s first attack, the remaining Blue Dog Fox Wolves chose to converge in one place.


    That made it difficult for Zhenjin to strike.


    Afterward, he attempted to strike multiple times.


    He annihilated the Blue Dog Fox Wolves and slaughtered many Magic Beasts, but he was also tricked by the Blue Dog Fox Wolves, fell into their traps, was surrounded, and severely injured.


    Fortunately, Zhenjin’s Heart Core was no longer what it used to be.


    He could transform Beast Meat into that of the Strong Life White Rhinoceros.


    This rhinoceros meat was much more practical than other Magic Beast meats. After turning the flesh at the wound into rhinoceros meat, Zhenjin gained the powerful recovery ability of the Strong Life White Rhinoceros, basically leaving no overnight wounds.


    And the Strong Life White Rhinoceros needed to consume a vast amount of food to replenish the energy for healing. Zhenjin, possessing a Heart Core, only consumed the demon energy within it.


    Whether he was unleashing electric shocks or healing, he consumed demon energy.


    He increasingly discovered the practicality of demon energy.


    “This time, new Blue Dog Fox Wolves have appeared again,” Zong Ge sighed, standing triumphant beside Zhenjin.


    The situation was such: whenever one Blue Dog Fox Wolf was eliminated, soon another, or even two, would appear.


    Each Blue Dog Fox Wolf led a Demon Beast Army of varying sizes.


    Zhenjin remained silent.


    In the early detection of the Demon Beast Army, he had given his all, hoping to resolve the camp’s crisis by his efforts alone.


    It started off well, and he alone had eliminated an entire Demon Beast Army.


    However, the remaining two Blue Dog Fox Wolves lingering on the borders quickly noticed the demise of their companion and army, and immediately gathered together.


    The two Blue Dog Fox Wolves side by side made it difficult for Zhenjin to move against them.


    He tried a raid, which failed, and one of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves survived.


    After learning of Zhenjin’s intelligence, the Blue Dog Fox Wolves made the correct move again. It ordered the Flying Squirrels to hide underground.


    The Flying Squirrels were naturally adept at digging holes in tree trunks and burrowing underground.


    Once hidden deep underground, Lord Zhenjin’s sonic attacks became ineffective.


    And when Lord Zhenjin began his attack, following the orders of the Blue Dog Fox Wolf, the Flying Squirrels launched waves of attacks.


    No matter what form Lord Zhenjin took, he was not immune to electric shocks.


    Though he also had thick white tendons to protect himself, these crystal films only covered internal organs, the brain, and so on, but muscles were largely unprotected.


    Each electric shock induced paralysis, causing him to halt his movements.


    This was extremely deadly.


    The Blue Dog Fox Wolf was even more cunning, never deploying the Flying Squirrels all at once but attacking Lord Zhenjin wave by wave.


    Lord Zhenjin was severely injured and retreated.


    Just when he planned to attack again on the second night to eliminate the remaining few members of the Demon Beast Army, he discovered that the enemy had shockingly added two more Demon Beast units!


    He and the Demon Beast Army were deadlocked, and as more and more of his own intelligence leaked, the Blue Dog Fox Wolves devised more accurate counter-strategies.


    The Blue Dog Fox Wolf paid great attention to their own safety.


    Lord Zhenjin’s beheading tactics repeatedly failed, and once, the Blue Dog Fox Wolves even turned his tactics against him, deliberately exposing a weakness, using one of their own as bait to lure Lord Zhenjin into an ambush.


    The rest of the Blue Dog Fox Wolves commanded and hunted Lord Zhenjin.


    Fortunately, Lord Zhenjin could fly, and he narrowly escaped.


    But afterward, the newly added Blue Dog Fox Wolf brought the Blade Spider Group, which posed a significant threat to Bat Monkey Lord Zhenjin.


    Lord Zhenjin fought with all his might, but only in the dead of night.


    Once the Demon Beast Army secured its position, they began to penetrate deeper into the defense area and attack the valley.


    Lord Zhenjin had no solution; he couldn’t stop the massive march of the Demon Beast Army alone.


    “If I fully transformed in combination with others, perhaps I could kill all the Demon Beasts and Blue Dog Fox Wolves,” an idea flashed through Lord Zhenjin’s mind.


    But immediately after, he dismissed this thought.


    Unless absolutely necessary, he would not do so.


    Even in his mutated human form, he was very restrained. Normally, he would only mutate during a charge. Even if he mutated among others, he would quickly rush into the herd.


    Luckily, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and other non-combatants were always far in the rear and had never observed Lord Zhenjin’s transformation up close.


    And Lord Zhenjin’s prayers to the Holy Emperor sometimes showed unpredictably effective results. Everyone considered this normal, and no further suspicions were raised.


    “The pivotal change might have occurred long ago; our hope lies in the new ship,” Lord Zhenjin answered Zong Ge while looking into the distance.


    The volcanic eruption never ceased, and though there were pauses, the eruptions became more frequent.


    The sky in the distance was pitch black,


    all filled with volcanic clouds.


    Though the sky above the rainforest was still clear, the volcanic clouds were visibly spreading in all directions, threatening to cover the entire island.


    Zong Ge also looked towards the erupting molten lava plumes and nodded.


    After bidding farewell to Lord Zhenjin, the Half-Beast continued to command the defense line. These days, it was mainly his responsibility to lead the defensive battles, not being an ordinary soldier but a former general with considerable ability.


    Cang Xu was in charge of logistics coordination and was often praised by Zong Ge.


    Lord Zhenjin mainly guarded the construction site.


    The upper echelons all had clearly defined roles.


    In the clearing of the small valley, most of the ship’s hull had been successfully constructed, with numerous planks joined and installed onto the frame.


    The planks utilized a modern butt joint method, as opposed to the outdated lap joint method.


    Most of those working around the hull were injured.


    The frontline needed combat power, so the wounded provided labor power.


    These days, they were very diligent, sweating profusely every day with wounds reopening, exhausted to death by nightfall, and falling asleep as soon as they lay down.


    The perilous situation necessitated an escape by new ship—this viewpoint had already become a consensus among everyone.


    In the open space, the most conspicuous was the Big guy.


    The Big guy’s labor was crucial, but he also concealed a hazard.


    Should he go mad and damage the ship, then everyone would lose their hope of escape.


    Thus, normally, Lord Zhenjin had to supervise here, ready to incapacitate the Big guy should he go mad.


    Only when the defensive line was strained would Lord Zhenjin appear there.


    Over the past fortnight, there had been more than a dozen earthquakes, quite frequent indeed.


    The Big guy had fallen ill nearly ten times, each incident promptly contained by Lord Zhenjin.


    After each episode, everyone would relocate the ship along the slide rails to the open space outside the valley, dodging several earthquakes in the process.


    No one bothered the Big guy anymore; the immense external pressure from the Demon Beast Army almost made internal conflicts negligible.


    Bai Ya, dragging his weary body, arrived at the cave entrance.


    By the light of the fire outside, he placed the parchment on his lap. Dipping his quill in ink, that small action made him wince in pain.


    His arm was wrapped in bandages that were stained with splotches of blood red.


    In today’s battle, he had been wounded, bitten on the forearm by a bat monkey.


    The humid air made his clothes stick to his body.


    Only his stomach, filled from a good meal, brought him a sense of happiness.


    Bai Ya caught his breath, steadied his rapid breathing, and then began to write a letter.


    Dear Miss Xi Qiu,


    Please forgive me for the long delay since my last letter. Also, forgive me, as these letters still cannot be delivered to your hands.


    The Demon Beast Army launched another attack, I shot dead a dozen bat monkeys, and wounded many Magic Beasts…


    We originally thought these Demon Beast Armies would not pose a problem, but in reality, their reinforcements were ceaseless.


    The situation appears to grow progressively worse. Today, another contingent of Demon Beast Army added on, turning our past week’s fierce fighting and slaughter efforts into naught. For the Demon Beast Army, replenishing their forces is far too easy.


    Fortunately, however, we occupy the valley. This terrain is far easier to defend than the camp.


    The most evident point is that the Crossbow Carts can be placed higher up.


    Lord Hei Juan’s prestige has greatly increased recently, thanks to his skilled handling of the Crossbow Carts. The enormous Crossbow Arrows are terrifyingly powerful, often severely damaging the Silver Magical Beasts.


    Even more admirable is Lord Zong Ge. Although a Half-Beast, he possesses courage rarely found in ordinary people. His left arm armor might be damaged, yet using an iron face shield, he often stands at the forefront, personally blocking the attacks of Magic Beasts. That huge shield, almost as tall and heavy as me, yet Lord Zong Ge raises it effortlessly each time.


    Yet, the one we admire the most is always Lord Zhenjin!


    Whenever the defense line is critical, he always appears where he is most needed.


    Each appearance, he would slay Magic Beasts, not only stabilizing the defense line but also leading the charge.


    Every time we see his figure, our fears and wavering hearts would rapidly stabilize, and our drooping morale would swiftly rise.


    Lord Zhenjin is a devoted believer of the Holy Emperor and is deeply loved by the Great Emperor; he brings us light and victory.


    With the Lord present, we shall prevail!


    …


    Dear Miss Xi Qiu,


    Today’s battle had me break out in a cold sweat.


    Our defensive line’s reality was clearly tested by the Blue Dog Fox Wolves; they orchestrated an extremely sinister ambush. All the Strong Life White Rhinoceroses were gathered to charge on the gentle slope.


    Our defensive line was directly breached, just as other Magic Beasts were about to break through, Lord Zhenjin appeared.


    I will never forget that scene.


    After praying out loud, a miracle occurred once more!


    He transformed into a giant even larger than Zong Ge, clad in golden armor, possessing unmatched strength.


    Strong Life White Rhinoceros could not harm him, and as he prayed loudly, the Holy Emperor indeed granted him a Sharp Sword that no one could resist.


    The Sharp Sword, flashing with electric light, was firmly grasped in his hand as he pierced through the head of Strong Life White Rhinoceros, cooking its brain with electric shock.


    Wherever Lord Zhenjin went, the Magic Beasts were flipped over and scattered in disarray. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He then charged down the hillside, causing the Blue Dog Fox Wolves to turn tail and scurry away!


    Although victoriously achieved, this battle was a chilling one.


    Had it not been for Lord Zhenjin, we would have been defeated.


    Hence, Lord Zhenjin, along with Zong Ge, Cang Xu, Zi Di, and others, decided after consultation to build more Crossbow Carts and crossbows. They also reallocated more personnel for defense.


    This resulted in a slower construction speed for the new ships.


    But there was no other way.


    The Big Guy was also a concern, as I’ve mentioned in previous letters, he suffers from an illness.


    Some suggested letting the Big Guy command the defense line, because many, including myself, were worried—what if Lord Zhenjin one day went to the front lines, and the Big Guy suddenly fell ill and ruined the new ship? That would be disastrous.


    But Cang Xu Scholar had calculated, he told us that the Big Guy’s labor alone was worth fifty men. He was even a skilled shipwright!


    He might appear clumsy, but he was actually very adept. This was because he grew up on ships and had always been taught by a shipwright, involving him in ship repairs.


    The Big Guy was instrumental in the shipbuilding process. If he were dispatched to fight, the efficiency of shipbuilding would plummet to rock bottom.


    Cang Xu Scholar’s words did not convince everyone, but of course, I believed him. And after Lord Zhenjin explicitly supported Cang Xu, there was no objection from anyone.


    Bai Ya put away the letter he had written, as large beads of sweat rolled down, his face turning pale, the intense battles leaving him no time to heal or rest.


    …


    Dear Miss Xi Qiu:


    Today was another fierce battle.


    The Demon Beast Army’s attacks are becoming more frequent and more ferocious.


    I feel numb.


    I’m not speaking of emotional numbness—indeed, as long as Lord Zhenjin is here, my heart will always be filled with hope and fighting spirit.


    The numbness I speak of is my body.


    I’m ill.


    It might be that the accumulation of old and new injuries has dragged me down. Or perhaps a wild beast’s bite has left some toxin in my wounds.


    Now I see darkness before my eyes, and when I turn my head quickly, the world spins, even causing hallucinations of mountains collapsing towards me.


    I’ve lost my sense of touch; although I’m holding a crossbow, my fingers cannot feel the bowstring or the trigger.


    My tongue is numb too, completely devoid of taste.


    Zi Di has given me potions to drink, which relieve my pain for half a day after each dose.


    But after half a day, my body feels like it’s in an oven, barely able to contain my spirit, my soul feels like it’s about to disperse.


    I don’t know if I can get through this.


    But I assure you, since our misfortune began, I have never been cowardly. I have fought with all my might. I emulate Lord Zhenjin’s conduct; I desperately wish to have the same strength as him.


    Unfortunately, I’m just an ordinary person.


    If—I mean if—I can’t survive this ordeal, and I lose my life here, I beg you, please, based on these letters, to take care of my elderly parents on the mountain. Tell them of my death, ask them to forgive their unfilial son, and let my example warn my younger brothers and sisters to take heed.


    I must admit, after sensing the smell of death, I regretted.


    But I never regret meeting you, my beautiful, most beloved Miss Xi Qiu.


    Your smile is forever etched in my heart.


    But please forgive me, my abilities are simply too limited…


    As Bai Ya wrote this, his pen paused, then with his drooping hand, it abruptly dragged across most of the parchment, eventually falling to the ground.


    With a thud, Bai Ya collapsed.