Badge in Azure Chapter 491 - Hit and run (Part 1)

Chapter 491: Hit and run (Part 1)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
There was really nothing interesting in dealing with a Metal Titan. After the first Fossilization spell scroll was released, the Metal Titan was rendered immobile already. Lex went forward, and began casting the contract magic at the fallen Metal Titan.
Whether or not the contract magic would succeed was dependent on two factors. The first was the difference in the grades of both parties, and the second was the gap in their mental strength.
Even though Lex’s mental strength was weaker than Saleen’s, it was not much weaker than that of a grade-7 sorcerer. Coupled with the special powers in the God’s Ring, she would have no problems dealing with the Metal Titan. Both parties had a large gap in their grades, the Metal Titan’s vitality was much more powerful than Lex’s. Despite releasing dozens of Contract spells, Lex could not even feel the slightest hint of compliance from the Metal Titan.
Out of desperation, she began using the scrolls to cast the Contract spell. Using this method, the probability of success would be further reduced by half.
It was good that Saleen and the rest returned earlier. If they had remained in the temple for one more month, the Metal Titan could have been captured by the Tanggulasi people instead. By returning earlier, the Tanggulasi Empire had not prepared sufficient manpower to come to the Stone Statue Castle. The armies nearby would not even dare get close to this place. A normal soldier was obviously not the Metal Titan’s match. A large number of holy masters and grand swordmasters had to be gathered in order to deal with this colossal creature.
In this world, every gain was accompanied with a loss. Similarly, if one had lost an opportunity, another opportunity would quietly surface too. If the timing was not ripe, Lex might have to face a bombardment by Tanggulasi’s army when she tried to subdue the Metal Titan.
The Tanggulasi’s army was afraid of alarming the Metal Titan, so it only deployed a patrol team in the vicinity. Since the bridge had been destroyed, this location would not be the best place to cross the river, hence the Tanggulasi people did not even construct a temporary fortress there.
In order to fortify a fortress, metallic materials had to be added. With the Metal Titan around, such metallic materials might be dug up even if they were buried underground.
Lex’s swordmasters did not bother concealing themselves, they prepared the magic war chariots near the main road, awaiting Lex’s return. The two Black Metal Grand Swordmasters took turns scanning the area, they did not dare let their guard down.
Lex kept casting the Contract spell. The black magic runes rained down on the Metal Titan’s skin, before disappearing promptly. The Fossilization spell scroll’s level was too low, at best, it could only fossilize the Metal Titan for one and a half seconds. For safety, the eight mages would have to release a scroll every second, bombarding the Metal Titan continuously.
The Metal Titan’s body was too enormous, it remained still whilst in the magic trap, almost occupying all the space in the trap. Lex could feel the rage in the depths of the Metal Titan’s soul, but she was not affected at all. She simply opened the scrolls one by one, casting the Contract spell continuously.
Lex had distributed about three-thousand scrolls, sufficient to last for an hour before the Metal Titan had to be abandoned. It was more important to run for safety if they ran out of scrolls. The Metal Titan could not move its eyeballs, it could only glare at Lex with immense fury.
Time went by slowly, and half an hour had passed. The Metal Titan still showed no signs of yielding.
Saleen was beginning to get anxious already, as all these scrolls cost a fortune. If they were used in vain, it would adversely affect Lex’s and his plans. If these scrolls were given to low grade mages, the low grade mages could greatly amplify the offensive power of an army. If these scrolls could not help capture the Metal Titan, then they would go down the drain.
“Nailisi, I have an idea now!” Saleen recalled that the four newly recruited demons might be of some help to Lex.
Nailisi gestured using her finger, and the four demons went to Saleen obediently.
“Help Master capture that monster!” Nailisi said concisely. The four demons simply looked at one another.
Cuisi said, “My powers are similar to this fellow, but his body is too strong, I cannot defeat him.”
“Master, I can cast the Intimidation spell, I can give it a shot.” The chubby demon Tolesi volunteered. The other two demons were more brawny, they could not render much help either.
Lex overheard the conversation between Saleen and the demons. She understood the Myers language, the demons did not use any general language. If the Intimidation spell succeeded, it could indeed raise the probability of success of the Contract spell by a lot. Lex quietly made a space for Tolesi to stand next to her.
Tolesi did not stand at that position, instead, he climbed atop the Metal Titan’s head and stood on its nose, casting the Intimidation spell into its eyes.
This was Tolesi’s gifted skill, it did not consume any physical strength when used. Through the eyes of the Metal Titan, Tolesi’s appearance kept changing, causing the Metal Titan’s eyes to be bewitched.
Finally, in that one instant, fear appeared in the Metal Titan’s eyes. Lex cast the Contract spell promptly, but it still failed. Lex was not disappointed though. Since the probability of success was much higher now, she was hopeful of subduing this colossal creature.
Tolesi kept casting his Intimidation spell, and the frequency of the Metal Titan experiencing fear became increasingly higher. Finally, at one moment when it felt fear, the magic runes released by Lex deeply penetrated its fossilized skin.
An unforgettable pain was unleashed in Lex’s brain, but the Metal Titan experienced even more pain. As a ferocious creature renowned throughout all dimensions, the Contract spell was forcefully applied on the Metal Titan. It was in essence a kind of damage as well. Be that as it may, its powerful mental strength also reflected off Lex.
At the same time, blood gushed out from Lex’s facial orifices. Lex remained composed, she immediately consumed half a bottle of magic liquid, thus recovering from her injuries.
Coincidentally, one hour was up. If there were any more delays, the Fossilization spell scrolls would have been fully depleted. With a tumble, Tolesi fell off the Metal Titan’s head. He had passed out due to the consecutive casting of the Intimidation spell, causing his mental strength to be overdrawn.
“Aiwa!” Nailisi gave one order, and Aiwa immediately rushed forward to support Tolesi.
The clatter of horses’ hoofs could be heard from afar. The sky had turned dark. There was a chance that people could be coming to investigate the disappearance of the patrol team which had been slaughtered by the Black Metal Grand Swordmaster.
“You all should return to the chariot,” Saleen told Nailisi. Nailisi led the four demons and left swiftly. Sika was still beside Saleen, and she had already taken out her weapon from the Ring of Gifts.
“Don’t worry, it’s only a team of forty people.” Lex waved her hand as she took out a sealing rock. This rock was refined from the Green Spirit, it could be used to collect contract creatures.
The Metal Titan had just been subdued, and its mental strength was gravely injured, so it could not be used for battle yet. Lex had also depleted a large portion of her mental strength. After mustering all her effort to store the Metal Titan in the sealing rock, her body felt like jelly.
Narnia quickly grabbed hold of Lex, and whispered, “Saleen…”
“Rest assured, I will protect Lex.” Saleen signaled for everyone to return to the magic war chariots. Even though the mages were only casting low level scrolls, all of them were exhausted after continuously doing it for an hour. Only by returning to the magic war chariot would they be able to revert to their optimal state quickly.
Sssp…
The sound of arrows flying could be heard from afar. Narnia’s face changed, then she quickened her footsteps and returned to the magic war chariot with Saleen. Saleen pondered for a moment, then told Nailisi, “Lead the four of them to protect the rest of the mages.”
He knew that the powerful assassin must be protecting Lex, but the mages in the other chariot had to be protected too.
“I will get rid of them.” Wild Bear grabbed a poleaxe, before charging in the direction of the clatter.
“Jola, you go too.” Speaking, Saleen urged the two fully constructed puppets to steer the magic war chariots, rocketing off in the eastern direction.
In the magic war chariot, Lex regained her consciousness quickly. She opened her eyes and smiled at Saleen, then said, “It was worth it.”
“Mm, it was worth it.” Saleen was equally overjoyed. Even though the Metal Titan’s mental strength was damaged, it would recover in at most two or three months. By then, it should be able to partake in battles. With such a huge fellow guarding Metatrin City, Metatrin City should be safe. At least before the mages from the Sregl Island arrived, he would not have to worry about an invasion.
Wild Bear waved the poleaxe, as he made a beeline for the enemies. There were forty light-armored cavalrymen, and each of them wielded a cross spear in their hands. As the forty cavalrymen saw a bulky heavy-armored rider waving a poleaxe atop a skeletal warhorse charging towards them, they got a little flustered.
Wild Bear bellowed, “Useless things!”
He could feel the fear in the enemies. The poleaxe rose into the air, and with a snow like glimmer, it chopped the first cavalryman and his warhorse into four pieces.
He swung the poleaxe at lightning speed. In an instant, he had killed another two people. Those light-armored cavalrymen were not his match.
Wild Bear already had the ability of a Bronze Grand Swordmaster, and he possessed terrifying strength. When a poleaxe that weighing more than forty catties was swung about, even heavy armor would not be able to provide much protection.
The remaining riders actually did not dare to fight. They split up in two directions, and were about to turn around to flee.
“Don’t give chase.” At this point in time, Jola had caught up, and was yelling at Wild Bear. Wild Bear hesitated, then Jola said, “Go back to protect the viscountess.”
Wild Bear immediately complied. He turned his skeletal warhorse around, charging to the eastern direction along the main road.
Jola stared at the over thirty cavalrymen who were less than one-hundred meters away. He removed a bow from beside the saddle and shot another ten more cavalrymen. Then, he too, turned his horse around and followed Wild Bear.
The skeletal warhorses had a very high speed. As long as they were not harassed by the enemy, they could quickly break free from the enemy’s stronghold. After those thirty over cavalrymen were shot at continuously, they did not have the courage to pursue any further, they simply watched Jola and Wild Bear leave the place.
Dozens of minutes later, a two-hundred strong cavalry regiment arrived, but Saleen and the rest had already traveled a great distance. If Wild Bear chased the remaining cavalrymen, he might have ran into this two-hundred man cavalry regiment. High grade swordmasters were present in this regiment, and Wild Bear might not have been able to escape unscathed by then.
Based on his experiences since youth, Jola would not commit such a mistake. After he and Wild Bear caught up to Saleen’s magic war chariot, Saleen also had peace of mind.
By then Lex could sit upright. She opened a simple map and pointed at a spot, then said, “There are three areas in the vicinity of the Stone Statue Castle which can house soldiers. We will run into the least enemies by going east. We will travel another two-hundred miles before going north, going straight into the Purgatory Desert.”
“How are your injuries?”
“Before reaching the Purgatory Desert, I have to recover for a while. My men will be under your command for the time being.” After Lex finished her sentence, she passed the map to Saleen before entering a state of meditation. Fortunately, she was in a magic war chariot. If this was a normal chariot, the chariot would have to be in an extremely stable condition in order to allow a mage to meditate.