C15 Battle

As Matthew processed the system notification, he noticed the man of silence crouching behind a nearby rock, signaling for him to dash over. Landry, with machete in hand, was on high alert. Thankfully, their weapon cards were still operational. They kept a vigilant watch over their surroundings. Before long, two figures emerged into Matthew's view: one clad in a black trench coat, the other in a plaid shirt—the very individuals who had infiltrated the manor that night. They were red name players.

The duo charged toward Matthew and his companions, one after the other. The man trailing behind wielded a crossbow, aiming it in their direction. The man in the lead was a towering presence, brandishing a shield that exuded an air of immovability. If Landry's build suggested a warrior, this man was unmistakably a tank.

For the first time, they could clearly see the face of the man behind. The left side of his visage was a grotesque mess, his ear riddled with holes as if melted by sulfuric acid. His left eye was encircled by large, twisted scars, and his once-white skin was stained black by the disfigurement. The unscarred areas were pockmarked, and his mouth was so vividly red it seemed to ooze blood. His entire face was a portrait of grim horror.

As the man ran, he prepared to fire. A small cannonball sliced through the air, and only after the loud bang of the crossbow's discharge did those behind the rock realize the projectile was hurtling toward them!

The man of silence was quick to react, a seasoned veteran of such encounters. He sprang to the side, a bow and arrow materializing in his hands, ready to strike back. The cannonball missed Matthew and Landry, who had also leapt aside, and exploded on the barren ground. Yet the man remained unfazed, methodically reloading his weapon.

His composure was short-lived, however. An arrow whistled through the air, and the shield-bearing giant responded with lightning speed, hoisting his shield to absorb a massive blow. His pupils shrank as he staggered back three steps. The trench coat man was taken aback; it had been ages since he'd seen his partner forced to retreat.

Despite the retreat, there was no significant injury. But the encounter had stripped away any underestimation, complicating matters even further.

As the situation became unavoidable, Landry charged into the fray, while Matthew had no choice but to summon Athena. Despite the energy cost, it was a necessary move for the emergency at hand.

Landry's advance prompted the trench coat man to backpedal, reloading and ready to shoot at a moment's notice.

Amidst the fierce battle between Landry and the shirt-clad man, both the trench coat man and the man of silence launched their attacks. The shirt-clad man's reflexes were impressively quick, yet as he dodged, an arrow struck his right arm.

A blue arrow pierced his entire arm and continued its flight, blood spraying like a geyser, followed by a scream of sheer agony.

A gaping wound bled profusely from the shirt-clad man's right arm, the blood pouring out as if from a faucet. He reeled in pain, staggering back. Then, with a flash of gold in his hand, his wound began to mend slowly. Was it some kind of healing card? Matthew realized he still had much to learn about the game.

Matthew surmised that the man must have used a recovery card and urgently called out, "Landry! Quick! We can't let them heal!"

"I'm on it!" Landry retorted.

With a leap, Landry dove down, aiming a slash at the shirt-clad man's face.

At that moment, the trench coat man's belated cannonball made its entrance. Though slower than the arrow, the cannonball's threat was undeniable. Landry, mid-air, had to block with his blade across his chest. The impact sent shrapnel flying, lacerating Landry's face with a web of cuts.

Matthew swiftly directed Athena to tend to Landry's wounds. However, the shirt-clad man charged, his right arm limp, his left wielding a shield as a weapon, poised to deliver a deadly blow to the severely injured Landry. Then, another faint sound signaled an attack from the man of silence.

The previous arrows had already wounded the shirt-clad man's arm, their power leaving both men deeply shaken. Hearing the sound, the trench coat man instinctively jumped aside, but the arrow was meant for the shirt-clad man.

The shirt-clad man, clearly a skilled fighter, anticipated the attack, having learned from previous encounters. Suddenly, a Zhong Wuyan materialized, shielding him. The man of silence's arrow was staunchly blocked by her massive hammer. Thankfully, the arrow had enough force to pierce through, but its power was greatly diminished, allowing the shirt-clad man to block it with ease.

The man in the shirt's offensive was thwarted. Frustrated, he swore, "Damn it! This bow and arrow are such a nuisance. Just shoot at him and don't worry about me!"

Upon hearing this, the trench coat man remained silent. With a simple gesture, a golden glow emanated from his hand, and his figure began to blur until he vanished from sight.

Matthew exclaimed in disbelief, "Cheating! These red name players have far more tricks up their sleeves than I do. They can even turn invisible. My only option is to summon the hero Tyler once more!"

Card name: Tyler

Card type: Assassin

Quality: Blue

Use: Summon the hero Tyler

Note: The sword from the great river descends from the heavens! Let's drink to our fill today.

"Who dares to face my arrow!" Tyler charged into the fray, and alongside Landry, a towering Kurt also materialized. They summoned their heroes in haste, as there was no time for second thoughts.

"Scars are a man's badge of honor," Kurt's presence significantly eased Landry's burden.

Yet, Landry remained vigilant. With the trench coat man out of sight, it was uncertain who he might target next.

The trench coat man realized their odds of victory were slim, facing three opponents, including two seasoned players. He understood that their only chance was to concentrate their attacks and eliminate one opponent quickly. That's why he had previously aimed both crossbow bolts at the man in the shirt. Now, he stowed his crossbow and drew a dagger instead.

At that moment, a vague silhouette began to coalesce in the air behind the man of silence. It was the trench coat man, who had stealthily positioned himself behind his target. He drew his hand across in a swift motion, the sharp dagger aiming for the man's throat. In a split-second decision, the man of silence called forth Angela to shield himself. Although Angela couldn't block the attack entirely, her intervention bought the man of silence enough time to summon five Mages to his side.