Quadruple split.

Chapter 2755 But I refuse

A moment later
Skolsk stronghold, in front of Luna's alchemy workshop

"so……"

While checking his message board, Mo Tan looked up at the alchemist girl who had stopped and asked her back with some curiosity, "So, what good thing have you developed?"

"No."

Luna, whose expression had always been rather dull and whose eyes rarely sparkled, turned to Mo Tan and said in her signature ethereal voice, "I haven't developed anything good."

"..."

Mo Tan paused for a moment, but instead of foolishly asking why the other party had lied to him, he simply nodded slightly, stretched, and sat on the wooden post he usually liked, staring blankly at the rather beautiful starry sky.

A cool and refreshing evening breeze brushed over the two of them, neither making them feel too desolate and cold, nor fueling any nameless fire in their minds; it was simply very comfortable.

As for those annoying mosquitoes, they would never dare to offend the domain of a skilled alchemist. It's not because they are particularly clever, but because Luna would take the time to plant plants that could repel such creatures wherever she went. As a result, the Skork children always liked to run to the alchemy workshop at night. Even if they didn't play anything, just sitting around there for a while was a happy thing for everyone.

However, on this very important day, the adults kept a close eye on their children, so even at this most comfortable time, no kids who usually play near the workshop popped out from some corner to spoil the fun.

Although there isn’t much scenery here, the priest sitting alone on the layers of tree rings and the girl beside him, who seemed to be draped in starlight, mysterious and frail, as if she would disappear with a gust of wind, were like two... or perhaps a landscape.

"Feel sorry."

The alchemist, who didn't seem particularly apologetic, walked slowly to the opposite side of the black sandalwood tree and sat down naturally on another tree stump. He spread his thick alchemy notebook on his lap and said casually, "But I guess you should breathe a little easier now."

Mo Tan shook his head. Although he showed no intention of leaving, he said softly, "Right now, I should be keeping everyone calm in Skolsk Hall while also keeping an eye on the situation at Eagle Claw Gorge. I don't have time to relax."

"Have."

Luna looked down at the alchemy notebook on her lap and said without looking up, "Now."

"call……"

Mo Tan let out a long breath and said calmly, "Everyone needs me."

"People don't really need you that much."

Luna shook her head, her tone still ethereal and calm, and said, "You've said everything you needed to say, haven't you? So why not give yourself a little rest? After all, you're about to collapse."

Mo Tan frowned: "...Who said I'm about to collapse?"

"I said."

Luna looked up, met Mo Tan's gaze, and asked expressionlessly, "Did I say something wrong?"

"you……"

Subconsciously preparing to refute the other party, but feeling an invisible pressure under Luna's gaze, Mo Tan reluctantly looked away and said dryly, "At least it's not that right."

Luna then lowered her eyes again, seemingly absentmindedly saying, "You've told me many times before not to wait until you're really close to your limit before you rest. That should apply to you now as well."

"I am not tired."

Mo Tan shook his head, raised his hands and pressed them against his temples from both sides, and murmured, "I don't feel hungry, tired, or sleepy. I'm completely different from a weak local like you."

So you're saying you're really good?

"Of course I'm very good."

"I think so."

"is it?"

"Ah."

"Then why are you still..."

"It has nothing to do with how good you are."

"What does that have to do with?"

"...Black Brahma."

"what?"

"I've seen you in the worst possible state."

"..."

"So you don't need to worry that because you seem unambitious, I will think you are not good or useless."

"..."

"How about being a little disheveled for a while?"

"...Can you pretend you didn't see it?"

"Ah."

Luna responded casually, glancing at Yu Guangzhong, the man who had been so composed just moments before but was now burying his head in his hands on the stone table like an ostrich. A barely perceptible smile played on her lips: "That's good."

……

Four hours later
Game time AM00:37
"Sorry for the slight delay." Mo Tan, who had returned to the second floor of Skolsk Hall, smiled slightly at everyone, then walked back to his seat between Sharia and Jenny and asked in a light tone, "Everyone should already know about the situation over there, right?"

"Ah."

Elgar nodded, then turned to the half-dragon warrior sitting in the makeshift chair behind him, who looked somewhat nervous and bewildered: "Thanks to this little brother [Ye Yin] for helping us keep track of the messages."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Mo Tan smiled and nodded at the [Ye Yin] member he had temporarily summoned, a low-profile professional gamer account named 'Guo Shi Wu Ruo' who was acting as a human mouthpiece, and said, "You can go and rest for a while."

"Okay, okay! Thank you, Black Fan!"

Guo Shi Wu Ruo, who had been feeling uneasy due to the heavy atmosphere and had been planning to run away for the past three hours, immediately stood up with a sigh of relief, waved goodbye to everyone, and then ran away in a flash.

Then everyone saw Luna, who had gone upstairs with Mo Tan, leisurely stroll to the chair, pull her next to Xia Liya, and sit down by herself.

"So……"

Having had ample rest... which was essentially a full release of negative emotions, Mo Tan, who appeared completely unharmed at least on the surface, took a deep breath, leaned forward slightly, crossed his hands on the table in front of his nose, and said seriously, "Now, let's briefly summarize the situation at Eagle Claw Gorge."

In the following twenty minutes, Mo Tan succinctly summarized the results of the night's battle with everyone, analyzed the subsequent situation and its impact, and finally revealed his current plan to everyone without reservation.

Admittedly, this was not Mo Tan's initial idea. Rather than the current overly radical and frantic "acceleration," he actually hoped to clarify the situation step by step and guide things in the direction he was most comfortable with, in the area he was most proficient in.

Unfortunately, 'Mo Tan' himself did not give 'Mo Tan' a chance.

A fake morning glory disguised as a woman and a few impromptu speeches ignited several settlements in the Steelmane Tribe Kingdom. No one knew better than Mo Tan himself that this was probably just the beginning. As time went on, the power of that fake bull would only grow stronger, eventually leading everything out of control into an unpredictable, unknowable, and immeasurable chaos.

Therefore, Mo Tan, under her current personality, was forced to increase the intensity and choose to accelerate in order to cooperate with 'herself'.

He abandoned the safest approach and directly summoned Skolk's top brass. After discussing the matter with Elgar and others all night, he immediately assembled more than 70% of Skolk's combat strength on the spot and ordered them to head directly to the front line, Eagle Claw Gorge.

After the Dunbua City army confronted the Blood Barbarians in the [Tonglu] fortress, the Skolk warriors, who were unwilling to stand idly by any longer, carried out their orders without hesitation. Thus, this powerful army, led by Batu and Chaoyue Kui, whose members were all fearless and valiant, marched all the way to [Eagle Claw Gorge] and arrived successfully a few hours ago, completing their rendezvous with the Second Mixed Battle Group of Dunbua City.

Without rest or reorganization, under Mo Tan's orders, there wasn't even the most basic integration training. After the two sides met, they immediately launched an offensive that was completely unexpected, one that even Mo Tan himself hadn't anticipated.

After that, just as he had predicted, the Skolk warriors, whose morale was at its peak and who were eager to prove themselves and the existence of the spirit of resistance, became the sharpest spears and launched a considerable first wave of attacks on the [Together] fortress. After they proved their bravery, the second mixed battle group from Dunbua City immediately followed suit and began a healthy competition.

As this truly mixed force grew increasingly threatening and powerful, the previously rock-solid [Tonglu] fortress was forced to urgently deploy more elite troops to the western battlefield. Ultimately, after Skolk's main force and the Second Mixed Battle Group of Dunbua were pushed out of range of direct threat to the [Tonglu] fortress, this frenzied fighting continued for about two more hours. Finally, with signs of large-scale casualties on both sides, but before the battlefield completely turned into a meat grinder, Mo Tan brought it to a close.

After this battle, all the forces under the Black Brahma Independent Army located on the west side of Eagle Claw Gorge have been completely integrated. After all, nothing can unite people with completely different backgrounds, personalities, beliefs, and even stances, but who stand in the same camp, more than a fierce and exhilarating battle.

"But that's not the point."

Mo Tan glanced around at his companions and said calmly, “We all know that when we share the same stance, whether it’s the clergy from Dunbua City, the rebels from Skolke, or anyone else who shares our ideals, we will one day become as close as brothers. We also know that today’s victory is only the first step, and not even a fully taken first step. Compared to the foreseeable difficulties and setbacks ahead, it is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. I can even tell you frankly that I have dozens of ways to achieve a kill ratio many times better than that ‘friction’ just now. You have all witnessed my methods, and you know very well whether I am exaggerating or not.”

No one spoke; they simply watched intently as Mo Tan, whose mental state seemed much better than before and who, though still slightly sweaty, appeared composed enough, showed absolute and sufficient respect to this leader who had already been recognized.

"But as I told you before, this is a battle that cannot be avoided, a battle that cannot be calculated or weighed, a battle that is for us, and even more so for Skolsk to vindicate itself."

Mo Tan slowly stood up and said solemnly to the core members of Skork, led by Elgar, "You must prove yourselves to people. You must let those who might want to entrust their future to you know that Skork is not only about the art of 'survival,' but also about the will to 'rebel.'"

Elgar nodded vigorously and said in a deep voice, "I understand. Ever since you, Pastor Black Vane, told us that last time, I've figured it out. Although we always think about preserving the flame... if we only think about these things, then the flame can only be a flame. Even if it struggles to refuse to be extinguished, it is still just a flame."

“This should have been a much longer lesson, Elgar.”

Mo Tan looked intently at the current Skork leader in front of her and said softly, "I originally wanted you to gradually realize that if you want others to understand you, you must first understand others. I originally wanted to accompany you to witness people's awakening and transformation, to witness how Skork, this makeshift team, wandered step by step on the stage where it should truly be, and finally found its own place... I'm sorry, due to some uncontrollable factors, this process can only be accelerated."

Elgar grinned and shook his head, saying, "I've never considered myself a qualified leader, Lord Black Van. In fact, I've never thought of becoming a qualified leader, so what you just said... there will always be someone more suitable to do it."

Mo Tan sighed and said very sincerely, "In my opinion, you are a very good leader, Elgar."

“I know myself well, Lord Black Van, so I am very clear that whether or not I am a good leader, I am not the one who can lead Skolck to take the crucial step toward the future and a new beginning.”

Elgar shrugged and laughed self-deprecatingly: "I'm just a deserter from the Gray Lizard Hunter, a killing machine that can only understand the law of the jungle. Maybe I can lead everyone to deal with those blood savages, maybe I can use my beast-like sense of smell to help everyone avoid danger and seek advantage, but that's all I can do."

Mo Tan frowned and hesitated, "Elgar, what I mean is, those things I can't watch with you now, you can only catch up on later, not..."

"But what I mean is, I've been in this position where I shouldn't be for too long."

Elgar gazed calmly at Mo Tan and said solemnly, "I'm tired, Lord Black Van. I want to do what I'm good at. I didn't have a choice before, but now things have changed."

“Listen, Elgar, don’t misunderstand me, I just…”

"Lord Black Brahma."

"……what?"

"I'm sure you'd like to see a truly united and determined Black Vatican Independence Army, wouldn't you?"

"what?"

“By accepting the title of ‘Skolk,’ you will immediately gain a fearless army. Regardless of the Blood Barbarians, as long as Skolk exists, as long as the will to resist remains, it will be your sharpest blade.”

"Oh, that sounds good."

"Of course, then let's not delay, let's hurry..."

"But I refuse."

Chapter 2746: The End