Pale Emblem

Chapter 146 Awakening

The seven alchemy demon descendants were covered in blood and exuded a terrifying aura.

The armed barbarian slaves in the big mine refused to let them in at all. Christine quickly took the barbarian slave leader Ansai out to greet them and finally persuaded the overly nervous armed barbarian slaves to come in.

At Christine's suggestion, Ansai also made up a story on the spot about a small caravan being attacked by bandits and escaping after a hard battle, in order to appease the barbarian slave residents of the big mine.

The barbarian slaves might like this story and be proud of it.

The Alchemist followed Maddie and quietly returned to the dormitory in the mine where they were staying to report the battle situation to Victor. Christine had to stay with Ansai and continue to influence him.

Everyone else stayed in the mine dormitory obediently, closed the door, and rarely went out to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"…Soon after we dealt with the enemy's scouts, 30 antelope cavalry entered our ambush circle first, and we shot and killed 6 of them on the spot. These antelope cavalry were experienced in combat. When they encountered a surprise attack, they immediately turned back and tried to break away from the contact instead of continuing to fight with us. Therefore, their losses were not great, and they also found out the situation. As a result, I had to give up the excellent ambush location and move the team to the southeast."

Hermann took a sip of water from the cup and continued, "We couldn't get rid of the Dust Falcon's pursuit. The enemy's main force soon caught up with us. They had a total of 124 antelope cavalry, including 20 dragoons, and 34 war dogs."

"We could only fight a mobile war with the enemy. We first killed all the war dogs they released, but we were still surrounded by the antelope cavalry. So we changed into a demon-like form and forcibly broke through the encirclement of the antelope cavalry and continued to fight a mobile war with them. We were chased during the day, and after nightfall, the dust falcons lost their effectiveness, so we turned around and killed the antelope cavalry. Until this morning, Maddie found us and conveyed the adults' order, asking us to come back."

Victor noticed that all the alchemists had changed into blood-stained gear. One could imagine that when they transformed into their demonic forms, their original leather armor and clothing would be torn apart, and they could only wear the gear stripped from the corpses.

Herman downplayed the situation, but the actual situation must have been very tragic.

Victor could see this from the alchemical snake tentacles that coexisted with them. The life energy of all seven alchemical snake tentacles had been completely depleted, indicating that the alchemical demons had suffered huge damage in the battle.

Victor was curious about the Alchemist's achievements and asked, "How many enemies have you killed in total?"

"We eliminated 9 dragoons, 47 ordinary professional cavalry, and 4 scouts, a total of 60 people."

"Are the 34 war dogs not included?" Victor asked with a smile.

Herman was stunned for a moment, then quickly added, "There are 44 more antelopes."

Victor nodded and said jokingly, "Oh, so you all ate very well this time, right?"

The alchemists all laughed. 60 half-elf professionals, 34 war dogs, and 44 antelopes, hundreds of lives were lost in their hands. They naturally drank the blood and ate the soul fire, eating until they were full.

Victor knew that the Alchemist was bloodthirsty, but he still couldn't help asking, "You didn't take any prisoners?"

Herman quickly raised his hand and pointed at the old scout standing next to him, and replied: "When Maddie arrived at the battlefield, the enemy still had two or three seriously injured soldiers who were not dead. Maddie had already questioned them."

Hearing this, Maddie forced out a dry smile.

Victor glanced at Maddie and guessed that Maddie must have been greatly shocked by what he had seen of the inhuman form and evil deeds of the Alchemist Demon. He has not yet recovered.

As an old scout who was a legion soldier, Maddie was fully qualified to evaluate the performance of the Alchemist on the battlefield. Victor needed professionals like Maddie to give him advice. However, seeing Maddie's timid look now, he might find it difficult to express his true opinion in front of the Alchemist.

"Have you encountered anything special that you need to tell me?" Victor asked Hermann.

"Something special?"

Herman thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "I don't think there's anything special. We've been fighting fiercely with the enemy all night. It's nothing but fighting. If there's anything that impressed me, it's the enemy's fighting spirit and perseverance... How could a group of mortals persist in fighting for such a long time, with so many casualties, and not completely collapse?"

The rest of the alchemists nodded, expressing their agreement with Hermann's point of view. It was obvious that the enemy's fight to the death had caused them considerable trouble and losses.

When Alchemy Demons use spell-like abilities, change into demon-like forms, or repair physical damage, they have to consume their lifespan. Enemies that put them in a difficult fight and injure them are equivalent to reducing their lifespan.

Fortunately, the Alchemist Demons can increase their lifespans and even achieve life advancement through the two talents of drinking blood and devouring souls. The specific method is also very simple. They digest and absorb the plundered life energy and soul fire through hibernation.

"If there is nothing to report, you can go inside and rest first... I guess you are all anxious to hibernate now." Victor said.

Hermann said happily, "Thank you for your understanding, sir. We need to sleep for about 10 minutes, and then we can continue to serve you."

Victor nodded, then turned to the fierce warrior Kent beside him and said, "Take them to the No. 2 mining room inside to hibernate, and stay there to look after them."

"Yes, master." Kent said respectfully.

The mines dug by the barbarian miners were very deep, and the terrain inside was very complex, winding like a maze. The mine dormitory where Victor and his team stayed temporarily actually only occupied a small part of the front near the entrance. There were long tunnels and a large number of mining rooms in the back, and even secret passages connected to other mines.

Victor used the dream arena to evolve a pit environment, easily choosing a relatively safe place for the alchemist to hibernate.

After Kent and the Alchemist left, Victor turned around and asked Maddie, "What do you think of their performance on the battlefield?"

Maddie was silent for a moment, then took two steps forward, closer to Victor, and said in a very low voice, "Sir, they...are they vampires? I saw them turn into monsters, hugging the enemy's neck and sucking blood, and I was almost scared to death. If they hadn't discovered me and greeted me, I wouldn't have dared to go out and recognize them."

Victor shrugged his shoulders indifferently and said, "Didn't a woman in Rhine say that... the Deathclaw Adventure Team was all dead. What I saved with the demon flesh and blood and the mayor's secret medicine were just breathing shells. I didn't want them to become vampires, but since it has become a fact, there is nothing I can do." Finally, he added:

"I need strength now."

Maddie's heart sank, realizing that Victor was in a difficult situation. His identity had not been truly exposed yet. He was only suspected of being a fugitive wanted by the Nightingale family, but he was being hunted down by Fallen Leaf City.

The worst thing is that Victor should be the wanted criminal of the Nightingale family. At least he has the same extraordinary power as the Silver Moon Dancer. What does it matter whether Herman and others are vampires? Who cares about so much now?

"Sir, Herman and his men are very powerful. Seven people can defeat more than a hundred elite private soldiers, but that is their limit. If the other side has 30 more professionals, Herman and his men can escape, but they will not kill so many enemies; if the other side has a hundred more antelope cavalry, Herman and his men can only flee separately, and some of them may be captured and killed by the enemy."

Seven people fought against more than a hundred antelope cavalrymen, annihilated nearly half of the enemy, and won a great victory. Such a record was simply shocking. However, Maddie's judgment still frustrated Victor.

It is said that the mayor's steward Isaniel once raided a bandit stronghold near Water Snake Town alone and killed about a hundred bandits.

Also possessing the evil power of demons, the Alchemist Demon's rank is even higher than Isaniel.

In his heart, Victor secretly hoped that the Alchemist Demon could also fight against a hundred people alone, but reason told him that it was unlikely, and the reality was indeed so.

In fact, there is a huge gap between the penniless bandits and the elite private soldiers trained by noble families at great expense. There is no comparison between the two sides.

It was already amazing that the Alchemist Demon was able to defeat a hundred professional private soldiers, including 20 dragoons.

Victor sighed and asked again, "How many elite private soldiers do you think the Golden Nightingale family can send to hunt me down? How do their strengths compare to the elite private soldiers of Fallen Leaf City?"

Maddie replied, "Sir, openly, Golden Nightingale cannot send private soldiers to Luoye City to hunt down fugitives. Even if they disguise themselves as adventurers, the number of people cannot be too large... If we only send one or two hundred people, Luoye City can still pretend not to know, but if the number is a little more, it won't work."

"However, the Nightingale clan can send out several groups of people at the same time, disguised as merchants, bandits, and adventurers. When necessary, they can gather together and form a private army of 4 to 5 or even more to carry out missions together."

McGrady scratched his head and explained helplessly, "Sir, I am just a nobody and don't know much about the Golden Nightingale clan. I only know that they are one of the 16 pillar clans and their strength should be among the top in the league. It's hard to say how many people they can send out."

"As for the level of Golden Nightingale's private soldiers... compared to the private soldiers of the famous families in Fallen Leaf City, the difference between the two sides should not be too big. After all, the professionals and dragoons of the alliance are all mature military forces, and they all have those abilities, so there is not much difference."

After hearing this, Victor could only sigh and said angrily, "I didn't do anything. The nobles of Luoye City just suspected that I was a wanted criminal of Golden Nightingale and wanted to arrest me... What a hateful bunch of guys!"

The leader of the Adventurer's House in Braun Town, Red Lion Bartom, once told Victor that he needed more followers to get back everything he had.

Victor didn't pay much attention to Red Lion Bartom's remarks at that time, but it was different now. For the first time, he had an urgent desire to expand his power.

This includes pressure from the half-elf families and the abyss demons' coveting of the alchemy tower's soul fire.

Of course, it would not be particularly difficult for Victor to develop his own power. The remnants of the Adventurer's House in Braun Town could serve as his base, and then he could take back the gold and industries scattered around Bartom.

With people and money, Victor laid the foundation for the development of power. He had no shortage of secret techniques and drug formulas for training warriors, nor did he lack high-level military forces. Even if the alchemists were still a little short of maturity, they could evolve and grow, and Christine's charm ability was very useful.

What Victor lacks is a piece of land where he can develop stably and income channels from various resources.

It was still a bit far to think about these things now, so Victor pulled himself together and asked again, "Did you confirm the thing I'm most concerned about from the captives?"

Maddie shook her head and said, "They were very strong and refused to say anything. In the end, they were sucked to death by Hermann and his men... Victor, what I want to say is that we should not be too optimistic. The demon hunter Rhine has confirmed that you are from the Golden Nightingale. Even if he promised not to betray you, he did not say that he would not tell his colleagues or other people outside the Golden Nightingale about you... The news about you will definitely leak out, and there is no need for the nobles of Fallen Leaf City to tell it specifically. The new leader of the Golden Nightingale will know it sooner or later."

Victor nodded and said in a deep voice: "You are right, so we will change our appearance today and quietly leave this ghost place at night... Go to Jinsha Town to gather old friends from the Adventurer's House, and we must keep it secret."

The private soldiers of the famous families in Luoye City suffered a great loss at the hands of the alchemists, so they might come looking for them. The large mine pit was an obvious target, so it was definitely not suitable to continue hiding there.

So Victor asked Maddie to call Christine back and ask her how to deal with the miners' leader Ansel in order to cover up their traces.

Christine changed into a barbarian slave girl's dress, which was simple in style but could not hide her proud curves. At this moment, she deliberately raised her feet, making her chest tremble, and said in a delicate voice: "Master, I seem to be too fat. When you change my appearance, please help me to be thinner, so that I will look younger."

"You only have one chance to change your appearance. I ask that you make your appearance and figure more ordinary, and not stand out so much!"

Victor frowned and continued, "I'm asking you about business now, not what you want to change into."

"Oh, business... It's simple. Just kill Ansai before we leave... Since the master has no interest in this mining area, I don't plan to enslave Ansai."

Christine sat in a dignified posture and said seriously: "He is old and weak, and I don't want to waste a precious slave quota on him. Besides, enslaving Ansai is quite troublesome, and he has been resisting my charm!"

She paused, tilted her head as if thinking, and said after a while: "I seem to have discovered some secrets of the one favored by fate... Ansai is loved by the barbarian miners. When he inspects the mines, every barbarian wants to talk to Ansai, even if it's just a simple greeting... I see hope in the eyes of the barbarian slaves. They hope that their leader will be what they expect... At this moment, I can always feel Ansai's struggle. He is resisting my charm, very weakly, but it is indeed a resistance!"

".I suddenly realized that every barbarian slave miner is a mirror. Ansai can see himself through them and remind himself whether he has deviated from the expectations of the miners. In fact, it is difficult for me to truly enslave Ansai. The longer the time drags on, the greater the possibility that he will break free from the charm."

Victor suddenly had an idea and blurted out, "Is it possible that Ansai, as the leader of the barbarian slave miners, has actually been 'enchanted' by the seven or eight hundred barbarian slave miners... The one fighting against you is not just Ansai, but the collective will?"

Christine said with a smile: "Master, what you said makes a lot of sense... Then we should kill Ansai, otherwise he will hate me when he regains consciousness."

"No, there is absolutely no need to kill Ansai!"

Victor refused decisively and said, "He helped us anyway, even if it wasn't his intention, we shouldn't harm the person who helped us... Besides, you're going to change your appearance, so who cares if he hates you or not."

Christine immediately knelt at Victor's feet, hugged his thighs, and begged pitifully: "Great Master, please, please make me more beautiful... If I become ugly, I will live a life worse than death, crying every day, and unable to serve you."

Victor shook his head and said, "Use the secret medicine Snake Touch to change your appearance. Your appearance can be changed back."

"I don't... I only have this one chance to become beautiful. Great and kind master, please fulfill my little wish... You see, if I become prettier, my charm will also be enhanced, and I can do more and more difficult things for you!"