Pale Emblem

Chapter 52 Escape
The forest shrouded in heavy snow is not quiet, often withered branches are crushed by the falling snow, and the sound of clicking and clicking echoes in the forest.The forest was covered with snow more than a foot thick, not even reaching the half-elf's knees.Vertok and his party all put on special snow boots, and the soles were buckled with a layer of wooden boards similar to duck webs. When walking, they would not be completely immersed in the snow, and trekking in the snow forest became much easier.

As the team gradually moved away from Braun Town, everyone's tense mood was relieved to a certain extent.A few younger shop assistants even had time to pick up frozen forest birds from under the snow, and showed them to Vertok as if they were treasures.

Finding food in the snow-covered forest is a compulsory subject for adventurers. They will judge whether there are frozen birds and beasts under the snow according to the shape of the snow.Although there is no shortage of food for the escape team, the youngest team member is still showing everyone his ability and value.

Vertoc remembers that winter, also called the water season, is the time when the water element is most active.The Taku people and the Hemo people like to call winter the season of life.It's just that the season of life treats life a little too coldly.

All life has to withstand the test of ice and snow, and even the branches that are not strong enough are bent and broken due to the weight of falling snow, making room for the growth of new shoots in the coming year.The old and weak birds and beasts are not immune, and their death provides other birds and beasts with a chance to live.

The escape team encountered a group of gray wolves in the depths of the snow forest.They just happened to find an old deer that was frozen to death, and found that the half-elf escapee just blew up his back hair, showed his sharp fangs, and let out a penetrating roar in his throat, deterring these uninvited guests from their food. , did not attack the half-elves.That old deer that froze to death actually saved the wolves.

The 28 half-elves around Wiltok are the core backbone of the Adventurer's House, and the majority are professionals. The nine almost-adult shop assistants are also awakened, and their physical fitness exceeds that of ordinary half-elf soldiers.They have been rigorously trained to be alert, flexible, and agile, and they don't need other people to worry about them.

Vertoc is now the titular head of the Adventurer's House, but he is still under the care of everyone.He doesn't need to think about the next things, he can enjoy the snow scene while hurrying on the road, and think about the mystery of the water element with "knowledge puzzles".

Water, ice crystals, and steam are all manifestations of the water element, but they are not equal to the water element.Philosophically, the water element symbolizes time and life, but in reality, the philosophical symbols of the water element have corresponding practical meanings.

Vertoc knows that his surging talent belongs to the change of the water element in the field of life. It is the endless potential of life that allows him to gain additional physical strength and energy, which is reflected in the length of time.

If the flowing form of the water element corresponds to the activation talent, what does its solid form and gas form correspond to?
Vertok didn't know why he thought about such a strange question when he saw the snow scene.He just feels that the ability to be awakened is not perfect. If he can understand the changing laws of the four elements, it will definitely help him to find himself and improve various talents.

Unfortunately, except for Dr. Cole, the other half-elves around him have no interest in these inexplicable questions. Even Cole just listened to it and did not give him any valuable advice.

The imperfect life tenacity talent has made Vertok's physical fitness to an inhuman level.He did not feel tired at all during the uninterrupted rapid march, trudging more than 100 kilometers in ice and snow, but most of the people in the team had reached the critical point of preserving their fighting stamina.

When it was getting dark, the dark hunter Max finally stopped, turned around and said: "Restore where you are, don't burn the fire, eat dry food, drink water, sleep first, we have to continue on our way in the middle of the night... Huck, Professionals with your physique will take turns to watch the night."

Huck nodded, did not speak, sat down with his back against a big tree, and nibbled on the dry food silently.Boss Bartom decided to stay alone, and he was devastated by the fight against the orcs and barbarian invaders, and he didn't even bother to talk on the road.

There was no smile on the face of the fourth-level undercover hunter Max, but he shouldered the responsibility of leading the team.

The young shop assistants are the weakest and exhausted.They ate something indiscriminately, unwrapped a roll of bearskin blankets from their shoulders, laid them directly on the snow, wrapped themselves in rain cloaks, and fell asleep.

Max looked at these underage partners, and there was an imperceptible gloom in his eyes.

In the second half of the night, the resting people were woken up one by one. Pilu and the other shop assistants yawned, wiped their faces with ice and snow to refresh themselves, and then quickly packed their luggage and prepared to continue their journey.

However, Max called all the nine Awakeners together, and said sternly: "Piru, you have to walk the road behind you... don't follow us."

The faces of the shop assistants at the Adventurer's House changed drastically, and they lowered their heads, not wanting to be seen crying.

Vertok noticed the movement here, strode over, and asked Max, "Why did you drive them away?"

When Pilu and the others saw Vertok, it was like seeing a savior.

Dark Hunter Max smiled bitterly and said, "Vill, look back at the traces on the snow..."

There was a ravine in the white, soft snow, the way the fat cook Sarah had plowed.Sarah is tall and fat, probably weighing more than 400 pounds, and has a heavy rolling pin, and snow boots don't work for her at all.As she walked, she left particularly conspicuous marks on the snow.

"The Orcs attacked Braun Town, and the elderly, women and children who were incapable of fighting were evacuated from the back door first. Their physical strength was poor, so they could only flee westward and take refuge in the nearest Jinsha Town. The city wall of Braun Town fell too fast, and we were unable to give them to them. Buy more time to escape...Each adventure group is late and can catch up with the old and weak women and children in Braun Town. To be honest, as long as the adventurer surpasses them, they can use them as bait, and have more chances to get rid of the Orcs and Orcs The barbarians are hunting down. So don't expect the adventurers to rescue the townspeople."

The dark hunter dared not look into Vertok's pure eyes, and when he was dumbfounded, he turned to Pilu and the others and said: "There are nearly 200 awakened people in the Adventurer's Home, and they are divided into small groups to evacuate. Piru , if you catch up with the townspeople on the way to escape, will you find a way to help them?"

Pilu said, "I, I don't know, should we help them?"

"This is what worries me the most." Max shook his head, pressed Piru's shoulder, and said, "If you don't help the townspeople, they will die; if you help them, they will die together. Fortunately, we don't have to do this. An option. Bartom asked us to evacuate from the north, and it was unlikely that we would encounter the fleeing townspeople. Bartom asked you to follow Mr. Vertoc, in fact, in the hope that you would survive..."

"Of course, we've done everything we can to help the runaway townspeople. We were the last to leave, and we left enough traces...hopefully the orcs and barbarians will come after us. That way, others have a chance to survive."

"In other words, we are actively acting as bait, and we are in a more dangerous situation now!"

"Piru, don't think that people are safe, this is a damn delusion. Our battle with the orcs and barbarian chasing troops has already begun, and the rapid march of the day and night will drag down the ordinary orc chasing troops, and can catch up with the orcs. Our enemies must be powerful butchers, shamans, or brutal fighters."

"We have to plan for the worst. You are the weakest. Following us will not only slow down the team's progress, but will also be killed by the enemy first. If you want to survive, you have to leave the team... Understand? "

Max made it very clear that the Awakened in the team is a drag, and the professionals are the bait. If everyone wants to rely on physical fitness to drag down the pursuers, the weakest Awakened should leave the team, otherwise everyone will be finished.From another point of view, Piru's shop assistants and the team parted ways, which can also distract the orcs and barbarian pursuers, and give others a chance to fight back or escape.

In the end, those people can survive, only depends on their luck.But the nine young shop assistants chose to leave, and their chances of surviving must be better.

After all, Max is a fourth-level undercover hunter, good at tracking, lurking, reconnaissance, assassination, and also good at anti-tracking.His arrangement seemed reasonable.At least, Vertok can't fault it.It is precisely because he has to take care of the Awakened in the team that his physical advantage has not been brought into full play.

Vertok estimates that he will double the marching speed. He will run for three days and three nights without eating or drinking. He will only feel tired after traveling 6 to 7 kilometers in a row. If he uses the activation talent, he can continue to run for 150 kilometer.Orcs and barbarian chasing soldiers followed behind him, I am afraid that even the ashes could not be eaten.He hasn't factored in the gluttony talent and the golden toad's secret shape, and the super physical strength of the life tenacity talent alone is enough to defeat most enemies.

High-level orcs and high-level barbarians may be able to compete with Vertok in physical strength, but in order to hunt down Vertok, will they stay more than 600 kilometers away from their old nest?

"Uncle Max, we understand... let's go now." Pilu nodded.

Max nodded, Shen Chen said: "Well, I taught you how to survive in the winter forest. I believe in your abilities, and you should also believe in your own abilities. Because you are all the best training camp students, and you are also adventurous. The Awakeners carefully cultivated by the House of Zealots! Remember, after you escape, don't go to Jinsha Town, go to Beibang in Fallen Leaf City to find 'Wooden Leg Velun'!"

"I hope goodbye."

"I hope goodbye."

Pilu waved goodbye to everyone with his eight shop assistants, and went west with his luggage and weapons on his back.Their figures soon disappeared into the dark snow forest.

After all the awakened ones left, the marching speed of the fleeing team was much faster.By evening, everyone had walked about 80 kilometers and was about to enter the territory of the Shadow Lurkers.

The Shadow Lurker is a terrifying monster with a life level of five.Its territory was originally a restricted area for adventurers, but dragoons from the famous Golden Oaks came here for a few days to hunt shadow lurkers.This forest should now belong to a borderless land, and even if they encounter ordinary beasts, they are not much threat to the elite of the Adventurer's Home.

"In the summer, I came here specially to detect shadow lurkers, and I am very familiar with the terrain here. There is a deep ditch 5 kilometers to the west, covered with wormwood more than two meters high, which is especially suitable for hiding under the snow." Max pointed to Xibian said: "I think it is possible to cover up your tracks with half of your hands and sneak along the deep ditch. Cole, you are not a combat professional, you can take Vertok and all the first-level professionals to transfer from that deep ditch... …”

"No." Vertok interrupted Max suddenly.

"Ok?"

Vertoc stared at Max's eyes, stretched out his left index finger, pointed at Huck, Cole, John and other half-elves one by one, and asked solemnly: "You asked Piru and the others to leave last night, but there is no one but me. Ask questions. This is not right! When you drove away Pilu and the others, he, he, and he didn't object?

Those half-elves were publicly accused by Vertok, and their expressions became somewhat unnatural.

Max tried to explain: "Vill, the reason I asked the shop assistant to run away by himself has already been said, don't you have no objection after listening to it? My old man understands my ability and trusts my judgment. They always go first. Listen to what I have to say, you won't immediately object to my suggestion..."

Vertok sneered: "What's your reason? You said that Pilu and the others are not strong enough, and they will affect everyone."

"Yes." Max nodded.
"Assuming your reason is valid, the premise is that there are orcs and barbarians behind us, and they are powerful, right?"

"Well, that's what I thought, so I have to take precautions in advance."

Vertok asked with burning eyes: "What if there are no pursuers behind us? Piru and the others leave the team, don't they have to face the beasts in the forest alone?"

Max spread his hands and said helplessly: "Piru and the others are all awakened people and have the ability to deal with beasts. And even if they suffer casualties, there is nothing they can do."

"But you asked Piru if he met the townspeople on his escape, would he stop to help them? Piru said he might stay. If they don't protect the townspeople, the townspeople will die; if Stay and help the townspeople, they and the townspeople will die! Boss Bartom asked the nine shop assistants to follow us to flee north, so that they don't have to make this choice. Because, Bartom thinks Piru and the others must not bear it Abandon the townspeople!"

Vertok's eyes swept over the others present and asked loudly: "Now, I ask you the same question, Piru and the others need help, will you abandon them? Say! Will you choose to abandon them?!"

The half-elf professionals lowered their heads and avoided Vertoc's gaze.Virtok, however, was not ready to let them go, he walked in front of them one by one, grabbed the collars, looked at their eyes, and pushed them down on the snow, "You are all half-breeds, adopted by Boss Bartom, and you are training. Growing up in the camp, maybe they are still related by blood. They are brothers and family. If you choose to abandon the weak shop assistants and let them be attacked by wild animals in the snow forest, then there is no need for the Adventurer's Home to exist. It's gone!"

John jumped up and shouted angrily: "We didn't abandon Piru and the others..."

Virtok flashed in front of John like a gust of wind, and said lightly: "Of course, you didn't abandon Piru and the others... Just like the boss of Bartom who asked you to retreat last, flee to the north, attracting orcs and barbarians. This is a cover for the Awakened and the townspeople who fled to Jinsha Town. You have done what you can do, and you don't need to have any psychological burden."

John opened his mouth, but had nothing to say, except for a long sigh.

"Since you won't abandon Pilu and the others, then my assumption that there are no chasing soldiers behind the team doesn't hold true!"

Vertoc walked to the undercover hunter, looked down at him, and said, "You know that there are chasers behind us. They all know that you know there are chasers behind. Therefore, even if the nine Awakened shop assistants face the chasing soldiers in the forest, The Beast is also a lot better than staying in the team."

Max smiled bitterly and said, "I'm a fourth-level undercover hunter. I have the ability to see trackers. I can feel that the enemy has been following us..."

"Why are you hiding it from me?" Vertok forced.

Max pursed his lips and stopped talking.

"You first let Pilu and the others leave the team, and now let Dr. Cole take me and the first-level professional away from the deep ditch in the snow... The strong people attract the chasing soldiers behind, and cover the weak people to escape. This is very important. OK! Then what?"

Vertok nodded, suddenly pointed at the fat cook, and said through gritted teeth: "If this goes on, Sarah will be the only one who will attract the pursuers... You haven't abandoned any of your comrades, you've abandoned only Sarah! You dare not Tell me, because I'm afraid I will oppose your escape plan!"

Max covered his forehead.Vertok usually looks stupid, but he is actually too smart. He even suspects that Vertok is an intellectual awakener.

Vertok, who has a mental attribute of 15, can never be an idiot, he just reacts a little slow. "Knowledge Puzzle" takes time to analyze problems independently, but nothing is left out.Everyone's micro expressions were seen by Vertok. The "knowledge puzzle" sorted out the clues, and it was not difficult to come up with the answer that Sarah was sacrificed.

Vertoc was furious and reached out to grab Max, "Okay, you really want to sacrifice Sarah!"

"Vill, you misunderstood..."

"Misunderstanding!"

The undercover hunter saw that Vertok's five fingers were hooked, with terrifying power, and he grabbed him viciously.He hurriedly dodged sideways, but was chased by Vertok and jumped all over the ground, unable to speak.

A large warm hand was over Vertok's head, he stopped chasing Max, and turned to see Sarah, the fat cook, shaking her head at him.She said softly, "Vill, good boy, don't make it difficult for everyone."

Vertok snatched the heavy stone rolling pin from Sarah's hand, dragged her into the woods, and said angrily, "Sarah, let's go, don't worry about them."

The rest of the people stayed where they were and looked at each other.Max grinned and said, "Is Mr. Vertok's strength, intelligence, physique, or agility? I feel like if I persist for a while, I will be caught by him..."

Dr. Cole glanced at Max gloatingly, shook his head, and said worriedly: "Sister Sarah's speed has slowed down... She is getting further and further away from the marking, I don't think she can last for too long. If Sarah If something goes wrong with the eldest sister, will Vertoc still accept us?"

Huck, who had been depressed all the time, suddenly said, "Sister Sarah saved my life, and I won't let her die in front of me! Weltok will see that the Adventurer's House dares to sacrifice to protect their relatives! "

Cole was silent for a while, nodded with a smile, and said, "That's fine, I've earned it for nothing to live up to now... Besides, the situation doesn't have to be that bad, I'll go with you all."

Huck gave a disdainful "Bah" and said, "A guy like you has no fighting power at all, so what's the use of walking with us? Or according to Max's method, you take young people under the age of 35 out of the snow ditch. Let's go, don't burden us. Everyone over 35 will follow me and accompany Sister Sarah through the last part of the road!"

　The vacation is over and I'm back.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)