Man on the ark, forced to become king

For the naturally strong Sarkaz, such an attack is not fatal unless it hits repeatedly, but they cannot recover their fighting ability in a short time after being attacked.

However, in the real battle of life and death, losing combat capability means losing life, the only difference being who kills you.

Bang!

Suddenly, an explosion rang out from behind. The bullet fired by Fiameta collided with some kind of explosive projectile launched from the night, and both detonated simultaneously in mid-air. A dozen or so crudely made handmade bombs were suspended in mid-air by Mostima's magic. Lin Lu slightly turned to the side, and a sharp blade pierced the air as it passed by him.

Snapped!

Two figures, one tall and one short, crossed paths in an instant. Their battle instincts, honed through countless trials, allowed their bodies to react before their brains could even process the information. The attacker's wrist, holding the knife, was grabbed directly. Lin Lu turned her head and saw a white-haired girl with two bright red tentacles growing from her head.

Chapter 53 A wise man submits to circumstances

To be honest, even though she had developed enough immunity to the many strange humanoid creatures in the world over the past few months, Lin Lu was still a little surprised when she saw the girl.

This thing... is it a cockroach that has become sentient?

I've seen things with horns and animal ears, but this is the first time I've ever seen something with horns and tentacles at the same time. Truly, the world is full of wonders.

However... this level alone is not enough to launch an attack on him.

Perhaps due to the natural advantages of her race, the girl was quite strong, enough to match Lin Lu's strength. However, combat is never about pure strength. In terms of technique, she was still too inexperienced. So inexperienced that Lin Lu barely needed to make any big movements to knock the dagger away and then pull her, sending her flying.

Click~

A slight mechanical whirring sound came from Fiameta's pistol; a bullet was chambered, but it failed to fire.

Unbeknownst to her, a shadow deeper than the night itself silently spread from beneath her feet, binding her to the spot.

"The ability to manipulate shadows?"

Feeling the constraint extending from his feet to his entire body, Lin Lu raised an eyebrow, somewhat intrigued. He hadn't encountered similar spells or prayers when he was at the border, and now that he had, he found it quite interesting.

In terms of concealment, it is indeed excellent; even he didn't notice it before it took effect. However, the binding force... doesn't seem to be very strong.

"Run away!"

The shadows that stretched upwards along his legs twisted wildly, as if being repelled by some invisible force. Lin Lu did nothing at all; the shadows that had climbed onto him began to disintegrate and vanish completely.

A sharp, terrified female voice rang out from behind almost at the same time the shadow dissipated. A girl with smooth black hair hurriedly retreated, staggering, and fell headfirst into the arms of the red-haired, horned young mercenary.

“Sir, there may be some misunderstanding between us. I don’t think there’s any need for us to have a conflict.”

The young man raised his hands, indicating that he had no intention of attacking. He then slowly backed away, and seemed relieved when he saw that Lin Lu had only turned around and did not attack immediately. He then asked the girl in his arms in a low voice, "Ines, what did you see?"

“Shadows…shadows…so many shadows, as dazzling as the sun! Hadley…that guy, he’s not—”

"Miss, it's not a good habit to pry into other people's privacy."

Lin Lu raised the sword in her hand, and a storm vortex condensed around her, forming a visible blazing white wave. The next second, her figure, accompanied by a hurricane, suddenly appeared beside the two of them. The sword blade slashed upwards, and in an instant, a gale howled!

A flash of white light appeared, and the young man drew his sword to block, but he couldn't even hold on for a second. The two people who were pressed together were instantly thrown high into the air by the storm.

Combat Skill: Hunting Titans!

The technique of concentrating power on the blade to launch enemies into the air, infused with the power of a storm, possesses even greater might. Even demigods who once dominated the borderlands have suffered setbacks under the power of this move.

Hunting giants is useful for anything except fighting giants, and it is especially effective against small humanoid creatures.

"I am a kind-hearted person and cannot bear to see you suffer..."

Lin Lu gently lifted the petite Lani, whom she was holding in her arms, onto her shoulder and held her sword in one hand, pointing it at the man and woman struggling to get up from the ground, her tone gentle.

"So... you have ten seconds to give your last words, and then you can go in peace."

"Wait...wait! We can offer compensation that will satisfy you!"

Seeing the light gather again on the black sword, Hadley quickly protected Ines and retreated while shouting.

From that sword strike, he knew this man's strength far surpassed his own, and that he had terrified Ines to such an extent... They had virtually no chance of winning, and if this continued, they would probably really die here, which was not what he wanted.

"Oh? I hope you can really satisfy me."

Upon hearing this, Lin Lu slightly turned the blade in her hand, unleashing a storm of energy that swept away the white-haired girl with bright red tentacles on her head once again. At the same time, she pressed down on Fiameta's shoulder, signaling her to temporarily cease her attack.

The white-haired creature, which seemed to be a cockroach in human form, wouldn't last long under her gunfire. Since the other party said they wanted to pay to save their lives, it wouldn't hurt to listen.

The martial arts world is not just about fighting and killing, but also about human relationships and social interactions.

That sudden burst of magical power earlier vented a lot of anger. Killing the remaining people now would at most provide some nutrients for the growth of the Golden Tree. Keeping them alive might bring even greater benefits.

The battle continued a few hundred meters away, but the newly arrived group of mercenaries held an absolute advantage in both numbers and strength. Even though they suffered many unexpected casualties from the magical attack, it did not affect their dominant position, and victory was only a matter of time.

Lin Lu glanced in that direction and then ignored it, carrying her longsword as she walked to the red-haired mercenary's side, her eyes narrowing slightly, a palpable killing intent spreading out.

"Tell me, how much do you think your life, and their lives, are worth?"

"..."

Looking at the subtle gleam flowing on the blade so close to him, Hadley felt that if his offer didn't satisfy the other party, this man would definitely take action directly, and the consequences... would most likely be unbearable for them.

He and his two companions were ridiculously strong, on a completely different level from ordinary mercenaries. Now, it seemed they had no choice but to admit defeat.

Thinking about it carefully, perhaps being able to buy one's life with money is already an immense stroke of luck.

"...Two hundred identification tags, I'll use them to exchange for your forgiveness."

"Wow? Two hundred? You're really willing to spend that much. Are you that afraid of dying?"

Lin Lu had no real understanding of this thing, which she had never heard of before and seemed to be a currency unique to mercenaries. She didn't understand its value, but judging from Fiameta's slightly surprised reaction next to her, the price must indeed be quite high.

but……

"Not enough, this is still not enough."

With a smile playing on her lips, Lin Lu extended a finger and shook it slightly.

Generally speaking, the initial offer is unlikely to be the true bottom line. The fact that they are willing to offer so much means that they still have room to maneuver and can squeeze more profits out of them.

He had no pity for these mercenaries who used them as bait; of course, the cleaner they were shaved, the better.

He believed that the mercenary leader, who was very involved in real-time affairs, would offer a higher price.

Chapter 54 This man-eating land is indiscriminate in its food choices

"..."

Hedley's silence lasted until the battle ended in the distance.

Blood stained the wasteland. Mercenaries, their clothes stained with crimson blood, gathered around. The group of about a hundred men, each holding a blood-stained weapon, formed a circle, their eyes fixed on the three men in the very center.

Even so, Hedley still did not feel any relief.

He knew perfectly well that for a true powerhouse, sheer numbers were meaningless. The Sarkaz woman with two horns on her head stood not far away, her black and white staffs intertwined, exuding a vast and ancient aura. A colossal shadow was faintly visible in the void. Even with all of them combined, they couldn't guarantee a safe retreat.

Li Boli, holding a gun, stood leaning against a huge weapon box, seemingly watching a show. However, the power she had unleashed with her handgun, which was like that of cannonballs, was already hard to ignore. It was obvious that the box must contain even more powerful weapons, far superior to crossbow bolts.

What was even more frightening was the man so close by; the bloodthirsty killing intent that seemed to thicken the air made even Hadley, a mercenary who spent his life on the battlefield, tremble.

He made no move; he simply stood there, yet his terrifying aura, as if plunging one into an abyss, swept over them like a tsunami. No one wanted to know what it would be like when he truly took action.

The mercenaries' fearlessness stemmed from not having encountered true terror.

Three against a hundred seems like a huge disparity, but Hadley knew that if he couldn't offer a price that satisfied the other side, then he and the hundred or so mercenaries would probably be left on this plain forever.

After a long silence, Hadley took a deep breath, his face suddenly turning pale.

"Three hundred identification tags—this is the greatest sincerity we can offer."

As he spoke, he seemed to lose all his strength and become listless.

Three hundred identification tags represent three hundred mercenaries with 'names'. This number is the limit they can accumulate over the years. They can be exchanged for a large amount of refined equipment or supplies in the Scar Market. Even some large mercenary groups may not be able to produce such a quantity. If this number is still not enough, then he will have no choice but to fight to the death.

"Alright, three hundred it is. After all, I'm not some kind of demon."

Lin Lu nodded, then suddenly turned her head to look at the white-haired girl with tentacles on her head, and grinned: "However, I have to add one more condition: I want her."

"That's impossible! My men are not commodities to be traded."

Hedley's expression changed, he gripped his weapon tightly, and resolutely rejected the request.

"Oh? Is that so? I don't see any difference. You can buy decent weapons on the black market, can't you?"

This unwavering attitude surprised Lin Lu for a moment, and her opinion of Hadley rose slightly. In a place like Kazdel, morality and sentiment were less useful than a piece of waste paper, and leaders who could protect their subordinates were rare.

"The Sarkaz are not weapons!"

These words not only ignited anger on Hadley's face, but also stirred restless energy among the mercenaries who had gathered around. Several of them couldn't contain themselves and attacked directly.

However, they couldn't even run a few steps before they were imprisoned in place by an invisible force, unable to move even the slightest bit.

"Whether it is or not is not for me to say. Now you need to figure out one thing."

Lin Lu's smile gradually faded, and the chilling look in her eyes made Hedley involuntarily tense up.

"I'm not negotiating with you. You just need to answer: yes or no."

"Do not--"

"Okay, I agree."

Before Hedley could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a white-haired girl with tentacles on her head. With an almost distorted smile on her face, she agreed to the condition.

"W, I—"