Archer's Adventure Manual

Chapter 189 Launching the Counterattack

At this moment, the legion commander Lake, who had led countless victories, was like a greenhorn.

His face was full of worry and uncertainty about the future. He looked at Roth hesitantly, "Roth, could you tell me your thoughts?"

Lotte didn't give a direct answer. He pondered for a moment, then looked at Mark beside him and asked curiously, "Mr. Mark, how are you feeling right now? If an assassin tried to kill you, what would you do?"

Mark found the question rather puzzling. Why ask this now?

However, he quickly realized something and said seriously, "I feel... quite good right now? At least I don't feel any threat to my life. Anyone who wants to kill me can ask the sword in my hand first."

After saying this, he looked up and looked around, and soon spotted Loran standing at the top of the stairs.

"Brother Garen, come and sit down," Mark called out.

The solemn and quiet soldiers were slightly taken aback when they heard the commotion. They all turned to look at Loran, their hearts filled with surprise.

They knew this young adventurer well; he was an adventurer who had joined their team later and had shown considerable strength in the battle just now.

That exhilarating arrow that shattered the goblin giant's head seemed to have come from the hand of this young man.

Now, with the captain and vice-captain discussing matters in that corner, the soldiers couldn't help but look at this adventurer with newfound respect.

The first rule learned in the Legion is to obey and respect your superiors.

Although many of them had forgotten because of their military achievements, they have now remembered.

Upon hearing this, Lorraine did not refuse and walked straight over.

"Let me introduce you. This is Garen, an excellent adventurer and a resident of Rockfall Town," Mark said with a smile.

Lake smiled and nodded. "I know him. They both wanted to join our legion, and I agreed. So you're from Rockfall Town. No wonder you came back here."

After introducing Loran, Mark returned to the main topic. He looked at Lake and asked, seemingly jokingly, "What if... I mean, what if we pretended to obey that creator, but our real purpose was to kill him?"

"If he dies, will the hordes of monsters still pose a threat?"

Captain Lake was taken aback. "No... that's impossible. If we choose to compromise, that creator will find a way to control us. That terrible substance will turn people into monsters."

"Of course, this is just the most superficial. I have a very intuitive feeling that I am now very different from the person I used to be. It's as if I no longer belong to myself."

"I have a feeling and a guess that if the creator wants me to lose control, I'm afraid I'll be powerless to stop it, and I'll be strangled by the terrible monster factor within me."

"If we all become like this, then the only way out is to fall into darkness, and it will be absolutely impossible to resist."

Mark then said meaningfully, "Commander Lake, if I told you that not long ago I was also a... inhuman monster, would you believe me?"

Lake was startled. Yes, he had realized that. As a member of the Warren nobility, Mark had naturally fallen under the control of the Creator.

Having overheard Mark's conversation and exchanges here, Lake thought that the Creator had deliberately arranged for this guy to be eavesdropping here.

But what does this mean?

Not long ago it was a monster... but what about now?

Lake's pupils contracted; he didn't quite understand Mark's intentions, but at that moment, Roth spoke up at the opportune moment.

Roth explained, "Commander Lake, at the time we didn't actually know what the Creator was about to do. He wanted to take advantage of our soldiers being drunk and asleep, when their minds were extremely vulnerable, to spread that terrible substance."

"We weren't as well-prepared back then. If we had been ambushed at that time, the situation would probably have been quite bad."

cake."

"But... Mr. Mark reminded us, which allowed us to move the hotel to a new location, and we also took corresponding precautions, which prevented the monster from succeeding."

"Something seems to have changed in Mr. Mark. He is no longer bound by the Creator. Now, he is himself."

Upon hearing Roth's explanation, Lake was immediately taken aback. He looked at Mark in disbelief, even wondering if this was some kind of test Mark had deliberately thrown out.

But upon closer reflection, this step seems unnecessary, since the situation on the field is already crystal clear...

Mark nodded seriously. "Roth is right. I have returned to normal, but this is not something I can do on my own. Everything depends on my brother Garen beside me."

Mark gestured to Loran, who was sitting down beside him, "He was the one who helped me get out of the monster's clutches."

Lake looked at Loran with disbelief; he never imagined that the adventurer in front of him would have such abilities.

So, adventurers who are good at adapting to changing circumstances really do have a far greater skill versatility than serious soldiers...?

"Brother Garen, could you please help me?" Lake looked at Loran with utmost sincerity.

Loran thought for a moment and said with certainty, "Of course, but Mr. Roth's plan may not be feasible. My ability is only to help a few people get rid of the Creator's troubles, but if most of the Legion is controlled, then I am powerless to help."

"Commander Lake, if you return to normal, what will you do next?" Loran asked Lake curiously.

Upon hearing this, Lake's previously cloudy eyes suddenly became clear, and the sharpness unique to the legion commander returned.

Roth knew that Commander Lake was a man who never wanted to give up the struggle under any circumstances. Even when the entire legion was facing extremely dangerous situations, he was able to calmly command and pull the team out of a dead end.

The judgments made earlier were based on the fact that Commander Lake was no longer able to lead the legion in battle. But now, he has regained his fighting strength and can lead his soldiers in battle again.

And that is precisely the purpose for which their legion came to this place.

"I have the desire to fight, but... it's still a very dangerous choice. Let me hear what the soldiers have to say."

As dawn broke, the Creator sat gracefully atop his castle, attended by several sycophantic monster leaders.

"Clot, I am very sorry for your brother's death. We have not yet found the dragon, so we can only temporarily give you the power of the Earth Bear. As you have seen, this is already a very terrifying power."

"If you can obtain the power of the dragons, until the dragons can no longer kill you, then who the dragons are will be determined by their own strength."

The Creator spoke casually, as if the person standing before him was a real dragon.

These words were naturally appreciated by the kobold Krot beside him. The kobolds worked day and night to mine minerals and build palaces, and their purpose was very simple and pure: to attract dragons who loved treasure.

Now that he had such an opportunity to replace the dragons, how could he not be tempted? So he spared no expense in providing the Creator with batches of his kobold brethren as experimental subjects.

The other monster leaders around them were in the same situation; the Creator catered to their desires and gave them what they wanted.

Meanwhile, back in the castle, Jasper, who had been busy for a while, returned to his room. As soon as he opened the door, a small figure greeted him.

That was his son, Jacques. Looking at the energetic child before him, his eyes were full of love.

Not long ago in Clam Town, Jacques could only lie on a cold experimental bed, constantly using alchemical magic to prolong his life.

But now, he can play healthily like other normal children, and he can even give his father a warm hug.

Even for just one hug, Jasper felt it would be worth any amount of effort and wealth he had to expend.

It's all worth it.

"Dad, I heard from my uncle that the outside world is very big and beautiful. I really want to go out and see it!" Jack said with an innocent look on his face.

Jasper affectionately patted the child's head and said with a smile, "Okay, after we're done with things here, Daddy will take you everywhere to play, okay?"

"Yay! By the way, Uncle Clot said he's prepared a big lunch today and asked me to take you there."

"Okay, let's go eat together later!"

It was noon soon, and Jasper led Jacques to the castle's dining room.

Because of the existence of the Creator, a somewhat baffling scene has unfolded here: monsters and humans are having lunch together.

The enormous kobold, Klot, was wearing an apron, which it took off and chuckled.

"Ugh, I really don't understand why you humans wear this when you cook. I thought wearing this would make my cooking taste better."

The goblin shaman, missing an eye, glared at Claude and scoffed, "What can fit in your head? Is this what you cook?"

The shaman pointed to a plate of burnt roasted meat on the table. "Hey, how come you can burn meat like this? I'm really curious."

What do your people usually eat?

"Well, we people in our tribe aren't picky. To be honest, my skills are considered exceptionally good among our tribe."

Jacques, on the other hand, seemed very excited. Looking at Claude's masterpiece, he exclaimed in praise, "Uncle, what you made looks amazing!"

This is because Jacques was used to the delicious food that often appeared at the castle banquets, while the kind of culinary disaster that Claude made would catch his eye.

Although the taste of these things is often not ideal, they are still quite good.

Baron Warren, seated at the head of the table, said magnanimously, "Distinguished leaders and friends, please take your seats and enjoy your meal!"

As a nobleman, Baron Warren knew a lot about etiquette, which was his capital for mingling in noble circles. But now he was going to use this etiquette on a group of monsters.

The monsters didn't pay much attention to this "polite" baron; they simply took it as a human ritual.

And so, a rather ordinary lunch began. The monsters wolfed down their food, and the appetite of a large kobold like Clot was astonishing.

Baron Warren even set up a separate table for him, with a wide variety of meats from small animals, all of them plump and juicy.

The overall layout looks a bit awkward, but it also seems... somewhat harmonious.

While the castle monsters were enjoying their elegant lunch, the legion soldiers stationed at the inn had already quietly begun their operation.

Lake's arm has returned to normal. Loran used the Reaper's Scythe to sever the bindings of the monsters' souls on Lake's soul.

With a triumphant air, Lake held his sword and pointed it straight at Warren Manor. He was heading to the manor to kill their highest leader, the creator. If that were the case, it seemed there was still a chance.

This is the only feasible solution Lake can think of right now: if they break out of Rockfall Town, they will be worn down and killed by the endless monsters.

But to attack Warren Manor, all they need to do is break through a certain distance, reach Warren Manor, and turn the offensive into a defensive battle. During the defensive time, they can kill the Creator and make him lose control over the others. That will be their chance!

The idea is good, but unfortunately it is very difficult to realize, and there are many uncertainties involved.

Lake looked at the soldiers behind him, but he didn't say anything. He just gave them a look.

The soldiers responded with firm eye contact.

They had already discussed their strategy in the hotel. The less fanfare they made when they set off, the better. And so, in silence, the whole group began to move forward.

The scout monsters on guard around the inn also noticed the legion's movements at this time; the sheer scale of their departure was far too conspicuous.

A strange-looking bird flew out from the top of a tree and flew at an extremely fast speed toward Warren Manor.

Lake noticed this as well, and he gave the order, "Everyone, speed up! March quickly towards Warren Manor!"

All the soldiers quickened their pace, and the entire legion's movement speed increased significantly as they rapidly moved towards Warren Manor.

Before long, the Creator, who was still waiting for Lake's message inside the manor castle, saw the strange bird flying over and couldn't help but feel puzzled.

The strange bird landed on Lake's hand and conveyed the information it had just received to him.

Upon hearing the message conveyed by the strange bird, Lake's eyes immediately sharpened. "Lake? How dare he?"

Then the Creator began chanting, attempting to use its own power to drive the soul residing in Lake's body and cause it to turn against it, but this time the chanting failed.

His control over Lake has failed?

The Creator suddenly remembered a nobleman he had sent into the legion, whose name seemed to be Mark. He began chanting again and was surprised to find that... his control over Mark also seemed to have failed.