Those time travelers that year

329. Pretentiousness is like the wind, always with me.

In a short span of time, swords clashed dozens of times, causing Old Wang to frown.

The situation wasn't good for him. His opponent had directly entered his second form, reaching the peak of the C+ level in both speed and strength. Although it hadn't yet reached the B- level that could overwhelm him, its overall strength was now equivalent to C++, even stronger than C+. Without knowing how long this second form could last, getting into a prolonged battle was completely disadvantageous for someone like him who relied on a high-attack, high-agility strategy.

Unfortunately, if his opponent hadn't possessed both overwhelming strength and speed, he wouldn't have been so flustered. In this situation, holding back would have been counterproductive and could have even led to an unexpected defeat.

Thinking this through, Old Wang feigned an opening, deliberately taking a heavy slash, and then used the opportunity to escape the battle. He spun in mid-air, using a double jump to stabilize himself, and landed safely on the ground. Before the NPC, who had entered its second form, could attack, Old Wang sheathed his short sword in the scabbard hanging at his waist, and then reached out and grasped the hilt of the sword that had been hanging on his back.

"Golden wow, so cool!!!!"

Old Wang drew his longsword from its sheath, and with a dragon's roar, a dark green dragon flashed and disappeared into the longsword he held. After drawing the sword, Old Wang's aura surged, and then, in a flash, a dark green blade of light slashed across more than ten meters towards the Templar Knight Commander.

Faced with this astonishingly powerful strike, the Templar Knight Commander, who had fully activated the power of the sacred artifact, had lost his previous confidence in victory. If before the battle he was still confident that the amplification provided by the sacred artifact would allow him to scorn these heretics who attacked them, then now that confidence had been shattered.

Without the sacred artifact, he would likely be no match for this heretic. Even now, with the artifact in hand, the heretic's aura, emanating from the longsword slung across his back, was no less formidable than his own. The longsword, gleaming with a dark green light, posed a threat on a completely different level than the short sword he had previously wielded. If the short sword was a sharp, cold glint, then this dark green longsword was a bolt of lightning striking from the heavens.

The first strike was powerful and earth-shattering, as the Templar Knight Commander roared and raised his sword. Holy flames burned fiercely, transforming into a radiant blade that met the earth-shattering slash.

With a loud bang, the knight commander took the first blow, but he was sent flying. His feet left two long tracks more than ten meters long on the ground before he finally came to a stop.

The knight commander, having taken the first blow, was still catching his breath, and there was no time for that, for the second blow came, even more ferocious than the first. Gritting his teeth, the knight commander gripped the blade tightly. The power of the sacred artifact not only enhanced his speed and strength but also dramatically improved his physical attributes. The stamina depleted from withstanding the first blow was instantly restored, and with the enemy's explosive power, the artifact's own power re-activated, giving him another surge of strength.

This is why the Templars were able to overpower all the heretics. The fifth-rank Templar Knights, combined with the power unleashed by the Holy Relics, possessed formidable defense, incredible speed, and astonishing strength. Moreover, as the battle intensified, the power boost from the Holy Relics grew, eventually reaching the level of the legendary heroes who were the original owners of the Holy Relics.

So, facing the even more dazzling blade light, the Templar Knight Commander was completely unfazed by the second strike and met it head-on. With his power increased once more, facing the unstoppable second strike, this time the Templar Knight Commander was not sent flying again. This time, the two were evenly matched, each being knocked back by the force of the impact.

"Come on! You despicable heretic!" The Templar Knight Commander roared after taking the second blow. "You will die by my blade, and your soul will fall into hell and be purified in the flames!" He was confident because after taking the second blow, the power of the holy artifact had once again raised his strength to a new level. He was completely confident that he could take the next blow and then counterattack to cut down the heretic in front of him.

Faced with the protagonist's verbal sparring, Old Wang's face, hidden behind his mask, immediately became nonchalant. They were all too familiar with this kind of talk-no-jumping. Either the villain would launch into a long, drawn-out verbal attack, then wildly make grand pronouncements, only to be defeated by the protagonist. Or the protagonist would engage in verbal sparring, followed by a flashback, suddenly gaining incredible power and ultimately defeating the villain. This NPC in front of him didn't seem like one of those protagonists capable of flashbacks at all! He seemed more like a villain, and not even a final villain, but rather just a minor boss.

The little boss wants to steal the spotlight? Don't be ridiculous!

Besides, do you think he only knows how to use "Liujinwa Kaiya Kulie"? In the cycle of reincarnation, overly singular enhancements only give other hostile reincarnators the opportunity to find your weaknesses. Even those who enhance their mage templates will also give themselves extra enhancements to staff and sword skills, and incidentally learn things like Berserk Charge and Whirlwind Slash.

Although Old Wang has never enhanced his magical skills, his code name is "Nursery"!

"Face the gale!" Of course, if the other party was just talking, Old Wang didn't want to lose in terms of momentum, especially since the other party really had to face the 'gale' now.

The wind picked up, swirling around him and the knife in his hand.

"The power of this sword grows ever stronger with each strike!" The man moved with the wind, the blade flashed with the wind, the dark green blade light no longer the thunderous strike of before, but transformed into wind that merged with all things. At this moment, Old Wang transformed into a gentle breeze and rushed to the Templar Knight Commander's side. Then, his blade shone brightly, riding the wind, the longsword swirling with whirlwind meeting the Templar Knight Commander's confidently descending blade, imbued with purifying holy flames.

When the swords clashed again, the Templar Commander's expression changed drastically. A storm appeared. At the moment the swords clashed, the gentle breeze instantly turned into a violent whirlwind, and the original whirlwind transformed into a death storm where every wisp of air was as sharp as a blade.

A tornado suddenly appeared, tearing the ground apart and sweeping everything in its path, including some of the Templar Expeditionary Force members who had been caught in the battle. The Templar Commander, along with several Templar Knights and more than ten members of the Expeditionary Force, were all lifted into the sky by the tornado.

"Death is like the wind, always by my side!"

【Whirlwind Slash】

By the way, what should I write about next? Log Horizon or Darksiders 2? Please help!

330. The Sanctuary Facing Total Annihilation

Many people who see Lao Wang's gear will immediately think of Genji, because it's incredibly eye-catching. The silver-white mech, a short sword, a long sword, not to mention Lao Wang's ultimate skill, "Slippery Wow, Cool Crack!"—anyone would know how to counter it. Whether it's slowing spells, area-of-effect freezing spells—like Ice Ring—or direct resistance to Fire Ring, invulnerability, or anything like that, it can all be countered.

A single enhancement does indeed create many weaknesses for other reincarnators; in fact, it's fair to say that there's no enhancement that can't be countered, only unimaginable ones. Even if you can enhance yourself to the level of quantum thinking, someone else can still enhance themselves to the point of developing a womanizing ability. And if that person with enhanced quantum thinking is also a woman… well…

However, among the reincarnators, there are no individuals who can additionally enhance other series templates.

Such people are rare. Look at the Vanguard team, the ADC has enhanced his archery skills by strengthening the Light Guidance skill from the Holy Cross Archery. As the captain, Lao Wu has also strengthened the Ammunition Expert skill under the Reaper template. The AP is Brand plus Alchemist, and the Paladin has also strengthened his martial arts.

The entire vanguard team consisted of guys who took extreme approaches, including Old Wang. The whole team shared one unwavering belief: if a single powerful attack couldn't kill the enemy, then it was game over!

So, in addition to the Genji template, he also enhanced the Yasuo template. Yasuo and Genji, although not characters from the same work, are very similar; both are the type who feel uncomfortable if they don't act recklessly and are always ready to show off. Therefore, while knowing how to use the "Ryujinwakaiyakure" combo, Lao Wang also knows Yasuo's wind manipulation technique.

With the combination of 'Ryujinwa Kaiya Kuli' and 'Whirlwind Slash', two powerful moves enhanced by different templates are fused together by Lao Wang, resulting in a power far exceeding the simple sum of its parts. In fact, among the entire team, Dangdang is the strongest in terms of individual combat strength. Neither Lao Wu, who enhances himself with the 'Dumb Dumb Dumb' template, nor AP, who uses fire + fire to create explosive art, can match him when he uses both of his powerful moves simultaneously.

Of course, simultaneously unleashing two powerful attacks was a burden for Lao Wu; he couldn't maintain it every moment. However, even for a short time, his attack was still incredibly powerful. While it couldn't compare to a B-rank enhancer, it was undoubtedly top-tier among C-rank enhancers. Even back in the world of the Holy Son's Descent, when he used this combination of powerful attacks against the not-yet-fully-descended B+ rank Sephiroth, the one-winged angel praised it before flashing eight times and sending Lao Wu flying.

This also shows that Old Wu's combination attack is definitely powerful! Therefore, this attack is definitely not something that the Templar Knight Commander, who has been boosted to the C-level peak by the power of the holy artifact, can handle.

The tornado sweeps the enemy into the sky, and every wisp of air in the storm transforms into an incredibly sharp, invisible blade, not only imprisoning the enemies swept into the sky but also grinding them like a meat grinder! However, the real key point of this move is only now coming.

With a flash of light, Old Wang vanished from the ground and instantly appeared in the sky. The next moment, the blade light of the Gale Slash flashed wildly in the storm, each strike equivalent to a 'Ryujin Wakai Yakulie'. In an instant, dozens or even hundreds of 'Ryujin Wakai Yakulie' strikes came down. At this moment, even if the Hammer Template Enhancer from the already wiped-out Demon Team came, he would be instantly killed by Old Wang's combined ultimate move.

This is a powerful combination move that can threaten even a B-rank powerhouse. The Templar Knight Commander, who was only relying on the power of the sacred artifact to cheat, finally had to give up and type GG when faced with this explosive move.

The silver-white armor formed by the power of the sacred artifact, originally capable of withstanding swords, spears, and cannons—practically invincible among C-rank reincarnators—was utterly ineffective against the 'Golden Wake Ya Ku Lie' superimposed Gale Slash. It was easily torn apart, and once the armor was ripped open, the vulnerable body was exposed to the whirlwind of blade light. The other unfortunate souls caught in the crossfire—several Templar Knights and a dozen or so members of the extermination squad—were even more quickly swallowed up by the raging wind and blade light.

Soon, the wind subsided, and Old Wang, back on the ground, turned his back to everyone, coldly and silently sheathing his long sword, exuding an air of unparalleled swagger.

Of course, it was quite flamboyant! Accompanied by a rain of blood falling from the sky, the visual impact was indeed stunning. In short, the morale of the Holy Temple's punitive expedition completely collapsed when faced with this scene.

Even though one Templar Commander was still fighting desperately against Old Wu's Hellfire Shotgun and slaying the ghost soldiers, he couldn't reverse the defeat. At this moment, Old Wang unleashed his ultimate, accompanied by a series of screeching sounds, as he unleashed a barrage of bullets. In the sky, the ADC's scattered arrows rained down again, while on the ground, rings of fire appeared and then burst into scorching flames.

The trend is over!

This is the true strength of the reincarnators. The demon team was really unlucky before. They didn't even have a chance to unleash their full potential before being stunned by thousands of magic cannons and then ganged up on by a bunch of bosses, which is why they were ultimately defeated.

……

Failure was inevitable. Although they had barely survived the attacks of the dazed, the scattered arrows, and the flames, they still had to face the encirclement of the ghostly soldiers. The defeat of the Holy Temple Expeditionary Force was now unavoidable.

Therefore, the last surviving Templar commander, with a fierce look in his eyes, unleashed a sword strike fueled by blazing holy flames, forcing Old Wu back. Although he didn't know why the terrifying warrior who had so powerfully killed his colleague wasn't making a move now, instead turning his back to them and showing off, it didn't stop him from knowing that everything was beyond redemption.

Both in terms of overall strength and mentality, they were defeated by their opponent. If they could have endured the opponent's provocation and not directly entered the forest, if they could have waited for a while until another expeditionary force joined them, if their two Templar Knights, who wielded sacred artifacts, had not engaged in a life-or-death struggle with the enemy upon being ambushed, but instead fought desperately to rescue some people, they might have been able to break through.

But reality doesn't allow for "what ifs." They can't escape now, especially for him, the wielder of the sacred artifact. Oh, and there's another knight named Zavisha who also activated the artifact's power, but couldn't summon the sacred armor like these knight commanders. However, he could still easily slay the ghost soldiers. The enemy will absolutely not let them go…

At this point, a choice must be made.

"Go! All of you go, one by one!" the knight commander roared. Then, the holy flames that had dimmed considerably suddenly blazed brightly. He swung his sword, and several sword lights cleaved through the Yin soldiers' formation, forcing back Old Wu's pursuit.

The knight commander, having activated the secret technique, was frantically consuming his own life force. He instantly broke free from Old Wu's entanglement and arrived at the camp of the expeditionary force.

"Everyone, get out of here! Evacuate and flee as fast as you can!" The Knight Commander came to Zavisha's side. "Knight, activate the full power of the holy artifact to cover our brothers' retreat!" As he spoke, he swung his sword again, killing the approaching ghost soldiers.

However, he failed to notice the resentment that surfaced in Zavisha's eyes at that moment...

Double update! Just to clarify, there will be five updates today, but I'll only have one update for the first few days of April to build up a stockpile of chapters.

331. The Blackened Backstab

For Zavisha, reality once again exceeded his expectations.

Wasn't this supposed to be a simple and easy campaign? With two Templar Knights commanders wielding sacred artifacts present, shouldn't everything have gone smoothly? Wasn't he just here to go through the motions?

Why did things go beyond his expectations once again?

Surrounded by countless undead, people around me died one after another, their deaths utterly meaningless, just like the lowly people in the slums of the lower city. Dead is dead, no different from the deaths of those commonplace lowly people.

As the storm raged and the deadly glint of the blade flashed, a Templar commander died, just like all the others who perished—utterly worthless. At that moment, Zavisha was filled with terror. He too would die, dying just as meaninglessly, falling on the same ground, in pools of blood, alongside his soldiers, whose status and rank were far inferior to his. Their bodies would huddle together, until they became nothing but bones forever.

How could this be allowed? This is not allowed!

Zavisha's face was contorted, appearing extremely ferocious, but no one knew that this ferocity was not from killing an enemy, but rather filled with resentment and fear. The abyssal power rooted in the darkness within his heart began to ferment, to erode, attempting to drag this pitiful wretch completely into the darkness.

Just then, the last remaining Templar Knight commander broke free of the enemy's entanglement and charged to Zavisa's side. "Everyone, move out! Escape as quickly as possible!" the knight commander shouted, then said to Zavisa, "Knight, activate the full power of the holy artifacts to cover our brothers' retreat!"

Cover...retreat...

why?

Upon hearing the Templar Commander's words, the Zavisa paused, his face contorting into a more ferocious expression. His resentful gaze, unseen by anyone else, was fixed on the Templar Commander's retreating figure.

Why should I risk my life to protect these lowly people? I am a nobleman, the next duke. My life is far more precious than these lowly people without titles. Why should I cover for them? Why can't they die for me?

Kill him, kill these guys who want you to give your life, kill these people who offend you... kill them!

A mysterious voice echoed in Zavisa's mind. The Abyss was no longer content with influencing Zavisa covertly; it was now openly and directly attempting to drag him down and insane. However, shrouded in resentment and fear, Zavisa was unaware of all this. Instead, at this moment, he felt his entire body brimming with power—immense power. He, who was originally only at the third rank, instantly became a fourth-rank individual, and his power was still rapidly increasing.

“Yes, I understand, Sir Knight!” With his eyes lowered, Zavisha responded hoarsely to the Templar Knight Commander’s order, “I will cover their escape, I swear in the name of a knight…”

Nodding with satisfaction, the Templar Commander refocused his attention on the enemy. Because of this, he didn't hear Zavisa's increasingly low voice, nor did he see Zavisa's ferocious and distorted face.

"I swear in the name of knights... I will send them all to hell, and you too!" Unnoticed, wisps of black, mud-like substance were seeping from beneath the arm of the hand holding the holy sword that Zavisa held. Writhing as if alive, this black mud emerged from Zavisa's skin, winding its way up his arm and onto the holy sword in his hand.

Faced with the corrosive influence of the black mud, the holy sword trembled, a faint holy flame burning on its surface, attempting to drive away and purify the eerie and ominous black mud. However, this was to no avail. The black mud ignored the power of the holy artifact, instead gradually spreading vein-like structures throughout the entire holy sword.

"go to hell!"

Zavisa's ferocious face was filled with immense pleasure and ecstasy. Just as the Templar Commander turned his back to him, Zavisa roared and swung his now-transformed holy sword directly at the Templar Commander who had his back to him.

Pfft!!!

Blood splattered as the Templar Commander stared in disbelief at the blade that had pierced his body from behind and emerged from his chest. Blood flowed from the puncture site; the corrupted artifact no longer possessed its former glory, but was instead filled with corruption and darkness. This corrupting and dark power twisted the artifact's original purifying power, transforming it into a strange and malevolent withering force.

Starting from the point that pierced his chest, the Templar Commander instantly lost all his strength and power. His once indestructible silver-white armor was utterly powerless against this corrupted holy sword, and as it pierced him, his life was slipping away, or rather being devoured, at an unbelievable speed.

"You..." Foul-smelling blood seeped from his mouth. The Templar Commander intended to turn around and question Zavisha, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. After struggling for a while, the Templar Commander's eyes widened, his body went limp, and he knelt on the ground, the holy sword in his hand falling to the ground with a clang.

"This isn't my fault, it has nothing to do with me!" His twisted face was filled with unprecedented pleasure, an endless sense of ecstasy and joy. For the first time, Zavisha felt an immense, exhilarating pleasure at holding other people's lives in his hands, at will taking them away, placing himself above everyone else, and having the power of life and death over these 'lowly people'.

"No, it's all your fault, it's the world's fault, it's all your fault that I'm forced into this situation..." Zavisa laughed loudly, "Hahahaha... Who told you all to order me around? Who told you all to refuse to follow my wishes? I am a nobleman, the next duke, you should all listen to me!"

"So die!" The sword was drawn, and the Templar Knight commander's body fell to the ground. Zavisa, still not satisfied, drew his corrupted holy sword and continued to hack at the Templar Knight commander, blood splattering everywhere, the body torn to pieces.

The battlefield fell silent. Both the ambushing reincarnators and the members of the Templar Extermination Team stared blankly as Zaviso frantically and cruelly dismembered the dead Templar Commander.

……

'Hey, this guy got a debuff? Who activated it?'

'No! No, neither of the two spellcasters here knows that kind of curse magic!'

'Then why did he go crazy?'

'God knows! Could it be that the psychological pressure has driven him insane?'

'Have you ever seen a madman suddenly become powerful? And that weird appearance... why don't you just say this guy is possessed by some kind of evil thing!'

'...I think the Reincarnation Center should be issuing side quests around this time, right?'

……

Then, these reincarnators, who were communicating in the team's communications, unsurprisingly discovered that the main god had given them another mission, along with a hint that a hidden storyline had been triggered and a hidden faction had been opened. In essence, it was to assist the madman in front of them in controlling the empire and defeating the church and the sanctuary.

And the rewards for completing the task are very, very generous...

Three shifts