Chapter 45

An arrow shot from the dark depths of the dense forest, accurately piercing the back of the neck of a demon that had just crawled out of the Gate of Demons.

The demon felt an uncomfortable sensation at the back of its neck and tried to reach for it, but its arms inexplicably moved in different directions each time, causing it to growl in frustration.

It writhed in pain in front of the Gate of Demons, its purple eyes filled with negative emotions—hatred, pain, anger...

The native hunter hiding in the forest, having fired the arrow, quickly ran back. The bushes where he was hiding trembled, and the demon, with its body still smoking, sniffed the air forcefully. Sensing the presence of life, it pounced on the bushes without hesitation.

This demon was nearly three meters long and, when standing upright, was over a meter taller than the people of the Green Empire. Its hands had sharp claws, each as long as a foot, like sharp blades.

Although it moved clumsily, it could take steps of three to four meters, reaching the bushes in just a few strides.

The demon leaned forward, its black claws slicing through the dense bushes. As the branches and leaves splattered, a twisted vine suddenly sprang out from the bushes, looping around the demon's head. The immense pulling force instantly lifted the demon into the air, and it flailed its arms and legs wildly. Its claws quickly cut through the vine.

After landing steadily on the ground, the demon became even more agile, tracking the native hunter by scent. In just a few strides, it caught up to the hunter, who was fleeing in panic into the dense forest. Licking its blood-red tongue, the demon thrust its claws into the hunter's back without hesitation, like a farmer stabbing a fleeing mouse in a wheat field with a pitchfork.

Before the claws could touch the hunter, they were blocked by a shield that emerged from behind a tree. The claws pierced through the shield, producing a harsh metallic tearing sound.

Bajale, the swordsman, wielding a double-bladed greatsword, lunged from the shadows, stabbing the demon's left rib. Purple blood spurted from the wound. With one claw stuck in the shield, the demon kicked the shield-wielding Suldak, who had emerged from behind the tree, and swung its other claw at Bajale.

Bajale bent his knees and tilted his head back, narrowly avoiding the demon's claw. The double-bladed greatsword pierced the demon's body.

The demon kicked Suldak's right thigh with great force. Suldak, unable to dodge, flew backward, his metal greaves dented. He crashed into a pine tree, the impact leaving him dazed and unable to stand for a while.

He Boqiang stood behind Suldak. Seeing the demon kick Suldak away, he swung his Roman sword at the demon's ankle. The sword struck the demon's ankle with great force, but it felt like cutting rubber with a dull knife. The sword was deflected, leaving only a shallow scratch on the demon's ankle.

At the same time, two Pagliu spears pierced the demon's back. Although they did not penetrate its body, they deeply embedded themselves in its back.

One of the demon's claws was still stuck in the broken shield. It swung the shield at Bajale. Bajale, holding the double-bladed greatsword, rolled forward, nimbly avoiding the shield and pulling the greatsword out of the demon's abdomen, slicing a nearly fatal wound that exposed some of its dark purple organs.

The demon let out another agonizing roar and pounced on Bajale, trying to pin him down.

At this moment, He Boqiang was standing beside Bajale. He tried to move to the side of the demon but saw it pounce. It was too late to dodge. The demon's fierce gaze seemed to be waiting for the moment He Boqiang turned to run, ready to stab him in the back with its claws.

He Boqiang took a deep breath and, instead of running, charged at the demon with his Roman sword.

The demon quickly used one claw to block He Boqiang's sword. The moment the claw touched the Roman sword, the sword lost all its force and was knocked away. He Boqiang, taking advantage of the demon's attack, pressed his body against the demon's claw and dodged to its back.

The Roman sword, after being knocked away, flipped in the air and fell downward. He Boqiang jumped up, caught the sword, and, using the momentum of his fall, slashed at the demon's back.

The demon let out a low growl and lunged forward, but it could not avoid He Boqiang's sword.

The Roman sword pierced the demon's neck.

At the same time, Bajale swung his sword, severing one of the demon's claws at the wrist.

The demon struggled, but two warriors from the second squad stabbed it with their spears. A vine was thrown from a tree, looping around the demon's neck. Several native hunters pulled the rope with all their might, laying the demon's massive body on the forest clearing.

Bajale took the opportunity to step forward, raising his double-bladed greatsword and decapitating the demon. The bloody head rolled a considerable distance on the forest floor.

Suldak, who had been helped up from the ground, pointed to the Gate of Demons beside the stone wall and warned everyone, "Don't just stand there, another one is coming out."

He Boqiang, still catching his breath, walked to the bushes and indeed saw two more demons crawling out of the living gate. As Bajale had said, the green-faced demon had become aware of the danger and was accelerating the birth of more demons.

Three enhanced native hunters emerged from the forest, looking as if they had adapted to their new abilities.

Bajale wiped his double-bladed greatsword on the demon's body and walked to the bushes. The green-faced demon had clearly noticed the situation and realized the danger was approaching. It struggled and tore at its wounds, its agonized cries piercing the valley.

From the Gate of Demons on the green-faced demon's body, several ghostly hands emerged, tearing at its wounds, causing a mess of blood and flesh. Several demons squeezed through the wound, struggling to climb out. Their bodies emitted green smoke, and their skin rapidly disintegrated upon contact with the air.

In just a short time, three more demons had crawled out of the Gate of Demons.

The accelerated birthing process was taking a heavy toll on the Gate of Demons. The green-faced demon's abdominal wound was bleeding profusely, and its terrifying face exuded a sense of destruction.

"We must quickly stop this Gate of Demons; we can't handle any more!" Bajale, carrying his double-bladed greatsword, said anxiously.

"Then we'll proceed according to the plan..." Suldak said, gesturing to a fallen warrior from the second squad.