Chapter 91

The second guard post was empty, with only slight signs of a struggle nearby, and no sign of the warriors who were supposed to be on duty.

Sul Dak pondered for a moment. This time, he did not leave any of the second squad warriors at this guard post. Since the two closest hidden posts to the camp were unmanned, the other posts were likely in no better condition. The military had set up thirteen guard posts on the western side of the camp. If a warrior had to be left at each post, by the time they reached the last post, the second squad would probably be down to just him.

It was clear that these demons knew the layout of the guard posts in this area, including the hiding spots for each post, and had silently eliminated all the warriors stationed there.

While discovering these hidden posts was not particularly noteworthy, their ability to silently eliminate all the guards indicated that they had some means.

Now that the second squad could not track the demons, it meant that the demons were lurking in the shadows, likely waiting for the second squad warriors to split up and take their posts, then picking them off one by one.

Originally, He Boqiang had wanted to secretly remind Sul Dak, but it was clear that Sul Dak had already realized this.

Sul Dak took out the last two hard, salted fish-like demon heads from his bag. These two demon heads were the second squad's only hope of defeating the demons.

Sul Dak ordered the other squad members to keep watch around the area. He Boqiang then took out four clay bowls and set up a magic array on the open ground below the second guard post, performing a simple sacrificial ritual to bestow 'Divine Body' and 'Blessing Shield' on the two of them.

Despite being familiar with the sacrificial ritual, He Boqiang still felt a bit nervous each time, as if something was watching him from the shadows...

After completing the ritual, Sul Dak gathered the second squad warriors and began to lay out the plan.

"We can't go any further. If we do, our people will be scattered at each post, making us easy targets for the demons to pick off one by one."

Sul Dak sat under a tree, his face resolute, and said to the second squad warriors:

"You all go back, and I'll stay here with Dake to see what's going on..."

The second squad members were taken aback by the idea of their captain, Sul Dak, using himself as bait to lure out the hidden demons. They looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

Seeing everyone fall silent, Sul Dak said:

"By the way, when you get to the first post, don't forget to bring Billy along. I'm not comfortable leaving him there alone."

Kagel, the bearded one, frowned and said hesitantly, "Captain, it's not right to leave you and Dake here..."

Augustus also chimed in, "If we're staying, we all stay. I don't believe we can't find them."

The other warriors also wanted to say something to dissuade him, but Sul Dak waved them off and said:

"Just go, don't worry. If there are many of them, I'll launch a magic signal flare to call for reinforcements from the camp. The camp is not far, and they will certainly send help. If there are only a few, I'll call you, and as long as we hold out until you return, we can take them down."

Seeing that the second squad warriors were still hesitant, Sul Dak added:

"Don't worry, I can handle a few demons with Dake. Look, I've even learned from Dake and switched to a dwarf chain shield."

The second squad warriors deliberately made their footsteps and voices louder as they walked, gradually disappearing into the dense forest on the hillside.

Sul Dak climbed up a tree to recheck for any signs of a struggle, while He Boqiang searched for clues on the ground. Finally, he found some disordered demon footprints in the soft earth after clearing away the dead leaves.

Although the demons had been there, they had done a good job of covering their tracks, making it difficult to trace them immediately.

This demon was more intelligent than the others, knowing how to hide its tracks.

Sul Dak jumped down from the tree, holding a magic signal flare in his hand, and said to He Boqiang with a frown, "We don't even have a chance to launch a signal flare..."

He Boqiang pointed to the footprints in the forest, and Sul Dak's eyes lit up. Seeing the clues He Boqiang had found, Sul Dak said, "Let's follow these footprints. Maybe the demons are looking for us as well..."

Seeing Sul Dak's eager expression, He Boqiang didn't know how to dissuade him.

At that moment, He Boqiang's keen senses suddenly detected a sense of danger, and he quickly pulled Sul Dak behind a large tree.

Sul Dak was about to ask what was happening, but He Boqiang covered his mouth.

A long-horned demon suddenly appeared in the forest. From its path, He Boqiang could see that it was moving in the blind spot of the guard post, hiding behind trees so that the lookout in the tree could not see it.

He Boqiang pulled Sul Dak behind a tree. A few seconds later, the long-horned demon's gaze indeed fell on their previous hiding spot.

The demon was very cautious. After confirming that there were no human warriors in the tree, it immediately planned to leave.

Just as the long-horned demon turned to leave, it suddenly saw the imperial warriors hiding behind the tree. The demon's eyes glowed red, and the bayonet in its hand extended, as it quickly charged over, surprisingly making no sound despite its over three-meter-tall, muscular body.

In an instant, the demon was in front of Sul Dak.

Sul Dak did not hesitate, stepping out from behind the tree with his shield and thrusting his knight's longsword at the demon's chest.

The long-horned demon did not expect Sul Dak to resist. In its experience, infantry in such inferior armor were usually cannon fodder on the battlefield. The demon deflected Sul Dak's sword with one hand and kicked at his shield with the other.

The kick landed solidly on the shield, producing a dull, heavy sound.

In the demon's experience, this kick would either kill or knock the infantry off his feet.

But what was most astonishing was that the infantry warrior actually withstood the kick.

He Boqiang's Roman sword then silently stabbed into the demon's left rib, and this time, he had learned from experience, pulling the sword out before the demon's muscles could contract.

The long-horned demon looked at the black, viscous blood flowing from the wound in disbelief and thrust its bayonet at He Boqiang's throat.

He Boqiang's dwarf chain shield glowed with a faint silver light, and the silver magic runes on the shield flashed briefly.

'Blessing Shield'

The demon's bayonet struck the shield, and the resilient bayonet bent slightly but failed to pierce the shield.

Sul Dak took the opportunity to swing the dwarf chain shield with all his might, striking the demon's face.

A dull sound echoed as the silver runes on the shield touched the demon's face, and the runes glowed brightly.

The long-horned demon's face, under the influence of the silver runes, melted like wax, the flesh rapidly dissolving...