"Justice." Rody and Chris, mimicking the tone of Temple Knights, quickly approached on their light magic horses.
Rody conjured a stone and, imitating the gesture of Temple Knights throwing their holy hammers, hurled it at a soldier standing on the ship's railing. The unfortunate soldier fell into the lake with a splash, likely to be welcomed by the fish and shrimp if the freshwater mermaids spared him.
Chris, brandishing a holy sword and shouting loudly, secretly cast enhancement magic on both himself and Rody.
Their appearance left both sides in the battle somewhat dumbfounded. The freshwater mermaids on the lake surface quickly disengaged and dove deep into the lake. The human troops, riding griffins and deerhawks, also took the chance to land on the ship, looking at Rody and Chris with confusion, not understanding their intent.
The soldiers on the ship stared at Rody and Chris in astonishment.
"Who are these fools daring to attack us?" someone on the ship laughed heartily, stepping forward. Rody and Chris frowned slightly as they recognized the man as a general with the strength of a sky warrior, not an easy opponent.
"I am Colonel Terri of the Sixth Squadron of the Temple Knights, the Sky Cavalry. Soldiers, who do you serve? Report to us immediately." Fate has a way of bringing enemies together. Rody least wanted to encounter anyone from the Rein family, yet here he was, facing Terri, his older brother. Although not as accomplished as Lotte, Terri was already a colonel.
"Ah, sir, we, we are under General Lotte, the Ninth Squadron..." Rody stammered in his report.
"Lotte's men? Don't you know that when reporting to a superior, you should dismount and salute in front of the officer? Didn't my brother Lotte teach you what a knight's etiquette is?" Terri, hearing they were his brother's men, became even more arrogant.
Rody and Chris, riding their light magic horses, dismounted and approached Terri at the ship's bow with a hint of fear.
The crowd laughed heartily at the disheveled appearance of these two righteous Temple Knights.
"Sir, we..." Rody and Chris stood in front of Terri, saluting him. But before Terri could mock them, Rody's mental hammer struck his chin hard. Chris, ducking low, knocked the dizzy Terri to the deck. Rody threw several curses like 'Rigidity', 'Paralysis', and 'Weightlessness' at Terri.
Before the crowd could react, Rody had already removed Terri's holy helmet, holding a sharp dagger to his throat.
Two guards roared and lunged at them, but Chris sent them flying with a powerful punch. In mid-air, Rody's vines whipped out, hurling them into the lake, splashing water everywhere.
"What do you think you're doing?" the Redlands Kingdom's general furiously demanded.
"We are righteous Temple Knights. We consider all evil our enemy!" Rody intended to fully blame the Temple.
"Humanity and freshwater mermaids have lived in harmony for generations. You, for the sake of their 'Mermaid Tear Pearls' and 'Mermaid Tails', have so cruelly disrupted the order and laws set by the gods. We will not forgive you," Chris cited a moral high ground.
"Are you out of your minds? Release Colonel Terri immediately, or you will have no place to bury your dead!" The general commanded his soldiers to surround Rody and Chris.
"This is our answer!" Rody stabbed his dagger into Terri's shoulder, causing blood to spurt out. He then kicked hard at a vulnerable spot under Terri's armor, causing the paralyzed Terri to howl in agony and faint. Chris, fearing others would later suspect Rody, also punched and kicked Terri, covering up Rody's action.
"Stop, stop!" The general was very reluctant to see Terri killed because of his own tough stance, as it would cause big trouble.
"Release the mermaids, or we can't guarantee Colonel Terri's safety," Chris demanded of the general, pointing to the mermaids in a magical cage on the ship.
The griffin cavalry in the sky descended, intending to snatch Terri.
However, it wasn't their intention, but Rody's mental power pulling and enticing the griffins beneath them. Chris, in perfect sync, executed a crescent slash mimicking a sword wave, slicing the griffins and their riders, causing blood and feathers to scatter in the air. Those who barely escaped to the sky were shot down one by one by Chris with his bow.
The general was shaking with anger, pale-faced, having never expected two self-proclaimed righteous Temple Knights to disrupt the hunt.
Moreover, they were so powerful.
"Exchange, we agree to release the mermaids, but you must also release Colonel Terri. To prevent you from going back on your word, we decide to release the mermaids at the stern, and one of you should go there to monitor our actions. Meanwhile, the other one at the bow must simultaneously release Colonel Terri. Remember one thing, we will not let this go easily and will definitely hold the Temple accountable," the general coldly proposed an exchange method.
"We'll do it right here," Chris obviously did not agree.
"We can release the mermaids, but if you don't follow the agreement, then we'll be deceived. You should know, here we have not only your Temple's men but also the armies of Redlands and Greater Frey. Although we're eager to ensure Colonel Terri's safety, we will not fully compromise," another six-pointed star magician also refused Chris's terms, supported by more soldiers.
"You go and watch them. Only when all the mermaids are released should you signal me with the magic fireworks," Rody whispered instructively, but the opponents clearly heard his tense words.
"Okay," Chris took Rody's magic fireworks with a shaky hand, playing along with Rody's tense act.
He mounted his light magic horse, circled around the ship, and followed the six-pointed star magician and a squad of soldiers to the stern. Chris watched the soldiers slowly open a magical cage imprisoning the mermaids and threw the unconscious mermaids into the lake...
After a while, a magic firework rose from the stern, brightly illuminating the night sky.
"You see? We've kept our promise and released all the mermaids. Now release Colonel Terri, immediately!" the general roared.
"My partner hasn't come back yet! Wait until he returns, I must see him!" Rody, holding onto Terri, retreated to the very edge of the bow, anxiously watching the stern direction. However, Chris seemed to have vanished, not appearing at all. The general, with many soldiers, formed a semi-circle, trapping Rody at the bow, with magicians and archers aiming at him, and swordsmen ready to strike.
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"He will be back soon, let Colonel Terri drink some healing potion first. How can you keep watching him bleed?" The general offered to send someone to hurry Chris, while negotiating with Rody.
"I haven't seen my partner, and none of you should come near!" Rody shouted tensely on purpose.
"I'm back, are you okay?" Chris quickly returned, rushing into the circle and asking with concern. Rody handed Colonel Terri over to him and slowly took out a magic scroll, preparing to escape the moment he released the hostage.
"I'll count to three, and as soon as you let go, enter the small light gate," Rody instructed.
"Start counting!" Suddenly, Chris punched Rody in the stomach and kicked the magic scroll out of his hand. To Rody's astonishment, Chris transformed into someone else – the six-pointed star magician who had been laughing moments ago. "Your partner has already run away, but we will catch him sooner or later! You will have the chance to discuss and repent your worse-than-dogshit justice in the cage. We will make sure you understand where you went wrong!"
"Capture him!" The leading general also laughed loudly, rushing over to rescue Terri and signaling the soldiers to capture Rody.
"You don't know, I am the bane of magicians!" Rody snorted angrily. The six-pointed star magician, protected by a magic shield, was struck by Rody's mental hammer, causing him to spit blood. Rody's mental net wrapped around the overconfident man, and he held him up like a small chicken. In front of the soldiers preparing to pounce, Rody broke the magician's fingers one by one and held a sharp dagger to his eyelid.
"Damn it..." The leading general halted the soldiers but activated some magic mechanism. A magic light screen rose at the bow of the ship, enveloping the area and preventing Rody from jumping into the lake.
In the sky, Chris returned on his light magic horse, but he too couldn't enter.
Rody gestured to Chris, who desperately shook his head. Finally, in anger, Rody raised his dagger to kill the hostage, prompting Chris to reluctantly leave on his light magic horse, frequently looking back.
"You can't escape. Release the hostage now, and we still have room for maneuver. Even if your superior, General Lotte, comes here, he won't be able to save you! The reinforcements your partner brought will capture you, not stand by your side. You've caused trouble, listen, you must release the hostage immediately! Unconditionally release him, or I can't guarantee your life!" the leading general sneered.
"I won't listen to your nonsense until my partner brings reinforcements!" Rody declared his trust only in the reinforcements.
"Watch him!" The leading general ordered the soldiers to keep an eye on Rody while he took the severely injured Terri for treatment. He had plenty of time to spare and believed that even if reinforcements arrived, even if General Lotte personally came, they would only capture these self-righteous men, not blame himself. Hunting mermaids was a secret order from the Temple, which General Lotte certainly knew. Unfortunately, these two foolish soldiers were unaware of the details.
An hour and a half later, the general comfortably finished his dinner and a few glasses of wine, then leisurely went to the bow to see how the other side was holding up.
Under such intense mental pressure, it was believed that the enemy's morale would be greatly undermined in less than half an hour.
Being isolated and surrounded, such a blow would be unbearable even for the toughest person. The general didn't really care about the life of the magic master; his concern was his own life. As a sky warrior who had been through dozens of battles, he had learned to be cautious. The opponents, though reckless and passionate, were quick and ruthless in their actions. Both Terri and the magic master had been captured without a chance to fight back, and the general was determined not to let such a thing happen to him.
Self-preservation was his true path to success.
"Report to the general, the pursuing air force has not returned yet," a guard reported to him. The general was pleased to hear this. He wasn't aiming to capture the opponents but rather to find out if they really had reinforcements. If so, the arrival of reinforcements would be a good thing for him. Perhaps General Lotte would bring his subordinates bound to him for disposition.
"How is the situation at the bow?" the general asked again.
"Reporting to the general, they are still in a standoff," the guard, who had been watching for over an hour, was impatient.
"Eh?" When the general, with his heavy belly, arrived at the bow, he found the situation was not as he had imagined. Inside the magic barrier, not a single soldier was standing; even his most capable deputy lay on the ground panting like a dog.
The exhausted appearance of the soldiers left the general dumbfounded.
Two to three hundred people surrounding one person, yet so exhausted? And looking at their dehydrated and dried-out state, it was as if they had been starving and thirsty for ten days and nights. The general couldn't understand how the soldiers had become like this in just an hour and a half.
"Um, delicious," Rody was sitting high at the bow, crisply biting into an apple.
"Great knight, please give me an apple, I'm starving to death..." The general heard his deputy calling the enemy a great knight and went pale. This was a title he could never attain, yet his proud deputy was begging the enemy like a tail-wagging dog.
"Who else wants an apple?" Rody pointed at the general and his accompanying guards, saying, "Take down that big-bellied fellow first!"
"Roar!" Everyone, as if hearing a divine command, charged with weapons roaring.
"What's going on?" The general drew his sword in panic, slashing at his own men, but countless soldiers still crazily pounced on him, heedless of their own lives. Heads and limbs flew, blood and flesh scattered, but the soldiers charged like demons from hell. The general kept slashing, but none stopped their assault.
"In this world, there is something called a time hourglass, which can accelerate the passage of time by a hundredfold. You've been away for an hour and a half, and if it's accelerated a hundred times, I believe you would also end up like them. General, your time of death has come! Justice, must prevail!" Rody laughed heartily.
"Who can kill me!" The general became furious, a sky warrior, thinking himself a tiger but treated as a sick cat.
"General, you ate well, didn't you? Ah, juicy steaks and sweet wine filled your belly. With your heavy stomach, how much fighting power do you have left? Surprised, aren't you? You want to know how I knew what you ate, right? Let me tell you, it was I who suggested your meal, including what you ate and how much... all through my mental influence, just like now. While I'm talking, I'm also mentally suggesting - what am I suggesting? Dementia, brain damage, and despair!" With every word Rody spoke, the general sweated profusely.
"Ah..." The general burst out his fighting spirit, turning to flee.
"Too late," Rody sneered. "From the moment you stepped out of the cabin, you've been in my illusion. Did you really think that as a sky warrior, I couldn't handle you? In my presence, even the strongest man is just a demented, slow-witted statue!"
"Look here!" Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice rang out behind the general. His guard transformed into a silver-armored Temple Knight, heavily slashing his sword at the general's neck.
His protective fighting spirit couldn't resist the sudden attack.
As the general screamed in agony, fully regaining consciousness, he found himself lying atop a heap of mutilated corpses. Half of his neck was cut open, blood spurting out. He quickly drank a highly effective healing potion and immediately crushed a teleportation scroll, fleeing at the fastest speed of his life. On the other side of the cabin, the recently awakened Terri heard the fight and screams, got up with the help of his guards, and without a second thought, pressed a ring in his hand, opening a small light circle, and disappeared into it.
The air force fled in disarray, and the remaining soldiers either despaired and jumped into the water or committed suicide with their swords.
Some charged at Rody, but quickly turned on each other, hacking and slashing in a bloody frenzy.
Those who could escape did so, while those who couldn't surrendered and dropped their swords.
In less than five minutes, Rody had locked all the survivors in the huge ship's hold and calmly stopped the magic barrier mechanism, allowing the waiting Chris to descend, grinning.
"The cunning man, can't be helped, they're just unlucky to have met you," Chris said, frowning slightly at the sight of Marcus in the holy armor. "You let your skeleton wear the hard-earned holy armor... Anyway, what's going on with it? How come the undead aren't afraid of holy light magic? Never mind, don't ask. You had a chance to kill that guy just now, why did you let him escape?"
"Letting a madman escape means no one will believe his words. The Temple will execute him or burn him at the stake; they won't admit it was done by a Temple Knight. As for Terri, he will bite back to absolve himself," Rody laughed heartily.
"You're such a scoundrel, so cunning!" Chris nodded, also feeling that the unfortunate general had a great chance of becoming the scapegoat.
"We should search the place and then leave as soon as possible." Rody, looking weary, said, "My mental strength is greatly depleted. It would be very dangerous if a powerful person were to arrive unexpectedly."
"Who asked you to show off? Controlling three hundred people with your mental power alone, you're simply a madman!" Chris laughed and spat, quickly going down to the cabin to search for useful items, while Rody dismantled the device for the magical barrier. He was very fond of this thing that had stumped even the mermaids. Having it would definitely be a great help on the battlefield.
"Big haul, Rody, I also found a few beautiful ladies..." Chris carried out a magical cage, inside which were three mermaids.
One of the mermaids, wearing a pearl crown on her head, seemed to have a significant status.
Rody looked her up and down, noticing that the mermaid was indeed extraordinarily beautiful, especially the one wearing the crown, who had a special kind of noble and elegant demeanor, making her look charming yet unviolable.
"Pervert, what are you looking at?" Chris, seeing Rody checking out the mermaid, said discontentedly, "Hurry up and help rescue them!"
"Taking a look won't cost me a piece of flesh. Besides, her chest is covered with scallops!" Rody found the mermaid's attire truly mesmerizing. Apart from the pearl crown and necklace, her upper body was only covered by two scallop shells, gently enveloping her tender buds. The beautiful snow peaks were even more prominent under the partial concealment of the scallops, extremely tempting and provocative.
As for the lower half of the mermaids' bodies, there were no adornments at all, their lower bodies being beautiful fish tails.
Each mermaid's tail was slightly different, especially the one wearing the crown, whose tail made Rody think for the first time that fish tails could be beautiful.
Chris was very dissatisfied with Rody's lecherous comments, but he himself was no gentleman either. Not only did he break open the magical cage, but he also personally held the mermaids and fed them a magical potion, even refusing Rody's help. He was a super pervert, and one with a strong sense of possessiveness at that.
"Thank you for rescuing us, we need to get back into the water quickly, otherwise we'll turn into foam and disappear..." The mermaid wearing the crown weakly thanked Chris and Rody. It seemed she hadn't completely lost consciousness, just extremely weak.
"You used a soul-dispersing spell? That's really crazy!" Chris said a few sentences in ancient Elvish.
"I'm so glad to see you, boo hoo hoo!" The crown-wearing mermaid suddenly hugged Chris and started crying loudly, and the other two mermaids also hugged and cried together.
Rody didn't understand, but guessed it had something to do with himself and Chris.
Just as he was about to ask for clarification, suddenly, in the distant sky, a streak of golden light shot towards them.
"Sword Emperor? Not good! Rody, quickly dive into the water, we are friends of the mermaids, it's safe in the water!" Seeing this, Chris shouted.