Suara teriakan, pertarungan, ledakan, dan benturan logam bergema saat Crawford-41 memimpin pasukannya. Saat mereka diteleportkan, tepat seratus zombie mengendari binatang zombi mereka masing-masing menyerang mereka. Serangan bunuh diri itu kejam dan sangat mematikan. Zombie-zombie ini memiliki semacam kemampuan yang memengaruhi area luas yang secara langsung melumpuhkan sisi pasukan Jotun yang menghadapi mereka.
Lendir asam hujan deras di atas kepala mereka sementara serpihan tulang tajam menghantam pertahanan mereka, mengancam untuk membelah mereka. Tanah terbelah saat tentakel berdarah meletus dari bawah, mencoba menebas apa pun di jalannya. Raungan lebih dari seratus binatang zombie marah bergemuruh di seluruh pasukan, mengancam untuk merobek kelinga mereka. Dengan cakar cukup tajam untuk merobek logam, mereka mengacaukan para prajurit pengepung.
Seolah-olah hari kiamat turun menimpa manusia. Kejahatan luar biasa menghantam pasukan kecil, pasukan yang telah menguasai semesta dengan ketakutan dan kebencian. Namun bahkan saat api dan amarah turun menimpa manusia, seperti adegan hari akhir dalam banyak agama, manusia itu teguh berdiri. Menghadapi baja dan tulang, rahang berdarah dan cakar berduri, melawan kekuatan penuh pasukan bunuh diri ini, tidak satu pun prajurit yang jatuh.\n
Bahu menempel bahu, barisan depan mengerang dan mempertahankan posisi, melindungi saudara-saudara mereka di belakang. Kematian tidak bisa menakutkan mereka dan badai serangan tidak bisa membuat mereka tergoyang. Memegang perisai yang tumbuh menjadi versi raksasa, delapan kaki tinggi dan tiga kaki lebar, dari dirinya sendiri, prajurit-prajurit ini adalah kebanggaan sebuah Kekaisaran. Hanya dikenal sebagai Tim Bulwark, mereka adalah pelindung khusus setiap pasukan Jotun.
Akhirnya, zombie-zombie itu mencapai prajurit dan menabrak dinding perisai sementara. Binatang-binatang itu menabrakkan tubuh mereka sementara zombie menggunakan anggota tubuh dan cakar aneh mereka untuk menembus barikade. Tanah itu bergetar hebat dari kekuatan tabrakan, dan para penonton di Inn pun ikut gemetar tanpa sadar saat melihat pemandangan itu, tapi setia pada nama mereka, pertahanan Tim Bulwark tetap tidak tertembus.
Sejak permainan dimulai, belum satu menit pun berlalu. Namun saat zombie menabrak perisai, momentum mereka terhenti. Inilah kesempatan yang ditunggu-tunggu prajurit Jotun.
"Pasukan tiga dan lima, kelilingi dan serang dari belakang. Tim Bulwark, tahan mereka!" perintah Crawford-41. Dengan cara yang tenang namun cepat, prajurit mulai bergerak, bertindak sesuai perintah.
Tujuan pasukan bunuh diri zombie ini adalah menahan prajurit di tempat sementara sisa zombie mundur untuk bergabung dengan pasukan utama mereka. Zombie Tingkat 3, setara dengan kultivator Alam Fondasi, mulai mendapatkan kecerdasan, tapi masih dalam bentuk sangat primitif. Mereka paham keinginan naluriah untuk makan, dan sampai tingkat tertentu merencanakan cara mendapatkannya, tapi konsep kerja sama atau perencanaan jangka panjang luput dari mereka. Pasukan Jotun tidak tahu seberapa besar pasukan utama zombie, tapi di bawah komando pemimpin yang tepat seperti Pramod, kelethalan mereka akan meningkat secara eksponensial.
Pramod ingin sampai ke pasukan utama sambil mempertahankan jumlah zombie awalnya, sementara prajurit Jotun ingin menghentikannya, apa pun caranya. Sementara prajurit bertarung, Pramod dan unit berkudanya sudah mendapatkan keunggulan jauh. Segera, pengejaran akan dimulai yang menentukan bagaimana sisa pertandingan berlangsung.
Sehebat apapun pasukan itu, menghadapi musuh bunuh diri tidak mudah. Butuh tiga puluh menit penuh sebelum zombie-zombie itu ditangani — tanpa korban jiwa atau luka di pihak Jotun, tentu saja.
Setelah zombie bunuh diri itu dikhianati, Crawford-41 memeriksa prajuritnya serta mayat yang gugur. Setelah pemindaian cepat, mereka menyadari zombie-zombie ini diracuni virus mematikan dan beraksi cepat. Seandainya satu pun prajurit terluka, dalam menit dia akan mati, dan kemudian berubah jadi zombie. Tidak diketahui apakah hanya 2500 zombie yang diracuni, atau semuanya. Bergantung jawabannya, ini bisa lebih berbahaya. Lebih jauh, tidak satu pun zombie menjatuhkan inti. Karena iblis memasang formasi pengumpul di setiap node untuk otomatis mengumpulkan semua inti zombie dalam radius tertentu. Karena mereka tahu pertarungan akan datang, tidak ada alasan meninggalkan keuntungan seperti itu untuk musuh.
"Menurut pemindaian awal, peluang medan perang ini sektor 776 sangat tinggi," kata seorang teknisi ke Crawford-41. "Saat kita bergerak, aku terus memindai tanah, yang harus mengonfirmasi lokasi kita. Setelah lokasi ditentukan, kita bisa mencocokkan lokasi kita dengan pemindaian planet untuk dapatkan peta detail area."
"Bagus. Setelah lokasi ditentukan, kirimkan peta ke ku. Semua orang, ambil formasi pengejaran dan segera mulai mengejar target 1, tapi waspada jebakan. Mereka tidak akan biarkan kita mengejar mudah, tapi kita tidak bisa biarkan mereka bergabung dengan pasukan utama!"
Tanpa butuh instruksi lanjut, prajurit mereorganisasi diri untuk memudahkan pengejaran dan segera memulai. Seperti dugaan, Pramod meninggalakan berbagai jebakan dan jerat untuk memperlambat mereka. Kabar baiknya prajurit Jotun tidak menderita korban jiwa. Kabar buruknya Pramod dan pasukannya, di atas kuda-kudanya, semakin memperluas jarak.
Sementara Crawford-41 dan prajuritnya mengejar, dan Alexander dengan prajuritnya berlari lurus untuk memotong Pramod, sisa prajurit manusia mendirikan kemah sementara dan mulai mengintai area menggunakan drone. Objektif pertama mereka adalah menemukan musuh dan memahami medan sebelum buat rencana aksi. Tidak semudah sekadar melawan zombie seperti yang dikatakan Pengelola Inn, hal tak terduga bisa terjadi saat pertandingan. Karena tujuan mereka dapatkan poin sebanyak mungkin buat membuktikan nilai mereka, mereka harus bertindak sesuai.
Berbeda dengan manusia, yang semua bergerak dengan tujuan jelas, binatang-binatang itu membagi diri jadi tiga kelompok berbeda, masing-masing dengan rencana sendiri. Kelompok terbesar terdiri dari serigala yang berasal dari wilayah Blood Fangs. Mereka tidak buang waktu sedikit pun dan lari sendirian. Mereka mencari mangsa, dan akan putuskan apa yang dilakukan begitu menemukannya. Kelompok kedua terbesar adalah kelompok gajah.
Gajah-gajah itu memiliki keuntungan alami di kekuatan brutal dan pertahanan. Mereka dipaksa oleh keesan untuk ikut, dan berperilaku dengan enggan. Mereka tahu kalau tidak berbuat apa-apa, akan bayar mahal begitu pertandingan berakhir, tapi di saat sama, mereka tidak mau terlalu proaktif. Keesan itu mungkin lebih longgar kalau ada di antara gajah yang mewarisi garis keturunan Mamut Api, tapi tidak ada. Tidak sampai level gajah itu disposable, tapi memaksa mereka ikut pertandingan, setidaknya, tidak akan bikin keesan kena masalah.
Kelompok ketiga dan terkecil adalah kumpulan acak binatang kuat. Beberapa ikut sukarela untuk hadiah dijanjikan pemimpin wilayah, beberapa diancam, semua tidak tahu harus apa. Mencapai kesepakatan tak terucapkan, mereka putuskan cuma ikuti gajah dari jauh.
Hanya tiga puluh menit berlalu dan sebelas setengah jam lagi tersisa, tapi bahkan saat kebanyakan masih merencanakan langkah, penonton di Inn sudah kacau!
Semua nanti bentrok di awal karena kehadiran zombie, tapi kehebohan pertarungan mengejutkan mereka. Manusia bersorak dan berteriak untuk prajurit berani, dan kelima Nascent mengamati dengan sungguh-sungguh prajurit yang melampaui imajinasi mereka. Belum satu pun prajurit mati sampai sekarang, meski serangan menerjang! Itu tegaskan kuat posisi mereka di alam semesta.
Lex terkejut, ini pertama kali dia lihat kultivator bertarung seperti benar. Sayang dia harus jaga citra jauh sebagai Pengelola Inn, kalau tidak dia ikut berteriak sama penonton.
Dia sendiri tidak tahu kejutan apa yang menanti peserta, jadi dia juga nonton dengan deg-degan.
Selain layar-layar menampilkan nasib peserta, layar lain menampilkan poin mendapat perhatian banyak. Kekaisaran Jotun punya 200 poin untuk membunuh 100 zombie dan 100 kuda-kuda mereka, tapi distribusi untuk individu yang menarik perhatian paling banyak. Sementara kebanyakan nama di daftar sejauh ini punya satu atau dua kill, satu nama menonjol: Cara Deathsworn – V2001.
Cara Deathsworn namanya dan V2001 nomor registrasinya. V memberitahu orang kalau dia dari Vegus Minima. Alasan namanya menarik perhatian karena jumlah poin yang terkumpul: 29. Sementara tiap prajurit punya satu atau dua kill, dia punya 29. Banyak tamu mengalihkan layar ke dia dan menonton replay pertarungannya.
Mungkin banyak yang nantiin lihat pejuang cantik, menebas zombie seperti pahlawan gagah berani. Sayangnya, wajahnya tidak terlihat di bawah helm, dan armor tidak didesain dengan prioritas daya tarik visual, jadi tidak terlihat menarik. Yang tertangkap adalah momen armor di lengannya rusak. Sebelum armor meregang menutupi area rusak, tamu sempat lihat sekilas otot kering, sangat kurus. Itu membangunkan banyak penonton pada kebenaran bahwa Deathsworn bukan pejuang peri dari anime. Dia prajurit, dan tubuhnya dibangun seperti pembunuh. Entah kenapa, itu justru menambah penggemarnya.
The sound of screaming, fighting, explosions and the clashing of metal resounded as Crawford-41 directed his troops. The moment they were teleported, exactly 100 zombies adorning their zombified beasts each assaulted them. Their suicide attack was vicious and extremely lethal. These zombies had some kind of ability that affected a large area which directly immobilized the side of the Jotun forces facing them.
Acidic mucus rained down upon them while sharp bone splinters crashed against their defenses, threatening to split them apart. The ground was split asunder as bloody tentacles erupted from beneath, trying to cut through anything in its path. The roars of over a hundred angry zombie beasts thundered across the army, threatening to tear their ear drums. With claws sharp enough to tear through metal, they slashed at the defending soldiers.
It was as if armageddon was raining down upon the humans. An overwhelming evil was crashing against a small army, one that had gripped the entire universe with fear and hate. Yet even as fire and fury rained upon the humans, like a scene depicting the end times in many religions, the humans stood firm. Against steel and bone, against bloody maws and spiked claws, against the full strength of this suicide squad, not a single soldier fell.
Shoulder to shoulder, the front line dug in and stood their ground, protecting their brothers and sisters behind them. Death could not scare them and a maelstrom of attacks could not make them stumble. Wielding shields that grew into massive, eight feet tall and three feet wide versions of themselves, these soldiers were the pride of an Empire. Known only as the Bulwark team, they were the dedicated protectors of each Jotun army.
Finally, the zombies reached the soldiers and crashed against the makeshift wall of shields. The beasts rammed their bodies as the zombies used their unusual limbs and claws to cut through the barricade. The very ground shook from the force of the collision, and even the viewers back at the Inn trembled unconsciously as they saw the sight, but true to their prestige, the Bulwark team’s defense remained unpenetrated. .
From the time the game had started, not even a minute had passed. Yet the moment the zombies crashed against the shields, their momentum was interrupted. This was the opportunity that the Jotun soldiers had been waiting for.
“Squads three and five, circle around and attack from behind. Bulwark team, hold them down!” Crawford-41 commanded. In a calm yet quick way, the soldiers started moving, acting according to their orders.
The purpose of this suicide squad of zombies was to hold the soldiers in place as the rest of the zombies retreated to meet with their main force. Tier 3 zombies, equivalent to Foundation cultivators, started to attain intelligence, but it was still in a very primitive form. They could understand their instinctual desires to feed, and to a degree plan how to get what they wanted, but the concept of teamwork or long-term planning escaped them. The Jotun forces did not know how big the main force of zombies would be, but under the command of a proper leader such as Pramod, their lethality would increase exponentially.
Pramod wanted to get to the main force while maintaining his initial number of zombies, while the Jotun soldiers wanted to stop him, no matter what. While the soldiers fought, Pramod and his mounted units had already gained a huge lead. Soon, a chase would begin that would determine how the rest of the games went.
As strong as the army was, dealing with suicidal enemies was not easy. It took an entire thirty minutes before the zombies were dealt with – with no Jotun casualties or injuries, of course.
Once the suicide zombies had been eliminated, Crawford-41 checked on his soldiers as well as the fallen corpses. After running a quick scan, they realized that these zombies had been poisoned with a deadly, fact acting virus. Had even a single soldier been injured, within minutes he would have died, and then subsequently turned into a zombie. It was unknown if only the 2500 zombies were poisoned, or if all of them were. Depending on the answer, this could be even more dangerous. Furthermore, none of the zombies dropped cores. This was because the devils had attached a collection formation to each node to automatically collect all zombie cores within a certain area. Since they knew a battle was upcoming, there was no reason to leave such a boon to their enemies.
“According to preliminary scans, the chances of this battlefield being sector 776 are incredibly high,” a technician informed Crawford-41. “As we move, I’ll continue to scan the terrain, which should confirm our location. Once the location has been determined, we can crossmatch our location with a scan of the planet to get a detailed map of the area.”
“Good. Once the location has been determined, forward the map to me. Everyone, assume pursuit formation and immediately begin chasing after target 1, but keep an eye out for ambushes. They will not let us catch up easily, but we cannot let them meet up with their main force!”
Needing no further instructions, the soldiers reorganized themselves to facilitate a chase and immediately began. As expected, Pramod had left behind various traps and ambushes to slow them down. The good news was the Jotun soldiers suffered no casualties. The bad news was that Pramod and his army, atop their mounts, were gaining the lead.
While Crawford-41 and his soldiers gave chase, and Alexander and his soldiers made a beeline to cut Pramod off, the rest of the human soldiers had set up a temporary camp and started scouting the area using drones. Their first objective was locating the enemies and understanding the terrain before making a plan of action. It was not as simple as simply fighting the zombies as the Innkeeper had said unexpected things may happen during the games. Since their objective was to get as many points as possible to prove their worth, they had to act accordingly.
Unlike the humans, who all moved with clear purpose, the beasts divided themselves into three different groups, each with their own plans. The largest group was formed of wolves who were originally from Blood Fangs territory. They wasted no time whatsoever and ran off on their own. They were searching for their prey, and would decide what to do once they found them. The second largest group was one made of elephants.
The elephants all boasted a natural advantage in brute strength and defense. They had been forced by the sloth to participate, and behaved begrudgingly. They knew that if they did nothing, there would be hell to pay once the game was over, yet at the same time, they did not want to be too proactive. The sloth might have been a little more lenient had any of the elephants inherited the Fiery Mammoth bloodline, but none of them had. It was not so far as to say that the elephants were disposable, but forcing them to participate in the games, at least, would not get the sloth in trouble.
The third and smallest group was a random collection of strong beasts. Some of them came willingly for the promised rewards by their territory leaders, some of them had been threatened, all of them were uninformed about what they should be doing. Reaching an unspoken consensus, they decided to simply follow the elephants from a distance.
Only thirty minutes had passed and another eleven and a half hours remained, yet even while most were still planning their moves, the crowd at the Inn was going wild!
Everyone was expecting a clash right at the start due to the presence of the zombies, but the ferocity of the fight had taken them by surprise. The humans hooted and chanted for the valiant soldiers, and the five Nascants looked on with the utmost seriousness at the soldiers that surpassed anything they could have imagined. Not a single soldier had died so far, despite the onslaught! It let them know firmly what their place in the universe was.
Lex was especially amazed, this being the first time he’d properly seen cultivators fight. It was a shame that he had to maintain his distant image as the Innkeeper, otherwise he would be chanting with the crowds as well.
Even he did not know what surprises were in store for the participants, so he, too, was watching on in suspense.
Besides the various screens showing what was happening to the participants, another screen depicting the points received a lot of attention. The Jotun Empire had 200 points for killing 100 zombies and 100 of their mounts, but the distribution for the individuals was what attracted the most attention. While most of the names on the list so far had one or two kills to their name, a single name stood out: Cara Deathsworn – V2001.
Cara Deathsworn was her name and V2001 was her registration number. The V let people know that she was from Vegus Minima. The reason why her name attracted so much attention was because of the number of points she had accumulated: 29. While each of the soldiers had one or two kills, she had 29. A lot of the guests found themselves turning their screens to her and watching replays of her fight.
Maybe a lot of them were expecting to see some beautiful warrior, cutting through the zombies like a valiant hero. Unfortunately, they could not see her face under her helmet, and armor was not designed with visual appeal as a priority, so it did not look too flattering. What they were able to catch was a moment when her armor was damaged around her arm. Before the armor stretched itself to cover the damaged area, the guests were able to catch a glimpse of rock-hard, extremely lean muscles. It woke many of the viewers up to the truth that Deathsworn was not a fairy warrior out of an anime. She was a soldier, and she was built like a killer. For some reason, that only increased her number of fans.
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