Awakening：The Infinite Evolution of My Talent as a Low-Level Awakener - Chapter 123

Chapter 123: The Brutal Meat Grinder!
“Ladies and gentlemen, everyone here near the Waters of Netherworld must be quite formidable.”

“Many players have already tested the situation for us. The elite soldiers of the Netherworld, brainwashed by the world, are guarding the third Waters of Netherworld.”

“With their numbers, breaking through head-on is nearly impossible.”

“That’s why we’ve all been waiting nearby.”

“Now, we’ve gathered nearly 2,000 people, capable of withstanding the cavalry’s charge head-on.”

“I know a bit about military formations, so I boldly request the right to command!”

“I have a temporary legion contract scroll in my hand. We can form a legion together, making us immune to each other’s damage.”

“Let’s first deal with these NPCs, and then we can discuss who should get the last Waters of Netherworld.”

The young man spoke passionately, but his words held little allure to the second-class players present. Did he think they were rookies easily fooled?

Despite many players rolling their eyes, the young man’s speech was met with enthusiastic shouts from below: “No problem! Brother, we trust you!”

“Time to show those NPCs who’s boss!”

“They’ve been killing us because of their numbers. It’s time to fight back!”

…

The players could tell that the young man seeking command had ulterior motives, but they also knew that waiting around was a waste of time.

They did need someone knowledgeable in military tactics to help break through the defenses of the Waters of Netherworld, and at least the young man had put forth a tangible offer—a legion contract.

So, under Sterl’s cold gaze, the players quickly organized themselves.

Following the usual arrangement, warriors and tanks took the front lines, mages and priests were protected in the middle, and agile classes like rogues provided support from the rear.

Everyone knew that the young man who had taken command, had his own agenda, but at least he was doing a decent job.

Soon, the player-formed army once again marched towards the battlefield in front of the stronghold.

This time, the NPC cavalry also charged to meet them, but unlike before, the players no longer had a numerical disadvantage and had formed a proper formation. Plus, they had a richer pool of skills.

“Follow the plan!” commanded the young man.

The tank classes, in a scattered formation, activated their taunt skills.

With a burst of multicolored energy, their auras spread rapidly.

Instantly, the cavalry’s vanguard and middle ranks were affected by the taunt skills, causing their spearhead formation to splinter.

Different cavalry units charged at different targets, unable to maintain their coordinated attack to pierce through the formation.

When they reached the tank players, their first attack still carried devastating inertia and high damage, but the taunted cavalry were forced to stay in place, swinging their weapons in a melee against the tanks.

Their combat effectiveness was significantly diminished.

Soon, many mage-type players who could create objects and shape terrain began to craft pitfalls and lightning grids, forming tripping obstacles.

As a result, the cavalry units in the rear, after charging a bit, were also tripped up by the immense inertia.

Men and horses tumbled!

Under the terrifying acceleration, which had previously been a nightmare for countless players, the impact now became a death sentence for the cavalry! Their mounts, under the influence of their own gravitational acceleration, had their leg bones break on the spot! They were then subjected to the players’ skill attacks, reducing their life force to zero.

The mounts died en masse!

And the cavalrymen were thrown off, landing at the players’ feet.

Naturally, they had no chance of survival either.

Mage players quickly cast spells to finish them off.

Even Sterl was amazed at the coordination—this kind of collaboration was beautiful, something rarely seen!

It wasn’t because the young man’s command was particularly brilliant.

Rather, it was because, against NPCs with no loot drops, players could cooperate without any selfish motives.

Otherwise, these powerful cavalry units, if considered monsters with loot, would definitely not see tank players obediently taunting, nor mages daring to finish them off without worry of backstabbing…

Sterl’s mind wandered, but the battlefield situation remained one-sided!

With the collapse of the cavalry, the heavily armored soldiers in the rear were doomed as well.

Thanks to their distance advantage, players activated one high-quality skill after another.

Even though the heavy armor soldiers had strong defense, under the command of the young man, numerous armor-piercing and weakening skills erupted like a geyser!

In just the first wave, the heavy armor soldiers were hit by corrosive dark green acid, highly penetrating armor-piercing bullets, and high-temperature melting rays…

Under this continuous barrage, the soldiers’ heavy armor became so pitted and eroded it looked like it would rot away!

Then, the players frantically cast their skills.

With various fire, frost, and lightning effects, the heavily armored soldiers were quickly wiped out!

Next, the Netherworld soldiers who had come out to fight, including the archers and mages in the rear, were slaughtered like sheep by the players who had been holding back for so long!

These fragile units were swiftly taken down by the tank and warrior players who got up close!

The once formidable NPC army was completely wiped out in less than half an hour.

Even without tangible rewards, the player team couldn’t help but cheer.

“Yes! We won!”

“NPCs aren’t that tough!”

“Haha! I took them down one by one!”

…

While the atmosphere was jubilant, Sterl, hiding among the players, watched coldly.

With his knowledge from his previous life, he understood one thing very clearly… Field battles were nothing. The most challenging aspect of facing these armies would be—siege!

The towering stronghold ahead, if its gates were locked tight, how would the players break through?

Moreover, Sterl noticed that the young man, who had taken command, looked relaxed…

“Hmm? There’s no way he hasn’t thought of this.”

Sterl was puzzled, but the thought that the young man might have some scheme almost made him chuckle.

No matter.

Let him stir things up!

Better if all the players on the field end up dead! That way, Sterl could easily harvest a wave of Divine Power and Law Power!

“I’ll just step in and save Faye when the time comes.” he schemed secretly. As for the other players from the Divine Mountain Empire, Sterl’s attitude was indifferent—he might save them if it was convenient.

However, the players from the Divine Mountain Empire were quite astute and didn’t participate in this battle for the Waters of Netherworld. They were probably hiding somewhere in the Netherworld, waiting to be teleported back to the main world.

Sterl pondered leisurely.

But the subsequent battles took a sharp turn for the worse.

After clearing the field of NPC armies, the players pressed forward.

However, after their defeat, the NPCs opted to fortify the walls, showing no intention of coming out.

The siege battle was about to begin.

It was only then that the players realized what a true nightmare was. After resolving their numerical disadvantage, they no longer faced a disadvantage on the battlefield. But once they entered the siege battle, they encountered a grisly meat grinder!

Soon, several players charged toward the walls.

They were promptly hit by boulders dropped by the NPCs, as well as doused in prepared scalding toxic liquids.

Second-class players didn’t have the ability to fly. They needed specific skills to maneuver in the air.

As a result, the dozen or so players who charged ahead fell miserably from the walls, covered in various poisons, slowed movements, and debilitating conditions, suffering immensely.

On the walls, several NPC archers and mages hurled their skills.

The players, being controlled, couldn’t dodge and were immediately turned into pincushions by arrows or blown to bits by spells, dying gruesomely on the spot!

In an instant, the players who had been eager to scale the walls were all dumbfounded!

How were they supposed to fight this?

Although the NPCs’ siege tools weren’t infinite, the current situation was that whoever charged first would die first.

For a moment, the once aggressive players halted their actions entirely.

They weren’t lacking in courage, but everyone knew that the first to charge would certainly die!

The situation reached a stalemate.

Sterl frowned and looked at the young man …

He felt a bit disappointed—was that all this guy had? Even if the players were under his command, it wasn’t going anywhere!

However… at that moment, someone appeared to break the deadlock.

Sterl, hidden among the crowd, twitched his face.

It was the demigod Richard who had opened the portal. At this moment, he suddenly appeared—no, not appeared, but his projection seemed to show through a thin membrane, manifesting before the players.

“Warriors, this is the final barrier. Sacrifice your lives for the goddess!”

Boom!!!

Instantly, Richard snapped his fingers, and a blood-red notification popped up before all the players!

[You are affected by the Divine Power of the Moon and have entered the state [Coughing Blood]. You must kill monsters/NPCs to lift this state, or your life force will continuously weaken!]

[You are affected…]

The notifications echoed, and countless players on the scene were stunned!

Damn! Are they really trying to kill us here?

“What a joke! Charging up the walls means certain death!”

“Richard, are you fucking insane!!”

“Damn the Dark Moon Alliance! If I can’t live, I’ll take you down with me!”

“Wait, Demigod, we can’t attack head-on like this!”

The players shouted, roared in anger, and chaos ensued.