That's not how you use a witch!

Chapter 16 Do you dare to look her in the eye for 3 seconds?

"Oh my god! The rumors are true!"

"No, I don't want to die here!"

"Let's run for our lives!"

Seeing that the high ground on both sides was suddenly filled with people, the routed soldiers were in chaos, all thinking that they had been ambushed by a large force.

In their panic, they tried to rush out of the mountain pass, only to find a group of well-equipped and menacing men emerging from the pass, so they turned back.

In an instant, some people ran out, some ran back, and the scene was extremely chaotic. Under such circumstances, the officers were unable to organize the troops at all, and they themselves were even swept up in the fleeing crowd, rising and falling with the tide of people.

"quiet!"

Until a majestic and powerful voice came from the mountain pass, it actually drowned out the sound of war drums and horns all over the sky.

The fleeing soldiers looked up and saw the ironclad army, like a Great Wall of steel, spreading out to both sides. A handsome young man wearing iron armor and a red cloak walked to the front of the formation, carrying a megaphone-shaped cone in his hand.

Behind him was a girl with purple hair and pink eyes, with several gleaming iron swords swirling behind her, as if a goddess of war had descended to earth.

Those sharp eyes were oppressive, as if a single glance would pierce through you.

Based on the identification of the fleeing soldiers, the officers learned that the boy was the lord, and that his witch also possessed terrifying combat power capable of fighting against a thousand men single-handedly.

"I am Ronan, Lord of Thorns and Commander-in-Chief of the 50,000-strong Western Allied Army! You're all tired of living, daring to invade my Western Territory!"

Ronan was seen holding a megaphone, his voice filled with fury.

"Where is your commander? My patience is running out. Make him come out and see me!"

The simple cone in Ronan's hand was far less effective than a modern megaphone, but the terrain of the valley itself created an echo, and with Lilith secretly adjusting the volume, the sound reached the ears of the fleeing soldiers as if it were the roar of a god.

The already exhausted and routed soldiers had never seen anything like this before, and they were all terrified on the spot.

In less than a minute, a knight who looked like a high-ranking officer was pushed and shoved out by the fleeing soldiers.

Ronan observed the knight by the firelight: his armor was clearly a grade higher than the other knights', with numerous decorative patterns, and his cloak was of a finer texture. Of course, like all the defeated soldiers, he was covered in dust and dirt, and his clothes were quite tattered.

However, his delicate skin and fair complexion clearly did not resemble that of a warrior. In fact, if he were not wearing this armor, Ronan would be more inclined to think of him as a scholar.

"My lord, I am the Deer Knight, Holdway, and I once served the Earl of Ovi in ​​the North. After the Earl's death in battle, I became the highest-ranking square-banner knight here."

The knight, who called himself Howard, spoke in a refined and courteous manner, quite different from the muscular hunk like Bart. Despite his attempt to appear calm, Ronan could tell at a glance that he was flustered; he was sweating profusely, and his legs were trembling as he bowed.

"Oh, Lord Deer Knight."

Ronan sneered calmly, "You're in trouble! You're in big trouble! Understand?"

"My lord, we had no intention of offending the Western Frontier; we were forced into this predicament by circumstances. You are clearly a wise and intelligent lord. If you knew our plight, you would surely be able to make a fair judgment."

Howard certainly has the air of a scholar; even under such pressure, he remained calm and negotiated.

He described in detail how sudden and swift the rebellion was, how vicious the rebels were, how terrible the sacrifices were incurred in resisting them, and how difficult and arduous their exile was after being defeated by the rebels.

Ronan tried to maintain a cool expression, thinking that this Howard was a waste of his talents as a knight; he would be more suited to be a writer or a diplomat.

Based on the information I've gathered, what Howard said is mostly true, but these truths are selective.

For example, he emphasized how difficult the journey had been and how he had always adhered to his principles, but he made no mention of what had happened to the villages and towns that had been hit by the fleeing soldiers, nor did he mention that Thorn Territory might have become the next target of looting.

"Of course I understand your difficulties."

After Howard finished speaking, Ronan waved his hand.

"But I am equally aware of your crimes—you suffer, but do you think the people you plundered along the way don't suffer? You yourself uphold principles and do not commit the slightest offense, but have your soldiers done the same? Were they truly forced into this situation for survival, refraining from burning, killing, looting, and indulging in violence? Answer me!"

"this……"

Howard was speechless, his expression visibly bitter and helpless.

He certainly knew this, and often he even watched the fleeing soldiers loot, but it was unrealistic to control everyone; he couldn't possibly order them to starve to death.

He is nominally the commander here, but in reality he is just a defeated soldier with a slightly higher rank. His greatest use is probably being pushed out to take the blame at this moment.

"In principle, I should eliminate you, or at least banish you. I don't even need to lift a finger; my chief witch alone could slaughter you until you were crying for your mothers."

Ronan patted Maddale on the shoulder. "This is the strongest witch in all of the Westerlands! Do you dare to look her in the eye for three seconds?"

Upon hearing this, Meidel immediately straightened her face and pulled a trick on them: she snapped her fingers lightly, and the swirling sword wheel behind her instantly disintegrated, with sharp swords shooting straight into the night sky and then swooping down with a sharp whooshing sound.

"Bang bang bang!!!"

The rain of swords landed around Howard with a chilling thud, each sword sinking deep into the ground.

The fleeing soldiers cried out in panic, their cries for mercy and pleas for mercy rising and falling in waves.

Howard himself shuddered as the swords were outlined on his skin; he was terrified. The swords barely grazed his skin—what incredible precision! And the power was truly astonishing, enough to severely injure at least a level four or even a level five evil beast!

Is this the strength of the strongest witch in the Western Region? It is indeed terrifying!

In fact, if he had dared to look up at that moment, he would have seen that Ronan also had a somewhat bewildered expression.

This scene wasn't in Ronan's plan. He originally just wanted to scare the girl with a sword wheel, which would look cool. He didn't expect her to be so ruthless.

Although Madel can create steel, she cannot detach it from her body by more than two meters when manipulating it, yet those swords just now flew higher than the mountaintops!

Of course, no matter how shocked he was, he had to maintain his dignity in such a moment... In the subtle silence, Ronan coughed twice and raised the metal cone.

"I am a man of principle. Now I can offer you an alternative to being annihilated: recognize the situation, lay down your weapons, and surrender to me!"

Many of you have lost your lords and lands, so I allow you to settle temporarily in Thorn Territory, where you may exchange labor for food and shelter, provided you abide by the territorial order.

After the rebellion is quelled, if you wish to return to your original territories, I can provide you with the travel expenses. If you wish to remain in Thorn Territory, you must repent and reform, and accept the trials of Thorn Territory.

I have said my piece. To be or not to be, the choice is yours!

"On behalf of all the soldiers, I thank Lord Ronan. You are truly a benevolent, kind, and wise lord!"

Howard was so moved that tears streamed down his face, and he bowed several times.

When he relayed this message to all the fleeing soldiers, before Ronan's men could even disarm them, the soldiers voluntarily piled up all their weapons and armor and formed a long queue.

One moment they were sinners destined to be eliminated, the next they were accepted by a new lord, and as long as they worked, they had food to eat and a place to sleep. This contrast was like going from hell to heaven.

Nothing is more redeeming than simply surviving!

Seeing that this large group of defeated soldiers had disarmed, Ronan finally breathed a sigh of relief and had time to browse the constant stream of system messages:

[Current Witch: Medallion]

[Status value: 55%]

[Cumulative purification amount: 1001/1000]

[Stage Target (1000) Completed]

[Additional permissions unlocked: Existence Agreement - Emergence]

[Agreement Details: Recovery efficiency for both contractors and contract partners +5%; additional +5% for each existing agreement.]

The first phase's overall target (1000) has been achieved!

[Additional privileges unlocked: Fortress Protocol - Absolute Defense]

[Agreement Content: Before the contractor or contracted party suffers further damage, the contractor may choose to automatically waive the damage. This can only be triggered once per person every 72 hours.]

[Core permissions have been upgraded: Cleanup Protocol C1 Level - Cleanup Protocol C2 Level]

[Phase Quest Updated: Clean up 5000 units of contaminant (1001/5000)]

[Permission escalation nodes: 1500/2000/3000/5000]

The Tier 1 Arcane Vault is now unlocked; you can now use all Tier 1 Arcane Arts...

You have 2 unlocked memos to view...

·

·