Lord of Rot

After Leech’s party had advanced some distance, they suddenly saw a body on the ground that had been crushed in two.

The part where the body was snapped in half at the waist was a mess of deformed bone and flesh. The intestines and other organs had even been dragged out. It was clear that the person had still been alive when they were torn apart and had struggled for some time.

”It must have been that Giant Crab from before.”

They only glanced at the corpse on the ground before continuing onward. They had yet to encounter the main force of the Monkey Clan and didn’t know if they had already gotten their hands on the treasure.

After walking a bit further, the ceiling ahead lowered.

Leech waved his hand, signaling for the Soldiers to carry their firearms and enter in a half-crouch.

”If there’s any movement, open fire immediately, then fall back,” Leech commanded. ”Second squad, follow up. We’ll rotate like that.”

It was quiet enough that everyone present could hear Leech’s command.

After ducking inside and walking for a while, they saw a cavern that opened downward. It looked to be man-made; they could see stone steps worn smooth by the ages, with green moss growing on them.

”Agh! What is that!” a Porcupine Soldier exclaimed, startled.

A giant moth lay on the ground.

Four long spears were stuck in its body.

The moth’s wings were spread out, as large as two bedsheets.

The darkness didn’t affect Leech’s vision. He could clearly see a corpse pinned beneath the moth. Judging by the clothes, it was a pirate. The head had been sucked dry and was grotesquely deformed by the moth’s proboscis.

’Have all the creatures on this island been enlarged?’ Leech wondered if he had stumbled into a land of giants. ’Or is it that after the return of the Magic Tide, many things have become magical again?’

Giant Crab, giant moth... he didn’t know if there were other massive creatures lurking about.

After all, Leech had never witnessed the golden age of Magic, just as he couldn’t imagine the sight of a Giant Dragon wiping out a thousand Two-Legged Flying Dragon Knights with a single breath.

So, he wasn’t sure if these things were related to the surging of the Magic Tide.

’All the more reason I can’t let the Monkey Clan get their hands on what’s inside.’

The squad was slowly creeping forward when they suddenly heard footsteps.

Since none of Leech’s men were carrying torches, when several torch-wielding figures suddenly appeared in the darkness, they were as conspicuous as the scantily clad service women on the streets of Iron Stone City. It was impossible to pretend not to see them.

Without waiting for Leech’s command, the Soldiers in the front rank quickly raised their firearms.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

It was a long, straight corridor. There was no need to aim; they just had to fire straight ahead. Unless the enemy could fly or was made of steel, there was no way to ignore the terrifying volley.

After firing, the Soldiers in the very front rank quickly fell back, and the second rank took aim.

But they didn’t need to fire again. After just the first volley, the torch-wielding figures fell to the ground.

From further back, the sound of heavy, dense footsteps approached—they must be wearing heavy armor.

”Who’s there?!”

A group of people who had rushed over roared the question.

Leech just said coldly, ”Fire!”

Gunfire erupted again, and the acrid smell of gunpowder filled the passage.

At first, the Porcupine Soldiers could still aim at the general location of the torchlight. But as the smoke grew thicker—with the ventilation behind them—it billowed into the faces of Leech and his men, stinging their eyes until they couldn’t keep them open. They finally gave up aiming and just fired blindly ahead.

From the distance came only the sound of agonized screams.

And the CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! of bullets striking shields.

Aside from a few special units, very few people chose to use pure steel shields. They were too heavy and unwieldy in combat. Lugging around a shield weighing over ten pounds would wear you out before the fight even started.

The classic configuration was a Wood Shield made of hardwood, specially treated to prevent rot and cracking, and wrapped in leather.

There were also iron-banded shields, which was the type used in Porcupine Territory.

The men on the other side were clearly using these two types of shields. Wood Shields offered excellent defense against arrows and javelins, but against firearms, their stopping power was pitiful.

The screams grew fewer and farther between.

The Porcupine Soldiers, however, remained calm, simply firing in the general direction of the enemy.

They used the faint light and muscle memory to reload, then fired again.

They kept up this relentless barrage without ever making contact with the enemy.

They only stopped when even the screams from the other side had fallen silent.

Leech scanned the area, and once he confirmed that no one was left standing, he waved his hand, sending two Corpse Ghosts forward to finish the job.

Only after confirming that all the enemies were dead did Leech say, ”Light the torches!”

One by one, torches were lit.

In the suddenly illuminated, spacious underground passage, the first thing everyone saw was a floor covered in bodies and pools of blood.

Dozens of bodies lay on the ground.

Some were pirates, others were Soldiers from the Monkey Clan.

The bodies were piled up into a small barricade, blocking the path.

Before a firearm, all are equal.

「Deeper inside.」

Dreden heard the outside finally fall quiet again, but his heart was in his throat.

’Who are these people? What were those terrifying sounds?’

’And the screams of my men.’

The fear of the unknown was suffocating.

At present, only two Transcendents and Jenny remained by his side.

”What happened?” Dreden looked at the four-armed Mercenary. The man had charged out with the others just now, but had quickly run back, reeking of the thick, acrid stench of blood.

The Mercenary grimaced in pain. ”They’re using some kind of strange weapon. It’s loud, it’s fast, and there’s almost no pause between shots. Men were dropping like wheat before a scythe. If I hadn’t escaped when I did, I’d probably be dead too.”