Chapter 68: The Surprise Attack

A wide circle of wooden fences and posts surrounded the makeshift camp. Aside from a scattering of empty tents, there were enclosures for horses and warehouses storing food and weapons. Here and there, campfires sputtered beneath kettles, the crackling of burning logs raising wisps of smoke into the night air.

The metallic clang of armor rang out around the camp. The soldiers of the Penitent Legion bore diamond-shaped marks of contrition emblazoned on their breastplates. Suddenly, a soldier whose armor was marred with scars from blades and arrows stumbled into the camp, crying out in a desperate, piercing voice.

Beneath the slightly raised visor of his helmet, his face was smeared with blood and terror.

“What happened?” someone called.

The patrolling Penitent Legion soldiers rushed to surround him. The soldier’s wounds were grave; blood streamed from the gaps in his armor. He struggled, crawling and rolling in panic, but his strength failed and he collapsed.

“Enemy attack... Enemy attack... The Relief Society—”

He managed only half the words before his head slumped and he fell unconscious.

The chief priest’s heart sank. He kicked the soldier twice, but when there was no response, he raised his staff and shouted sharply, “You, go check the forward outpost! I’ll report to the commander!”

The remaining Penitent Legion soldiers drew their swords, mounted their warhorses, and hurried toward the outpost at the camp’s front. The chief priest turned toward the camp’s center. That group of hypocritical Relief Society followers had twisted their faith, surviving only by the decree of the Holy King. The Penitent Legion had no intention of dealing with them, but if the Relief Society sought their own destruction, they had no one else to blame.

A bloodthirsty gleam flashed in the chief priest’s eyes as he set off to report to the commander. Yet after only a few steps, he heard a faint sound behind him.

Instinctively, he turned—and saw the cold gleam of a blade flash past!

“Grr… grr…” The chief priest clutched his throat, unable to stem the blood spilling out. His windpipe was severed, and only the sound of air escaping could be heard. Eyes wide, he saw the “unconscious” soldier standing upright, clutching a monstrous sword studded with jagged teeth, stained with fresh blood, flesh, and hair—a weapon that had clearly gorged itself on slaughter just moments before.

The last image in the chief priest’s eyes was the icy gaze cast from beneath the soldier’s visor.

Li Nanke sheathed his chainsaw sword and rushed toward the center of the camp. Most of the garrison had been drawn away, but time was short; they would soon return.

Outside the tall central tent stood two towering palace guards, encased in thick plate armor like steel fortresses. The savage scent of beasts drifted from beneath their helmets—they were powerful beings, halfway between monsters and fanatics, their mutated bodies brimming with strength beneath the heavy armor.

Li Nanke’s ears twitched. Even from a distance, he could clearly hear the sounds inside the tent: a man’s heavy breathing, and a woman’s anguished moans.

His heart leaped. He signaled toward the shadows beyond the camp, then dashed forward, shouting in a desperate voice, “Commander, something has happened!”

His cry was so wretched, it chilled the bone. The tent instantly erupted in chaos.

The two palace guards stepped forward, ignoring his rank and blocking his path.

“What is it? If you don’t give me an answer that satisfies me today, prepare to die!”

A burly man with a thick beard pushed aside the tent flap, fury written across his face. He had only managed to pull on a pair of shorts, and stormed out in a rage. His physique was massive, muscles bulging like those of a wild beast. Even the tall palace guards seemed like small children beside him.

“My lord, it’s Reynold from the Relief Society!”

“The chief priest led his men to resist, but even he’s no match for Reynold. I’ve come for reinforcements!”

The commander of the Penitent Legion saw the soldier’s bloodstained armor and face. Hearing Reynold’s name, his heart skipped a beat.

He was not armored; his formidable strength was not fully at his disposal. Reynold’s fearsome reputation was notorious.

“Damn, I knew that bastard wouldn’t behave!”

“You, get inside and help me put on my armor.”

Donning armor was a complex and time-consuming task, especially for powerful officers like the commander, whose gear was heavy.

First came the close-fitting undergarments, with extra padding of thick cloth or leather at the joints. After the special inner lining, leg armor was fitted—greaves, knee guards, and foot plates—then arm guards and gauntlets, followed by a layer of chainmail, breastplate, backplate, pauldrons, neck guard, and finally the great helm.

The pieces were fastened by straps and buckles; without assistance, it was impossible to don the armor alone.

Time was pressing, so the commander had to hurry. Even with three attendants, the process required time.

Inside the spacious tent, two young girls sat on the bed, bodies mottled with bruises and faces streaked with tears. Clearly, they had been forcibly taken from nearby villages and endured terrible abuse.

The commander quickly donned the inner lining. Li Nanke moved swiftly, grabbing the leg armor before the two palace guards could. He knelt before the commander, ready to fit the open greaves onto his powerful calves.

The commander was well versed in the process and obediently extended a leg. The two palace guards were busy fitting arm armor, and the commander’s attention was not on Li Nanke.

A fierce light flashed in Li Nanke’s eyes. He summoned his chainsaw sword, and as the commander’s legs were parted, he suddenly swung the blade upward—

The screeching of spinning teeth filled the air, and a spray of blood erupted!

The commander’s agonized howl echoed through the camp. The tent split open, and a blazing wolf-headed greatsword struck at the same instant!

Li Nanke knew the enemy was formidable; even a surprise attack might not kill him outright. Rather than inflict minor wounds, he aimed for a crippling blow.

How much strength could a man muster after such a grievous injury?

The commander of the Penitent Legion’s eyes bulged with pain, bloodshot and wild. When the wolf-headed sword came for him, he rolled desperately to the side, his mind blank.

Li Nanke, having landed his blow, immediately leaped back, dodging the furious attacks of the palace guards.

Thorns embedded in the sword’s hilt pierced his palm, pain searing through his flesh, but his will was strong. The spinning teeth blurred with speed, chainsaw sword roaring in excitement.

A surge of extra strength flowed from the blood-red thorns into his body.

Li Nanke twisted aside, evading a blow, gripping the chainsaw sword with both hands. He planted his feet, twisted his waist, and swung the blade in a wide arc.

A ripping sound erupted as the teeth bit through armor, sending sparks flying and shredding flesh and bone. Like a hot knife through butter, he cleaved the palace guard in two.

Li Nanke’s eyes were red, teeth clenched, the sharp thorns burrowing deeper into his flesh.

He grew fiercer, dispatching the other palace guard in quick succession.

Had the commander delayed longer, he could have used the "Sanctuary Mark," exploiting the Lady of Eternal Pain’s power to transfer his wounds—but Reynold showed no mercy despite his injuries.

Even one as mighty as the commander, suffering mortal wounds, was helpless before the former legion instructor. Soon, his limbs were severed, leaving him utterly incapacitated.

Reynold spared the broken man at his feet no further glance, sheathing his sword. “As you wish; the final blow is yours.”

Li Nanke chuckled, raising the chainsaw sword and approaching the commander.

Amidst the commander’s furious roar, he severed his head with a single stroke.

As a surge of primal energy flooded his body, a synchronized prompt echoed:

[Nightmare, you have completed Key Node Two!]
[Node Reward: Sanctuary Mark Talisman]
[Key Node Three: Proceed to the Holy Mother Convent and slay the Scorched Mother…]
[Key Node Three altered! Due to triggering a related hidden node, Key Node Three has changed!]
[Key Node Three: Proceed to the headquarters of the Penitent Holy Society at Ashen Mountain and ascend to the Cathedral of All Saints!]