Amid Lu Bu: Numbers Mean Nothing Against Overwhelming Power (2)
Overwhelming power rendered headcount meaningless. It wasn't a hundred percent truth in reality, but the scene unfolding before his eyes proved it.
Claaang!!!! With a single sweeping flourish of her Fang Tian Hu Ji, Yeo Po shattered the weapons of the frontline soldiers wielding polearms, scattering them in pieces. Even iron arms bent and snapped like mere twigs.
Splaaatter!! The spear thrusts that followed tore through the front ranks, spraying flesh and blood in every direction. Yeo Po's mere presence alone had flipped the tide of battle. The coalition forces, who had been advancing first, were now forced into defense against her—and getting utterly swept away in the process.
Clang!!! Chiiing!! It was the insane cost-performance of one woman mowing down hundreds. She was a one-woman army if there ever was one.
Clop-clop!!! Then, two mounted generals charged forward. Their uniforms gave away their identities at a glance.
'Jang Liao and Go Sun.'
Jang Liao, the fierce general who had followed Yeo Po since her days in Zheng Yuan, and Go Sun, who had likely joined around this time, were charging wildly through the ranks with spear and sword in hand. While Yeo Po held the front, they pressed the coalition from behind.
'These two have surprisingly petite builds too...'
Women? He guessed from their silhouettes. But he shrugged it off.
'Can't break through head-on.'
The reason he couldn't intervene in the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition to drive her out was precisely these three. They were insanely strong, turning any direct assault into a defensive slog. No matter how much players powered up, they couldn't match this trio. That's why event battles were key. If Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei challenged Yeo Po to a duel, she'd inevitably retreat, with Jang Liao and Go Sun following suit. That was the way to bypass the Yeo Po event.
But there was a bonus: a way to farm experience. The special duel where the three heroes crossed blades with Yeo Po, then kited her around. It was the game's system at work. Skill proficiency and stats scaled with difficulty. Tackling tougher foes or harder challenges yielded bigger rewards—that was the core mechanic. Facing off against Yeo Po, a level 50 juggernaut? Swordsmanship proficiency shot through the roof. Unmatched efficiency.
Of course, it came with risks. One slip against her overwhelming strength meant instant death. But block her reliable patterns and kite properly, and you could still farm 20 proficiency points.
Clop-clop!! Just catch up to Zhang Fei. Once Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei engaged Yeo Po together, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms scene would trigger and play out. Until then, farm as much as possible.
"Let's go!!"
He spurred his ill-tempered horse, following Zhang Fei.
"You there!! Yeo Po!!! Does serving a traitor feel that good!!"
Zhang Fei bellowed as he charged madly toward her.
"Hmph."
Yeo Po, who had been strolling leisurely, tilted her head and glanced at Zhang Fei. Even as the enemy general bore down on horseback, she hadn't called for her own mount.
"...This bitch looks down on people!!"
Zhang Fei roared like a thunderclap, swinging his Zhangba Snake Spear in a cavalry charge.
Chiiiing!! Yeo Po effortlessly parried the thrust with her Fang Tian Hu Ji. For good measure, she slotted the spear blade into the gap between her halberd's edge and shaft.
Whoooosh!! Then she twisted, throwing Zhang Fei's balance off.
"Ngh...!!!"
But Zhang Fei's momentum was top-tier. Chiiiing-!! He yanked back his spear, blocking her counter-thrust.
"Hmph."
Interest flickered in Yeo Po's eyes for the first time in ages.
Chiiiing-!! Clang-!! Chclang-!! Yeo Po clashed spears with Zhang Fei, then abruptly backpedaled, whistling sharply.
Hiiihihihihing!!!
In that instant, a ferocious horse with a flaming red mane tore across the battlefield. Clop-clop!! It halted smoothly beside Yeo Po, who mounted effortlessly.
"Didn't expect you'd summon Red Hare. You're pretty strong."
Yeo Po grinned from horseback, whirling her Fang Tian Hu Ji.
"Fine!! You're no slouch either!! Let's go a hundred bouts today!!!"
Zhang Fei thundered back, clashing spears with Yeo Po without hesitation.
Ching-!! Ching-! Claaang-!!!! The battlefield froze, everyone mesmerized by the flawless exchange. A clash of the world's top powerhouses. Zhang Fei was slightly on the back foot, but even Yeo Po couldn't claim his head easily.
"Lord Xuande had such a fierce general? After Guan Yu, now Zhang Fei... Intriguing."
Close enough to Cao Cao's forces to overhear his murmur.
"Hmph. Ahem."
Huang Gai beside him feigned nonchalance, pretending not to hear. This guy, when's he leaving? Anyway, now was the time to intervene and cross blades at least once.
"Let's go!!!"
His ill-tempered horse, which occasionally obeyed these days, was soothed as best he could manage, and he charged.
Clop-clop!! One goal: Yeo Po.
'Just three times. Farm three hits.'
Three kites netted 20 proficiency—no way he'd pass that up. Full throttle toward Yeo Po—when Huang Gai followed right behind.
Blatantly tailing him.
"General Huang... shouldn't you join Lord Sun Wen-tai?"
He called back to Huang Gai.
"Don't worry about it!! I'm independent!!"
Huang Gai snapped curtly.
"For independent, you're solo..."
"I'm the Sun clan's one-man army!!"
Huang Gai cut him off flatly. Fine, whatever. Not his problem. He ignored Huang Gai and spurred on.
Clop-clop!! This was the grind he'd done every playthrough after the carriage event—his steps across the battlefield were steady.
But... something felt off.
Clop-clop!!! The Western Liang soldiers' aggro was unnatural. No taunt skill, yet they fixated on him.
"There!! The blackhead!! Grab the blackhead!!!"
"Blackhead!!! That's Kim!!"
The Western Liang troops recognized him mid-fight and swarmed his way.
'Yeo Po's detachment...'
Purple scarves on their Western Liang uniforms gave it away. But Zhang Fei was different—wielding a horse-shoe spear. Low lethality, perfect for captures. Aimed to lasso his neck or limbs.
Whoooosh!! An incoming spear blocked his horse's path; the ill-tempered beast went berserk.
"Tch..."
If he were a master rider, he'd leap it. But his horsemanship sucked.
"Screw it. Go wherever!"
Sometimes, smart to cut losses. He dismounted cleanly.
Hiiihihihihing!!!
The horse rampaged freely, smashing through the spear-wielding troops. Pathetic to admit, but it fought better than him.
"W-Wait. Ditching the horse to fight?"
Huang Gai's panicked voice from behind. Yeah, that's how it shook out. Blame the damn horse.
"Don't chicken out!!!"
"No need for lassos, idiots!!"
"Net!! Use the iron net!!!"
"Grab that bastard and we promote!!"
But the Western Liang troops pulled some next-level bullshit. They hauled out beast-hunting nets, holding them wide. Target: him.
Fwoooosh!! He twisted away from the flying net.
"Slippery bastard...!"
"Don't give up!! Spread the net right!!"
They wouldn't quit.
"Guh... Outta the way!!!"
Huang Gai roared, smashing a Western Liang soldier's skull with his iron mace. Nice—he wasn't just tagging along.
"Kim!! What the hell?!! Why they gunning for you!!"
Huang Gai yelled, face twisted.
"Hell if I know!! Just bust through!!!"
No choice—team up with this tag-along to break out!! He had to grind Yeo Po!! But troubles piled on troubles.
The Western Liang troops were dead serious about netting him.
"Can't let you pass."
A stern-faced female general with a sword blocked him, spear ready.
"Jang Liao..."
Shit. Jang Liao had aggro'd on him. The game's broken powerhouse. One of late Han's top generals. Level 30, no less.
"Come quietly. No resistance, no rough treatment."
Another general approached, sword drawn. Green hair, green eyes—a beauty. Armor styled like Yeo Po's betrayed her identity.
"Go Sun."
Yeo Po's two fierce generals had him dead to rights. She was insanely strong too—level 30, like Jang Liao. Top-tier for this era.
"Why waste time on a scrub like me? Keep at it."
He drew his sword, sizing them up.
"Lord's orders."
Go Sun replied in a tone of utmost sternness, drawing a curved blade like his own.
"No hard feelings, but resist and it'll hurt."
Jang Liao eyed him with burning gaze, gauging his spirit.
No way around it.
"Huang Gai!! Fight together for now!!"
Stuck with his stalker—had to climb this mountain somehow. Party play was key in pinches.
"Hmph. Alright."
Huang Gai looked flustered but gripped his mace, assuming stance.
"Yeah!! Chance for glory!! I won't lose to you, Kim!!"
Huang Gai stepped up surprisingly well. Fine. 2v2 tag match... ditch him midway, break through. Ruthless, but chaos demanded coldness.
And then—two crimson-armored female generals arrived.
"The realm's top heroine!! I'll handle you—Xiahou Dun of Yuanxiang!!!"
"X-Xiahou Yuan here...!!"
Cao Cao's Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan joined the fray. What a clusterfuck party it turned into. The generals' sudden entry devolved the fight into a total brawl.