Shocking Testimony

It was shocking. No matter how prepared a general was to do anything for victory, had he really joined hands with the Demon King's vanguard just to drive out some lizardmen?

It was hard to believe. Vulcan's first instinct was to suspect the man was lying.

"It's true. It was the only way to weaken the lizardmen... I was just following orders and carrying out my mission. It's true! There are plenty of others with these too. I never imagined it could be connected to treason..."

Lies didn't seem likely. He might not have colluded with them directly. It was a shamanistic approach—trapping souls to weaken their power could be seen as a valid strategy. Trapping monster souls wasn't a crime in itself.

Even if General Dorian had ordered it personally, it might not stem from collusion or malice.

Vulcan found himself somewhat agreeing. The frontier generals defending the walls were all paragons of unyielding loyalty and integrity, devoted heart and soul to the kingdom. Doubting their motives felt almost disrespectful.

'Then the question is what these Soul Stones are being used for.'

Vulcan pondered for a moment. If the testimony held up—and if, as the man claimed, many others were sealing souls with Soul Stones—a significant number must have been produced. Their ultimate purpose needed checking.

If they were just stockpiled or purified at a temple, fine. But if funneled to impure ends, it could be a massive problem. If even frontier generals had fallen to their influence, no noble in the kingdom could be trusted.

"Gah!!"

"?!"

In that instant, a dying scream erupted right beside them. While pressuring the Soul Stone holders, lizardmen had sneaked in and surrounded them for a surprise attack.

"Enemies!"

"Lizardmen ambush!!"

They spun to defend, but the foes were already primed. Assassin lizardmen retreated without hesitation after their initial strike failed, and shaman lizardmen unleashed fireballs in unison.

Vulcan had no choice but to step up.

"Ice Storm!"

He swiftly swapped to the Staff of Freezing, poured in mana, and snuffed out the flames.

'Not enough. No damage.'

It lacked the punch to wipe them out. In a confined cave, he could focus the power, but spread wide, it only neutralized the incoming fire spells—no real harm done. Plus, the lizardmen were shielded by pre-cast protective shamanism, granting substantial magic resistance. Even direct hits might not be lethal.

They'd barely escaped the immediate crisis.

"Crazy..."

Over level 200 lizardmen warriors, hunters, shamans, and assassins—at least triple their numbers. The encirclement was complete, formations synergized for maximum effect. It felt like a trap.

Vulcan glanced at the scouts he'd surrounded earlier; they weren't allies, looking just as panicked and tense.

"Ngh, Lord Vulcan..."

The ambush had wounded several moderately or severely. Break out with them? He wasn't confident.

If he sacrificed comrades without care, a few might survive—but piercing the net looked tough. And his reckless Ice Storm had drained his mana pool empty. He could draw from the mana battery, but limits applied. His skills were few to begin with; against this horde, allocation mattered.

"Filthy humans. You will pay for defiling the souls of our great clan!!"

"Damn it, break through! We can't win this!!"

The users moved first. Unsure if they'd misjudged the enemy or saw no point in stalling, they gritted their teeth and charged a breakthrough.

No weak spots, but no choice. The retreat was sealed, but concentrating fire might work—they unleashed every skill at one point.

Boom!

Kaboom!!!

With mage users mixed in, the firepower was fierce. Instant casts had limits, but the explosive spells disrupted vision and sanity, sweeping the rear with thunderous blasts.

"Gah?!"

"What the—?"

Pointless. Smoke billowed dramatically, but lizardmen senses tracked them easily. Their over-layered buffs left them barely singed.

'Magic resistance...!'

They'd cranked it to extremes. They'd taken hits in melee clashes.

"Die!!"

"This insane buff power...!"

"Their tankiness is bullshit!!"

The problem: lizardmen weren't weak up close either. True to their nature, they leveraged numbers without honor. Buffed to the gills, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they matched blows while assassins and hunters flanked. Eyes wild, they'd skewer allies too if needed.

The breakthrough crumbled instantly. Momentum lost, users snared in the noose instead.

'I can take a few. Maybe punch a hole. But...'

Vulcan fingered his +9 Blessed Sun Sword instead of joining, assessing the foes. His attack power could pierce it, saving at least himself.

But concerns piled up. He'd secured the Soul Stones, but wanted NPC witnesses alive. His assigned squad too—their deaths would tank contribution and reputation.

Also, the glinting light inside the lead lizardman warrior's body held him back.

'Can I do it?'

To pull it off, he'd need to slaughter them all. Normally, killing the leader scatters them—but lizardmen valued collective victory over individuals.

Possible? Hard to say. A 300-level high-grade armor set might hold, but would Shadow Hound gear and his stamina endure their barrage?

Magic enchants boosted agility, telekinesis deflected some, but sheer volume meant tanking hits.

'If it was just shields, I'd pierce with Arrows of Denial... But even breaking shamanism, regen is too strong. Kill some, then die myself.'

Using the breather from users, Vulcan coolly strategized. Worst case, solo escape—but seek options first.

'If only I had an Artisan Hall weapon...'

A scratch on Vulcan's pride—he'd boasted fearlessness to 300. Laughable, content with this gear power.

Stronger gear, a skill mightier than Ice Storm—wouldn't they fear him, not vice versa? At this moment, his production class felt like a curse.

A combat Legendary—or even Epic—would have wipes for this trash.

"...?"

Tud grumbled irritably. He'd read Vulcan's lament, but Vulcan focused on the words' meaning.

'Can't wield even with power given?'

Didn't that mean he already had the strength to turn this around?

But his skills...

"Ah!"

Scanning his status window, Vulcan spotted it. Unsure if this was Tud's "power," but a hopeful skill emerged.

"Lord Vulcan! Get out! Avenge us... Ngh!"

"What are you doing?!"

Suddenly, Vulcan floated midair. Knights blocking spells and arrows had cast telekinesis en masse.

Knowing they couldn't last, eyes resolute in sacrifice, they'd pooled power to fling him beyond the encirclement.

"Stop!"

Telekinesis surged, nearly launching him, but Vulcan halted them firmly.

"No. You must live too, Lord Vulcan...!"

"There's a way—stop!"

They knew he was Immortal, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠respawning on death, yet strained to save him. Touching, but Vulcan wouldn't abandon them solo.

Worst case, bounce alone—but try first. Perfect to test his hunch.

"But..."

His tone brooked no argument; they obeyed. Believing his claim or reading his face, they held resolve to sacrifice if needed, but canceled the spell.

They resumed blocking, sword and body, giving Vulcan space to act.

"Lend me this."

Back on ground, Vulcan reached for one—the long sword issued via logistics returned to its maker.

"Hoo."

Snatching it, Vulcan steadied his breath. Reverse grip, eyes not on battling users, but enemy main force.

"Power Throw!"

Full force hurl. Telekinesis to impale the leader? No—lizardmen body-blocked.

"Huh? Wrong direction!"

"Ignore it!!"

Too strong—off target. Not heart, but skyward, two meters above head height.

Precisely Vulcan's intent.

"Shatter!"

Crack!

Shattershattershatterbang—!!!!

The Legendary skill's activation word burst from Vulcan's lips. The soaring sword fragmented into countless metal shards, shredding nearby lizardmen—flesh, muscle, skulls—devastating the area.

Shatter. Destroy owned item for AoE damage proportional to its level and grade—debuting now.

And the tossed long sword? Level 200 Rare-grade.

Not over. Shards pierced corpses beyond even their mighty regen, but effects lingered—Shatter's charm: added damage and effects from the item's properties.

The long sword's engraved telekinesis amplified, granting another chance.

"Pierce them all!!"

Sword fragments leaped from the slain lizardmen once more, now targeting those outside the initial blast.

"...Mancheonhwau?"

A user, forgetting battle, turned in shock—spouting the name of a wuxia hidden weapons technique that blanketed the sky like flower petals.

Just like that peerless art, Shatter's aftershocks swept the lizardmen ranks.