Chapter 228: Sahwa Fish-People

This place is the Kor Plain.

Separated from the Twilight Hills by the ring of Claw Valley mountains that the Sky Sail passed over earlier.

The Sahwa fish-people on the Hansen River of the Kor Plain were not completely wiped out.

It is said that back then, Aethelorn's court mage believed the mutated fish-people had research value, so a batch was left behind.

Normal Sahwa fish-people are born allergic to fresh water; soak in it too long and they grow weary and weak.

For one to suddenly mutate like this is indeed a little strange.

Of course, although they were allowed to stay, a clear pact was set down: no killing, no encroachment.

"What they have surrounded are two humans."

Lady Kali said from the side.

The Sky Sail was flying low, and with its obvious magical fluctuation, it was immediately spotted by the fish-people and humans below.

Those five humans had a little strength, but not much.

Fleeing as they ran, they wailed and cried out for help.

Sahwa fish-people have slender bodies, two to three meters long, their backs covered in hard scales, all in deep blue and emerald green.

Fish-people, after all.

Those in the know understand — they can't hold a candle to creatures like Sirens, who at least have beautiful appearances.

They're simply the hybrid offspring of humans and fish; how ugly they are needs no further description.

In any case, Rod had not the slightest interest in them.

They watched the Sky Sail warily, but did not strike rashly.

Presumably the Sahwa fish-people had lived here a long time, and at least knew that things that fly were not to be trifled with.

"There's a girl in there, human — isn't rescuing the damsel in distress your favorite kind of plot?"

The elf said in a barbed tone.

"Pure misunderstanding. I only rescue my friends."

Rod spread his hands.

He did not want to invite more trouble.

Life and death are fated — you lot can do your best on your own.

"Mage, my lord, up on the Sky Sail! These Sahwa fish-people are blocking the road and robbing us! Please, help us! We will surely repay you!"

One of the two humans, a girl, shouted.

But the words had only just left her mouth.

The Sky Sail, which had just slowed, now resumed its former cruising speed.

The girl clicked her tongue hard, her face already tinged with a touch of madness.

While running, she pulled a brass-colored alchemy cylinder from her spell pouch and aimed it at the Sky Sail.

Her male companion, seeing this, was immediately startled.

He hurriedly called out to stop her: "What are you doing?! We don't even know who is on the Sky Sail!"

"Who the hell cares who they are! If they won't save me, how could they be any good?!"

"But so what if you drag them down! When the time comes, won't they just team up with the fish-people to attack us anyway!"

"Then what else can I do? If I die, they won't get off easy either!"

Watching the girl's eyes turn yellow and grow clouded, black veins bulging across her face, she looked like a raving demon.

The male companion wailed:

"Your madness is acting up again? Didn't your sister say you were cured??? I must have the worst damn luck in the world to come out on a job with you lunatic sisters!!!"

"I'm not a lunatic! Fuck you!!"

After a furious roar.

She immediately raised her hand and slashed out with a sword.

The male companion, caught off guard, stared in terror, his eyes wide.

He watched helplessly as the blade struck his magical shield.

He wasn't seriously hurt, but the impact was enough to cut his fleeing speed by more than half.

"Jenna! You bas— ahhhh!!!"

Before he could finish.

A trident sliced through the air, steadily shattering his crude magical shield, piercing his thigh, and pinning him to the ground.

Sahwa fish-people are born with strong muscles and are extremely skilled at throwing.

And that one called Jenna, hearing her companion's scream, actually showed a flicker of savage satisfaction.

With no obstruction now, she immediately fired the alchemy cylinder in her hand at the Sky Sail in midair.

Hiss—

Dwarven alchemy creations have always been famous for needing no mana to activate.

This item was no exception.

White, searing steam burst from the round holes on both sides.

Boom!

A black iron ball shot out.

Jenna could not help but grin savagely.

This alchemy creation was something she had bought from the dwarves at great expense.

The iron ball fired out was made of a very unstable explosive substance; while its power wasn't great, it was roughly around the early sixth tier.

She was at Sixth-Tier Initial Stage — it wasn't that she couldn't use skills of equal power.

But this alchemical creation had one ability she lacked — it contained a 【Spider Web】 spell within it.

This was a spell that countered the vast majority of flight techniques!

"You lot die too!"

However.

Before the black iron ball could strike the Sky Sail, a flash of sword-light swept past.

The iron ball split clean in two in an instant, exploding midair; the 【Spider Web】 spell only caught a handful of empty air.

The Sky Sail hadn't taken a single scratch.

Jenna clicked her tongue.

She turned to look back.

That male companion, under the pursuit of the Sahaw fish-men, had been playing an outstanding role in tying them down.

Even with a trident through his thigh, he had kept fighting back with all his might.

Greatly reducing the number of fish-men pursuing her.

"Two more at Sixth-Tier, six at Fifth-Tier — tsk!"

Jenna suddenly sensed something and looked toward the sky again.

She saw the sail sway once.

A figure leapt out from within.

The figure traced a brief parabola through the air, then slammed into the ground with a thud, cratering a small pit, and landed steady.

He was a tall, handsome man.

Draped in a worn, plain black cloak, with one gold and one silver longsword hanging at his waist.

He laughed in spite of himself: "You looking to die?"

But Jenna's eyes lit up.

Only Sixth-Tier Mid Stage!

Another one to throw under the bus!

She laughed aloud, swung her steel sword, and her spiritual energy condensed on the blade into a translucent red phantom shaped like half a kidney.

"Sacrifice!! Engozi Pain Sword!!!"

The next instant, she spat out a mouthful of blood; the spiritual energy accumulated within her body climbed and climbed, surging straight up to the level of Sixth-Tier Peak.

"Die for me!!!"

She didn't even spare a glance at the Sahaw fish-men behind her, and just hacked a vicious, lightning-fast sword straight at Rod.

A massive blood-colored spiritual greatsword, just like 【Giant Cleave】.

Facing the slash.

Rod was perfectly calm, lightly resting his palm on the hilt of 【Body-Sacrifice Sword】.

"【Four Flashes】."

His arm blurred for an instant.

Four sword-images flashed past.

Psssh—

Jenna swayed, dazed.

In that single instant, the spiritual greatsword failed to coalesce and rapidly dissipated midair.

Blood blurred her vision.

She instinctively tried to adjust her footing, only to find nothing beneath her — as if she were suspended in midair.

Then she collapsed, falling between her own two severed legs and severed hands.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!"

A heaven-shattering scream rang out.

The physical constitution of a spiritual warrior really was something else.

All four limbs severed, and she still had the energy to scream at the top of her lungs like that.

Rod's left hand gripped 【Soul-Tremor Blade】.

"Shut up."

A 【Silence】 spell flung over.

The scream cut off short.

The pursuing Sahaw fish-men had by now caught up; they glanced at Jenna's wretched state, then at Rod holding his longsword.

Not daring to relax their vigilance in the slightest.

(End of Chapter)