Chapter 366: Deterring the Enemy Host

"Har Ganeth Executioners! To think the god-blessed villains could even hire them! But since they already have the Bloodwrack Shrine, it seems no surprise that they would have them too."

Looking at the greatswords held by the incoming enemies as ritual implements, Sinuoli shook his head slightly. These Executioners were true masters of slaughter, constantly honing their skills in Har Ganeth, the religious city that served as the center of the Khaine faith, amidst its never-ending sacrificial executions.

One could see the origins of the Dark Elves and High Elves from these people; the two races had great similarities in their unit compositions. Just as Executioners and Swordmasters of Hoeth were both experts equipped in heavy armor who cut through infantry like slicing melons and vegetables, the Black Guard and Phoenix Guard both wielded halberds to form the most resilient defensive lines.

"Turn your oaths and beliefs into steel!"

He tapped the Oath and Steel Rune rapidly, and the armor on the Jade Warriors facing the Har Ganeth Executioners glowed with a runic luster. But to the heartbreak of every commander on the bridge, this layer of protection proved ineffective against the greatswords.

Every swinging greatsword was crafted by the Executioners themselves under the supervision of the smiths of the Temple of Khaine. As the Executioners learned the art of killing, they forged and adjusted their own blade blanks, eventually reaching a state where blade and wielder became one.

The Jade Warriors directly struck by the Destruction Magic Missile from above were honored on the spot, while those around them were left numb and reeling. In the moment before they could recover, greatswords hacked into the gaps of their lamellar armor, and bloody limbs were scattered across the deck.

"Protect the Dragon-born, defend Ninghe—this is our sacred duty!"

Under a uniform chant, the Celestial Dragon Guard in golden armor took the pressure before the Jade Warriors' defensive line could be pierced by the Executioners. These elites were equipped with a shield in addition to wielding their halberds, a combination that made it relatively easy for them to handle the enemy's charge.

"The God of the Bloody Hand guides the Druchii!"

"The enemy's fresh flesh and heads are her best sacrifice!"

"I, I can feel it! Khaine is calling to me!"

Nothing pleased the God of the Bloody Hand, Khaine, more than slaughter. The image of this hellish god-king was depicted as a giant, furious Elf, clad in bronze armor soaked in blood, with each of his four arms gripping a massive serrated sword.

Khaine's divine power was so potent that even High Elves and Wood Elves would pray to her before battle. When the Dark Elves satisfied their own desire for slaughter, they would feel their mastery of killing improve.

The Executioners and the Dragon Guard clashed; one side was filled with intense killing intent and possessed superb skills honed over hundreds of years, while the other relied on the advantage of longer weapons to maintain a defensive stance, managing to hold their ground.

Admiral Kanowar stood on the balcony of the Black Ark tower and felt a secret tightening in his heart as he saw his subordinates' attack obstructed. The gangway was relatively narrow, and the Cold One Knights and various chariots that the Druchii often used to charge enemy lines had little room to maneuver.

"Push those two wretches forward! The curse of the Lady of Desire will work perfectly in the chaotic melee!"

He placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, but after glancing around at the cowering pirate captains nearby, he transformed his battle intent into a loud, empty crack of his whip.

"Hiss!"

"Ugh-woo!"

Upon receiving the order, the masked guards pushed the Shenkan forward. The chains binding the Medusae swayed as the base moved; every shift of these enchanted iron cables, which pierced directly into their bodies, was a tremendous stimulus to the bound, and the snake tongues in their mouths emitted bursts of wailing.

Such sensory stimulation was difficult for any creature of Order to resist; the warriors' minds would be twisted by the Medusae's endless echoes of despair. But to the Druchii, the scent of pain was like the finest perfume, driving them even madder.

"Heh, seeking your own deaths!"

Watching the approaching Shenkan, the Dwarf King's mouth curled slightly upward. He had been worrying about how to deal with those two; every one of their targeted shots could take away the precious lives of one or two elites.

"Let me ferry you to the ultimate bliss of the afterlife!"

Sinuoli jumped onto the railing of the bridge, then let out a great shout to activate Avatar of the Gods and leaped down.

"Boom!"

"Zzzzt!"

At the moment of landing, he stomped out a Thunder Strike. Since leveling up to six after killing the Spider Demigod, he had experienced many great battles. But firstly, most of his kills were indirect, and secondly, the experience required for leveling up was increasing, so he only reached level seven after crushing Clan Mors.

Now, the maxed-out Thunder Strike displayed immense power. The guards around the Divine Altar, who were disheveled and spiritless from being tormented all day by the soul-shattering magic sounds, were directly crushed into a pulp of flesh, and the sturdy Jianmu deck was even struck into a crater at the point of impact.

"Hiss-hiss-hiss!"

One Shenkan base was smashed, and blood rich with foul magic flowed across the deck. The Medusa above was hung in mid-air by chains passing through her shoulder blades, her snake tail whipping back and forth as she wailed incessantly.

"Die!"

The stone statue roared, twisted his body, and swung the axe in his left hand in a full circle, ignoring the protection of her scales to slice her head off directly.

"What are you staring at!"

Seeing her companion decapitated, the other Medusa let out a sharp shriek, her scarlet gaze, condensed into substance, pointing directly at Sinuoli's face. The stone statue flicked the foul blood off his axe and laughed up at the sky; he was already stone, no matter how she glared, she couldn't turn him back into flesh!

"Stared enough? Then eat my hammer!"

Seeing the Executioners about to surround him, Sinuoli stopped being modest and aimed a Storm Hammer, firing it out. The Medusa, bound to the Shenkan, had no room to dodge, and with a "Bang!", her head turned into a cloud of blood.

"That's Sinuoli of the Storm Hammer from the Southlands! I told you, why would they not be flying the colors of the Sea Gate!"

The two Bloodwrack Shrines, which had been obtained from the Witch Queen Molasi at a great cost, were destroyed just like that without any ability to fight back. A layer of frost seemed to hang over Kanuduoer's face; looking at the triumphant stone statue, he finally understood who his opponent was.

The flag of Balake-Wa'er had a purple background, with the most recognizable cliffside port depicted in white. Sinuoli's banner was two half-open doors; to outsiders, it might lack recognizability, but the unique patterns and lintel indicated it was the entrance to the Ancestor Pantheon.

"If he's here, we're in big trouble!"

"That living corpse Notelakes and Admiral Dioge of the Black Creek Raiders both fell at the hands of this dwarf."

"With Lord Heart of Corruption not here, who among us can withstand his Storm Hammer?"

Sinuoli's illustrious battle record and the busyness of his Quata-Haimenguan/Bordeleaux route were equally famous in pirate circles; everyone knew that besides being formidable on land, this young Dwarf King also had great accomplishments in naval warfare.