Chapter 43: with translation of chapter title

The distance between them is closing.

Translation: "The distance between them was closing." Or "The distance between the two was shortening." Keep concise: "The distance between them was closing."

In terms of sorcery, Linke's offensive power is limited, so he can only play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses, making good use of his sleeve crossbow and physical advantage.

Translation: "In terms of sorcery, Lin Ke's attack power was limited, so he could only play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses, trying to make good use of his sleeve crossbow and physical advantage."

Therefore, melee combat is not a bad tactic.

Translation: "Thus, close combat was not a bad tactic."

Enrike was dazzled by Linke's movements and suddenly realized he could not aim.

We need to decide on Enrike translation. Use "Enrike". So: "Enrike was dazzled by Lin Ke's movements and suddenly realized he could not aim."

He tried several times, all to no avail.

Translation: "He tried several times, all to no avail."

Enrike simply stopped aiming and stood still, waiting.

Translation: "Enrike simply stopped aiming and stood in place, waiting."

He wasn't limited to just the Golden Arrow technique.

Translation: "He wasn't limited to just the Golden Arrow Technique."

Once the distance closes a bit more, let's see how he kills that despicable villain!

Translation: "Once the distance closed a bit more, see how he kills that despicable villain!"

To guard against metal bolts, Linke watched Enrike's eyes while charging.

Translation: "To guard against metal bolts, Lin Ke watched Enrike's eyes while charging."

He noticed a fleeting shift in Enrike's gaze, sensed something amiss, and immediately canceled his plan to charge and then engage in melee.

Translation: "He noticed a fleeting shift in Enrike's expression, sensed something amiss, and immediately canceled his plan to charge into melee."

He chose to fire the remaining four bolts from his sleeve crossbow in rapid succession while swiftly retreating.

Translation: "He chose to fire the remaining four bolts from his sleeve crossbow in rapid succession while retreating at high speed."

His assault was like fire, his maneuver like wind.

Translation: "His advance was like fire, his shift like wind."

The shift between attack and retreat was smooth without hindrance, epitomized by one word: silky.

Translation: "The transition between attack and retreat was smooth without hindrance, highlighting a single word: silky."

"Shameless!"

Translation: "\"Shameless! \""

Caught off guard, Enrike could not dodge the silent, lightning‑fast bolts and had to bear them head‑on.

Translation: "Enrike, caught off guard, could not dodge the silent, lightning-fast bolts and could only brace himself."

Boom, boom, boom, whoosh!

The bolts struck Enrike, producing four short, dense, consecutive sounds.

Translation: "The bolts striking Enrike produced four short, dense, consecutive sounds."

The first 'boom' was the first bolt hitting the zero‑ring sorcery golden garment technique; the bolt's momentum was blocked, and the thin transparent golden garment was destroyed.

The second 'boom' was the second bolt striking the outer robe; the bolt fell uselessly to the ground, and the robe's enchanted protective effect was also nullified.

Translation: "The second 'boom' was the second bolt striking the outer robe; the bolt fell powerless to the ground, and the robe's enchanted protective effect was also nullified."

The third 'boom' was the third bolt hitting the chest armor; the bolt's head snapped, the shaft broke into three pieces, and the chest armor shattered into two halves.

Translation: "The third 'boom' was the third bolt hitting the heart-protection armor; the bolt's head snapped, the shaft broke into three pieces, and the armor shattered in half."

The fourth 'whoosh' was the fourth bolt piercing Enrike's chest, producing that sound.

Translation: "The fourth 'whoosh' was the fourth bolt piercing Enrike's chest, producing that sound."

Unfortunately, beneath the chest armor Enrike wore a silk shirt that dissipated most of the bolt's force, so it did not penetrate deeply.

Translation: "Unfortunately, beneath the heart-protection armor Enrike wore a silk shirt that dissipated most of the bolt's force, so it did not penetrate deeply."

Enrike's defenses were utterly destroyed, he was wounded, and seeing Linke gain an advantage and retreat, he flew into a rage.

Translation: "Enrike's defenses were utterly ruined, he was wounded, and seeing Lin Ke gain an advantage and retreat, he flew into a rage."

One cannot, at least should not...

This line seems incomplete: "People cannot, at least should not..." Probably continues later. We'll translate literally: "People cannot, at least should not..."

How shameless!

Translation: "How shameless!"

Linke heard Enrike's roar and couldn't be bothered to respond.

Translation: "Lin Ke heard Enrike's roar and couldn't be bothered to respond."

While retreating, he cautiously guarded against Enrike's attacks and fished out a spare quiver, loading five fresh bolts.

Translation: "While retreating, he stayed wary of Enrike's attacks and fished out a spare quiver, loading five fresh bolts."

After changing the quiver, Linke did not attack; he covertly made a hand signal with his left hand, indicating that Molly should go farther away.

Translation: "After changing the quiver, Lin Ke did not attack again; he covertly made a gesture with his left hand, signaling Mo Li to go farther away."

He himself also slowly withdrew to the fork, seemingly intending to wage a war of attrition until the intelligent law‑enforcement puppet arrived.

Translation: "He himself also slowly retreated to the fork, appearing to want to wage a war of attrition, dragging things out until the intelligent law enforcement puppet arrived."

Enrike grew increasingly anxious.

Translation: "Enrike grew increasingly anxious."

His plan was to ambush Linke Grand and Mo Li Jideman within the three minutes of shielding the intelligent law‑enforcement puppet.

Who would have thought Linke would be so vigilant, causing his ambush to fail before it even began?

Translation: "Who would have thought Lin Ke would be so vigilant, causing his ambush to fail before it even began?"

Enrike wasn't unaware that he should have a backup plan, but he had spent all his savings on disposable shielding devices.

Translation: "Enrike wasn't unaware that he should have a backup plan, but he had spent all his savings on one-time shielding magical devices."

Where would he get the funds to support a backup plan?

Translation: "Where would he get funds to support a backup plan?"

Seeing that more than half of the three minutes had passed, he had not only failed to retaliate against Linke Grand and Mo Li Jideman but had also been wounded, so Enrike decided to go all out.

Translation: "Seeing that more than half of the three minutes had passed, not only had he failed to retaliate against Linke Grand and Mo Li Jideman, but he himself was wounded; Enrike decided to go all out."

He suddenly raised his right hand and hurled the quietly floating light sphere at Linke.

Translation: "He suddenly raised his right hand, smashing the light ball that had quietly appeared in his hand toward Lin Ke."

At the same time, he hopped forward on his crutch.

Translation: "At the same time, he hopped forward on his crutch."

The light sphere flew quickly, reaching the air near Linke, and popped with a bang.

Translation: "The light ball flew fast, reaching the space near Lin Ke, and popped with a bang."

Linke reacted just as swiftly, promptly lowering his head and closing his eyes to avoid the stimulus of the 'flashbang'.

Translation: "Lin Ke's reaction was not slow either; he promptly lowered his head and closed his eyes to avoid the stimulus of the 'flashbang'."

Poor Mo Li had never seen a gunfight movie, never played CS/CF, and didn't know what a flashbang was.

Translation: "Poor Mo Li had never watched gunfight movies, nor played CS/CF, and did not know what a flashbang was."

In a moment of carelessness, she fell victim to it.

Translation: "In a moment of carelessness, she was affected."

Her eyes were almost blinded by the burst's intense light; they instantly turned red, and tears streamed down in a sloshing flow.

Translation: "Her eyes were almost blinded by the blazing light of the explosion; they instantly turned red, and tears streamed down."

Fortunately she clenched her teeth tightly, making no sound that would reveal her position.

Translation: "Fortunately, she clenched her teeth tightly and made no sound to reveal her position."

Don't let Enrike's lost leg fool you—his charging speed is still not slow.

Translation: "Don't be fooled by Enrike's broken leg; his charging speed is still not slow."

Just as Linke ducked to avoid the flash, Enrike had already hopped several meters forward.

Translation: "Just as Lin Ke lowered his head to dodge the flash, Enrike had already hopped several meters."

Opportunity waits for no one.

Translation: "Opportunity does not wait twice."

Enrike seized the moment, unleashing three consecutive Golden Arrow strikes, accuracy be damned—shoot first, ask questions later.

Translation: "Enrike seized the opportunity, unleashing three consecutive Golden Arrow Techniques, regardless of aim—shoot first, ask later."

Swish, swish, swish—three metal bolts shot forth in a 'pin' formation.

In the heat of the moment, Linke's response was spot on.

Translation: "In the urgency, Lin Ke's response was spot on."

He first glanced at the three metal bolts, quickly determined he was outside their strike range, and merely lowered his water shield a bit as a precaution.

Translation: "He first glanced at the three metal bolts, quickly judged he was outside their strike range, and merely lowered his water shield a bit as a precaution."

He himself inadvertently shifted direction and retreated into the woods.

Translation: "Meanwhile, he inadvertently turned direction and retreated into the woods."

To guard against attack, Linke's speed inevitably slowed a little.

Translation: "To guard against attack, Lin Ke's speed inevitably slowed a bit."

Enrike, emboldened by his advantage, pursued relentlessly, hopping closer and closer.

Translation: "Enrike, gaining the upper hand, pursued relentlessly, hopping to close the gap a little further."

But after unleashing so many Golden Arrow strikes, a Light‑Refraction Illusion, a Golden Garment technique, and a Flash technique,

Translation: "But after using so many Golden Arrow Techniques in succession, plus a Light Refraction Phantom Technique, a Golden Garment Technique, and a Flash Technique,"

Enrike's mental and magical energy were nearly depleted, insufficient to sustain further offense.

Translation: "Enrike's mental and magical power were nearly exhausted, insufficient to sustain further offense."

He then pulled from his waist a true trump card—a self‑exploding fire grenade shaped like a cluster grenade—and threw it with force.

Note: He then pulled from his waist a true trump card—a self‑exploding fire grenade shaped like a cluster grenade—and threw it with force.

This was also a rune item that Lifusi had originally given to Enrike.

Note: The name should be rendered in pinyin as 'Lifusi' (i. e., 'Rivers'). Hence the sentence reads: 'This was also a rune item that Lifusi had originally given to Enrike.'

Linke didn't care what it was; he put as much distance as he could between himself and it, even actively advancing his unused water shield.

Translation: "Lin Ke didn't care what it was; he dodged as far as he could, even actively meeting the unused water shield."

The sloshing water shield deflected the self‑exploding fire grenade, altering its course and slowing its speed.

Note: The sound should be rendered as 'Slosh slosh' (like splashing). Hence: 'The sloshing water shield deflected the self‑exploding fire grenade, altering its direction and slowing its speed.'

Boom—

The self-destructing fire thunder exploded less than ten meters in front of Lin Ke.

Its power was truly astonishing.

The ground was blown into a large pit, several nearby trees were snapped, and clods of flying earth smashed into Lin Ke's head and body.

However, aside from being covered in dust and looking a bit disheveled, Lin Ke didn't even have a single hair injured.

To receive without returning is impolite.

Just as Enrik threw the self-destructing fire thunder, Lin Ke also unleashed the long-planned entangling thorns.

Those thorns lying on the ground instantly wrapped Enrik's cane and right leg tightly, leaving him unable to move.

Lin Ke also simultaneously fired five crossbow bolts.

Thud, thud, thud, swish, swish.

Three of the crossbow bolts were blocked by the tree trunk, and two struck Enrik.

One pierced through the abdomen, and the other lodged in the cheek.

"Pfft..."

Enrik spat a mouthful of blood upward, let out a mournful cry, "I... am not resigned!"

As his words fell, Enrik's left armpit loosened the cane, and the thorns wrapped around his right leg tripped him, causing him to pitch forward onto the ground.

Seeing this, Lin Ke not only did not step forward to check the corpse, but instead retreated a considerable distance.

When he had just purchased the sleeve crossbow, he had already designed a counter‑kill battle plan for when severely wounded and fallen.

Mo Li carried a flying needle concealed weapon for self‑defense, and also harbored the intention of a desperate counterattack.

How could Lin Ke possibly give the enemy a chance for a counterkill?

Peacefully waiting for the enemy to die completely—wouldn't that be wonderful?

If it weren't for needing to deal with the intelligent law enforcement puppet later, Lin Ke would certainly have fired each of the five crossbow bolts from the newly replaced quiver into Enrik's six‑yang vital point one by one.

Only a completely dead enemy is a good enemy!

In the distance, Mo Li raised her Portable Smart Brain, indicating that the academy had dispatched an intelligent law enforcement puppet.

Lin Ke nodded, his attention still on Enrik, just in case he was really feigning death.

Not long after, the intelligent law enforcement puppet arrived leisurely.

An extra chapter as an apology to the readers.

(End of chapter)