[Chapter 22] The Fierce Skirmish on the Borderline
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Anderson personally led the main force of the Black Bat Army, marching through the night and arriving at Da Vinci Town.
The town was quiet. Scouts returned with Rona and Case and reported to the vanguard commander, Gui Yequan.
Gui Yequan asked with concern, “The news of your disappearance reached us. We thought you two had fallen victim to Father John’s deadly hand.”
Rona, maintaining a calm expression, said, “General, we indeed encountered the terrifying Father John at Milan Station. Knowing we were no match for him, fortunately, we evaded in time and managed to escape safely.”
Gui Yequan, without suspicion, said, “Near the border, these several towns are all deserted. Do you know what happened?”
Case pretended to be ignorant and said, “We just arrived, so we don’t understand either.”
Gui Yequan, puzzled, said, “Even you don’t know? Could it be that our movements were leaked and have already aroused official suspicion? But all along, we have kept a very low profile, precisely to avoid attracting official attention…”
Gui Yequan then took the two to the mansion to see Anderson. Rona and Gui Yequan separately reported the situation.
Rufus thought for a moment and said, “Commander, along the way, every town we passed has been empty. I believe the officials have clearly tracked our movements.”
Anderson said anxiously, “Then what should we do? We can’t just retreat back…”
Rufus said seriously, “The enemy deliberately implements scorched-earth tactics, which means they must have made significant preparations. Commander, do you think the enemy will leave us a way out? From here on, we will very likely face their strong resistance, perhaps even planned encirclement and interception. But we have no choice but to march forward courageously, regardless of any sacrifice, to cross the border checkpoint and enter Swiss territory.”
Anderson asked, “Magician, do you mean the enemy will deploy heavy troops at the border checkpoint to intercept us?”
Rufus said, “Exactly. We must prepare ourselves for the worst-case scenario. Everyone, conserve your energy; tomorrow night, get ready to face a frontal encounter.”
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The next day, just as the sun set, all military police and security members at the border checkpoint took up their combat positions.
In the command post, Father John, Adorno, Chief Marlin, and several town mayors were gathered around a long table discussing several mountain paths on the map.
Marlin said, “Each of these mountain paths is guarded by a security unit. When enemy columns launch a large-scale assault, we will ignite barrels of kerosene and let them roll down, letting them taste the torment of being burned alive.”
Sao Paolo expressed concern, “On the main road, there are fewer than twenty military police guarding. The force is quite weak. If the enemy discovers it and concentrates their main force for a strong attack, we might be overrun…”
Father John said, “I expect that the enemy’s strategist, Magician Rufus, always acts cautiously. He will definitely divide his force into several columns to ascend the mountain paths under the cover of darkness. Once they start their assault on our positions, Adorno and I will infiltrate their ranks and kill their leading officers, creating chaos.”
Marlin confidently said, “Mayor, you don’t need to worry about the main road. Although we have few people, all are rigorously trained military and police. Even if the enemy attacks strongly, they will gain nothing.”
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At quarter past eight, reports began coming from the outposts on several mountain paths, indicating enemy columns ascending. Security personnel stationed at high points took their combat positions and held their breaths.
A quarter of an hour later, bursts of fire erupted along several mountain paths. The vanguard of the Black Bat Army encountered rolling kerosene barrels, caught off guard. Some ghost soldiers unable to evade were engulfed in flames, rolling down the hillside, screaming. Soldiers behind hurriedly dodged.
The leading Black Bat officer shouted, “Do not panic! Do not panic! Keep advancing!”
Father John and Adorno took advantage of the chaos, each infiltrating two separate columns of the Black Bat Army. Adorno used illusion magic to transform into a dragon knight. The ghost soldiers, seeing a dragon knight behind them, screamed in shock and pushed forward in panic.
Father John, wearing a human-skin mask, seized the opportunity to sneak behind the leading officer and launch a stealth attack.
The leading officer was killed. Panic spread among the ghost soldiers, who scrambled forward in a mad rush. At that moment, dense gunfire erupted ahead; some ghost soldiers were shot in the head and fell, twitching in agony.
Rona and Case, at the rear of another column, killed straggling ghost soldiers. Amid the extreme chaos, General Gui Yequan at the front was supervising the vanguard and could not pay attention to the rear.
Strategist Rufus, seeing that all enemy columns were being heavily attacked, immediately judged that the enemy’s central line was likely weaker.
Rufus ordered, “Messengers, blow the ghost whistle immediately! Have the six columns converge toward the checkpoint and launch a concentrated assault to find a breakthrough.”
The columns, hearing the ghost whistle, each moved toward the checkpoint.
Chief Marlin, leading nearly twenty military police, fought valiantly, but ultimately could not withstand the main force of the Black Bat Army. Seeing his comrades fall one by one and surrounded by more than a dozen ghost soldiers, about to run out of ammunition, Marlin shouted, “I’ll send you all back to hell!” He mercilessly pulled the self-detonation device. Instantly, explosions rocked the checkpoint area. Dozens of ghost soldiers were buried in the fire along with Marlin. The strong blasts and flames shook half the mountain ridge.
At this moment, Rufus received a report that Rona and Case were slaughtering comrades at the rear of the formation. He rushed to the rear to handle it. Furious, Rufus shouted, “You two traitors! Tonight, you will not leave alive!”
Rufus activated magic, about to strike Rona and Case viciously. Rona quickly drew an invisibility cloak over Case and slipped inside herself; in an instant, both vanished from Rufus’s sight. Rona and Case hurriedly ran back. Rufus noticed two new tracks on the ground, but at that moment, Anderson sent an urgent order to summon him, so he did not pursue further.
Rufus muttered resentfully, “I’ll spare you two dogs’ lives for now!”
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Anderson led Magician Rufus and several loyal followers, along with a group of remnants, clumsily crossing the border checkpoint and marching rapidly into Swiss territory. Anderson’s gang of fiends regrouped in a small village near Lake Lucerne.
Anderson asked, “How many brothers and sisters do we have left?”
Gui Yequan said, “After counting, only about sixty are still combat-ready.”
Anderson, dejected, said, “Just as the magician predicted, the enemy used the terrain to ambush us while conserving energy. Worse, there were traitors in the rear causing disruption.”
Rufus said, “During the fight, I discovered Gui Jianchou and the dragon knight; it seems this operation was orchestrated by them. But there is one thing I still cannot understand…”
Anderson asked, “What is troubling the Great Magician?”
Rufus spoke his doubt: “Since the enemy is led by the Dragon Knight, why have we not seen his elite force, the Iron-Blooded Guard?”
Anderson speculated, “Perhaps the Iron-Blooded Guard is deployed around Lake Lucerne, where we are about to head.”
Rufus said, “Hmm, master, that is very possible. If at this critical moment we encounter the Iron-Blooded Guard, I fear our entire army will be annihilated. Gui Yequan, you go first to scout the enemy near Lake Lucerne. If there is any news, report back immediately.”
“Yes! Great Magician.” Gui Yequan cupped his hands to acknowledge the order, then leapt and vanished into the dusk.
