"Kill them all!" The commanding voice of the enemy leader resounded, serving as the trigger for their forces to launch their attack. Swordsmen, mages, and hidden archers in the trees all sprung into action, creating a chaotic and dangerous situation.
"Hmm, they have some hidden archers up in the trees," Aldelio observed, his senses sharp as he noted the presence of the concealed threat. This observation prompted Alexei to keep his pistol trained on the forest, ready to fire at a moment's notice.
"It's a sloppy move, but they're at least putting in some effort," Aldelio mused to himself, assessing the situation. Pumping his shotgun and aiming at the charging swordsmen, he gestured to Galina.
"Aim for the mages and take them out swiftly," Aldelio directed to Galina, relying on her exceptional marksmanship skills to counter the magical threat posed by the enemy mages. The battle was underway, and Aldelio's strategic thinking would play a crucial role in determining their success amidst the chaos.
"Ahhh!" The first charging swordsman let out a cry as he closed in on Aldelio at close range. However, little did he know that this was exactly what Aldelio had wanted. With a confident smirk, Aldelio aimed his shotgun directly at the swordsman, who was merely a meter away.
*Bang*
The deafening blast echoed through the air, followed by a cloud of smoke. The swordsman, unable to react in time, had his head blown off by the impact, his charge coming to an abrupt and gruesome end.
"!!!" The remaining swordsman were momentarily stunned by the shocking display, their advance halted. The leader's eyes widened in disbelief, quickly recognizing the lethal threat posed by their enemy's unconventional ranged weapons. It was clear that close combat wouldn't be in their favor, especially since the swordsman Aldelio had shot down was a seasoned Tier 3 warrior.
"Mages!" The leader's urgent command signaled a shift in strategy, acknowledging that they couldn't overcome the enemy in direct confrontations. But before their mages could react, Galina's swift shots cut through the air.
*Bang bang*
The bullets found their mark with deadly precision, piercing the heads of the mages before they could unleash their magic. The once-threatening spellcasters fell to the ground, their attempts to conjure magic cut short as they succumbed to Galina's precise marksmanship.
The tide of battle had turned swiftly, leaving the enemy leader and his remaining forces reeling from the devastating counterattack.
"Fuck! Archers, what are you doing?!"
The enemy leader's voice was laced with curses and panic as he desperately urged his archers, realizing the perilous situation they were in. However, even the archers were ensnared by the chaos and were struggling to regain control of the situation.
*Bang bang bang*
"Hahaha!"
"Gah!"
"Uhk!"
The forest resonated with a cacophony of pain and death as bullets met their targets. Amidst the chaos, a girl's laughter pierced the air, a reflection of Vera's own amusement as she skillfully wielded her dual PPSH submachine guns. Her agile movements allowed her to deftly avoid the incoming arrows, using the environment to her advantage. Trees became springboards for her evasive maneuvers, showcasing her mastery of adaptive combat.
"Shit! Aim for their leader-"
*Bang*
"I don't think so."
The enemy's archer leader had attempted to redirect their fire towards Aldelio. However, Alexei's intuition and quick decision-making thwarted their plan. With a well-placed shot, he silenced the enemy archer leader before he could fully issue his commands, cutting off their coordination and leaving them even more disarrayed. The enemy's attempts to regain control continued to falter as Aldelio's team exhibited their formidable combat prowess.
"You're the only ones left now," Aldelio's voice turned cold as his gaze bore into the remaining survivors of the battle. Fear flickered in their eyes as they felt an intense, almost surreal, pressure emanating from the young man before them.
"D-Dammit!"
Realizing the direness of their situation, many of the swordsmen abandoned their weapons, opting to flee from the battle rather than face certain defeat. This display of humility did not escape Aldelio's notice.
"Leave none alive."
With a hand gesture mimicking the motion of a throat being slit, Aldelio signaled Galina, who swiftly eliminated the fleeing cowards with her expert marksmanship.
"Alright, now the rest of you, come!"
Aldelio's taunt resonated with the remaining swordsmen, some of whom seemed to be pushed to irrational decisions due to the overwhelming odds they faced.
"G-gaah!"
One of the swordsmen let out a war cry as he charged recklessly at Aldelio, his reasoning clouded by desperation. He seemed to have forgotten the overwhelming difference in strength between them, a fact that would be quickly revealed.
*Bang*
"Fucker!"
"Die, you bastard!"
The irrational charge seemed to trigger a chain reaction among the remaining swordsmen, each driven by a mix of desperation and anger. Some of them even activated their unique {Skills}, attempting to close the distance between themselves and Aldelio before he could react and use his weapon. Among the skills unleashed were:
"{Weightless Steps}"
"{Quick Draw}"
"{Pursuit}"
These abilities allowed some of the swordsmen to instantly shrink the distance, attempting to get within striking range before Aldelio could respond effectively. The battle had escalated into a flurry of desperate and futile actions as the remaining foes sought any means of survival against the overwhelming force before them.
"Heh," Aldelio's voice held a confident edge as he observed the swordsmen's desperate attempts to close in on him.
"Clearly, you lot have no brains," his taunting words hung in the air, taunting the futile efforts of his adversaries. But it wasn't long before they were met with an ominous reality.
"Fu-"
Before their curses could take form, Aldelio pulled the shotgun's trigger, releasing a deafening blast that obliterated their heads. It was over in an instant, a swift and brutal end to their futile struggle.
"Too easy," Aldelio muttered, his confidence unwavering. As each swordsman attempted to close the distance, their attacks were effortlessly dodged by Aldelio, his movements fluid and precise. He danced between them, a whirlwind of death as their heads exploded under the impact of his shotgun.
"Left!" Aldelio leaned to the side to evade a sword thrust, simultaneously spinning his shotgun. The movement was seamless, as the barrel of the shotgun met the attacker's face, ending his life.
"Down!" Aldelio executed a split to dodge another attack, showing remarkable control over his body. The swordsman, now infuriated and off-balance, found himself staring down the barrel of Aldelio's shotgun. His face was wiped from existence in the blink of an eye.
"What comes around goes around!" With the same fluidity, Aldelio rose and seized the lifeless body of one of the slain swordsmen. He swung it around with deadly accuracy, sending it hurtling towards a charging swordsman. The gruesome impact halted the man's advance, leaving him stunned and defenseless.
Aldelio's mastery over combat was evident, his movements a deadly choreography of violence. The battlefield was quickly turning into a grim spectacle, a testament to his skill and the futility of the foes who dared challenge him.
"Agh...that hurt, though."
Aldelio's quiet admission hung in the air, his muttered words revealing the physical toll the battle had taken on him. The weight of the slain swordsman he had lifted was not a trivial matter, but his adversaries remained unaware of his discomfort.
"The combatants of this world are no joke," he continued, his eyes reflecting a sense of wonder at the strength displayed both by himself and his foes. The power system in this world, with its mysterious skills and capabilities, remained a source of intrigue for him.
"But, well, in any case, you're the last one left."
Aldelio's attention shifted to the lone survivor, the leader of the defeated group. This man, adorned in a black cape with a dragon emblem, stood defiantly, his fearlessness in stark contrast to the earlier cowards.
"You fucking monsters! You should just drop dead!"
The leader's harsh words didn't faze Aldelio, who responded with a mocking tone. However, something unusual caught his attention. The enemy leader wore a sly smile, an expression that raised Aldelio's suspicions.
"Well, well, well... Acting tough now, are we?"
Despite his indifferent demeanor, Aldelio remained vigilant. Suddenly, he yawned, a deliberate act to feign disinterest, all while keeping his shotgun trained on the leader.
*Bang*
Aldelio's shotgun roared to life, a shot that seemed directed at nothing in particular. Yet, the enemy leader's eyes widened in disbelief as an assassin he had employed fell lifeless, never given the chance to strike.
It was a shocking turn of events, one that left the enemy leader in a state of shock and confusion, while Aldelio's calm and calculated actions continued to shape the outcome of this perilous encounter.
"I guess that's your trump card, but too bad it's just yet another futile attempt."
Aldelio's remark struck at the heart of his adversary's desperate situation, causing him to clench his teeth in frustration. Despite his predicament, he refused to yield and hastily reached for something in his pockets, only to be met with another swift and precise response.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Galina's voice cut through the air, accompanied by the sound of her rifle's shot. The enemy leader's finger fell to the ground, accompanied by a scream of pain. He writhed in agony, clutching his hand, as the contents of his pocket scattered.
"A-ahhh!"
The enemy leader's pained cries echoed, but Aldelio's attention was drawn to the small glass bottle that had fallen from his pocket. It contained a glowing yellow liquid that intrigued Aldelio's curiosity.
"Interesting."
Aldelio's muttered observation was directed at the mysterious potion. He leaned down to retrieve it, his eyes focused on the glow.
"Pfft, by any chance you were actually going to drink this special potion for something like a power-up? I swear if that's how it is, this is just going to be funny."
Aldelio's sarcastic comment fell on deaf ears as the enemy leader was consumed by the pain of his lost finger.
"Oh, stop acting like a baby just because you lost a finger. It'll grow back."
Aldelio's words were meant to taunt the enemy leader into regaining his composure, but the man's agony still held him captive.
"For crying out loud!"
Aldelio's patience finally wore thin as he delivered a swift kick to the enemy leader's gut, silencing his cries, at least temporarily.
"Feeling better now?"
"..."
Writhing in pain, yet silenced by his circumstances, the enemy leader's eyes seethed with anger and madness toward Aldelio. But Aldelio's next move was nothing short of unexpected.
"Those eyes show such contempt, don't they? What if we give this a try?"
Aldelio's decision was irrational, unpredictable, and baffling. Even he himself and his subordinates couldn't comprehend what he was doing.
"What..."
Aldelio muttered after forcefully shoving the strange potion into the man's mouth. The enemy leader's expression turned to one of confusion and fear.
"AgqyqQggdqo"
Unintelligible noises erupted from the man's mouth, leaving Aldelio and his comrades puzzled. However, an ominous and stale air began to hang heavily in the atmosphere, hinting at the approaching chaos.
"What the hell?"
The man suddenly contorted, his body undergoing a grotesque transformation. Aldelio and his companions felt a sense of déjà vu, as the man's body swelled and changed into something abhorrent.
"Raagh!"
After the horrifying transformation, the man stood before them as an 18-meter monstrosity. His appearance sent shivers down their spines – twisted hind legs, empty eye sockets that exuded dread, and menacingly elongated arms with unnaturally long nails. Aldelio and his companions were struck with a sense of imminent crisis.
"Ah... we're screwed."
Aldelio cursed under his breath, bracing himself for the impending battle against the terrifying creature that now confronted them.