"The fire should hold them off for a bit."
Kant's face was as somber as still waters, and though it might have been an illusion, Roger felt a hint of chilling intent in the other's gaze.
However, that feeling quickly disappeared.
"Stand guard at the door. As soon as any monsters burst through the fire, hack them back down. If you can't stay on the second floor, move up to the third, but do everything you can to stall them."
"It's getting late; the sky will brighten in a little over an hour. If we can just hold out until then, we will have succeeded!"
Kant's face was grave as he gave his instructions.
"Alright."
While gasping for breath, Roger nodded.
Kant needed to stand at the top of the lighthouse to fend off the Murlocs climbing through the cracks. Now that the iron door below had been breached, if Roger couldn't hold this line of defense, neither of them would survive.
In Kant's hand was but a single-barrel shotgun, its range and firing rate severely limited. In such a confined space, once surrounded by several Murlocs, escape would be nearly impossible.
After giving his instructions to Roger, Kant didn't dare delay any longer and ran up as fast as he could. By this time, the fire on the first floor had spread out. Murlocs, driven mad by the flames yet unable to approach, howled furiously outside the iron gate.
Heat waves rushed towards him, and Roger stayed well away as he now had a chance to survey the environment of the third floor.
Similar to the two floors below, the space here was ample and much tidier—probably where Kant usually lived. For some reason though, the ordinary decorations gave Roger an eerie feeling.
The fire continued to rage, and time ticked away. If things kept up like this, they should be able to make it until dawn.
But just then, another series of loud bangs came from downstairs, and soon after, with a resounding clamor, the iron gate burst open. By then, everything on the first floor had been reduced to ashes, and the blaze had spread to the second floor.
A bizarre and urgent screeching filled the air. Hearing this, the Murlocs at the door threw caution to the wind and barreled into the lighthouse through the fierce flames.
It wasn't long before Roger saw a Murloc, alight with flames, charging right towards him.
Each level of the lighthouse had only one upward passage. The stairs between the first and second floors were already charred beyond recognition, and these creatures were leaping up using their powerful jumping ability.
Roger stood at the stairwell entrance, watching a Murloc leap up and bringing his iron axe down with a swing.
The Murloc shrieked as it fell into the flames, rolled a few times, and quickly fell silent. Just then, a second Murloc lunged up, and Roger met it with the same tactic.
He stood axe in hand, blocking the passage, the very embodiment of the saying 'one man holds the pass against ten thousand.'
As more and more Murlocs sprung up, Roger began to struggle to keep up. It was at this moment that an especially large figure charged into the flames—it was the leader that had previously rammed the iron gate.
Roger's face paled, and he retreated quickly before scrambling up the stairs to the fourth floor. With a loud bang, he shut the wooden door to the next level!
A foul stench hit him.
Roger darted his eyes around. Everywhere on the walls and floor, there were mottled marks as if countless people had clawed at them, bloodstains still visible within the gouges.
In the room's corner lay a four-sided object covered with black cloth, from which Roger could distinctly hear the sound of heavy breathing.
Before he could investigate further, there was a sudden crash against the door, and the heavy wood splintered, opening a crack.
Roger peered through the gap and saw a ferocious face staring back at him.
"Roar!"
Accompanied by the roar, another collision came.
"Just hold on a little longer; the sun is about to rise!"
Kant, hearing the sounds below, shouted loudly.
"Hold on?"
"Hold on my ass..."
Roger couldn't help but let out a curse. This was a matter of life and death. Was it something one could just decide to endure?
After a moment's hesitation, he abandoned the wood door and raced upward, but before he could make it, he found himself staring down the barrel of a gun!
Kant's expression was hideous, his eyes bloodshot from a sleepless night.
"Get down!"
"Hold out until the sun rises!"
Kant emitted a bestial roar from his throat; at this moment, he appeared no different from the monsters outside.
Roger gripped the handle of his axe tightly.
"Do you want to die?"
Kant sneered.
"I don't mind putting a hole in your head!"
"Get down there right now!"
Boom boom boom!
The sound of impacts was incessant.
Kant's right hand, holding the gun, trembled violently; it seemed at any moment he might pull the trigger. He glanced back, and a glimmer of dawn crested the horizon.
Perhaps in just a few dozen seconds, the sun would rise above the sea!
But these few seconds were a matter of life and death!
Facing the dark muzzle, Roger was helpless, biting his lip tightly. When the pounding reached its peak behind him, he suddenly turned around.
He feared that if he delayed even a second longer, he wouldn't be able to resist raising his axe.
Even the swiftness of his actions couldn't outpace a bullet.
The moment he turned, he pulled an item from his chest, opened it, and gulped it down!
Concentration Potion.
This was the only means he had left.
The cold liquid entered his throat, and soon the familiar sensation returned.
Under the effects of the Concentration Potion, Roger's perception, muscle control, and nerve reflexes all increased dramatically.
Although he wasn't sure if this method would work, he had no other choice at the moment.
Roger ran forward quickly and soon felt something unusual; his body grew Lightness, and he could even estimate when the monster would break through the wooden door with the next impact.
Four more steps. According to his calculation, as he reached the door, the monster would precisely break through.
"Now!"
Roger slightly altered his direction, cutting across at a special angle. With his last step, he grasped the iron axe with both hands and twisted all his strength—thighs, waist, abdomen, arms—into a single force before chopping down fiercely!
Crack!
At that moment, the wooden door split open!
The dark blue Murloc burst through the splinters.
But before it could recover, an axe, gleaming with a cold light, sliced towards it.
The Murloc let out a roar and reached out to grab.
Clang!
A resounding noise followed.
That was when Roger also realized his own problem; he was too weak. Even if his mind could capture the opponent's movements, his body couldn't keep up.
He could only watch helplessly as the monster's sharp claws intercepted the axe blade, and then a tremendous force hit, sending him flying like a cannonball, spewing blood from his mouth before slamming hard against the wall!
His vision darkened, consciousness blurring, Roger felt he might pass out at any moment.
But just then, a wave of coolness forcibly broke into his mind.
It was the effect of the Concentration Potion.
He shook his head, barely regaining consciousness.
But then Roger noticed that the Murloc, after knocking him away, did not pursue the victory but turned and walked towards the other end of the room!
"What is he going to do?"