The sun was high in the sky, hidden behind thick clouds that colored the vast expanse. The air was very humid, sticking to the skin uncomfortably - one could imagine that once night fell, the cold, damp sea breeze would become another harsh challenge.
The sounds of battle still echoed across the tidal flats. Many apprentices likely hadn't had a chance to eat yet, their physical strength depleted, accompanied by gnawing hunger, facing life-or-death crises - experiencing the greatest trial of their lives.
On this side, Eileen had eaten her fill and was in good condition, able to enjoy the natural scenery of the land, feeling a lazy drowsiness in the afternoon sun - a stark difference.
After four hours of rest, Charlie had also recovered to his best state, full of vigor.
Suddenly, the meditating Charlie opened his eyes and began checking his equipment. He placed the frost and fire gems in the most accessible pockets, hung the quiver, took up the longbow, and bound the wand to his back.
"Didn't you say we were done for today?" Eileen was instinctively unwilling to return to the battlefield, the bloody scenes filled her with innate disgust and fear. She was quite content with their current situation.
"I just heard someone say the apprentices are attacking the leader of the fishmen tribe. I want to go take a look."
"Huh?! Why didn't I hear that?" Eileen sighed as she looked at Charlie's calm expression, "But won't there be a lot of people? Might they start fighting?"
Charlie nodded, "Definitely. It's best if you come with me. This place isn't very hidden, and once the apprentice-fishmen battle is over, some will start preparing for an overnight stay - we can't hide here."
"Alright..." Eileen reluctantly agreed.
With the aid of the Hawk Eye potion, the two headed towards the dense fighting. Along the way, they saw several student teams moving in the same direction, maintaining a wary distance from each other, but converging on a common goal.
Soon, they saw the apprentices taking a stand on a high point, forming a curved defensive line that cut off the entire beach. In this moment, the previously distant student teams seemed to have set aside their differences, cooperating to some degree.
Seeing this, Charlie seemed to guess what was happening. Sure enough, when he climbed atop a large boulder, he could see the fishmen stirring in the distance.
A chaotic field of crimson, emerald, bright yellow, and ebony spines formed the fishmen army. At the front, some exceptionally burly and tall fishmen stood out from the rest - their colors deeper, scales thicker, weapons heavier - the fishmen leaders.
In the center of the fishmen horde, an old fishman covered in dark red scales, draped in seaweed robes and wielding a colorful coral staff, was guarded by several powerful fishmen.
In the no-man's land between the two armies, the remains of apprentices and fishmen were strewn about - limbs, weapons, and bodies charred by magic. Boulders were shattered, weapons snapped, a testament to the devastation.
Hatred had spread between the two tribes, and the coming battle was destined to be a fight to the death.
At the forefront of the apprentice line, a handsome youth sat atop a large rock, the crystal apprentice badge on his chest gleaming - one of the most talented apprentices of this generation, with an awe-inspiring background.
He called out in a clear voice, "Brothers, before you are a herd of stupid, savage beasts. They are ugly, primitive, bloody, and idiotic - the loathsome lives abhorred by the Almighty, who have no right to exist!
In the past few hours, it was these wretched beings, fit only to eke out an existence in the filthy hell, who slaughtered over fifty of our brothers! We are the chosen ones of the Arcane Circle, each of us the cream of our families, unparalleled geniuses!
Yet we now fall to the hands of beasts?!
Against the barbarians, there is no right or wrong, no compromise, no peace - only all-out war to the death! Brothers, will you stand with me to exterminate these foul, disgusting creatures? Send them to the depths of hell!"
It had to be said, the youth was handsome, carrying himself with the bearing of a superior. His ability to rouse the crowd was also impressive. Even the usually calm and collected Charlie found it difficult to suppress the surge of emotion in his heart. If the youth hadn't let slip the mental waves hidden in his oration, it would have been even more perfect.
Roars of approval rose from the beach, some of the somber-faced youths the most fervent, likely victims of the human-fishmen clash. And some of the girls were smitten by his brilliance and bearing, caring little for who the opponents were.
Infected by the collective emotion, some of the bystanders joined the apprentice line.
Eileen's face was pale as she softly asked, "Do we have to fight too?"
Eileen was one of the few not swayed by his rhetoric, simply because she abhorred bloodshed and war.
Charlie sighed inwardly and nodded. He was not influenced by the youth's words, but rather had spotted some familiar faces in the crowd - his former shipmates, Qingyan, Xuexue, and the Gusta brothers, though they were not together.
Faced with the human's rousing pre-battle rallying cry, the fishmen side seemed more cold-blooded. With the fishmen leader and sage, they formed a formidable army.
The old fishman waved his coral scepter, and the gem at its tip began to glow. Suddenly, the previously docile fishmen became ferocious, their sharp teeth, crude weapons, and rapidly fired arrows bursting the apprentices' eyeballs. Then a cacophony of roars merged into a deafening tidal roar, a multicolored surge rushing towards them.
Confronted with such a perilous situation, many apprentices were paralyzed, unsure whether to flee or fight, unable to maintain their composure. Even the spells they had practiced so well were forgotten. Fortunately, some of the elite apprentices were well-prepared.
Colorful magic balls were launched from the apprentice line. After a brief moment of confusion, some awoke to the reality, chanting defensive spells to buff themselves.
The next instant, the human-fishmen battle lines collided!
Indeed, the surviving apprentices were either extremely powerful or had one or two pieces of fine defensive equipment. After the first impact, only a few perished.
Under Charlie's encouraging gaze, Eileen tremblingly completed her first battlefield spell: Nature Summon.
Two small wolf-like creatures happily charged towards the nearest fishman. A deep gray fishman sneered and brought down his stone axe - the summoned beasts didn't even get a chance to attack before being dispersed, dissolving into scattered magical energy.
Charlie loosened his thumb, and with a crisp snap, an arrow flew at lightning speed, embedding itself in the fishman's gaping maw, the force knocking it to the ground, pinning it to the rocks.
Umu wawa wala!
Accompanied by a mighty roar, a large boulder fell from the sky, crushing an apprentice, the weight shattering his chest and bursting his heart. The fishmen leader stood atop the rock, letting out a taunting howl.
An invisible mental shockwave radiated out. The fishmen bathed in its influence turned crimson, their aura and might suddenly swelling - their strength and agility seeming to increase by a notch. The apprentices were pushed to the brink of collapse under the overwhelming pressure.
This phenomenon was presented in greater detail in Charlie's chip vision - it was an "Aura"! The fishmen leader was emanating an energy field that boosted the attributes of fishmen within a ten-meter radius, increasing their Strength and Agility by 1 to 2 points according to the Prinsen scale.
And the fishmen leader's Aura seemed to be stackable. Charlie saw a fishman positioned between two such leaders, their whole bodies glowing red, their attacks surging like the tides, a swordsman being hacked into an unrecognizable mess.
Charlie gritted his teeth, unleashing his potential, his strength surging. The bowstring was pulled to its limit, brimming with explosive power.
Twang!
The bowstring released an unusual sound, and the arrow flew like a meteor, its trajectory impossible to track even with the eye. After the shot, a glance revealed it had pierced through the massive head of the fishmen leader, continuing on to impale the central claw of a nearby shore crab - a double kill.
"Impressive!" Someone" Someone who witnessed Charlie's stunning archery skills loudly praised him.
That shot had singlehandedly turned the tide of the collapsing situation.
Eileen's eyes were wide open, seeming to recognize her senior in a new light. Was his casual boasting not just empty bragging after all? Was the gap between mages and archers really so small? Could the skills be switched so easily? Eileen didn't know the answer - at least, she herself couldn't do it. Not to mention aiming, she couldn't even draw the bow.
Another arrow flew, taking down another fishmen leader. The tide had turned again on this side.
Those two shots had nearly drained all of Charlie's energy. He could barely hold the bow, his vision blacking out, his arms trembling uncontrollably - not from fear, but from overexertion. After all, he wasn't a professional archer, and the intense draw had injured his muscles.
"Buddy, you're really impressive! Here, have a drink!" A wounded battle-focused apprentice sincerely offered Charlie a water flask. Seeing Charlie not reaching for it, the apprentice smiled sheepishly, tipping the flask back and taking a sip. "This is some strong liquor from back home, gives you a kick!"
Charlie gave him a wry smile, showing his shaking hands. Eileen obediently took the flask and carefully fed him a sip.
Cough cough! It burned like fire down his throat, all the way to his stomach. Yet the fragrance of the alcohol lingered on his lips and tongue, leaving a pleasant aftertaste.
Charlie forcibly swallowed it, giving the apprentice a crooked thumbs up.
The apprentice laughed heartily, "Awesome, buddy!"
Soon, this area was cleaned up, and several student teams naturally gathered together.
"Charlie! You're here too?!" David exclaimed excitedly, quickly turning to call out, "Big bro, big bro, come quick! Charlie's over here!"
Colin hurried over, giving Charlie's shoulder a hard slap. "My little brother's been missing you. Glad we finally ran into you. Huh... what's wrong with you?"
Colin noticed Charlie's condition, and after a brief explanation from the nearby apprentices, he understood what Charlie had just done.
David couldn't help but say, "Big bro, you've given up being a mage to play with the bow and arrow?"
The apprentice who offered the drink was stunned, asking, "Huh?! He's a mage apprentice?!"