Chapter 7: The Harpies’ New Tactics

As the Blackstone Warrior charged forward, among the surviving dwarves, one immediately noticed his presence and shouted, "That's one of the elite units among the gray dwarves! Leave this one to me. The rest of you, take care of the gray dwarves up ahead!"

Following the sound, Li Mingxing saw a formidable-looking dwarf standing there. He wielded a pitch-black, square shield and was clad from head to toe in heavy steel armor, not even a hint of his beard exposed. Beside him, a battle axe rested on the ground—judging by the fact that he had not yet lifted it, its weight was surely formidable.

As the Blackstone Warrior burst forth, the dwarf spoke slowly and resolutely, "Mithril Mountain Tribe, Dwarven Defender, Ark Mountain Axe. State your name, stranger."

"Blackstone Clan, Blackstone Warrior. I have yet to earn a name," the Blackstone Warrior replied as he rushed before Ark Mountain Axe, hefting his great axe.

Seeing the Blackstone Warrior’s attack, the dwarven defender laughed, making no move to dodge or avoid the strike. Instead, he said, "Do you not know that the greatest trait of a dwarven defender is his defensive strength? An attack like yours is useless against us."

Even before he finished speaking, the Blackstone Warrior’s great axe fell upon his head. Only then did Ark Mountain Axe raise his shield, belatedly placing it in the path of the descending blow.

But he did not realize that, when it came to defense, the Blackstone Warrior—who could ignore most physical attacks—was even more formidable. Furthermore, the Blackstone Warrior wore no armor at all, so his movements were swifter. As Ark Mountain Axe raised his shield, the Blackstone Warrior had already slipped behind him, and the speed of his axe did not waver in the least.

Realizing this, Ark Mountain Axe understood that his usual tactics would not work against the Blackstone Warrior. Yet the dwarven defender’s unshakable nature meant he did not panic. He merely shifted half a step back, his shield unmoving, and blocked the Blackstone Warrior’s strike.

With that blow, both combatants gauged each other’s strength. The dwarven defender’s blocking skill was clearly at the fourth level, and the Blackstone Warrior’s axe technique had also reached the fourth tier.

Having discerned their opponent’s prowess, the two dwarves launched into combat. The Blackstone Warrior, immune to all manner of physical harm, attacked freely and relentlessly.

As for Ark Mountain Axe, a dwarven defender was accustomed to drawing enemy fire. He knew how to preserve himself under a barrage of attacks. The Blackstone Warrior's assault did not trouble him; his sole concern was whether his subordinates could handle the gray dwarves.

Witnessing the Blackstone Warrior’s predicament, Li Mingxing understood that the Warrior was likely to be held up here. He could not afford to waste any more time. It was time to use his final trump card.

He raised his right hand. Behind him, seven young druid maidens began to transform, shifting into wolf forms capable of fighting in the forest.

Li Mingxing then gestured toward the centaur’s treehouse, and calmly addressed Aisha, "Given the presence of these dwarves, I suspect the enemy has a follower among them. That is your target—kill him, and prove that keeping you was not a mistake."

Aisha turned her gaze toward the centaur’s treehouse. After a moment’s thought, she nodded slowly, looking back at her remaining thirty-eight subordinates. "I will complete this task."

With these words, Aisha transformed into a massive white bear and charged madly toward a nearby giant tree.

Li Mingxing saw her intent immediately. Clearly, in a short time, Aisha had already identified the main support tree of the centaur’s treehouse. Topple this tree, and half the structure would collapse.

But the centaurs were no fools. After Aisha rammed the tree twice, they realized her plan. Four centaur officers leapt down from the tree to intercept her.

Upon seeing these four, one of the harpy witches beside Li Mingxing whispered, "Centaur Sergeants, fourth-tier lower class. Strong at both range and melee. There are fewer than ten such fighters in the entire Green Lance Forest tribe. That druid may not be their match."

"I know," Li Mingxing replied. "That’s why I kept you three here. Use Chain Lightning. Let those centaur sergeants witness your strength."

"But if we use Chain Lightning, we won't be able to cast any other spells for half an hour," one harpy witch objected.

"I know. But don't worry, I have everything under control," Li Mingxing said coolly.

Seeing his certainty, the three harpy witches had no further arguments. They nodded in unison and began chanting incantations.

This time, their chanting lasted a full three minutes. In that span, Aisha took a severe beating—at least four or five spear wounds pierced her white bear form. Were it not for her transformation, she’d likely have been gravely injured by now.

So when Li Mingxing’s latest order reached her, Aisha did not hesitate to retreat. The centaur sergeants, of course, pursued her, but as they charged only a few steps, a sheet of blue light erupted ahead. Countless bolts of lightning surged forth, striking them head-on.

They didn’t even have time to lower their heads before they were engulfed by the lightning. The smell of their own scorched flesh filled the air as they dropped their weapons and collapsed heavily to the ground.

With the harpy witches’ intervention, Aisha was safe for the moment. But the centaurs above soon realized something was amiss. Six more centaur sergeants appeared before Li Mingxing.

The three harpy witches cried out, "See? This wasn’t the right time to strike them with that spell. If only—"

Before they could finish, Li Mingxing broke into a smile. The centaur sergeants hadn’t yet attacked, but behind him, a group of harpy warriors had begun drawing their attention with blowdarts.

Seeing this, the harpy witches exclaimed, "Are you mad? You know how strong those centaur sergeants are, and yet you provoke them now?"

"Rest assured, I know what I’m doing," Li Mingxing replied. Even as he spoke, the harpy warriors in the forest behind began chanting aloud.

The three witches turned to see that all one hundred and thirty harpy warriors from their tribe were present, chanting the spell for Lightning Orbs in perfect unison.

Still confused, the witches watched as one hundred and thirty Lightning Orbs shot forth together. Each of the six centaur sergeants was struck by more than twenty Lightning Orbs.

Even with their formidable resistance and speed, they could not dodge such a barrage. Under the onslaught, three of them were instantly reduced to blackened husks.

The other three fared little better; though not killed outright, they too were struck and paralyzed by the electric charge, their movements sluggish.

At this moment, Li Mingxing shouted, "Third-tier harpy warriors, prepare your strongest lightning spells! Second-tier, attack freely—give them no chance to retaliate!"

No sooner had he spoken than the third-tier harpy warriors began their preparations. Their strength surpassed the second tier’s, but unlike the fourth tier, they could not combine their spells into Chain Lightning. Eager to prove themselves as the backbone of the tribe, they put forth their utmost effort, drawing out their chanting and employing every method to enhance their power.

After a full minute, thirty harpy warriors managed to conjure a truly formidable spell. In terms of sheer destructive force, it even surpassed the combined Chain Lightning of the three harpy witches. The entire area within fifty meters was engulfed in blue lightning, the electric glow illuminating everything.

Watching the storm of blue light, a smile finally appeared on Li Mingxing’s face. "With such power from the blue harpy warriors, and the white harpy warriors skilled in blowdarts, surely you three will now truly submit to me."

Hearing his words, and recalling the promises they had made in the harpy’s nest, the three harpy witches bowed their heads in silence.

After a while, one of them reluctantly produced a small totem covered in eagle feathers and handed it, with clear reluctance, into Li Mingxing’s hand.