Chapter 27: You Don’t Understand The Joy Of Spewing Fire
In the night, the bridgehead was pitch black, with jagged edges on the break, clearly having collapsed, but under the bridge were all stones, and the terrain was high, so the influence was not great.
Far away on the eastern river embankment, a gap of dozens of meters was visible from afar, with river water pouring back, shining brightly, winding toward the south.
The port that had once been expanded from a smuggling dock was nowhere to be seen.
“Over there.” Brat pointed to the breach.
Under the chaotic lights, a large-scale melee was taking place, probably involving hundreds of people, shadowy figures indistinct.
“Let’s go.”
Anse wrapped his staff in a layer of black cloth to avoid being too conspicuous.
The three quickly approached along the riverbank. In just a few hundred meters, humans or other surface races holding weapons continuously joined, exchanging silent glances before gradually gathering together.
The major churches and guilds were not fools; many realized the critical nature of this battle. Losing meant fleeing individually, with losses too hard to bear.
Approaching the battlefield, Anse found the war more brutal than imagined.
The human side formed an arc blocking the river mouth and the west side of the flood, about three or four hundred people, while underground creatures numbered more, at least five or six hundred. Besides a few hobgoblins and duergar, most were Kuo-Toa.
Not only that, merfolk kept surfacing from the river water. They didn’t go with the flood but charged ashore against the defensive line, clearly under secret command.
Shouts and killing cries rose and fell, with corpses layered on the ground, half the river water discolored.
“Brothers, charge with me—”
Another wave of reinforcements arrived from afar. The bald leader roared and charged into the front line first, influencing those around him to rush forward.
Anse looked at the bald man’s back and vaguely felt it was familiar.
“Should we join?” Brat was eager to try.
The battlefield atmosphere was indeed infectious. Anse felt his blood surging faster, calm yet hot-blooded, a bit carried away.
But he didn’t act impulsively. After carefully observing the battlefield, he spotted a familiar figure and his eyes lit up.
“This way.”
The three quickly reached the middle of the defensive line, where enemies were densest and the line precarious. Holding the pressure were Land and Zahir.
As expected of paladins—you always see them in the most dangerous places!
Though paladins were extremely common in games, in reality they were the scarcest professionals; willpower and faith couldn’t be lacking even a bit.
Behind the defensive line were collapsed buildings or mud and stones, pitted and full of puddles, hard to traverse.
They climbed a mud and stone pile formed by the flood impact, a few meters higher than elsewhere, with a clear view of the battlefield forty meters away.
“Finn, stay here for support. We’ll move closer.” Anse tossed his backpack aside and trotted toward Land.
“Got it.” Brat didn’t understand his intent but still set down his backpack, holding his shield at his side.
Finn recalled Greyhawk, fully focused on watching Anse’s back, guarding against possible sneaky foes.
Anse stopped a few meters behind the defensive line. Through the thin wall of people, he saw nothing but dense merfolk heads—short, ugly, with a stench assaulting the nose.
“Too close, right?” Brat raised his shield in front to block stray arrows.
Anse didn’t reply, focusing on spellcasting.
“
Prismatic Spray-Lightning!
The environment was noisy; the resounding draconic speech was barely audible. A blue energy ball trailed a small tail, whistling into the merfolk crowd.
“Boom—”
The energy ball didn’t jump, but the erupting lightning arcs spread through the standing water at their feet. Several merfolk were shocked stiff and fell into the water.
Land was charging at the front, closest, with some of his hair singed.
He turned in surprise, seeing Anse waving to him, a ball of mana flame swirling in his palm.
“Zahir!” He shouted, kicking a merfolk away and quickly running to Anse.
He knew Anse wasn’t unreliable; there must be something extremely important.
“
Anse fired two Sorcerous Bursts-Lightning, temporarily plugging the gap left by Land’s withdrawal. He couldn’t let Zahir bear all the pressure.
Land rushed over in a few steps. Before he could speak, Anse raised his right hand toward him and shouted:
“Dragon Breath!”
Land’s eyes lit up, urgently saying, “Fire!”
With a slap, their large hands met. Orange-red mana flowed along the arm into Land’s body, swirling in his chest and throat, red light spreading, mana surging.
It wasn’t over. Another white light flashed, and a faint mana whirlwind encircled Land’s lower body.
“One minute!” Anse held up a finger.
One Dragon Breath and one Jump, both lasting only one minute.
Dragon Breath required concentration to maintain; its power depended on Anse, but Land had to sense and guide this mana like casting a spell to complete the breath.
Paladins had professional spellcasting training; this was not difficult for them.
Land pursed his lips, waved his hand, turned, took a few running steps, and leaped, soaring directly over the crowd, flying over ten meters before crashing into the merfolk.
Super big jump!
He landed and crushed a Kuo-Toa, the splashing water forming a thin curtain that temporarily blocked the merfolk’s sight.
As the water curtain fell, Land’s figure appeared. His legs were staggered on the ground, body slightly leaned back, chest highly expanded, like a fully drawn bow, poised to strike.
The next moment, he leaned forward, mouth suddenly opening wide, hot flames erupting in a six-meter-long conical breath, red light turning the night sky like sunset.
Wherever the dragon breath passed, whether merfolk or hobgoblins, fur charred, skin reddened, curled, cracked; wisps of green smoke rose, thick stench wafting, nauseating.
The surrounding battlefield fell silent, only underground creatures rolling and wailing in the pervasive mist.
【Land casts Dragon Breath on Kuo-Toa… Kuo-Toa hit, takes 11 fire damage, current life 8/19…】
【Land casts Dragon Breath on giant crab… Giant crab hit, takes 9 fire damage, current life 5/14…】
A series of prompts flashed through Anse’s mind—at least twenty. The Dragon Breath came from him; as soon as these monsters died, he would get some experience.
He clenched his fist, lips curling up, feeling utterly exhilarated.
Merfolk fear flames, dislike sunlight and dryness; losing water weakens them, let alone burned skin. Without magic potions, the severely wounded wouldn’t last long.
“Awesome, I want to try next time.” Brat was thrilled, his sword and shield clanging.
Not just him—those around showed excitement, not for a few dead merfolk, but the extraordinary significance of a second ring spell.
In the battle so far, spellcasters were pitifully few, mostly priests, almost no wizards; spells were basically cantrips, occasionally a first ring spell after long preparation.
Some priests hadn’t successfully cast even one spell before their spell slots ran out.
If the Magic Net weren’t malfunctioning, a few mages could turn the tide.
While others were dazed, Land clearly remembered Anse’s words—he had only one minute and had to seize every second.
He stabbed a merfolk rolling to his feet, scanned around, and focused on the south side.
Step, run-up, jump—another big jump, crashing into the dense monster group again.
After a brief silence, the scorching dragon breath erupted.
The vicious flames swept through, scorching everything, truly like a dragon’s fury, chilling underground creatures who scattered in flight.
Flame dragon breath might not kill them, but it could burn their eyes and skin, causing agony and halving their combat power.
Even if they barely fought, ruined skin couldn’t withstand bow and arrow or blades.
Note:
Dragonblood Sorcerer’s Dragon Breath is a spell imitating dragon breath; sorcerers and wizards can learn it, adjustable attributes.
Dragonborn’s “Breath Weapon” is a spell-like ability—after all, they have true dragon heads; attribute fixed by dragon race bloodline.
Dragon Breath deals 3d6（3-18） damage, cone about 60 degrees, temperature several hundred degrees, but short duration.
Thanks to Ge Mao Zao, Ren Sheng Bu Yu, and Book Friend 20220602025759276 for the rewards.
Thanks to all reader lords for your support and suggestions!
