Chapter 16: Flame Fist And The Fortress
Anse was startled and only relaxed after looking up and seeing who it was: “Finn.”
“Hurry—” Finn ran over in a few steps and helped lift Brat from the other side.
“Wait…” Brat raised his hand to stop them, took a deep breath, and forcibly activated 「Second Wind」.
Several teeth-gritting sounds of bones colliding could be heard, his chest slowly returned to flatness, and his breathing became smooth again, though he was drenched in sweat, with veins bulging from pain and jaw muscles trembling.
Anse knew he was using Second Wind to set bones; Healing Potion was different from Cure Wounds—if bones weren’t set or sutured beforehand, they might heal crooked.
“Eat one.” He took out three Magic Berries and gave one to each person.
Second Wind consumed one’s own energy and stamina; Magic Berries could replenish a day’s nutrition and were sometimes more useful than Healing Potion.
“Go—”
They quickly left the house and arrived on the bridge, where Land and the others had almost retreated to, only twenty or thirty meters away from them.
The rooftops were no longer an option, as they’d make easy targets; the bridge had cover from Land and the others, making it relatively safer.
Seeing that the group was fine, Land’s expression softened a bit; he waved for them to hurry and withdraw while he led people to brazenly demolish houses and build barricades.
The retreat speed suddenly accelerated.
Healing Potion truly lived up to being Beginner professionals’ essential divine medicine; its effects were extraordinarily good.
After carrying Brat for one or two hundred meters, his breathing had stabilized, his limbs had strength, and he could jog on his own.
By then they had basically shaken off the pursuers; those Duergar slaves were crowded on the narrow bridge surface, blocked at the front and timid, unable to pass from behind, leaving the Duergar cursing furiously but helpless.
Nearing Wyvern Rock, Anse looked up at the towering Flame Fist Fortress—it was indeed grand, with Ballistae on every layer of the City Wall and several Stone Throw machines at the top.
There were many Flame Fist soldiers on the City Wall, but after such a long blockade battle, not one had come out to help, and that gate had not risen, blocking the church Convoy and numerous refugees outside.
“A bunch of cowards!” Brat growled lowly, his face lacking its usual composure.
Having escaped death, he increasingly despised the Flame Fist’s inaction.
A few minutes later, the group arrived at the fortress front; the gate finally slowly opened, and refugees surged in like a swarm, with Anse and the others at the end.
The gate stopped halfway open; after everyone was inside, it immediately dropped back down, performing fear of death to the extreme.
The Passage was unusually dim, with Wall Lamps on the walls unlit, relying only on the faint light coming from the other end.
Anse cast Light on his Staff, turning it into an atmosphere light tube; bright white light immediately dispelled the Darkness, illuminating… the ground full of refugees and wounded.
Refugees couldn’t run anymore, the wounded couldn’t run; even Land and Zahir were covered in wounds.
Berg directed Priests to take out medicine and save people, suturing on-site with rough but skilled hands—it seemed Followers of Tyr weren’t just good at fighting.
Anse and the others leaned against the wall watching the chaotic scene, each lost in thought, and for a moment no one spoke.
“How are you feeling?” Anse turned to Brat, his eyes carrying some emotion.
He had saved him back then, and he had indirectly saved him in return; that Javelin’s power was strong, and his Shield might not have withstood it.
“Heh heh…” Brat tilted his head staring at the scales on Anse’s face, said nothing, and just kept heh-hehing.
Finn sat on Anse’s other side, eyes flickering: “Was it worth it?”
“Do you think I’m a bleeding heart?” Anse turned his head, meeting his gaze exactly, “We were saving ourselves.”
“Just run, that’s all.” Finn’s eyes were full of Doubt.
“Run where?” Anse gave him a blank look, gaining new insight into his brain, “If Land and the others didn’t make it back, do you think we could cross that gate?”
The Flame Fist might block Commoners or Adventurers, but no matter how brainless, they wouldn’t keep Land and the others outside.
“No way, right?” Brat’s tone was somewhat hesitant.
“Heh, who knows.” Anse strongly suspected that if they hadn’t shaken off the pursuit, the Flame Fist would block them outside and watch everyone get killed.
Finn and the other showed shifting expressions, mostly convinced inwardly.
The Flame Fist Legion had a long history; though there had been some mishaps, it was mostly under the direct control of Grand Duke Ravengard and could be called a qualified police organization, if not entirely just.
Especially after the scheming Vansamplar family was purged, the four-person council became three-person, increasing stability. And the Grand Duke’s successive heirs had been decent—not exceptionally great, but not messing things up.
The relatively stable environment kept the Flame Fist away from turmoil, without deviating from its tenets, and its reputation had always been decent.
But judging a person or organization’s actions couldn’t rely on normal performance to predict behavior during disasters.
Based on the Flame Fist’s turtle-like behavior these two days, Anse concluded they were unreliable and couldn’t help overthinking things.
After a long silence, Finn spoke somewhat awkwardly: “The situation is complicated; how about we… stick together?”
Anse looked at Brat, who shrugged: “You decide.”
“Fine, I’ll be Captain.” Anse claimed it without hesitation.
“Okay…” The two nodded readily.
After this time together and Combat, Brat and the other’s information had updated.
【Brat, Neutral Good, Human, Level 2 Warrior, Life: 18, Strength: 15, Dexterity: 13, Wisdom: 14】
【Finn, Lawful Neutral, Half-Elf, Level 3 Ranger（Beastmaster）, Life: 25, Strength: 12, Dexterity: 16, Charisma: 8】
Attributes weren’t fully complete yet, but already quite practical, especially Alignment— at least it could identify ill-intentioned people.
The nine Alignments weren’t man-made labels but foundational Rules of the Multiverse, embodied in divine domains, Magic effects, and Outer Planes（like Lawful Good Mount Celestia and Chaotic Evil Abyss）.
This was basic knowledge for professionals, especially for Paladin, Druid, Priest, etc., concerning life and future.
But Alignment was just surface; it was entirely determined by personal subjective will and behavior, a dynamic ideological concept.
Deities, Demon lords, etc., could directly perceive Mortals’ Alignment essence; some Spells could detect Good and Evil or Morality tendencies, but most people’s understanding of Alignment was fuzzy, only vaguely knowing their own Good and Evil.
Alignment didn’t actually affect teaming up, but influenced rapport and trust levels.
Brat was Neutral Good; such beings would help others as much as possible, acting within Rules but not bound by them.
Brat fit this perfectly—usually carefree, but stepped up when it mattered.
Finn was Lawful Neutral; such beings had a code of conduct, possibly from law, tradition, or personal creed, unmoved by pleas from the desperate or Evil temptations.
Finn was clearly aloof and self-centered, talking more only to Anse—probably a face-con.
Because Anse was a charisma killer for both men and women!
As the group chatted and laughed, the topic naturally turned back to this disaster.
“What do you think Underground Creatures are coming up for? They fear light but insist on coming up anyway—hilarious.” Brat complained.
“Maybe the collapse was right at a Duergar settlement.” Anse guessed casually, “Underdark resources are scarce; they might be here to plunder or settle. With the Magic Net disrupted, Duergar Psionics unaffected, the situation favors them.
But one thing you got wrong: many Underground Creatures are sensitive to sunlight and dislike light, but not necessarily afraid of it.”
“You… know a lot?” Finn asked curiously.
“Read it in books—Underdark stuff, know a bit.” Anse bullshitted casually; actually, the original owner hadn’t read such books.
But he was very familiar with DND, practically half an expert, while Brat and these natives had limited activity areas, shallow knowledge, and little awareness of things outside the Human World.
As they spoke, chaotic footsteps echoed from the Corridor.
Over a dozen Warriors in uniform studded Leather Armor entered the Passage quickly, holding Sword and Shield, and roughly drove the crowd away upon arrival.
“Get up get up…”
“The Fortress is now sealed; no one is allowed to stay…”
“Move, don’t make me use force…”
“…”
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