A few days later, at White Sail Cape on the west coast.
After traveling for more than a day, the group finally arrived near their destination.
They didn't rush into action but instead took some time to rest, eat, and prepare before beginning their reconnaissance.
Roy accompanied them, as he had recently mastered the Hair Demon Physique.
For the past six months, he had been continuously studying.
Then came the various preparations for brewing potions, which had already cost him a significant amount of materials.
With all this going on, his opportunities to earn money had decreased, while his expenses had skyrocketed.
If he didn't find a way to make some extra income, he'd really be left with nothing but the wind to drink!
He hoped this adventure would yield some rewards.
Taking advantage of the daylight, the team members climbed a small hill to observe from a distance, confirming the general situation of the Fishmen tribe.
Lying there, they used binoculars to see about a hundred Fishmen moving around on the beach ahead.
"See that? The one that stands out is their leader, a spellcaster among the Fishmen… a Fishman Warlock!
It has mastered the Ice Cone Spell, and its casting technique is very skilled, capable of launching multiple projectiles in succession!"
Renien explained with lingering fear.
"If I hadn't run fast last time, I would've been turned into a pincushion!
There are also several elites among them, possibly possessing demonic spell-like abilities. The terrain around here is quite open, which isn't ideal for our ambush."
Roy nodded. "Then we'll wait until nightfall."
As they chatted, they discussed Molotov cocktails, healing potions, crossbow bolts, and other items, determined to show these monsters the might of humans!
…
That night, the moon hung high in the sky, and the air was chilly.
The unsuspecting Fishmen, as usual, retreated into their caves to rest, leaving only a few patrollers on guard.
The five-member team moved together, easily and swiftly taking them out.
During this, Celine used an Enchanted Item.
It was a valuable Mirage Orb, capable of using spell-like powers to conceal their figures, allowing them to move like ghosts under the cover of night.
Roy finally understood why Renien had insisted on inviting her along.
She was truly an apprentice who had latched onto Sophia's coattails, having been gifted or temporarily lent many valuable items.
The group quickly and smoothly reached the cave entrance.
"Three, two, one… throw!"
Homemade Molotov cocktails and poison gas bombs were hurled into the cave.
Moments later, the Fishmen scrambled out of the cave in chaos. Before they could even take a breath of fresh air, they were met with a barrage of crossbow bolts.
After successfully taking down more than a dozen Fishmen, those who hadn't managed to escape in time were suffocated by the toxic fumes. Combined with the chaos of collisions, trampling, and panic, the Fishmen were essentially routed.
"Watch out!"
At that moment, several figures dashed out, successfully breaking through the cave entrance before the team could react.
"That's the Fishman Warlock and its guard squad!
Celine, you hold it off while we deal with the other Fishmen!"
Renien urgently reminded.
Celine acknowledged and once again activated the Mirage Orb, using its mysterious illusions to disrupt the Fishman Warlock.
The others scattered across the moonlit beach, keeping their distance to avoid being hit by the Ice Cone Spell.
"We need to finish this quickly!"
Roy also lured away a few monsters, watching as several grotesque creatures wielding Bone Spears charged toward him from the beach.
Among them was one of the elite warriors from the guard squad, accompanied by a few ordinary Fishman Warriors.
From a distance, they resembled dwarves with well-developed limbs, but their short stature and distinct fish-like features set them apart.
These humanoid magic creatures had physiques similar to ordinary humans, with the only real threat coming from the elite warriors hidden among them.
This particular one stood noticeably taller than the average fishman, its scales even tinged with a sky-blue hue—a mutation caused by exposure to magic.
"This creature might possess some form of spell-like ability... We can't let it unleash that power easily!"
Roy recalled knowledge from his general studies class: it was likely a concentrated burst of magic, capable of unleashing elemental attacks of two to three degrees in a short span. Even low-level knights, let alone intermediate knights, might struggle to withstand such an assault.
Dragging his longsword, Roy quickened his pace, soon breaking into a sprint. With a sudden burst of speed, he used the momentum to slash down an ordinary fishman in his path.
The creature died instantly.
Roy pulled out his bloodied sword and swung it with force. In moments, he had cut down several fishmen around him.
His ferocity stunned the elite warrior, who froze momentarily. By the time it regained its senses, Roy's relentless assault was already upon it.
The elite warrior, unable to gather its magic in time, was forced to retreat step by step.
In the heat of battle, Roy secretly activated his newly mastered Hair Demon Physique.
His hair suddenly grew wildly, spreading like tentacles under the cover of night, reaching the elite fishman warrior's feet. It grabbed the creature's calf and yanked hard.
Thud!
Roy's sword plunged into the warrior's chest.
The elite warrior's eyes widened in disbelief before Roy kicked it away.
Blood gushed from the wound as Roy pulled out his sword. His hair silently retracted, returning to its normal length.
No one but Roy knew what had just happened.
Ordinary knights and warriors prided themselves on their strength, endurance, speed, and superior combat techniques. But no mortal martial art could match the eerie and unpredictable nature of Roy's abilities.
In the blink of an eye, the elite warrior was killed without a chance to defend itself.
Roy, gripping his iron sword, moved toward another group of combatants.
Soon after, the others finished off their respective opponents and regrouped with Celine to launch a final assault on the monster leader.
Misled by the Mirage Orb, the Fishman Warlock's Ice Cone Spells missed their marks, leaving it vulnerable to Niya and Andov's crossbow bolts.
The group charged forward, stabbing the warlock to death with their swords.
"Finally, it's over!" Renien exhaled deeply.
Their breathing was ragged, their spiritual energy fluctuating—clear signs that they had pushed themselves to the limit.
Andov had even taken a Bone Spear to the left arm, leaving a bloody hole.
Only Roy seemed relatively unscathed, his strength now clearly surpassing that of his companions.
While Andov tended to his wound, Roy and Renien inspected the spoils of war, starting with the Fishbone Staff the warlock had wielded.
At its tip was a white pearl the size of an egg, faintly radiating water-element magic.
"We've hit the jackpot... A Magic Pearl like this is worth a fortune on the Old Continent. Even here, it must be worth over a thousand Magic Stones!"
Renien quickly appraised it and spoke with a hint of excitement.
"And there are other rewards as well!"
Not long after, the group dug out the Fishman Warlock's heart and retrieved a Fish Pearl the size of a walnut.
(End of Chapter)