Mercenary Wars

Chapter 157 One-on-One Duel on the Front Lines
(The content of the previous chapter has been revised)

"Ah!" A scream rang out, and as blood splattered, the thief's disheveled figure reappeared.

Tidal wave of action!

The warrior and the thief unleashed a flurry of attacks simultaneously, allowing them to perform more and faster maneuvers, though the former launched a fierce assault while the latter desperately evaded.

After a brief maneuver.

Without the thief making any move, a cloud of green smoke suddenly exploded between the two.

The soldier's expression changed drastically, and he quickly retreated.

At the same time, the thief disappeared again.

The warrior let out a shriek and then swung his sword behind him!
"Clang!" The longsword clashed with the two daggers, sparks flying, and the thief's attempt to ambush had clearly failed once again.

Then the warrior stomped down hard, and the shockwave immediately knocked the thief over!
"In the name of Yemen!" the warrior roared, dashing forward and bringing his longsword down!
Blood spurted from the sword, and the thief died a gruesome death.

"Alas!" The Mosas watching the battle beat their chests and stamped their feet, sighing with regret and resentment. "Jack was careless!"

"Yemen is supreme!" The Yemen disciples watching the battle cheered excitedly. "James, invincible James!"

After catching their breath, the warriors collected their spoils, then stepped forward, pulled up the Mosa banner, raised it in their hands, and shouted, "Yemen is supreme!"

The disciples cheered even louder, and their shouts were filled with taunts and provocations: "Yemen is the only true God, Mosa is nothing but a false god!"

“Mosa is not even a demigod; the angels of Yemen can grind him to dust!”

"Look at the look of remorse on that heretic's face before he died. He must have realized in his final moments how foolish and ridiculous his faith was! Haha!"

"This is the fate of heretics!"

Hearing these harsh taunts rising and falling, even Gao Jiano, let alone ordinary people, couldn't help but frown.

He may not believe in Mosa, but as social animals, humans will instinctively unite once they are divided into factions.

Only a traitor remains unmoved when faced with the enemy's mockery.

Even false believers frowned, so fanatical believers naturally erupted in anger.

"I'll do it! Watch me tear him to pieces!" a Mosa warrior blurted out, charging into the Duel Ring, his skin turning red with rage.

"Let me do it!" More than one Mosas member was enraged. "Jack is my friend, and I will avenge him!"

There is a pause between every two duels, and one of the purposes of this pause is to select the next challenger.

After a process involving volunteering, recommendations from others, and the prince's decision, another Mosaic entered the Duel Ring carrying a banner to challenge James.

But James is indeed a formidable figure.

After a battle, he was victorious once again, raising his flag and shouting triumphantly. Outside the dueling ring, the disciples of Jehovah were filled with fervent praise, while the disciples of Mossah were filled with righteous indignation.

"Who else?" James laughed loudly, pointing his sword at the group of Mosas opposite him, almost arrogantly, "Which other infidel wants to come and die!"

“This guy’s dead!” said a priest who was watching the battle with Gaucano.

Seeing that what he said didn't seem to be just angry words spoken in a fit of irrationality, Gao Jiano couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

The priest said, “He has already fought two duels, and all his enemies have seen through his abilities—which are nothing special. If he has any sense, he should leave the Duel Ring now with the honor he has earned.”

"He might be trying to set a winning streak," someone said. "Or at least three consecutive wins to earn the title of champion from the church."

The pastor said, "He doesn't have the ability. Just watch, greed and arrogance will only send him to hell!"

James faced another challenger, and the two planted a flag to swear an oath before engaging in a duel.

But as the pastor had predicted, the Mosas who challenged James this time fully understood his abilities and had ways to counter them, ultimately winning with almost no difficulty and beheading James's proud head.

This time it was Mossat's turn to mock Jehovah's disciples.

"My Lord Mosa is the true God, the one and only God, the eternal God!"

"Yemen is a god disguised as a demon!"

"Look at the tragic death of James; this is the fate of the disciples of Jesus!"

"Your fortress will meet the same fate. His Highness Prince Eric will personally execute your generals and bishops! Just wait, you infidels!"

"And your marquis, and the murderer Cyril XIV!"

The disciples of Jesus could not stand such ridicule.

Soon, another disciple of Jesus came to the field, and the duel continued.

The siege is also underway, and scrolls depicting breaches of the city walls have already been nailed there.

And wounded soldiers began to return for treatment.

Higher-level wounded soldiers are treated by priests. Groups of soldiers with similar injuries are gathered together, and then several priests work together to cast a group healing spell, quickly healing them and allowing them to return to the battlefield.

As for the lower-level cannon fodder, the apothecaries will naturally take care of them.

“There’s a group of wounded Redemption Chapter soldiers here! Gaucano, come and treat them!” an officer shouted.

"They're here!" Gao Jiano, who was watching the battle from the city gate, responded immediately upon hearing this and then ran to treat the wounded soldiers.

The job is simple: crush the healing stones and sprinkle them on the wound, then apply a bandage. Sometimes, if someone is poisoned, you also apply an antidote.

Occasionally, we encounter some rather complicated situations.

For example, a wounded soldier's intestines might be severed, or he might have been poisoned by a deadly poison that cannot be neutralized by common antidotes.

At this point, you'll need to find a priest.

But the purpose of seeking a pastor is not to seek treatment, but to seek end-of-life care.

After all, a priest's magic is precious and should be given priority to those of higher levels.

After a period of busy work, Gao Jiano, covered in the blood of the wounded, changed into a clean apothecary robe and rested for a while.

Then he returned to the city gate to watch the duel.

"This guy's a mage? I think he's clearly a sorcerer!" the Mosaic followers said indignantly, pointing at a Yaman mage who had just won a battle.

"That's right, he definitely won by using a curse!"

"This is black magic!" Some Mosaics tried to protest, since the Church of Yemen also had a ban on black magic.

But curses are not necessarily black magic. Some curses that originally belonged to black magic are no longer considered black magic simply because their names have been changed to "marks".

Moreover, in this situation, even if it were truly black magic, Yemen's side would pretend not to know.

Therefore, Master Yemen remained completely calm. Standing in the dueling ring, staff in hand, a provocative smile on his face, he looked at the group of Mosa disciples opposite him: "In the name of my Lord Yemen, I am willing to accept the challenge of any fifth-level named being. Is there anyone else who wants to try my magic?"

Gao Jiano couldn't help but touch his chin.

curse……

He was a little excited.

Of course, the Curse of Fairness is not an immunity curse, and he still needs to observe it himself before making a decision.

Soon someone accepted the challenge and entered the Duel Ring to duel with the mage Yemen.

In the end, the mage Yemen won again. At the same time, through observation and discussion with others, Gao Jiano roughly figured out this guy's tactics.

This disciple named Joan was a powerful mage who possessed many third-circle spells and was skilled in curses.

There are three types of curses that have already been revealed: the curse of language, the curse of elements, and the curse of weakness.

Needless to say, the curse of weakness...

Elemental curses can inflict additional elemental damage; someone afflicted with Yoan's elemental curse will die after being hit by a fireball. Language curses, on the other hand, are curses specifically targeting the caster, causing them to stutter and greatly reducing the efficiency of their spellcasting.

The mage Joan clearly possesses a blessing related to curses, thus the curses he casts are extremely powerful, far exceeding the effects of other spellcasters of the same level, and he can also instantly cast some curses that others cannot cast instantly.

Gaucano decided to go and meet him.

However, after winning two consecutive matches, the mage Joan's face clearly showed a hint of fear, and he was not willing to fight a third match.

But the prospect of receiving an honorary title from the church for just one more win is indeed tempting.

And there was a bunch of people cheering behind him.

"Yoan, don't be afraid, you can definitely win another one! You are the strongest Level 5 Named Person in Dibto!"

"Win one more match and you will be the 'Warrior of Dibto,' receiving treatment comparable to that of a nobleman, and your name will be forever recorded in the kingdom's register of warriors!"

"Your magical shield is still active, don't waste it!"

"Let them know how amazing you are! Everyone will know that you are a true magical genius!"

Driven by enticement and jeers, the mage Joan finally decided to fight one more time and did not leave the Duel Ring.

Upon seeing this, Gaucano immediately made his own decision.

He first secretly took out a staff and held it in his hand, then went to ask the prince for permission to fight.

Seven or eight people volunteered to fight, but it was clear that Prince Eric had some impression of Gaugano, so he immediately said, "You're the one, Gaugano. I hope you can win."

"It is my honor." Gaucano bowed, then took the Mosa banner and slowly walked toward the Duel Ring.

At this moment, he was dressed in a clean apothecary's robe, holding a slightly glowing staff, and with the cultured air he had cultivated over two lifetimes, everyone thought he was a mage.

The mage Yoann on the other side was no exception.

"Kid, as a mage, why are you wearing an apothecary's clothes?" he asked with a forced smile.

For ordinary people, being an apothecary is a decent profession. But for mages, apothecaries below level three are not much different from dockworkers; both are considered low-class professions.

Gaucano replied expressionlessly, "I wear it to heal the believers of the true God, and I don't feel ashamed of it."

“You should become a priest,” said the monk Joan.

Gao Jiano's tone seemed somewhat helpless: "You're right, I also want to be a priest, but unfortunately I don't have the talent, so I can only be a mage."

Without further ado, the mage Joan recited the dueling oath: "In the name of my Lord Yemen, I, Joan, a fifth-rank named one, am willing to accept a duel from any fifth-rank named one, in accordance with the natural principle of fair dueling!"

Gaucano planted the Mosa banner and then responded in kind, saying, "In the name of my Lord Mosa, I, Gaucano, the fifth-ranking named, am willing to fight you, Joan, in accordance with the natural principle of fair dueling!"

The so-called "natural principle of fair dueling" refers to the simplest principle of dueling—a one-on-one fight to the death.

This is the principle most likely to attract God's attention.

As soon as the two finished their oath, the Duel Ring closed immediately, cutting off any possibility of outside interference.

Gaucano then began chanting incantations.

Corpse Explosion Technique.

The Blood Magic Notes recorded this spell. Although he had not yet fully mastered it, it was more than enough to scare people.

There were also corpses on the field, and more than one.

The mage Joan was clearly knowledgeable; upon hearing this, his expression immediately changed, and he quickly began casting a spell.

An instant-cast spell.

A few lines of information flashed through Gao Jiano's mind.

[Status Acquired: Curse of Language (Level 5)]

[Countermeasure: Language Curse (Level 5)]

【Successful countermeasure】

Gaucano's incantation abruptly stopped; the language curse rendered him almost speechless.

But a smile appeared on his face.

“You…” Fear appeared on the face of the mage Joan, his lips trembled, and his voice was muffled.

Without a doubt, the verbal curse had a more severe impact on him!
Gao Jiano's smile widened. He casually tossed his staff aside and took out a bow and arrow from his storage ring, nocking and drawing the arrow.

Seeing him draw his longbow to its full extent in an instant, many spectators couldn't help but widen their eyes: "He's not a mage!"

Even if a mage uses a bow and arrow as a backup weapon, it is almost impossible for them to draw a powerful bow to its full extent instantly.

Only a professional archer or warrior could possess such a level of strength, or at the very least a thief; it certainly shouldn't be a mage.

Gaucano's bow and arrow were poised to strike.

A swift breeze, aim and fire!
"call out--"

With a flick of the bowstring, the black steel piercing arrow shot out and arrived in an instant!
The magical shield on the mage Joan flickered rapidly, and its light quickly dimmed.

Joan was terrified, but due to the curse of language, he was unable to cast most of his powerful spells. In his haste, he could only replenish the energy of his magic shield.

"Whoosh—" Another black steel piercing arrow came flying in.

The magic shield that had just been replenished dimmed again in the blink of an eye, and even dimmed more than before.

Gaucano approached while shooting arrows, his steps steady, as if he were hunting.

Joan panicked completely.

He gritted his teeth and chanted the incantation with all his might, finally completing the spell before Gaucano arrived.

[Status Acquired: Disarm Curse (Level 3)]

[Countermeasure: Disarm Curse (Third Ring)]

【Successful countermeasure】

As soon as the disarming curse took hold, Gaucano felt as if the arrows had become spiked or burning, and instinctively dropped them.

The same was true for the mage Joan; he was forced to drop his staff.

Gaucano remained expressionless and walked straight forward.

Skin of the earth!

A powerful force surged through his limbs and bones, and Gao Gano roared as he clenched his fist, the size of a sandbag, and smashed it directly at the magic shield of the mage Ioan!

"Boom boom boom!" Heavy punches rained down.

(End of this chapter)