Chapter 89: The Three Demonic Swordsmen

"Stop!" Luo Yong shouted as he saw, from a distance, the Frost Archer being pinned to the ground. Without hesitation, he blinked forward and appeared right in front of them.

The storm sorcerer’s summoned direwolf was already locked in a standoff with the trio across from them.

"Frost, are you alright?" The storm sorcerer hurried over.

"Well, well, here comes someone meddling in other people's business."

A tall human man stepped forward, glancing in their direction with little initial interest. But when his eyes fell on the storm sorcerer, a sudden smirk broke across his face. "Hey, aren’t you one of the women our boss’s taken a fancy to? There’s a few of you, and you’re one of them, right? He’s always been soft on you—couldn’t bear to lay a hand..."

"Ha! You’re just afraid of retribution from the Hero Association or the Mage Guild, that’s why you haven’t dared make a move!" the storm sorcerer retorted sharply. "Let Frost go, or I won’t be so polite!"

"Let him go? You think it’s that simple?" sneered the one standing atop the Frost Archer’s back. He ground his heel down twice more as he spoke.

Yet, the Frost Archer, who had been crying out in agony just a moment before, was now silent. His eyes were wide, fixed intently on Luo Yong, his expression complicated and unreadable.

"Since you’re here, if you want to save him, why not trade yourself for him, eh? Hahaha!" said the third man, standing across from them.

"Do you know these three? What’s their story?" Luo Yong leaned in to whisper into the storm sorcerer’s ear.

Witnessing this, the Frost Archer seemed to be struck by something, shutting his eyes in pain.

"Peter, Kent, Clark. The infamous 'Demon Swordsmen' of the Red Moon Knights."

"All three are expert swordsmen… Their exact rank is unclear, but they’re stronger than us." As she spoke, the storm sorcerer shot Luo Yong a peculiar look.

Of course, when she said "us," she didn’t include Luo Yong, who, equipped with rune gems, had already reached level twenty.

Truth be told, the Elven Elder did have more rune gems, but when Luo Yong asked for more, he was flatly refused. He was also given a stern lecture, as if he’d been harshly scolded.

The reason? While Luo Yong could level up using secret elixirs, once rune gems were equipped, casting magic would drain his energy accordingly. In other words, Luo Yong, though only at a level ten hero’s standard, could use level twenty magic—but that was his limit, and the side effects were significant.

His head would ache—terribly.

The Elven Elder feared that giving Luo Yong too many rune gems, even just enough to reach level thirty, would be dangerous. If he got careless or reckless and cast a spell—even something as simple as Wind Blade—the consequences could be catastrophic.

He might ascend to the heavens—or his head might burst and he’d become a headless corpse...

Ahem.

"So, our opponents are three warriors," Luo Yong summarized.

"And they’re said to have undergone special enhancements: they’re immune to magic of level ten and below—including level ten," the storm sorcerer added.

"I see. Thanks," Luo Yong nodded helplessly.

That meant the storm sorcerer’s attacks would be useless.

After a moment’s thought, Luo Yong took out a magic scroll from his storage and raised his voice. "I’m their leader. Whatever you have to say, say it to me—or let’s take this to the Mage Guild."

"Let’s be reasonable. There’s always somewhere in this world where reason prevails," he continued, flashing the sword-and-shield emblem from beneath his cloak.

He could have replaced it when changing captains, but out of consideration for Wendy’s feelings, he’d kept the original.

"Reasonable?!" one of the Demon Swordsmen scoffed.

"Are you kidding? This world respects only strength! If you want to save him, either trade the storm sorcerer for him, or come here yourself—let us beat you up a bit, say something pretty, offer up some valuables, and maybe, if we’re in a good mood, we’ll let you weaklings go."

"Hahaha!"

"You hear that? Get over here—no, crawl over!"

"Let’s show you just how cruel this world really is!"

"Fine, Red Moon Knights. I’ll remember this. Consider my horizons broadened today," Luo Yong replied, utterly emotionless.

"I have a teleportation scroll here. It goes straight to the Mage Guild. It’ll only take a few breaths to get there and back. If you want to run, you’d better hope you’re fast enough."

"What? Did I hear that right? A teleport scroll to the Mage Guild? Big talk!"

"Bah! The Mage Guild is so amazing? People like you love to use its name to scare others!"

"Even if you’re telling the truth, do you really think your scroll is faster than my sword?"

The three exchanged taunts, brimming with arrogance, not taking Luo Yong or the storm sorcerer seriously at all.

Meanwhile, the third of them pressed his longsword to the Frost Archer’s throat, and a glint of blood appeared on the blade.

"Frost!" the storm sorcerer cried out, about to command her direwolf to attack.

At the critical moment, Luo Yong stopped her and put away the scroll.

"Aren’t you afraid of being hunted by the Mage Guild?" Luo Yong asked, genuinely curious. Had the Red Moon Knights truly grown powerful enough to defy the Mage Guild?

"Scared? Oh, I’m so scared!" one of the Demon Swordsmen mocked.

"Of course we’re scared, but we’re betting you won’t dare!"

"If we win, we take the girl. As for you two weaklings, you might get to live."

"If we lose, he dies. Worst case, we run—but you’d better watch your back at night..."

"You never know when a knife might find you from behind!"

"Well? Excited? Thrilled? Have you made up your mind?"

Taking turns, the three grew more eager, as if reveling in the confrontation.

"So, in the end, is this the corruption of morals or the distortion of human nature? I always try to leave others a way out, yet no one ever appreciates it, and the outcome is always disappointing," Luo Yong mused aloud, leaving everyone baffled, unsure of his meaning.

"Hey, you’ve been thinking long enough!"

Suddenly, one of the Demon Swordsmen drove his sword into the Frost Archer’s body. Blood spattered.

Though the Frost Archer’s body trembled uncontrollably, he made no sound, as if already dead.

"Stop!" the storm sorcerer raged, magic surging around her as she activated a scroll to summon a rampaging bear. With a command, the bear charged at their foes.

"Damn, I haven’t learned my battle skills yet..." Luo Yong cursed inwardly. To be faced with three master swordsmen at once—this was deadly. Still, he wasted no more time. With a flash, he activated his blink skill.

Before the bear could close in, Luo Yong appeared at the side of one of the Demon Swordsmen.

"Face the wind! Gale Slash!"

Slash after slash, but every strike missed—the enemy dodged easily, stepping out of reach and looking at Luo Yong with disdain.

He even shook his head as he watched.

"Tsk tsk! Gale Swordsman—a good class, but too low-level!"

"And... that was a blink skill just now, wasn’t it?"

"I wonder if it’ll drop if we kill him."

As the bear drew near and let out a tremendous roar—before it could even attack—a cold gleam flashed. Blood burst forth, and the level-nine bear collapsed, motionless.

"Too weak," one Demon Swordsman said dismissively.

"No!" the storm sorcerer cried helplessly, sinking to the ground. The direwolf beside her growled, but retreated to her side, understanding the futility of advancing.

This was the oppression of level disparity.

The gap in strength was just too great; there was no hope of victory.

They had been stuck at level eight for too long, wasting precious time, while others advanced rapidly…

Even though the direwolf and bear were summoned using scrolls from the Wild Hunter, losing one so quickly still pained her deeply.

Only now, feeling hot liquid drip onto his face, did the Frost Archer open his eyes at the sound of the storm sorcerer’s lament. Guilt colored his pale features.

"Meilin… this is all my fault… everything is because of me…"

But he was so weak now, no one heard his words.

Meanwhile, Luo Yong’s Gale Slash, despite being at level ten, failed to make the enemy "face the wind"—instead, he was scorned.

He felt embarrassed to even shout that phrase.

Having witnessed his blink skill, two of the Demon Swordsmen closed in, eager to see if they could trigger a "death drop."

Both swung their swords simultaneously, forcing Luo Yong back.

"I’m curious—is 'Demon Swordsman' a profession or just a special title?" Luo Yong faced these two swordsmen, both clearly a higher level than he, without a trace of fear.

He had always remembered the elven lady’s warning: not to get into conflicts or trouble before fulfilling his promise to her, not to put himself at risk.

But now, he couldn’t afford to hold back.

He could blink away and escape at any time, and the storm sorcerer could flee as well—but the Frost Archer was in grave danger.

"The dead have no need to know so much," one Demon Swordsman replied coldly.

At the same time, the other advanced, openly emanating killing intent.

"Very well. Demon Swordsmen, I’ll remember you," Luo Yong sighed, his figure flickering as he blinked to the storm sorcerer’s side.

"What do we do now?" she asked.

"I’ll hold them off—you go to the Mage Guild for reinforcements," Luo Yong instructed.

"Trying to run? I guess you don’t care if he lives or dies!" The Demon Swordsman whose foot remained firmly on the Frost Archer’s back pressed his bloody sword to the archer’s neck once more.

"Worthy of the demon name," Luo Yong muttered, narrowing his eyes and dismissing the idea of sending the storm sorcerer for help.

Now, there was no one left to rely on—he could only depend on himself.