The outpost consisted of several separate buildings, but one in the middle was the largest. Jack had no doubt that it was where the outpost core was located, as with the outpost boss. He continued to proceed towards that building as the soldiers around him dealt with the outlaws.
When he reached the doors to that largest building, one of the Knight Captains, Diego, stood in his way. He said, “Outworlder, inside this building is the leader of this bandit outpost, who is most probably a formidable outlaw. Please refrain from going inside.”
Jack frowned. This was out of expectation. Could they prevent him from going inside? That would be a problem then. “Are you going to prevent me from going in?” Jack asked.
“We are duty-bound to keep you safe until the beacon time expires. That will also include harm that is caused by yourself,” Diego replied. His face was stern.
Matias came up beside Jack and said, “What my comrade says is right. Please do not make it difficult for us.” He then turned to Diego, “However, Diego, exterminating outlaws are also within our duty. Now that we have encountered this outpost, it is also within our duty to raze this place.”
“That is of course true, but since our current duty was to protect this Outworlder, his safety took priority. Once the beacon time expired, we can continue to destroy the rest of this outpost,” Diego replied.
Crap. If that happened, it would probably be not them that were considered to have defeated this bandit outpost. They might even get chased away before the soldiers deal with this outpost boss. Everything would have been a waste then.
“So, you are going to physically prevent me from going in?” Jack asked them.
The two stood in front of the door, stating their intention with their stances.
“Dealing with a strong opponent while have to protect another is a difficult thing. Please understand it is for your own good,” Matias explained. His tone was more friendly, though friendly was not enough to aid Jack in this situation.
Jack frowned. He was not strong enough to force his way through this two, but then he remembered about the time when he was with Bowler dealing with the soldiers in the mess hall in Thesewall while investigating the strange disease. He took out his Themisphere Nobility Badge faction. The two Knight Captains were confused at first, but then they recognized the badge and observed it better. “Viscount?” Both of them uttered.
‘I see that you remember. I was just about to tell you to take out that badge,’ Jack heard Peniel’s voice in his mind. He turned to the fairy who was floating beside him. Her mouth was still, she was speaking to him telepathically as they did in the past.
At the same time, the fairy also spoke to the two Knight-Captains, “Yes, he is a Viscount of the kingdom. If you lay your hands on him, it will be a big violation. Do you understand?”
“This…” Diego was speechless at the turn of events.
Matias pondered for a bit before sighing. “Do you insist to enter?” He asked.
“I do,” Jack said.
“Then let us send soldiers in first. You have to stay behind and remain safe. Otherwise, we would have failed our duty.”
“Don’t worry, I will be careful. One thing though, our primary objective is this Outpost Core. Leave it to us. You only need to hold the boss as best as possible while we destroy the core.”
Matias gave the matter a thought then looked at his fellow captain, Diego, who scoffed, “hmph! You outworlders, always doing things out of your league. You will only bring us down if you die. You best take care not to get killed! If I lose my rank because of your recklessness, I will come to look for you once this is over. I don’t care if you are a Viscount or what!”
Jack took a gulp. If he had a penny for every time he got threatened by an NPC…
The two then opened the door as they sent several of their best men inside before they rushed in as well. Jack and the others followed behind accompanied by the rest of the soldiers who could be spared. The rest of the soldiers were still dealing with the outlaws outside.
They continued to defeat outlaws that barred their way. The quality of the outlaws inside was also better than the ones outside, slowing the soldiers’ advance as the soldiers’ casualties increased.
After steady progress, they finally arrived at the outpost main hall. Which was on the top floor of the building and was very large. Its four walls were all open-air with only supporting pillars where they could see the scenery outside.
Waiting on this floor were around one hundred outlaws, all Elite grade. In the middle of this mob, flanked by two level 42 Special Elite outlaw deputies at both sides, was the largest outlaw Jack had ever seen. He was holding a humongous stone club laced with runes all over its surface.
Uruk (Rare Elite Boss, Human), level 45
HP: 440,000
Their numbers almost equal the soldiers who came up and took their positions opposite this outlaw mob. Jack surmised the soldiers should have no problem taking on the outlaws, except for the leader. The two Knight Captains would have to work together to deal with him.
Jack then noticed a stone stele behind the mob. He asked Peniel telepathically, ‘is that the Outpost Core?’
Peniel flew up to take a better look. She sent her answer to Jack, ‘it is.’
After getting the confirmation, Jack sent the info to the other members of the guild. Telling them the priority was to attack that stele while the soldiers and outlaws were going at each other. He advised anyone who had the Amulet of Rebirth to equip it. Some outlaws might force themselves to break away from the soldiers and came at them once they started attacking the stele. All of them moved to one side of the open walls as they waited for these natives and outlaws to clash with each other.
The level 45 Rare Elite boss, Uruk, walked forward as he eyed the invading soldiers with indignation. “How dare you soldiers of Themisphere invade my territory! I have given you people face by not coming near your city, and now you returned this gesture with such disrespect. None of you will leave this place alive!”
“Bandits! How dare you presume this to be your territory!” Diego boomed. “This entire land is owned by His Majesty King Themos! You dare to form your little bandit clan here and expect us to look the other way? You should have known better. Today we will rid you of His Majesty’s land!”
“No need to talk with them, boss, let’s just gut them!” One of the level 42 Special Elites beside Uruk uttered. He was brandishing two daggers as he used his tongue to lick the dagger’s blade.
“So be it! My brothers, let us show this Themisphere dogs the consequence of invading our home!” Uruk bellowed, which then was followed by the savage roars by the rest of the outlaws.
The soldiers did not lose to those outlaws as they uttered their battle cries and ready their weapons. Diego brandished a long bastard sword as Matias showed a dual-wield style, his right hand held a saber while his left had a shortsword.
When the outlaws charged, the front line soldiers ducked and revealed a row of crossbowmen, who then fired a volley of bolts. If this was real life, that one move would have cut down the number of outlaws by half. In this world, they only reduce a portion of the outlaw’s HP. The crossbowmen stored their crossbows and changed to pike weapons as they joined their melee comrades who were now also charging forward. Ranged fight was not efficient in this confined space, thus most of the soldiers changed to their melee weapons.
Jack and the others stayed at their position as the NPC forces met each other. Jack was about to ask the others to sneak forward along the wall, but John stopped them. “Wait a while longer. It is still too hectic,” he said.
Jack didn’t oppose. He believed in John’s judgment.
As Jack had expected, Diego and Matias took to themselves to face the Outlaw boss. However, even with the two of them, and despite their higher levels, they were still pushed back. Their subordinates were having a better struggle. Luckily, more soldiers came up as time passed and joined in the fight, further tipping the advantage to the soldiers. Some of the Lieutenants then went to assist their two Knight Captains in fighting the outlaw boss.
“Okay, let’s move now,” John said. The outlaws had decreased in numbers and they were more or less pinned.
They walked along the edge of the floor while the two forces continued to fight. Jack glanced at the side with the open wall and saw how high they were. If they fell, they were sure to die. They continued to sneak and reached the backside of the stone stele.
Once they got close, Jack realized something and said in his mind, ‘Crap! This stone stele is so small, how can we all crowded in and attacked at the same time?’
