Chapter 174 - Cultist Raids

While inside the campaign tent, Joan was standing on beside the Captain. Watching the sketch of the map that the mappers have made for him. As expected, some parts of the Dark lands were still an unknown territory for the humans to know of.

It was then, a scout entered the tent and was panting in the process. As he entered the place while hurrying up and had yet to cool down.

"Sir! We have a report!" Said the scout.

"Proceed,"

"We have reports of cultists being scouted, sir!" Said the scout.

"Cultist? Here? That is unheard of yet. Thank you for your report. Can you deduce its location on the map?" The Captain asked.

It was then, he approached them and then pointed to the location.

"Here sir, just north up ahead the river of Riverside Stronghold. Many scouts are lost and others are missing in the process. I suggest we address this immediately," The scout said to the Captain.

"Yes, it will be addressed. Joan, you will be on a mission to infiltrate their base. Can you do that task?" He asked.

"You know better than anyone else that I am better than all of our forces combined, right?" Joan said.

"Haha, that's what I like about you. Now be careful, you will be in enemy territory without us knowing their strength. I will wait for your return," The Captain said to him.

"Yes, I will depart as soon as possible," Joan said to him.

He prepared for a journey and then went on a mission solitarily. With just light belongings on his back, he went forth towards the mission.

Facing the gate of the Riverside stronghold, he saw it slowly open with a creaking sound. Seeing that the other adventurers cheering for his return, he felt moved.

"That's our Grandmaster! We will wait for your return!" Shouted one adventurer.

"Yeah! Go home in one piece!" They shouted.

Joan can only smile at their remarks. He felt that he was getting popular nowadays. Training them made him get a strong impression from them. Also, he was a strict drill instructor but approachable outside training. Earning his current popularity.

Moving towards the exit, he raised his hands while on his back. The back of a dependable person was what they thought at the moment he raised his hands. Without looking back, he travelled the forest towards the designated place. Rays of sunshine pierced the forest floor and the leaves rustle as they were caressed with the wind.

With the map in his hands, he followed the trails of the scouts. Also, moving towards the upstream of the river up north. After several steps, he noticed that there were scouts on standby in the forest. Rangers to be exact, hiding in the bushes and others were on the trees. They saw Joan and reported to him.

"Grandmaster Joan, we saw that villagers are being brought inside their base. As we speak of now, maybe they are used in something. Rogues reported that they are put in cages underground. That is the only info that we get. The Rogues are careful not to get caught and so they only report what they know. Their security is uptight if we delve deeper into the underground." The Ranger said to him.

Joan then patted his shoulders then said a job well done. Joan then hinted to them to report back on the base and that the mission will be on his hands. They nodded in response and then they travelled back.

Joan then thought of using his crows to hover in the sky to get a bird's eye view.

[Beast call]

Crows flew into the sky and then waited to get a vantage point.

[Share vision and mind]

The crows then saw their base. As Joan expected, they only lived in tents but their numbers were not a trifling matter. Almost all places have guards that were stationed. Also, he saw a huge tent that was far larger than any other. Making him think that it was their commander's tent.

As Joan's crows watched in the skies, he saw a cave up ahead. Thinking that it will be the place where the villagers were hauled inside. It will be a task to liberate such a place.

He first cast his skill [Shadow clone] then assigned them to go ahead. Joan then used [Sneak] to infiltrate their base. As Joan was sneaking, the shadow clones were culling the guards that were within his radius near him. Slitting them on the neck and then left them.

Joan then entered the commander's tent and felt that something was off. It was dead silent and there were no lights.

Ha!

Ting!

Joan then blocked with his knife with all he got. Parrying it to the side in hair's breathe. The said assaulter then appeared and the lights went on. He was clad in steel armour. A bear-like helm and an axe on his hands. Huge build and buff, making Joan a kid compared to him.

"What are you doing here kid?" He asked.

"Just having a sightseeing tour," Joan replied.

"Bastard!" He yelled.

He used the Axe to hack him. Joan then threw his dagger on his face and aimed at his eyes.

Ting!

The dagger sounded as it landed on the metal surface of the forehead.

"Hahaha! Are you gonna rescue the citizens of the Kingdom? You are too late! They are demonised already! You are too late! You can't turn back their humanity again! Hahaha!" He burst out laughing.

Joan's eyes darkened on what he heard. Blood boiling as he gritted his teeth. Joan then became silent.

[Shapeshift werebear]

Joan then transformed into a huge beast. Becoming taller than him in height.

"Hahaha! You will do what? You will smack me with your hairy paws?" He shouted.

"I am not in the mood to play with you," Joan growled.

"You will not defeat me! With my trump card on hand!" He shouted.

It was then, the enemy used the skill [Berserk]. He roared as he swung his axe at him. Joan then grabbed the said weapon and then crumpled it.

"You will kill me with this?" Joan said then threw the weapon. Approaching him, he growled.

[Maul]

[Hand slam]

[Maul]

[Hand slam]

The enemy was flung then smashed with his hands. Repeating the said skill until the enemy coughed blood. His armour was crumpled on the process.

"Ah! Please stop! Please stop! I am begging you! It hurts!" He shouted.

It was then Joan grabbed his head and lifted him.

"Is that your trump card? Well, I am disappointed," Joan said then he snapped his neck.

It was then, he reverted to his human form and exited the tent. It was then, he saw lesser devils all over the sky. Shadow clones were on standby as they were rained with fireball spells.

"I will take care of things here. Move inside ahead of me," Joan said to his shadow clones.

They went towards the cave and Joan was left behind. Looking at them, Joan felt that the enemies were absurdly too much. Their numbers were incomparable from the numbers he scouted. Equipping a ranged class would do the trick in eliminating their numbers. Also, the enemies were not only ranged classes but also were capable of melee.

The others roared and then, they dove towards Joan. Joan on the contrary was calm as he watched them. Other lesser devils threw fireballs and so Joan evaded them. Soon enough, he conjured two short swords on his hands and then equipped his Ranger job class.

[Dual wielder]

[Rapid motion]

He used the buff skills he has and also the skill to slash rapidly. Enemies flooded the sky as they moved towards him.

[Rapid slash]

He slashed rapidly in a second and the enemies were dismembered in the process. His slashes were like a flow of water that coordinated with each other. Not colliding with each other and dead bodies were seen to form on his back. His slashes were so fast that the enemies were seeing a flickering statue of death. Hands were swift like a pouncing cheetah.

Enemies were bewildered at his prowess. Well, that was possible due to his stats that was over five hundred. Also making him a frightening existence for the enemy. Joan then jumped in the air then conjured a bow and arrow quiver.

[Rapid fire]

A burst of swift arrows was seen flying towards them and they were struck down one by one. Making them fall off on the sky with an arrow stuck on their foreheads.

Firing while somersaulting and was in any form or position currently.

[Snipe]

[Snipe]

[Snipe]

[Snipe]

[Snipe]

All were executed perfectly without a mishap. Landing on the ground together with them. As Joan landed, he breathed in and out. Absorbing their essences that were scattered all over the place. Sucking dry all of the essences on the place.

It was then, he moved on and then went inside the cave where the underground was laid. Captives who were humans and was told to be demonized. It was then, Joan hoped that it was not too late for them.. Marching inside on the dark caverns.