Chapter 340: Chapter 245: Flesh Nest_1
Boudica didn’t hesitate for a second, seizing the opportunity to swing her War Halberd with both hands toward the unprotected body of the Ghoul.
But the monster was defensively formidable. The strike didn’t completely cleave through its body, only penetrating half a palm’s depth before getting stuck. The threat of death also brought it out of its daze.
Without lingering, Boudica twisted her body and exerted force to wrench the War Halberd back, avoiding the prior predicament.
But the Ghoul’s first reaction upon regaining its senses was not to fight, but to try to escape with its wounds.
At the same time, Balistan finally overcame the fear in his heart.
If he wasn’t afraid of death, what else was there to fear?
"I fear nothing!" Balistan bellowed, picking up his Morningstar Hammer. A continuous stream of power surged from his muscles.
He wasn’t an ordinary man. Despite his white hair, he was actually only in his fifties. He appeared older due to constant injuries and the toll they took on his body from years of battling.
However, his prime was greatly extended after the Lord’s Blessing healed his internal injuries. The strength contained in his body would now be unleashed upon the enemy.
How could Boudica, equally engulfed in battle rage, let it go?
The War Halberd swung again, dragging the Ghoul back into the mire of war.
The Ghoul might seem powerful, with claws that could kill seven people and a body that could withstand blades and spears.
But it had previously only faced unarmed serfs. Once it confronted professional warriors and its rhythm was figured out, it became a joke.
Humans survived in this world and claimed most of its resources not because they were weak.
Lance didn’t make a move, instead standing guard with William on the periphery.
He could see Boudica was seething with pent-up anger and needed an opponent to vent on. It was clear the Ghoul was the perfect outlet.
Balistan had also been toyed with by this creature; naturally, he wanted to prove himself against it.
If I stepped in, I’m afraid a single sword strike would end the fight. The power of a Master rank isn’t something this kind of creature can withstand.
His Shield parried the Ghoul’s claws, and his Morningstar Hammer smashed once more into its joint, finally eliciting a CRACK of fracturing bone. After so many attacks, even a wooden post couldn’t have endured it. The Ghoul slumped, struggling to maintain its balance, and half-knelt on the ground.
Due to the height difference, they had found it difficult to strike the Ghoul’s upper body directly. But now, Boudica seized the opportunity.
"HYAH!"
She let out a roar from her throat, raising the War Halberd high and leaping up to execute the finishing blow.
She had held back a bit before, but now there was no such restraint. She extracted every bit of strength from her body.
Empowered by her strength, the War Halberd traced an indiscernible arc. Its axe blade cleaved into the Ghoul’s forehead with a CLANG of metal, the powerful force causing the creature to reel.
A mighty and forceful blow!
This time, there was no sense of obstruction, unlike chopping through rotting wood. Instead, the well-forged steel of the War Halberd unleashed its true power in an instant, cleaving deep. The Ghoul’s arms drooped; it had completely lost its vitality.
Wang Cai pounced forward, pushing over the Ghoul’s massive body, and with that, the battle ended.
Boudica kicked the Ghoul’s head and pulled out her War Halberd, breathing heavily. She looked thoroughly exhausted; after all, not everyone could refresh their state like Lance.
"Hahaha!" She let out a hearty laugh. The relief on her face was evident, as if she’d finally vented a long-held frustration.
Balistan seemed to be in much better condition. He understood how to conserve energy on the battlefield for more intense subsequent battles. However, the continuous defense and hammer swings had still left a trace of fatigue on his face.
Wang Cai, on the other hand, was still very excited. As soon as the Ghoul fell, he ran to Lance’s side, as if to claim credit for the victory.
"Enough already, you did your part." Lance pulled out some jerky to feed him while soothingly petting the wolf’s head to calm it down.
Wang Cai held the jerky in his jaws but didn’t eat it immediately, instead casting a boastful look at Fergus, a clear sign of showing off.
"Damn it, just eat and stop showing off," Lance said, lightly slapping the wolf’s head to make him behave.
Jealousy wasn’t an admirable trait. Fortunately, Fergus, being well-mannered, was unperturbed by Wang Cai’s provocations.
Ignoring the foolish dog, Lance got up and approached the Ghoul.
"How about it? The new weapons I provided, they’re good, aren’t they?"
"Better than my old one, for sure!" Boudica exclaimed, holding up her War Halberd. She was clearly fond of it; after all, no warrior would dislike a better weapon.
"Very sturdy," Balistan said, looking at his Shield. He noticed a few scratches on its surface, but no real damage.
Lance hadn’t skimped on the money to arm them. The forge in Winston’s weapon workshop never ceased burning.
Indeed, the improvement in weapons and equipment noticeably boosted their strength.
Several factors truly affect a person’s strength.
These can be summarized as personal physique, mental fortitude, and equipment.
Physique requires growth and exercise, and mental fortitude needs honing. However, improvement in equipment is the most direct: a knife can enable a child to kill an adult, and armor can fend off blades.
Humans might lag behind Ghouls in terms of physique, but they can compensate with equipment and intellect. It was clear who had fallen and who remained standing.