Our Family Has Fallen

In fact, Boudica charged the fastest, yet she was the last to make a move. There was no helping it; after all, she was the unfortunate type stuck with close combat.

”CHARGE!”

Boudica raised her Axe Spear for a charge, leaping forward with the tip aimed directly at the Pigman Hookhand, who had been squeezed to the side by the Pigman Mob.

The Pigman Hookhand’s habit was to attack sneakily from the shadows, instinctively trying to raise his Shield for protection, just as he had controlled the Flesh Devourer before.

But it was quite evident that the makeshift Shield, cobbled together from several rotten wooden boards, had already corroded in the earlier battle, not to mention that Boudica’s Axe Spear, recently maintained by Amanda, was extremely sharp.

At the moment of contact, the Shield couldn’t withstand the thrust and instantly shattered into several pieces.

The Axe Spear’s tip didn’t pause as it pierced through the withered body, pushing it back a distance with the axe head lodged deep. When Amanda yanked it out, blood splattered everywhere.

The sensation of tearing Flesh and the splatter of blood instantly excited the usually composed Boudica, who let out an odd howl.

She then picked up her weapon and charged into the midst of the Pigmen.

Her fighting style was rough and wild, but it was pure slaughter—every attack aimed to kill the enemy, never striking a second blow if one would suffice.

Dealing with the Pigman Mob was a bit troublesome, but she was brimming with confidence against this kind of foe.

For her, the Pigman Hookhand’s Shield and helmet, that entire suit of armor, meant nothing. She went straight for the pig’s trotters; once their feet were cut off, they were just pigs waiting to be slaughtered.

The recently exposed Pigman Concealers charged forth. Their difference in height, coupled with their swift movements, made it awkward for Amanda to try to stop them.

But Amanda had a wealth of combat experience. She twisted her body and put her strength into it, swinging the Axe Spear in her hand in a circle to change from a slashing to an underhand lifting strike, as elegant as a swan lifting its head and tracing a beautiful arc.

Steel Swan!

As the axe blade appeared before it, the Pigman Concealer involuntarily halted its charge, its twin blades raised defensively, only to be knocked aside by the move. The sharp blade sliced open its protruding snout, causing blood to pour out immediately.

While it was still in disarray, another axe chop came down, splitting open the helmet that resembled a pilot’s goggles, along with its head, neatly into two halves.

It was then that Amanda suddenly sensed something. She readied her Axe Spear warily and turned to see another Pigman Concealer approaching, swinging its twin blades at her legs.

So close was the distance that Boudica could even see the tongue lolling from the Pigman Concealer’s mouth.

But almost at the same time, a faint sound passed through the air. A Flying Dagger appeared abruptly, lodging into the Pigman Concealer’s head and instantly killing the menacing Concealer. Its lolling tongue now forever unable to be retracted.

Boudica looked back to see that it was Amanda’s doing.

Although I already reacted, Boudica thought, I probably could have blocked the attack with a casual flick of my Axe Spear’s long shaft.

But she didn’t pay it much mind, instead turning and roaring as she continued her frenzied killing.

”WAAAGH!”

Lance shifted his aim from there, turning and firing at another Pigman Concealer nearby.

Even if Boudica hadn’t reacted in time, and Amanda hadn’t acted, I would have fired, Lance considered. It seems the team’s coordination is steadily improving.

These Pigmen had already been injured in the fight with the Flesh Devourer, and the strongest Pigman Mob had been taken out instantly.

So, breaking through their lines posed little difficulty.

As an Axe Spear fell, slaying the last Pigman.

”Hahaha! Exhilarating!” Boudica yelled.

Her voice was a bit hoarse from shouting, her face red with a frenetic excitement that hadn’t faded, her neck veins still bulging.

She had barely finished laughing before she almost choked, only able to lean on her Axe Spear and gasp for breath heavily. It was clear she was close to her limit, but she couldn’t mask her excitement.

For her, nothing was more satisfying than a vigorous and bloody fight.

But one mustn’t forget that this was the Beast Lair, the Pigmen’s home turf.

No sooner had the battle calmed down than the sound of pig squeals came from the other end of the passage. The sharp cries, echoing in the hollow space, layered upon each other, sounding endless and oppressive.

Making such a commotion here, it was rather difficult to ignore the Pigmen.

Boudica’s breathing hadn’t even steadied, and the excitement on her face was replaced by a more solemn expression.

Meanwhile, Amanda hurried to retrieve her thrown weapons. Although she still had more, such things were always better in abundance.

Having used a few Spells just now, Alhazred was trying to quickly settle his surging Spiritual Essence.

This was the weakness of Transcendents, especially those specializing in Casting Spells: Spiritual Essence had its limits, and one could easily run into trouble in a protracted battle.

But that was the normal situation; here, Lance called the shots.

He raised his hand casually, imparting a mass Bless onto the three of them to refresh their conditions, awaiting the arrival of Pigman reinforcements.

However, a scene none of them expected suddenly occurred. In the dim passage, the approaching Pigmen became agitated and unexpectedly turned on each other, devolving into a chaotic melee.

This…

”What in the world is going on?” Boudica asked, her face a mask of confusion. ”Why are they fighting each other?”

Not just Boudica, even Lance was puzzled. But soon, he saw something charge out from among the shadows and instinctively exclaimed, ”It’s the Flesh Devourer from before! It’s still alive!”

The Flesh Devourer, which previously had countless wounds all over its body and even its mouth caved in, had unbelievably survived. Now, it had not only recovered but had also grown even stronger.