My Players Are So Fierce

This is also your coming-of-age ceremony, kids.

The tales of battling sea monsters on the frozen sea of Ice Bay are stories of a bygone era.

Vam and I have long grown tired of those tedious battles.

Wrestling with beasts proves nothing about your prowess because beasts don’t truly fight; they only act on instinct!

So now, it’s time to try something new!

The Wolf People make excellent opponents.

Kids, you were born in a great era, just like me.

The battles I fought in the Dark Mountain Range with the previous Commander remain the most exhilarating moments of my life, bringing me honor and earning Vam’s favor.

Now, it’s your turn to claim your victory on this battlefield.”

“But, Commander!”

A young barbarian warrior standing beside Commander Floyd, armed with dual axes and sporting an oddly dyed green Mohican hairstyle, whispered in confusion:

“According to the ancient customs, aren’t we supposed to charge directly at the Wolf People and cut them down?

Why are we using something called ‘anti-infantry landmines’?

Vam’s teachings never instructed us to use such things…

What I mean is, it feels somewhat cowardly to rely on external forces to kill our enemies.

Vam’s followers never fear to engage in hand-to-hand combat.”

“Ha, I also had similar doubts and questioned whether it lacked courage for those foreigners to use such weapons, until I witnessed the massacre they caused with these weapons at the Blackflame Mountain Pass and the Fortress of Courage firsthand.”

Commander Floyd laughed heartily, explaining to the young ones who had left Ice Bay:

“That night…

the night the Transylvanians launched the Star-world Tear and annihilated hundreds of thousands of Wolf People, the same night they massacred the Wolf People with explosives and mines, I felt an excitement from the depths of my heart!

I heard Vam’s joyous laughter!

So I understood, Vam does not see the use of these weapons as a vile act.

Kids, consider them just another weapon, like the slings and javelins we use.

They are merely tools, nothing more than a change in appearance.

Didn’t your old warriors teach you that using all available weapons appropriately in different situations is also a virtue of Vam’s?”

“Oh, I see now.”

The young barbarian with the green Mohican hair nodded ponderously, then, under the Commander’s surprised gaze, he pulled out a strange javelin from the spear pouch on his back.

The design was still that of a barbarian javelin, but the tip was reinforced with a circle of explosives, making it appear top-heavy.

The young barbarian tossed the spear up and down in his hand and then turned back to the Commander, saying:

“A guy named Giant Shark strongly recommended this ‘Exploding Spear’ to me, saying it was incredibly powerful and a Transylvania war weapon.

I thought using such a thing would damage my courage and honor, but after hearing your explanation, I suddenly realized that perhaps Vam appreciates those foreigners because they are better at using these new weapons than we are.

Commander Floyd, shouldn’t we learn from them?”

“Hmm…

learn cautiously!

Learn their courage and resourcefulness, but do not learn their excessive greed…”

The Commander tilted his head, expressing a cautious response to the apprentice’s question.

The next second, he saw two tall shield maidens pulling out small tubes of Transylvanian make from their weapon packs, with more Berserkers eagerly grabbing large-caliber trench guns.

These guys had secretly stashed away Transylvanian weapons…

Well, you have to admit, close-range blasting a Gnoll’s head off with a gun is clearly safer and more efficient than slicing their throats with a knife.

Previously, everyone was afraid to use them for fear of offending The Fury, but now that the Commander said it’s okay, there’s definitely no problem.

“Tsk”

Commander Floyd had grown weary of criticizing these cowardly new recruits, as the Wolf People drove the Gnolls into the minefield, causing incessant explosions that left flesh flying everywhere, with so many mines triggered at once that a cruel blood mist drifted over the open land.

This scene made the barbarians increasingly frenzied.

In a daze, they seemed to hear Vam’s roar, with The Fury demanding they complete this slaughter and offer victory along with the blood-stained skulls.

“Here they come, they’re coming!”

Commander Floyd gripped a heavy weapon in each hand, his eyes bloodshot to the point of turning crimson, glaring steadfastly at the burly Bloodscar Wolf People behind the Gnoll death squad.

As a Commander, he also had his dignity.

He disdained slaughtering ordinary Wolf People; bullying the weak was not honorable conduct, something Vam most despises.

Thus, the Commander’s target locked onto the taller hunting electors, most of the Blood Scar Clan’s Military Governors being such hunting electors, with their bodies strengthened by Divine Power, nearly as tall as the barbarians.

These were foes worthy of killing, worthy of being butchered!

Ha!

His own Golden Trial…

it’s here!

Step onto the Golden Path here and offer the heart to the supreme Vam!

Indeed, he must personally kill 99 hunting electors to be worthy of Vam’s love.