Pale Emblem

Chapter 169 Shadow of Dream

At night, the barbarian slave leader Ingrid was waiting at the agreed location for the half-elf traitor to come and meet her.

This is a withered forest. All the trees and vegetation have died due to insect pests or other reasons, leaving behind shriveled trunks that sway in the howling night wind, like ghosts with bared fangs and claws, which is chilling.

The advantage of the dead forest is that the field of vision is wide, so both sides can see each other clearly, without worrying about ambushes. Ingrid personally selected the meeting place. She waited for nearly half a month, and more than ten elite barbarians, butchers, and combat shamans took on the task of protection and stayed with her here for half a month.

According to the agreement between the two parties, tonight is the deadline for the negotiations. If the half-elf traitor does not come, they will have to go back at dawn.

Ingrid paced back and forth under a dead tree anxiously. On the one hand, she was worried that the half-elf traitor failed to rescue her husband Yog; on the other hand, she did not expect that Chieftain Quelngra of the Broken Rock would come here alone and say that he wanted to see with his own eyes the cultists who were willing to cooperate with the orcs.

Rescuing the orcs and barbarian captives was Ingrid's proposal, ostensibly to test the sincerity and ability of the half-elf cultists. If the other party couldn't do this, there was no need for cooperation. However, she was using the power of the Rockbreaker Clan and the Frostblade Clan just to rescue Yog.

The butchers, barbarians and combat shamans who were traveling with him did not doubt Ingrid's true purpose. They were stupid and arrogant, looked down on the half-elf cultists, and all agreed that they should be tested, so they were manipulated by Ingrid.

Quellngra was different. He was the most powerful and cunning orc butcher that Ingrid had ever seen. When Yog appeared here, Quellngra should have been able to think about what the barbarian female consultant he valued had done.

If it were a half-elf slave owner, even the most trusted female slave would have the consequence of abusing her power for personal gain. She might even be hanged in public to prove that the master's authority could not be violated. As for how Quell Engla would react, Ingrid could not predict it now.

But she never regretted her decision. Yog was the most important thing. It was the great spirit of heaven that gave her enlightenment.

In addition, the blue-skinned barbarian boy has become Ingrid's most beloved husband, and she has an inseparable feeling for him.

When necessary, I can display the power given to me by the spirits of heaven, for my king...

Ingrid pondered secretly, she stroked her left wrist, and gently rubbed the small scar on her wrist that looked like a lightning pattern with her thumb, feeling the extraordinary power hidden in her blood, and her heart gradually calmed down.

Quelngra sat cross-legged under a tree stump not far away, surrounded by several combat shamans and butchers. In the team, several other barbarian fighters were on guard at the periphery of the withered forest. Compared to the orcs' laxity, the barbarians were more self-disciplined.

Orcs are stupid and simple-minded. Even high-level orcs such as combat shamans and butchers do not know how to fight for power and profit. They do not even have the concept of private property in their minds. Everything is for the benefit of the clan.

Quel'Ngra never had to worry about his butchers and shamans betraying him, unless he met a challenger, he would fight openly and only the winner would be the king, without any intrigue.

The situation of the barbarians is different from that of the orcs. Although both have a common ancestor, they worship the sky spirit Donar and respect the Earth Mother. Legend has it that it was the sky spirit Donar who turned some of the orcs into intelligent barbarians.

Because of their intelligence, the barbarians have complicated minds.

Even though Quilngla had awakened his wisdom, he still couldn't guess what the barbarian slave girl Ingrid was thinking.

It's fun and even a challenge.

Quillengla felt that Ingrid could help him become smarter, and the barbarian slaves were weak and posed no threat. Therefore, the chieftain of the Split Rock Clan was willing to see Ingrid freely use her intelligence.

However, today's contact with the half-elf cultists is very important to the upcoming war of the Broken Rock Clan. Quelngra must come forward in person to verify the truth before he can feel at ease.

Quelngra had been waiting for most of the night, but there was no sign of the half-elf cultist. He finally couldn't bear it anymore and called his advisor over.

"Ingrid."

The barbarian slave leader was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Chief Rockbreaker, then turned around and walked over, saying respectfully, "Chief, what do you want to ask me?"

Several butchers and combat shamans looked at Ingrid with contempt. They believed that the barbarian slave girl's respectful gesture was a sign of weakness, and that the weak were a disgrace and only needed to be suppressed. They did not deserve respect or sympathy.

Quierngra knew that Ingrid retained the habits of a slave girl, but this did not hinder her intelligence and knowledge at all.

"Why do you keep walking around?" Chief Rockbreaker asked.

As soon as he opened his mouth, several butchers and combat shamans dared not speak, otherwise they would take the opportunity to insult and suppress Ingrid in order to establish a higher status in the chief's heart.

High-level orcs are not completely without schemes, they just don’t have many and they are very simple.

Ingrid lowered his head, not wanting to meet Chief Rocksplitter's eyes, and replied, "I was worried that the half-elf cultists wouldn't come."

"That's what I'm worried about too."

Quellngra's voice became stern, with dissatisfaction in his tone, "You know, if we want to defeat the half-elf army, we must get the help of those cultists. The Great Mother's bone burning divination has shown that the half-elf cultists are indeed the key to victory. Why do you still want to test them? They can't complete your test. Is our cooperation over?"

Ingrid raised his head and said confidently, "Chief, I don't know how to explain it... If there were no tests, the half-elf cultists would not believe that Rockbreaker and Frostblade would be willing to cooperate with them... Half-elves are different from us. They are very suspicious, and tests represent a cautious attitude towards cooperation."

"In fact, the army of Fallen Leaf City will kill the barbarians and orcs captives, just like we will chop off the heads of half-elf captives and use their skulls for divination... If there are no captives, there is no need to rescue them, so the rescue test I proposed is not difficult. I don't expect the cultists to bring back any orcs or barbarians. However, if they complete the test and rescue the captives, then we can verify the credibility of the information provided by the cultists through the captives' experiences in Echo Town." The Rocksplitters and Frostblade Barbarians had no idea what was going on in Echo Town. The half-elf cultists could say whatever they wanted. If they brought a half-orc or barbarian captive out of Echo Town, it would be difficult to make up stories.

The cultists could understand the reason why Ingrid asked to rescue the orcs or barbarian captives.

This means that if they fail to pass Ingrid's test, it will be difficult to convince the orcs of their sincerity.

Therefore, they must try their best to complete the task of rescuing the prisoners. Even if all the orcs and barbarian prisoners in Echo Town have been killed, they will have to wait for the half-elves to capture new prisoners before rescuing them.

After thinking for a while, Quelngra roughly understood Ingrid's intention, but even though his butchers and combat shamans tried their best to think, they were still confused by Ingrid's logic.

"Well, I think you're right."

Hearing Chief Rocksplitting's statement, Ingrid breathed a sigh of relief. She had laid a lot of groundwork in her previous statement. Even if Yog was rescued by the cultists, Chief Quelngra shouldn't be able to see that she was abusing her power for personal gain for the time being, right?

Quillenglar continued to wait for a while, then suddenly raised his head, looked to the west, and grinned, "Good, those half-elves are here."

The Orc Chieftain had extraordinary perception. Even though there was clearly no movement around him, he discovered the arrival of the half-elf cultists in advance.

Ingrid was cheered up and quickly walked a few steps to the west of the forest, then stopped. There were barbarian fighters on guard in that direction, so he would naturally lead the "guests".

Several female Orc Shamans around the Butcher Chieftain quietly disappeared. They were agile assassins who always liked to hide in the dark and wait for their chance to strike.

There was a rustling sound of footsteps approaching, and as expected, a burly and strong barbarian fighter came over with a team of half-elves.

They all wore gray-brown cotton armor. This full-body light armor was warm, breathable, strong and durable. Although its defensive power was not as good as that of studded leather armor, it could protect against snake and insect bites and tree branch scratches. It was also inexpensive, so it was particularly popular among half-elf adventurers.

Ingrid was trying to find Yog among the half-elves dressed as adventurers. At this time, a half-elf came out and greeted him, "Hello, Chief Ingrid, I'm Herman... We meet again." As he spoke, he pulled out a guy wearing the same clothes from the team, pulled off his windproof mask and hood, and continued, "We've brought the person you wanted too!"

When Ingrid saw Yog's unhappy face, her worry turned into joy. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Hermann's face suddenly change. Then a ferocious aura surged out from behind her, sweeping through the half-elf team like a flood, and even the dead leaves on the ground floated with the aura.

The weak blood rage talent of the barbarian slave leader was ignited by the ferocious aura. She felt the power surging up continuously, and turned back in horror to find that Quel'Ngra was holding a huge axe horizontally, exuding an extremely ferocious aura. The butchers around him also had red eyes, and their blood rage was aroused, entering a state before battle.

The Orc Butcher has an innate ability called Killing Will, which can actively stimulate his own blood rage power, gaining a huge increase in defense and attack power, while also oppressing the enemy's mind. That feeling is equivalent to an invisible blade against the enemy's heart, making the target have the illusion that he will be killed by the Orc Butcher if he moves.

Who would have thought that Quel'Engra could already materialize the will to kill and release it on both the enemy and our friends.

However, the half-elves did not seem to be particularly affected, and Quel'Ngra did not immediately order an attack, allowing the other side to draw their weapons and regain control of Yog as a hostage.

The atmosphere became tense, and the half-elves were clearly the suppressed party in the face of the murderous will of the sixth-level killer.

Due to the will and strength displayed by Quell Engla, although Ingrid was extremely confused, he was unable to complete his thoughts. The awakened blood rage talent was forcing his body and mind into the most fanatical state of combat.

Besides Herman, another half-elf jumped out of the team. He was unarmed, strong and cruel. He confronted Chieftain Rocksplitting from a distance. His own aura continued to rise in the face of the will to kill, as if he was a red-hot piece of iron being hit by a hammer, removing impurities and becoming a material.

Ingrid seemed to see yellow sand all over the sky, dry and scorching; the collision of iron and blood, the fall of one life, the sublimation of another life; the fighting half-elves had overcome the fear of death, enjoyed the pleasure of battle, and wanted to seize the glory of victory.

A gladiatorial arena shines into the withered forest in reality, and even the smell of the environment has changed.

This is of course an illusion, an illusion that is very similar to a dream.

After Ingrid regained his ability to think, he found that the forest was still a forest, and there was no illusion of the arena. Quelngra also gave up his will to kill and led the butchers to sit on the ground again, as if nothing had happened.

The half-elves on the opposite side put away their weapons, and the leader Hermann pushed the blue-skinned barbarian to Ingrid's side.

Ingrid was naturally surprised and happy. He caught the staggering Yog and asked him in a low voice whether he was injured or restrained.

While the barbarian slave leader was checking the "goods", Victor, with his face covered, quietly asked Ruth, "Do you know what's going on?"

Ruth smiled bitterly and said, "When we sisters suddenly saw Quill Engla, we subconsciously used the enemy mark on him. As a result, he immediately reacted... It might have been fierce, but that was for us. In fact, this might be a small lesson for the Slayer."

"I'm sorry...it's all our fault." Jessica took the initiative to admit her mistake and apologized to Victor before adding, "We underestimated Quillengla and misjudged Kent. We didn't expect he had mastered that skill..."

Victor's heart moved, and he asked in a low voice: "It felt like a dream just now. Was it because of Kent?"

"Yes...it should be the rumored dream shadow."