Chapter 234: Chapter 234

After a while, when Du You heard his landmines explode again, he suddenly rushed out, running towards the depths of the valley.

"Let them fight among themselves. It’s better since I can’t get my hands dirty."

Du You didn’t even look back once and went straight into Blackstone Canyon. In fact, on his first day in White Stone City, Du You had already understood the unique feature of the badge in his possession.

Besides its functionality to be switched on and off manually, this badge possessed an additional special function.

That is, when the badge’s holder is under attack, its recording function will activate automatically. This is to determine the cause of the soldier’s death. Sandpeople and beasts generally have no interest in badges.

On the other hand, it also serves to protect soldiers. In the past, mercenaries would often murder each other due to the absence of this feature. This practice dwindled once the feature was added. Follow current novᴇls on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕥⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥

If not for this factor, Du You might have ambushed the two men earlier on the road.

To outwit someone is not nearly as exciting as taking things into your own hands. Du You’s life motto is, "If you can use your hands, don’t use your brain."

Meanwhile, Aelius was facing his doomsday. Previously he was thrilled, for this mission’s success guaranteed not only the retention of his knighthood but also an opportunity to elevate his rank in the future.

If he achieved knighthood, he could leave his father and independently emerge as a prominent aristocrat. His family’s reputation would flourish under his leadership.

However, an abrupt explosion shattered Aelius’s future, like a bubble bursting.

Glancing around, Aelius witnessed Morry falling to the ground. A large crater was left on the ground from where countless water and fire elements erupted. The sound was faint, but highly noticeable in the quiet of the night.

Morry no longer held his previous vigorous demeanor, having instead withered like an old man. The robust power of the water-fire element had thoroughly dehydrated him, draining all the moisture from his body.

Once his body turned dry, Morry began to burn and quickly transformed into a charred husk.

This sudden misfortune left Aelius deeply shaken.

"Du You! It was you who did this!" Aelius wasn’t a fool – he immediately figured out whom to blame for these circumstances.

He had no choice but to pin it on Du You. They had encountered nothing on their arrival, yet met with an explosive trap during their departure. If not for his luck, he might’ve had been the first one to die.

Who else could be capable of this but Du You? "You ungrateful wretch! I kindly included you in this mission, only for you to betray me. Rest assured, if I find an opportunity, I will expose your treachery."

Amidst his expletives, Aelius realized his time was running out.

The massive explosion would unquestionably alert the Sandpeople. Gritting his teeth, Aelius conjured his prepared scrolls, summoning a camel-shaped Support Beast.

Next, several canine and gorilla type creatures appeared – these had all been prepared by him for this mission. If not for Du You, he would have used these Summoned Beasts to divert the Sandpeople’s attention.

Who could have anticipated that his economical plan would backfire, not only failing the mission but also trapping him in this crisis. As Aelius steeled himself for the upcoming challenge, the Sandpeople had already arrived.

Seeing the Sandpeople charging towards him, Aelius spurred his Summoned Creatures to dash forwards.

As he expected, more hidden landmines lay ahead. Amid the spirited run, a loud ’bang’ broke the silence, setting off an Ice-Fire Explosion. One of the canine Summoned Beasts died and disappeared instantly.

Soon after, a gorilla was blown into the sky, disappearing before it could hit the ground.

The danger level of the land ahead was greater than Aelius had imagined. He had not expected Du You to set up such a large trap in so short a time. But what could he do now?

The Sandpeople wouldn’t care about that. If they captured him, most likely, he’d become their food.

Aelius’s Summoned Beasts raced ahead, detonating landmines as they ran. He followed closely behind them.

Before he could escape the minefield, the Sandpeople caught up with him. However, an unfortunate Sandperson promptly triggered an Ice-Fire Explosion.

The Sandpeople’s resistance to the landmines composed of Ice-fire Elements was dismal – they were blown into pieces upon impact. Or rather, once their internal moisture was drained, they would turn exceedingly brittle.

But the Sandpeople didn’t hesitate and, following the command of the Quicksand soldier behind them, charged wildly forwards.

Glancing back, Aelius turned pale at the sight of a Quicksand soldier with four arms trailing him.

"A four-armed Quicksand soldier, a second-tier one. Damn it, why is there a second-tier Quicksand soldier patrolling this place?" Every time a Quicksand soldier advanced in tier, they underwent a Mutation.

Unlike normal humans, Sandpeople belonged to a Human Subspecies. On reaching the second tier, they would grow two additional arms, totalling four. The number of arms was a symbol of a Quicksand soldier’s strength and a badge of honor.

At that moment, Aelius suddenly felt himself sinking. Looking down, he found himself trapped in a swamp that hadn’t existed during their arrival.

"Du You, it’s you again! Damn it, it’s poisoned." Aelius quickly realized, this swamp was unlike any ordinary one - it was poisonous. But there was no time to think about it now.

Aelius forced his Summoned Beasts to bite onto his arm and drag him out of the swamp. He then proceeded, navigating with great difficulty through the swamp. The trailing Sandpeople also ran up, getting stuck in the process.

Even if Sandpeople were immune to poison, if they kept chasing him, his end was definite.

In the back, the four-armed Quicksand soldier swung his blade, launching a blade of earthy Dou Qi towards him.

Aelius widened his eyes in horror and managed to control a Summoned Beast to throw him to the side. Despite his best efforts, the powerful Dou Qi Blade sliced off one of his arms and also instantly cut down the Summoned Beast carrying him.

Without his Summoned Beasts and injured, Aelius felt his physical state declining. Amid the excruciating pain, he realised that there was little chance he would escape alive today. His hatred towards the Sandpeople and Du You intensified tremendously.