Chapter 1258 - 618: Inquiry and News

The reason why Xia Nan was willing to step in was actually very simple.

On one hand, it was also the premise of everything.

The enemies’ power level was within the range he could handle with ease.

A Scorpion-tailed Lion with a Challenge Level of "3" would have been a formidable demon that required full effort and serious attention a few months ago, before Xia Nan set out for Suo Yu Bay.

And now, although retaining a meticulous and cautious mindset, with the surge in his overall strength and the accumulation of combat experience.

If the goal is simply to bring the opponent to death under straightforward circumstances, a little tactical planning would suffice without expending too much energy.

An adult Scorpion-tailed Lion, plus two younger ones, even if in full healthy condition, posed a danger level entirely within Xia Nan’s capability to handle.

On the other hand, the direct reason that stirred his intention to help.

Was the conspicuous emblem engraved on the surface of the shoulder armor of a soldier, suspected to be the squad captain.

—— A diamond-shaped shield face with a pure black base, two bloody axe blades crossed diagonally, with the castle’s silhouette faintly outlined in slightly lighter reddish-brown lines in the background contour.

Based on the intelligence Xia Nan gathered before setting out.

This kind of emblem was precisely the insignia of the troops stationed at his destination, the Blood Castle.

Thus, it could be determined that this was a soldier squad from the border Blood Castle.

Xia Nan thought that perhaps he could inquire from them about the current situation at the Blood Castle, such as why there was a sudden recruitment and whether they had seen the Barbarian Fugang.

The integration of these two aspects ultimately led to his decision to enter the scene.

"Roar!"

A Mysterious Wolf Howl, seemingly from hell, carried with it blade-like sharp and chilling winds, leaving numerous small wounds on the headless body of the Scorpion-tailed Lion.

With a casual flick of a sword flourish, he flicked off the droplets of blood adhering to the sword’s surface.

His dark eyes slightly shifted, glancing over a middle-aged man on the side, trembling with a heavy shield in hand and graying hair, and the stunned youth crawling on the ground in front.

Wasting no time, amidst the wolf’s howling, he had already transformed into a black shadow with mane swaying, heading toward the soldier squad.

...

The battle didn’t last long.

Thanks to Xia Nan’s emphasis on explosive and mobile, highly aggressive combat style.

For those enemies whose overall strength was inferior to his, the battle process often resulted in crushing and overwhelming power.

To some extent, even for those strong ones whose strength approached the Transcendent, when it came to overpowering weaker foes, could at most perform to such a degree.

Of course, this didn’t mean that Xia Nan currently possessed such strength.

This scene was purely a result of his combat style, which was extremely skewed towards offense.

Simply put, for those opponents of relatively low power level, he could treat them as goblins and dispatch them effortlessly.

Yet, if the enemy’s capability in a certain aspect, be it defensive performance or agility and the like, reached a relatively high threshold.

Xia Nan’s previously linear combat performance would suddenly become erratic, requiring him to conduct targeted strikes based on his battle skills combined with the opponent’s weaknesses and openings.

It would become progressively challenging.

Clearly, the two remaining young Scorpion-tailed Lions, now in an injured state, hadn’t reached such a threshold in any aspect.

Not even requiring to waste the charge usages of [Gravity Etching].

[Vortex Slash] + [Teeth Hunting] + [Heavy Tide], even the [Hunting Arc] combat formation didn’t have much opportunity to exhibit due to the exceedingly brief engagement rounds.

The heads of the remaining two demons on the field were already detached from their shoulders.

"Hoo... Hoo..."

"Ugh!"

"Potion! Captain, we need half a vial of Healing Potion here!"

Because of Xia Nan’s timely support, although everyone in the soldier squad was injured, with three members already in a severely wounded state under the Scorpion-tailed Lions’ attack, at least no fatalities occurred.

Compared to the strength of the Scorpion-tailed Lions they fought against, it could be called a miracle.

"Sir, thank you very much for your help!"

The squad captain was a young man who looked around twenty-five years old, but with a competent demeanor, evidently with substantial combat experience.

His handling of people and matters was also quite appropriate.

The battle had just ended, and he hadn’t even had time to treat the several wounds on his body before he hurriedly approached Xia Nan, sincerely expressing his gratitude.

On the Aifala Continent, perhaps in those large cities under the control of official forces, with relatively stringent judicial systems, well-established public order systems, and orderly stability, the weaker side might temporarily and slightly rise above the stronger, unattached adventurers due to the background they rely on.

But in most cases, one’s inherent strength still determines how others perceive and treat you.

As a soldier just returned from the frontline, who had been fighting the enemy on the battlefield a while ago, no one knows better than this squad captain the weight of the word "stronghold."

Even disregarding his identity as a Sevia Kingdom soldier and Captain of the Blood Castle recruitment squad, facing this adventurer who easily killed three Scorpion-tailed Lions and saved himself and his comrades in battle, he couldn’t have a trace of contempt.

One could sense the soldier’s sincerity and earnestness from his tone and demeanor.