NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 643: Divided Focus
Villain Ch 643. Divided Focus
The ghostly soldiers, provoked by the sudden change in tactics, let out a deafening roar as they surged forward to meet the tanks head-on. The ground trembled beneath their advance, the air thick with the sound of clashing steel and the cries of the wounded.
Elio, at the forefront of the tanks, swung his sword with expert precision, his movements fluid and controlled. Despite the eerie resemblance of the ghostly soldiers to real players, Elio knew that they lacked the dexterity and reflexes of their living counterparts. With each strike, he exploited their weaknesses, driving them back with calculated efficiency.
Elio found himself pushed to his limits, his muscles burning with exertion as he fought tooth and nail against the relentless tide of enemies. He refused to back down.
But the ghostly soldiers were not without their own advantages. With the ghostly healers' aids, they fought with a renewed ferocity, their wounds knitting themselves back together as quickly as they were inflicted. The healers' magic bolstered their allies, granting them strength and resilience in the heat of battle.
For every blow Elio landed, another ghostly soldier seemed to take its place, their numbers seemingly endless. The melee became a chaotic frenzy of steel and magic, with no end in sight.
The odds were stacked against them, and he knew that they couldn't continue on like this. They needed to change tactics, to find a way to gain the upper hand in this unequal fight.
"We have to lure them near the gate," Elio thought to himself, his mind racing with possibilities. With a determined nod, he swiped his hand in front of him, summoning his hologram screen to issue his orders to the troops.
But before he could give the command, a chilling singing voice echoed through the chaos. It was a nursery rhyme, but twisted and dark, sending shivers down Elio's spine. The voice, usually male, now belonged to a female, adding an eerie edge to the melody.
"Slay, slay, slay the town. Blood and fire stream around," the female voice sang, the familiar tune of 'Row, row, row, Your Boat' twisted into something sinister. "Merrily, merrily, merrily, scream. As the devil's reign redeems."
The players' faces paled as they realized the implications of the song. The devil emperor and his subordinates were already here.
Sure enough, Lust appeared near the gate on the right, her mischievous smirk seduced the male players. With a flick of her whip, she summoned a horde of hot incubi, their seductive forms enough to distract even the most focused of players.
"Shit!" Elio cursed under his breath as he watched the distraction unfold before him. The girl players' eyes widened as they beheld the sight of the incubi, their attention momentarily diverted from the battle at hand. It was like an oasis in the middle of a war zone, a tantalizing temptation that threatened to unravel all of their carefully laid plans.
Another voice joined the eerie chorus, sending shivers down the players' spines. This time, it was a male voice, haunting and filled with malice.
"Burn, burn, burn the night. Fear and anguish take their flight," the voice sang, its words dripping with menace. "Merrily, merrily, merrily, wail. Under the emperor's dreadful tale."
The players exchanged nervous glances as the song echoed through the air, its chilling melody casting a pall over the battlefield. But they knew they couldn't afford to be paralyzed by fear, not when their lives hung in the balance.
A new threat emerged from the shadows. The Mummy King appeared on the battlefield, his presence striking fear into the hearts of all who beheld him. Soon, his Lamia subordinates joined him, their seductive appearance drawing the attention of the male players despite the danger they posed.
But the Lamias were not content to simply distract their prey. With a flick of their wrists, they unleashed their skills, targeting the magic barrier that protected the gate with deadly precision. The barrier shimmered and wavered under the onslaught, threatening to collapse under the combined assault.
"Everyone, focus!" Arcana's voice cut through the chaos, his tone urgent as he rallied the troops. The attack had stalled, and they couldn't afford to let their guard down now. The tanks were completely dependent on the protection of the hunters and magic users, and any lapse in concentration could spell disaster.
"I will handle them! Just focus on protecting the tanks!" Warlord's order rang out, his tone leaving no room for argument. The magic users nodded in understanding, their attention shifting to the task at hand. Their attack range may not match that of the hunters, but they were determined to hold the line and protect their comrades at all costs.
Arcana, meanwhile, turned to the hunters, his eyes blazing with intensity. "Did you hear that?!" he exclaimed, his voice ringing out above the din of battle. "Now give me the best focus you can give!" With a shared nod, the hunters tightened their grips on their bows, their resolve strengthened by their leader's words.
But amidst the chaos of the battlefield, a sense of unease lingered in the air. In the healer row, Sophia's focus wavered, her gaze fixed on a point in the distance. Her expression was serious. She looked serious indeed, but her seriousness was not about protecting her own guild members or team. Instead, her focus was on finding the devil emperor.
She wanted to attract his attention and reclaim her own popularity.
Father^Alex, standing beside her, couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. He frowned as he watched Sophia's distraction, a feeling of annoyance gnawing at the edges of his mind. He was not one to seek out conflict, but in the midst of war, every moment of focus was precious, and he couldn't afford to let distractions derail their efforts.
"Yora, focus on the battle," Father^Alex said, his voice firm but tinged with concern. "We need your full attention if we're going to get through this."
Sophia tore her gaze away from the horizon, her expression clouded with frustration. "I know," she replied flatly. It was clear she didn't care about it. She had another goal.