Chapter 7: The Infernal War Boar

“What’s wrong, Master?” Seeing Li Bin’s uneasy expression, Lidas hurriedly asked.

“It’s nothing. I was just outmaneuvered by your chieftain,” Li Bin sighed, realizing he had underestimated the intelligence of NPCs in Judgment.

“Why?” Lidas was still confused.

“No need to ask why. Let’s keep moving. If we hurry, we might make it back in time to witness an interesting spectacle,” Li Bin offered no further explanation, steering his undead scorpion deeper into the valley.

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With the Amazonian warrior women leading the way, Li Bin’s troops easily skirted a herd of wild bulls and a flock of two-legged wyverns clustered in the middle of the valley, entering the seldom-visited rear section.

No sooner had they entered the latter half of the valley than Li Bin’s party encountered a group of boarfolk resting.

Neither side expected to meet the enemy under such circumstances, and both scrambled to prepare for battle.

Li Bin called over an Amazonian Swift Panther Fighter and asked, “Do you have any intelligence on the enemy? What level are their units, and what are their traits?”

“None. The chieftain said these boarfolk are shrouded in mystery. Judging by their combat ability, their weakest units are at least Level 3. The foes before us should be the Red Boar Chain-ball Soldiers, Level 3, and the Red Boar Steel-ball Soldiers, Level 4,” the Amazonian Swift Panther Fighter answered gravely.

Li Bin focused his gaze on the boarfolk, who had already lined up in formation. He found the Amazons’ classification apt: all the boarfolk sported messy red hair, fluttering in the wind like flames, glowing crimson.

Their weapons were equally unique. The group in the rear wielded massive iron balls attached to heavy chains, ready to swing and hurl nearby enemies. Li Bin could easily judge their strength by the size of the iron balls.

The three boarfolk in the front were different—they wore finer armor than the others and carried steel balls studded with spikes instead of plain iron.

Based on these observations, Li Bin could surmise the boarfolk’s strength. To face them head-on, perhaps only the giant warriors of the Barbarian faction and the free-spirited bearfolk could match them.

Thinking this, Li Bin suddenly smiled. “Lidas, since your chieftain urged you to persuade me to recruit these units, you must have a way to deal with these boarfolk. The enemies ahead are yours.”

Lidas nodded and charged forward with her warriors. In the next instant, Li Bin was utterly astonished by the Amazon warrior women’s prowess in forest combat.

Originally, Li Bin thought that against the melee might of Red Boar Steel-ball Soldiers, Lidas would send some expendable troops to draw fire.

Unexpectedly, following Li Bin’s command, Lidas dashed ahead with five squads of newly recruited Amazon warriors. As they neared the boarfolk’s attack range, their formation rapidly scattered.

Clad in black panther pelts and armed with steel claws, the Amazon Swift Panther Fighters leaped into the treetops, circling the boarfolk at blinding speed. Meanwhile, two squads of Amazon Eagle Archers unfurled wings, soaring thirty meters into the air, and unleashed a barrage of arrows from their wooden bows, emptying two quivers in an instant.

The boarfolk responded with surprising agility, their massive forms belying their dexterity. They swung their chained iron balls, easily deflecting the rain of arrows.

But at that moment, the Swift Panther Fighters launched their attack, exploiting the boarfolk’s focus on defending against the arrows. They darted in close, striking at vital points with their claws, then retreated to safety without waiting to see if their attacks succeeded.

While this reduced their opportunities to inflict damage, it greatly increased their survival odds. After several such assaults, not a single Amazon warrior was struck, and the boarfolk were all slain.

Witnessing this outcome, what flashed through Li Bin’s mind was not the sheer offensive power of the Amazon units, but the unique way their tactics could be utilized on the battlefield.

Li Bin did not realize that in this seemingly trivial moment, his approach to thinking began to shift—changes that would later influence his command decisions in future campaigns.

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Impressed by the Amazon warriors’ strength, Li Bin decisively handed over the task of leading the way to Lidas.

Lidas did not disappoint him. She led the Amazon warriors in clearing out six or seven groups of boarfolk without a single casualty. Even as the boarfolk grew in number and strength, with Level 4 Red Boar Hammer Soldiers and Level 5 Red Boar Steel Hammer Soldiers appearing, they still could not pose a real threat to the Amazons.

Instead, Lidas’s campaign level increased by two, and she learned basic archery and basic leadership.

After a day’s arduous trek, Li Bin’s party finally reached the temple before nightfall. Whether the boarfolk inside had received word of Li Bin’s incursion or were simply gathered at their lair, at least a dozen groups clustered outside the small temple.

Inside, two unusually powerful groups of boarfolk had assembled. Suddenly, a boarfolk shouted, “Intolerable! We are the mighty War Boar tribe. We will not tolerate a group of women provoking us!”

“But they keep targeting our weaknesses—attack and retreat, so we cannot land a blow on them!” another boarfolk protested.

“Then assign someone to hold them off. I’ve read the battle reports from those squads,” said the tallest boarfolk, the only one wearing chainmail, calmly. “The first to fall are always the weaker defenders. If your stronger defenders ignore their own safety and pin down those women, I doubt they’ll dare use the same tactics after a failed attempt.”

“You’re absolutely right, Big Brother! I’ll go give the order at once.” A gold-tusked boarfolk bounded toward the exit.

“Come back, Gold Tooth. It’s not time yet,” the boarfolk leader called after him. “Since they’ve arrived, let’s lure them inside. My guess is that they are now intoxicated with the belief that their tactics are invincible. What do you think will happen when they suddenly discover their strategy no longer works?”

At this, the boarfolk burst out laughing.

The boarfolk leader swept his gaze across the assembly, satisfied, and shouted, “We are the mighty War Boar tribe. We believe…”

“Absolute power can break all technique.”

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