Chapter 480: Saving Private Ryan
However, the situation wouldn’t be reversed just because Jayad and I had two good guns. There were too many Humanoid Nightmares, and they were completely fearless of death. Several had already charged to the front of the palisade.
“Don’t be afraid! Keep shooting! Absolutely do not fear the Humanoid Nightmares!” Fabes was still shouting loudly, his voice even capable of drowning out the chaotic gunfire. It seemed as if he had been in charge of shouting encouragement since the battle began, acting more like a cheerleader than a commander.
Did those Humanoid Nightmares get stronger? Before, a few shots would shatter them into pieces, but now it took concentrated fire from over ten shots to kill one. Even the psychic guns of the Sh couldn’t kill them with a single shot.
Right! I suddenly remembered that Samantha had told me before that Humanoid Nightmares were products of a collective consciousness. If everyone believed it didn’t exist, then it wouldn’t exist. If everyone believed it was strong, then it would become strong.
Many people were now deeply trapped in nightmares, unable to extricate themselves, which was why the Humanoid Nightmares continuously appeared. And the more these combatants feared the Humanoid Nightmares, the stronger the nightmares would become.
It was basically impossible not to be afraid. After all, those Humanoid Nightmares were born from the most terrifying nightmares deep within the human heart. Let alone those ferocious monsters, even those that took human form, the clergy in white robes, with their smiling masks, looked incredibly terrifying and unsettling.
Moreover, those Humanoid Nightmares were utterly fearless of death. Even if cut in half, they would still crawl towards the town gate. Their bloody, mangled appearance was even more horrifying.
Fabes’s existence was to make the townsfolk cast aside their fear. His steady command and roar filled with vigor could dispel the fear in people’s hearts, uniting everyone.
Even when I heard Fabes’s loud roar, I felt an urge of surging adrenaline. But I felt he was holding himself back somewhat, not using his full potential. He could actually unleash stronger battle cries but chose not to.
Not just him, but all of the Four Great Families felt somewhat restricted. They weren’t adept at using these ranged weapons, being more skilled in close combat. Yet, now they were forced to hold back.
As those Humanoid Nightmares reached the palisade, I saw many of the Otherworldly beings couldn’t help but want to cross over and engage in hand-to-hand combat, but they were pulled back by their companions or by those overseeing the battle.
To prevent them from yearning for close combat, the Four Great Families even prohibited combatants from bringing cold weapons, equipping them only with firearms.
The turning point came when the Sh’s psychic gun durability ran out, and they began to shatter. Although they had made preparations in advance, such as the Sh dividing into several teams for aerial combat, or each insect carrying two guns.
Even so, their firepower had weakened considerably, and their suppressive power had greatly decreased. The Humanoid Nightmares once again charged to the palisade. This time, the Merfolk Priest could only unleash a patch of sticky liquid on the open ground with all his might, delaying the Humanoid Nightmares’ attack.
When one of the flies flew over the palisade and charged towards the defense line, a Merfolk could bear it no longer. Raising his harpoon, he pierced it and pinned it to the ground.
“Awoooo!” The Jackalmen also let out angry wolf howls, their eyes turning red. They could no longer suppress their war-loving wildness.
Even the Sh let out sharp, piercing insectoid chirps and dived towards the Humanoid Nightmares that had scaled the palisade. I was reminded again of the Blue-eyed Merchant’s assessment of the Sh: they were a race inherently cruel.
When they engaged, the Robin Town side displayed a significant advantage. The Four Great Families possessed robust bodies and the instinct for slaughter, easily tearing the Humanoid Nightmares in half with their bare hands.
However, casualties began to mount from this moment. Many people were only slightly injured by the Humanoid Nightmares before they fell, collapsing immediately into a deep slumber. The Humanoid Nightmares wouldn’t bother with those who had fallen, turning their attention to attack others.
This was a completely unfair fight. The Humanoid Nightmares seemed endless and unafraid of death. It didn’t matter how many of them were torn apart; as long as they inflicted even a minor injury, they could instantly kill a town resident. No wonder Fabes strictly forbade close combat.
“Aaooo!!!” A wolf howl awakened everyone engaged in close combat. Fabes shouted loudly, “Retreat! All personnel retreat to the second defense line! Those who can fly, provide cover!”
His shouts awakened those who had become fanatical in close combat. Looking at their fallen comrades, they too felt fear, and they all turned and ran according to orders.
No one went to help their fallen companions or drag them back. They probably all knew that the Humanoid Nightmares would no longer attack those already trapped in nightmares.
They fled in panic, which would undoubtedly increase their fear of the Humanoid Nightmares, but they couldn’t afford to worry about that now.
Some were still entangled with the Humanoid Nightmares, especially the Jackalmen, whose bloodlust, once ignited, was difficult to quell and could even lead to losing control.
Just then, Fabes swung his hammer, smashing a group of Humanoid Nightmares directly. He then grabbed a Jackalman and threw him backward, “Get out of here!”
Fabes’s muscles bulged. The previously shiny bald head grew thick but disheveled gray-white long hair, making him look wild and powerful. With a slight flick, the Jackalman was sent howling over ten meters away.
Now I understood that he was indeed a werewolf. With that fur color and robust physique, he was absolutely incomparable to a Jackalman.
The warhammer in his hand was practically invincible. Wherever it passed, Humanoid Nightmares were directly smashed. Moreover, the long-handled weapon avoided direct contact with the Humanoid Nightmares.
Fabes plunged into the crowd, knocking down a lot of Humanoid Nightmares with a few sweeping attacks. He repeatedly threw several Jackalmen who were lost in melee combat backward. As they wailed and were thrown heavily to the ground, they finally regained some sobriety and scrambled across the square into the residential house defense line.
Soon, Fabes had rescued most of those deep in enemy lines, with only one person left. His two First Mates stood on a tall building not far away, providing cover with giant arrows shot from a huge bow.
Fabes smashed the surrounding Humanoid Nightmares with a hammer, then pulled up the last person. Once he was rescued, they could retreat. So this time, Fabes didn’t throw him; instead, he pulled the man up and started to leave.
At this moment, a Humanoid Nightmare suddenly appeared behind him, the kind that strangely materialized from mid-air. It was bizarre and grotesque, bearing no resemblance to a human apart from its humanoid form. Sharp metal blades grew from its arms, and it stabbed towards Fabes.
With such sharp arm blades, even a graze would result in injury. Once injured, one would fall into a nightmare. The werewolf’s proud regenerative ability was useless. Moreover, Fabes was too close, and his great hammer was too slow to swing.
“Boss!” Fabes’s First Mates cried out in alarm. They had already drawn their bows and nocked arrows, but the angle was poor, with Fabes’s massive body blocking most of the trajectories.
Just as Fabes watched helplessly as the blade was about to pierce his body, a bullet suddenly struck the Humanoid Nightmare’s head.
