Capítulo 153: Bombardeio Intenso

Fora da grande formação de proteção da cidade, os três irmãos da família Chen, liderados por Zhang Long, Zhao Hu e outros quinze atiradores de elite, já estavam posicionados nos limites da formação.

Pouco antes, Nie Zheng havia distribuído quinze fuzis de precisão AM totalmente novos a eles.

Com os quinze fuzis AM equipados com miras térmicas, aquelas armas mágicas tão milagrosas do mundo imortal deixaram os atiradores liderados por Chen Shou extasiados, incapazes de largá-las.

Neste momento, cercado por vários líderes e comandantes, Nie Zheng estava na periferia da formação, segurando um binóculo térmico e observando lentamente o interior daquela vasta formação de proteção, que se estendia por dois li.

Momentos depois, os cantos de sua boca se curvaram levemente, revelando um sorriso misterioso.

Com o auxílio desses equipamentos de imagem térmica, de fato, aqueles assassinos invisíveis escondidos dentro da formação não tinham onde se esconder.

Através da observação com o binóculo térmico em sua mão, dezenas de assassinos invisíveis estavam espalhados de forma esparsa dentro da formação de proteção, na área fora do portão norte da cidade.

Nesse instante, esses assassinos invisíveis estavam agachados ou em pé, distribuídos por várias regiões da formação.

Talvez ainda se orgulhassem de suas misteriosas técnicas de invisibilidade, mas jamais poderiam imaginar que sua orgulhosa arte secreta de invisibilidade não guardava segredo algum sob a visão térmica nas mãos de Nie Zheng.

Eles eram como um grupo de pessoas despidas; quaisquer segredos, quaisquer detalhes, eram completamente expostos à visão de Nie Zheng.

Nie Zheng sorriu friamente em seu íntimo: "Diante do meu equipamento militar de alta tecnologia, vocês, nativos de Dayue, não passam de um grupo de formigas."

Nesse momento, Chen Shou aproximou-se rapidamente de Nie Zheng, curvou as mãos em saudação e disse: "Líder da Aliança, os assassinos invisíveis dentro da formação não têm onde se esconder diante do artefato imortal que o senhor nos concedeu. Devemos começar a caçá-los agora?"

"Por que tanta pressa?"

Um clarão brilhou nos olhos de Nie Zheng, que disse com tom indiferente: "Primeiro, vamos varrer este terreno com os morteiros para dar a esses assassinos invisíveis uma recepção adequada, e também deixar o povo de Dayue nas defesas da cidade ver com seus próprios olhos como nós os esmagamos."

De repente, justamente naquele momento.

Do alto da torre do portão norte, ao longe, ecoou uma voz cruel e estridente: "Cães Han fora da cidade, têm coragem de entrar na formação para uma batalha!"

Ao ouvirem isso, as expressões de todos escureceram e eles ergueram os olhos.

Lá do alto da torre da cidade, a três li de distância, estava empoleirado um robusto general de Dayue.

Embora não fosse possível ver claramente o rosto daquele general de Dayue, a sua arrogância era extremamente intensa, e ele voltou a rugir com provocações: "Vocês, cães Han, nasceram para ser um bando de covardes. Já que querem atacar a cidade, ficam encolhidos sem ousar avançar; vocês são lixos piores do que cães, hahahaha..."

O general de Dayue ria histericamente no alto da torre da cidade, com uma postura extremamente arrogante. No entanto, ele certamente tinha motivos para ser arrogante, pois, a vários li de distância, conseguia transmitir sua voz provocativa com tanta força até ali, o que demonstrava que sua força nas artes marciais era sem dúvida formidável.

Diante da provocação insolente do inimigo, os quatro mil soldados do Dragão e do Tigre do lado de fora da cidade cuspiu fogo pelos olhos, enfurecidos ao extremo.

Líderes como Shi Zheng e Niu Meng sabiam muito bem que o inimigo estava usando palavras provocativas para enfurecê-los, tentando atraí-los para a formação.

Em um instante, líderes como Shi Zheng, tomados pela indignação justa, suplicaram a Nie Zheng: "Por favor, dê a ordem, Líder da Aliança! Estamos dispostos a entrar imediatamente na formação para destruir a arrogância daquele povo de Dayue!"

Nie Zheng olhou para eles com indiferença e depois voltou seu olhar para o general de Dayue no alto da torre da cidade, dizendo com desdém: "Já que esses macacos de Dayue querem tanto que quebremos a formação, vamos satisfazer o desejo deles."

Dito isso, seu semblante tornou-se gélido e ele ordenou em alta voz: "Xue Changsheng!"

"O subordinado está aqui!"

"Transmita imediatamente a ordem a todos os operadores de morteiro para realizarem um bombardeio de saturação na formação de proteção da cidade!"

"Sim, Líder da Aliança!" Com o semblante severo, Xue Changsheng soltou uma risada esquisita e foi imediatamente cumprir a ordem.

Após a sua partida, Nie Zheng voltou sua atenção para Niu Meng, Shi Zheng e os demais, continuando a ordenar: "Shi Zheng, Niu Meng, Xu Shijie... Vocês vinte, tragam pás de engenharia e outras ferramentas de escavação e aguardem no lugar. Assim que o pessoal de Xue Changsheng terminar o bombardeio, vocês entrarão rapidamente na formação para destruí-la!"

"Sim, Líder da Aliança!" Shi Zheng, Niu Meng e os outros vinte líderes e especialistas responderam em uníssono.

Nesse momento, dentro do exército do Dragão e do Tigre, todos estavam em seus postos, preparados para o cerco.

Nie Zheng recuou rapidamente para a retaguarda da tropa e, observando o bando de soldados defensores de Dayue na torre do portão norte, sorriu friamente em seu íntimo: "Vocês, macacos de Dayue que não sabem o que é a morte, já que gostam tanto de provocar, farei com que sintam o gosto dos canhões."

"Jack, traga imediatamente dez canhões de montanha Krupp de 75 milímetros!"

"Sim, senhor!"

Em um instante, sobre o solo plano na retaguarda da tropa, dez pesados canhões de montanha apareceram do nada.

Aqueles canhões de montanha, de formatos únicos e grande volume, mal haviam surgido e logo atraíram a atenção de milhares de soldados do Dragão e do Tigre.

Imediatamente, um murmúrio de espanto e exclamações tomou conta do local.

"Oh céus, o Líder da Aliança Nie começou a invocar os artefatos imortais do mundo celestial novamente."

"Que tipo de artefato mágico é este, com duas rodas e um grande corpo? Por que ainda há uma chaminé preta montada nele?..."

Sob inumeráveis olhares de surpresa e dúvida, Nie Zheng acenou com a as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as 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as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as asanas with his hands as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as 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That means they were as far as as shown, asas if sheas if she's on this with as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as as possible. It's safe to say.

[User 0005]

Let us hope so, indeed.
I'm just really glad the gamepy-client module is workingpy-client is back.

[User 0001]

It seems to be working, mostly! The connection drops and logs me off periodically, but that's a minor thing. The big thing is that it <em>works</em>! Now we can see what you write!

[User 0005]

Yes, that is awesome!

By the way, what did Elora mean when she asked if Valen could speak Elvish? Did she speak it herself?

[User 0001]

She spoke a few words of it, I believe. Let me check the old logs.

Ah, she spoke the name of the cave in Elvish: <i>Sarnath</i>, meaning "Stone Haven". Valen, given that he's a wood elf, likely speaks Elvish.

[User 0005]

Oh, right! I remember now.

Let's see what Valen says to her then. He probably does speak Elvish.

[User 0001]

Should we have Valen reply in Elvish, then translate it for the benefit of the other characters who might not understand, or just speak in Common? It might be fun for him to reply in Elvish, since it would set him apart a bit.

[User 0005]

That would be a neat touch! He could speak a phrase in Elvish and then translate it into Common for the others.

[User 0001]

Alright, I'll have Valen respond in Elvish, followed by a translation so everyone knows what he's saying. Let's draft his reply.

[User 0005]

Sounds like a plan! Go ahead and write the post. I'll follow up with Elora's reaction.

[User 0001]

Done! Valen's response is up. Let's see how Elora reacts to being addressed in her native tongue by a fellow elf.

[User 0005]

She's probably going to be pretty surprised, maybe even a little touched. After all, it's been a long time since she's heard anyone speak it outside of books or old memories.

[User 0001]

That gives her a lot of good roleplay material. Let's see where she takes the conversation next. The group is still standing outside the cave entrance, so there's plenty of time for them to chat before heading in.

[User 0005]

Indeed. And once they enter the cave, things are bound to get interesting. Who knows what kind of dangers lurk inside Sarnath?

[User 0001]

Classic dungeon crawl vibes. Traps, monsters, hidden treasure... the whole nine yards! I'm ready for whatever you throw at us.

[User 0005]

Awesome. Let's keep the momentum going!

[User 0002]

Looks like gamepy-client is having a bit of a hiccup again. It dropped out for a second there.

[User 0001]

Ah, typical. As long as it comes back up quickly, we should be fine. Just need to be patient.

[User 0005]

Agreed. Let's give it a minute to reconnect. While we wait, do you have any other ideas for where this campaign might lead after Sarnath?

[User 0001]

Well, depending on what we find in the cave—maybe a clue about the missing artifact or a map to a hidden sanctuary—that could set up the next arc. Or maybe we run into a rival adventuring party? That's always a fun dynamic.

[User 0005]

A rival party would be a great addition! Someone else who's also hunting for the same treasure. That adds a bit of competitive tension to the mix.

[User 0001]

Definitely. It raises the stakes and gives us a chance for some good old-fashioned roleplay conflict—maybe even a bit of combat tension outside of just fighting monsters.

[User 0005]

Looks like the connection is back! I'll go ahead and check the status.

[User 0001]

Great, let's keep the RP rolling. Ready when you are!

[User 0005]

Alright, Elora's response is up. She's definitely surprised and pleased by Valen speaking Elvish. Let's see how Valen replies and how the rest of the party reacts to their little exchange.

[User 0001]

Checking it now... Ah, nice! She's welcoming him warmly in Elvish. Valen will definitely appreciate that. I'll write up his reply now.

[User 0005]

Awesome. Take your time! This is shaping up to be a really great session.

[User 0001]

Post is up! Valen acknowledges her warmth and transitions us back to the task at hand—entering the cave. Let's see how the rest of the group reacts to these two whispering in an ancient tongue while everyone else is standing around waiting.

[User 0005]

They're probably rolling their eyes a bit, wondering when the elves are going to stop whispering secrets and actually go inside. Classic non-elf perspective!

[Id: A screenshot of a terminal interface showing Python commands being executed. The text in the terminal reads:
`> python gamepy-client.py`
`Connecting to server...`
`Connection established.`
`Welcome back, user.`
`> _`
End of image description.]