NOVEL WEB Chapter 15: Nerfed?
Looking at the retreating figure of the officer, Bronya's expression was complex.
"Did Mother... really choose the right thing? Are we truly reclaiming lost ground?"
Looking at the deceased survivors of the first squad and the doctor beside them, shaking his head helplessly, Bronya felt lost.
She had previously advised her mother against this, but her mother insisted it was for a better tomorrow for Belobog. Now, all she saw was the innocent death of soldiers...
Is this really meaningful?
On the front line, the newly arrived second squad was engaged in fierce combat with the fragmentum creatures. For some reason, these creatures seemed to be on some kind of stimulant, attacking the front line like a relentless tide. Within just five minutes, casualties among the second squad began to appear, and the numbers were continuously increasing.
The guard’s artillery fire was relentless, each shell taking the lives of three or four creatures, but so what? Even the sacrifice of one Silvermane Guard was a loss for Belobog, let alone the countless guards who had perished in the recent battles.
If their corpses are not removed and processed, they would be eroded by the fragmentum, turning former comrades into "bloodthirsty" enemies.
Bronya's brow furrowed deeper, and she gripped her long spear tighter.
The adjutant, seemingly aware of Bronya's agitation, stepped forward.
"Commander Bronya, please control your emotions. The Supreme Guardian has given us clear orders to prevent you from going to the front line. If something happens to you, then we..."
The adjutant wore a bitter smile, his face full of helplessness.
Forcing a brave and compassionate leader to stay in the rear while witnessing her soldiers die at the hands of inhuman creatures...
………………
"Clang!!"
The Silvermane Guard’s halberds clashed with the fragmentum creatures’ weapons, sparking off small bursts of fire. The battle-hardened Silvermane Guards quickly slew the rift monsters under their halberds.
However, after killing one creature, more would come. The guards of the second squad began to struggle with the already broken front line, as the sporadic rift creatures started to breach their defenses and advance toward the rear.
"We can’t hold out much longer!!!"
A Silvermane Guard officer gritted his teeth, grappling with a huge creature.
But he soon succumbed, his halberd shattered, and he could only watch as the massive body approached him.
"Sigh..."
As death finally approached, the officer began to reflect on his past life, but it ended with only a sigh.
He had spent his entire life defending Belobog, without a wife or children, leaving little worth reminiscing.
"Crack..."
Just as the officer prepared to face death, a clear sound like glass shattering echoed in his mind.
"Made it!"
The excited voice of March 7th came ringing through the battlefield!
"Clear the enemies. First, help the guards get away."
Looking at the second squad, already broken and scattered by the fragmentum creatures, Dan Heng decisively said.
"Stelle, protect March 7th!"
"On it!"
The four-person team fought side by side, instantly turning the tide of the battle that had been going poorly for the Silvermane Guard.
Dan Heng, wielding his long spear, plunged into the horde like a dragon into the sea, covered by March 7’s six-phased ice shield, tightly protecting Dan Heng.
Clang!
The spear tip, like a thorn, was icy cold, clearing a large area in an instant, slaying all creatures within its reach!
Crack! Crack!
Arrows, embedded in rift creatures, erupted into extreme cold, turning all nearby creatures into unmoving ice sculptures.
Whoosh!
Stelle, holding a baseball bat, defended beside March 7th. For a moment, the area within ten meters of March 7th was like a no-man’s land, with no rift creatures able to breach Stelle’s defense and attack March 7th.
Even if any did... they couldn’t break the shield made of six-phased ice!
"This might hurt a bit. Bear with it."
Wende inserted a lightning needle into a severely injured Silvermane Guard, powerful energy flowing through his veins, healing his wounds.
Crack!!
"Umm..."
The guard, who had his bones forcibly reattached by Wende, sweated profusely but endured it, gratefully nodding at Wende.
"All of you should head back now. Tell your commander that we will be withdrawing soon and to prepare in advance."
With that, Wende waved his hand, and the lightning needles embedded in the remaining members of the second squad turned into arcs and dissipated in the air. They had just been treated by Wende and were now capable of returning to their positions.
"Next, we just need to buy them some time."
Wende’s gaze was as cold as winter, with lightning needles speeding towards nearby rift creatures under his control. Every rift creature hit by a lightning needle was forced to freeze in place under the electric shock, then was dispatched by March 7th or Dan Heng’s spear.
The monsters that had previously troubled the Silvermane Guards now fell like straw beneath the express crew’s feet. The remaining guards, still unable to retreat in time, were shocked. After all, among the Silvermane Guards, only General Gepard was known to be able to single-handedly command a squad! Yet these four were all as strong as General Gepard!
Without time to think further, the survivors quickly retreated to the rear base, needing to relay this information to Commander Bronya!
"They’ve left."
Dan Heng, holding his spear, watched the Silvermane Guards retreat and casually killed a rift creature.
"Yes, if they hadn't left, it would have caused us trouble."
A lightning needle passed through Stelle’s hair, pinning a fragmentum creature attempting to ambush her.
"Ha!"
Instantly reacting, Stelle swung her bat, and the rift creature’s head exploded like a watermelon!
"......."
"Uh..."
Dan Heng, holding his long spear with its butt planted on the ground, stared impassively at the horde of monsters ahead. An aura of lethal intent instantly spread across the battlefield.
Seeing Dan Heng’s formidable stance—or perhaps for some other reason—the creatures abruptly ceased their fierce assault. Those remaining seemed to retreat in fear, withdrawing like a receding tide back to the outskirts.
"Is that it? I thought these monsters had more to them, but that’s all?"
March 7th, with a look of disappointment, pouted as if still unsatisfied.
"March, don’t underestimate them. Since their goal isn’t us, they will naturally retreat."
Dan Heng sheathed his spear and explained to March 7th.
"The fragmentum at Jarilo IV has been active for so long, there must be something like a leader among these guys. But I don’t know why these guards are fighting here, it definitely has to do with the stellaron."
Listening to Dan Heng’s analysis, March 7th nodded in understanding, then noticed Stelle standing nearby with a dazed expression.
"Hey? What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Wende, come quickly!"
Seeing Stelle’s slightly abnormal complexion, March 7th urgently called out to Wende, the only doctor in the crew.
"No... I’m fine, March. I just heard something strange."
Rubbing his aching forehead, Stelle waved her hand at March 7th.
"Feeling unwell?"
Wende approached Stelle, noticing her slightly furrowed brows. Though puzzled, he took Stelle’s left hand and pricked her Hegu acupoint with a lightning needle.
Gradually, Stelle’s brow relaxed, and Wende removed the needle.
"Thank you. I feel much better."
Stelle awkwardly touched her hand, which Wende had handled, and thanked him.
"No need to mention it. After all, we’re like family."
Wende waved off the thanks nonchalantly. To him, Stelle still seemed somewhat shy, a far cry from the chaotic version he was used to seeing ingame!
At the same time, Wende resolved that if she dared to touch a trash can later, he’d use his "lightning needles" to properly treat this child’s "trashcan syndrome"!
He believed neither her "adoptive mother" nor her "biological mother" would stop him from helping to educate her!
As Wende walked on the streets of Belobog, he suddenly felt the surroundings becoming surreal. Before he could call out to the express crew, a strange force pulled him away.
"……"
Looking at the holographic screen in front of him, Wende was both shaken and helpless.
"Seriously, if you want to find me, can’t you just pause time? Why do it like this?"
Wende rubbed his throbbing forehead and complained to the system screen.
The system screen didn’t respond but continued displaying version updates.
"Dear Pioneers, this 1.0 hotfix update addresses the following issues in the game:
1. Corrected some erroneous text. We hope trailblazers continue to provide feedback on inaccuracies in our texts.
2. Nerfed character Wende’s Eidolon 2 "Cold" and Eidolon 4 "Wet".
Star Soul: Cold: Original Effect: Gain 2 skill points when using ultimate; Changed to: 1 extra skill point when using ultimate.
Star Soul: Wet: Original Effect: When Wende’s HP is below 10%, restores 30% health to all friendly units; Changed to: When Wende’s HP [first time] falls below 10%, restores 30% health to all friendly units.
Thank you for your strong support. For other issues, please join our official QQ group for discussion: 892330373."
Wende: "…………"
"Eh?"
"This... This can’t be right! The character card was approved by you, so why nerf me?"
"Hidden rewards have been issued for character [Wende]. We hope [Wende] will continue to improve and enhance player experience."
"Alright, alright! I’ll get back to work! Boss, you’re generous! Thank you for your hard work!"
Seeing the mysterious rewards granted by the system, Wende suddenly felt ecstatic, and he praised the system screen.
After the update, Wende was kicked out of the system space.
"Eh? Wende, why are you smiling?"
March 7th, noticing the smile on Wende’s face, curiously asked.
"Eh? Am I smiling? Must be the cold... I’ll give myself a shot to fix it."
Wende feigned confusion, then conjured a lightning needle to give himself a shot.
"So this is... a Xianzhou medical technique?"
Seeing the lightning needle on Wende’s face, Stelle looked somewhat confused.
"Yes... the Xianzhou’s medical techniques are as good as its reputation..."
Dan Heng could only respond this way.
After a while, once it was confirmed that the creatures would not counterattack, the express crew proceeded towards the direction defended by the Silvermane Guards.
"Fragmentum creatures spotted! Open fire!"