Chapter 658 - 547: Massacre! [Synergy/Rapport]

Chapter 658: Chapter 547: Massacre! [Synergy/Rapport]

’Weren’t these Fishmen—who had delivered themselves right to his doorstep in considerable numbers and full of hostility—the perfect opportunity to fulfill that requirement and test Black Wind’s current combat capabilities?’

At this thought, a sharp glint flashed in Roland’s eyes.

He slowly drew the Short Spike from his waist. Its blade faintly glowed with a ghostly purple light, and a cold sensation spread from his palm, accompanied by a hum of eager anticipation.

However, Holland, who was standing to the side, saw Roland’s posture and grew anxious.

He strode over to Roland in two quick steps, his rough, large hand nearly grabbing Roland’s shoulder. His face screamed, ’Are you crazy?’ as he said in a coarse, urgent voice,

"Boss! Look down there! That’s not just ten or twenty scraggly runts! Look at them! There have to be dozens, at least, and more are still pouring out!"

"Every one of them is beefy and armed to the teeth! We just escaped from that giant turtle’s clutches. We’re exhausted! Fight them head-on? That’s not a smart move!"

He grew more agitated as he spoke, turning to Ellis for support.

"Ellis! You tell him! Am I right? We should be looking for a chance to retreat, not fighting them to the death here!"

Ellis’s face was still a little pale, but his gaze was just as solemn.

He quickly scanned the distribution of the Fishmen below and the terrain around the rock platform, a calculating light flashing through his gray-blue eyes.

"Holland is right, Mr. Rudolph."

Ellis’s voice was steady, but his tone was firm.

"From a tactical perspective, the enemy outnumbers us. While we currently hold the high ground, we lack stable defenses and adequate long-range suppression. The enemy is adapted to an aquatic environment, possibly capable of underwater assaults or flanking maneuvers. We’ve just endured a high-intensity engagement and aren’t in optimal condition. Forcing a fight is extremely high-risk, and our chances of winning are impossible to estimate."

"The optimal choice would be to use the platform’s height and the complex terrain to find a weak point and disengage quickly, rather than getting drawn into a battle of attrition or annihilation here."

Roland waved a hand at the anxious Holland and the solemn Ellis, his voice steady.

"Holland, Ellis, you two stay here. Remain vigilant and just guard the entrance to the platform."

He turned to the side, his gaze sweeping over the tide of gray-green figures surging below.

"Leave the trouble below... to me and Black Wind."

Before his voice had even faded, Roland had already turned to face the edge of the platform and sent a short, clear mental command to Black Wind, who was poised and ready beside him.

The spectral fire in Black Wind’s eyes instantly blazed, and the Shadow Energy around its body erupted.

It charged forward a few steps, then leaped from the edge of the platform. Its massive body was enveloped in dense shadow, transforming into a swift, silent black meteor.

It "slid" down the long stretch of shadow cast by the cliff face toward the beach below, its movements so fluid it seemed to merge with the Darkness itself.

Almost simultaneously, Roland pushed off with his feet, his figure following Black Wind’s trajectory like a precisely attached shadow, landing steadily right where Black Wind was about to touch down.

The timing of the leap and landing was executed to perfection, revealing the astonishing synergy the two had displayed since first forming their contract.

Then, the figures of man and horse, like twin blades tearing through the twilight, plunged fearlessly into the densest part of the Fishman crowd below!

"HISS-GAAH!"

The Fishman horde erupted in a shriek mixed with shock and rage.

Several crude Bone Spears and Fish Spears immediately lunged forward, carrying a foul stench.

Black Wind was the first to act.

Facing the incoming weapons, its powerful body, covered in shadowy fur, twisted with an unnatural flexibility and nimbleness, dodging most of the attacks.

At the same time, its tail—composed of shadow and Star Shards—lashed out like a steel whip, whistling through the air!

CRACK! SNAP!

As the tail-whip swept past, a series of sharp cracks rang out! Several Bone Spears coming from the front snapped on impact, and the Fishmen holding them were sent flying back from the immense force, knocking over a swath of their kin.

The twinkling Star Shards at the tip of its tail scattered on contact, and any Fishman they touched immediately let out a pained howl, as if seared by burning starlight.

Immediately after, Black Wind stomped its four hooves on the ground. The shadowy mist coiling around its hooves exploded outward like a living thing, creating a shockwave of dark ripples!

THUD!

Amid the dull tremor, the closest ring of five or six Fishmen were sent stumbling, losing their footing and their offensive momentum in an instant.

And that was just the beginning.

Roland’s figure had already cut into the brief opening created by Black Wind’s impact, moving like a phantom.

The Short Spike in his hand became a blur of ghostly purple light, moving so fast it left only Residual Shadows. Each flash precisely grazed the weak points of the Fishmen—their scale-covered throats, eye sockets, or hearts.

There were no flashy, superfluous moves—only efficient and deadly killing blows.

SQUELCH! SQUELCH! SQUELCH!

The muffled sound of the blade sinking into flesh was followed by the short, dying shrieks of the Fishmen.

Roland’s movements were concise and swift, his footwork nimble. Aided by the Chaos Black Wind created and his own powerful Perception, he was like a whirlwind of death. Wherever he passed, Fishmen fell, spattering blood.

Black Wind, meanwhile, demonstrated the true terror of a Nightmare from the Otherworld.

It was no longer limited to physical attacks. The Burning spectral fire in its eyes flared brightly, and a cold, heavy, and despairing Spiritual Suppression spread out from it like a tangible tide.

"Urgh!"

The closer Fishmen with weaker wills were immediately affected.

Their movements instantly stiffened, their bulging eyes filling with an unspeakable Fear. It was as if they were seeing their deepest nightmares. Some even dropped their weapons and clutched their heads, letting out frenzied shrieks, completely losing their ability to fight.

But even more terrifying than that was Black Wind’s Shadow Manipulation ability.

At times, the sturdy partner would instantly "dematerialize" parts of its body, allowing attacks to pass through harmlessly.

At others, it would suddenly "extend" several tentacles made of pure shadow from its own shadow or those of nearby objects.

Like agile black whips, they would strangle, pierce, or lash out. Their attack angles were bizarre and unpredictable, making them impossible to defend against.

For a moment, the beach below, littered with reefs and debris, became a one-sided slaughterhouse. The gray-green figures fell continuously like stalks of wheat being reaped, their foul-smelling blood soaking the black sand.

The ferocious hisses of the Fishmen were gradually replaced by terrified screams and despairing wails.

Though numerous, they were completely unable to form an effective resistance in the face of an absolute gap in power, bizarre fighting styles, and perfectly coordinated attacks.

Up on the rock platform, Holland and Ellis watched, dumbfounded.

Holland’s mouth hung open, his earlier words of caution long forgotten. All he could do was mutter to himself.

"Holy cow... that big black fella... is one hell of a fighter, isn’t it?"

Ellis, on the other hand, stared intently at the battle below, his face filled with shock.

"Solidified Shadow Manipulation... a stable field of Spiritual Suppression... short-range, continuous Shadow Phase Movement... This is a level of power no ordinary Nightmare could possess! And their combat synergy... it’s already beyond a simple contractual bond..."

The battle didn’t last long.

After losing over thirty of their kin without managing to even scratch their opponents, the Fishmen’s morale completely collapsed.

The remaining Fishmen let out terrified gurgles. No longer heeding their leader’s commands, they scrambled over each other, dropping their weapons and fleeing headlong toward the deep water or reef caves. They soon vanished without a trace, leaving behind nothing but a mess of corpses and the pungent smell of blood.

A relative calm returned to the beach.

Roland flicked the last drop of foul blood from the tip of his Short Spike. The faint purple glow swirled in the dim light before receding.

He turned and looked at the tall Nightmare partner by his side.

Black Wind stood quietly in place, the boiling Shadow Energy around it having subsided, now swirling gently around its dark body like a receding tide. Only its Burning, spectral eyes remained bright as it silently gazed back at Roland.

"Well done, Black Wind."

Roland’s voice, though not loud, rang out in the silence, filled with clear praise and affirmation.

He walked over and reached out to stroke Black Wind’s mane, which was made of flowing shadow and had a strange texture. The motion was natural and familiar.

"Your timing was perfect, and your control was even better than I imagined. You used those shadow tentacles just right."

Feeling its master’s praise and touch, the spectral fire in Black Wind’s eyes clearly softened, and it even squinted in contentment.

It lowered its head and gently nudged Roland’s shoulder with its forehead, which was covered in cool Shadow Energy, letting out a low, contented rumble from its throat.

A clear thought, tinged with a hint of pride, came through.

"Of course! I told you, Roland, I’m really strong now! I can help!"

The corners of Roland’s mouth turned up slightly. Just as he was about to say something more, a line of gold text silently materialized in the center of his vision.

[Host and ’Acknowledged Partner’ detected to have undergone a cooperative battle...]

[Assessing combat data and synergy level...]

[Assessment complete]

[Synergy/Rapport: 99%]