Chapter 911: Unconventional Methods
Just as Front was dealing with the attacks from Misaka Mikoto, Shokuhou Misaki, and the other girls, Lin Wuming also faced a new round of assaults from Front.
It was still magic, but unlike his previous method of constructing magic circles using water flow, Front, having learned his lesson, adjusted his tactics and reverted to the traditional form of mages casting spells.
On the battlefield beneath their feet, the repeatedly ravaged and ruined road, now a stretch of rubble and debris, rumbled.
The earth cracked open, and a stone pillar shot out from underground, thrusting directly at Lin Wuming’s wheelchair.
—As “Front,” he’s using earth-element magic?
Lin Wuming retreated and dodged while manipulating iron sand to cut through the stone pillar.
But then, the earth continued to rumble, and more and more stone pillars rose continuously, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, unending.
These stone pillars were not only used for attack but also formed obstacles, blocking the girls’ line of sight.
The intensity of the mental attacks suddenly weakened, and Front mused to himself—"Mental Out" requires visual lock-on.
—"Railgun" has limited attack power… Aside from her signature move, her other abilities can only serve as suppressive fire and are not to be feared.
—"Space Movement" requires at least 0.1 seconds of preparation time before activation, and that girl is not a fighter; she’s not accustomed to killing.
—Finally, "Absolute Penetration" is the most threatening, but her assassination is a single attack and cannot be fired continuously, and its power drastically drops after it touches blood.
The four girls’ offensives were indeed sharp, but their threat was limited.
—But the most crucial part is Lin Wuming; I lack effective means to break through his defenses.
Front quickly analyzed the situation in his mind.
To be honest, it was a bit troublesome. Although the battle hadn't lasted long, he had already exhausted all his usual tactical methods, and now he was even resorting to the tactics he used as a mercenary.
And—how long had it been since he was injured?
His legs, his left hand, his cheek… Blood stained his clothes dark, but fortunately, Front could control water flow, so the blood loss was not severe.
As for the enemy opposite… Lin Wuming was also covered in blood, looking disheveled, but Front felt that these injuries were not enough to affect his combat power.
On the contrary, due to a breakthrough during the battle, he seemed to be getting stronger the longer he fought.
Front had never seen such an enemy—powerful and troublesome!
He suddenly had a sense of déjà vu—would my past enemies have felt this way when facing me?
Thinking about it carefully, he and Lin Wuming indeed had many similarities, such as their fighting styles, which were just a few, simple, direct, and straightforward, relying on numerical superiority, winning with speed and brute force.
Lin Wuming was similar: a Mind Power Barrier used to block all attacks, a Mind Power Acceleration Cannon used for direct attacks, and then some circus-like Nen applications—that was all the combat skills this Telekinetic User possessed.
At this point, Front suddenly felt a sense of meeting a kindred spirit.
—Since both sides employ a frontal crushing tactical style, then the final victory can only be decided by unconventional, surprising moves, right?
For example, the magic he had been brewing for a long time.
As the last stone pillar was cut down by Lin Wuming, the battlefield was cleared once again.
Front, bathed in blood, his face grim, though scarred, exuded a more ferocious aura.
Stripped of all superficial embellishments, an old veteran who had survived countless battles stood on the battlefield.
“Very good, the warm-up is over.” The man twisted his neck and said coldly, “Let us begin the real fight, Lin Wuming!”
“Stop pretending, Front. Worry about whether you can make it back alive first.” Lin Wuming retorted.
“So arrogant. Do you think you’ve already won?”
“You are the arrogant one,” Lin Wuming shook his head, “One person against all of Our people, and you still want to win?”
Saying that, Lin Wuming looked back, but none of the four girls beneath the city wall responded to him at this moment.
“Heh, if numerical superiority was useful, what would be the meaning of Our existence?” Front sneered, “War belongs to the strong!”
“There are no weaklings here now, Front!”
As Lin Wuming spoke, he suddenly raised his hand and grabbed to the side, opening layer upon layer of Mind Power Barrier in his palm.
As these Mind Power Barriers expanded, they also continuously shattered, forming a dynamic equilibrium for a time.
A stone pillar abruptly appeared in the previously empty space beside him, smashing down towards Lin Wuming.
“Found you!” Lin Wuming tightened his five fingers, crushing the stone pillar through his Nen, and then extended his Nen along the stone pillar, finally capturing the figure wielding the stone pillar.
“I see you!” A faint starlight flickered in one of Lin Wuming’s pupils, and not far behind him, Shokuhou Misaki smiled and pressed her remote control.
“Got you!” Misaka Mikoto’s fire control radar locked onto the target again, and the drones, which had already blotted out the sky above her, once again spewed out streams of fire.
This time, it was no longer a barrage bombardment, but rather concentrating firepower on a single point for a focused attack!
Hu Feng Toumi said nothing, linked arms with Shirai Kuroko, and then appeared on the flank of the battlefield.
Kanzaki Kaori showed a look of reluctance, but her actions showed no hesitation. On the other flank of the battlefield, the female saint from the Far East pressed her hand on her sword hilt, leaning slightly, preparing to unleash a draw-and-cut strike.
Although Lin Wuming was not the target of the attack, due to his close proximity to Front, he could still feel a sense of crisis that seemed to prick his skin.
—All of Our people are concentrating their full power to deal with you; you are blessed, Front.
Lin Wuming used the magic from “the book of the law” again, actively entering the “Bullet Time” state.
This time, he didn't need to attack; all he had to do was use his Nen to grab the enemy and firmly lock him in place.
Opposite Lin Wuming, Front’s blood-soaked figure swayed and disappeared. The real Front had already appeared before him, holding a stone pillar and smashing it down.
Mirage, an illusion magic of light distortion, was also the final tactical counterattack of the mercenary William Orwell.
This move was also his most frequently used tactic during his mercenary days; originally, it was merely a deceptive illusionary magic, but under the enhancement of his powerful magic, it effectively functioned as a “clone.”
The clones had substance and could even fight independently to some extent; many experienced warriors and mages could not distinguish them.
It was a pity that, as it now seemed, the Espers had unique techniques that could spot the flaws.
The moment he was exposed, Front’s gaze swept over the girls, then returned to Lin Wuming.
—This time, I lost the gamble, that’s all.
