Chapter 6: A Knife in the Back

Zhao Ergou let out a powerful roar and, brandishing his battle blade, charged toward the city wall like a tiger descending from the mountains. He was determined to use the blood of these Rongdi dogs to forge his own legendary name!

Watching Zhao Ergou’s fierce, murderous retreating back, the surrounding soldiers exchanged glances, silently cursing the lad for his reckless ignorance.

"It’s not often you see a raw recruit act this arrogant these days..." someone muttered, their tone laced with disdain and a hint of underlying worry.

Charging into action without a direct military order—was the boy truly unafraid of death, or was he simply missing a screw in his head?

Zhao Ergou reached the wall and plunged into the carnage. His eyes, sharp as blades, scanned the chaotic battlefield, and he quickly locked onto his target. A massive, brawny Rongdi warrior was swinging a scimitar at a Qin soldier, who was already faltering and in grave danger.

"Die!"

Zhao Ergou bellowed, his blade imbued with immense force as he brought it down upon the Rongdi’s skull. The barbarian was caught completely off guard, with no time to react.

*Squelch!*

A flash of light, and a spray of blood! The Rongdi’s head burst like a smashed watermelon, scattering red and white gore across the ground with a nauseating stench. Zhao Ergou now possessed the strength of a thousand pounds; a single strike like this could easily shatter stone.

Having claimed his first kill, a flicker of bloodthirsty excitement ignited in Zhao Ergou’s eyes. Without a moment’s hesitation, he gripped his dripping blade and began hunting for his next victim.

Just then, a ferocious-looking Rongdi leaped onto the wall like a mad dog! He locked eyes with Zhao Ergou, raising a gleaming scimitar high above his head. With a whistling gust of wind, he jumped from the rampart, aiming a crushing blow directly at Zhao Ergou.

Zhao Ergou offered a disdainful sneer and casually raised his blade to parry.

*Clang!*

A deafening roar erupted. A massive wave of force numbed the webbing between his thumb and forefinger, yet he did not budge an inch! This Rongdi, broad-shouldered and thick-necked, was clearly a formidable brute—a practitioner of martial arts!

"Die for me!" the Rongdi roared. His scimitar danced like a windmill, unleashing a storm of fatal strikes.

A fierce glint flashed in Zhao Ergou’s eyes. He roared and lunged into the fray. Abandoning all technique, he relied solely on his overwhelming, tyrannical brute force, hacking left and right, charging through with every blow carrying the destructive power to shatter mountains. This relentless onslaught forced the Rongdi to retreat again and again.

*Bang!*

Zhao Ergou sent the Rongdi staggering back with a heavy strike. He sneered internally; was this all the skill the dog had to offer? That previous impact was nothing more than the death throes of a dying beast!

Zhao Ergou pressed his advantage, his assault becoming even more savage. He swung his gleaming blade, growing bolder with every strike, his aura radiating murderous intent as he drove the Rongdi into a corner with no room to counter.

Feeling the sheer weight of Zhao Ergou’s blows, each heavier than the last, the Rongdi was struck with absolute terror. *This boy, so young, where does such terrifying strength come from?*

Cornered with nowhere left to run, the Rongdi’s primal instincts flared, and he launched a desperate, suicidal counter-attack!

*Clang!*

Sparks showered everywhere! The Rongdi’s scimitar was snapped in two by Zhao Ergou’s blade! A thin line of blood bloomed across the barbarian’s neck. With eyes wide in fear and defiance, his head flew into the air, and his body collapsed with a thud!

Zhao Ergou panted heavily, wiping the blood from his face, his eyes burning with excitement and bloodlust. He had claimed his first kill! He didn't hesitate for a second; holding his blood-stained blade, he let out a wild laugh toward the sky and began hunting for his next prey.

*Squelch!*

A flash of steel, and another Rongdi’s head went soaring! Amidst the blood and gore, Zhao Ergou fought like a peerless beast, unstoppable and bathed in carnage!

Suddenly, an even more imposing figure entered Zhao Ergou’s field of vision. It was Gamanduo! Having just cut down a Qin defender, he noticed Zhao Ergou, who had just claimed two lives. With a furious roar, he swung a massive blade, far larger than any standard weapon, and lunged toward him.

"Qin dog! How dare you kill my kin! I will tear you to pieces!" Gamanduo’s voice was like the roar of a beast, deafening and raw.

Zhao Ergou sneered, his eyes filled with contempt. "You? You think you’re worthy of acting arrogant before me?"

A chilling intent to kill instantly enveloped Zhao Ergou. His heart hammered as he spun around, only to see the tower-like form of Gamanduo descending upon him, his giant blade poised to cleave him in two! The strike carried the force of a thunderclap, as if it could split a mountain.

Zhao Ergou did not retreat; he advanced, letting out a roar that shook the air. His energy surged, and he swung his blade to meet the giant weapon head-on!

*Clang!*

A thunderous, deafening collision! Zhao Ergou felt a massive force slam into him, his blade humming violently. The skin between his thumb and forefinger split, and his body was sent flying like a discarded ragdoll, crashing heavily to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust!

He gritted his teeth against the searing pain, performed a kip-up to regain his footing, and spat out a mouthful of blood—yet his eyes burned with an even fiercer fire of war!

Gamanduo—a peak martial arts practitioner with the strength of a thousand pounds in a single arm? So what!

Zhao Ergou wiped the blood from his lips, pointing his blade toward the ground as crimson droplets fell from its tip. A murderous aura erupted from within him!

Gamanduo grinned wickedly, stepping toward Zhao Ergou. He dragged his giant blade across the ground, the grating sound serving as a funeral dirge for the boy. "Kid, you’ve got some skill. No wonder you could kill my useless brother! But before me, you are still nothing but an ant. Today, I’ll send you down to keep that fool company!"

Gamanduo’s eyes flared with malice. He raised his blade high, the weapon whistling through the air as he brought it down upon Zhao Ergou. This strike was heavy and powerful enough to shatter stone!

Zhao Ergou surged forward instead of back, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes. He stomped, cracking the earth beneath his feet, and launched himself toward Gamanduo’s blade like a cannonball!

"You think you’re enough? Watch as my 'Dog-Breaking Force' tears you to shreds, you waste of space!"

Zhao Ergou roared, his blade erupting with a blinding, frigid light. He engaged in a clash of pure aggression, gambling his life against his opponent’s!

At this critical, life-or-death moment!

*Clang!*

A deafening sound of metal striking metal echoed across the battlefield!

The clash was ear-splitting! The Qin platoon leader’s blade blocked the barbarian general Gamanduo’s violent strike like a thunderbolt!

Zhao Ergou blinked his eyes open to see a dazzling flash of steel and the mountain-like figure of his platoon leader standing before him.

"Hmph! Do you finally understand how dangerous Gamanduo is?" the leader shouted, though his tone carried a trace of relief.

Hearing this, Zhao Ergou only grew more excited, hot blood rushing to his head! "Uncle! That was just a mistake—I can still fight, I can still charge!" His eyes shimmered with arrogance.

The platoon leader looked at Zhao Ergou, covered in blood, his mind still fixated on charging into the fray. He barked coldly, "You’re an archer! Why are you trying to play the hero?"

"Close-quarters combat is the job of the shield-bearers! Look at you, covered in wounds—can you even fight?"

"I can still kill enemies! Uncle! In this war, how can there be so many hesitations?" Zhao Ergou retorted, his eyes burning with bloodlust.

"Bah! You boy! You’re just a hothead who doesn't know anything! Get up and watch from the sidelines!" The leader snorted, turning his back on Zhao Ergou to charge at Gamanduo like a tiger!

Zhao Ergou climbed to his feet, gritting his teeth against the pain in his chest, and snatched up his dropped blade. He licked his lips, his murderous intent laid bare. "I don't care! If I’m not wanted here, I’ll go somewhere else!"

Ignoring the battle between his leader and Gamanduo, he bolted like an unbridled wild horse, charging headlong into the enemy ranks!

He specifically targeted lone barbarian soldiers. With every flash of his blade, flesh and blood flew! He moved with agility and struck with ruthless precision, aiming for vital points without a shred of mercy.

Only one thought remained in his mind: Kill! Kill all these barbarians!

Archers, shield-bearers—to him, it was all nonsense! He would use the blood of his enemies to forge his own glorious name! He would make everyone know that he, Zhao Ergou, was the true god of slaughter on this battlefield!

At this moment, he was unleashing all his murderous desires. In his eyes, only the blood of the enemy could satisfy his bloodthirsty heart.

As for the platoon leader? Hmph, once I’ve killed enough, I’ll come back to help him! I will show them all that a warrior of Great Qin should be just like me: tyrannical, decisive, and ruthless!

*Clang!*

Just then, an enemy exploited Zhao Ergou’s feverish state and landed a vicious blow. He stumbled forward, nearly vomiting blood, his back streaming with red. As he turned, he saw the platoon leader rushing toward him.

Faintly, he heard his leader’s roar: "Zhao Ergou, you hold on for me!"