Chapter 1 Unexpected Events

However, unexpected events often happen in this world. Just as Fang Senyan seemed poised to break free and dash away, he suddenly executed a somersault in mid-air within the banquet hall, changing direction. His feet forcefully stomped onto the adjacent ice rock, abruptly altering his trajectory to charge directly at the remaining tentacle monster! It seemed he was aiming to capture the leader to defeat the entire group!

This sudden assault genuinely caught the tentacle monster off guard. Having witnessed the tragic deaths of its two comrades, it naturally felt a sense of fear and grief for its kind. Instinctively, it waved its tentacles in a rapid retreat, while simultaneously ordering the remaining half-orcs to hold the line, determined to halt this fearless attacker.

Even as the tentacle monster fled, the multiple compound eyes on its head flashed with light, rapidly firing five or six terrifying rays. These rays abruptly halted Fang Senyan's advancing attack. Despite Fang Senyan's quick evasive maneuvers, he was struck by two rays, adding two more negative status effects: movement speed reduction and attack speed reduction! After being hit by these two consecutive shots, Fang Senyan's health points plummeted below the danger line. He rolled behind an ice rock, panting heavily, to avoid further ray attacks from the tentacle monster.

Throughout this series of actions, Fang Senyan appeared battered and exhausted, the areas struck by the tentacle monster's attacks causing excruciating burning pain. However, in this critical moment of life and death, the intense pain did not defeat him. Instead, a cold smile crept onto Fang Senyan's lips, his mind becoming clearer, his grasp of the battlefield situation more precise. Clearly, although these enemies were stronger than them, their excessive caution had inadvertently drawn them into his rhythm!

Because, while Fang Senyan attacked the tentacle monster to attract their attention, Reef was not idle. He charged towards the remaining bound prisoners, using his terrifyingly powerful silver xenomorph head shield to protect his body, while simultaneously wielding a light saber to slash at their wrists, aiming for the black vines binding them.

Amidst a swirl of dark light, Reef strode around the four prisoners, severing the vines binding them. The air filled with the scent of roasting flesh... This was not Reef accidentally injuring them, but rather due to the light saber's intense heat, which inevitably scorched the prisoners' skin while cutting the black vines. However, the freed prisoners were no longer concerned about these minor injuries. They roared and lunged at the enemies before them. Having witnessed the gruesome flaying of their companions, a swift and glorious death in battle was undoubtedly a liberating happiness for them!

Fang Senyan seized the opportunity amidst the chaos to join up with Reef.

However, he did not anticipate that the half-orcs would meet the charging prisoners, while the tentacle monster would fixate on him. As soon as Fang Senyan darted out, two more blindingly paralyzing rays shot horizontally through the air with uncanny accuracy, striking Fang Senyan directly in the chest! Instantly reducing his health points to below four!

Fang Senyan was hit in mid-air, losing his balance!

His mind, however, was exceptionally clear. Enduring the searing pain in his chest, he tried to land on his shoulder, rolling upon impact, and immediately grabbing the corpse of the short, fat half-orc to shield himself. Simultaneously, the paralyzing rays fired by the tentacle monster relentlessly pursued! Continuous, enormous force impacted the corpse, sending Fang Senyan tumbling sideways several times before crashing into the adjacent ice wall. Even Fang Senyan's fingers were affected by the overflowing paralyzing energy, becoming stiff and sluggish.

This tentacle monster was clearly a typical example of a glass cannon, strong offensively but weak defensively. When approached by Fang Senyan and Reef, it was easily overwhelmed and vulnerable. However, if allowed to attack from a distance, it could only be described as a crazed, fixed-point turret. Fortunately, the tentacle monster's release of paralyzing rays also consumed mental energy, preventing it from spraying continuously like a machine gun. In addition, the half-orcs, skilled in close combat, were bravely held back by the enraged prisoners, granting Fang Senyan a precious moment to breathe.

At this moment, the situation on the battlefield was quite favorable for the prisoners' side:

The most threatening tentacle monster was temporarily silenced. Although the half-orcs blocking the way were ferocious, they were suppressed by the desperate, angry attacks of the four prisoners. If they could break through the half-orc blockade and engage the tentacle monster in close combat within a short time, they had a high probability of winning the battle.

However, the saying that plans can never keep up with changes proved true once again! Just as Fang Senyan caught his breath and prepared to join the battle with Reef, a piercing, ear-splitting cry suddenly rang out beside him! This cry was extremely shrill and sharp, simply hearing it felt like a serrated knife cutting back and forth across the soul. In that instant, almost everyone was stunned by the cry, as if the entire world was violently changing and shaking.

Immediately after, a cloud-like shadow appeared in the sky, rapidly growing larger. Only upon closer inspection could it be seen that it was actually a giant bird with ruffled feathers. This giant bird had crimson eyes and feathers as disheveled as iron. Its wingspan reached tens of meters. Its appearance seemed to halt even the icy currents blowing across the snow-capped peaks!

"Could this be a Son of Thorondor?"

One of the prisoners suddenly cried out in despair. Thorondor was the Great Eagle under Manwe, leader of the Valar (chief gods). These eagles could speak human languages and were intelligent and powerful. He and his kin would often help Elves and humans. Even Sauron's master, the dark god Morgoth, had been wounded by Thorondor.

Giant Eagles still resided in the Misty Mountains, their leader named Gwaihir. In *The Return of the King*, these powerful birds sent a moth to communicate with Gandalf. They were even powerful enough to confront dark dragons head-on and even rescued the protagonists who destroyed the One Ring.

The giant bird that had suddenly appeared was similar in appearance to the rumored Giant Eagle clan, but even more ferocious. It appeared to be a hybrid of the Giant Eagle clan and other birds. However, considering that adult Giant Eagles could even confront the dark dragons under the command of the Witch-king of Angmar, this giant bird's strength was definitely beyond what the current group of people on the platform could handle!

In a mere instant, this massive raptor swooped down, its incredibly sharp claws seizing the tentacle monster in an instant! It slammed the monster against the mountain wall. The tentacle monster still struggled desperately to fire paralyzing rays, but they struck the feathers of this Son of Thorondor and were simply and cleanly deflected away.

The tentacle monster's head was as fragile as a bubble, and with a "pop," it was crushed alive in those steel-like claws. As grayish-white fluid splattered, this Son of Thorondor nimbly spiraled through the air, seemingly enjoying the pungent, bloody scent.

At this moment, a strong wind swept across the platform, the snow and sand stirred up stinging faces, making even breathing difficult, let alone making any retaliatory movements? The half-orcs stood frozen in place, their throats making "hoarse" sounds, filled with terror. In that instant, they simultaneously abandoned their opponents, scrambling towards the central stone platform, grabbing several pieces of flesh from the ground and stuffing them into the stone brazier.

This stone brazier was originally used to burn the flayed human skin, but because of Fang Senyan's sudden uprising, the flames inside had long been extinguished. Now, after being filled with flesh and ignited, that indescribable, rich, bloody, and sweet fragrance filled the air once more. The massive demonic bird seemed to enjoy the smell immensely, so it stopped swooping down to kill and continued to circle in the air. It felt as relaxed as a human enjoying a cigarette.

The sudden change left all the prisoners on the ground feeling dazed and disoriented, as if struck by the impermanence of fate. Fang Senyan, however, noticed the giant bird's strange state at this moment. He instantly bent over and ran across the battlefield, searching the corpse of one of the tentacle monsters. He hurriedly grabbed something from that mass of bloody tissue and placed it on his waist, then yelled out a single word:

"Run!"

After shouting this word, Fang Senyan's vision went black, and the wound on his chest where the tentacle monster had shot him must have reopened again, but he had to risk worsening the injury to remind the other dazed human prisoners. If they could assist him, the chances of successfully escaping through the half-orc blockade at the foot of the mountain would be much greater.

Fang Senyan took a few deep breaths, nodded at Reef, picked up the weakened elf girl, and rushed down the mountain path. The other prisoners naturally followed closely behind. For some unknown reason, the group of half-orcs on the platform only fearfully surrounded the stone brazier, showing no intention of pursuing them.

The cold wind howled, making the road down the mountain seem especially long, but the remaining few seemed to see the light of freedom, running frantically despite the fierce gusts. The prepared potion they had drunk earlier, Heichimga's Mucus, was also playing a huge role, providing these people with ample energy supply within their bodies, allowing the exhausted to squeeze out the strength to run from within.

Among the surviving prisoners, three were humans, led by a tall, one-eyed man. The other two prisoners were a dwarf skilled in traversing mountainous terrain and an elf. It seemed that this elf was not a resident of Rivendell and was somewhat arrogant and aloof. He disregarded the semi-conscious Mu Ge, silently striding forward.