219: Chapter 219: Resolving Alliance Conflicts

The cold wind whipped snowflakes, stinging his face.

Shen Xiaochuan sat on a snowmobile, his goggles already frosted over. He didn't wipe them, merely gazing at the valley entrance ahead. The mountain walls on both sides stood steep as if carved by knives and axes, dark and deep, with no end in sight.

The convoy slowly advanced, tracks crunching over the hard snow. Warriors of the Azure Dragon Legion followed closely, spears on their shoulders, their steps uniform. Twelve Evil God Guards brought up the rear, their metal limbs sinking deep into the ice, leaving clear indentations with every step.

The communication channel was silent, with only the hum of machinery echoing.

“Vehicle One normal.”

“Vehicle Three fuel 72%.”

“Evil God Guards Five to Eight, stable operation.”

Shen Xiaochuan listened to the reports, nodding slightly. His left arm was still in a splint, the bone not yet fully healed, but he could move it. He lowered his head to look at his palm; the lines beneath his skin glowed faintly, faith points continuously increasing at a rate of three per second, steady and consistent.

Suddenly, a Scout ahead shouted a warning: “Captain! Movement!”

Shen Xiaochuan raised a hand, and the entire team immediately halted.

He jumped off the motorcycle and walked forward, leaning on his halberd. A fresh trail of claw prints stretched from the hillside, leading directly to the valley entrance. The marks were very deep, with shattered ice scattered at the edges, as if something had charged down from a height.

“Not a Mammoth,” the Scout knelt to examine. “Nor a wolf.”

Shen Xiaochuan also crouched down, reaching out to touch the claw print. A tingling sensation, like a weak electric current, ran through his fingertips.

He took out a detector and scanned it.

The screen displayed: “Energy Residue: Highly Active Bioelectric Field, Intensity Rating: perfect grade lower limit.”

He frowned slightly.

Before he could speak, a sharp shriek suddenly echoed overhead.

Immediately after, three dark figures leaped down from the mountain, moving so fast their outlines were barely visible. Upon landing, the snow exploded, and the shockwave overturned two snowmobiles.

“Enemy attack!” Shen Xiaochuan roared. “Form ranks! Prepare for battle!”

Before his words finished, a monster had already pounced to the right.

The creature resembled a giant wolf, with bone spurs on its back and limbs as thick as pillars. It opened its mouth and spewed an extremely cold breath, instantly freezing an Azure Dragon warrior, who was encased in ice, unable to move.

The second charged directly into the center of the team, knocking two people flying. The third pounced on a group of strangers—it was exactly Ryan and his five companions.

They had somehow caught up and just arrived, standing on a rock, catching their breath. Before they could steady themselves, the monster leaped into the air, its sharp claws sweeping across.

The Woman with Goggles reacted the fastest, rolling on the ground to dodge, but half of her helmet was shorn off, and her long hair fell loose. Ryan drew his battle-axe to meet the attack but was struck in the chest by a palm, sending him flying backward to crash against the rock wall before sliding down, his weapon slipping from his grasp.

The other two suffered even more severely, being knocked off the rock, their fates unknown.

Shen Xiaochuan quickly assessed the situation; he could have stood by. These people had previously disbelieved him, questioned him, and refused to cooperate, and no one stopped him when he left. Now in danger, it was their own fault. But he only hesitated for a moment.

“Azure Dragon Legion!” he shouted. “Form a chevaux de frise! Block the one on the left!”

“Evil God Guards!” he ordered again. “Three per group, entangle the one in the middle! Don’t let it harm anyone!”

The orders were given, and the team responded immediately.

Six Azure Dragon warriors formed a triangular formation, their spears thrusting out in unison, forcing the monster on the left to halt its advance. Three Evil God Guards rushed towards the central target, using their metal arms to withstand bites, their joints grinding harshly, but they held the monster's neck tightly, refusing to let go.

Shen Xiaochuan charged with his halberd, confronting the third monster.

This monster had just flung off one person and was lowering its head to bite, unaware that someone was approaching from behind.

“Take this halberd!”

He leaped up abruptly, thrusting his halberd directly into its hind leg. Metal pierced flesh with a dull thud. The monster howled in pain and turned, its massive maw snapping at his head.

Shen Xiaochuan rolled to avoid it, then pulled out his long halberd, drawing an arc in the snow, luring the monster to pursue him, driving it up the slope.

He knew this place was not suitable for a prolonged battle.

The terrain was narrow, making it difficult for teammates to maneuver; once trapped, no one could escape.

He had to finish it quickly.

As he ran, he quickly observed the terrain. Above was a ridge covered in soft snow, below was a frozen, solid gully. As long as he could lead the monster into the designated area...

The monster pursued relentlessly, its four hooves pounding the ground, causing continuous tremors. Shen Xiaochuan deliberately slowed his pace, then suddenly dodged as it pounced, and threw a shock grenade.

Boom!

The explosion made the monster stumble a few steps, precisely into the trap area.

Shen Xiaochuan immediately blew his whistle.

Two Azure Dragon warriors high above quickly pulled ropes and cut the stakes. In an instant, a large section of snow collapsed from the mountaintop, cascading down like a waterfall.

The monster tried to escape, but it was too late.

Thousands of pounds of snow slammed into it, crushing it directly to the bottom of the gully. Shen Xiaochuan leaped down, straddling its head, gripping his halberd with both hands, and thrusting down with all his might.

“Die!”

The long halberd pierced its skull, and black blood and brain matter gushed out. The monster twitched a few times, then became completely still.

He stood up, panting, and looked back; the other two were also nearing defeat.

An Azure Dragon warrior had stabbed one of its eyes with a spear, cornering it; the Evil God Guards were even more brutal, three of them ganging up on one, inserting metal fingers into its throat and tearing out its windpipe.

Fifteen minutes later, the battle ended.

One corpse was buried at the bottom of the gully, one lay in a snowdrift, and the last one, wounded, fled, disappearing into the depths of the valley.

Shen Xiaochuan returned, leaning on his halberd, covered in blood and snow-mud. He first checked the status of the Azure Dragon Legion: one person had minor injuries, one had frostbite, and the rest were unharmed. The three Evil God Guards had cracks in their shells and slightly sluggish joint movement, but were still operational.

Then, he walked towards Ryan and the others.

The Woman with Goggles knelt on the ground, administering aid, her hands trembling slightly, her face smudged with dirt and sweat. Ryan sat leaning against the wall, coughing blood and clutching his chest, his broken weapon discarded beside him.

“You… how did you get here?” Shen Xiaochuan asked.

The woman looked up at him, her eyes complex. “We… discussed the intelligence you provided and felt we couldn’t just stand by.” Her voice was hoarse. “You were right, if these things move west, the supply lines would be hit first.”

Ryan coughed blood and said, “I shouldn’t have doubted you. You were right, we were wrong.”

Shen Xiaochuan was silent for a moment, then took a bottle of repair fluid from his backpack and handed it over. “Treat your injuries first.”

The woman took the medicine, startled. “You don’t hate us? You could have completely ignored us just now.”

“I don’t have time to hate people,” he said. “I just want to get back alive.”

With that, he turned to tally the losses.

No one spoke.

Everyone silently bandaged wounds and moved supplies. Azure Dragon warriors quietly gave water and bandages to the NATO members. The atmosphere was still tense, but the hostility had quietly faded.

A few minutes later, the Woman with Goggles walked up to him.

“Just now… thank you for saving us,” she said, looking at her damaged armor. “Actually, we thought your intelligence was real from the start, but we were afraid. Afraid of danger, afraid you’d take credit, afraid we wouldn’t come back if we went.”

She paused. “You were right, you weren’t notifying, you were informing. The opportunity was given, the choice was ours. But when we were truly in danger, it was still you who rushed to save us.”

Shen Xiaochuan watched her, not interrupting.

“I don’t deserve your rescue,” she said. “But we… will remember today.”

With that, she stepped back and bowed her head in salute.

Then, Ryan approached.

He took off his cloak and knelt on one knee, his movements swift and decisive. “I swear by the name of the Norse God of War, it was my fault for not believing your intelligence and questioning your sincerity before.” His voice was steady and strong. “I will remember this kindness today. If you ever need anything in the future, I will not refuse.”

The other three also stepped forward, bowing their heads in apology.

Shen Xiaochuan reached out to help Ryan up. “I didn’t come here for an apology,” he said. “But it’s good that you understand.”

He looked around at everyone. “Now, we are one team.”

As these words fell, the air seemed to relax a bit.

Everyone began to help each other with the wounded, sharing water and medicine. Some helped the Evil God Guards clear snow from their joints, while others offered hot food. There weren't many words, but their actions became much more natural.

Shen Xiaochuan ordered a thirty-minute rest.

He sat on a rock, drinking water and checking his left arm. The bone still ached a bit, but it didn't affect his movement. The repair fluid was still working, and his body temperature remained normal.

He looked up at the sky.

The setting sun slanted its light through the cracks in the valley, making the snow gleam with a cold light. Faint roars echoed in the distance, reminding them that the danger was not yet over.

But he knew that this team had finally truly coalesced.

When the time was up, he stood, brushing snow from his pants.

“Gather,” he called.

Everyone immediately returned to their positions.

He climbed onto a high rock, facing all the team members: “From now on, there is no ‘you’ and ‘me.’ Everyone listen to orders, advance and retreat together. If you have any objections, state them now.”

No one responded.

He nodded. “Good.”

He then began assigning tasks: “Ryan, you are responsible for right flank vigilance. Take three people to Scout the side slope; report any issues immediately.”

“Woman with Goggles, you will accompany the reconnaissance team and mark the safe route ahead.”

“The Azure Dragon Legion will guard the center, maintaining a tight formation.”

“The Evil God Guards will cover the rear, watching for any pursuers.”

The commands were clear, responsibilities distinct.

No one objected.

The team set off again.

Shen Xiaochuan walked at the front, with Ryan walking alongside him.

The two remained silent for most of the way, occasionally exchanging a few words about the route.

“Do you think there’s another ambush ahead?” Ryan asked.

“Hard to say,” Shen Xiaochuan replied. “But since three appeared, it means there’s something worth protecting here.”

“A nest?”

“Possibly.”

“So what are you planning to do?”

“Get in alive, get out alive,” he said. “Nothing else matters.”

Ryan glanced at him, his lips twitching as if he wanted to smile but held it back.

The sun set, lengthening their shadows.

The group finally reached the edge of the valley. The fog grew thicker, the wind howled, and the ground beneath their feet became soft and damp, completely different from the frozen tundra outside.

Shen Xiaochuan stopped, raising a hand to signal the entire team to wait.

He stood at the entrance, gazing at the blurry path ahead.

Behind him, footsteps were perfectly synchronized.

He knew that this team now truly shared a common goal.

He gently stroked the copper gear pendant inside his collar and whispered, “Let’s go.”