62: Destroy the Bull Demon King

Linn gave the order, and the Star Sea Territory army, like two torrents of steel, slammed violently into the disorganized remnants of the Minotaur formation from both ends of the canyon! The earth-shaking cries of battle, the clanging of weapons, and the death throes instantly replaced the previous Spell bombardment and crossbow string vibrations, turning the entire Burial Ox Valley into the most primal and bloody melee battlefield.

Since the two armies were completely intertwined, the Sea God Clan Mage Corps on the cliff top had to cease large-scale area-of-effect Magic bombardment to avoid friendly fire. Sebastian decisively ordered the Mages to switch to casting small-scale crowd-control Spells or single-target attack Spells, precisely eliminating the particularly conspicuous Minotaur Warriors or those posing a major threat to the Star Sea Territory front line.

However, the Divine Arrow Army, led by Elise and Angus, demonstrated astonishing value and precision in this chaotic battle! They occupied the high ground, their gazes sharp as eagles. Every time their Enchanted Longbows hummed, an arrow, as if guided by an unseen eye, would bypass friendly forces and accurately pierce the eye socket, throat, or armor gap of a Minotaur about to swing a Spiked Club at a Star Sea Territory soldier! Their shooting was not only fatal but also greatly relieved the pressure on the ground forces, like an invisible net of protection covering the battlefield.

On the ground, the battle was equally fierce. Clay, like a Bedrock on the battlefield, held his Sword and Shield, steadily confronting a Gold Novice Minotaur Headman wielding Twin Axes and roaring incessantly. Sword light and axe shadows intertwined, and Battle Qi erupted. Although his strength was inferior to the Minotaur's, with the assistance of the Sea God Clan and the Divine Arrow Army, it was hard to determine a winner for a time.

Karl showed his wild side, wielding his War Blade and leading the backbone of the First Battalion, fighting fiercely with another Gold Novice Minotaur Headman. Every strike drew blood, showing immense bravery. Other Silver Rank and Bronze Rank officers also found their respective opponents, and the entire battlefield showed a tense, multi-point engagement.

Ocean, like a blue flash of lightning among the chaotic troops, disdained entanglement with ordinary Minotaurs. His Long Spear jabbed, pierced, swept, and lifted, and wherever he passed, Minotaurs fell like cut grass. His objective was clear: he traversed the chaotic battlefield and quickly reached Linn's side. He knew that although Linn was a powerful Mage, his Physical Body was relatively fragile and needed protection in this confused melee.

Just as he reached Linn, a Minotaur Headman, holding a Giant Chain Hammer, tall and muscular, and radiating Gold Intermediate Rank Qi, roared and charged over. The chain hammer swung toward Linn, bringing a vicious wind!

"Your opponent is me!" Ocean roared. His Silver Spear, like a Dragon emerging from the sea, precisely hooked the chain of the hammer, sweeping it aside. He immediately engaged in a fierce battle with this Gold Intermediate Rank Minotaur. Spear shadows overlapped, constantly colliding with the heavy chain hammer, producing deafening roars.

At this moment, the absolute focal point of the battlefield was undoubtedly the Minotaur Leader, Malok!

Linn, Aivi, High Priestess Sea Song, and Sebastian had already formed a perfect encirclement, trapping the furious Malok in the center!

"Moo! You despicable Mages! If you have the guts, fight me one-on-one!" Malok swung his giant, door-sized Giant Blade. His savage High Gold Rank Battle Qi burned like tangible flames, carving deep ravines into the ground. The blade wind made it difficult for anyone to approach.

However, the four Mages would not give him a chance to get close.

"Icebound Shackles!" Aivi struck first. Several extremely solidified Chains of Ice shot out from the ground, wrapping around Malok's legs. Although he instantly shattered them, they successfully slowed his movements.

"Tidal Pressure!" High Priestess Sea Song waved her Staff. A massive, invisible water pressure suddenly descended upon Malok, making him feel as if he had sunk into a deep-sea vortex, rendering every movement incredibly heavy and sluggish.

"Chain Ice Spears!" Sebastian cooperated seamlessly, seizing the moment Malok's movements were restricted. Dozens of more powerful Ice Spears shot out consecutively like a machine gun, specifically targeting Malok's joints, eyes, and other vulnerable areas, forcing him to desperately wield his Giant Blade to block.

And Linn played the role of delivering the fatal blow. He did not use flashy Magic, but instead highly compressed his massive Magical Power, unleashing the simplest yet most savage attack—Blazing Bomb Barrage! Highly concentrated, dazzling white Fireballs slammed continuously into Malok like artillery shells! These Fireballs were not only extremely hot but also contained immense impact force, fiercely striking his Battle Qi Shield and body while he was blocking the Ice Spears and unstable.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The sound of explosions was incessant. Although Malok possessed formidable strength, under the siege of four Mages who cooperated perfectly and excelled at both long and short-range combat, he had no power to retaliate. His Battle Qi Shield flickered violently under the alternating bombardment of ice and fire, finally letting out a strained groan before shattering completely!

An Ice Spear seized the opportunity to pierce his shoulder blade, immediately followed by a Blazing Bomb Fireball exploding on his chest!

"Pfft—!" Malok's massive body shuddered violently, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs. His huge bovine eyes were filled with unwillingness and disbelief. Finally, his mountain-like body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The Minotaur Leader, "Broken Horn" Malok, was killed!

Malok's death was the final straw. The morale of the Minotaurs, who were already struggling to hold on, completely collapsed. The remaining Minotaurs let out terrified howls and began scattering and fleeing, but both ends of the canyon had been firmly blocked, leaving them nowhere to run.

Meanwhile, the Gold Intermediate Rank Minotaur Headman who was fiercely fighting Ocean was utterly distraught upon seeing his leader fall. Ocean seized this fleeting opportunity. His Silver Spear, like a venomous snake striking from its hole, broke through the opponent's defense at an extremely tricky angle, piercing his thigh with one thrust!

"Ugh!" The Gold Intermediate Rank Minotaur screamed and fell to one knee.

"Don't kill him!" Linn's voice came just in time.

Ocean's spear tip stopped an inch from the opponent's throat.

Linn quickly stepped forward, disregarding the consumption of Mental Energy, and rapidly outlined complex Soul Contract Runes, forcibly driving them deep into the Soul of the Gold Intermediate Rank Minotaur Headman, whose will was weakened by injury and fear. After a fierce burst of psychic resistance, the Minotaur Headman's eyes became dull, then transformed into absolute obedience.

"Give the order, tell your tribesmen to abandon resistance and surrender!" Linn commanded.

The enslaved Minotaur Headman struggled to stand, letting out a hoarse roar. Hearing the command from the strongest surviving warrior, second only to the leader, the remaining Minotaurs, whose morale had already collapsed, finally lost their last will to resist, throwing down their weapons and kneeling in surrender.

The earth-shaking cries of battle gradually subsided, leaving only the groans of the wounded and the heavy breathing of the victors. Corpses lay everywhere in the canyon, blood flowed like a river, and the thick stench of gore was almost nauseating.

After an initial count, the results of this battle were spectacular. On the Sea God Clan's side, thanks to perfect tactics and long-range strikes, the Mage Corps involved in luring the enemy and setting the ambush, as well as the Decoy Unit, suffered almost zero casualties! Only a few individuals sustained minor injuries during the luring process.

As for the Star Sea Territory side, which undertook the frontal assault and encirclement mission, they paid the price of nearly a hundred soldiers killed and three to four hundred injured. Although painful, compared to the result of almost completely annihilating the four thousand Minotaur main forces, this was an acceptable loss.

Looking at the mountain of corpses and sea of blood before him, Linn couldn't help but feel a trace of dread and relief. He lamented to Aivi and High Priestess Sea Song beside him, "If we hadn't set up an ambush beforehand, using the terrain and long-range advantage to severely weaken them, then on the frontal battlefield, my thousand-plus soldiers fighting three to four thousand fearless Minotaurs... we would likely have had absolutely no chance of victory."

In this battle, a total of over a thousand trembling Minotaurs who had put down their weapons were captured, including one enslaved Gold Intermediate Rank Headman.

The Battle of Burial Ox Valley concluded with the complete victory of the Star Sea Territory and Sea God Clan Allied Forces! One of the two major scourges that had plagued Shattered Star Island for many years, the Minotaur Tribe, had its main forces vanish in this single campaign! Half the obstacles on the path to victory had already been cleared.