The problem lay with Task Two.
The literal meaning was easy to understand: cross the front lines and reach the main battlefield. xxs1
The main battlefield was undoubtedly the plain where the Pig-Head Emperor was located. This meant that reaching the plain would complete the mission and grant the reward.
However, Bai Ye felt it wouldn't be that simple. Based on his experience from his previous life, the troubles with such missions usually boiled down to two things.
First, route blockades.
Second, time.
Route blockades were easy to understand. Certain routes would definitely be occupied by pig-men, heavily guarded by large numbers of them, making passage not easy. This was where strength was tested. Of course, if one's strength was insufficient, they could take a detour.
But detouring brought up the second issue – time!
Although the mission didn't specify an exact time limit, it didn't mean there was no time limit.
In Bai Ye's opinion, the time constraint was simple: he had to reach the plain before Rimuru.
Because once Rimuru reached the plain, the great battle with the Pig-Head Emperor would surely commence. If he wasn't there by then, the mission would naturally be considered a failure.
"Bai Ye." Just then, a voice called out from beside him, "Together?"
Bai Ye turned his head and saw his old friend, Jiemasi.
Bai Ye shook his head at Jiemasi's invitation, "No need. I can handle it myself."
Jiemasi nodded, "Alright, then I'll be going ahead."
Jiemasi's invitation didn't surprise Bai Ye. Setting aside the infighting among the chosen ones for Divine Stone fragments, there was no conflict between their current hidden missions. On the contrary, cooperation should make it easier to complete the missions.
For example, with Task Two, a single person facing an overwhelmingly large number of pig-men might have to choose a detour. Even if time was tight, it was better than risking their life. However, if they cooperated, they could attempt a direct charge.
But Bai Ye felt he could handle it, so was cooperation necessary?
After all, from another perspective, setting aside mission conflicts, the chosen ones were inherently adversarial. To obtain more Divine Stone fragments, they had to kill each other.
Therefore, when it wasn't necessary, Bai Ye rejected cooperation with anyone.
No trust, no betrayal.
No cooperation, no backstabbing.
Jiemasi soon departed, and as they continued to advance, the chosen ones also began to scatter.
One reason was the vastness of the Jura Great Forest, with many routes leading to the plain.
Another was that even if a cooperative intention was reached, those without such intentions naturally kept their distance from others to prevent unforeseen events.
As everyone dispersed, the surroundings quickly quieted down.
About an hour later, Bai Ye arrived in front of a stream. Across the stream, he could see a team of pig-men.
So...
What was there to hesitate about!
"Charge!"
Bai Ye leaped across the stream directly and plunged into the crowd of pig-men.
With the Lethal effect activated, Bai Ye charged forward. His shoulder dipped, pressing into the chest of a pig-man.
*Bang!*
A dull thud echoed as Bai Ye sent the pig-man flying with a single shove.
The next moment, Bai Ye twisted his ankle, his body spinning rapidly.
The Judgment effect activated!
As Bai Ye spun, his broadsword continuously swept forward, carving out circular arcs, and then...
Flesh and blood flew!
The broadsword was already a weapon of immense power. Combined with the spin and Bai Ye's enhanced physical attributes, the pig-men were utterly unable to resist.
A great battle-axe descended, and with a clang, it was directly knocked away by the broadsword.
The pig-man had no chance to react. The moment the broadsword swept past, its body was cleaved in two.
Some pig-men lunged at Bai Ye, attempting a suicidal charge to stop him. But as they reached him, a sweep of the sword arc severed their heads, which Bai Ye cut off with a single strike.
Unrivaled!
Unstoppable!
Bai Ye was ferociously powerful at this moment. Spinning, he swept past the pig-men, leaving behind a trail of their dismembered bodies.
Soon, Bai Ye stopped, thrusting his broadsword into the ground.
In front of Bai Ye, those dozen or so pig-men didn't even have complete corpses left; their bodies were utterly pulverized.
Incredibly fierce...
And then...
"Gag!"
Bai Ye's chest tightened, and he knelt on the ground, retching.
"Damn it, so this is what the side effect of Judgment means..." Bai Ye wiped his mouth, feeling his vision still swimming. He said painfully, "So dizzy."
It took Bai Ye a full ten minutes to recover from the dizziness after killing those pig-men. He then drew his broadsword and continued forward, vowing to himself that he had to use this move cautiously. The side effect was too terrifying, feeling like he had a hangover for three days and slept in a trash can.
Continuing his advance, the appearance of pig-men by the stream was like a signal. Pig-men began to appear sporadically in the forest ahead, requiring constant combat to pass, serving as obstacles on the way to the main battlefield.
However, Bai Ye didn't take some scattered pig-men seriously. In fact, relying solely on the physical attribute amplification from Demacia's power, Bai Ye could now crush ordinary pig-men, without even needing to use the Poison-Poison Fruit's abilities.
Continuing forward like this, after an unknown amount of time, Bai Ye slowly stopped, looking at the canyon ahead and then at the map in his hand.
"This is the place!"
Bai Ye had chosen the shortest route to the plain, which was...
A straight line!
And to take this route, crossing the canyon ahead was key. Only by passing through the canyon could he continue in a straight line.
However, as Bai Ye had guessed, on the necessary paths of some routes, there were large numbers of pig-men guarding them.
At the canyon entrance, the pig-men had established a temporary outpost. Wooden barricades sealed off the canyon. As for the number of pig-men guarding it...
Bai Ye felt that if he took out this group of pig-men, his mission of killing a hundred pig-men would be almost complete.
"One against a hundred..." Bai Ye grinned. "Challenging!"
Thinking this, Bai Ye slung his broadsword over his shoulder, preparing to charge towards the canyon entrance.
But at this moment...
*Whirr, whirr, whirr, whirr, whirr...*
The sound of rotating propellers came from the canyon entrance.
"Huh?"
Bai Ye followed the sound and saw a black remote-controlled drone slowly approaching the canyon entrance.
Bai Ye wasn't the only one whose attention was captured. The pig-men at the canyon entrance also looked up at the sky, drawn by the sound.
Then...