Chapter 48: Pacification

  At this moment, Hulk, who was being searched by everyone, was also having a hard time.

  This dim-witted water demon has clashed with the incoming barbarians dozens of times. Most of them were even initiated by him, attacking and slaughtering the barbarian troops without distinction as soon as they met. This retaliatory attack not only failed to deter the approaching barbarians but could only further expand the situation.

  When the news of the barbarian vanguard was transmitted back, it made the rulers of various tribes determine that there was indeed a bug god hidden near the Panbai River Valley, and the actions of the Panbai Water Demon were also recognized as covering up the true facts. Although there were many clear-headed people in these large tribes who wanted to maintain an observational attitude and wait for further developments, as time went on, they couldn't withstand the clamoring and urging of the fanatical worshipers within their own tribes, and could only send out some barbarian warriors to investigate. As a result, they were beaten by Holk, and it was taken as a signal that the Panbai Water Demon wanted to go to war with all the barbarian tribes. In a short period of time, all 18 major tribes sent their top fighters to find an opportunity to fight back. Within half a month, they had already fought dozens of battles against Holk's Panbai Water Demon patrol team. Even before Black Bear was summoned back by Tatal, he personally came to the battlefield and had a great battle with Holk, although no result was determined in the end, but it further stimulated the ambitions of other tribes. At that time, the scene at the Panbai River Valley could only be described as crazy and chaotic!

  Hork's entire body was covered in slash wounds, with even tiny holes the size of pinpricks. Although the wounds had already scabbed over and were no longer bleeding, it was clear that the battle had been fierce and crazy. This water demon who had once helped Old Liu had now penetrated deep into the heart of the Gaya Rainforest, an area that was no longer within the water demon's designated sphere of influence. By doing so, he had already violated the agreement made between the Barbarian Empire and the water demons in the past, and could be considered an invader to be killed. Of course, given the current situation, both sides were already in a state of war. The rules established during peacetime naturally no longer applied.

  At this moment, Holg was leaning against a giant tree, with countless knives, guns and arrows scattered around him, broken limbs. More than a dozen barbarian corpses were scattered around, and some were even inserted with a long spear, while several underdeveloped aquatic monsters were collecting the bodies of their companions.

  "Has anyone taken stock of the number of people?" Holger raised his head and asked a nearby water sprite tourist in a listless tone.

  "General, we've lost five more brothers. These damned savages!" the enraged Water Witch shouted, suddenly grabbing a savage's corpse and tearing it in half, splattering blood organs all over the ground.

  Holk waved his hand and said tiredly: "There should be a tribe of barbarians nearby, let's rest for a while and then go over there to kill them all."

  Another water demon patrol dissuaded: "General, our manpower has been lost too much. More than 500 brothers (mostly variant beastmen) have lost nearly half of them so far, and the remaining part has also lost their combat effectiveness. And we are facing barbarians who are hundreds of times more numerous than us, the situation is very unfavorable to us!"

  At this time, a beastman also said in a deep voice: "The ones in front can still be counted as avenging their tribesmen. Killing those barbarian scouts is also justified. But if we take the initiative to attack the barbarian tribe's stronghold, that would mean we are fully prepared to go to war with the Barbarian Empire."

  Holk let out a long sigh, knowing that what they said made sense, but now that they had killed their way to this point, could they really just retreat? How would that be fair to the brothers who had died?! Thinking of those brothers he had spent day and night with, remembering their familiar faces and the tragic circumstances of their deaths in battle, Holk couldn't help but feel hot tears welling up. He gritted his teeth and said loudly: "We can't just retreat like this! We have to make them pay for their blood debt! Even if it means going all out against the barbarians, we can't back down! I'll take full responsibility for everything that happens afterwards!"

  The rest of the water demon patrollers fell silent. Since their leader had made up his mind to say so, what else could they persuade him with? They just cultivated their spirits one by one and prepared for the fierce battle a few hours later.

  At this moment, the rainforest suddenly remembered the sound of rushing water, a giant chariot made of flowing water was pulled by several large magical beasts, from far to near, with a loud rumbling thunder-like sound, flying towards them!

  Those few magical beasts, as soon as they arrived at their destination, let out a loud roar and rolled on the ground to transform into half-human, half-beast forms. And on that chariot, there were several naked **water demons of the Delbaren River**. The commander-in-chief of the Delbaren River, Badakhe was also among them!

  Only to see this majestic and powerful water demon walking down, step by step, until it reached Holk's front. The war chariot behind him suddenly shattered and exploded into pieces. Amidst the turbulent waters, a dark light flashed, and a giant divine sword flew out, shaped like an anchor, hovering behind Badak, making him look even more like a demon god, making people unable to muster the courage to face him!

  "Father!" Holk moved, opening his mouth to say something, but was slapped to the ground by Badak and rolled out like a rolling gourd.

  "Bastard! Look at the good things you've done!" Batak gazed coldly at his son, reached out and grabbed him again, pulling him back to his face as if an invisible giant hand was pinching him, lifting Hork up.

  "I! I am avenging my own brother!" Hulk suddenly turned red with rage and roared.

  "Brother! You actually consider those useless, unevolved trash as brothers! You've disappointed me and made me angry!" Badaak's anger surged, his hands tightening their grip, almost choking Holk to death. The iron-fisted, seemingly inhumane father spoke slowly and deliberately: "Remember this, I brought you here for reflection, not to actually become some dogshit Tour General! You are my son, Badaak, and will inherit my power and position. Stay away from these garbage!"

  "No, I like it here. I'd rather stay here for the rest of my life!" Holk shouted back in defiance, but was slapped again by Batak and almost fainted.

  "You've been used and you don't even know it. How stupid!" Badak threw the half-dead Hulk to the ground, turned around and said to the several water demons who followed him: "Take him back, throw him into the water dungeon and lock him up. Without my order, no one is allowed to approach him. Wait until he comes to his senses, then I'll let him out!"

  "Alright, sir!" The two Pabade water demons lifted Holker up and with a flip of their palms, they subdued the struggling Holker. Badak's water demons were stronger than Holker, even when he was at his peak, he couldn't take on two of them alone, let alone now that he was exhausted and had been slapped twice by his father, almost losing half his life. For a while, he couldn't break free no matter how hard he struggled or begged.

  "Wasting my time!" Bada cursed, suddenly glancing sideways at the kneeling tourists who were shivering with fear. His anger grew even more intense as he shouted: "It must be you useless people who are leading my child astray! You're all good for nothing and now you want to turn my son into a waste of space too?! Get them all, take them away and feed them to the Sea King Beast!"

  "No! Father, spare them! I was wrong, I was wrong!" Holger's long voice was piercingly mournful, but it grew fainter and fainter until it finally stopped. Meanwhile, the water demons brought by Badak had already begun to carry out their orders, and no matter how those travelers begged, they were all eventually skewered on the long spears formed from condensed water elements, becoming nothing more than food for the ferocious sea beasts to devour.

  The way Badak does things seems bloody and brutal, devoid of humanity. However, in the strictly hierarchical society of the Water Demons, it is a common sight, even more so than eating or sleeping. On the other hand, someone like Holk who gets along well with failed evolutions of Water Demons and Beastmen, calling them brothers and treating them as equals, is extremely rare, to the point where there may not be another person like him. This is also a system that has been passed down in the Water Demon society since the era of the Bloodsucking Mosquitoes. Of course, compared to human countries that pride themselves on being civilized and respecting human rights, once you rip off their hypocritical masks, all that's left are bloody laws and strict hierarchical systems, which aren't much better than those of the Water Demons.

  After dealing with these matters, Badak again instructed a water demon in the Bubai River: "Besar, the patrol mission of the Bubai River will be handed over to you first. I will hand over all the miscellaneous soldiers brought this time to you for management. Remember, don't conflict with the barbarians."

  "Besar, at your command!" A Besar who was a water demon patted his chest, taking on the task. However, he looked around at the corpses of the barbarian warriors and hesitated, saying: "Sir, our struggle with these barbarians is probably beyond reconciliation now. What if they launch a surprise attack on us?"

  "Even if it can't be alleviated, we must drag it out until after the great tide! That's what we need to worry about." Badak's gaze was deep and profound, and he suddenly let out a cold laugh: "The barbarians are looking for nothing but the so-called insect god. Let them look then. We'll clear the place out and let them search, which will also stir up internal strife among them. Humans are indeed cunning yet foolish creatures!"

  "Does the lord also believe in the existence of the insect god?"

  "There must be some, but absolutely not in the Panbai River." Badak sneered: "This insect god is probably already being captured and taken to another place by someone. When he left, he deliberately spread the news, shifting the blame to our heads. Taking advantage of the diversion, a group of barbarians who are eager for the insect god's madness come to rob us. Or maybe they want to stir up internal unrest among the barbarians and reap the benefits."

  "Ah, I see! Humans are indeed a crazy species!" Besal exclaimed in sudden realization. At the same time, he also showed infinite admiration for Badak's ability to see through human schemes.