Chapter 189

Chapter 189. The Curtain Rises

Time ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍slowly passed amid tense preparations for battle, and the next day arrived as scheduled.

At ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍dawn, a thin mist hung over Dragonbreath Plain, but it was soon dispersed by the rising sun and the even more powerful presence of countless men.

Beneath ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Storm City’s tall black walls, the Western Frontier allied army deployed in formation.

Dense ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍squares of soldiers and fluttering noble banners of every color formed a grand and oppressive scene.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍cold gleam of armor linked together into one, as though a steel carpet had been spread across the plain, silently proclaiming absolute strength.

As ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the vanguard of this siege, Count Hanard, helmeted and fully armored, sat astride his warhorse.

Surrounded by a squad of elite personal guards, he rode out from the ranks and slowly advanced toward the edge of the city wall’s firing range.

He would command the first wave of assault, a total of ten thousand elite soldiers, and launch the first storming attack against Storm City.

Eli, the soldiers of Obsidian Territory, and Wolfgang’s Wolf-kin warriors had originally been included in the attack order as well.

However, because of their brave performance in the earlier blocking battle and the losses that had followed, Marquess Marcus had specially approved their rest for this battle, placing them in reserve.

At that moment, Eli was seated atop Windchaser, positioned in front of the archer formation as he observed the top of the city wall.

Count Hanard tightened his reins and looked up at the towering wall.

His sharp gaze locked onto the most conspicuous red-haired giant behind the battlements—Iman.

Hanard drew in a deep breath and filled his voice with strength.

“Iman! Judging by this posture of yours, you intend to resist to the bitter end? Hahaha!”

“If you know what is good for you, open the gates at once! Kneel and beg for mercy, and perhaps we will leave your corpse intact!”

He let out a laugh full of mockery. “I heard that in Hofgard, before two armies clash, you people pay attention to some ‘warrior’s glory’ and like sending men out for duels before the lines.

“What is this? Once you came to our Western Frontier, you became turtles hiding in your shells? Are you self-proclaimed warriors, or a pack of ball-less cowards?

“Eh? Hahaha! If you have the nerve, send someone down to fight me!”

That naked provocation and humiliation instantly made the Hofgard soldiers on the wall erupt.

Although they were terrified by the vast army below the city, the fierceness and sense of honor in their bones had been stirred, and they began cursing furiously at the men below.

“Damn Western Frontier dogs! Crawl back into your mothers’ wombs!”

“Foolish swine! Your actions are angering a sleeping lion!”

Naturally, Count Hanard’s personal guards refused to be outdone and immediately answered with even filthier insults.

“Federation brats! Crawl down and kowtow now! Wag your tails and beg like dogs, and perhaps your grandfathers will be in a good mood and spare your dog lives!”

“Oh! Federation man, why do I see your trousers are wet? Is that piss?”

“Hahahaha!”

Atop the city wall, Hammer looked at the arrogant old man below, and his brows drew tighter and tighter. The scar on his chest seemed to ache faintly as well.

He grabbed the horned helmet set by his feet and put it on, then asked Iman for permission to fight in a muffled voice.

“Lord Iman! Lower me with a rope! I will go chop off that old bastard’s head and come right back!”

Iman glanced at him as if he were looking at an idiot and did not bother with such an unrealistic request.

He turned his head and gave a low order to Byrne, the pale-faced military adviser beside him. “Throw it down.”

Byrne’s body trembled slightly, but he immediately turned and gave orders to the soldiers behind him.

The next moment, beneath countless gazes from above and below the city,

a round object was thrown down from the high wall. It traced an arc through the air, then landed with a dull thud, embedding itself deeply into the mud at the foot of the wall.

Below the city, everything instantly fell deathly silent.

It was a human head.

The face was twisted by terror and death, but Count Hanard and the personal guards beside him recognized it at a glance.

It was the very envoy Marquess Marcus had sent into Storm City yesterday to persuade them to surrender!

The wild smile on Count Hanard’s face froze instantly, then transformed into towering rage.

He glared fixedly at Iman on the city wall, his teeth grinding together, and squeezed out a murderous growl from deep in his throat.

“Iman!! I will kill you!!!”

The personal guards beside him were just as furious, their eyes nearly splitting as they gripped their sword hilts and roared in anger.

In stark contrast to them were the Federation defenders atop the wall, who burst into malicious laughter, whistles, and jeers.

Count Hanard forcibly suppressed the impulse to charge forward and risk his life at once. With an ashen face, he ordered one of his personal guards beside him,

“Go... collect the envoy’s head... carefully.”

Then he abruptly turned his horse around and returned to the front of his own army, which was waiting in formation.

With a swish, he drew his greatsword and rode back and forth before the formation.

He struck the flat of his sword against the raised blades and spear points of the front-row soldiers, producing crisp and stirring clangs.

“Soldiers! Warriors of the Western Frontier!”

His voice was hoarse with anger, which made it sound even more savage.

“You all saw it! Those Federation bastards on the wall used the vilest method to insult our envoy and insult the honor of our Western Frontier!

“This battle is no longer merely to recover lost territory. It is for revenge! It is to wash this disgrace in blood!”

He fiercely pointed his greatsword toward Storm City and roared with all his strength.

“I command you! Once the siege begins, leave not one Federation man alive on that wall! Kill them all! Use their blood to honor our warriors!

“The first man to climb onto the wall will be a warrior of my House Hanard. After the city falls, he will be promoted three ranks and rewarded with one thousand gold coins! Kill them all!”

“OHH—!!!”

Those fiercely inciting words and the generous reward instantly ignited the rage within the ten thousand Western Frontier elites.

An earthshaking roar erupted like a tsunami. The soldiers’ fighting spirit rose to its peak, and every man was determined to seize victory.

“All forces—charge!!!” Count Hanard brought his greatsword down hard!

“Kill—!!!”

Like a breached dam, a black tide surged forward!

The shield-and-saber soldiers in the front row roared, raised their heavy shields, and charged toward the wall with fierce steps.

Following close behind them were engineers carrying siege ladders, as well as burly soldiers pushing heavy battering rams.

The entire earth seemed to tremble faintly beneath their steps.

At the rear, Eli calmly raised the recurve bow in his hand. An armor-piercing arrow was already nocked on the string.

His sharp gaze, like that of a hawk, began searching the wall for valuable targets to kill.

On the city wall, Iman looked at the Western Frontier army surging forward like ants below, and a cruel sneer appeared on his face.

He drew in a deep breath and loudly ordered the defenders waiting around him.

“Brothers! Let these Western Frontier dogs who do not know death properly taste Hofgard’s specialty! Fire!”

At his command, and through the hoarse shouts passed down by officers of every rank, an unpleasant grinding of mechanisms came from the battlements and the interiors of the towers.

The next moment—

TWANG—!

WHOOSH—!

Dozens of giant ballista bolts, as thick as long spears, tore out from the firing holes in the wall with shrill whistles that split the air.

At the same time, ordinary arrows as dense as locusts also rose into the air like a dark cloud and covered the charging Western Frontier army!

“Raise shields!”

The experienced veterans of the Western Frontier needed no further urging from their officers and immediately shouted in unison.

In an instant, above the charging formation appeared a moving roof made from countless tightly joined shields.

The clatter of impacts rang out like a sudden storm, and most of the arrows were deflected or blocked by the sturdy shields.

However, those dozens of giant ballista bolts were the true killing move.

They carried terrifying kinetic force, easily tearing through wooden shields and punching through soldiers’ bodies.

One giant bolt could even pierce two or three soldiers in succession, stringing them together like candied fruit on a skewer, bringing up sprays of blood before nailing them heavily to the ground.

Although the absolute number of casualties they caused was not especially high, that unmatched visual impact and the instant chaos they inflicted severely damaged the unstoppable momentum of the Western Frontier army. The spearhead of the charge stalled.

At the rear, Eli’s eyes narrowed as he sat on his horse.

His bowstring trembled, and an arrow wreathed in black aura shot from the string, accurately sinking into the eye socket of an officer commanding the giant ballistae. The man fell backward without even making a sound.

“Suppress the archers on the wall! Aim for those operating the giant ballistae!”

Eli gave the order to the archer unit behind him, and at the same time, the bowstring in his hand rang out again.

His arrows were like Death calling names. With every arrow he loosed,

an archer or ballista operator on the wall fell, either with his throat pierced or his head shot through.

His precise and deadly long-range strikes immediately formed a powerful deterrent against the defenders on the wall.

Many of them were forced to bend down and hide behind the battlements, causing their accuracy and firing frequency to drop greatly.

Hammer hurriedly used his massive body to shield Iman more tightly and reminded him in an urgent voice.

“Lord Iman! Be careful! It is that white-haired little bastard! His archery is damn strange! I suffered greatly from it last time!”

Count Hanard saw everything clearly from within the formation. Seizing the gap while the enemy’s fire was temporarily suppressed by Eli, he raised his sword and roared again.

“They do not have many giant bolts left! Charge with me! The first man to climb onto the wall will be a warrior of House Hanard! Charge!”

Under his encouragement and personal leadership, the Western Frontier army roared again. Enduring the now much sparser rain of giant bolts, they finally reached Storm City’s towering walls!

BOOM—!!!

The heavy battering ram was swung up by the soldiers working together!

With force heavy enough to weigh a thousand jun, it slammed hard into the thick city gate wrapped in iron plating, producing a deafening crash. The entire gatehouse seemed to tremble with it.

At the same time, tall siege ladders were raised with all their strength and leaned against the wall, their iron hooks at the top biting hard into the wall bricks.

Western Frontier soldiers like ants began climbing the swaying ladders with blades clenched between their teeth and small round shields held in one hand, throwing themselves upward without regard for their lives.

The defenders on the wall had also gone red-eyed.

They desperately poured down the rolling logs and stones they had prepared in advance.

They thrust spears fiercely at the soldiers on the siege ladders and dumped boiling filth down over their heads!

Shrill screams, furious roars, the clash of weapons, the thunder of rolling stones...

All of it instantly resounded beneath Storm City.

The bloody and brutal siege had officially raised its curtain.

Every second, lives vanished. Blood... dyed the foundation stones of the wall and the earth below red.

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