Chapter 190

Chapter 190. The Wound of War

“Attack! ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Keep attacking! Do not stop!”

Count ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Hanard’s roar sounded somewhat hoarse amid the deafening cries of battle, yet it was still filled with unquestionable resolve.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍battlefield had already become a vast whirlpool devouring lives.

Eli ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was positioned in the relatively safe archer formation, but the web between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand had already split from drawing the bowstring. Thin lines of blood seeped out, bringing waves of burning pain.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍could no longer remember how many arrows he had shot, nor could he remember which wave of the allied army’s offensive this was.

As ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍far as the eye could see, above and below the wall alike, it was hell on earth.

Suddenly, a roar full of wild joy came from ahead.

“They’re up! Our brothers are up!”

“It’s Lord Wolfgang! He charged onto the wall!”

Eli’s spirits lifted, and his sharp gaze immediately turned toward the direction of the voices.

There, on one section of the wall, Wolfgang’s burly gray figure stood tall and clear!

Bloodthirsty fighting spirit burned in his golden pupils. Each time his sharp claws swung out, they stirred up a storm of blood and gore, tearing the Hofgard soldiers swarming toward him apart like straw.

With himself as the spearhead, he forcibly tore open a small gap among the dense defenders, buying precious time and space for the soldiers behind him who were trying to climb the siege ladders.

Naturally, Iman on the wall noticed this extraordinarily ferocious Wolf-kin at once.

His huge frame and terrifying killing power stood out like a beacon amid the chaotic battlefield.

A cold light flashed in Iman’s eyes, and he barked sharply at Hammer, who had long since been unable to restrain himself.

“Hammer! Go! Kill that beast for me!”

“OHH—!”

Hammer let out a wild battle cry. He had been waiting for this chance for far too long!

New grudges and old hatred surged up together. He swung that terrifying huge hammer and, like a maddened bull, knocked aside his own soldiers blocking the way as he charged with astonishing speed toward Wolfgang’s position!

Wolfgang instantly sensed the deadly threat coming from his flank and rear.

He had just driven a claw through a spear-wielding soldier in front of him, armor and all, when from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of that massive figure rushing in with a foul wind.

He growled low, his powerful hind legs suddenly exerting force as he dodged sharply to the side!

BOOM—!

Hammer’s furious blow smashed down hard onto the spot where Wolfgang had just been standing.

The solid battlement stone was blasted into flying fragments by that strike, leaving a clear dent behind.

“Hmph!”

When Hammer’s attack missed, the flesh on his face twitched, and he revealed a cruel sneer.

With a twist of his wrist, he used the momentum of the hammer striking the ground to sweep it fiercely toward Wolfgang’s legs!

This follow-up change was extremely fast.

Facing that sinister sweep, Wolfgang ultimately failed to avoid it completely.

RRRIP—!

The edge of the heavy hammer brushed past Wolfgang’s left hind leg.

Even his tough fur and muscles could not fully withstand that heavy blow infused with battle aura.

A wound deep enough to reveal bone instantly appeared, and blood immediately poured out.

Wolfgang grunted, and his movements could not help stalling.

It was only this instant of delay, but more Hofgard soldiers around him had already swarmed in like sharks scenting blood. Spears and battle-axes pointed at him from every direction!

“Wolfgang!” From the rear, Eli, who had been closely watching the battle, shouted urgently.

Wolfgang abruptly turned his head, and his gaze met Eli’s in midair.

In an instant, he understood the message carried in those eyes.

A fierce sense of humiliation and unwillingness surged up within him.

He let out a low growl suppressing his fury, no longer lingering in battle. Enduring the sharp pain in his leg, he suddenly leaped backward.

His sharp claws dug deep into the seams between the wall bricks, and using several protrusions on the wall and a still-swaying siege ladder as buffers,

He made several agile yet somewhat battered leaps and narrowly dropped back down from the battlements.

He landed unsteadily, panting heavily. Blood gushed from the wound on his left leg, and he could barely stand.

Seeing this, several nearby Western Frontier soldiers immediately rushed forward, using their shoulders to support his enormous body as they dragged him toward the safer rear.

On the wall, the Hofgard defenders who witnessed Wolfgang’s retreat erupted into thunderous cheers, their morale soaring.

Iman stood steadily at the command position on the gate tower. His battlefield command was clearly proving effective.

The resilience and discipline shown by the Hofgard soldiers far exceeded the allied army’s earlier estimates.

Under his direction, the defenders had already succeeded several times in breaking apart the allied army’s fierce attempts to scale the wall, just as they had repelled Wolfgang moments ago.

Count Hanard watched as the gap Wolfgang had just opened with his blood was swiftly blocked again by more defenders.

He could not help slamming his fist against the railing of the command cart beside him and letting out a helpless sigh.

He anxiously swept his gaze across the entire battlefield.

At the city gate, dozens of burly Western Frontier men were still heaving the heavy battering ram back and forth under their officers’ shouted cadence, striking that massive gate wrapped in thick iron plating again and again.

“Put your backs into it!”

“One, two, strike!”

“Again!”

However, Storm City’s gate answered every impact with its famed sturdiness.

Aside from thunderous, muffled booms and slight tremors, it still did not move in the slightest.

At this moment, the area near the base of the wall was already covered with layers of rolling logs, falling stones, broken spears thrown down by the defenders, and...

more and more Western Frontier corpses, piled one over another.

Blood gathered into trickling streams, soaking the withered yellow earth and giving off a nauseating stench.

Count Hanard raised his head and looked at that wall, which was so towering it almost inspired despair. An absurd resentment even rose in his heart against his will.

Why did the people who built this city in the first place have to make its walls so tall, so strong?

Just then, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

Atop the wall, many defenders were working together to lift huge wooden barrels, pouring the viscous black liquid inside down toward the allied soldiers still climbing or gathering beneath the wall.

Fire oil!

“Fire oil! It’s fire oil! Everyone! Retreat at once! Retreat now!!!”

The vague thought from earlier instantly became terrifyingly clear in Count Hanard’s mind.

Retreat!

He used the greatest strength of his life and shouted the order until his voice tore.

The seasoned veterans below needed no officers to repeat the command. The moment they smelled that familiar and terrifying scent, and saw that black rain pouring down from above, they had already realized that disaster was descending upon them.

Terror spread instantly like a plague.

The soldiers who received the retreat order could no longer care about formation or discipline. Like startled deer, they desperately turned and fled away from the wall.

“Dilan! Hurry, go!”

Amid the chaos, a Western Frontier soldier was struggling to support his younger brother, who had fallen from a siege ladder and whose legs were clearly broken, trying to drag him away with him.

“Brother! Leave me! Go! Go by yourself!”

The injured younger brother’s face was covered in blood and tears as he shoved his elder brother hard.

“Shut up! Mother told us to—” Before the elder brother could finish, a gray figure swept past like a whirlwind.

It was Wolfgang!

Although his leg was wounded, the moment he saw this critical scene, he forced out a breath and rushed forward.

With his still-incomparably powerful arms, he scooped up the two brothers at once and hurled them toward the relatively safe rear like throwing parcels.

Seeing this, other nearby soldiers who were retreating immediately stepped forward. They lifted the crying brothers and supported them as they continued fleeing backward.

At that moment, beneath the wall where the burning line of death had not yet fully risen, only Wolfgang and a dozen or so Western Frontier soldiers who had volunteered to remain were left.

They rescued the wounded who had fallen to the ground, howling and unable to move on their own, desperately dragging them away from that doomed place.

Atop the wall, a Hofgard officer raised a blazing torch high with a cruel smile on his face. His arm drew back, and he was about to throw it down into the area drenched with fire oil!

Eli, who had been staring fixedly at the movements atop the wall, moved.

Almost by instinct, he raised his bow and nocked an arrow again, aiming at that officer’s head.

Even though the web of his hand hurt terribly, even though his arm felt as heavy as if it had been filled with lead.

WHOOSH—!

The arrow left the string and pierced accurately into the officer’s throat!

The savage smile on his face froze instantly, and the torch raised high slipped from his powerless hand, falling onto the walkway of the wall and scattering a few sparks.

“Wolfgang! Go!!”

Eli roared hoarsely toward the front.

At the same time, he saw another Federation soldier above bend down, preparing to throw the fallen torch below.

Eli held his breath and forced himself to draw the bowstring again. The pain of muscle fibers tearing came clearly from his arm.

He aimed at the torch drifting through the air, drawing the bowstring into a full moon.

This was the only long-range intervention he could make!

SNAP—!

A heart-stopping sound of rupture rang out.

The recurve bow that had followed him through so many battles finally failed to withstand continuous overuse. At this moment, its string completely snapped.

The broken bowstring recoiled like a whip, lashing hard across Eli’s already battered right hand.

A bloody wound deep enough to reveal bone instantly appeared on his right hand, and blood gushed out.

“Damn it!” Eli groaned in pain, his heart sinking sharply.

Fortunately, in the instant before the torch fell,

Wolfgang and the last dozen soldiers had already dragged and hauled the final wounded men out of that death zone with everything they had, retreating to a relatively safe distance.

And in that very moment, defenders at other positions on the wall had already thrown down more torches.

BOOM—!!!

A blazing wall of fire rose violently along the base of Storm City’s wall, accompanied by a deafening explosion of flame.

Orange-red fire danced madly, instantly devouring everything below—the siege ladders, the battering ram, the scattered weapons, and... the remains of the Western Frontier soldiers who had failed to withdraw in time.

The scorching wave of heat even forced the retreating allied soldiers to stumble backward again and again. The leaping firelight reflected on their faces, which were filled with fear and lingering horror.

Enduring the piercing pain in his right hand, Eli dismounted from his horse.

He rushed forward and, together with several soldiers, supported the nearly exhausted Wolfgang before quickly retreating farther back to safety.

At that moment, Count Hanard was standing among the routed troops, shouting himself hoarse as he tried to gather and reorganize the surviving force.

His face was filled with defeat, rage, and grief he could not conceal.

Eli’s gaze swept across the chaotic and miserable scene before him, and he made a rough estimate.

Of the vanguard force that had originally numbered ten thousand, those still able to stand and gather under the banners now likely...

numbered only half.

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