Chapter 151 : Chapter 151

Chapter 151. Towering Mountains and Molten Fire, Hofgard!

Paul’s ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍plan was indeed simple and efficient in theory.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍knew clearly that their side was launching a secret surprise attack, relying precisely on the difference in timing and information.

Just ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as Count Quintus and the others had predicted, the main attack direction would inevitably be chosen from Steel Gate, King’s Gate, and Dragon Gate, the three gates that made it easiest to deploy troops.

Concentrating ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍their strength and storming one of them was undoubtedly the most direct and effective method of breaching the city.

Therefore, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his tactical arrangement was to first send small detachments to the other city gates,

especially ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the main city gate, Lion Gate, as well as the remaining gates, to conduct feints and harassment.

By doing so, they could attract and divide Thorne’s defenders and their attention, forcing them to waste time guessing the main direction of the assault.

Then, at the same time, three forces of roughly equal size, each around one thousand men, would be sent to launch strong probing attacks on Steel Gate, King’s Gate, and Dragon Gate respectively.

Through these three contact battles, they would quickly determine which city gate had the relatively weakest defenses,

or where the defenders’ command had fallen into disorder. After that, they would press all their main forces forward and launch an assault regardless of cost, striving to break through in one stroke.

There was no major problem with this plan itself, but its prerequisite was that Thorne City knew nothing of their arrival.

Unfortunately, because Eli had provided an early warning through the intelligence system, and Lucius had responded swiftly, Thorne City had long since been waiting in full battle array.

Paul’s “secret” siege had lost its element of surprise from the very beginning.

......

At this moment, the force sent to attack Dragon Gate was none other than Boulder Sessen of Hofgard, along with more than one thousand two hundred fierce soldiers under his command.

They were like a moving forest of steel, advancing rapidly toward Dragon Gate with a savage momentum.

Dragon Gate had already completed its preparations.

Count Quintus stood at the command position, his gaze cold as he watched the dust rising from the distant fields and the gradually clearer crowd of people.

He narrowed his eyes and, relying on the experience of an old general, quickly estimated the enemy’s numbers.

“About one thousand men… Are they their vanguard force, or the main force of a probing attack?”

He murmured in a low voice. Then, without hesitation, he shouted to the defenders on the wall,

“The enemy is here! Everyone, to your positions! Prepare for battle!”

“Oh!” Above and below the city wall, a unified and low response erupted.

The soldiers tightened their grip on the weapons in their hands, their eyes fixed on the approaching enemy army.

When Sessen led his troops to a certain distance from the city wall, he reined in his horse.

He narrowed his fierce eyes and studied the sight of the city wall waiting in strict formation. A trace of doubt flashed through his heart.

“Something is wrong… Why do these Western Frontier bastards look as though they knew we were coming long ago?

Or is my luck so damned bad that I casually picked one gate and happened to run straight into the main gate they heavily defended?”

The flesh on his rough face twitched, but at this point, the arrow had already left the bowstring. He could not afford to think too much, and he certainly could not retreat.

In Hofgard’s dictionary, the word “cowardice” rarely existed.

Especially when facing a seemingly sturdy defense, their first reaction was often to smash it apart.

“Warriors of Hofgard! Let these Western Frontier weaklings taste our power! Charge! Whoever climbs the wall first will be rewarded with five hundred gold coins!”

Sessen swung his heavy warhammer and roared the order to attack.

“Roar!” The soldiers behind him let out fanatical battle cries and charged toward Dragon Gate like a tide.

Count Quintus calmly watched the enemy army enter the effective range of the bows. He abruptly waved a hand. “Eli!”

Eli, who had been waiting for a long time at the designated command position, immediately gave the order when he heard the signal.

“All archers and crossbowmen! Three volleys! Loose!”

The order was swiftly passed down through officers and signal flags.

In an instant, the air above Dragon Gate rang with the heart-stopping vibration of bowstrings!

Densely packed arrows rose like a sudden swarm of locusts, carrying the shriek of death as they tore through the sky and blanketed the charging Hofgard soldiers!

Unfortunately, the enemy they faced was Towering Mountains and Molten Fire, the Land of the Forge—Hofgard!

The scene that unfolded next made the expressions of many defenders on the city wall change.

Within the charging Hofgard battle formation, Sessen looked at the overwhelming rain of arrows. Not only was there no fear on his face, but a disdainful sneer appeared instead.

He roared in a rough voice, “Flying Shields! Block these toothpicks for me!”

“As you command, Lord Sessen!”

Several Hofgard soldiers operating special ballistae immediately answered.

They pushed forward several strange-looking ballistae. What these ballistae fired was not ordinary giant bolts.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After several dull mechanical sounds, a number of thick “bolts” were shot into the air.

When these bolts reached their highest point, their heads suddenly spun and separated, instantly unfolding into round shields made from some kind of metal!

These spinning “Flying Shields” formed a high-speed rotating barrier in the air.

They either knocked away or shredded a large number of incoming arrows!

Only a scattered few arrows luckily passed through the interception of the “Flying Shields,” but they were easily blocked by the heavy square shields held by the Hofgard soldiers below.

A massive cheer immediately erupted from the Hofgard battle formation.

“Hahaha! Ridiculous Western Frontier men! Is this all the strength your arrows have?”

“Hofgard! Invincible!”

“May the God of Forging bless us!”

Count Quintus’s expression instantly turned ashen. He cursed under his breath, “Damn it! They are Hofgard’s Arrow-Breaking Flying Shields!”

Naturally, he recognized this special defensive weapon from Hofgard, which was specifically used to counter large-scale arrow rain coverage.

Ordinary bowfire would be greatly weakened in effectiveness.

The morale that the defenders had just raised could not help but falter.

Amid the suppressed cries of shock and the enemy’s mocking laughter, Eli said nothing, his face calm.

He quickly drew three armor-piercing arrows from his quiver and nocked them onto his powerful recurve bow. The bowstring was instantly drawn into a full moon.

His eyes were sharp as an eagle’s. He skillfully circulated the battle aura within his body and wrapped it around the arrows. Then, relying on muscle memory honed through countless repetitions, he loosened his fingers!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The three sharp arrows shot from the string almost one after another, like three bolts of black lightning!

They precisely avoided the trajectories of the spinning Flying Shields in the air, carrying a shrill sound as they tore through the wind and crossed the distance in an instant!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Three muffled sounds rang out almost simultaneously!

Among the three Hofgard soldiers charging at the front, one was even a minor leader wielding a battle-axe.

The savage grins on their faces instantly froze. Their sturdy leather armor and chain mail were pierced through like paper!

The three men fell backward without making a sound, arrow fletchings still trembling in their chests or throats!

The cheering stopped abruptly.

The Hofgard soldiers stared in shock at their fallen companions.

Eli’s expression did not change. Helen, who stood beside him, had already cleverly handed over three more arrows.

Eli took the arrows, nocked them, drew the bow, and fired. His movements were smooth.

Another three arrows shot out!

Another three Hofgard soldiers charging at the front fell in response!

One arrow possessed such tremendous force that it actually pierced straight through a thick shield, impaling the hand of the soldier behind it along with his throat!

This godlike archery not only shocked the enemy army, but also greatly encouraged the defenders atop the wall.

After a brief silence, thunderous cheers erupted from the walls of Dragon Gate!

“Lord Eli’s divine archery!”

“Too amazing!”

“Ohhh! Kill them all!”

Count Quintus also recovered from the momentary setback. Taking advantage of the momentum, he raised his sword high and roared,

“Did you see that? Those Federation brats are nothing to fear! Prepare for battle! Let them come and never return!”

“Oh!” The defenders’ morale soared, and they tightened their grip on their weapons as they glared at the approaching enemies below.

Although Eli’s few arrows were precise and fatal, they could not completely halt a charge of more than one thousand men.

The brutal battle for the city wall officially drew back its bloody curtain.

Since ordinary arcing arrow volleys were ineffective, Eli decisively ordered the archers to stop wasting arrows.

Instead, they assisted the defending infantry by throwing the prepared stones and rolling logs down from the wall.

The defending infantry hurled javelins downward with all their strength, or used long spears to stab at enemies attempting to climb.

The soldiers of Hofgard were indeed fierce and brave.

With stones, rolling logs, and javelins constantly falling overhead, they held their shields firmly above their heads.

Like a moving tortoise shell, they stubbornly rushed to the foot of the city wall.

They swiftly set up a special type of siege ladder and, with beast-like roars coming from their mouths, began climbing madly toward the top of the wall.

At the same time, fighting also broke out in the directions of King’s Gate and Steel Gate.

Clearly, the other two probing attacks in Paul’s plan had also been launched simultaneously.

Fortunately, Thorne City had made sufficient preparations, and with Lucius’s early warning and unified command,

the defensive lines at the other two gates remained stable, with no major problems arising.

Time passed slowly and cruelly amid the bloody slaughter.

Under Count Quintus’s command, Dragon Gate’s defense appeared watertight.

Although the Hofgard soldiers were brave and well-equipped, under circumstances where the defenders held the advantage in numbers, terrain, preparation, and high morale, their attacks were repelled again and again.

At the foot of the city wall, more than a hundred Hofgard soldiers’ corpses had already fallen.

The wounded were even more numerous, while the defenders’ casualties were relatively much smaller.

In the distance, Sessen watched the battle from horseback, his expression so dark it seemed ready to drip water.

He stared fixedly at the white-haired figure on the city wall who kept drawing his bowstring, his intense killing intent almost becoming tangible.

His adjutant carefully approached, his voice filled with fear and unease.

“Lord Sessen… this… this situation is not right. The defenders are too well prepared, and our losses are not small. Should we…”

Sessen abruptly reached out, grabbed the adjutant by the collar, and lifted his entire body until his feet left the ground.

“What are you trying to say? Withdraw? There is no withdrawal in the dictionary of Hofgard’s warriors!”

The adjutant’s face turned deathly pale from fear, and he hurriedly changed his words. “I was wrong! Lord Sessen! That is not what I meant!”

Sessen slammed him heavily onto the ground, breathing roughly.

He stared at Dragon Gate, which had still not fallen after repeated attacks, then looked at the white-haired archer on the city wall who made his teeth itch with hatred. At last, he unwillingly forced a sentence through his clenched teeth.

“You! Ride back at once! Tell that pretty boy!

If he does not send the main force to support us, I will immediately take my men and withdraw! As for Thorne City, whoever wants to attack it can attack it!”

The adjutant, who had been slammed to the ground, answered aggrievedly.

He wondered whether “withdraw” and “retreat” did not mean the same thing…