Chapter 152 : Chapter 152

Chapter 152. O Lord of Ten Thousand Rivers Woven from Silver Waves!

Inside ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the temporary command tent, the atmosphere was oppressive.

Paul ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍listened as the messengers sent back from the three gate directions reported almost identical content in voices either panicked or dejected.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍attacks had been frustrated. The defenders’ defenses were tight. They could not advance a single step.

Steel ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Gate, King’s Gate, Dragon Gate… not a single one had achieved the expected progress. They had not even managed to create sufficient chaos.

Thorne ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍City’s defense was like a single piece of cast iron, seamless and impenetrable.

An ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍indescribable exhaustion and frustration instantly drowned Paul.

He dismissed the messengers and stood alone in the center of the tent.

He did not understand. No matter what, he could not understand it.

They had clearly relied on the advantage of a surprise attack and superior information, so how had they fallen into such a passive situation from the very beginning?

A traitor? He quickly ruled out that possibility.

Although the allied army was riddled with internal contradictions, betraying intelligence to the Western Frontier people would bring no benefit to any side. It would only cause them all to perish together.

Then the only explanation…

Yes. It had to be that old fox Bernard!

He had provided the intelligence about the upheaval in the royal capital and the emptiness of the Western Frontier, urging them to launch this offensive that seemed to present such an enormous opportunity.

Yet he had very likely sold them out as well, informing the Governor of the Western Frontier of the news. Then, relying on the merit of that intelligence, he could ascend to a high position.

Whether they won or lost, he would be the winner!

They had been used. They had completely become chess pieces Bernard used to test the Western Frontier’s strength and even stir up the kingdom’s situation!

After thinking this through, Paul took two steps back and slumped into his chair.

At the side, an old man whose face was covered by a strange mask formed from flowing clear water slowly stepped forward.

He was Priest Will, the priest accompanying the Wanliu army, responsible for spiritual guidance.

“Paul, my child. You are not standing on a firm riverbank now, but on a small boat in the middle of a rushing river…

The wind and waves, the hidden reefs, these are all tests given to you by the Lord of Ten Thousand Rivers. The rushing current seems as though it will devour you, but this is not a dead end.”

He extended a withered hand and gently placed it on Paul’s trembling shoulder.

“Even if they saw through our intentions and knew of our arrival, they cannot possibly conjure more soldiers out of thin air.

The present plan is to make a quick decision. Choose one gate and concentrate all our strength there.

Like rivers flowing into the narrowest gorge, we will strike it with the strongest impact and crush it!

Although the people of Hofgard are reckless, one cannot deny that their courage and combat strength are worthy of trust during an assault on a fortified position…”

Wanliu’s territory was filled with rivers and lakes. The lives and faith of its people were closely tied to water.

They worshiped Turner, the God of Rivers, believing that life originated from water and would ultimately return to water’s embrace.

Water was both the source of their strength and the spiritual sustenance they entrusted themselves to.

Priest Will’s words slightly extinguished the agitation in Paul’s heart.

He was silent for a moment. “I understand, Priest Will. Please… baptize me.”

Hearing this, Priest Will immediately took a water jug from the low table beside him. It was filled with clear drinking water.

He walked behind Paul and began chanting an ancient prayer while slightly tilting the jug.

Cool water poured down from the top of Paul’s head, slowly flowing along his hair, cheeks, and neck…

“In the name of all surging, tranquil, and profound waters, we revere You, Lord of Ten Thousand Rivers Woven from Silver Waves!…”

“…Please bestow Your grace, so that every river may flow as it once did, and so that all living beings who believe in You may forever see hope in Your shimmering waves!”

Paul closed his eyes and allowed the water to envelop his entire body.

“…Open your eyes, child!” Priest Will chanted loudly at the end. “You shall be reborn!”

The flow of water stopped.

Paul abruptly opened his eyes. That pair of eyes had regained its calm.

He no longer hesitated. He strode outside the tent and ordered the personal soldiers guarding there,

“Call over those messengers from just now, as well as every messenger you can contact!”

Very quickly, several messengers from different city-states gathered before the tent in some panic.

Paul’s gaze swept over them.

“Pass down my order! Have your respective lords immediately stop the harassment and probing attacks against the other city gates!

Gather every soldier they can gather and move to the outside of Dragon Gate at the fastest speed possible!”

“The time for the decisive battle has come! Tell your masters that the first force to break through Dragon Gate—

its leader, I, Paul Botticelli, will promise in the name of the Six-Crown Council of the Wanliu Federation to grant him the title of Alliance Count!”

“Yes!” The messengers froze for a moment, then immediately answered in unison. They quickly mounted their horses and galloped madly toward their respective forces.

Below Dragon Gate, the battle was still continuing, but the Hofgard attack was clearly showing signs of exhaustion.

More and more corpses had piled up at the foot of the wall, and blood had dyed the earth red.

Sessen gritted his teeth as he watched the warriors under him fall one after another from the siege ladders, or get pierced through by the defenders’ spears at the top of the wall. His heart was bleeding.

The muscles on his rough face twisted, and he had already begun to consider withdrawing.

Paying such a heavy price for a mere probing attack did not match the Hofgard people’s usual principle of “plunder first.”

Just as he tightened his grip on his warhammer and prepared to order a withdrawal, the adjutant he had sent to request reinforcements rode back on horseback, his face filled with excitement and urgency as he shouted loudly from afar.

“Lord Sessen! Lord Sessen! Alliance Lord Paul has issued an order! Gather all forces and make Dragon Gate the main attack point!

They will arrive soon! The Alliance Lord has promised—the one who breaches the city will be rewarded with the title of count!”

“Count?!” Sessen’s eyes widened abruptly, and he almost thought he had misheard.

A count!

That meant noble status and honor passed down through generations!

This reward was enough to drive anyone mad!

In an instant, he threw the thoughts of casualties and withdrawal completely out of his mind.

He abruptly raised his warhammer and, using all his strength, let out a heaven-shaking roar toward his already somewhat dispirited subordinates.

“Warriors! Did you all hear that? Our reinforcements are arriving soon!

The Alliance Lord has ordered Dragon Gate to be the main attack point! The first to kill his way in will become a count!

For Hofgard! For the title of count! Kill!”

“Ohhh!”

The Hofgard soldiers, whose morale had originally been low, were once again ignited by this sudden enormous reward and the news of reinforcements.

Greed and frenzy reignited in their eyes, and they climbed toward the city wall with even greater bravery.

This time, even Sessen himself, who had been staying in the rear to command, gave up watching the battle.

He roared wildly, swung that heavy warhammer, and rushed personally toward the foot of the wall like a berserk giant bear!

He wanted to personally smash open this gate that blocked his path to the title of count!

“My lord! The city-defense supplies, the rolling logs and throwing stones, are nearly gone!” An officer ran to Count Quintus with an anxious face and reported.

Count Quintus’s expression was dark. Looking at the enemy army surging forward again below, he knew that the most critical moment had arrived.

“Baron Ron! Take the reserve force and my guard unit. Send all of them forward!

Go wherever the danger is most critical and reinforce it! We absolutely cannot let the enemy climb onto the wall!”

“Yes!” Ron had long since been unable to hold himself back. He immediately led a group of elite soldiers and charged toward the most fiercely contested section of the battlements.

On the wall, Eli had just kicked a Hofgard soldier who had managed to poke his head up from a siege ladder harshly back down.

His sharp gaze crossed the chaotic battlefield and was drawn into the distance.

At the distant horizon, countless black silhouettes were sweeping toward Dragon Gate like a flood bursting through a dam!

The main force! The enemy’s main force had finally moved!

Eli’s heart tightened. He immediately pulled over two nearby soldiers who looked fairly quick-witted.

“You two! Run to Lion Gate at once with all possible speed and report to Lord Lucius in person!

Tell him that the enemy’s main force has clearly determined its attack direction, and that direction is our Dragon Gate! Request urgent reinforcements! Hurry!”

“Yes, Lord Eli!” The two soldiers realized how urgent the situation was. Without the slightest hesitation, they turned and ran down the wall.

After that, Eli turned toward the officer responsible for defending this section of the wall and ordered sternly,

“Fire oil! Move all the remaining fire oil up here! Quickly!”

A trace of hesitation appeared on that officer’s face. “Lord Eli, Lord Quintus instructed before that the fire oil must be used cautiously, reserved for the most critical moment…”

“This is the most critical moment!” Eli interrupted him. “Carry out the order! Hurry!”

Seeing the unquestionable resolve in Eli’s eyes, the officer said no more and immediately roared,

“Yes! All sections, pay attention! Move the fire oil! Prepare to pour!”

The order was swiftly passed down.

Sealed jars of fire oil were lifted up to the battlements by the defenders working together.

Below, Sessen, who was charging forward, also noticed the defenders’ unusual movements on the wall and the clay jars being carried up.

Although his mind was not particularly sharp, he had seen the power of defensive fire oil before.

His expression changed, and he roared toward the surrounding soldiers,

“Fall back! Spread out! They are going to pour fire oil!”

However, his warning was terribly weak amid the fanatical charge and the noise of the battlefield.

Most of the Hofgard soldiers simply could not hear it, and even if they did, it was too late to react.

Under Sessen’s gaze, which was nearly splitting with rage, Eli personally took a lit fire arrow and nocked it onto his bow.

At the same time, along each section of the city wall, the defending soldiers exerted all their strength to pour the heavy jars of fire oil down toward the densest areas of the enemy troops below the wall.

Viscous black-brown fire oil poured down like a waterfall of death.

Eli released the bowstring.

The fire arrow carried a trail of sparks and shot accurately into the area below that was covered in fire oil.

BOOM—!

A fierce wall of fire instantly rose into the air!

Tongues of flame wildly licked the air, giving off crackling explosions!

The scorching wave of heat even forced the defenders atop the wall to retreat!

The Hofgard soldiers who had not withdrawn in time were instantly swallowed by the sea of fire, letting out incomparably shrill screams.

They struggled and danced like human torches, finally turning into charcoal.

The blazing flames temporarily blocked the enemy’s subsequent charge and turned the ground below the wall into a field of death.

“Ahhh!” Sessen watched his subordinates wail and die in the sea of fire, and his eyes instantly turned bloodred.

He stared fixedly at the white-haired figure on the wall who had lowered his longbow and let out a beast-like roar.

“You white-haired bastard! I will absolutely kill you!

I will throw you into the furnace and make you the brightest charcoal in Hofgard’s forge! I swear it!”

The defenders on the city wall looked at the enemy army below, temporarily blocked by the sea of fire, and gained a brief moment to breathe. Cheers of survival after disaster erupted from them.

.......

The two soldiers Eli had sent out exhausted every ounce of their strength and finally rushed to Lion Gate, panting heavily as they met Lucius.

“Lord Lucius! Lord Eli sent us here with an urgent report!

The enemy’s main force has clearly moved. They are gathering with full strength, and their main attack direction is Dragon Gate! He requests urgent support!”

Lucius’s brows instantly tightened.

The enemy had indeed chosen to concentrate their strength and break through at one point, and the pressure Dragon Gate would bear would exceed imagination.

He did not hesitate in the slightest. “Messenger!”

“Here!”

“Immediately send people to notify the commanders of King’s Gate, Steel Gate, and all other city gates as quickly as possible!

Apart from the forces needed to maintain basic vigilance, immediately draw out all of their troops and have their deputy commanders lead them at full speed to gather and reinforce the Dragon Gate area!”

“Yes!” The messenger accepted the order and sprinted away.

Lucius’s gaze then turned toward a fully armed Golden Lion Knight inside the tent. “Baron Parr!”

“Here, Sir!” A middle-aged knight stepped forward.

“Immediately lead all the Golden Lion Knights and go ahead first. Hurry to Dragon Gate at the fastest speed possible to reinforce them! You must stabilize the defensive line!”

“Sir, all of them? Your safety…”

“Go!”

“As you command!” Baron Parr immediately struck his right fist against his chest and strode away quickly.

Lucius stood where he was, his gaze looking in Dragon Gate’s direction.

There was still no expression on his cold face. Only the hand gripping his sword had knuckles that had faintly turned white.

Eli, hold on…