The Exiled Lord: My Maid is a Battle Goddess

Chapter 357: The Border Defense(3)

A squad of wolfkin archers sprinted to the edge of the wall.

These were genuine soldiers who had undergone proper training with the First Army.

"Wolfkin? Where on earth did you find mercenaries like them?"

Annie Rui’s lips twitched.

The composition of Nightfall Domain’s army was becoming increasingly bizarre.

"Don’t underestimate them."

Phield smiled.

"Every single one of them is a master marksman."

He raised his hand and shouted,

"Shoot those climbing undead off the wall!"

The wolfkin archers moved with perfect synchronization, like a finely tuned production line.

They drew their bows and nocked their arrows with incredible speed.

Each arrow was crafted from Holy Light feathers and coated with Purification Potion, making them especially lethal against the undead.

The arrows filled the sky like a swarm of locusts.

One after another, they struck the climbing undead with astonishing precision.

The instant the Holy Light touched their bodies, dazzling flames erupted.

The brilliant radiance outshone even the illumination spells cast by the mages nearby.

The overwhelming majority of the climbing undead never even reached the top of the wall.

They transformed into glowing spheres of light before tumbling back to the ground.

Only a handful managed to endure the injuries and climb onto the battlements, desperately knocking aside the soldiers’ spears before engaging the defenders in bloody hand-to-hand combat.

"These wolfkin are impressive."

Annie Rui curled her lips.

"No wonder they’ve managed to survive the Empire’s suppression for so many years."

She drew the longsword from her waist and picked up a shield.

"I alone am enough to deal with the undead that make it onto the wall."

"Oh?"

Phield looked genuinely surprised.

"I didn’t expect you to help."

"I’m not fighting for you."

Annie Rui’s magic power erupted around her.

"I’m fighting for the Empire."

She charged toward the remaining undead.

With the climbing undead surrounded and eliminated, the rebels’ First Undead Legion was virtually annihilated.

Boom!

A deafening impact echoed across the battlefield.

One battering ram finally reached the fortress gate.

The soldiers inside heaved together, driving the massive ram straight into the iron gate with a thunderous crash.

Before they could strike again, concentrated fire from the magic towers and catapults swept through the attackers.

Every enemy around the gate was wiped out.

Rebel soldiers fell in waves beneath the fortress’s defensive weapons.

"Third Tier Divine Skill, Bloodshadow Spiral!"

Moving like a phantom, Veronica dodged an incoming ballista bolt before leaping onto the pile of corpses before the gate.

She cursed coldly as divine power surged once more.

Her spiral lance began spinning at terrifying speed.

Crimson light wrapped around the weapon, while a nauseating stench of blood spread through the air.

Boom!

The devastating Divine Skill slammed directly into the fortress gate.

The impact was even greater than the battering ram.

Dust and stone rained from the walls.

Even the massive iron gate was badly deformed.

"Haa... haa..."

Having unleashed two powerful attacks in rapid succession, Veronica chose not to push herself any further.

She immediately withdrew.

The rebels’ Second and Third Undead Legions, together with the human army, advanced carrying large numbers of siege ladders while escorting towering siege towers toward the fortress gates.

The siege had truly begun.

The defenders immediately unleashed another storm of arrows.

Soldiers and undead climbing the ladders fell like rain.

Undead ranged units and human archers returned fire relentlessly.

Cries of pain erupted from the battlements as defenders were struck, and the intensity of the fortress’s firepower gradually diminished.

Although the defensive weapons claimed rebel lives every second, the attackers were simply too numerous.

There seemed to be no end to them.

The soldiers crowded before the gate quickly cleared away corpses and rubble before pushing forward a second battering ram.

The assault resumed.

"Excellent."

"The battle is already decided."

"As expected of Baron Larson, one of the Empire’s greatest military geniuses."

Several high-ranking commanders stood atop an observation platform, casually discussing the battle.

Sir Larson flicked his cloak before proudly taking his seat.

He nodded slightly toward everyone present.

"Ladies and gentlemen, once you’ve captured the fortress, you’ll be able to leave Rick Province as quickly as possible."

"The other commanders have all achieved considerable success."

A graceful lady wearing a monocle elegantly raised her wine glass.

"I believe our Leader will soon regain a complete physical body."

"The disturbance you’ve caused this time is enormous."

Larson chuckled.

"You’ve sacrificed nearly half a province. I doubt even Her Majesty the Empress can continue tolerating your activities."

He smiled again.

"When it’s time to leave, don’t forget to settle my payment properly."

"I’ve wagered my entire future on this."

"Miss Aurora, the Church had better remember to pay me as well."

"Naturally."

The woman dressed in white robes nodded.

"The Holy Light shall bless you."

She clasped her hands in prayer.

"We love all lost lambs equally."

"I’ve always been curious."

Larson tilted his head thoughtfully.

"Once your Leader leaves the Empire, where will she go? South to Fralanvia? Or west to The Blue Dragon and the Magic Tower United Empire?"

"Surely not east."

"I’ve heard the heretics have already subjugated most of the small kingdoms along the way and are still continuing their western campaign."

"None of those."

The priest who had once commanded Sistina smiled as he stroked his beard.

"That is not something someone of your rank is permitted to know."

"You only need to continue lurking within the Griffin Empire."

"When our Leader returns, she will become the undisputed Empress of the Griffin Empire."

"The foolish rule of the Golden Griffin family will come to an end."

"And by then..."

"The descent of the true god will no longer be far away."

"I can hardly wait."

Larson sliced off a piece of steak with his knife.

"I dream about that day constantly."

He chuckled.

"By the way, don’t you think the title ’Tulip’ suits me rather well?"

Before the priest could answer, agonizing screams suddenly erupted from the front lines.

"Hm?"

Everyone turned toward the source of the cries.

Scalding human waste poured down from the walls like a waterfall.

Soldiers screamed as they tumbled from ladders and siege towers.

The stench alone was almost enough to suffocate people.

Veronica watched in disbelief as the boiling filth seeped through the gaps of a battering ram and splashed onto one soldier’s neck.

Clutching his neck, the soldier let out a heart-wrenching scream.

"Kill me!"

"Kill me!"

Within moments, he collapsed unconscious.

The flesh around his neck had already rotted away into a festering wound.

Many soldiers were literally scalded to death.

Even those who survived suffered massive skin decay from the slightest contact.

In this era, infections of that severity were almost always fatal.

As for magical healing...

The noble mages had no interest in saving ordinary soldiers.

They would rather spend their energy rescuing a stray kitten.

Besides, with so many infected, there simply weren’t enough mages to treat everyone.

The horrifying screams terrified the surrounding soldiers so badly that many no longer dared advance.

"Keep attacking!"

Holding her breath against the unbearable stench, Veronica shouted angrily.

"How in the world did they come up with something this disgusting?"

Normally, defenders only poured boiling oil.

This was the first time she had ever seen boiling human waste used in a siege.

Phield grinned.

"Load the Corruption arrows."

"Repeating crossbowmen, exchange fire with their archers!"

The repeating crossbow units of Nightfall Domain raised their sleek repeating crossbows and aimed at the enemy archers.

Then they unleashed a coordinated volley.

"What trick are they using this time?"

The question had barely crossed Veronica’s mind before a torrential rain of arrows descended from above.

The rebel archers dropped one after another like wheat before the harvest.

Repeating crossbows possessed almost no armor-piercing capability.

But firing from above against lightly armored archers...

It was nothing short of a massacre.