Chapter 259
259 Siege of the Ice Fortress
On one side, there are those trying to climb up the ladder. On the other side, there are those pounding the fortress wall with siege weapons they brought. The mages below the wall, maintaining magical energy on the wall, exert even more power.
[Hold your ground. No need to worry.]
[Don't rush.]
Seems like observing similar scenes, Chang Je-ri sent me a brief communication. It's evident that the knights of the Holy Order are maintaining a densely packed formation with shields, protecting the siege engines.
The magic and arrows falling from above are all blocked by shields. It's not just on my side. Although still in preparation, if a massive hammer imbued with magic continuously strikes the wall, it's inevitable that a hole will be made.
Chang Je-ri moved to snipe the knights protecting the siege engines.
It's indeed unsettling to send Chang Je-ri, who is still in the early stages of pregnancy. If Park Hancheol wasn't sticking close to Chang Je-ri, I would never have allowed her to move.
Shiiiiiiing.
The sound of the air tearing accompanied the announcement of the Reaper's scythe being present.
"Aaaaaaah!"
The guys whose throats were cut without even knowing English were visible. There were occasionally those whose arms and legs were severed, but perhaps because the range was kept large, the siege weapons brought by these guys were also destroyed.
With each swing of the scythe from above, dozens of heads roll. Arrows and magic aimed at Chang Je-ri are all blocked by Park Hancheol's shield. Chang Je-ri's attacks are certainly making an impact on the Holy Order, but I had no choice but to communicate with her.
[Don't push too hard.]
[I know. Sir.]
It's still the early stages of the battle. Judging by the absence of notable figures other than Je-ri, it might be accurate to assume that this is an attempt to deplete our forces' stamina. Even if it's not Je-ri, others can certainly inflict damage on the Holy Order.
My speculation seems to be correct, as the sounds of explosions start echoing from various places.
Then, the voice of the Sword Saint resounds again.
- Advance!
The next wave of forces is pushing forward.
"Ugh... damn, there are too many. No end in sight."
Choi Seulgi muttered beside me, prompting me to speak.
"Probably, the main force is still far away. They'll probably come up with the Sword Saint. After the fortress wall is breached."
"After the fortress is breached?"
I nodded, and Choi Seulgi did the same. Even though it hadn't been much time since they rushed under the fortress wall, an enormous number of bodies had already piled up outside. As time passed, ladders might lose their significance. It seemed like corpses would pile up enough for them to climb over, even stepping on the bodies of our own soldiers.
Apart from the towering fortress wall, there were areas we couldn't grasp due to its broad expanse. The central part was entrusted to the knights from the north, and Je-ri, who I couldn't identify, guarded the left side where I was. The right side was under the control of the Queen from the north. Of course, there were scattered individuals from the east and north, but the basic formation was like this.
Greenbelt Clan members, the master of the Frost Dragon Guild, and powerful figures representing the city from the east and north were exerting their strength.
It wasn't a matter of great concern, but if the stamina continued to deplete, a hole would undoubtedly appear, affecting both the powerful figures and the ordinary soldiers.
Our soldiers were quite busy. They had to shoot the guys climbing the fortress wall from below using hooks, ladders, or their unique abilities. They also had to shoot arrows toward the other units that had started charging again.
It felt like playing an endless defense game.
Kwaaaaaah!
Sounds of magic explosions echoed from various places. Explosive magic dropped between the humans surging like a pack of wolves from the south and west, causing some to fly into the air, but they continued their advance.
"What the hell, is this a factory production line? Or maybe a package loading and unloading operation?"
"Pfft."
I couldn't help but smile at Choi Seulgi's words. His analogy seemed quite fitting.
Like continuously pushing items into a container belt, they were forcefully pushing in troops. However, it wasn't like they could load the front cargo into a vehicle or that troops could come up. The scenery had gradually turned into a hellish path.
"Save me!"
"Aaaargh! Mom! Mom!"
"Where's the priest! Priest!"
No one was calling for surrender. The battlefield was undoubtedly filled with madness and terror. Looking at them through Elia, I unknowingly spoke.
"Idiots."
Lee Wanyong's words were right. There were no sublime sacrifices or deaths. The guy holding the flag and the guy who shouted that they fought for justice were now screaming and shedding blood.
"Block them!"
"Don't let them climb up."
After a little more time, the situation had not changed. They were still holding out. The warriors from the east and north were also fighting to protect. The expression on their faces came into view. From the perspective of the north and east, the south and west were not just invaders but beyond that and less than that. Those who fought for some cause were not interested in that. They would fight if the enemy approached.
They fought solely because the enemy was there.
- Advance!
- Advance! Let's fight for the continent!
The voice of the Sword Saint, Hayuri, continued to resonate. Once again, a mass of them poured down. Despite this, they couldn't climb up. In this situation, doing nothing and just watching is undoubtedly an extremely unbearable thing.
As painful as Lee Wanyong, the eyes of all the Blood Dagger Clan members were gradually turning redder. The elite Orc Inspectors, who had chosen to suppress their wild instincts, were also the same. It must be very difficult for them to endure the urge to fight in the face of these guys, who seemed like warriors from the east and north in their eyes, not merely enemies.
"Defend!"
"Aaaargh! Save me!"
"Damn it! These bastards!!"
Meanwhile, the siege engines were continuously approaching the wall, which was quite impressive. Perhaps they realized that they might not be able to climb up, so they wisely chose to breach our territory. The warriors from the east and the north seemed to share this understanding.
The warriors from the east and the north were also the same.
The enemies had changed their strategy. The magic that once echoed over the fortress wall, burning corpses, now turned into a relentless assault by the siege engines.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
With every strike of the siege engines, the power in the hands of the northern mages increased. Enemy archers and mages did their best to restrain the descending forces. The archers aimed arrows at the heads of the enemy archers, who maintained protective spells and continued firing.
The King and his son from the south continued to pour magic towards the troops on the wall. Even though their own allies were within the range, they showed no concern. They knew that the more they used magic to protect the troops on top, the faster the wall would crumble.
The Queen from the north raised her spear.
Chang Je-ri also swung her scythe.
The northern knight shouted, and Bak Hanchul continued to strike those trying to climb the wall with his shield.
Seo Lee Ju abandoned defensive spells and poured all her magic into maintaining the wall.
- Advance, all forces!
Once again, the voice of the Sword Saint resonated.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
The sound of the siege engines striking the wall continued. As the massive hammer continuously hit the wall, I felt a part of it trembling.
Thump!
Boom!
The moment I leaped outside the fortress wall, the enemy forces seemed to hesitate for a moment. Perhaps they were taken aback by the sudden appearance of a massive green creature with a terrifying sword.
"Charge!"
However, the hesitation didn't last long. The Holy Sword continued to command, and the troops surged forward. I was ready for the onslaught. Levathain, my massive sword, swung with a speed and power that seemed impossible for its size.
Krrrrrrr!
The blade cut through the air, and with a single swipe, multiple enemies were sent flying. Blood splattered across the icy ground as the Greenbelt Clan roared in approval.
"Monster! It's a demon!"
"Fear not! For the Cause!"
The enemies were shouting in panic, trying to rally their forces. However, the sight of an enormous, green-skinned creature wielding a gigantic sword was enough to instill fear in their hearts.
I moved with calculated brutality, strategically positioning myself to intercept groups of enemies. With every swing of Levathain, the enemy forces were pushed back, creating a chaotic scene on the battlefield.
Choi Seulgi, who had followed me outside the wall, fought alongside the Greenbelt Clan members. Her agility and precision with her blades were unmatched. She danced through the chaos, leaving a trail of fallen foes.
Meanwhile, the northern and eastern forces continued to hold their ground on the fortress wall. Chang Je-ri's powerful spells and the skills of the knights and mages were keeping the enemy at bay.
"Push them back! Don't let them regroup!"
I roared, and the Greenbelt Clan members, inspired by my presence, fought with renewed vigor. The enemies, caught between the relentless assault from the fortress wall and the overwhelming force outside, began to retreat.
"Advance! Crush them!"
The Holy Sword's commands became desperate as the tide of battle turned against them. The Queen from the north, leading her forces, pushed forward, her spear striking down enemies in her path.
Boom!
A sudden explosion shook the battlefield. Looking toward the source, I saw the siege engines, now unopposed, pounding the fortress wall. The enemy mages and archers, freed from the pressure of our defensive forces, intensified their attacks.
"We need to stop those siege engines!"
I shouted to Choi Seulgi, and together, we charged towards the siege engines. The Greenbelt Clan followed suit, their roars echoing across the battlefield.
As we neared the siege engines, I saw Bak Hanchul engaged in a fierce battle, his shield deflecting arrows and magic. I joined him, swinging Levathain to create a protective barrier around the siege engines.
"Destroy them!"
Choi Seulgi's blades flashed, severing the ropes and mechanisms of the siege engines. As they became disabled, the enemy's main advantage crumbled.
The Holy Sword's voice echoed in frustration.
- Fall back! Fall back and regroup!
The enemy forces, now in disarray, began to retreat. The Greenbelt Clan chased after them, relentless in their pursuit. We had turned the tide, but the battle was far from over.
"Victory for Blood Dagger!"
The triumphant cry spread across the battlefield as the remaining enemies fled, leaving the Ice Fortress standing strong against the assault. The Queen from the north approached, her eyes meeting mine.
"Well fought, creature of the east."
"And you, Queen of the north. This battle is not the end."
She nodded, acknowledging the challenges that lay ahead.
"For the continent."
"For the Cause."
As we stood on the battlefield, victory achieved but at a heavy cost, the reality of war and its sacrifices weighed on us. The Ice Fortress, though battered, stood as a symbol of resilience, and the alliance between the east and the north held strong against the forces that sought to conquer.