Chapter 37: Siege (2)

  (Second update)

  The siege is still ongoing.

  Joni didn't know how many people he had cut down. The enemy was too numerous, although not as many as his own side, but they just kept coming in a steady stream. At this point, Joni's sword was already stained with blood all over, and his physical strength was still okay, but the enemies in front of him were getting more and more. His own soldiers began to suffer casualties in the battle.

  At least I can still hold on.

  Audara on the other side, a large sword in his hand is the most powerful killing tool. Even if the opponent has a shield, he will be smashed to the point of numbness. Now there are only ten soldiers around Audara, six people are responsible for two wooden boards serving as shields, four people put away their swords and shields, replaced with long spears, specifically attacking the enemy army that was smashed by Audara into a daze. This position is simply an extremely efficient meat grinder.

  Mages and warlocks crouched on the city walls, moving about in a squatting position. Although this posture was very uncomfortable for them, they couldn't care less at times like these. From time to time, they would pop up in a new location, reciting incantations, or casting a fireball spell, or tossing down a stink cloud spell, harassing the enemy army below the city.

  However, the wild wolf soon thought of a countermeasure. When Nikolai, the Wind Speaker, stuck his head out again and cast a spell under the cover of the soldiers on both sides, a crossbow arrow flew over and nailed itself to Nikolai's shoulder blade, causing his remaining spells to rebound into his stomach. Nikolai covered his own shoulder, his face contorted in pain. He gritted his teeth, pulled out a bottle of emerald green medicine from his waist bag, drank it down in one gulp, and closed his eyes to wait quietly. The medicine quickly took effect, and the originally unstoppable bleeding on his shoulder gradually healed, eventually closing the wound. The only drawback was that the crossbow arrow had been nailed too deeply and could not be pulled out for the time being, having already merged with the flesh.

  Gerald Nissus also suffered the same fate. However, his luck was a bit better, as his brother used the shield in his hand to block it just in time. Although the spell was interrupted, he didn't suffer any major injuries.

  The two casters took the same approach. They crouched behind a wall, pulled out a scroll from their bosom, unfolded it, and loudly recited the contents according to the records on it. A flash of magical light passed over the scroll, and both were enveloped in a faint protective shield. People around them could feel that this shield was like a gust of wind, trapped beside the casters, struggling constantly.

  Protective Remote Weapon, utilizing the power of wind contained within the shield, blows away all arrows targeting the recipient, achieving the purpose of protecting the recipient.

  Two people finished using the scroll with a painful expression, stood up separately, and began to cast their spells calmly. A wave of arrows flew in, bypassed the spellcasters, and scattered behind them - the spell took effect.

  Nicholas concentrated on casting a spell, and with a flick of his wrist, a fireball shot out, instantly reaping the lives of over twenty people. He gazed at the array of wolves with some disdain, thinking to himself: Magic, wondrous magic, is it something you...

  An arrow pierced through his skull.

  On the other hand, Jerry covered his right chest in horror. He sat down on the ground, his dazed eyes staring blankly at the sky above.

  What's wrong?

  "A lowly peasant can easily kill a noble knight with a crossbow." Observing the battlefield, Ainiel Wolf's mouth curled into a mocking smile as he said in a low voice, "And yet one well-trained crossbowman, armed with an expensive heavy crossbow and custom-made magic bolts, cannot even take down you two insignificant mages?"

  "What was that?" asked Count Raitzsche, who hadn't caught it.

  "I mean, thank you, Earl-sama for providing us with that intelligence, which allowed us to achieve victory!" Aineg said respectfully.

  "Oh, haha, it's only right, it's only right, I might not have won without you guys either. Don't worry, once I catch Dylas, I'll give you an extra reward!" said Count Raisis with a smile. He was particularly pleased with Aini's respect, this little rascal who had always been fond of disobeying his employers, yet showed such deference to him, haha, if word got out, it would be quite the face-saving thing!

  For Aini Ger, he doesn't mind lowering his posture at this time. As long as the goal can be achieved, it is to imitate Han Xin, what's wrong? He himself was not...

  The situation in Tabriz suddenly deteriorated.

  Without the interference of the mages, the attacking side clearly felt that their actions were much smoother. The city gate remained firm, but the city wall was lost segment by segment.

  "Sir! The enemy has already climbed up!" Joanie's ladder mouth had not been lost, but the one next to him had already been defeated, and he was forced to fight and retreat, coming to Odala's side.

  The long ladder in front of Odala was already empty, although Odala didn't kill as many as a hundred people, but the idea of seeking benefits and avoiding harm is common to all, this long ladder had been abandoned by its owners.

  Looking at the enemy rushing before Jony, Odara gave a decisive order: "Withdraw, withdraw from the city wall. You, you go find Count Darras and have him prepare to retreat into the castle. No, tell him to withdraw from the other side of the city!"

  Odin's descendants were valiant but not reckless.

  After the order to retreat was given, the city wall was completely lost.

  Upon receiving the report from Odala's dispatched messenger, Count Darius and a group of knights at the city gate looked at each other in dismay.

  "This useless thing!" David said in exasperation.

  "Enough, now is not the time to discuss failures." Earl Delras stopped David's continued cursing, "Abandon the city gate, we retreat back to the castle."

  "But, Earl-sama!" Rururu spoke up, "Odarla is telling you to withdraw from the castle!"

  "Must I obey his orders?" Earl Dallas glared.

  Rouran language

  Dellas Earl's expression relaxed: "I also know he means well, but as a nobleman, if I abandon my territory and run away alone, I'm done for, my family is done for, everything I have as a nobleman will be gone. Don't worry, even if Lycius breaks in, he won't do anything to me, at most he'll demand a ransom. Now, back to the castle!"

  No one came to reinforce the city gate, after about thirty impacts, the door hinges cracked open, and another twenty impacts later, the original wood behind the city gate finally fell to the ground. The city gate of Tabriz was breached.

  Odara sighed heavily when he heard that Earl Delras chose to retreat back to the castle. At this time, more and more enemy soldiers were chasing from the city wall, and they couldn't shake them off. Odara and Eisatis organized their troops and launched a counterattack with all their might. Without the threat of the wild wolf's crossbow arrows behind them, the miscellaneous soldiers of the Laitzis army returned to their original state of fleeing consciousness. The elite Tabri city defense army's combination of infantry and archery counterattacked, causing them to lose nearly a hundred men in an instant - although not a few were shot by an arrow and fell to the ground pretending to be dead.

  The defeated soldiers stopped in their tracks and watched as this army disappeared into the distance.

  "Odara." Essatis leaned in close to Odara as they marched at a quick pace, saying, "I have a feeling that this war is going to be different from the ones we've heard about before. I'm worried that our enemies may not respect the conventions between nobles. I think you sense it too - those Wolf's Fang mercenaries are dominating the entire army of Count Raisis."

  "What's it to you?" Odara asked curiously.

  "You're clear, we can't hold on." Eisatis's eyes revealed a hint of despair. "I know you weren't an ordinary person in your hometown, and I believe you don't want to die here either. Go, take your entourage, and also take my daughter with you. Take them to your hometown, to the Kingdom of Osedin."

  "You want me to be a deserter?!" Odara's eyes widened.

  Isatis smiled wryly: "Not a deserter, Odara. This is a friend's request, made for his child."

  Aodala's expression gradually eased: "Then why don't you leave."

  "I've always dreamed of becoming a noble. I want to be respected like the nobles, and live with dignity like them. Even in death, I want to die as a noble. For this dream, I've already killed a woman I deeply loved, and I don't want to kill another one. Can you promise me? Can you?"

  "Ai Satie Si, your wife is not..."

  "If I hadn't brought the two of them to Tabriz, but instead lived a carefree life in the forest, how would this have happened... It's all because of me! Odara, I'm asking you, considering our many years of friendship, will you or won't you answer?! Eisatis' face was somewhat distorted, and his usual smile had disappeared."

  "But Odin won't agree..."

  "Oaths? Lords provide protection in exchange for the bravery of knights. You've already given enough bravery, and the Earl can no longer provide protection. Hah, oaths... your oath to the Earl is now null and void!" Eisatis shouted, drawing sidelong glances from soldiers on both sides.

  "Alas." Odala sighed, "You... okay."

  Far away, Eisatis saw Astry standing at the gate of the castle, anxiously looking towards the direction of the city wall.

  "Astrid!" Eisar shouted loudly, waving his hand vigorously.

  "Daddy!" Astrid's suspended heart came down. She ran quickly towards the troops retreating to the castle.

  "Astrid." Eisatis stepped away from the crowd, hugging his daughter before releasing her and stroking her head. "You follow Uncle Odara to a safe place outside the city for now, we'll come back after the battle."

  "What?" Astrid looked up in surprise, "And what about Father then?"

  "Alright, listen. Eisatis had already regained his usual smile, "Daddy still has to stay and defeat the bad guys. Don't worry, after Count Laissez retreats you can come back. If you stay here Daddy will be worried! Hurry up and go!"

  Astrid nodded, still with a hint of confusion in her eyes: "Then I'll go, Dad."

  "Ah, go ahead, we'll meet again in a few days." Isatis smiled and waved his hand, turning to walk towards the castle. He didn't look back, as if it were just an ordinary parting.

  Two lines of clear tears silently fell from this father's eyes.

  "Astrid, why are you crying?" Joni asked curiously. He followed Odara out of the main troops.

  "Nothing." Astrid rubbed her eyes, she suddenly felt a strange sadness, "Sand blew into my eyes."

  "Let's go," Odara patted Astrid's shoulder, sighing. "Hurry up, don't make your father worry."

  Soon, Count Rais's army was in a tumultuous blockade at the castle gate, with the black wolf formation behind.

  The final battle.