“Kill!!!”
The deafening shouts of battle and cries of agony echoed across the city walls.
Countless siege ladders were erected before the city walls, and a massive throng of mercenaries and soldiers swarmed upwards.
From afar, the city walls appeared to be crawling with countless ants.
In the Starlight Continent, where knights roamed freely, the defensive role of towering city walls was not very significant.
Even a probationary knight could climb the walls, braving the arrows and falling rocks.
As for knights, a mere tens of meters of height was just a few leaps for them.
Therefore, city walls often became a crucial point of fierce contention between both sides.
Within half an hour of the war’s eruption, the city wall had already become a blood-soaked battlefield like a meat grinder. Blood seeped out along the crevices of the stone bricks, quickly staining the ground.
In the heart of the heavily guarded army, four knights clad in armor coldly watched the blood-splattered city walls.
“The resistance from Black Stone City is unexpectedly strong,” said Davin, his brow furrowed.
“It’s normal,” said Zolf, his tall figure booming. “Ultimately, expanding the army is all about money. Kei holds the treasure of the Blackstone Mine Area, so if his military strength hasn’t improved at all, then he’s truly useless.”
Norwood chuckled, “Don’t worry, our forces are several times larger than Black Stone City’s. There’s no way we could possibly lose.”
He then turned towards the man beside him with a flattering smile.
“Moreover, we have Lord Martel, and with you leading the charge, defeating Black Stone City is simply a matter of time.”
The man named Martel was about forty years old, his features sharp and his demeanor vigorous. He was one of the several new barons granted land after Owen took over Shining Light Territory, and he was also one of Owen’s confidants.
Martel was also a high-ranking Great Knight.
This time, he had been ordered by Owen to lead the army on this expedition, and he was determined to make a name for himself in order to gain even more land.
Hearing Norwood’s words, a hint of pride flashed across Martel’s face. He laughed, “Lord Norwood is right, with a several-fold difference in troops, I can’t think of any reason why we would lose.”
Davin, being more seasoned and cautious, couldn’t help but remind them, “Don’t forget there’s a Wizard in Black Stone City.”
“Lord Davin is referring to Sunan, isn’t he?”
Norwood scoffed.
“That kid grew up before our eyes, timid and cowardly, and his body was so weak that he couldn’t even cultivate a breathing method. How could such a waste be a Wizard?” 𝐑�
“Besides, the rumors of a Wizard being here are uncertain at best.”
Martel also seemed unconcerned.
Even if there was a real Wizard, he, a high-ranking Great Knight, wouldn’t be afraid.
Davin actually had doubts about the rumor too. Seeing that the two were unconcerned, he didn’t say anything more and continued to look at the battle in the distance.
The first to assault the city were the mercenaries and the armies brought by the three barons. Their combat abilities were not exceptional.
Therefore, even now, their forces hadn’t captured the city wall, and the intense stalemate continued.
The offensive was even beginning to show signs of fatigue due to the prolonged siege.
Seeing this, Martel finally couldn’t hold back and led the elite troops from Shining Light Territory into the attack.
As Martel’s army joined the fray, the pressure on the defenders increased.
Within moments, the area of the city wall occupied by the attacking forces had advanced another step.
Martel, with an unstoppable and valiant posture, plowed through the defenders, creating a bloody path and making the defensive line teeter on the verge of collapse.
Gazing from afar with bronze binoculars, the three of them simultaneously showed signs of joy.
“As expected of Lord Martel, he’s truly formidable!”
“This is the power of a high-ranking Great Knight!”
But just as the three were rejoicing, the situation on the city wall suddenly changed.
A group of panther-like creatures suddenly surged onto the city wall, ferociously attacking the assaulting army.
These ferocious beasts were unexpectedly formidable, even able to fight on par with the knights. For a moment, the attacking army’s offensive momentum stalled.
At the same time.
Kei, accompanied by a black panther, appeared on the city wall, intercepting Martel.
Although Kei was merely a junior Great Knight, far inferior to Martel in strength, he had the advantage of having a fearless Great Knight-level Blackrock Beast by his side.
The two, man and beast, worked together in perfect harmony, rendering Martel helpless for a time.
“What are those things?” Norwood was shocked.
Davin and Zolf also showed expressions of astonishment.
After recovering, Davin hesitantly said, “Those seem to be the mounts of the Blackrock Cavalry Regiment.”
“Mounts?”
Zolf and Norwood looked at each other in bewilderment.
They knew Black Stone City had formed a cavalry regiment, and their mounts were said to be a peculiar species of panther-like beasts.
At the time, they had scoffed at the idea and hadn’t taken it seriously.
Although many beast’s combat abilities were superior to warhorses, superior did not necessarily mean they were suitable for the battlefield.
For cavalry, the mounts were more importantly their level of domestication, their ability to obey their master’s commands.
Only then could they achieve a synergistic effect of 1+1 being greater than 2.
However, beast species that could be domesticated on a large scale and adapted to the battlefield were extremely rare.
Davin, Zolf, and Norwood had just thought Black Stone City was trying to draw attention.
But when they actually saw them, they were shocked to find that those black panthers moved with measured steps, worked together seamlessly, and were fearless, even more elite than the most seasoned soldiers!
They were perfectly suited for the battlefield!
If all the mounts of the Blackrock Cavalry Regiment were these creatures, then the combat power of this force would be truly terrifying!
With the addition of two hundred Blackrock Panthers to the fray, the area that the attacking forces had initially captured was quickly reclaimed.
The battle immediately fell into a stalemate once again.
“Damn it! Black Stone City actually has such a hidden ace up their sleeve!” Norwood showed his annoyance.
Zolf frowned, “This is trouble. With those beasts, capturing Black Stone City might not be so easy.”
Davin also furrowed his brow.
This unexpected variable meant that even if they could finally capture Black Stone City, they would likely be severely weakened.
“The siege casualties are too high. It’s better to lay siege.”
After pondering for a while, Davin turned to the other two.
“Winter has just passed, Black Stone City surely doesn’t have much food stored. If we lay siege for a month or two, they will definitely be unable to hold out. At that point, they’ll have to come out to fight us.”
Zolf and Norwood’s eyes lit up, and they nodded in agreement.
“Good idea.”
“Let’s propose this to Lord Martel when he gets back!”
The main force for a decisive battle outside the city was Baron Owen’s elite cavalry regiment.
This way, their army’s casualties would be reduced.
Just as the three were feeling smug about their brilliant idea, they suddenly heard a piercing scream.
They turned their heads to follow the sound and were astonished to see that in the right wing of the army, where the elite cavalry regiment was located, something was amiss.
Hundreds of warhorses were running wild, their neighing incessant.
Many cavalrymen were thrown off their horses and immediately trampled to death by the surging hooves.
Other cavalrymen, while trying to calm their steeds, were flung out as if struck by a charging elephant, falling over ten meters away, howling in agony.
Some unfortunate souls even had their bodies twisted into grotesque shapes in mid-air and landed without a single groan, their lives extinguished.