Real Mount and Blade Game

Two or three more days passed.

A chill permeated the walls of New Rivadin, becoming almost tangible, especially after the return of Rezarit.

The intelligence brought back by this composed Swadian general tore through the fog shrouding the desert outside the city and the depths of the underground, clearly outlining the three cold, venomous snakes coiled around the throat of New Zivadin.

"My lord." Rezarit jogged quickly to the city wall.

Bestur, Elaine is here too.

Seeing Rezarit approach, he nodded to him.

"Hmm." Shen Mu was standing on the city wall when he saw Lesarit approaching. He nodded slightly and asked, "How's the reconnaissance going?"

"We've almost finished scouting everything." Rezarit smiled wryly. Since receiving the mission to scout the surrounding area, he had been carefully investigating for the past three days.

And they began to gather intelligence on every detail.

Finally, he came back today.

He bowed respectfully to Shen Mu, his voice rough with the dust of the underground, and pointed towards the subway entrance, saying, "Down there, it's like a boiling cauldron of oil. Skeleton archers and hellish demons, two forces, are still locked in a fierce battle, just like what we saw before."

The wind on the city wall whipped up sand and gravel, which struck the armor with a faint sound.

Rezarit stood beside Shen Mu, his fingertips tracing the simple map spread out on the rough stone surface of the battlements. His deep, clear voice outlined the deadly noose that New Rivadin faced: "My lord, the desert outside the city is more 'lively' than you imagine."

As he spoke, Rezarit pointed to the two heavily shadowed areas to the east and north of the map: "Occupying this scorched earth are the remnants of a necromantic dynasty we have never encountered before—who call themselves the 'Second Dynasty of the Dark Light.' Their core fighting force is the same kind of 'bone armor cavalry' that attacked us before."

He paused for a moment, recalling the descriptions and rudimentary sketches brought back by the reconnaissance team, obtained at the cost of blood:
"These cavalry are extremely strange. In their normal state, their speed is comparable to our elite riders, but when it matters, they can unleash a... 'ghostly light' state. Just as Lord Bestur said before, a black light flashes by, and their speed and power instantly surge. The cost seems to be a brief stun, but this is enough to tear apart any unclosed defensive line during a charge. Their numbers are unknown, but they are definitely not just a few squads. They are like cheetahs roaming in the shadows of the desert, extremely patient, waiting for the opportunity to strike a fatal blow."

The finger moved down the map to the marker representing the massive subway station entrance: "What's really boiling over down there is the area below. The tracks have long since broken, and the tunnels have become a labyrinth of slaughter. Deep within the subway network lurks another entirely different undead force—the 'Seventh Dynasty of Black Arrow Tower.' Their main force consists of... skeletal archers, of course, the undead legion we encountered earlier."

Rezarit emphasized this point, highlighting the key and challenging aspect of his investigation: "Unlike the cavalry of the Radiant Dynasty, the archers of the Black Arrow Tower are extremely... cunning. They're more like assassins, stealthily moving through the complex environment of the subway ruins, appearing and disappearing unpredictably. Their arrows are specially made bone arrows, with exceptionally sharp arrowheads and a strange corrosive quality, easily piercing chainmail and even threatening thicker armor plates. However, their individual armor is quite weak, far inferior to the bone-armored cavalry of the Radiant Dynasty. But..."

He frowned. "Their numbers are incalculable, seemingly endless. But thankfully, they are engaged in fierce fighting with an enemy coming from another direction."

His fingertips emphasized the thick line representing the direction of the Xiaolong River: "The other side of the Xiaolong River! The rules of the spirit realm have created a massive chaotic rift in that area. A large amount of hellish energy has seeped out, forming a small-scale erosion zone. Emerging from there is the true force of hell—mainly low-level demons, mixed with demonic puppets twisted and corrupted by hellish energy!"

"The fierce battle deep inside the subway is similar to what we experienced in our previous battles. We had vaguely sensed it before." Rezarit's voice carried a hint of coldness: "It's the skeletal archers of the Black Arrow Tower and the low-level troops sent by the Hell Demons tearing each other apart deep in the tunnel! Our previous judgment was correct; it's two forces fighting to the death! They hate each other and are wearing each other down, like two venomous snakes locked in combat. But if either of them breaks through to the surface, it will be a disaster for us! Of course, it's good that they're fighting like dogs."

Rezarit straightened up and looked at Shen Mu with a serious expression:
"My lord, New Rivadin is now perched atop three boulder peaks. Above the desert, the skeletal cavalry of the Second Dynasty of the Dark Light are poised to launch a devastating charge; deep underground, the skeletal archers of the Seventh Dynasty of the Black Arrow Tower are locked in a bloody battle with the low-ranking forces of the Hell Demons. Although the core of their conflict is currently far from the entrance, the battlefield is fluid, and any side gaining a local advantage could potentially shift the fighting to the exit. Once the low-ranking forces of Hell break through to the surface, or the archers of the Black Arrow Tower seize advantageous terrain near the exit, we will face a three-dimensional onslaught!"

He took a breath and said with difficulty, "What's even more terrifying is that these three parties may never have had any tacit understanding, but when they all turn their attention to New Rivadin—this 'barrier' that separates them from each other or leads to places they want more, we are the most conspicuous bullseye!"

Shen Mu listened quietly, his gaze wandering over the map marked by Rezarit.

The frenzied charge of the Ghostlight Cavalry, the deadly arrows of the Black Arrow Tower archers, the close-range swarm of Hellish Imps... the cold reality pierced my mind like steel needles.

New Rivadin is no longer just a checkpoint in the East; it has become the eye of a storm, a focal point about to be impacted and squeezed by three different, yet equally deadly, undead and demonic forces!

"Understood." Shen Mu's voice was calm and even, yet as heavy as a rock.

"Our walls must be guarded against arrows from the sky, iron hooves from the ground, and the claws of hell from...anywhere."

He turned and looked at the garrison inside the castle, who were conducting rigorous drills but had not yet fully experienced such a complex situation.

Elena's elite Vaegir archers are a valuable ranged force, while the Swadian sergeants brought by Rezarit are building an even stronger defensive line, and Bestur's Khergit scouts are keeping watch and slowing down the enemy on the outskirts.

These things did bring him some peace of mind.

“Rezarit”.

Shen Mu's order was firm and decisive: "Have your engineering corps prioritize reinforcing the inside of the subway entrance! Not only to defend against possible attacks from the hellish demons, but also to guard against those skeleton archers suddenly occupying advantageous positions and using the subway entrance as arrow towers to suppress our interior! Immediately set up at least two movable heavy iron fences with angled firing ports, so that the defenders can safely pour arrows and fuel down!"

"Yes, sir!" Rezarit immediately accepted the order with a pat on his chest and strode off to make arrangements.

“Arein!” Shen Mu’s gaze turned to the Vikya general.

“My lord!” Eleanor immediately stepped forward.

"Your archers are divided into two groups. One group will take turns on duty, ready to eliminate any high-threat targets appearing below the city, especially any undead attempting to approach the walls and dismount for foot combat or spellcasting; the other group, prepare fire arrows and armor-piercing spiked arrows, and deploy them at the reinforced subway entrance defenses! Once green skull soulfire or red hellfire flashes appear in the darkness below, strike immediately! Do not allow them to gain a foothold at the subway exit!"

Shen Mu's voice was icy: "We will turn the subway entrance into a furnace of their deaths!"

"Understood! We will not allow anything that crawls out to gain a foothold!" A fighting spirit flashed in Elaine's eyes.

"As for outside," Shen Mu's gaze finally fell upon the depths of the desert, a place seemingly deathly silent, yet concealing the chilling killing intent of the bone-armored cavalry: "Bestur!"

"Here!" Bestur was already waiting to the side, his eyes blazing with bloodthirsty fury, his desire to avenge the deaths of his men almost boiling over.

"Your task is the most demanding and the most dangerous."

Shen Mu stared at him: "I want your Kujit cavalry range doubled! Like the most cunning wolf pack, keep a close watch on every movement deep in the desert. But remember, absolutely avoid direct confrontation with those bone-armored cavalry that unleash 'ghostly light'! Your only task is: early warning! Discover the direction of their main force's assembly in advance! Once it is confirmed that the Ghostly Light Dynasty's cavalry is approaching again or gathering in large numbers, immediately sound the hawk whistle to warn them, and then retreat to the pre-prepared chevaux-de-frise trap area below the city. Use the fortifications to hinder and weaken their charge, creating opportunities for the archers on the city walls!"

Bestur licked his slightly chapped lips and nodded firmly: "Don't worry, sir! I will keep a close watch on their movements! I'll make sure every speck of dust kicked up by their bone horses is under my nose!"

Shen Mu said no more, his gaze sweeping over the generals and soldiers standing ready for battle, finally settling on the desert dunes outside the city, which appeared even more eerie and desolate in the dim morning light. The fate of New Rivadin hung by a thread, three undercurrents from different directions, each carrying a chilling hostility, were slowly converging, threatening to erupt into a raging torrent that would tear everything apart at any moment.

The war horns have not ceased; an even more brutal battle has only just begun.

The moment to truly test this newly built fortress has just arrived.

The defenders gripped their cold weapons tightly. The air was filled not only with the smell of sand and dust, but also with the salty, metallic scent of iron and blood, as if a storm was brewing.

This also caused Shen Mu, who was bathing in it, to feel his heart pound even more.

But it wasn't just Shen Mu.

Bestur, Rezarit, and Eleanor all felt a heavy weight in their hearts.

After all, the information brought by Rezarit was like ice water poured over his head, pushing New Rivadin's already tense nerves to the limit.

Three powerful forces are stirring in the desert outside the city and deep underground, making the castle seem to sit on a volcano about to erupt.

After the meeting, a tense atmosphere permeated the city walls, completely erasing any lingering ease from the victory celebration a few days earlier.

Shen Mu paced alone on the city wall for a while before finally stopping.

The order had been given and preparations were underway to accelerate, but an immense pressure stemming from the dimensional erosion and an urgent sense of impending crisis prevented him from sitting still.

"Aireen, deploy according to plan." Shen Mu slowly said, "Bestur, come with me, along with 20 Holy Tree Knights, 50 experienced Khergit archers, and 30 grassland bandits. They will accompany me on a patrol outside the city."

No objection.

The generals understood Shen Mu's habits.

He needed to use his own eyes to measure and confirm the imminent threat.

Especially when surrounded by enemies, it is even more important to have first-hand information.

The heavy east gate opened a crack once more, and an elite mixed cavalry force filed out.

Even in daylight, the Holy Tree Knight's mithril armor still shone with a restrained brilliance, like a flowing silver shield.

The Khergit horse archers quieted down their usual clamor and scanned their surroundings with sharp eyes.

The lightly armed bandits of the grasslands had already dispersed, like a flock of vigilant falcons, crouching low and quickly gliding towards the distant sand dunes and ruins, serving as the vanguard scouts and eyes.

The scorching sun baked the earth, and the air seemed to freeze.

The world outside the city has been completely changed.

The wasteland, once dotted with twisted shrubs and broken walls, is being rapidly swallowed up by monotonous and glaring gray-yellow sand dunes.

It has long since lost its original appearance as a suburban agricultural area.

The wind whipped up dry sand, which pattered against the armor, and at the edge of the field of vision, distorted and shimmering heat waves rose.

The rules of the spirit world are like a greedy eraser, gradually erasing the old marks of Blue Star civilization and brutally painting it with its deathly, scorching colors.

Shen Mu rode his horse in the middle of the group, feeling the slight jolt of the sacred tree's heavy steed as it trod the loose sand.

Beneath his calm face, a growing sense of melancholy and coldness was creeping in.

He vividly remembered the prosperity of Earth: towering steel forests, extensive transportation networks, and lights of civilization that shone day and night... It was the crystallization of human wisdom and order.

However, at this moment, this land, which may have once been on the edge of a bustling city, is now nothing but devastated yellow sand, grotesque and twisted terrain, concrete wreckage torn apart by giant claws, and otherworldly undead and demons lurking on it, intent on destroying or corrupting everything.

With each breath, the air inhaled was no longer the familiar air, but a chaotic aura mixed with dust, decay, and a faint trace of something originating from the essence of the spirit world.

The spirit world is devouring the blue planet and shaping it into its own form.

A horrifying replica filled with death, chaos, and eternal twilight.

This is by no means a rebirth; it is a naked destruction and desecration of the old order.

Thinking of this rapidly desertifying land beneath my feet, thinking of the many other regions in the distance undergoing the same dramatic changes, thinking of how the dreams and sweat of countless compatriots have been silently and completely buried by the yellow sands of another world.

A heavy pain called "loss" gnawed at Shen Mu's heart, which had always been as hard as iron, for the first time with such clarity.

Shen Mu is, after all, a human from Earth.

Even if the soul transmigrates here.

They also have feelings for this world.

"I'm really... powerless." But Shen Mu still closed his eyes, slowly exhaled a breath, and calmed his emotions.

As he said, he was indeed powerless in the face of this overwhelming trend. (End of Chapter)