Real Mount and Blade Game

As night fell, New Uxhall was enveloped in a thick, ink-like fog.

On the city wall, the torchlight flickered in the heavy humidity, barely piercing through the surrounding darkness for a few meters, casting a weak, orange-red glow.

Shen Mu's tall figure stood behind the rough stone brick wall.

Iron-gray eyes pierced through the darkness before them, scrutinizing the churning curtain of death beneath the city walls as if it were a tangible object.

A chill, mixed with a strong stench of decay and sulfur, swept in with the cold night wind, slapping against the tense cheeks of every guard on duty.

Bandak stood by with his hands at his sides, his usually composed face now etched with undisguised solemnity.

He pointed to the deep blackness outside the city walls, which seemed capable of swallowing everything, and reported to Shen Mu in a low voice:
"Sir, it's this fog... In just two or three days, it's turned into this monstrous sight! Thick as ink, heavy as mercury. Before... although there was always a lingering gray fog, that thin stuff was enough for our patrols to barely make out movements a few dozen meters away. But now? It's like a sauna during the day, and at night, especially in the latter half of the night... it's enough to suffocate a person! The sentries standing on the tower can't even see the entire base of the city wall!"

He paused, his rough fingers unconsciously tracing the rust on the hilt of his sword, a hint of lingering fear in his eyes: "This fog is strange, but the monsters that swarm in are even stranger! Ordinary skeletons are becoming increasingly rare, and what's emerging are all tough freaks—skeletons that move like ghosts, 'Abominations' that can be pieced together to form several stories high, and 'Bone Mages' that can hide in the fog, shoot black arrows, and summon the undead! In all my years guarding the city, I've never seen undead creatures change so quickly, so ferocious..."

Bandak's deep voice, like the low hooting of an owl, sounded even more oppressive under the thick fog.

Sudden--

"Whoosh!"

"Duh!"

Just below the two people's conversation, at the edge of the shadow of the huge earthen mound, a shadowy figure as fast as lightning tore through the thick fog and darted out!

A jet-black bone arrow, accompanied by a piercing whistling sound, viciously embedded itself three feet above the outer wall of the battlement, its fletching still humming and vibrating!
The force was so great that it knocked off a small piece of plaster!

"Enemy attack! Northeast corner! Archers!" Bandak reacted quickly, shouting out the first thing he heard, instantly igniting the tense atmosphere along the entire section of the city wall!
Almost at the same instant, the attacker who had just fired the arrow was exposed to the edge of the nearest torchlight.

It's no longer the gray-black color I remember!

That was a... "Black Iron" skeletal archer!

Its skeleton has an eerie, deep black color with a metallic sheen, as if it were cast from black iron that had been forged through countless hammerings.

The joints, ribs, and arm bones shimmered with a layer of oily yet hard light. Especially in the posture of drawing a bow and nocking an arrow, the bones had become much thicker. In the depths of the originally empty eye sockets, the soul fire was no longer a pale green, but a dark red that was almost solidified, like lava, radiating a more condensed and frenzied power fluctuation!

"It's a skeletal archer! A new variant!" Bandak's pupils constricted, and he shouted, "Crossbowmen, get on the crossbows! Snipe it!!"

The sound of hurried footsteps came from the plank road inside the city wall, and two Rhodok guerrilla archers who had received orders immediately rushed to the adjacent firing position.

They were sturdy and agile, quickly cocking and setting up their powerful crossbows!

"Om-!"

One of them pulled the trigger first!
The quenched steel crossbow bolt transformed into a streak of dark light, almost invisible to the naked eye, and hurtled down upon the "Black Iron Skeleton Archer" who had just finished drawing his bow!
Precision!

The crossbow bolt struck its target squarely, like a venomous snake—the black skull gleaming with metallic luster!
The enormous kinetic energy impact caused its head to snap back violently!
"Got it!" the Rhodok archer beside him shouted.

However, the expected scene of the skull exploding and the soul fire going out did not happen!

The powerful steel crossbow bolt, with its sharp, armor-piercing arrowhead, barely pierced the target's skull. About half of the arrowhead was deeply embedded in the black iron-like bone, while the shaft was firmly "stuck" in it!
The black bone was covered with fine cracks, but it was clear that they had not penetrated through!

The dark red soul fire in the skull's eye sockets only trembled and contracted violently for a moment before stabilizing, even appearing more ferocious!

It did not fall; instead, it seemed to be thoroughly enraged, letting out a silent roar, regaining its balance, and attempting to draw its bow again!

"What?!" The crossbowmen around were dumbfounded, a chill running from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.

They were all aware of the armor-piercing power of the Rhodok crossbow; it could inflict penetrating wounds on ordinary skeletons!

The newly discovered "black iron" skeleton has bones of unbelievable hardness!
"Change to armor-piercing arrows! Quick! Another team, move in..." he roared immediately, adjusting the tactics.

Just then, Shen Mu, who had been silently watching the whole process, suddenly spoke, his voice as cold as ice: "Bandak."

Those three simple words carried an invisible pressure, instantly calming the anxious Bandak, who immediately bowed and obeyed: "Please give your orders, sir!"

Shen Mu's gaze remained fixed on the crossbow bolt that was stuck in the black skull and trembling on its own. His eyes were as deep as the sea, and his brows furrowed slightly, with an almost imperceptible trace.

The image of something being "stuck" rather than flowing through clearly conveys a cold, hard truth.

The enemy has become stronger.

Moreover, it's achieved through this sudden leap in physical defense!

"About the Elf Forest," Shen Mu shifted his gaze to Bandak, his voice regaining its usual calm, "how did your personal inspection go?"

Upon hearing the mention of the Elf Forest, Bandak's mind settled, and he immediately responded respectfully, his tone carrying a hint of pride in the solidity of the defenses: "Yes, sir! I just inspected it this morning! Following your instructions and the previous discussions with the ranger captain, I have completed the deployment of the defenses!"

He stood tall and reported the troop deployment clearly and forcefully:
"The core defensive perimeter is manned by 500 experienced fourth-tier Rhodok spearmen! Their spears and broad shields work together to form an impenetrable wall in the narrow area at the edge of the forest! For ranged suppression, there are 200 experienced and well-equipped fourth-tier Rhodok crossbowmen! Their elevated position allows them to effectively block any breaches in the defensive line!"

Bandak paused, then added with emphasis, "I've recruited an additional 500 second-tier wood elf archers! With them roaming and harassing the forest from the branches, coupled with the natural advantages of the Elf Forest and their familiarity with the woodlands, even if undead try to infiltrate deep into the forest, they will surely find it difficult to make any progress and will pay a heavy price!"

"Three layers of defense, supporting each other, are sufficient to deal with harassment and reconnaissance infiltration of the current known intensity! Rest assured, sir!"

Bandak concluded emphatically.

He was full of confidence in the defensive line he and his men had built, and this confidence also inspired the soldiers around him who were on high alert.

Upon hearing that Bandark had formed an effective defensive depth with its elite Rhodok spear phalanx, powerful crossbowmen, and agile elven guerrilla forces, the tension in Shen Mu's eyes caused by the appearance of the new type of skeleton finally eased slightly. He slowly nodded, his taut jawline relaxing slightly.

"Yes, you've done a good job."

Shen Mu's voice carried a hint of approval for his capable subordinate's work.

The temporary stability of the Elf Forest as a western springboard relieved him of a heavy psychological burden, allowing him to focus on dealing with the strange fog and the mutated undead threat. With the forest elf ranger captain overseeing communication there, coupled with Bandak's carefully deployed forces, there was indeed no need to worry in the short term.

Shen Mu turned his gaze back to the thick, seemingly solidified darkness beyond the city walls.

There, the crossbow bolt stuck in the black skull was like a glaring mark, and the remains of the "Black Iron Skeleton Archer" who had just been killed by concentrated fire were emitting thin wisps of blue smoke.

More and more shadows of various shapes gathered, stirred, and clashed against the Rhodok crossbowmen's defenses at the edge of the fog.

"Bandak." Shen Mu's voice was deep and clear, like the faint hum of a sword before it is drawn. "The defense of the city is in your hands. Remember, tonight... is just the beginning."

"Yes, sir! Your subordinate swears to defend this city to the death!"

Bandak pounded his chest with his right fist, producing a dull metallic clang, his eyes resolute as iron. He knew the lord's words were not unfounded; the darkness before dawn would surely be even longer and bloodier.

The night seemed even deeper under the thick fog.

The massive walls of New Uxhauer stand like silent black reefs in a sea of ​​death, with firelight flickering on them, awaiting the next, even more turbulent, undercurrent.

Shen Mu stood tall like a javelin in the flickering firelight, his gaze piercing through the thick fog wall, landing deep within the city—the heart of Long City—a city brewing an even greater storm in its deathly silence.

What happened there?
……

The faint morning light struggled to pierce the thick, leaden fog over New Uxhall, and the world seemed to slowly emerge from the ink-like darkness.

As soon as dawn broke, Shen Mu did not delay for a moment.

He rejected Bandak's suggestion to send a large force to protect the city, and solemnly instructed, "The defense of New Uxhauer is very important. The fog has not yet dissipated, and powerful enemies are all around. A reliable general is needed to hold the fort. Bandak, guarding this place well is the greatest support you can give me for this mission."

He led only the ten silent and resolute Holy Tree Knights, as steadfast as silver cliffs, as he rode out of the slowly opening city gate, his figure quickly disappearing into the still dimly lit western road.

The horses' hooves pounded the muddy ground, traversing a buffer zone eroded by thick fog and the rules of the spirit world, and the uncomfortably high pressure in the air gradually subsided.

When that familiar, vibrant, and strange forest, the Elf Forest, came into view, even with a touch of morning mist, it seemed to give this area a little more space.

At the entrance, the hastily built but already quite large wooden wall was already crowded with people.

On the left are Rhodok soldiers, clad in heavy leather armor, wielding long-handled axes and sturdy shields, their expressions solemn and their muscles bulging. Their ranks are impenetrable, like rocks rooted to a wooden wall, representing the strength of shields and spears.

The scene on the right, however, is quite different, possessing an ethereal and agile beauty.

Those were wood elf archers from the distant Middle-earth.

They were tall and slender, dressed in lightweight leather armor and cloaks embroidered with exquisite vine patterns that matched the colors of the forest.

Their faces were almost unreal in their beauty, their expressions were alert and calm, their long golden or silver hair fluttered gently in the breeze, and they carried exquisitely crafted, beautifully curved longbows on their backs, with quivers filled with long, feathered arrows at their waists.

Upon seeing Shen Mu's figure appear at the edge of the mist, all the figures on the city wall, whether rugged Rhodok warriors or elegant wood elf archers, bowed in unison, their movements filled with heartfelt respect.

"Welcome, Lord!"

The deep human voices and the clear Elvish language intertwined to create a unique sound wave that echoed at the edge of the woodland.

The heavy wooden gate was slowly lifted with the creaking of the winch.

Shen Mu nodded slightly, spurred his horse in, and was followed closely by ten Holy Tree Knights. Their mithril armor shone with a soft yet resilient luster in the morning light filtering through the leaves.

The scene inside the walls reveals a far more unique defensive ingenuity than one might imagine.

Shen Mu was on patrol, guided by several elven ranger captains and Rhodok squad leaders.

Rather than being an ordinary village enclosed by walls, this place is more like a three-dimensional defensive maze built using the natural form of a giant tree.

The wood elves did not destroy the original structure of the forest.

Among the branches of the enormous ancient tree, countless ingenious treehouse platforms are built. They are staggered in height and connected by a network of suspension bridges and walkways made of lightweight and tough vines and wooden ropes, forming an extremely complex aerial transportation and shooting platform system.

Each concealed treehouse and platform is an excellent lookout post and long-range firing point.

The ground is not flat or open.

Tall, plank-like tree roots, entwined vines, and fallen, massive, rotten logs were cleverly utilized and slightly modified to form natural shelters and narrow passageways.

The Rhodok soldiers' defensive positions were deployed at these key points, their spears could be thrust out from behind these obstacles, and their shields firmly blocked the barely passable paths.

The core idea behind the layout of the entire "village" is "three-dimensional density".

The concept of "defense in depth" is brought to its extreme here—from the highest treetop lookout post to the lowest ground pass, from the outer wooden walls to the core area's giant wooden fortress, the firepower coverage is without blind spots, and any enemy that breaks in will face multiple attacks from the front, back, left, right, and even above and below.

This fully utilizes the Wood Elves' natural talent and environmental advantages in forest warfare, and perfectly incorporates the advantages of Rhodok infantry ground formations.

Beneath the largest ancient tree in the core area, a tree resembling a tower of life, Shen Mu listened to a detailed report from the Wood Elf Ranger Captain, who was in charge of coordinating the defenses of the area. (End of Chapter)