Real Mount and Blade Game

Shen Mu's calm, almost cold, word "execution" seemed to remove the last trace of noise from the battlefield, leaving only the prelude to a world-ending symphony brewing in the deathly silence.

The phantom of the "Wheel of War" that appeared above the Thorn Barrier was not a materialized colossal gear, but rather an order-cutting pattern spanning heaven and earth, instantly woven from billions of crisscrossing energy threads.

It rotates silently, each subtle shimmer of its patterns corresponding to a precise energy node within the defensive barrier below.

The Holy Light runes on the shields of Swadian heavy infantry suddenly flared to a critical level; the tips of the specially crafted ice arrows in the quivers of Vaegir icewind archers distorted the space around them, condensing frost marks near absolute zero; deep within the Rhodok ballista matrix, the heavy, mountain-like barrels of the "Light of Destruction" emitted a low, charging buzz, their muzzles rotating to an angle precise to the millimeter; inside the helmets of Khergit scouts, a new energy flow distribution map flashed into view; on the surface of the swords held high by the Knights of the Sacred Tree, the "War Song Aura" aura and the array of "Judgment Spears" resonated with a chilling tremor…

The most terrifying thing is the "Blade of the End," which is formed by countless microscopic cutting rules, invisible and intangible yet truly real!
It silently traversed the distance of space and the constraints of time, precisely slashing into the core black domain that had just devoured a massive amount of ash essence, whose surface shimmered like a boiling oil pan, but whose internal structure was as fragile as thin ice due to the chaotic alternation of old and new forces!
"laugh--"

There was no earth-shattering explosion. Only a sound like a red-hot iron being plunged into ice water, a sound that pierced the soul, echoed across the entire battlefield and resonated deep within the souls of every conscious being.

The dark core that had just begun to pulsate, radiating a terrifying pressure far exceeding that of a sleeping beast awakening, suddenly contracted!
Its dazzling light instantly solidified and froze, and then, like the most fragile glass mirror, countless fine cracks burst forth from its core!
There was no light or heat leaking out from the crack, only a deeper and more desperate "deathly silence"—the nothingness left behind after the underlying rules that constituted its existence were forcibly shattered and annihilated!
Rumble——! ! !
This time, it was a real, deafening bang, loud enough to tear your eardrums apart!
Before the fortified walls, the massive, mountain-like shadow of the End Wolf let out the most mournful, ferocious, and yet fearful howl in history!

The sound was no longer a pure roar of energy, but rather carried the resentment of a desecrated divine remains, the pain of a torn will, and the most primal desire for destruction!
Wherever the howl passed, the space rippled and twisted like glass, the thorny barrier shook violently, and dozens of spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the light screen. It was only by the overload output of the internal core magic array that it barely managed to stay intact!
The last vestiges of gray mist from the undead legion, and the scattered, eerie green remnants of their souls, instantly vaporized and vanished like snow exposed to the scorching sun in the midst of this howl!
"puff!"

Inside the fortress, several Rhodok heavy crossbowmen, whose positions were low and whose energy channels were directly exposed to the impact, coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.

In the ranks of the Vaegir archers, dozens of soldiers with weaker mental strength rolled around, screaming and clutching their ears.

Shen Mu remained motionless, but the light from the Talin mark between his brows suddenly intensified for a moment, and the air behind him emitted several extremely piercing energy-dissipating shrieks.

Aerion's desperate roar abruptly ceased, and incredulously, the image of the shattered core of the abyss was reflected in his violently flickering soulfire.

The skeletal mouth opened and closed silently, as if chewing on this incomprehensible reality.

However, the abyss's counterattack has only just begun!
At the entrance to the ancestral tomb, the area that had been torn open by the blade of the end, creating a huge "dead void," did not collapse or perish. Instead, it beat like the heart of a wounded behemoth at an even more frantic speed!

What gushed out was no longer pure black mist, but a dark liquid as thick as lava—a filthy product of the collapse of rules and the mixture of the abyss's origin!
"Ouch——!!!"

Another howl, a hundred times sharper and a hundred times more ferocious, erupted from that boiling "wound"! The ancestral mausoleum, the sacred domain that once buried the remains of gods, now groaned under its unbearable burden.

Terrifying, bottomless cracks suddenly tore through the earth's surface!
The cracks were not filled with mud and rocks, but with churning, viscous, and foul-smelling liquid—abyssal lava flows!
Giant claws covered in filthy scales, dripping with scorching lava, gnawed fiercely at the edge of the crack!

Then came more.

It was like a boiling furnace of hell opening its floodgates!
Countless, densely packed figures poured out from those cracks!

Their forms are twisted and ferocious, retaining the basic outline of gnolls, but their bodies are covered with hardened obsidian-like horny bone plates, with sharp bone spikes protruding from their joints, spewing scorching sulfurous flames from their mouths, and burning with the purest destructive desire in their scarlet eyes!
They were forcibly catalyzed by the core of the abyss and solidified from the filthy molten flow—the abyssal undead gnolls!

Their sheer number covered the entire open space in front of the ancestral tomb entrance in the blink of an eye, forming a filthy and boiling mad tide. Their blood-red eyes merged into a sea of ​​crimson fire, emitting greedy and bloodthirsty howls, like black death magma bursting its banks, and aggressively rushed towards the human defense line that was within arm's reach!
They had no formation whatsoever, only the most primal, bloodthirsty charge, trampling on the bodies of their companions, with only one goal—to tear apart any living beings that exuded an aura of order before them!
opportunity!

Shen Mu, who had been silent as a mountain, finally unleashed the cold sharpness in his eyes!

His voice, as calm as ice thrown into stone, now transformed into a thunderclap tearing through the battlefield storm, instantly reaching the hearts of every soldier in the entire legion via the Tallinn network:

"Tallinn Network - Full Channel Link! Thorn Barrier 'Wall of Sighs' Core - Switch to Overload Mode 'Thorn Garden'!"

"Holy Tree Knights, heed my command—Spear of Judgment array, coordinates preset (XXX, XXX)! Cluster projection, cover the impact spikes!"

"Rhodok Ballista Matrix - Barrage of Destructive Lights, Saturation Strike! Coordinates (XXX, XXX), extend the barrage for two more rounds!"

"Vegia Icewind Archer - Target the densely packed mid-section of the enemy formation, unleash a barrage of icy arrows, and fire three rapid bursts to limit their group's charging speed!"

"Swadian Heavy Infantry Corps—'Iron Wall' formation deployed! Pikemen—forward!"

"Khergit scouts—flank and maneuver, tactical harassment, division, and encirclement! Destroy any secondary node energy source immediately upon detection!"

"All troops—with our fortified stronghold as the axis! All forces, charge! Target—the core of the ancestral tomb! No prisoners! Slaughter them all! For the sake of the living! Forward!!!"

Caranzo's roar resounded through the sky via the amplification array, relaying the final order for the general offensive to the entire army in place of Shen Mu!

All his doubts and wavering had been shattered by the cold blade that tore through the core of the End Wolf Shadow, leaving only his burning fighting spirit!
He took the lead, his heavy Templar armor emitting a deafening metallic roar, and wielding a greatsword enveloped in the radiance of the sacred tree, he was the first to break through the rapidly changing thorny barrier!

Om-!
The massive light screen of the Thorn Barrier suddenly contracted and shrank, and the originally smooth, curved surface of the defensive layer instantly sprang forth countless thorns, each tens of meters long, composed of highly concentrated ordered energy, like a hedgehog! This "Thorn Garden" mode abandoned some of its absolute defensive capabilities, concentrating all passive defensive energy into a deadly piercing and counter-damage array!

Any enemy that crashes into the barrier at high speed will suffer a penetrating energy backlash!

boom! boom! boom!
Almost the instant the barrier transformation was completed, the Rhodok Ballista Matrix fired its first salvo of "Destruction Light"!
Dozens of pale white, destructive beams, each nearly a meter in diameter, tore through the air like divine punishment spears, slamming into the vanguard of the madly charging abyssal undead jackal horde!

The violent energy instantly annihilated all points of contact! Hundreds of gnolls were completely vaporized before they could even scream!

The subsequent beam of light triggered an even more terrifying chain explosion. The shockwave swept across like an invisible giant scythe, tearing countless gnolls to shreds and sending them flying! A scorched crater was plowed into the ground, instantly causing a section of the surging black tide to collapse!
Zila——!
The Vegir Wind Archer's triple rapid fire followed immediately!

There was no deafening roar of destructive light, only countless subtle yet deadly whistles piercing the air.

Hundreds and thousands of magical ice arrows, imbued with extreme cold energy, rained down on the densely packed jackal colony behind the breach torn open by the light of destruction.

The moment the ice arrow touched the gnoll's hard shell, extreme cold magic erupted!
The crimson flames were forcibly frozen and extinguished, and the high-speed charge was suddenly slowed down as if it had hit an invisible ice wall. The tough horny bone plates made a brittle sound under the extreme low temperature, and were then easily pierced by subsequent arrows!
By breaking through the enemy lines from a single point, the gnolls' charge was abruptly disrupted, becoming chaotic and sluggish, and they trampled each other under the subsequent frost arrows!
"Roar—For the Emperor! Fortify the defenses! Spears—thrust!!!"

A deafening roar drowned out the sounds of explosions and freezing!
Following their commander's order, the Swadian heavy infantry corps executed the formation maneuver with incredible coordination. The first three ranks of soldiers, clad in thick armor like mobile metal fortresses, each massive shield gleaming with highly activated holy runes, interlocked tightly, forming a steel wall that shimmered with divine light!
Behind them, a denser forest of spears emerged from the gaps in the shields like venomous snakes! The tips of the spears gleamed with a cold, magical light!
Boom!

The first wave of Abyssal gnolls crashed heavily against the Great Wall, a structure built of both steel and magic!

The terrifying cracking of bones breaking, the deafening roar of metal clashing, the dying screams of gnolls, and the shouts of soldiers desperately pressing down on their shields mingled together! The holy runes on the shields flickered intensely, scorching the filthy bodies they touched, sending up plumes of acrid, blue smoke!
Countless sharp, sulfur-fire-laden claws left deep claw marks on the shields, and some giant shields were even completely shattered and deformed under the impact of multiple giant beasts!

But the Swadian warriors held their comrades in front of them with their shoulders, exchanging blood for bones, and refused to retreat an inch!

Taking advantage of the enemy's loss of balance upon impacting the shield, when their old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet been generated, the spear behind the shield ruthlessly and precisely thrust out and retracted repeatedly, as if trained hundreds of times! The spear tip tore through the leather-like hard skin, pierced through the sulfur-covered rotting flesh, and penetrated the boiling chest cavity!

Foul-smelling, dark red blood gushed forth like a fountain, spraying onto the gleaming shields and cold armor!
The spearmen in the first rank were instantly soaked, but they didn't even blink. Relying on the support of their comrades behind them, they mechanically and efficiently carried out their killing spree!

The heavy gnoll corpses piled up in front of the shield wall, forming a new obstacle!
"Kujit—the raid begins! Flanking attack, divide and strangle!" The Kujit cavalry, like the most cunning falcons on the steppe, darted out from both sides like lightning the instant the ramparts completed their transformation and long-range fire coverage was finished!

They were not as heavy as the Swadian infantry, but incredibly agile, their lances crackling with deadly electricity.

Instead of directly attacking the main force of the gnolls, they swarmed like poisonous bees towards the small, chaotic clusters that had been slowed down by the ice wind archers or torn apart by the shockwaves.

The high-speed charge of the lance easily pierced through the body of a single gnoll, and even strung together two or three like a gourd!
Their superb horsemanship, combined with their sharp sabers, unleashed a bloody storm amidst the chaos of the gnoll squad.

Like sharp scalpels, they continuously sliced ​​open the edges of the chaotic black tide, preventing small groups of gnolls from regrouping into a threatening force, and cutting them off and driving them toward the central Swadian infantry's hail of bullets, forming a more efficient encirclement and kill!

However, the Abyss's army seems to be inexhaustible!
The boiling lava fissures were like a never-ending fountain of plague, from which gnolls surged forth in a frenzy.

The effects of Light of Destruction and Frost Arrows are significant, but they require time to reload!
Gnolls have extremely strong individual impact, and each pounce is accompanied by suicidal madness. Their heavy armor may also be destroyed after being torn apart multiple times!
The battlefield quickly transformed from a relatively orderly long-range strike and crushing attack into a bloody and brutal close-quarters meat grinder!
Humanity's defenses, though resilient like reefs in a raging sea, are also under immense pressure and wear and tear!
"Second wave – move up! Fill the gap! Crossbowmen, fire freely, focus on eliminating the assault point!"

"Prepare gun positions—set them up at an angle to prevent people from climbing over the pile of corpses!" Bandak's voice was hoarse but clear as he gave commands through the communication crystal amidst the chaotic battle cries.

The soldiers, like parts of a precision machine, rotated efficiently amidst pain and death. Broken shields were replaced by soldiers pushing forward from behind; wounded or dead comrades were pulled down, and new warriors roared and charged forward immediately.

Spear broken? Immediately draw your spare short spear or longsword and continue hacking!

The infantry phalanxes prepared at the rear began to move forward, forming new strongpoints on the flanks. Their spears were held upright at an angle to prevent the agile gnolls from trying to climb over the shield wall by stepping on the corpses of their comrades.

boom!
Suddenly, in a relatively less defensive area on the left flank, a "Goblin Warlord of the Abyss," significantly larger than its kind, with lava flowing from its body and jagged bone blades growing from its joints, burst forth from the pile of corpses!
It roared and slammed its huge, hammer-like claws into the shields of two Swadian infantrymen!

The massive shield, already damaged from repeated impacts, shattered with a crack! Two soldiers were struck as if by a heavy hammer, coughing up blood and flying backward!

It smashed open a gap big enough for two or three people to walk side by side!
The ferocious aura emboldened the gnolls around it, and a chaotic mob of gnolls howled as they tried to pour through the gap!
"Vegia—Focus Ice Wind! Target that gap, suppress it!"

"No! Our men are over there!" roared the Swadian officer in charge of the left flank.

A close call!
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" Several exceptionally precise arrows, trailing emerald trajectories, pierced through the chaotic battlefield as if they were alive, leaving a series of afterimages in the air!

puff!puff!puff!
Three elven arrows, imbued with a rich life force and demon-dispelling power, struck with pinpoint accuracy into the gaping maw of the Abyss Warlord Gnoll and into the joint of its knee!

The energy, brimming with vitality, clashed fiercely with the corrosive power of the abyss, instantly causing massive tearing wounds! The momentum of that enormous body's lunge was abruptly interrupted!
"Ah—!" The shrill scream lasted only half a second!

A dazzling streak of platinum light, like a meteor tearing through dark clouds, instantly traversed the battlefield!
Clang—Buzz! A piercing energy sword cry!

Kalanzo charged in like a thunderbolt! The greatsword of the Sacred Tree in his hand was crackling with visible white lightning and the light of judgment, carrying the terrifying power of the entire Sacred Tree Knights' [Spear of Judgment] formation's all-out attack. With the simplest and most violent vertical slash, he fiercely struck the head of the Abyss Warlord Gnoll, who had just been wounded by an elven arrow and whose movements were restricted!

"In the name of glory—annihilate! Defilement!" Caranzo's roar echoed through the heavens!

puff!

The massive blade sliced ​​through the thick bone armor, cut through the muscle, and split the bone without any resistance!

The massive lava body, along with several ordinary gnolls trying to rush in around it, was cleaved in two along its central axis by Kalanzo's terrifying sword strike, which contained the power of judgment!
Hot, viscous viscera and lava gushed out like a magma fountain! Violent holy light energy erupted downwards from the cut, blasting the remains into burning charcoal!
The breach has been plugged!

The Swadian soldiers roared and used their shields and spears to push back the other gnolls that were pouring in, and quickly filled in for them.

"Elven Forest—well done!" Kalanzo swung his sword backhand, deflecting several incoming sulfur fireballs, and then raised his sword in salute towards the direction from which the elven arrows had come. Legolas nodded expressionlessly, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead. The repeated use of the secret technique "Emerald Soul Chaser" to lock onto and severely injure the Abyss Warlord had taken a toll on him.

But he drew his bow again, his cold gaze scanning for the next valuable, deadly target.

The battlefield is like the cruelest anvil and furnace!

The death torrent from the abyss violently crashed, tore, and dissolved everything.

Humanity's shields are shattering, spears are breaking, armor is twisting, and blood and flesh are splattering through the gaps in the steel!
The soldiers' screams and the wounded's groans never ceased! Corpses piled up like mountains in front of the shield wall, emitting a nauseating stench of burning and blood.

But the sophisticated war machine deployed by Shen Mu, like a steel behemoth sailing through raging waves, displayed breathtaking resilience and coordinated combat capabilities under the commander's will and the super-management of the "Tallinn Network"! The killing efficiency of the infantry shield wall and spearmen was maximized; long-range strikes were like the most precise scalpel, cutting through the core nodes; the cavalry's flanking maneuvers were perfectly timed; the point support from the Holy Tree Knights and the elven arrow formations was like battlefield medics, precisely plugging potentially fatal breaches! And the "Wall of Sighs" transformed into the "Thorn Garden" mode caused the gnolls attempting to climb and break through to pay a heavy price, with countless corpses impaled by energy thorns, hanging on the barrier's light screen and burning!

Each surge of impact from the abyss, though seemingly terrifying, manages to crack the steel barrier, but always falls just short by a hair's breadth!
Each breach is followed by more intense long-range fire suppression and rapid reinforcement, or even a planned counter-charge—a small squad of well-equipped Vaegir or Swadian reserves, wielding heavy flails or warhammers, will suddenly burst out under the cover of a volley of arrows or crossbow fire, wiping out the gnolls who have broken in, and briefly pushing forward to stabilize their position!
The entire battlefield resembled a winch being forcibly turned. The human ranks, covered in blood, flesh, and steel debris, trampled over the corpses of enemies and comrades, relentlessly crushing towards the entrance of the ancestral tomb amidst the frenzied counterattacks of the abyssal undead gnolls! Step by step!

We're getting closer and closer to the core of the Howling Wolf's Shadow! (End of Chapter)