Real Mount and Blade Game

Inside the council hall, Sun Zhiru left with a sense of gratitude as if he had survived a disaster and a heavy sense of responsibility, leaving behind ripples of the faint power of faith stirred by his vow.

Shen Mu picked up the cup of warm goat milk, which had the sweet aroma of wild honey and vanilla, and took a small sip.

The warm liquid slid down his throat, slightly relieving the fatigue from the long journey, but the hidden pain deep in his soul, stemming from the curse of Yenogu's lingering resentment, remained unchanged, like a persistent carbuncle.

That chilling, sharp tremor, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, reminded him that beneath the brief tranquility lay a surging undercurrent of crisis—the swirling gray-white vortex of the ancestral tomb, the churning black clouds in the direction of the putrid swamp, and the vast land corrupted by the rules of the abyss necromancy.

He set down his silver cup, the bottom of which made a crisp, light sound against the stone table. His gaze shifted to the massive oak door of the hall, inlaid with iron hoops, as if it could penetrate the thick wood and gaze further north.

“Fatis.” Shen Mu’s voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable penetrating power.

"Yes, sir." The old knight, who had been standing by his side with white hair and beard but a straight back, immediately stepped forward and placed his right hand on his chest.

“Manid’s report was very detailed. As for the Blue Star people, Sun Zhiru has been stabilized for the time being.” Shen Mu slowly stood up. The leather armor and metal parts made a slight rubbing sound, which aggravated the old wound under his ribs that had not yet fully healed, causing him to frown almost imperceptibly, but then relax. “The stability of the town is the foundation, and you have done a good job. Now, it’s time to go and see our ‘fist’ and ‘shield’.”

His gaze passed over Fatis and landed on the tall, arched window on the north side of the council hall. Outside, the golden rays of dawn were outlining a more majestic and imposing silhouette in the distance—the heart of Deherim, the true military core, the castle district.

Fatis immediately understood, a sharp glint of a soldier flashing in his eyes: "Yes, sir. Rezarit is leading his newly formed heavy infantry phalanx in drills on the parade ground. I have sent someone to inform him. The construction of the castle district is being carried out to the highest defensive standards; every stone is soaked with sweat and vigilance."

“Very good.” Shen Mu nodded slightly, took a step, and walked towards the door. The Holy Tree Knights, who were standing guard on both sides, followed silently. Their iron boots clattered on the smooth stone slabs, making a neat and heavy echo, as if stepping on the hearts of everyone present.

As they walked through the well-planned streets of the inner city, the roar of the bellows in the smelting area, the shouts of soldiers training in the military camp, and the faint sounds of everyday life coming from the commercial district were all shut out by the somber atmosphere of Shen Mu and his group.

The closer they got to the north, the more somber the atmosphere became. Ordinary soldiers and craftsmen alike, upon seeing this elite cavalry, personally led by their lord, their armor still bearing the dust and blood of the Wood Elf Forest, were filled with awe and stopped in their tracks, offering the most solemn military salute. Their eyes were filled with reverence, reliance, and a complex mix of emotions—a complex mix of feelings—for their leader who had repeatedly led them to safety in dire straits.

Soon, a breathtaking barrier came into view.

The nearly 25-meter-high, bluish-gray city wall stands majestically like a giant rock dragon crawling on the earth. Huge stone blocks are meticulously stacked, their surfaces not smooth but covered with fine, regular runes that shimmer in the morning sun with a pale blue and silver-gray glow, clearly incorporating some kind of defensive enchantment. At the top of the wall, arrow towers stand like barbs on a dragon's spine, each with densely packed firing ports, from which a cold glint shines—these are heavy crossbows, already cocked and ready to fire.

At the foot of the city walls stretched a wide and deep moat, its waters drawn from a distant river, rushing swiftly and shimmering coldly in the morning light. The massive drawbridge was now lowered, thick iron chains wound around winches on either side, its surface wide enough to accommodate several riders abreast. Beyond the drawbridge stood an even heavier, iron-clad gate, studded with enormous rivets. Above the gate's archway was carved the emblem of the Deherime—a broken sword embedded in burning thorns, symbolizing resilience and the will to rise from the ashes.

"My lord!" A loud, steady voice, like the clanging of rocks, rang out. From inside the city gate, the tall, imposing Rhodok General Rezarit, clad in full steel plate armor, strode forward with several equally robust Rhodok heavy infantrymen, each wielding a long halberd. His face bore the marks of a long journey and the weariness of supervising training, but his sharp eyes burned with fierce fighting spirit. He approached Shen Mu, slamming his right fist heavily on his left breastplate with a dull thud. "Rezarit reports to you! The newly formed heavy infantry phalanx has completed its morning drills and is ready for battle!"

"You've worked hard, General Rezarit." Shen Mu's gaze swept over this fierce general known for his resilience and defense, then looked up at the city walls that seemed to pierce the clouds. "This castle... is even more fortified than I imagined." There was a hint of admiration in his tone.

“My lord, this is only the beginning!” Rezarit’s voice was filled with pride as he stepped aside to lead the way. “Please allow me and Sir Fatis to introduce you to the true backbone of Deherme!”

The group stepped onto the drawbridge, the heavy hooves and footsteps echoing across the empty surface. Entering the city gate passageway, the light suddenly dimmed. The passageway stretched for over ten meters, its walls surprisingly thick, with hidden channels and rock-falling holes for "wolf-tooth gates" above. A chilling air, mixed with the smell of stone and iron, assaulted their senses, creating an oppressive atmosphere. Shen Mu keenly sensed that the stone walls here seemed to have undergone some kind of reinforcement, the light of runes flickering in the shadows.

Passing through the deep doorway, the view suddenly opens up, only to be instantly enveloped by an even more formidable defensive system. The castle grounds are not flat; rather, they cascade down the mountainside. The outermost perimeter is a wide ring road connecting arrow towers and bastions in all directions.

“My lord, look!” Fatis pointed to the nearest massive bastion protruding from the city wall. This bastion, with its multifaceted shape, perfectly covered the blind spots of the adjacent walls. “It was built according to your instructions, combining features of Rhodok mountain fortresses and Swadian plain fortresses. Each bastion has three levels: the bottom level stores logs, boulders, and oil; the middle level houses ballistae and archer firing platforms; and the top level serves as a lookout post and command post.” He paused, his tone tinged with awe, “Especially those two 'Breakers' mounted on top…” Rezarit immediately chimed in, his voice booming, "Yes! 'Citybreaker'! This is a heavy crossbow, crafted day and night by our Rhodok artisans, combining some sturdy materials captured from the Abyss with ancient imperial blueprints! Its range exceeds three hundred paces! The crossbow arm is made of specially treated millennia-old ironwood reinforced with steel, and the winch requires four strong men to wind it. It's equipped with specially made alloy heavy arrows, the arrowheads engraved with small 'armor-piercing' and 'explosion' runes!" His eyes gleamed with excitement, as if introducing his most prized child. "One arrow can pierce a gaping hole in even a behemoth of the Abyss, clad in three layers of heavy armor! Even a battering ram would crumble under its touch! Sir, would you like to test its power? I'll have someone load one!"

Shen Mu raised his hand to stop him: "No need, Rezarit. I believe in its power. The precious crossbow bolts and worn-out equipment should be saved for when they truly need to roar." He looked up, his gaze traveling along the bastion's sturdy walls, finally settling on the two enormous ballistae that protruded like the fangs of steel behemoths. The cold metallic texture, the oppressive aura of impending doom, gave him a sense of reassurance. This was indeed a powerful reliance against the unknown, terrifying behemoth. "Conserve strength, wait for the opportune moment. This deterrent power itself is strength."

"Yes, sir!" Although Rezarit felt a little regretful, he immediately straightened up and obeyed, his eyes filled with even more admiration for Shen Mu's composure. He knew that this young leader never made unnecessary wastes.

Shen Mu and his entourage continued their inspection along the ring road. Every so often, fully armed soldiers stood guard at sentry posts or arrow towers. Upon seeing Shen Mu, they all straightened their backs, their gazes intense. Shen Mu nodded slightly to them, each nod causing their chests to rise and their eyes to harden. Many of these soldiers were veterans who had crawled out of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood in the Wood Elf Forest; Shen Mu's very presence was the pillar of their faith and the source of their courage.

“My lord, this way please.” Fatis led the group toward a stone staircase leading to a higher level. The staircase was wide and steep, with sturdy breastworks on both sides. “We are now entering the middle defense zone. This area mainly consists of barracks, armories, arsenals, and granaries. All strategic materials are concentrated here, and it is heavily guarded. There are only two roads leading to the core area, both equipped with sturdy gates and guard towers.”

They ascended the stone steps, and the middle area came into view. Rows of neat stone barracks were built against the hillside, larger and more concentrated than the inner city's military quarters. The massive armory gates were tightly shut, guarded by two squads of Swadian soldiers. The air was thick with the mingled smells of leather, grease, newly honed steel, and freshly baked bread. Everything was orderly, exuding the cold efficiency of a war machine.

“The core area is just above,” Rezarit pointed higher, where the castle’s tallest main tower stood. “The main tower is the castle’s last bastion and its most solid stronghold. Beneath the tower are three levels of dungeons and a secret water chamber; the ground level houses the council hall and officers’ command post; and the upper level contains the lord’s residence and watchtowers. The tower’s walls are over five meters thick, constructed from the hardest granite, and embedded with large amounts of 'Ember Stone' powder extracted from the remnants of the Sacred Tree at key points, providing extremely strong resistance to dark energy. At the top of the tower…” A proud smile appeared on Rezarit’s face, “We’ve installed four 'Eyes of Judgment'!”

"Oh?" Shen Mu became interested. "'Eye of Judgment'? That's a very impressive name."

“Yes, my lord!” Fatis explained, his tone tinged with admiration. “This is a giant crossbow for city defense, developed by drawing upon the Vikya Icewind Archers’ understanding of the ‘Breath of the Icewind’ arcane technique, in collaboration with several elders of the Wood Elf remnants and master craftsmen from the Metallurgical District. Its core lies in the runic array inside the crossbow mechanism. It doesn’t fire physical giant arrows, but rather highly condensed arcane energy beams containing faint traces of the power of laws! Although its range is not as long as the ‘Citybreaker,’ its penetrating power and destructive force against spirits and energy shields are terrifying! Especially against large-scale gatherings of low-level undead, a single volley of ‘Eye of Judgment’ is enough to tear a hundred-meter-wide vacuum zone in the battle line! We named it ‘Judgment,’ meaning the final judgment against the filth of the abyss!”

Shen Mu's pupils contracted slightly. This "Eye of Judgment" sounded like a weapon tailor-made to deal with enemies like the Corpse Sand Sea or the Corruption Golems that might emerge from the Ancestral Tomb vortex! He looked up at the top of the main tower, where four uniquely shaped circular platforms, shimmering with complex metallic cold light and flowing runes, protruded from each direction. The addition of "Ember Stone" powder was a stroke of genius. The purifying power of the sacred tree remains that Alatan Khan had brought back had been preserved in this way, protecting this fortress.

"What a magnificent 'Eye of Judgment'!" Shen Mu's voice held a rare hint of admiration. "This name is worthy of its power. Fatis, Rezarit, you have done an excellent job! Deherim's defenses today owe a great debt to you!" He surveyed the impregnable fortifications, the spirited soldiers, and the ample supplies around him. The heavy feeling in his heart, brought on by the threat of the ancestral tomb and his own curse, seemed to have been slightly loosened by this steel fortress. This "power," built from the sweat, wisdom, and even lives of countless people, was his most solid reliance in the face of the unknown storm.

However, in the brief moment his mind calmed down, a sharp, piercing pain, like being pricked with needles, shot through his bones from the brand on his palm—a cruel mockery of his brief respite. Immediately afterward, a faint yet chillingly malevolent tremor, like an invisible thread, suddenly emanated from the north—the direction of the ancestral tomb vortex—resonating for a fleeting instant with the brand on his palm!
"Ugh..." Shen Mu groaned, his right hand clenching tightly involuntarily, his knuckles turning white from the force. Fine beads of cold sweat instantly appeared on his forehead, and his face paled.

"My lord!" Fatis and Rezarit's expressions changed drastically, and they immediately stepped forward, their eyes filled with worry. The surrounding Holy Tree Knights also tensed up instantly, their hands gripping their sword hilts.

Shen Mu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning pain and sudden palpitation. He loosened his clenched fist, the lingering burning pain and a persistent chill remaining on the branded area of ​​his palm. He raised his head, gazing at the northern horizon, his gaze sharp as a knife, as if trying to pierce through the barrier of space to see what lurked deep within the gray-white vortex. Was that fleeting tremor a warning? A test? Or… a harbinger of something about to awaken?

He slowly withdrew his gaze, looking at the two loyal generals beside him. His face had regained its usual sternness, with only a trace of solemnity remaining deep in his eyes: "It's nothing, just an old wound." He paused, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, "It seems the 'guests' are a little impatient. The fortress is complete; now, it's time to sharpen our blades."

He didn't linger, striding resolutely towards the towering, mountain-like main tower. "Take me to see the control panel of the 'Eye of Judgment.' Also, Rezarit, notify all officers of rank of company commander and above to assemble in the main tower's council hall in one hour. We need to reassess the threat from the north, and... how we can take the initiative and keep the war outside the walls of Deherim!"

Fatis and Lesarit exchanged a glance, both seeing the solemnity and burning fighting spirit in each other's eyes, and simultaneously straightened their chests and replied, "Yes, sir!"

The heavy cast-iron gates slowly opened at the entrance of the main tower, emitting a deep rumble, like the gaping maw of an awakened steel behemoth. Shen Mu, his figure bearing the dust of battle, the lingering pain of his soul, and an indomitable will, was the first to step into this last and most fortified stronghold of Deherim. Sunlight cast long shadows behind him onto the cold stone ground, and in the depths of the shadows ahead lay the path to the highest command post, the starting point for confronting the storms emanating from the shattered ancestral tombs and the unknown abyss.

On the city wall, the runes of the "Eye of Judgment" flickered extremely faintly in a corner unseen by anyone, as if sensing its master's surging killing intent and determination to protect. (End of Chapter)