Berserk: The Prophet

The battle raged all morning. The soldiers on the city walls were exhausted, and piles of corpses lay everywhere, but they still held on. Only a hundred Barkley heavy infantrymen remained, fighting desperately on the walls, their swords and shields gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

The crossbowmen had run out of arrows and now had to go to the armory to exchange them for the simplest bows and arrows to fire. The only advantage of Yaoyang Port was its extremely high weapon storage.

The citizens looked worried as they worked at the foot of the city wall, collecting the undamaged armor and weapons to equip the militia and light infantry later.

Even veterans and sailors who often fought at sea stood at the forefront of the battlefield, and now only they could protect this homeland on which they had long depended for survival.

Because of their over-reliance on naval military power, the Serpent Cult rarely had the opportunity to approach Yaoyang Port by sea, and a siege was even more impossible under normal circumstances.

This resulted in Yaoyang Port having only about 3,000 garrison personnel year-round, of which 500 were heavy soldiers; cavalry was scarce, with heavy and light cavalry combined numbering no more than 500; and light infantry and militia each numbered about 1,000.

Lacking any real experience in land warfare, the Cobra Tyrant Desalo of the Serpent Cult lured the previous lord of Radiant Harbor, Murmudren Holibar, out of the city with a single feigned retreat. Taking advantage of the terrain, the Serpent Cult's army ambushed and annihilated Radiant Harbor's cavalry and light infantry in an instant.

Even the city lord of Radiant Sun Harbor, Murmudren Holibar, managed to escape only thanks to the desperate cover of his elite troops, but unfortunately, he was still struck by several arrows coated with deadly poison and died from his injuries.

The young eldest son, and the only male heir of the city lord. At only 20 years old, Aleris inherited his father's title and the throne of the city lord, shouldering the heavy responsibility of protecting Sunburst Harbor.

This was undoubtedly a daunting task for someone so young, but Alessi displayed extraordinary talent and courage.

He managed to hold off the siege of the Serpent Worship Cult's 6,000-strong army with only 1,500 men, thanks in large part to his innate leadership skills, which rallied the strength of the soldiers and the civilians in the city.

Because even ordinary people can pick up a bow and crossbow and kill the enemy after simple training!

With the navy gradually assembling, the scale of its defenses was quite considerable. Unfortunately, the Serpent Cult wouldn't just sit idly by; the siege force composed of Serpent Cult warriors and rogue knights alone was enough to give the newly-ruled Radiant Sun Port a run for its money.

At noon, the fighting on the battlefield temporarily ceased. Soldiers panted on the city walls, their figures appearing particularly exhausted under the scorching sun.

Even so, Aleris dared not rest for a moment. He ordered his people and all those who could work to immediately take this opportunity to set up more traps and obstacles on the city walls to slow down the enemy's advance.

The seriously wounded soldiers were immediately carried away on stretchers, while the women were busy cooking raw fish. They had to thank their city for being close to the sea; no matter how besieged they were, their strong navy and fishing industry ensured that their food supply would not be cut off.

......

Inside the tyrant's meeting tent at the site where the army of the Serpent Worship Cult was attacking the fortress.

"Damn it, I didn't expect the new kid to be so hard to deal with! Hiss, Desaro, don't you have any better ideas?"

The serpent tyrant Oversaurus's voice was extremely irritable and could be heard even fifty yards away from the tent.

Inside the tent, three tyrants from the Serpent Cult of the continent of Alama sat around a rough wooden table. On the table was a detailed map and sand table, marked with the city walls of Radiant Sun Harbor and the surrounding terrain.

Ovos's golden, vertically shaped pupils flashed with the flames of anger as he slammed his finger heavily on the map. He had had enough of Desaro's attrition-based playstyle.

"...According to the scouts, Barkley's allied forces are arriving soon. If we cannot breach Sunrise Harbor today, we will have to leave."

Desalo stroked his bald chin, contemplating the battle. The Serpent Cult warriors and their followers, brainwashed and simply trained from captured serfs, were almost exhausted, along with the ragtag troops of the rogue knight order.

If the goal is to quickly capture the city, the only option is to send the elite troops from the homeland of the Serpent Cult to attack. Obviously, the tyrannical serpent Ovos, who possesses only strength and muscles, is the best candidate.

Desaro glanced at Ovos, a sly glint in his deep green eyes. He knew that while Ovos was fierce, he was simple-minded and easily provoked.

"...Hiss, Ovos, you are the strongest among us. If you can lead the elite troops to charge over the city walls, you will definitely be able to take Radiant Sun Port in one fell swoop!" Desaro said deliberately in an impassioned tone.

As expected, Ovos fell for the trap. He raised his head and roared, "Fine! Then let me lead them and break through the city's defenses!"

Ovos quickly and impatiently left the tent to gather the Serpent Cult elites who had just finished lunch to prepare for the siege. This left only the Cobra Tyrant Desaro and the Viper Tyrant Bugita inside the tent, who surprisingly exchanged a knowing smile.

The elite forces of the Serpent Cult quickly assembled, and at Ovos's command, they surged towards the walls of Radiant Sun Harbor like a tidal wave. Already transformed into monsters, they were exceptionally brave and fearless, engaging in fierce combat with the defending soldiers.

The soldiers on the city wall fought desperately, but the elite troops of the Serpent Worship Cult became exceptionally fierce once they reached the city wall, and soldiers kept falling. The situation in Radiant Harbor became visibly critical.

Led by the serpent tyrant Ovos, the outermost wall of Radiant Sunport was quickly breached. He was like a moving killing machine; with each swing of his long-handled giant axe, several soldiers fell.

"Lord Aleris, the city walls are about to fall! Retreat to the ships! Please make a decision as soon as possible!" The constant reports of manpower shortages and the visible rout made Aleris break out in a cold sweat. He hadn't expected the Serpent Cult to have such a backup plan, which left him feeling somewhat helpless.

Aleris stood atop the highest point of the Cabinet Fortress, his gaze fixed intently on every corner of the battlefield. His heart was filled with anxiety, but his face remained expressionless. He had to remain calm and find a way to halt the enemy's advance.

"First, let my people evacuate to the ships. All able-bodied men should immediately equip themselves with weapons and assemble at the fortress to live and die with Yaoyang Port!!"

Aleris drew his sword from his waist, closed the visor of his helmet, held the sun banner of House Holibal in his left hand, and the commander's sword in his right, its blade gleaming beneath the sun.

"Waaaaah—"

A short, urgent horn blast echoed throughout Yaoyang Port. Women and children ran in terror toward the port, while sailors, dragging their weary and still-healing bodies, guided the people onto the ships in an orderly fashion.

The able-bodied men had already donned their light armor, and although their eyes showed unease, they were at least prepared for the fate of falling along with the city.