Defense Battle II

Jialan followed his gaze and saw the dense Beast Tide still approaching, while the Soldiers on the city walls were already exhausted. He chanted a few words and formed a complex hand seal. Fresh moisture filled the air, and tiny water droplets condensed, turning into specks of light that entered John's body, slightly healing his superficial wounds.

Jialan stood on the city wall. The battle had been raging for over two hours. The cold night wind, carrying the stench of blood, swept towards him. His Mana was already mostly depleted, but the Magic Beasts outside the Fortress continued to pour in relentlessly.

The remaining five official Mages within the Fortress were spread out at crucial defensive points. Protected by guards, they specialized in taking down mutated monsters that ordinary Soldiers found difficult to deal with, such as giant cave spiders, flying snakes that could spew venom, and the most troublesome corrupted magic wolves, which were swift as lightning and whose gleaming claws could easily tear through steel.

Jialan was responsible for the east wall. The terrain here was higher, offering a wide field of vision, but it also made it a primary target for Flying Magic Beasts. Over two hours of continuous combat had pushed his Mental Power to its limit.

"Lord Mage! Another group is coming from the left!" a nearby guard shouted.

Jialan gritted his teeth and looked up, seeing three Corrupted Wing Demons diving at high speed. Their wings were covered in disgusting pustules, and each flap shed corrosive liquid. He suppressed his headache and raised his hand to gather Mana. A crystal-clear ice wall instantly rose from the ground, blocking the corrosive liquid. However, one Corrupted Wing Demon cunningly bypassed the ice wall and lunged directly at Jialan...

"Clang!"

A longsword slashed through the air, cutting the Magic Beast in half. Argyle's tall figure blocked Jialan's front, black blood still dripping from his blade.

"Can you hold on?" he asked in a deep voice.

Just as Jialan was about to answer, a commotion erupted from the south wall. Through the sky filled with firelight, he saw several soldiers carrying away a comatose Fire Element Mage. The Wind Element Mage on the west wall was also being supported by two medics, the hem of his robe tattered and riddled with poison.

"Priest Anna has already rushed over," Argyle's voice was heavy as stone. "But we can't hold on for much longer."

As if to confirm his words, the city wall suddenly vibrated violently. Several Stone Trolls, each about three meters tall, were battering the city gate. Each impact made the stone walls tremble. The arrows shot by the defenders only left shallow white marks on their granite-like skin.

"Prepare the boiling oil!" Captain Kendy yelled hoarsely, but Jialan saw that the hand holding his sword was trembling so much he could barely grip it.

Jialan's heart sank. They were just Junior Mages, and facing a Beast Tide of this magnitude, holding on until now was already their limit.

"If this continues... we won't be able to hold..." Jialan heard a guard beside him whisper in despair.

At that moment, Albert's voice came from below the city wall.

"Get out of the way! Hurry, get out of the way!"

The old Mage, covered in dust and grime, rushed onto the city wall, holding a black crystal that emitted a dark glow. Jialan recognized it instantly as a Shadow Crystal. It had been one of their targets during their recent mission. He hadn't expected Albert to actually obtain it. As for the other target, Star Brilliance Grass, that team had likely been annihilated.

Albert, panting, rushed to the defensive magic array in the center of the city wall. "Quick, help me activate it!"

Jialan immediately understood his intention. Mustering his last bit of Mana, he placed his hand on the array. The other Mages who were still able to act also rushed over, pouring their Mana into it together.

"Shadow Barrier - Activate!"

As Albert chanted, the Shadow Crystal slowly merged into the array. In an instant, a pitch-black energy barrier spread out like a tide, quickly covering the entire Fortress. The Magic Beasts ramming the city wall let out piercing screams the moment they touched the barrier, their bodies rapidly dissolving as if being corroded.

"It worked..." Jialan's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed.

The situation had stabilized for the moment, but everyone knew it was only a temporary solution. The energy of the Shadow Crystal was limited and could only last a few hours at most.

Argyle stood at the edge of the city wall, gazing into the distance with a solemn expression. "I don't know when Vice-Commander Raymond and Master Calvin will return. If..."

He didn't finish, but Jialan understood his meaning. If they couldn't return in time, the Fortress would surely fall.

On the city wall, the exhausted Soldiers took the opportunity to rest. Priest Anna and the medics moved among the wounded, doing their best to provide aid.

Several Spellcasters seized the moment to meditate on the city wall, recovering their nearly depleted Mana and Mental Power. Jialan sat cross-legged in a relatively quiet corner, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing, feeling the slow flow of Mana returning to his body. However, he dared not immerse himself completely in deep meditation. The Beast Tide outside the Fortress still lingered beyond the barrier, their low roars rising and falling, as if waiting for something.

Something's not right...

Jialan frowned slightly. The behavior of these Magic Beasts was too abnormal. They weren't simply attacking the human stronghold, but seemed drawn by something, fixated on the interior of the Fortress, even relentlessly charging the Shadow Barrier. Some Magic Beasts weren't attacking directly but were hovering on the periphery, as if waiting for an opportunity.

Two hours later, Jialan awoke from his meditation. His spirit had recovered considerably, but his Mana had only returned to about sixty percent. He didn't dare delay too long, quickly ate some dry rations and drank some water, then returned to the city wall to observe the situation.

"Mage Albert," Jialan walked up to the old Mage and lowered his voice, "the behavior of these Magic Beasts... it's not normal."

Albert stood at the edge of the city wall, his cloudy eyes fixed on the distant Magic Beasts. Hearing Jialan, he turned his head slightly but didn't answer immediately.

Jialan continued, "Magic Beast attacks are common, but such a frenzied assault... it's unprecedented. And they don't seem to simply want to break through the Fortress, but are looking for something."

Albert's brow furrowed even deeper. He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "...You're right."

"Do you know the reason?" Jialan keenly sensed the hesitation in the old Mage's voice.

Albert unconsciously rubbed his staff, his gaze drifting towards the command tower in the center of the Fortress. "More than ten years ago, when this was still a temporary camp, Magic Beast attacks were just minor skirmishes." His voice suddenly became vague. "But since three or four years ago, especially after the new Fortress was built, there have been more and more mutated Magic Beasts. The low-level Shadow Beasts that originally came from the Shadow Plane are also getting stronger... they..." He paused, as if hesitating whether to continue, "They seem to be drawn by something."