"Tap, tap, tap..."
The marching footsteps surged from the Black Stone Mountain Range toward the Black Forest Kingdom. Sensing that something was wrong, the scouts assigned to watch the Centipede Race hurriedly lit beacon fires.
In the blink of an eye, news of the foreign invasion spread all the way from the Black Stone Mountain Range back to the kingdom, causing a massive uproar throughout the Black Forest Kingdom.
The worst-case scenario had finally come to pass!
Before the Black Forest Kingdom government could react, the Centipede Army had already emerged from the Black Stone Mountain Range and launched its attack.
"Kill!"
Battle cries rang out as the baronial territories, only halfway through their evacuation, fell at once. Countless civilians who had failed to escape became food for the Centipede Race.
Benevolence, morality, propriety, honor—none of those existed here. There was only endless slaughter.
Gutterland Province, Creston County.
Viscount Pierre, the lord of the territory, stood atop the city walls, anxiously gazing into the distance.
Small territories lacked the ability to halt the enemy's advance and had long since been abandoned by the kingdom. To better resist the enemy invasion, the Kingdom government had ordered a strategic contraction half a month ago, relying on cities and fortresses across the land to hold their ground.
In the end, there had simply been too little time. Vast amounts of population and wealth could not be evacuated overnight.
Other than the beast tides that came only once every few decades, Creston County had no experience resisting foreign enemies. They were being forced into this fight unprepared.
The footsteps drew ever closer. As thousands upon thousands marched together, even the earth began to tremble.
"Lord Viscount, the enemy has set up camp five li away!"
Upon receiving the news, Viscount Pierre first breathed a