Raising his greatsword again, Ronan brought it down with all his strength. In panic, the soldier could only raise his arm to block, but the arm that had already been half-severed was cut clean through by Ronan, split into two at the middle of the forearm. Nor did it stop the blow; after cutting through his arm, Ronan's greatsword continued into the side of his neck.
Another enemy soldier who had just climbed onto the wall tried to attack Ronan while his greatsword was lodged in the corpse, but a Nord guard knocked him down with his shield. As the man struggled to rise, a Vigyan Knight struck him on the head with a mace. Blood sprayed everywhere, and the soldier's entire skull split apart like a watermelon.
Ronan pulled out his sword and, together with the men rushing over, began holding back the enemies climbing the wall. The siege ladders were now too close to the wall for the catapults inside the city to strike them. Rexa could only order the soldiers to block the enemy's ascent while using great axes and massive hammers to smash at the drawbridges resting on the battlements, trying to break apart the ends and make them slip down.
The positions of the two remaining siege ladders had become meat grinders. Soldiers from both sides converged there: one side tried to gain a foothold atop the wall, while the other did everything it could to stop them and destroy the drawbridges.
A soldier gripped a battle axe in both hands and hacked viciously at the drawbridge, gouging a deep mark and sending splinters flying. He yanked the axe free, raised it over his head with both hands, and was just about to bring it down when an arrow struck his neck. He spat out blood, clutched his throat, and slowly collapsed. A soldier behind him immediately picked up his axe and took over.
Ronan had just thrust his sword through an enemy soldier when he saw another enemy sneak up behind a militiaman, preparing a surprise attack. Without a second thought, Ronan hurled his greatsword with all his strength. The spinning blade grazed past the militiaman, breaking him into a cold sweat, before burying itself directly in the chest of the enemy behind him.
The militiaman turned back and glanced at the dead enemy. Just as he turned around to give Ronan a grateful smile, an enemy soldier from the other side cut through his neck.
Ronan could not help rolling his eyes. He then turned and grabbed the wrist of a soldier who held his sword overhead in one hand, ready to chop down at him. Ronan stepped back, moved into the man's embrace, and threw him over his shoulder. At the same time, he picked up the sword that had flown from the man's hand and drove it down.
The enemy soldier tried to grab the blade with his hand, but Ronan's immense strength sliced straight through his fingers. The sword then plunged into his neck without resistance.
Elsewhere, two Vigyan Knights worked together with remarkable coordination. One attacked from the left, while the other came from the right. When the enemy raised his shield to block the attack from the left, the second Knight drove a spear through the back of his knee, forcing him down onto one knee. At the same time, the Knight on the left swung his weapon again and struck his head, splitting his helmet and embedding the blade deep in the middle of his skull.
The enemy soldiers who had previously broken through the militia's defense and climbed onto the wall had all been cleared out by Ronan and the others. Soldiers also packed tightly behind shields at the drawbridge entrances, while men on both sides continued hacking at the ends of the bridges with axes.
With a cracking sound, the end of one drawbridge was finally smashed apart. Having lost its support, the drawbridge slid off the wall, and the soldiers standing on it flailed wildly as they plunged to the ground.
The other drawbridge was soon broken as well, and the enemy began retreating. The defenders erupted in cheers. While the soldiers celebrated, Rexa frowned deeply. After tallying the losses, nearly three hundred defenders had been killed or wounded. Although the enemy had suffered more than three times as many casualties, they could replenish their forces at any time, whereas Taiwei Four had only these men.
Rexa ordered the soldiers to gather the arrows and stones scattered throughout the city and set aside those that could still be used. Resources within the city might be plentiful, but even abundant supplies could not outlast the endlessly reinforced Valantis army.
The bodies were gathered together for burning, while the wounded were carried down from the walls and sent into the castle. Medical conditions within the city were limited, and some of the more severely wounded soldiers might not survive.
Excluding the dead and wounded, fewer than two thousand people in Taiwei Four remained able to fight. Most of the casualties were Terra militiamen. The Silver Moon Clan's forces had also lost four soldiers, with seven more seriously wounded. Ronan's men, on the other hand, had suffered virtually no losses. Only one mercenary had been struck in the shoulder by an arrow, but it had not penetrated deeply after piercing his armor. A simple bandage was enough, and it did not affect his ability to fight.
Several village women were still responsible for cleaning Ronan's weapons and armor. Within the city, these remaining village women had little else to do besides cooking, cleaning, and caring for the wounded.
Quite a few villagers had also failed to dodge the stones hurled into the city by Valantis catapults during this assault. After chatting with the village women for a while, Ronan gradually felt drowsiness wash over him. He was always exhausted after a battle, and he had not slept well during his afternoon nap. Once he lay down on the bed, he quickly fell asleep.
The village women said nothing more. After carefully wiping down Ronan's weapons and armor, they quietly closed the door and left.
Meanwhile, far away in Teldrasil, the royal capital of Xinteland on the Asloth Continent, Belicha slowly pushed open the doors of the temple. Only one girl sat beneath the statue in the desolate hall: Daisy. Her eyes were closed, her hands clasped before her chest, and her lips moved in prayer.
Ever since the gods had stopped displaying miracles several centuries ago, the temples had gradually fallen into decline. The people of Xinteland differed from those of other kingdoms; they were more practical. Once the gods could no longer help them, they became stingy with their faith. Fewer and fewer people came to pray, and no nobles continued making offerings to the temples. Now, only a very small number of priests remained to maintain them.
Daisy had grown up in the Holy Cross Kingdom, and she had come to revere the gods through constant exposure. It was therefore not strange for her to return to the temple to pray. Still, if those great nobles learned that the Princess believed in the gods, they would likely mock her behind her back. They would not dare say it openly, though. Queen Serena's reputation was renowned far and wide, and if the Queen learned that they had been gossiping about the Princess in private, they would not have a pleasant outcome.
"Your Highness the Princess, I had quite the time looking for you!" Belicha said, shaking his head with a wry smile as he walked to Daisy's side.
"Uncle Belicha, stop teasing me. I've nearly gone mad from being cooped up lately. Mother watches me every day, and I have to learn this and that. It's not fun at all. I'm already starting to miss life in Ravenwood Town."
"Haha, your status is different now, after all. But what are you doing sneaking over here?" Belicha asked with a smile.
"I'm praying for Captain Rodrit. I hope his fortunes in battle remain strong." Daisy's little face reddened as she spoke bashfully.
"Ahem, has spring come for our little girl? But don't worry. You've seen Rodrit fight before. He's an outstanding warrior. He knows how to protect himself in battle, and he knows how to win."
Before you continue