Winterholm

Blackstone Pass, on its western flank, lies a small border fortress called Winterholm.

Knight Friedrich von Schmidt stood alone behind the cold battlements of the city wall.

He was fully armed, with a long sword at his waist. Even in the darkness, his figure remained as upright as a pine tree, exuding the calm and powerful aura unique to knights.

However, his mood at this moment was as heavy as the pitch-black night.

The kingdom sent him to defend Blackstone Pass not only because they trusted his personal abilities, but also because they hoped to use him to reduce Eisenberg's power.

After all, Blackstone Pass was such an important pass that it was impossible to leave it solely to the Eisenberg family to guard; other nobles had to share the power.

As the eldest and most capable son of Duke Schmidt, Friedrich naturally came here without a doubt.

Friedrich was willing to guard the frontier and share the burden of the country, but he was extremely disappointed and angry with Earl Eisenberg's extremely passive and almost cowardly defensive strategy in guarding the area!

He had repeatedly advised the Count that Eagle's Nest Fortress was already very strong, but the Sauron had an unprecedented force and would not attack only one point.

It is necessary to divide forces to support smaller fortresses like Winterholm that guard key passages, forming a complete defensive chain with mutual support, in order to effectively delay the enemy's breakthrough.

However, each suggestion was rudely rejected by Earl Eisenberg on the grounds that "dividing troops is a major taboo in military strategy, and holding the Eagle Nest is the best policy."

Left with no other option, Friedrich went to Winterholm Fortress alone, hoping to strengthen its defenses in his own way.

He is Fourth-Order Knight, and he is equivalent to an army by himself. But the problem is, no matter how powerful he is, he is still just one person.

However, the Blackstone Pass has dozens of passes and hundreds of fortresses, so even if he wanted to defend it, he was powerless to do so.

Moreover, what he saw after arriving in Winterholm was even more shocking and chilling!

This fortress, which was theoretically supposed to house eight hundred garrison troops, actually had fewer than four hundred men when he actually counted them!

A full four hundred positions were vacant! And this was just one fortress he randomly inspected; heaven knows how much salary was wasted by Earl Eisenberg and his cronies along the entire Blackstone Pass defense line!

This is not just embezzlement, but a blatant betrayal of Wang Guofang's defense!

The fortress's defenses were in a complete mess.

The spears and swords in the armory were rusty, the shields had cracked skins and loose wooden frames, most of the bowstrings were loose and powerless due to lack of maintenance, and the muskets were few and far between and in poor condition.

The most outrageous thing is that there is a gap in the city wall facing north that is big enough for two people to pass side by side, which is barely blocked by some broken debris!

It was only through Friedrich's forceful methods that the lazy garrison was compelled to hastily repair the structure with stones and timber.

Friedrich stood atop the city wall, his gaze passing over the dark valley to the brightly lit, seemingly indestructible, massive black shadow on the distant mountain ridge— Eagle's Nest Fortress.

He felt no sense of security, only endless worry and anger.

Earl Eisenberg staked all his troops on Eagle Nest, treating the army, which the kingdom had heavily taxed to train, as his private army, while almost voluntarily abandoning all the outer strongholds! This was tantamount to exposing the entire defensive line's weakness to the enemy!

Just as he was filled with worry, a messenger came running up the city wall, panting, and handed him the latest intelligence report.

This was the last message, delivered through a difficult route via a line that was not yet completely blocked.

Intelligence indicates that the Fran City has been tightly besieged by the army personally led by Ulf, and the Sauron are poised to launch a siege.

Earl Rochefort was in dire straits himself and had no capacity to provide any support to Blackstone Pass.

"In the end...we still have to rely on ourselves..." Friedrich clenched his fist, his nails almost digging into his palm.

An immense pressure of isolation and helplessness enveloped him.

However, just as he was processing this bad news and trying to figure out how to use the existing remnants of his troops to strengthen the defenses...

Waaaaaah!!!

A sudden, sharp horn call came from the direction of Eagle's Nest Fortress in the distance, instantly shattering the silence of the night!

Immediately following was the deafening War Drum! They rolled across the mountains like thunder!

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!"

"Sauron! It's the Sauron!"

"They're here! Lots of torches!"

From the direction of Eagle's Nest Fortress, a deafening roar and gasps erupted instantly!

Countless torches were instantly ignited, like angry fire dragons dancing wildly in the darkness! The faint sounds of dense musket fire and the clanging of clashing weapons could also be heard!

The battle broke out without warning!

Moreover, the Sauron's main target was not the small, poorly defended passes they had assumed, but rather the very heart of the Northern Territory defenses: the Eagle 'Eagle's Nest Fortress, considered the most fortified and heavily fortified!

Friedrich lunged to the ramparts, staring incredulously at the sky above the Eagle Nest's Nest, a sky suddenly engulfed in chaos and war.

"How is this possible? They actually... launched a direct assault on Eagle Nest!"

The deafening sounds of battle and towering flames emanating from the direction of Eagle's Nest Fortress drew the attention of almost all the garrison inside Winterholm Fortress.

They crowded in terror along the side of the city wall facing the Eagle Nest, craning their necks to look out, completely forgetting their duties and the dangers they faced.

"Idiots! Get back to your posts! Now!" Friedrich sensed something was wrong and roared as he tried to drive the terrified soldiers back to their defensive positions.

However, his warning came too late.

Just as he turned his head, he caught a glimpse of several dark figures, like ghosts, silently vaulting over the ramparts of the fortress facing the northern wasteland!

The cold iron hooks were firmly fastened to the cracks in the rocks, and three agile Sauron elite barbarians with ferocious paint on their faces had already stepped onto the city wall!

A feint attack! That was the Sauron' true objective!

Using a feint attack from the direction of the Eagle Nest to draw all attention, the real spearhead was thrust at Winterholm, where defenses were most vulnerable and the will of the defenders was weakest!

At this moment, the side of the city wall facing the enemy was almost deserted, as all the defenders had run to the other side to watch the spectacle!

These three Sauron elite captured a section of the city wall without firing a shot and began to quickly lower more ropes!

"Damn it!" Friedrich cursed under his breath, instantly drawing his knight's longsword from his waist.

The sword reflected a cold, icy glint in the firelight. "Enemy attack! This way! Drive them away!"

The three Sauron elite who had just gained a foothold were clearly not expected to be discovered so quickly, and a look of astonishment flashed across their faces.

But they reacted extremely quickly, immediately letting out a low whistle as a warning, and at the same time drawing their scimitars, they rushed towards Friedrich in a triangular formation!

Their movements were swift and coordinated, clearly indicating that they were all veterans who had experienced countless battles and whose strength had reached the level of a first- or even Second-Order Knight.

However, they were facing Friedrich von Schmidt, a true Fourth-Order Knight!