Breakthrough
At 1:30 a. m., the night is deepest and people are most exhausted.
"Whoosh!! Snap! Whoosh!! Snap!"
Two red signal fireworks, trailing dazzling contrails, suddenly shot into the night sky from the inner walls of Carnford, exploding at their highest point into two brief but blinding orbs of light, illuminating the menacing battlements and the edge of the Sauron camp below in a blood-red glow!
This sudden signal was like a spark thrown into boiling oil!
In an instant, the once lifeless Carnford defenses, from the hillside positions on both sides of the passageway to the top of the inner city wall, erupted like a dormant volcano!
"Fire!!!"
The officer's desperate shouts pierced the night sky!
"Bang bang bang!!!"
Suddenly, a dense, almost intermittent burst of musket fire erupted! Long tongues of fire simultaneously spewed from behind dozens of firing ports and crenellations, tearing through the darkness!
The scorching lead bullets rained down like a storm on the blockade positions established by the Sauron towards the tunnel exit!
The flickering flames illuminated the area intermittently, and the deafening gunfire was even more intense than the most boisterous festive fireworks!
Even the Six-pound Cannon on the city wall joined the chorus!
"Boom!!!"
With a muffled roar, a huge burst of flame erupted from the cannon muzzle, and a heavy, solid iron ball whistled through the night sky, arcing with death, and slammed heavily into a sandbag-built Sauron fortification near the outside of the tunnel!
Although it failed to hit the bunker directly, the terrifying bounce and flying debris upon landing still smashed several Sauron soldier who hadn't had time to lie down, leaving them mangled and bloodied, triggering a chorus of panicked screams!
This completely unexpected and incredibly powerful all-out attack threw the Sauron forward troops responsible for blocking the passage into massive chaos!
"Enemy attack! It's a night attack! The Broomflower Barbarians are about to charge out!" The junior officer shouted hoarsely. The soldiers were jolted awake from their sleep or rushed from their resting places to their battle positions, frantically drawing their bows and firing blindly into the pitch-black tunnel where only the muzzle flashes of their guns could be seen.
The darkness severely impaired their vision and judgment, and the deafening gunfire made it impossible for them to discern the enemy's main attack direction and true intentions.
The entire blockade was in chaos. Soldiers lay prone behind their bunkers, nervously watching the tunnel exit, waiting for the expected surge of defending infantry. However, apart from the constant spewing of deathly flames and thick smoke, there was no one there!
Even the brightly lit arrow tower construction site behind them was terrified by this sudden, all-out attack.
A panicked commotion erupted among the slaves and craftsmen. Many dropped their tools and instinctively tried to flee, believing the main force of the Carnford garrison was about to arrive. The overseers had to brandish whips and swords, frantically trying to suppress the commotion. "No chaos! Back to your positions! It's a feint! It's harassment!"
Just as the entire Sauron Army's attention was firmly drawn to the fierce and bizarre "feint attack" from the front, plunging them into tension and chaos...
Several hundred paces away from the arrow tower construction site, on the edge of a dark and silent forest on the left, five ghostly figures were quietly lurking in the shadows of the bushes.
Master Andrei's sharp gaze pierced the darkness, calmly observing the chaotic battlefield in the distance, illuminated by firelight and filled with shouts of men and neighing of horses.
A cold, stern smile curved his lips. Karl's feint attack had worked; the Sauron ' attention was now completely drawn to the front.
"The time has come," Andre's voice was deep and clear. "Prepare for action!"
The four team members behind him sharpened their eyes and silently began the final check.
Roland took a deep breath, took out a modified Karl Molotov cocktail from his waist, and carefully lit the grease-soaked Cloth Strip at the mouth of the cocktail with a match. The orange flame immediately leaped up, dancing in the darkness and illuminating his resolute and calm face.
Oliver, Mark, and Roderick acted almost simultaneously, each lighting their own Molotov cocktail.
Five flickering flames lit up at the edge of the dark forest, like the open eyes of five vengeful demons, filled with an aura of destruction.
Master Andrei confirmed the location and wind direction of the arrow tower skeleton one last time, and let out a low growl:
"Rush!"
At Andre's command, five warriors leaped out of the shadows at the edge of the forest like cheetahs pouncing from the darkness!
With all their might, they hurled the blazing Molotov cocktail at the chaotic crowd!
The Sauron' defenses around the camp were originally extremely tight, with clear divisions of defense zones for each unit and strict vigilance.
However, in order to rush the construction of the arrow towers, a large amount of timber, craftsmen and slaves have been frequently transferred from all directions, resulting in this area near the edge of the forest being piled with various building materials. The patrol routes have also become messy, and the defenses have inevitably become lax.
Adding to the fact that the deafening gunfire and shouts of battle coming from the direction of the main passageway had drawn the attention of almost all the sentries and patrols, no one expected that the deadly attack would come from this "safe" forest on the flank!
"Whoosh!! Snap! Crash!"
Several Molotov cocktail traced bright arcs as they landed precisely among the horde of slaves and a few overseer soldiers gathered near the arrow tower base, who were watching the main battlefield with panic!
The sound of the earthenware pot shattering rang out, and viscous, Fire oil splattered everywhere, instantly igniting upon contact with an open flame! Orange-red flames soared into the air, instantly engulfing the crowd who couldn't dodge in time!
"Ah!!! Fire!"
"Enemy attack! Flanking man! Someone's in the forest!"
A series of piercing screams and terrified cries erupted instantly! Those engulfed in flames let out inhuman howls, rolling frantically in an attempt to extinguish the flames, only to ignite more debris and their companions.
Even those not directly affected were terrified by the sudden attack from the side and rear and the terrifying flames, throwing them into complete disarray!
"Charge!" Master Andrei roared, his figure moving like lightning, the first to rush into the sea of fire and the chaotic crowd!
His longsword was drawn from its sheath, transforming into a cold, silvery flash in the firelight, slicing precisely and ruthlessly across the throats of two Sauron overseers who were trying to organize a resistance!
Roland, Roderick, and two others followed closely behind, driving deep into the enemy ranks like wedges! Their flintlock carbines were almost pressed against the panicked enemy as they fired!
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The flintlock carbine demonstrated its terrifying lethality at extremely close range! Although its range was short, its high muzzle velocity made it incredibly powerful within a dozen paces!
Each flash of muzzle flash was accompanied by the scream of a Sauron soldier or overseer as they fell to the ground.
Lead bullets flew through the crowd, causing even greater chaos and casualties, especially for the slaves and overseers who were mostly wearing only leather armor or no armor at all; the blows from these short-barreled firearms were devastating.
The scattered Sauron defenders attempted to put up a resistance, but the fragile defenses crumbled instantly under the sudden close-quarters combat, the raging fire, and the precise, deadly carbine fire! The survivors were either hacked down or fled in terror, crying out in despair.
"Target the arrow tower! Roderick, plant the explosives! The rest of you, cover us!" Andre shouted the order as he parried a stray arrow with his sword.
The squad members worked together seamlessly. Oliver and Mark used their carbines to take pinpoint shots at the approaching enemies, while the knights Andre and Roland brandished their swords and fought off the few Sauron soldier who charged forward, creating space for Roderick.
Master Andrei and Roland were like war gods descended to earth; with each swing of their longswords, almost no one could withstand a single blow.
Andre's swordsmanship was steady and seasoned, each strike aimed directly at vital points; Roland, on the other hand, was more courageous and aggressive, his sword flashing as he continuously felled his enemies.
With them as the vanguard, the squad fought their way through the chaotic enemy ranks and quickly approached the wooden frame of the arrow tower, which was already two-thirds of the way up!