Defense Strongpoint
Meanwhile, in a relatively open area in the outer city near the inner city, a three-story building made of stone and hardwood became a crucial stronghold on the retreat route of the Carnford garrison.
This building has an excellent location, situated at the intersection of several main alleys, and its rooftop platform offers a panoramic view overlooking a large area.
Roderick is leading a mixed squad of remnants and soldiers gathered during the retreat, fighting desperately to buy precious time for the large number of civilians and allied troops to retreat to the inner city.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
From the third-floor windows and platform, Musketeers Mark and several Musketeers and archers under his temporary command were using their height advantage to continuously snipe at the Sauron soldier below who were trying to rush into the inner city through the open space.
Scorching lead bullets and sharp arrows rained down, almost without missing their mark, and Sauron soldier fell to the ground one after another, effectively slowing down the enemy's advance.
"Well done, Mark! Hold them off!" Roderick shouted encouragement from near the second-floor stairwell.
He knew all too well that the existence of this building was like a nail, firmly wedging the throat of the Sauron's rapid advance.
If the enemy doesn't remove this thorn in their side, they will constantly be under threat of deadly attacks from above, making it impossible for them to pursue relentlessly.
The Sauron clearly realized this as well, and soon, a Sauron squad attempting to cross quickly was forced to retreat behind cover beside the street after leaving behind several corpses.
A Soren Battle Group, clad in centurion armor and known for his volatile temper, stormed over. Upon seeing the scene before him, he roared, "Useless trash! A dilapidated building can stop you?! Bring all the Swordsmen and Shieldbearers here! Add thirty spearmen! Now! Crush this building to the ground within a quarter of an hour!"
The order was quickly relayed.
Soon, about twenty heavily armored Swordsmen and Shieldbearers carrying large shields, and thirty infantrymen carrying spears were urgently summoned to the front of the building.
The Battle Group Commander drew his scimitar with a "whoosh," pointing the blade at the small building. His voice was icy cold. "Listen up, all of you! The first one to rush upstairs will receive ten gold coins and five slaves! Anyone who cowers in fear, whether officer or soldier, will be executed on the spot!"
A centurion swallowed hard, steeled himself, raised his War Saber, and roared at the assembled soldiers, "Brothers! Follow me! For the Great Chieftain! Kill!"
"Kill!!!"
Driven by both the promise of a huge reward and the prospect of death, the fifty Sauron elite roared with deafening force.
The Swordsmen and Shieldbearers quickly formed a tight shield wall in front, followed closely by the spearmen. Like a moving steel hedgehog, they suddenly rushed out of the first-floor door, surged into the corridor, and launched a fierce mass charge towards the narrow staircase leading to the second floor!
"Thump! Thump! Thump!" The heavy footsteps and the sound of shields hitting the walls echoed in the narrow stairwell, sending chills down one's spine.
Roderick, who was guarding the corner of the stairs on the second floor, immediately felt immense pressure.
He peered down through the gaps in the stairs and saw a dense array of shield edges and gleaming spear tips rapidly surging up the stairs!
"Prepare to engage! Spearmen, hold the line!" Roderick roared, gripping his Battle Axe tightly.
Although the dozen or so soldiers around him looked tense, they still resolutely extended their spears from the gaps in the stair railings, aiming them downwards.
However, the Sauron were determined to win this time!
The Swordsmen and Shieldbearers against their shields, braced themselves against the spears thrusting down from above, slowly and laboriously pushing upwards!
Although shield bearers were occasionally struck and fell by spears, their positions were immediately filled by others.
The narrow staircase limited the defenders' space to swing their spears, while the Sauron, with their shields and numerical advantage, gradually gained the upper hand and were about to rush onto the second-floor platform!
Roderick knew that once these Heavy Armor Infantry stormed the relatively open second floor, his dozen or so men would be no match for them! A resolute glint flashed in his eyes as he shouted to those behind him, "Mark! Molotov cocktail!"
Mark's reply came from the third floor, "The last one! Catch!"
A clay pot was carefully passed down from the third floor, the cloth stuffed into its Cloth Strip already lit and sizzling. One of Roderick's men risked his life to lean out and catch it.
"Throw it!" Roderick roared!
With all his might, the soldier slammed the burning clay pot down the stairs, towards the area where the shields were most concentrated!
"Bang! Crash!"
The earthenware pot shattered after hitting the shield midway down the stairs! The viscous Fire oil inside spilled out instantly, exploding and igniting upon contact with an open flame!
"Boom!"
A fierce flame suddenly shot up, sweeping across the lower part of the staircase like a fire dragon!
The first few Sauron Swordsmen and Shieldbearers and spearmen were instantly engulfed in flames, letting out piercing screams as they turned into rolling firemen!
Their leather armor and clothing became the perfect fuel! Even worse, the flowing flames quickly ignited the wooden stairs and the clutter piled in the corner, and a raging wall of fire instantly blocked the passage to the second floor!
The intense heat and thick smoke forced the following Sauron soldier to retreat repeatedly, making it impossible for them to get close; the stairwell was temporarily blocked by fire.
"Retreat! Retreat quickly! Watch out for arrows!" Roderick ordered his soldiers to retreat to a safe distance while nervously watching the fire below and the commotion outside the building.
The Soren Battle Group, who was overseeing the battle from the rear, watched helplessly as his carefully organized mixed assault team of swordsmen, shieldmen, and spearmen was burned by a single Molotov cocktail and forced to retreat in a sorry state. He was so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged.
He kicked over the soldier beside him, cursing, "Damn it! A bunch of useless trash! They use fire, but you can't? Go! Bring up all those imitation Molotov cocktail from the ordnance battalion! I'm going to burn this dilapidated building to ashes, bones and all!"
The order was carried out swiftly, and several emaciated slaves, driven by the overseer's whip, ran over tremblingly, carrying a few rough clay Molotov cocktail.
The Sauron archers immediately understood and unleashed a barrage of arrows at the third-floor windows and platform, forcing Mark and the others to retreat temporarily.
"Now! Throw it!" the Battle Group Commander shouted the order.
The slaves hurriedly lit the Cloth Strip at the mouth of the bottle and, with all their might, hurled the burning Molotov cocktail toward the three-story building!
"Smash! Crash!!!"
Several Molotov cocktail struck the walls and windows of the small building with pinpoint accuracy. The ceramic pots shattered, and the viscous flames exploded instantly, spreading rapidly along the wooden window frames and walls! Another one flew directly into the ground floor through a broken window, bursting into flames!
Roderick, who was guarding the second floor, suddenly felt a wave of scorching heat rushing towards him from his feet and all around. Thick smoke began to seep in from the cracks in the stairs and under the floor, choking him and making his eyes water.