Turning the Tide

This incredible scene, like a torch lit in the darkness, instantly rekindled the almost extinguished fighting spirit in the hearts of the remaining defenders! Despair transformed into a fervent fighting will!

"For the Lord! For Master Andrei! Kill!" Brendan was the first to react, letting out a hoarse roar with all his might, wielding his chipped Battle Axe, and leading the few dozen soldiers he had left in a desperate counter-charge!

Encouraged, the defenders unleashed astonishing power, following in the footsteps of Brendan and Master Andrei, as if injected with a stimulant, pressing forward madly!

The battle lines, which were on the verge of collapse, miraculously stabilized and even began to push the unsuspecting Sauron back step by step towards the gate!

Master Andrei became the sharpest point of the entire counter-attacking formation!

Wherever he went, his sword flashed, and Sauron soldier fell like harvested straw, carving a bloody path through the enemy ranks and creating precious space for his comrades behind him to advance.

The Sauron Army's formation was disrupted, and the soldiers' morale was clearly dampened when facing this elusive swordsmanship master, resulting in brief confusion and hesitation.

However, the limits of age and physical strength cannot be fully compensated for by even the most exquisite swordsmanship.

Master Andrei was no longer the energetic and tireless young knight he had been a decade or so ago. Moreover, just a few days ago, he had taken a fatal blow from a sorcerer during a night raid to cover his teammates, and his internal injuries had not yet healed. The intense fighting had greatly depleted his physical strength and energy.

His movements inevitably became slightly slower, his breathing became heavier and more rapid, his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and his wrist holding the sword trembled slightly.

After unleashing a dazzling yet deadly combo, precisely piercing the throat of a Sauron Army, his steps faltered due to exhaustion, and he paused slightly!

In that instant when the old forces had been exhausted and the new forces had not yet arisen.

A veteran of the Sauron army, who had been hiding to the side and rear, wielding a heavy mace, seized this fleeting opportunity like a lurking viper!

He suddenly lunged forward, swung his mace in a wide arc, and with a fierce gust of wind, smashed it hard into Master Andrei's left rib area!

"Bang!!!"

A dull, loud thud! Although the thick plate armor wasn't pierced, the immense impact penetrated the metal and was transmitted solidly into Andre's body! A piercing pain shot through his ribs, and his internal organs felt as if they had instantly shifted!

Master Andrei's body jolted violently, he groaned, and a trickle of blood instantly spilled from the corner of his mouth! But he endured the excruciating pain that almost made him faint, and with his honed fighting instincts and indomitable will, he stubbornly refused to fall!

He twisted his body abruptly, and with a backhand slash, as if by reflex, precisely sliced across the neck of the veteran who had ambushed him!

The veteran's sinister smile froze instantly, and he staggered back, clutching his bleeding throat.

But Master Andrei himself could no longer hold on. He used his longsword to support himself on the ground, knelt down on one knee, and coughed violently. Crimson blood kept gushing from the corner of his mouth, staining his white beard and the armor on his chest.

His face turned ashen, clearly indicating he had suffered severe internal injuries.

"Master!"

"Protect the Master!"

Upon witnessing this scene, the defending soldiers were filled with rage and fury. Far from collapsing due to the loss of their leader, they erupted with even more frenzied fighting spirit!

Like an enraged pride of lions, they formed a human wall, desperately protecting the wounded Andre, while launching an even more relentless attack on the chaotic Sauron!

"Drive them out! Avenge the master!" Brendan roared, charging forward like a mad tiger!

The defenders' sudden and furious counterattack, fueled by grief and indignation, completely stunned the already disorganized vanguard of Sauron.

After leaving behind dozens of corpses, the remaining Sauron soldier finally could not resist and were forcibly driven out of the Lord's Hall in a sorry state!

"Quick! Block the door!" Karl commanded hoarsely, enduring the pain.

The surviving soldiers immediately sprang into action. Despite their exhaustion and pain, they used their last ounce of strength to frantically pile up all movable and broken furniture, and even the corpses of their fallen comrades and enemies, at the entrance, rebuilding a simple yet resolute barrier.

When the last heavy object was pushed into place, temporarily shutting out the angry roars and crashing sounds of the Sauron outside the door, the hall instantly fell into an eerie, deathly silence.

All that remained were the suppressed groans and gasps of the wounded, and the thick, pungent smell of blood in the air.

Everyone collapsed to the ground, some leaning against the wall, others sitting directly in pools of blood, breathing greedily, a mixture of relief at surviving the ordeal and deep-seated exhaustion.

A deathly silence fell over the hall. The euphoria of the brief victory quickly faded, replaced by a deeper weariness and bewilderment.

The surviving defenders supported each other, some sitting, some leaning, their eyes blankly staring at the gate, which was barely blocked by debris and corpses and still emitted dull thuds.

The Sauron outside seemed to have temporarily halted their frenzied assault due to their recent crushing defeat, but the incessant pounding on the door, like knocking on everyone's heart, served as a clear reminder.

The enemy is regrouping, and the next, and inevitably the final, attack could come at any moment.

How much longer can they hold on? A quarter of an hour? Or a few minutes? No one knows the answer; despair, like a cold fog, permeates every corner.

Just then, Master Andrei, who had been struggling to stand and enduring his injuries with sheer willpower, suddenly swayed and could no longer support himself, falling straight backward!

"Master!"

"Andre!"

Karl and Brendan exclaimed almost simultaneously, rushing forward to support his slowly collapsing body on either side. They carefully laid him flat on the relatively clean ground, and Karl hurriedly removed Andre's helmet, which was covered in cuts and dents.

Beneath the helmet was a face so pale it was almost transparent, devoid of any color.

Master Andrei's breathing was so faint that it was almost imperceptible, with little inhalation and much exhalation, each breath appearing exceptionally difficult, as if it might stop at any moment.

Although Karl was not a knight and did not understand the mysteries of Battle Qi, he understood that this was a sign of impending death, indicating that his life force was exhausted and he was on his last legs!

"Master! Hold on!" Karl's voice trembled uncontrollably. He looked around and shouted hoarsely, "The healer! Find the healer quickly!"

But where could one find a physician? And even if there were, what use would ordinary medical skills be against such severe injuries?