Breach

With a deafening roar, the west gate of North Wind Fortress burst open.

Some rusty iron mechanisms rotated and moved, emitting a harsh grinding sound, and the massive drawbridge slowly descended, crossing the wide moat and connecting directly to the other side.

"Who is the traitor!"

"Damn it, someone has opened the city gates!"

"Quick! Pull the suspension bridge up!"

"Oh no, they're coming in!"

"All units prepare for battle!"

The city was in chaos and commotion, filled with shouts, yells, and curses. No one could tell whether they were colleagues or enemies.

The Dragon Vein Kin, who had been waiting outside the city for a long time, rushed onto the drawbridge and poured into North Wind Fortress like a surging, unstoppable torrent.

Leading the charge were tall, strong Ogre wand-shield Fighter, followed by Hobgoblin skirmishers with guns and Lizardmen tribe Fighter.

"For the Ember Nest!"

"Occupy North Wind Fortress!"

Although the Rackman Dynasty had a very firm grip on the City Defense Army, almost reaching the pinnacle of what feudal lords could achieve, the army within the city was not entirely monolithic.

After the Red Dragon himself descended and unleashed his threat, even the most loyal "Eagle Shield" couldn't help but waver in their resolve. Perhaps one or two out of ten City Defense Army had already decided to betray them, and that was enough to shake the very foundations of North Wind Fortress.

The rest is quite simple.

Those soldiers determined to rebel secretly contacted player spies lurking in the city, gathered their strength, launched a mutiny, killed the City Guard commander at the west gate of North Wind Fortress when he was completely unprepared, and opened the gates of North Wind Fortress that had not been breached for centuries.

The leader of the City Defense Army that launched the mutiny was named John. His wife had died at the hands of the so-called "devil," making him one of the most loyal soldiers to the Duke. When he plunged his sword into the commander's chest, the man was utterly astonished; the commander could never have imagined that John, nicknamed "the loyal dog," would betray him.

As agreed, these traitorous soldiers tied red bandages around their right arms and attacked their former comrades.

"Kill these Vampire lackeys!"

"For the sake of family!"

"To survive!"

John raised his standard-issue longsword and shouted.

Thus, the various factions— the Ember Nest's remnants, the traitorous soldiers, and the loyal City Guard— engaged in a chaotic battle within the city.

As the city where the Rackman Dynasty has the deepest roots, North Wind Fortress will naturally not surrender without resistance like Troluo City.

Interests are always the strongest bond.

Many of North Wind Fortress's elite forces were already bound to the Rackman Dynasty's war machine, and had no choice in their actions.

They knew that once the Duke fell, their own fate would be no better, perhaps even worse than death. Therefore, they were determined to fight to the death, effectively blocking the Ember Nest's remnants in the narrow passage at the city gate.

"Humans, prepare to die!"

The Ogre swung his spiked club and smashed the soldier in front of him into a bloody pulp.

Holding a huge leather shield, he charged forward like a heavy chariot, braving the arrows of the City Guard.

However, a cold shard struck its thick arm holding the mace with pinpoint accuracy. The shard shattered, releasing a chilling aura that gradually slowed the Ogre's movements.

That's Ice Blade Spell.

Spellcasters loyal to the Rackman Dynasty also joined the battle.

"Charge!"

"Kill that monster and avenge our comrades!"

The allied soldiers wanted to kill the Ogre and were about to rush forward.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Bullets from the Hobgoblin skirmishers whistled through the air, and several soldiers fell one after another.

Shortly after the Battle of Trier, players at the Storm Armory developed rifled guns with higher accuracy, and skirmish tactics, which were more flexible and free and focused on small-scale battles, also emerged.

"For the Ember Nest! For an endless supply of food!"

"Charge!"

The Ogre, wielding their massive shields, continued their charge, advancing like a moving, thick wall.

Ice spikes, flames, acid, and radiant light—the spellcasters unleashed a torrential downpour of magic upon their minions. Several Ogre fell one after another, dying in various ways, yet they showed no fear whatsoever.

These Ogre' simple brains can't hold much beyond fighting and eating; death is commonplace for them—literally. Hungry Ogre in the wilderness often hold impromptu funeral feasts, burying their fellow ogres in their bellies.

However, the Ember Nest is not without its own defenses.

In addition to the Hobgoblin constantly firing muskets and hunting down the soldiers, players also joined the battle.

In an instant, dazzling magical lights also appeared on the side of the Ember Nest, and the players' attack methods became even more diverse.

"Their firepower is pretty strong—"

"Paladin, push upwards!"

"Give me a Haste Spell! Give me a Haste Spell and I'll be invincible!"

"Cleric, cast a Sanctuary!"

The shirtless Monk player "Dawei Tianlong" used Haste Spell to Wall Climbing and descend from the sky, suddenly crashing into the City Defense Army's formation.

Looking around at the panicked soldiers who didn't know where the enemy had come from, he shouted with high spirits.

"I want to take on ten!"

"Gale Combo!"

His punches were so fast they were almost invisible; all that could be heard were the rapid, resounding thuds of the blows.

The fist, imbued with "qi," slammed into the soldier, causing seven or eight soldiers around him to fall one after another. The powerful combo even dented their armor, leaving fist marks—this skilled Monk player had directly activated his mowing-down-enemies mode.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"My God Descending to Earth has gone completely berserk!"

The Dawei Tianlong galloped through the crowd, roaring with exhilarating abandon, his bald head splattered with the blood vomited by the soldiers.

Soon, the City Defense Army noticed him and started shooting arrows at him.

"Whoosh—"

An arrow came straight at his bald head.

"Deflect Missiles!"

Dawei Tianlong snorted coldly, gathering his energy in his hands, and actually caught the rapidly moving arrow with his bare hands, then used the force to throw it back.

The arrow pierced the archer's forehead, killing him instantly.

"Hmph, such a trivial skill, yet you dare to show off your limited abilities before an expert!"

"A mere monster dares to try and ambush me? Really—"

Before he could finish speaking, arrows came flying in from all directions.

Although he was Monk who could Deflect Missiles, he was not an eight-armed Arhat, and his naked body was quickly riddled with thorns.

"Overestimating one's abilities."

"My life was worth it."

The Dawei Tianlong lay on the ground, happily watching the massive amount of contribution points and experience points refreshed on the panel, when suddenly the screen went black.