Zong Shen's fingertips rubbed against the cold, rough wall bricks.
Gunpowder smoke mingled with the pungent stench of scorched matter, churning in the wind.
Though the surroundings had long since grown warm, the City Wall beneath his feet still emanated a bone-deep chill that seeped into him.
It made him more wary than the heavy footsteps of the frost behemoths approaching across the distant ice plains.
According to the information, this was called the tentacle of the Ancient God's Remains.
Like the most vicious parasite, it was silently gnawing away at the foundations of the nearby earth veins.
To the east, deep within the darkness flickering under artillery fire, chaotic howls and flashes of exploding energy faintly shone through.
The breach seemed to have been torn open, and a tide of death was pouring in.
Yet there was no panic on Zong Shen's face. His expression merely became slightly more focused.
He slowly raised his right arm.
The dusty Dimensional Seed mark on the inside of his wrist flickered faintly, utterly silent throughout.
"My lord!"
A messenger reported to him.
"A breach has appeared in the defensive zone 32 kilometers away. Earth vein contamination caused the defenses constructed in part of the zone to collapse ahead of time. Large numbers of Corpse Wights and even more terrifying things are pouring in through the gap!"
"The pressure on the neighboring Sixth and Eighth defensive zones has surged!"
Zong Shen's gaze remained fixed on the massive shadows ahead, gradually becoming clearer in the darkness.
Every step they took made the earth groan under unbearable strain.
"I understand."
"So this is earth vein contamination."
"Although I received intelligence about it before, seeing it firsthand is another matter entirely."
"I need to remind them again!"
Zong Shen pondered.
His voice remained calm.
"Send the