The Battle of Blackwater City (Part I)

[Fourth place! It finally settled at number four for new books, Old Moon has dropped off the list, thanks everyone for your strong support! Old Moon has never kept a stockpile of chapters, they are always coded and published on the spot, so over the next few days, I will resume releasing two chapters daily. However, Old Moon will gather strength and bide time, waiting for the next massive explosion! Everyone, don't forget to bookmark and vote!]

Old Wilson brought over several knights, holding shields and protecting Merlin as they approached the city gate.

Try it first.

With a thought in Merlin's mind, a fist-sized ball of fire instantly materialized. This was merely an ordinary fireball, as Merlin wanted to test just how sturdy this city gate truly was.

Go!

Following Merlin's low shout, this ball of fire instantly flew toward the city gate.

Sizzling.

The fireball struck the city gate. Merlin did not detonate it; facing such a sturdy gate, a tiny fireball certainly wouldn't blow it open, so he had to rely on the high temperature of the fireball to melt a large hole through the gate.

Yet this city gate was exceptionally sturdy. A city gate was naturally a city's final barrier, and its sturdiness was extraordinary.

Thus, Merlin's fireball left merely a half-inch-deep pit on the city gate, still unable to melt it.

Once isn't enough, then twice, three times!

Merlin did not grow discouraged. Although the previous fireball failed, it achieved a certain effect; as long as he continued casting fireballs, he would definitely be able to pierce the city gate.

Whoosh, whoosh.

Two more fireballs rapidly flew toward the city gate, melting it right along the spot where the first fireball had melted. For a moment, droplets of molten iron began to drip down the sturdy city gate.

Sizzle.

Finally, melted by the two fireballs, a fist-sized hole was burned through the city gate. A trace of joy appeared on Merlin's face. By this point, having already cast three fireballs, he was now able to cast Greater Fireball.

Greater Fireball!

Without hesitation, Merlin conjured a behemoth fireball out of thin air. Just taking a single glance made one feel terrified.

Swish.

The giant fireball rapidly flew toward the city gate, heading straight for that tiny hole upon it.

Explode.

The might of Greater Fireball was several times that of an ordinary fireball. Under this explosion, it unleashed terrifying power, and endless high temperatures rapidly spread outward along the tiny hole in the gate. Before long, a tall human-sized hole was melted through the sturdy city gate.

Old Wilson had long been poised and ready. Seeing that the city gate was indeed blasted open by Merlin, great joy rose in his heart. He immediately raised his greatsword and shouted aloud, "In the name of knightly honor, charge!"

"In the name of knightly honor, charge!"

The two hundred heavy armored knights following closely behind Old Wilson, along with the other six hundred ordinary knights, shouted in unison. Their voices were filled with an aura of stern slaughter.

Boom.

This was the sound of charging knights, resembling a landslide or earth-shattering tremor, as though the entire city gate area was vibrating.

Old Wilson took the lead, a rich cluster of flames emerging over his body as entire self seemed surrounded by fire. Directly leading a large contingent of knights, he frantically charged into Blackwater City through the gaping hole in the gate.

Very quickly, the city gate was thoroughly flung open. The knight detachment led by Old Wilson used a force that could topple the withered and smash the decayed to directly scatter the City Defense Corps knights stationed at the gate. These City Defense Corps knights might possess some combat strength, but when facing the heavy armored knights led personally by Old Wilson, they possessed not the slightest bit of defensive power.

Merlin followed behind the knight detachment. He felt somewhat fortunate that he had originally chosen Fireball as his first spell model; otherwise, neither Freezing Spell nor Whirlwind would have been able to blast open the city gate.

The battle at the city gate quickly ceased. Quite a few of the City Defense Corps knights fled, yet Old Wilson did not pursue them. Instead, he arrived at Merlin's side and said with a solemn expression, "Merlin, I'll have Pula accompany you and lead three hundred knights to Wilson Castle to rescue Mei Xue and the others. As for myself, I'll lead the remaining knights to the City Lord's Manor to execute Ogdin."

Old Wilson would not easily let go of Ogdin, who had colluded with the Church, and intended to directly lead the heavy armored knights in a charge upon the City Lord's Manor.

Merlin pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Father, I only need to lead a hundred knights. You're going to the City Lord's Manor; it's heavily guarded there, and Ogdin's City Defense Corps knights are surely all gathered there."

After thinking it over for a moment, Old Wilson nodded in agreement, then led seven hundred knights galloping toward the City Lord's Manor.

"Uncle Pula, have the knights make all preparations for battle. Perhaps we will encounter some trouble."

A harsh glint flashed through Merlin's eyes.

Inside Wilson Castle, over a hundred servants had already been slaughtered completely. Regardless of men, women, the elderly, or children, none escaped death. Numerous corpses lay sprawled haphazardly across the ground, and the stench of blood spread so far that it could be smelled from far away.

Tilafa was currently seated on a chair inside the castle, frowning with a very gloomy expression because he had searched the entire Wilson Castle yet only found some servants. Not a single person among Mei Xue's group had been discovered.

Could it be that they escaped?

Tilafa couldn't help feeling somewhat suspicious. He immediately had a subordinate drag over a servant and questioned the trembling servant kneeling on the ground, "Where is Mei Xue?"

This servant glanced at Tilafa and could only answer cautiously, "I truly don't know where Miss Mei Xue is."

"You don't know?"

Tilafa stood up, raised the greatsword in his hand, and without hesitation, thrust his sword straight through the servant's chest.

"Bring the next one."

A cruel smile appeared on Tilafa's face, and he subsequently had his subordinates drag down another maid. This maid was utterly terrified; seeing the corpses covering the floor, she stammered out before Tilafa could even question her, "I-I just saw the butler take Miss Mei Xue and the others into Baron Lord's room."

"Very well, lead the way!"

Tilafa immediately stood up and ordered the maid to lead the path.

Very shortly, Tilafa arrived at Baron Old Wilson's room. Glancing around in all directions, he sneered, "They're definitely hiding inside this room. Search it for me!"

Dozens of knights immediately entered Old Wilson's room and began a frantic search.

Meanwhile, Mei Xue and the others, who were currently staying in the basement, had all arrived at the basement entrance. Pressing against the walls, they could faintly hear footsteps coming from the other side.

Mei Xue and the butler exchanged glances. Without batting an eye, Mei Xue drew her longsword, took a deep breath, gripped the hilt with both hands, and readied herself for combat.

Among the few people here, Mei Xue was the only one with combat strength. Although Old Wilson's mechanism was extremely covert, Tilafa was searching with so many people, so he would surely discover the mechanism very soon.

When that time came, they would only be able to fight desperately to the death!

"Butler, if Tilafa manages to search us out later, I will hold Tilafa off for you. You must take Mother and Gute and escape Wilson Castle."

Mei Xue said in a low voice. At this moment, she felt somewhat despondent once more; if she had successfully become an Elemental Swordsman, perhaps there would still be a sliver of survival, at least enough to cover the butler as he took Mother and Gute away.

Yet now, once Tilafa discovered them, they would be staring grimly at little hope of survival!

"Rumble!"

Suddenly, the ground throughout all of Wilson Castle seemed to vibrate slightly, shaking dust loose from the walls until it rained across the floor.

"What is going on?"

Tilafa abruptly raised his head, his expression altering slightly as his gaze cast outward toward the exterior of Wilson Castle.