Losses and Counterattack

Losses and Counterattack

The fighting within Southshore soon ended as well. The low-level skeletons were no match for the warriors who had rushed back, driven to fury by the tragedy that had struck their hometown.

Some of those skeletons might even have been their own departed relatives. Filled with grief, the warriors smashed every skeleton into fragments. By the time Roderick returned to Southshore, only a field of corpses and half a ruined town awaited him.

The Guard soldiers had suffered few losses, but the security forces and ordinary residents had suffered grievous casualties. The once-prosperous Southshore had lost its former splendor.

The young secretary, Ayrs Guvi, had been gravely wounded by a lurking Undead assassin while evacuating the crowd, causing chaos in the dock district. Some high-ranking councilors had tried to take advantage of the turmoil and board ships to flee Southshore. They had failed due to a collective mutiny by the sailors, but the disorder had still caused some innocent people to die in the crush and stampede.

Alwyn's father, the blacksmith Bass, lost an arm while protecting Mayor Heni. He would never again be able to lift his beloved hammer.

The one thing that comforted Roderick was that the oil painting carrying all his memories had been safely stored in the cellar beneath his home. It was the most precious legacy left behind by his father and mother.

While directing others to count the casualties, treat the wounded, and put out the fires with all their strength, Roderick unexpectedly met an envoy from Hillsbrad. The man had also been frightened by Southshore's miserable state and haltingly explained the purpose of his visit.

While Southshore had fallen into crisis, the Undead had not spared nearby Hillsbrad either. Mayor Bownside, resting at home, had been assassinated at his desk by an Undead assassin who had lain hidden for a long time.

Secretary Heras Whitesteed had also had his head cut off in the Town Council's latrine. When a small Undead force appeared at the apple orchard, Hillsbrad's militia, leaderless and without command, had been no match for the enemy. The swiftly defeated farmers fled back into town.

In the end, under the command of the blacksmith Weilintan, they had relied on the town's favorable terrain and several ballistae to hold back the Undead squad's attack. Later, for unknown reasons, those Undead who had held the advantage suddenly withdrew.

When the surviving Hillsbrad councilors saw the billowing smoke rising from Southshore, they sent an envoy to investigate the situation. In the end, the envoy could not bring himself to voice his request for Southshore to send reinforcements and returned to Hillsbrad overnight in helplessness.

Roderick, who had not slept all night, had just been about to eat breakfast when he saw yesterday's envoy entering Southshore with a convoy of wagons.

"These are some provisions and weapons. I hope they can help you." The speaker looked haggard as well, clearly having gone without sleep all night. After the introductions, Roderick learned that he was Weilintan, the head blacksmith who had organized the residents to resist the Undead attack.

Southshore lacked everything now. After accepting the man's goodwill, Roderick casually mentioned the Jade Mine. The man's expression changed at once, and several fast riders soon galloped out of Southshore. The men who returned that afternoon looked utterly devastated. The Jade Mine had been occupied by a group of bloodthirsty spiders, and no living people had been seen nearby. The riders who had only dared to observe from afar brought back another piece of terrible news.

Roderick whispered a few words to Weilintan, who immediately called for everyone to return to Hillsbrad. Having dealt with these external matters, Roderick then headed to the Town Council to discuss Southshore's future.

After a brief rest, Mayor Heni, several Town Council members, and officers of the Dark Raven Knights had resumed work and were waiting in the hall. Once Roderick arrived, the discussion formally began.

"According to the count, a total of four hundred and seventy-one people died in this tragedy. Most were ordinary residents attacked during the early stages of the Undead assault. The security forces also suffered severe losses, and the dock district riot caused the deaths of some civilians as well."

"There are even more injured people, but most of their wounds are not serious and they have received effective treatment."

"All fires in town have been extinguished. A total of sixty-three houses were burned down. The cattle pens near the riverbank were poisoned by the Undead, killing all the cows and some other livestock. Some military horses fled into the wilderness during the fire and have yet to be recovered."

"The grain warehouse was deliberately set on fire. Fortunately, it was discovered early, so the losses were limited. However, the fodder warehouse was destroyed. There is no longer enough fodder in town for large livestock."

"All residents who had boarded ships have returned to the dock district. Some homeless residents have been taken in by neighbors, while we have erected tents along the coast for the rest to live in temporarily."

"During the day, some residents asked to leave Southshore by ship, but since we received no orders, we did not allow them to depart."

"Councilor Aibute and the others who were tied up by the sailors are still being held in the cells, awaiting processing."

After hearing the report, everyone present was filled with anguish. A necromancer who was not even particularly powerful had killed nearly one-tenth of Southshore's population. Every house in the northern part of town had been reduced to ashes, and vast numbers of livestock had died. The losses this time were simply too severe.

Mayor Heni forced himself to say, "Maintain the alert. Be wary of the Undead forces returning to cause more trouble."

"Contact Hillsbrad and ask them to support us with some fodder."

"Send someone to report this to Stormwind City and request aid."

"Let those who want to leave go. Release Councilor Aibute and the others as well. Have them hand over half their property and leave with the rest."

Heni's voice was low. The deaths of so many people, along with the revelation of the true faces of those councilors who usually put on such respectable airs, left him both grief-stricken and ashamed.

Though public anger ran high and some proposed attacking the Undead in Tarren Mill to avenge the dead, more people believed that was a matter for the Alliance army. They should first think about how to restore peace to Southshore.

Roderick said nothing. After signaling to Mayor Heni, he led the Dark Raven Knights out of the hall.

"Antoine, do you have any news?" The Dark Raven officers sat in the dark room and listened to Antoine's report.

"Hecular was a mage who died many years ago. Back then, he attempted to transform himself into a lich and conducted cruel magical experiments repeatedly. He was caught by soldiers and hanged, and his body was buried in Southshore Cemetery. Though we do not know how he was revived, it should be connected to the Undead in Tarren Mill."

"This time, the Undead's objective was mainly destruction. They did not intend to launch a major attack, and the Undead in Silverpine Forest still have not shown any unusual activity." Antoine gave his briefing as usual.

"Antoine, I need the number of Undead troops stationed in Tarren Mill. Do you understand?" Roderick spoke calmly, but suppressed fury lay beneath his voice.

"It is mainly a small garrison force dispatched from Undercity, along with some Undead mages from the Royal Apothecary Society. Their total numbers should not exceed five hundred, but they can summon corpses, so their exact combat strength is difficult to estimate." As Antoine answered, he already knew what Roderick intended to do.

"Are you really going to attack?" Seeing Roderick's expression, Antoine still swallowed the words of persuasion he had wanted to say.

"Alwyn, you will be responsible for Southshore's defense. I will leave you enough men."

His father's injury had filled the young man with boundless rage. Yet he still accepted Roderick's arrangement. He would remain here to care for his injured family, which had been Roderick's intention all along.

"All personnel, heed my order! Everyone returns to Watchtower Village tomorrow morning. There will be no mistakes." Some people did not understand why they were leaving Southshore, which needed defending, at a time like this. Had something happened over there too? Those damned Undead.

This time, the Undead had to pay the price. Peaceful coexistence with those monsters was nothing more than a childish fantasy. Whether they were the Forsaken of the Dark Queen or the lackeys of the Scourge, since they had started this war, they would bear the wrath of the Space Marines!

At Watchtower Village, the busy work had temporarily stopped. Roderick was discussing something with Thalmar, a Stormpike officer.

"I'm sorry, my friend. Stormpike's leadership has issued orders: Dwarves cannot directly participate in this attack. I hate those Undead just as much as you do."

"These Undead who call themselves the Forsaken are different from the Scourge. They are also part of the Horde, just as we are connected to the humans. Dwarven involvement could trigger a full-scale war between the Alliance and Horde. That is a cost we cannot bear."

Thalmar's reasoning was sufficient and necessary, but he would provide some equipment in support, especially enough firearms for a small squad. During their time living alongside the Dwarves, many human soldiers had learned how to use these weapons that let out tremendous roars. They would surely give those Undead soldiers a surprise.

"Roderick, have you made up your mind?" Albert, who had returned, had not expected his hometown to suffer such a blow and had rushed to Watchtower Village at once.

"Blood for blood, tooth for tooth!" Roderick spoke the words with strange pronunciation.

"No matter what, I will fight beside you." Albert's voice was firm.

The assembled human soldiers set out north in a mighty procession beneath the Blood Raven Banner. Roderick had deployed all the Dark Raven Knights' combat strength stationed in Watchtower Village. This time, they would erase the Undead of Tarren Mill from the map completely.