Spread and Control

When Ivan led the Mobile Corps Main Force away from the border town.

Another city was already preparing to abandon its South District. Bishop Selman stood atop the Main Holy Temple tower, holding a stack of reports of the city's fall that had been delivered that day.

The situation in the South District has been deteriorating for two days. Local Army have blocked several street entrances leading to the Central District. Several Third Tier Knight have been taking turns leading people in to clear out the Undead, but they can no longer truly control the situation.

However, just as they finished cleaning up the bodies on one street, new patients appeared in nearby houses, and contaminated substances kept emerging from underground sewage outlets.

With the infection spreading, the garrison suffered increasingly heavy casualties over two days, and there were not many Knight left to continue rotating. This was under the condition of adequate preparation; if there had been no preparation at all, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The Recorder stood behind him and handed him the newly compiled documents. "The last barricade in the Southern District can only hold for one more round at most; after that, it's just Wooden Bridge connecting to the Central District."

On the other side of that bridge lies the most densely populated urban area. Once the Undead break through, everyone in the entire city will be swept away.

However, if the bridge is burned, those people in the South District who couldn't evacuate in time will also be left behind, essentially sacrificing themselves.

He remained silent for a moment, then finally made his decision. "Prepare the abandonment plan."

The Recorder accepted the order and had just reached the top of the stairs when a strange, low rumble came from the direction of the city gate. Even through a large area of buildings, the vibration of steel rubbing against the stone pavement could still be heard.

Could it be?

Selman quickly walked to the other side of the tower, where several black Iron Behemoth were passing under the city gate.

The Kingdom's soldiers along the way quickly made way for them, many staring intently as the steel vehicles passed by, forgetting even to shout the orders to maintain order on the street.

When Selman descended the tower, the Bishop's Residence had prepared a report as ordered, but no one was there. He asked, "Where are they?"

The Cleric at the gate quickly replied, "We parted ways after entering the city."

The lead unit went to the Southern District, a group went to the hospital, and others remained at the granary and several major intersections.

Selman could only have someone bring horses and, with the Recorder tow, pursue them toward the southern city.

When he arrived at the battle zone, Ivan was standing next to a Military Supply Truck, with several Frontline Officers taking turns reporting the situation to him.

Selman dismounted and stepped forward. "Which one of you is Commander Ivan?"

"It's me." Ivan looked up and waved.

Selman, without bothering with pleasantries, said, "We've been holding this position for two days, and over three hundred people have already died. There are residential areas just behind us; if we retreat any further, we'll have to give up."

Ivan took the binoculars and glanced in the direction Selman had pointed. There, the Local Garrison was relying on their Spear and Shield.

It's the most primitive Battle Formation; every time the Undead Horde charges forward, the soldiers in the front row have to use their bodies to hold up the shield wall.

The most dangerous thing is that the ground is already littered with corpses. If these corpses are infected, the consequences will be unimaginable.

"Have the barricades removed, and then drag all the corpses down for Purification," Ivan ordered.

A local officer nearby immediately turned around and said, "Sir, we can't retreat there. If we give way there, the Undead Horde will just charge in."

Ivan waved his hand, not wanting him to explain further, "Your men should rest first; my men can handle it."

The officer tried to explain further, but Ivan had already raised his hand to signal the Musketeer Corps to advance.

Meanwhile, the soldiers who had been guarding the barricade for two days were unwilling to leave until the officer gave the order again, at which point the front rank soldiers dragged their shields and retreated from behind the barricade.

Some men could no longer lift their arms, and the edges of their shields were covered in scratches and bite marks; their eyes were filled with numbness.

"Bang bang bang bang!"

The Musketeers took their positions, and the Undead Horde surged up the street again. As soon as they entered firing range, the first volley felled a group of the foremost Undead, like the Grim Reaper wielding his scythe, reaping the lives of those monsters.

The local soldiers watched for a while before slowly lowering their grips on their spears.

Selman stood to the side, his mind blank with shock and numbness.

He had been on the front line for the past two days and had witnessed Undead Horde attacking the street countless times. However, the combat strength of his own warriors was incomparable to that of the warriors from the Eternal Night Wall.

Just then, a damaged house on the side of the street suddenly collapsed outwards.

Broken bricks fell onto the street, and a large Aggregate emerged from the ruins.

The Local Army was no stranger to this kind of thing. Several Third Tier Knight left the second line at the same time. One of them smeared Holy Oil on the blade of his sword as he walked, while the other began to mobilize his Battle Aura.

Ivan, however, immediately issued another order, "Go and escort those people over there to the Central District."

The Knight paused for a moment. "Commander, ordinary soldiers can't stop this. It would take at least three squads of Third Tier Knight to barely hold it off!"

Before he could finish speaking, the Wallwalker's turret behind him had already turned towards the street corner.

"Boom!" A loud explosion rang out as cannon fire echoed through the streets.

With a single strike, a large section of the bone armor covering the front of the Aggregate was torn off, and its massive body was knocked backward.

The Knight, who had been about to charge forward, stood still, looking at the gaping hole in the monster's chest, then down at his longsword, which he had just coated with Holy Oil.

The Knight paused for a moment, then sheathed his sword. "Come with me."

The ensuing battle did not last long. The Wallwalker continued to suppress the large Aggregate, while heavy muskets fired at the wounds opened by the main cannon.

The regular Musketeers stayed on the perimeter to deal with the small Undead that had detached from the monsters, while the Cleric waited until the outer bone armor broke before pouring Sacred Flame into the Contaminated Tissue.

The Aggregate attempted to leave the street several times, so Ivan personally entered the battlefield and forced it back into a position within range of his firepower.

With this rhythmic and standardized cleanup, the monsters in the city were quickly wiped out, and the priest finally had time to Purification.

After Selman's city stabilized, the Southbound Legion did not stop.

Over the next few days, the Tear Knight continued south along the Main Military Road.

The runaway streets were taken over by the Musketeer Corps, while large Aggregate were dealt with by Wallwalker and heavy musketeers, with the Cleric remaining behind to confirm the situation.

Pollution, maintaining isolation and completing Purification.

As long as the local Holy Temple and Government Office are still operational, the Tear Knight provide rapid support.

The cities ahead are gradually making preparations.

More and more bishops are voluntarily freeing up backup hospitals, sealing off suspected areas in advance, and clearing main streets to await the army's entry.

Shien's main force took control of key roads and Grain Hub, ensuring that rear transport could keep pace with the advance.

As for the nobles who were originally unwilling, they are now somewhat relieved. If it weren't for Shien's help, all of this would have been destroyed, including their own lives. Now they are just being controlled.

Ivan's Mobile Corps was also divided into four or five detachments, which brought the out-of-control cities back to the Southbound Legion's Supply Route. The roads that had been interrupted were once again filled with convoys, and the extinguished Holy Temple were relit with their Sacred Flame.

Just as the front lines were advancing southward, a new urgent report reached Shien.