Granero still remembered how, three days earlier, when the retreating Zenit army appeared in the distant foothills of Saint Petersburg, he and some soldiers patrolling the city walls trembled with indescribable shock, disappointment, and fear.
The entire Saint Petersburg was then plunged into an unprecedented state of panic.
Of the 400,000-strong army, less than 100,000 remained, most wounded. He and his comrades witnessed firsthand the defeated army entering the city, resting, inventorying supplies, the cries of the wounded and disabled soldiers, and the anguish of families who had lost fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, or other relatives. They saw the second prince, severely wounded and unconscious, and the equally wounded old Arjen being carried into the Zenit Palace to report on the battle. They saw the entire capital city spinning wildly in panic...
An atmosphere of sorrow and panic permeated the world.
A vast army of elite soldiers, clad in gleaming armor, and high-ranking warriors radiating Dou Qi aura took control of every inch of Saint Petersburg's four walls. Thousands of magic towers of all sizes within the city began operating at full capacity. The various talismans and magic arrays amplified the walls began to shimmer with a slightly reassuring magical glow. Rare and grotesque magical weapons were pushed atop the walls, and even the most powerful magic array protecting the capital was activated, forming a yellow mist that, like a giant egg, guarded the ancient city.
At the same time, the capital city was completely locked down.
War is like a storm that has already shown its signs, arriving when people least want it to.
Less than an hour after Saint Petersburg completed its final defensive arrangements, a massive, dark mass of Barcelona troops appeared on the distant horizon, like an apocalyptic flood engulfing the world, roaring and surging forward, crashing against the walls and defenses of the capital.
Later, people learned that the precious half-day that allowed Saint Petersburg to complete its defenses was bought with the lives of over two hundred thousand Imperial soldiers.
This initial confrontation lasted for a full day and night.
Saint Petersburg's powerful magical defenses and sophisticated defensive equipment played an indescribable role in this process. The Barcelona forces suffered heavy losses, including over 60,000 corpses, the deaths of at least several hundred Moon Class experts, and serious injuries to three Great Sun-Rank Venerable. After even deploying a Demigod- level expert who could not break through the magical protective shield, they were finally forced to temporarily halt their siege and begin to reassess this ancient city.
Even the Zenit themselves were unaware for the first time that the defensive capabilities of the imperial capital, Saint Petersburg, were so formidable.
Of course, only Granero and a few others knew that the capital's magical defenses were so powerful because they had been modified by high-level mages from Chambord City. It was said that incredible Divine Runes technology had been incorporated into them, and the ferocious magical defensive weapons that had killed one Barcelona Moon Class expert after another during the battle also came from the Chambord City Armory.
If this had happened six months ago, how could something unmodified have withstood the attack of Demigod- level powerhouse?
The Zenit people then had about half a day to rest.
After a brief respite, Saint Petersburg faced another fierce and terrifying attack from the Barcelona. Countless soldiers' lives vanished as quickly as dandelions in the wind. The walls of the capital were like a giant, terrifying meat grinder, crushing millions of lives into mincemeat every moment.
During this process, a mysterious Demigod- level expert from Chambord City intervened dozens of times, and with Emperor Yassin's powerful intervention, they barely managed to hold on.
Saint Petersburg is like a small boat swaying precariously on a stormy sea, in danger of being swallowed up and submerged by the raging waves at any moment.
Last night, Granero, a confidant of the Second Prince, finally met with the Second Prince, who had recovered from his serious injuries, as well as some other imperial generals from the Southern Frontier border battlefield. He also finally learned what had happened in the Southern Frontier of the empire after that great victory, and how the battle, supported by 400,000 troops and so many experts, had deteriorated to this state.
"After the great victory at Delun Slope that day, which severely damaged the Barcelona general Pedro, we received support from the Empire's 300,000-strong army and replenished our supplies. We have gained some confidence for the upcoming battles. Moreover, the orders from the Military Department are not to defeat the Barcelona people, but only to delay them as much as possible. If we can keep the Barcelona people in the Southern Frontier for a while, that would undoubtedly be the best outcome, because His Majesty Yassin seems to be planning some kind of counterattack, which requires some time to complete..."
"In fact, for the next ten days or so, we did exactly that, and we did it very successfully. The Barcelona reinforcements and that commander named Alves were once hindered by strategist Arjen's brilliant plan, unable to carry out an effective advance, nor could they achieve victory in battles involving more than ten thousand men. After all, we had a slight advantage in the number of troops, and we also had Extreme Dao powerful expert like Mr. Hasselbaink, as well as the exceptionally strong Leo Gold Saint of Chambord City Frank Lampard, in command, and the Black Warship warships of Chambord City providing aerial support..."
"Even more favorable news for us is that, after some time, we discovered that there is another elusive Demigod- level mysterious powerhouse who has been secretly attacking Barcelona's elite troops dozens of times, greatly disrupting the enemy's plans... Everything is extremely advantageous for the Empire, and even strategist Arjen has begun planning to annihilate this group of Barcelona troops who have landed..."
"However, everything changed just a day or two ago. Such a favorable situation was reversed overnight, simply because Barcelona had three more people on their side—three Demigod- level powerhouses..."
" The Barcelona team was clearly well-prepared. They were tired of fighting with equal numbers and decided to crush everything with overwhelming force. This open strategy, however, was precisely the most fatal to the Imperial team... After only a brief engagement, their 400,000-strong army was routed..."
"Even with all his efforts, Strategist Arjen could only hold out for four more hours. It was only through the combined efforts of Mr. Hasselbaink, the timely arrival of the Demigod- level expert, and the two Black Warship warships that they could barely stop the Demigod- level expert's attack on the ordinary troops. Lord Lampard was even seriously injured..."
"You can probably guess what happened next. If it weren't for the experts from Chambord City protecting them all the way, the Second Prince and most of the people sitting here today would probably have died on the road... Those Chambord City soldiers were true warriors. If the Empire's 400,000-strong army were like them, they would have annihilated the Barcelona people long ago. Unfortunately, more than half of the 500 elite Chambord City warriors were killed or wounded..."
"It's strange that neither His Majesty Yassin nor His Martial Saint Alexander have intervened in this battle."
Standing on the city wall, Granero kept hearing the conversation he had with the Second Prince and his colleagues who had returned alive from the Southern Frontier battlefield the night before. Although it was only a few words, it was as if everything that had happened on the brutal Southern Frontier border battlefield was being replayed before his eyes.
" The Barcelona Empire was truly too powerful... simply impossible to Resist."
Granero couldn't help but sigh.
"Where does the Empire's way out lie? Can it truly win this war? The last few times the Empire faced danger, it was King of Chambord who turned the tide. This time, King of Chambord, where are you? Why haven't you appeared yet?"
For some reason, he naturally thought of Sun Fei.
It's like a traveler in the darkness thinking of the Sun.
Third update.
( novel)