Chapter 52: I Can't Think of a Reason to Lose
Chapter 52: I Can’t Think of a Reason to Lose
“Charge!!!”
The air above the city walls reverberated with the deafening cries of battle and the screams of the wounded.
Countless siege ladders were propped against the walls, and a sea of mercenaries and soldiers climbed upward, densely packed.
From a distance, the walls looked as if they were swarming with countless ants.
On the Starlight Continent, where knights reigned supreme, the defensive value of towering city walls was not particularly significant.
Even a novice knight could climb the walls despite the hail of arrows and rocks.
For a full-fledged knight, a mere few dozen meters was nothing more than a few leaps.
As a result, the city walls often became the focal point of fierce contention.
The battle had raged for less than half an hour, and the walls had already turned into a bloody slaughterhouse, with blood seeping through the stone crevices and quickly staining the ground.
In the rear of the battlefield, at the center of the heavily guarded army, four armored knights watched the carnage on the walls with cold eyes.
Daven furrowed his brow and said, "The resistance of Blackrock City is unexpectedly strong."
"Quite normal," the tall Zolff rumbled. "Expanding an army ultimately comes down to money. With the Blackrock Mines as a treasure trove, if Koy’s military power hadn’t improved at all, he would be a complete waste."
Nordwood chuckled, "No need to worry. Our forces outnumber Blackrock City’s by several times. There’s no way we can lose."
He then flashed a fawning smile at the man beside him.
"Besides, we have Lord Martel leading us. With you in command, defeating Blackrock City will be a piece of cake."
Lord Martel, a man in his early forties with a rugged appearance and a sharp aura, was one of the new barons Owen had appointed after securing the Flashing Fief, and he was also Owen’s confidant.
Martel was a High Knight.
This time, he had been ordered by Owen to lead the army on a campaign, and he was determined to establish his merit and earn more land.
Hearing Nordwood’s words, a hint of smugness flashed across Martel’s face as he smiled, "Lord Nordwood is right. With such a numerical advantage, I can’t think of a reason to lose."
Daven, being the more experienced and cautious of the group, couldn’t help but remind them, "Don’t forget, there’s a wizard in Blackrock City."
"Are you talking about Su Nan, Lord Daven?" Nordwood sneered.
"That boy grew up under our watch. He was always a coward, weak and frail, unable to even practice breathing techniques. How could such a useless person be a wizard?"
"Besides, the rumors about the wizard are still unconfirmed."
Martel also seemed unconvinced.
Even if it were a real wizard, he, a High Knight, had nothing to fear.
Daven, who had his doubts about the rumors, saw that the other two were dismissive and decided not to press the issue. He continued to watch the distant battle.
The first wave of attackers was made up of mercenaries and the armies of the three barons, and their fighting strength was nothing to write home about.
As a result, their forces hadn’t managed to capture the walls yet, and the intense tug-of-war continued.
Worse still, due to the prolonged assault, their forces were starting to show signs of fatigue.
Seeing this, Martel finally couldn’t hold back any longer and led the elite troops from the Flashing Fief into the fray.
With Martel’s forces joining the battle, the pressure on the defenders increased dramatically.
In just a short time, the attackers had gained more ground on the walls.
Martel, with his relentless bravery, carved a bloody path through the defenders, nearly breaking their lines.
Seeing this through their brass telescopes, Daven and the others couldn’t help but show signs of joy.
"Truly impressive, Lord Martel! He’s amazing!"
"That’s the power of a High Knight!"
But just as they were rejoicing, the situation on the walls suddenly changed.
A group of creatures resembling black leopards suddenly charged onto the city walls, ferociously attacking the besieging forces.
These beasts proved unexpectedly formidable, even matching the knights in combat. For a moment, the momentum of the attacking army came to a halt.
Meanwhile, Koy appeared on the walls with a black leopard, blocking Martel's path.
Although Koy was only a junior Grand Knight, his strength paled in comparison to Martel's. However, he was accompanied by a fearless Grand Knight-level Blackrock Leopard.
The man and the beast worked in perfect harmony, and for a time, even Martel couldn't overcome them.
"What are those things?" Nordwood was taken aback.
Daven and Zolff also wore expressions of shock.
Regaining his composure, Daven hesitated, "Those seem to be the mounts of the Blackrock Cavalry."
"Mounts?"
Zolff and Nordwood exchanged bewildered glances.
They knew that Blackrock City had formed a cavalry unit, with mounts said to be a unique breed of leopard beasts.
At the time, they had dismissed it as nothing more than a show of bravado and hadn't taken it seriously.
While many beasts possessed combat capabilities superior to warhorses, being powerful didn't necessarily mean they were suitable for the battlefield.
For cavalry, the key was the level of taming, ensuring the mounts obeyed their masters' commands.
This synergy was crucial for achieving a combined strength greater than the sum of its parts.
However, beasts that could be tamed on a large scale and adapted to the battlefield were extremely rare.
At the time, Daven and the others had assumed Blackrock City was just trying to impress the masses.
But upon seeing the black leopards in action, they were shocked to realize that these beasts moved with precision, worked in perfect unison, and were utterly fearless—more elite than the most seasoned soldiers!
They were perfectly suited for the battlefield!
If all the mounts of the Blackrock Cavalry were such creatures, the combat effectiveness of this army was truly terrifying!
With two hundred Blackrock Leopards joining the fray, the areas the attackers had initially captured were quickly retaken.
The battle once again fell into a stalemate.
"Damn it! Blackrock City has been hiding such a trump card!" Nordwood's face was filled with irritation.
Zolff furrowed his brow, "This complicates things. With those beasts, it won't be easy to breach Blackrock City."
Daven's frown deepened.
The sudden appearance of this variable meant that even if they ultimately captured Blackrock City, they would suffer significant losses.
"Sieging the city would be better than a direct assault."
After some thought, Daven looked at the other two.
"Spring has just begun, so Blackrock City likely has limited food supplies. If we lay siege for one or two months, they won't be able to hold out. They will be forced to come out and engage us in a decisive battle."
Zolff and Nordwood's eyes lit up, and they nodded in agreement.
"Good idea."
"We'll propose this to Lord Martel when he returns!"
By engaging in a decisive battle outside the city, the main force would be Owen's elite cavalry. This way, their own army's casualties could be reduced.
Just as the three of them were feeling pleased with their plan, a shrill cry of pain suddenly rang out.
They turned to see the right flank of their army, where the elite cavalry was stationed, in chaos.
Hundreds of warhorses were scattering in all directions, neighing in panic.
Many cavalrymen were thrown from their horses and trampled into mush by the stampeding hooves.
More cavalrymen were flung several meters away as if struck by rampaging elephants, their screams of agony echoing through the air.
Some unfortunate souls were twisted into bizarre shapes mid-air and died instantly upon hitting the ground.
(End of Chapter)
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