Yu Feng City was still considered a medium-sized city. Even if some people had already left, the number of B-level Awakened remaining in the association still exceeded ten. Counting the Awakened from the City Lord’s Mansion, it was over twenty B-level Awakened. With the cooperation of the city’s giant cannons, they should be able to hold on.
But then, the appearance of Fierce Beasts inside the city disrupted all their plans, forcing them to send out a large number of strong fighters to deal with them.
However, anyone with a clear mind could see that the situation would only continue to worsen.
When the gaps in the city walls continued to increase, the city would fall.
"City Lord, as the saying goes, where there’s life, there’s hope. We should leave while the city hasn’t completely fallen. Otherwise, when the Fierce Beasts fully pour in, it will be much harder to leave."
"Yes, City Lord, we should leave immediately."
"City Lord."
Many people echoed the sentiment.
If they could hold on, they wouldn’t mind taking the risk, because some of their families and friends were also in the city.
But knowing they couldn’t hold on, why make unnecessary sacrifices?
It would be better to leave and take their families with them.
The man at the front of the crowd didn’t respond. His gaze was fixed on the distance.
He could feel that another pair of eyes were watching him from there.
If he guessed correctly, it was at least an ordinary Beast King-level Fierce Beast, which was why he hadn’t made a move.
But it seemed there was no need for that Beast King-level Fierce Beast to act; they were already struggling to hold on.
His family had long been transferred to a big city, and he had returned because he was emotionally attached to the city he had built with his own hands. This city had developed from a fortress to a small city, and now to a medium-sized city. He originally thought it could become a large city eventually, but...
"Earlier, I asked you to ask headquarters for help. What was the result?"
He turned around and asked.
"This..."
The people behind him exchanged glances, and one of them smiled bitterly and said, "City Lord, I was just about to tell you that after we requested aid from headquarters, they said they couldn’t help because there were too many places under attack by the Beast Tide. They told us to take care of ourselves."
"Damn it!"
Someone was indignant upon hearing this: "It’s not that they can’t help, they just don’t want to!"
"Exactly, all of our country’s top-tier Awakened are in those three super-sized cities. If they just send an A-level Awakened, they could solve our predicament, right?"
"That’s true, but it depends on whether they’re willing to help."
Debate quieted down.
Indeed, headquarters was strong, but there were many medium-sized cities in Yan Country. They couldn’t save them all. If they really wanted to save, they would save the more important or connected ones. If it were them, they would probably do the same. It’s human nature.
"What about the requests for aid to other cities?"
"This..."
Again, the people behind exchanged glances.
"City Lord, we also contacted several nearby medium-sized cities. They sympathize with our situation, but when we asked for help, they made excuses, saying they were barely able to protect themselves or were also about to face Beast Tide attacks."
"Not a single one?"
Yang Ming turned, holding a sliver of hope.
They hadn’t seen any reinforcements yet.
Thinking positively, perhaps the rescuers were on their way.
"Not a single one."
The speaker’s face was filled with bitterness.
"Those bastards!" Someone exclaimed, "A few days ago, everyone agreed that if anyone first faced a Beast Tide attack, the others would come to assist. Now that we’re in danger, their promises are worthless."
"That’s right. We’re the unlucky first ones to be attacked. What if it were them instead?"
"Such selfish jerks. Do they think they’ll be safe if Yu Feng City falls? The Fierce Beasts will just come for them next!"
"Exactly, they’re shortsighted and narrow-minded!"
The more they spoke, the angrier they got, wishing they could confront those people right now.
"Alright, everyone, calm down," the City Lord of Yu Feng City sighed. "Whether or not they support us is their right, not their obligation. Besides, their actions are understandable."
"The City Lord is correct. Each person for themselves, that’s an ancient truth. If we were in their shoes, we’d likely do the same."
The crowd went silent.
The thunderous sound of cannons continued.
The Fierce Beasts, undeterred by death, launched relentless assaults on the city.
The casualties inside the city continued to mount.
"City Lord!"
Just then, several blood-soaked men appeared on the city walls, their voices filled with desperation.
"City Lord, there are too many Fierce Beasts inside the city. We can barely hold them off!"
"Yes, City Lord, there are over twenty Commander-level burrowing Fierce Beasts, and more than a hundred Elite-level ones. Their numbers are still increasing. We can’t handle them anymore!"
"Many good brothers have already died. Some were even swallowed by those damn beasts. City Lord..." One man finished speaking and tears flowed down his face.
He had watched helplessly as his comrades from the past were swallowed by an Elite-level Fierce Beast.
Some met an even worse fate, crushed into a bloody pulp.
They paid with more than half their lives to eliminate a group of beasts, yet it felt like a drop in the ocean.
If they continued to fight, the only outcome would be total annihilation.
Everyone feared death, especially the Awakened. To die here seemed too worthless.
The atmosphere grew tense.
People on the city wall exchanged looks.
"City Lord, should we retreat?" someone finally whispered.
"Yes, City Lord, where there’s life, there’s hope."
"We should leave quickly, City Lord, it’ll be too late soon."
Urgent pleas echoed.
At that moment, a large section of the eastern city wall suddenly collapsed. The guards on the wall had no time to react as they fell with the debris and were trampled into bloody pulp by the surging Fierce Beasts.
"It’s bad! The Fierce Beasts have broken through!"
"Someone! Call for help!"
"Hold the line! Hold the line!"
Panic ensued.
But everything happened too quickly. In the blink of an eye, tens of thousands of Fierce Beasts stormed into the city, with even more following close behind.
"City Lord..."
A man behind retracting his gaze spoke urgently, "City Lord, you must decide quickly. Delaying will only worsen the situation."
"Yes, City Lord, if there weren’t so many Fierce Beasts inside, we might defend. But now, the city is overrun, and there are countless outside. There’s no way to hold them off!"
"City Lord, if we continue to fight, more people will die. City Lord!"
The Yu Feng City Lord frowned deeply, conflicted.
He knew Yu Feng City faced grim odds, but he was unwilling to give up.
This city was his heart and soul. He couldn’t bear to see it destroyed.
But the fighters had lost their will. Forcing them to continue might be counterproductive.
"Is there really no other choice but to abandon it?"
He turned, looking out over the city.
Fires blazed, countless Fierce Beasts roamed, mingling with the cries and screams of ordinary people, creating a hellish scene.