Even though the monster legion led by the ogres broke through the city walls and killed numerous soldiers, militia, and adventurers during the siege, the monsters paid a far more devastating price, and they successfully defended Gray Rock Town.
The four-thousand human army, even with a considerable portion being merely militia and logistics personnel, bravely resisted a monster legion multiple times greater than themselves. Though the defending side held an advantage, it was truly not an easy feat, as the advantage from the walls was actually limited; otherwise, the walls wouldn’t have been breached shortly after the start of the battle.
Of course, Belock knew that the greatest contributors to this victory were the squad that launched a surprise attack on the monster legion’s camp, especially the young man standing before him who seemed quite young.
During the charge earlier, he also noticed the grand battle happening on Gauss’s side.
Originally intending to come to the rescue, he found that by the time he rode over, the battle had already concluded.
"Sir Gauss!"
"Please accept my most sincere gratitude! Thank you for slaying the monster leader and saving this town and countless civilians behind it!"
"The knight praises too much; it was just part of my duty," Gauss’s tone remained rather calm, not claiming all the credit for himself. "It was also thanks to your army’s soldiers launching a bloody assault from both flanks, drawing away many forces, allowing me the opportunity to penetrate deeply without hindrance."
Sir Belock shook his head with a smile; he knew this opportunity wasn’t as simple as Gauss had understated.
A monster leader commanding such a vast monster legion must be immensely powerful.
Gauss single-handedly killed the leader, delivering a major blow to the enemy’s morale, proving critical in turning the tide of battle.
Everyone present saw this accomplishment.
...
The dawn grows faint.
As the first ray of morning sunlight spills over the horizon.
The townspeople who have been scared throughout the night slowly queue up and walk out from the basement.
"The battle was victorious!"
"Gray Rock Town is safe!"
Soon, the civilians leaving the basement heard this inspiring news from other soldiers and adventurers.
The human defenders held this city.
Now, these civilians need not fear being massacred by monsters if the town were breached, nor being forced to leave their familiar town and start anew.
Though Gray Rock Town isn’t considered prosperous, many have lived here for years, becoming accustomed to the environment here. They have jobs and homes in the town, leaving would mean wasting half a lifetime’s efforts.
"Three! Two! One! Harder!"
On the street, soldiers were collectively hoisting shattered boulders embedded in the ground, moving them onto carts.
Even if the townspeople hadn’t personally experienced last night’s battle, they could feel the intensity and danger of the previous fight through the shattered walls, congealed blood, and scattered weapons.
"Morgan!!!"
"You’re alright; thank goodness!"
A couple embraced tightly, as if they wished to merge into each other’s bodies.
The man named Morgan wore a not-so-fitting leather armor, clearly a militia member.
After a long search, his wife saw her husband unscathed and couldn’t contain her emotions, crying tears of joy.
Of course, besides soldiers like Morgan who survived, there were corners filled with suppressed sobs and cries of despair.
At the edge of the makeshift morgue in the square, some residents tremblingly uncovered the rough linen draped over the fallen, and upon seeing familiar faces, collapsed on the ground, emitting heart-wrenching wails.
Children looked blankly at their fathers covered by white cloth, evidently too young to grasp the heavy essence of death.
And there were young wives, parents with gray hair, covering their faces, shoulders shaking intensely, crying with hoarse voices.
Even for such a significant victory, the cost remained extraordinarily heavy.
The city gates opened slowly.
"Woo woo!!!"
Horn sounds echoed.
Knights, armor-clad and stained with blood, steered their horses slowly into the town.
"Clippity-clop—clippity-clop—"
The sound of hoofbeats shattered the morning’s silence, drawing the attention of all.
The knight at the front of the procession straightened his back.
Behind them lay companions on flatbed carts.
The cavalry who ventured out, especially the first group that exited and drew enemy fire from the flanks, allowing Gauss and the others to penetrate the enemy’s camp, experienced significant casualties.
Yet unlike the militia, these professional soldiers’ families weren’t in the town.
On either side of the street, residents clearing ruins and moving stones slowly straightened up and quietly watched this returning army.
Gauss and the others were in the middle of the line.
Beside him, apart from Aaliyah and the others, were Sir Belock and President Abelhard.
His gaze swept over the street on either side, passed the unfamiliar solemn faces, glanced at the ruins and bloodstains, his expression suddenly turning a bit dazed.
"Brother!"
Suddenly, a clear and excited voice rang out from the crowd.
He looked over and found little sister Cicero, lifted up by elder brother, waving at him.
"Go,"
Sir Belock signaled the great hero to act freely.
"Thank you."
Gauss and his companions separated from the group and went to their family.
His family looked him up and down, confirming he was unharmed, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Brother, are you hurt?"
"Cicero was worried all night and couldn’t sleep."
"They said you went to fight some terrifying enemies."
Cicero hugged Gauss’s neck, leaned closer to his ear, and asked softly with concern.
"Brother is fine."
"Everyone has safely returned."
Gauss rubbed her head.
Beneath her excited expression, her eyes were ringed with fatigue, clearly having spent a sleepless night.
"But... brother, you smell awful."
Cicero sniffed Gauss again and couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose.
"Hurry home and take a bath."
"Alright, alright."
Gauss hadn’t had the energy to pay attention to these minor details before.
Last night, after receiving brief treatment from Serdur, recovering some physical strength and magic power, Gauss couldn’t resist joining in the subsequent cleanup operation.
Only after ensuring that there were no enemy remnants in the large area outside the town did they regroup and return to town.
In the respectful gazes of others, Gauss and his companions hurried towards home.
"Monster kills total: 15111"
In last night’s battle, Gauss killed over three thousand monsters in total.
Most of them died by his Fireball Technique, the thousand-strand severance during the attack on the main camp, and the subsequent combined kills accumulated with several teammates.
Of course, besides these three thousand monsters, he also killed two commander-level two-legged flying dragons and one commander-level ogre.
Especially the latter, which was the turning point in altering the course of the battle.
He soaked himself in the bathtub, silently observing the Adventurer’s Handbook amid the steam.
Although the battle lasted only one night, the rewards were significant.
First was the reward unlocked upon reaching a total kill count of fifteen thousand.
"Monster kills total: 15111/15000"
"Received reward: 30 Commander Points."
"Received reward: 4th-Ring Spell [Ice Storm]"
In addition to this reward, due to the massive amount of demon kills, the talent [Demonic Hour] also dropped some rewards.
"Skill: Beast Breath."
"Skill: Sprint."
"Skill: Body Multiplication Technique."
Gauss didn’t know from which minor monster the first two skills dropped.
Because one blow kills many, it’s hard to discern the source.
The last skill, however, he paid special attention to, obtaining it after killing the ogre leader (Ghost Transformation).
It should be the ability it used during battle.
Its normal size was only over three meters, but in battle, it surged to a height of ten meters, causing Gauss additional trouble.
"Body Multiplication Technique..."
He stared at this skill.
This ability could undoubtedly enhance some of his melee combat skills.
But larger isn’t necessarily better; he would need to test the effect of this skill in subsequent practice and actual combat.
Skill: Beast Breath allows him to replenish some physical strength and muscle power through a special breathing posture in battle, though it requires consuming more stored energy within.
Additionally, he gained 35 Commander Points.
Ten of these came from slaying the first two-legged flying dragon, five from the second, showing a diminishing pattern.
The last twenty were provided by the ogre leader (Ghost Transformation).
Plus the thirty Commander Points from the fifteen-thousand-kill reward.
He now had a total of 65 Commander Points.
He wondered if it was enough to upgrade the blue-quality racial talent to purple quality?
Gauss looked at his Attribute Panel.