"By the blessing of the Barnes ancestors, follow my charge!!"
After a brief period of chaos, the knight team of the Fourth Legion erupted with battle cries once more, attempting to flank and hinder the advance of the Magical Creature Legion.
"Buzz~~"
Led by the Metal Slime big brother, numerous Metal Slimes rolled out of the formation line like rolling metal balls, tumbling forward, knocking aside several knights who tried to intercept them, and landing on horseback.
Wielding small short swords and round shields, they began to fight fiercely with these troublesome knights.
The physical resistance of the Metal Slimes was extremely high. The longswords swung by the knights, hacking at their hard metallic bodies, could only leave shallow white marks, producing crisp "ding-ding-dang-dang" sounds.
"Silver-ranked Slimes!"
"Be careful! Their defense is very high!"
"Use fire! They're afraid of fire!"
However, to the surprise of all the knights, these Metal Slimes did not dodge the incoming fireballs. Instead, they collectively strained, and their metallic bodies rapidly turned red-hot, radiating high temperatures, even igniting into roaring flames themselves.
The fireballs hitting them merely knocked a few unsteady Metal Slimes off their horses, sending them tumbling dizzily on the ground for a few rolls, causing almost no substantial damage to the slimes themselves.
"Hmph hmph, big brother, not afraid of fire."
The Metal Slime big brother waved its small short sword proudly. Just as it was about to continue the attack, it saw the surrounding knights suddenly showing expressions of terror, as if seeing something more terrifying than the Magical Tides. They disregarded their formation, turned their horses around, and scattered in all directions, fleeing in a rout.
Hmm... strange.
The Metal Slime big brother retracted the flames from its body surface and scratched its reflective metal head with a gel hand.
Was it because it was too powerful, so these humans were scared into running away?
Thinking of this, its heart swelled with pride, feeling it would definitely receive praise from the King.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently, as if some colossal behemoth was approaching. The tremors were so strong that even the warhorse beneath it was startled and whinnied, uncontrollably fleeing in all directions.
"Wah wah wah!!"
The Metal Slimes on horseback could only cling desperately to the reins, being dragged around by the panicked warhorses.
Bouncing and jostling, the Metal Slime big brother struggled to look in the direction of the tremors. Just as it was curious about what was coming, its small metal eyes suddenly widened.
Within the churning Magical Tides, an indescribably massive purple Slime was slowly, yet inexorably, crawling towards them!
Its height was almost half that of the Storm Fortress city wall. Its entire body was wreathed in fine, not yet fully dissipated electric arcs and turbulent streams of chaotic mana.
Through the connection of the Gel Network, it instantly recognized this as the King.
"Wah!!"
Within the Magical Creature Legion, all the Slimes witnessed this awe-inspiring scene and immediately began jumping and cheering. For a moment, thoughts of "Wah!", "Boss!", and "The King is the strongest!" flooded the entire Gel Network, filled with the purest worship and admiration.
In the simple worldview of these Slimes, big meant good, big meant strong!
The King's current appearance was the most powerful!
Amidst a series of earth-shaking "Boom!" roars, Chen Yu, dragging his massive purple form, had already crossed the Magical Creature Legion waiting in place and was getting closer and closer to the towering wall of Storm Fortress.
Louisa, riding on Celeste who had barely managed to fly again, circled above his head. Looking down at this behemoth, she couldn't help but ask, "Sir Slime, you're not planning to just ram Storm Fortress open with your body, are you?"
"Is that not allowed?" A soft, gentle voice, completely opposite to the enormous size, echoed curiously in her mind.
Louisa was momentarily speechless.
Judging by this size and the power displayed earlier, it really seemed like he could...
While they were communicating, Ellen had already fled back to the city wall. Relying on an assassin's cunning and speed, he helped Dominic temporarily repel Raven, even inflicting a rather deep wound on Raven's arm.
Ellen had just breathed a sigh of relief when a glance out of the corner of his eye towards the battlefield outside the wall scared him out of his wits.
"Damn it! Dominic, hurry! We can't let that Slime get close to the city! It'll destroy this place!"
Dominic looked in the direction he indicated, his gaze also turning extremely grave.
Seizing the moment Raven was temporarily suppressed, he immediately organized the knights and mages he could still mobilize to launch a final counterattack against the approaching purple giant and the Magical Tides below.
"Activate the backup energy! Magic towers, full power attack! Target, that giant Slime!!" he roared hoarsely.
On the city wall, four magic towers that had previously gone dark now lit up again with dazzling light. Holy light spears, sharp ice blades, scorching fire rain... magical attacks of various attributes poured down like a torrential downpour.
More than a dozen heavy crossbows adjusted their angles, firing enchanted bolts that tore through the air with piercing shrieks, all concentrated on that massive, impossible-to-ignore target on the battlefield.
"Boom!!!"
The front edge of the purple Magical Tides was instantly cleared by the dense destructive power, revealing scorched black earth. Only the Magical Creature Legion, protected by the "Kingdom's Shield" barrier, remained unscathed.
As for Chen Yu, he didn't even pause his forward undulation.
Those enchanted bolts capable of piercing heavy armor stuck into his massive purple gel body like tiny toothpicks, causing no pain or itch, unable to even make him noticeably hesitate.
Before the defenders on the wall could organize the next round of counterattacks, Chen Yu suddenly reacted.
[Pea Shot]
[Mana Explosion]
He rapidly shot out several deep purple gel spheres with diameters of nearly two meters. Like boulders launched from catapults, they traced high parabolic arcs over the city wall, descending towards the fortress.
"Hurry! Raise all magical shields! Intercept them!!" Dominic bellowed.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The gel spheres containing terrifying mana exploded violently upon contact with the rising magical barriers.
The intense explosions not only instantly shattered the fragile temporary shields, but the shockwaves and mana tremors they triggered caused the entire section of the city wall to shake violently. Soldiers on the wall were thrown into disarray, and many screamed as they tumbled from the battlements.
The light of the magic formations flickered uncertainly, with multiple critical nodes damaged in the explosions.
By the time the survivors struggled to their feet, they saw the purple behemoth was already right before them. Its immense shadow almost completely enveloped the fortress below.
"Boss! Boss!"
"We're here!"
Just then, from the shadows near where the fortress met the cliff face, dozens of small, coal-ball-like little Earth Elementals suddenly emerged, waving excitedly at Chen Yu.
These little Earth Elementals had originally been sent by him to lurk beneath the city wall, ready to give Storm Fortress a blast at any moment.
It seemed now, that wouldn't be necessary.
Chen Yu continued forward. His massive form easily crushed the city wall's teetering magical barrier.
Without the protection of magic, the ancient stone wall appeared so fragile in the face of pure mass and power.
Amid deafening roars, the section of Storm Fortress's wall facing the battlefield shook violently. Stone bricks began to crack and crumble away.
Then, under the horrified gazes of the remaining soldiers, the giant Slime solidly leaned against the city wall. The sturdy wall was forcefully rammed open, creating a massive breach over twenty meters in diameter.
Rubble cascaded down like a waterfall, and dust shot into the sky.
Storm Fortress had been breached head-on!
On the wall, Alice barely managed to steady herself amidst the violent shaking. Seeing the enormous breach below and the Magical Creature vanguard pouring in, she immediately raised her sword and shouted, "Storm Fortress is breached! Knights of Arevalo, follow my charge! Seize these demons' claws! For the Kingdom! For justice!"
"Yes! Lady Alice!!"
The knights of the Arevalo family, clad in silver-emblazoned armor, erupted with high morale. They surged out from all directions like a tide, step by step pressing against the defenders whose morale had collapsed with the breach.
However, facing this seemingly easily attainable victory, Alice's mind was not entirely focused here.
Her gaze involuntarily drifted far to the northeast, towards Shield River City.
She silently prayed to Cardos in her heart, hoping the knights of the Fifth Legion would receive the message in time and return to defend the fortress, giving Arthur and the others a chance to escape.
Whether it was her prayer that worked, or mere coincidence.
Outside the fortress legion's garrison, on the broad road leading to the Golden Tassel Plain, the lush green trees lining both sides could no longer block the gradually brightening magical glow on the horizon.
A surging mass of knightly figures appeared like a silver, steel torrent from the end of the road.
Judging by their marching direction and speed, it seemed to be reinforcements rushing from the direction of Shield River City.
Just as a sliver of hope was born in Alice's heart, her father Raven, clutching his injured arm, quickly walked to her side. Together, they looked towards that swiftly approaching knightly legion.
Raven's expression became even graver than when he was wounded.
"It's not the Fifth Legion!" he said solemnly.
"Judging by the banners and armor style, they are knights of the Sixth Legion. And there are two Extraordinary among them!"
"What?!" Alice's heart shook violently, as if doused with a bucket of ice water from head to toe.
The Sixth Legion, permanently stationed in the central part of the Kingdom, responsible for guarding the Royal Capital—why would they suddenly appear at the border?
And if the Fifth Legion wasn't returning to defend... then Lide... was he still in Shield River City?!
Arthur and the others...
The worst-case scenario had occurred.
In her confused thoughts, Alice gritted her teeth and said, "Father, please let me return to Shield River City. I must confirm Arthur's situation. I... I'll return very quickly!"
Raven flatly refused, his tone resolute. "No. You returning won't help anything. If Lide dared to let the Sixth Legion come, it means he was prepared long ago, perhaps even having taken control of Shield River City already."
"You going back would only give these demons' claws one more hostage in their hands, making their bargaining chips heavier."
He placed a hand on Alice's shoulder. "First, deal with the immediate situation. Hold this breach, rendezvous with the Slime Kingdom's army, and completely clear the enemies within the fortress."
"Otherwise, forget about Arthur, the entire Arevalo family will be utterly annihilated here!"
Awakened by her father's words, Alice forcibly suppressed the panic and worry in her heart. She took a deep breath, her eyes regaining their firmness, and nodded.
As for Arthur... she could only tightly clutch the silver pendant hanging around her neck, silently praying to all the deities she knew.
...
Shield River City, Fifth Legion garrison.
Inside the last hut of the camp, the atmosphere was oppressive.
Glenn was stealthily pressing his ear against the wooden wall, carefully listening to the commotion outside.
Arthur and Galvin simply sat silently before the bonfire, wiping their cold knightly swords over and over, preparing for any situation that might occur next.
An unknown amount of time passed. Suddenly, Glenn's ear twitched.
"There seems to be movement," he whispered. "Very chaotic, many footsteps... Could it be a large group of knights leaving the camp?"
Galvin stood up, sheathed his freshly polished sword, and strode directly towards the door. "I'll go out and check the situation."
"Ah, wait! Let me do it. Your presence walking out is too conspicuous." Glenn, afraid he would swagger out and alert the guards outside, hurriedly smiled and blocked his path. Then, he himself cautiously poked his head out, sneakily looking left and right.
"Huh?" Glenn was momentarily stunned. "Outside... there's no one? It's eerily quiet."
"Could it be that the frontline battle is critical, and everyone was transferred to Storm Fortress?" He immediately felt an opportunity had come, his heart pounding. He waved to Arthur and Galvin, signaling them to follow.
The three of them bent down, carefully moving along the shadows at the edge of the training ground, feeling their way towards the escape route Glenn had previously planned.
Outside was indeed eerily quiet, unlike usual when there were always patrol footsteps and whispers.
This abnormal silence, however, made the three of them feel an underlying unease.
"Strange," Arthur said simply, his Soulfire flickering slightly.
"Indeed," Galvin tightened his grip on the hilt, his gaze sharp as he scanned the surroundings. "No matter how critical the frontline battle is, Lide couldn't possibly transfer away every single knight guarding us. That doesn't make sense."
This feeling of being deliberately left in an empty space made the unease in their hearts grow stronger and stronger.
Finally, just as they were about to reach the hidden exit at the camp's edge, the communication gel ball Glenn carried suddenly transmitted urgent frontline intelligence.
Glenn concentrated to receive the information, his face instantly turning pale. "Not good, the Fourth Legion never went to support Storm Fortress..."
"Get behind me!"
Galvin reacted faster than him. He abruptly drew his knightly sword, pointing the tip directly at the center of the gray-mist-shrouded road ahead. Every muscle in his body tensed as he entered a combat stance.
Arthur also silently stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Galvin, his azure Soulfire locking onto the area ahead.
At that moment, a figure slowly emerged from the gradually dispersing gray mist. His calm gaze, carrying an invisible pressure, fell upon the three of them.
The newcomer was none other than Lide.
He seemed to have long anticipated their escape and had been waiting here for quite some time.
"This... we're done for," Glenn muttered, clutching his head.