Chapter 760: Chapter 459 Supreme Councilman
The night was deep, and thick, ink-like clouds heavily piled up as if an upside-down sea contained within them a heavy moisture about to fall.
A heavy, oppressive atmosphere enveloped the entire Tilaimei Plain.
Crack!
After an unknown amount of time, a dazzling, tree-like lightning suddenly tore through the peaceful night sky.
Boom, boom, boom—
Following that, thunder rolled in from the horizon as if it were some sort of command, and the rain suddenly poured down!
In an instant, rain pelted down, silencing all other sounds except the whooshing rain beside one’s ears.
Within the territory of Tilaimei was a river named the Namos River, the largest tributary of the Ali River in the Neustadt territory.
This river ran from north to south, branching through the entire Tilaimei Plain, providing rich water resources for agriculture here.
However, when the downpour fell, these usually benign rivers transformed into the coldest of killers.
"Quick! Pile the sandbags here!" A Knight, cloaked in a raincoat, stood next to a tributary of the Namos River outside Golden Barley City, loudly directing temporarily conscripted serfs and young adults.
Whish, whish—
The usually placid river had, in the rainstorm, completely changed its gentle demeanor, becoming turbulent and swift.
The rain was so heavy that the water level of the river was visibly rising!
"Ha!"
Everyone by the river understood the severity of the situation, and without needing the Knight to spur them on, they desperately strengthened the embankment with sandbags using all their strength.
Unfortunately, how could human power contend with nature?
Even though they piled up sandbags with great effort, the situation on the riverbanks worsened as the surging river continuously slapped against it, and many of the newly placed sandbags were quickly washed away. Even more critically, the river surface was gradually approaching the top of the embankment!
The serfs began to show hesitation, as not everyone was willing to continue risking their lives to reinforce the embankment.
"Faster! Behind you is your homeland. If the floodwaters overflow the riverbanks, everything will be lost!" The Knight shouted harshly. Seeing his commands had little effect, he scowled and with a clang, drew his sword from his belt, "No one may retreat until the embankment is completely collapsed!"
Under his decisive action, the serfs’ hesitating mood was immediately diminished, and they gritted their teeth and continued to fortify the embankment.
With everyone working together, the situation seemingly began to improve.
"Push harder, once we pile it higher, the water won’t be able to flow over!" The Knight kept shouting, a hint of joy flickering in his eyes.
"Alas!"
Thud! A serf, exhausted, suddenly slipped and fell heavily!
The sandbag on his shoulder traced a crooked arc and with a splash, fell into the rushing river, and his body involuntarily lunged forward into the water.
"Ralph!" A comrade cried out!
"Ah!" Ralph gasped for breath vehemently, his whole body sprawling on top of the temporary sand pile, his head almost touching the water surface.
He hadn’t even a second to feel relief.
Shush, shush—
A faint noise suddenly emanated from the sandbags below. Feeling himself begin to sink, Ralph’s eyes filled with deep fear and he screamed in panic!
"Not good!" The Knight by his side was the first to react, his face changing dramatically. He quickly threw away his precious sword and, grabbing several heavy sandbags, he stepped forward.
But it was too late.
Splash!
Ralph plunged headfirst into the river, disappearing in the blink of an eye, along with the sandbags that had been on the top.
A gap about half a meter wide immediately appeared, and the turbulent river water seemed to find an outlet, furiously surging into the gap. In the blink of an eye, this small gap expanded several times!
The banks, which previously seemed to be holding, supported only briefly before almost fully collapsing, the muddy river water charging towards the Knight and the serfs!
The Knight sighed, dropped the sandbag in his hand, and without hesitation, ran backwards!
Whoosh!
However, at that moment, a figure in a white robe suddenly descended through the rain curtain!
Swoosh!
The brilliance of witchcraft shone, and the muddy river water that was rampaging towards the riverbank suddenly stopped and, under the powerful force field, began to roll back into the river.
Then, a faint white light flashed, and the earth by the riverbank moved on its own, quickly forming a raised slope.
If not for the traces of the rampaging flood on the ground, the Knight might have thought the collapse of the riverbank had been an illusion.
"It’s the Lord of Tilaimei!" A serf exclaimed.
It was only then that the Knight reacted and quickly looked up.
But all that was left in his view was a pale figure.
"Hmm? What’s that?"
Thud!
A dark figure suddenly fell, startling the Knight, who instinctively took a small step back.
Bathed in the light of the ’Bright Crystal’ distributed by the Wizard, he could see the face of the dark figure—it was Ralph, who had earlier fallen into the river.
"You’re still alive, Ralph!"
"Cough—cough, cough!" Ralph coughed violently, a trace of warmth still lingering in his chest.
’The Lord of Tilamei... saved me?’
...
Colin rapidly maneuvered through the heavy rain curtain, his flying speed reduced by more than half due to the rain.
Moments later, he arrived at another low-lying riverbank area around Golden Barley.
The situation here was somewhat better than at the previous riverbank, temporarily without collapse, and the serfs were still working hard to raise the height of the bank.
Swoosh!
Arriving close by, Colin, adept at his tasks, waved his hand, and like bamboo shoots, the low riverbank surged up, forming a high slope that isolated the river.