Chapter 1358: Defensive Battle
Chapter 1358: Defensive Battle
The meeting inside the fortress was interrupted by a hurried knock.
"Report!"
The commanders turned toward the entrance. A soldier wearing bloodstained armor rushed inside, his breathing ragged. He immediately dropped to one knee.
"An emergency! Our scouts have reported a large-scale deployment from both the Sleepless Kingdom and Dreambone Kingdom!"
The room fell silent.
"What did you say?" one of the commanders asked, his expression darkening.
"Both kingdoms are mobilizing their forces. Hundreds of monsters and soldiers are marching toward our defensive lines. There are also numerous flying units approaching from above. Their numbers are far greater than those involved in the previous engagements!"
The commanders exchanged glances.
They had anticipated another attack, but they hadn’t expected both kingdoms to mobilize such a large force at the same time.
"How many?" a middle-aged commander asked.
"We don’t have an exact count yet. However, based on the scouts’ observations, this deployment is considerably larger than any previous assault."
"Damn it. They’re finally making their move."
"Could this be a coordinated attack? Are they planning to break through our defenses in one push?"
"Whether that’s their intention or not, we can’t afford to underestimate them."
The commanders quickly gathered around the map. Their expressions became serious as they began considering the possible routes of attack.
"Sound the alarm! Inform every defensive unit that the enemy is approaching!"
"Deploy the reserve squads to the front. Make sure the healers and supply teams are ready!"
"Have the aerial units take position above the defensive line. I don’t want the enemy gaining control of the skies!"
"Notify the commanders of the neighboring fortresses. They must prepare for an attack as well!"
Orders came one after another.
The fortress, which had been relatively peaceful moments ago, immediately burst into activity. Soldiers rushed through the corridors, messengers hurried between buildings, and the sound of alarm bells echoed across the entire defensive line.
The commanders didn’t waste any more time.
They knew that if the two kingdoms had mobilized such a large force, this wouldn’t be an ordinary skirmish. The enemy was clearly preparing to inflict serious damage on the Blood Realm’s forces.
Soon, the experts stationed within the fortress began gathering at the front.
Hundreds of figures emerged from the buildings and temporary camps. Some wore heavy armor, while others carried weapons infused with elemental energy. A few even rode strange creatures that had been tamed for the battlefield.
The defensive line became crowded with experts.
Those belonging to the First Shackle Realm and above took their positions at the forefront, while the weaker soldiers were assigned to support and logistical duties. Healers and supply teams remained behind the defensive formations, ready to respond to casualties.
Everyone understood that the coming battle would be different.
Some experts tightened their grips on their weapons. Their faces were pale, and a few couldn’t help but swallow nervously as they looked toward the distant horizon.
They had already experienced the brutality of the previous battles. They knew how easily an expert could lose their life when facing opponents of comparable strength.
Others, however, displayed completely different reactions.
Their eyes gleamed with excitement, and some even grinned as they released their auras. They had been waiting for an opportunity to fight a large-scale battle. The contribution points they could earn from killing powerful enemies were certainly tempting.
"Finally! I was getting tired of sitting around."
"Don’t get too excited. You might not come back alive."
"Hahaha! That’s what makes it interesting!"
Despite their different attitudes, everyone remained at their assigned positions.
The commanders stood at the forefront, observing the distant battlefield. The ground beneath their feet occasionally trembled as the approaching forces drew closer.
Far beyond the defensive line, dark silhouettes began appearing along the horizon.
At first, they were barely distinguishable from the surrounding landscape. However, as the distance narrowed, their numbers became increasingly apparent.
There were monsters of all shapes and sizes. Some walked on four legs, while others crawled along the ground with multiple limbs. Several enormous creatures towered over the rest, their bodies radiating powerful auras.
Above them, countless figures flew through the sky.
Some possessed enormous wings, others rode flying creatures, and a few simply floated through the air using their abilities.
The sheer number of enemies was enough to make the atmosphere oppressive.
"They’re here..."
A soldier muttered.
The commanders narrowed their eyes.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!"
Their voices rang across the defensive line.
The experts immediately raised their weapons. Elemental energy began gathering around their bodies, and countless auras erupted into the sky.
The ground trembled as the two armies approached.
For a brief moment, both sides seemed to be measuring each other.
Then, the commanders of the Blood Realm forces gave their final orders.
"Hold the line! Don’t let them break through!"
The approaching army showed no signs of slowing down.
"FIRE!"
The moment the enemy forces entered their attack range, a commander shouted the order.
In an instant, the defensive line erupted with activity.
Countless spells and energy blades shot into the sky, painting the battlefield with brilliant flashes of light. Fireballs streaked across the air, lightning bolts crackled, and enormous blades of condensed energy descended upon the approaching armies.
The attacks formed a terrifying rain that swept toward the forces of the Dreambone Kingdom and Sleepless Kingdom.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions erupted across the enemy formation.
The experts of the two kingdoms immediately raised their defenses. Barriers appeared, monsters unleashed their abilities, and countless weapons were swung to intercept the incoming attacks.
However, there were simply too many.
They couldn’t completely block the overwhelming barrage.
Several monsters were struck by spells and had their bodies blown apart. Others were pierced by energy blades before they could even react. A few flying creatures lost their wings and plummeted from the sky, crashing into the advancing army below.
Screeches and roars filled the battlefield.
Although the initial barrage inflicted considerable casualties, it wasn’t enough to stop the enemy’s advance.
"Keep moving! Don’t let them disrupt our formation!"
The commanders of the two kingdoms roared their orders.
Their forces quickly reorganized and continued charging forward.
The distance between the two armies rapidly narrowed.
Then, the first wave of enemies crashed into the Blood Realm’s defensive line.
CLANG!
A sword collided with a massive claw, sending sparks flying in every direction. A monster lunged at an expert, only to be met by a spear that pierced through its throat. Nearby, two experts exchanged spells at close range, their attacks creating a violent explosion that swallowed everything around them.
The battlefield instantly descended into chaos.
The experts of the Blood Realm fought desperately to hold their positions. Some used their weapons to repel incoming enemies, while others unleashed powerful abilities that swept through entire groups of monsters.
Blood splattered across the ground.
Bodies fell from the sky.
The sounds of weapons clashing, explosions, and agonized screams merged into one deafening roar.
The commanders watched the battle unfold from the rear.
Their expressions gradually darkened.
"Something is wrong. Their numbers are greater than we anticipated."
"Not just their numbers. Look at the strength of their front line."
One of the commanders pointed toward the battlefield.
Several powerful monsters and demis were tearing through the Blood Realm’s defensive formation. Their bodies were enormous, and their auras were far stronger than those of ordinary First or Second Shackle Realm experts.
Even the Blood Realm experts assigned to stop them were struggling.
"The Dreambone Kingdom must have deployed some of its elite forces. The Sleepless Kingdom is doing the same."
"Damn it. They’re coordinating their attacks to overwhelm our defensive line."
The commanders could see the problem clearly.
The Blood Realm had been fighting on two fronts for some time. Their forces had already suffered considerable losses, and many of their elite squads were either severely weakened or completely wiped out.
Meanwhile, their enemies had gathered a much larger force for this assault.
If the situation continued, their defensive line would eventually collapse.
"We can’t just stand here and watch!"
One of the commanders stepped forward. His aura surged, and the ground beneath his feet cracked.
"I’ll take care of the monsters on the left flank!"
"I’ll handle the flying units!"
The other commanders quickly followed.
They understood that ordinary soldiers wouldn’t be enough to stop the enemy’s strongest fighters. If they allowed those monsters and experts to continue rampaging through their formation, the casualties would become unbearable.
"We’ll leave the command of the defensive line to you!"
One of them turned toward the remaining commander.
The latter nodded solemnly.
"Don’t worry. I’ll make sure the formation holds. Just be careful out there!"
The commanders didn’t waste any more time.
WHOOSH!
Several powerful auras erupted as they rushed toward the battlefield.
One of them swung his enormous weapon, releasing a sweeping arc of energy that cleaved through a group of advancing monsters. Another soared into the sky, intercepting several powerful flying creatures before they could reach the rear formation.
Their arrival immediately eased some of the pressure on the Blood Realm’s forces.
However, the remaining commander knew that this was far from enough.
He stood at the rear, overlooking the battlefield with a grim expression.
"Reinforce the left flank! Send another squad to support the aerial units! The healers must remain behind the defensive formation!"
His voice carried across the battlefield as he continued issuing orders.
The battle had only just begun, yet the Blood Realm was already at a disadvantage.
And with the two kingdoms committing such a massive force, it was clear that they had no intention of allowing the Blood Realm to hold its territory easily.