Chapter 954 - 177: The Sacrificial Pawn
Hit!
Looking at those gleaming Demon-Blocking Golden Crossbow Arrows, they predicted the angles from which the Demon Dragon might dodge in a triangular formation.
Malik’s heart leapt to his throat in an instant.
But in the next moment, this excitement plummeted from Heaven to Hell.
The seemingly massive Demon Dragon effortlessly slipped through the blockade of crossbow arrows with incredible agility.
Then, the Demon Dragon dived, and three enormous Dragon Heads simultaneously opened their gaping mouths lined with terrifying white fangs.
Tri-colored Dragon Flame poured down upon the city walls.
In an instant, the Tower collapsed, and the flames ravaged the city.
It was like a scene from Hell; countless figures were turned to ashes in the scorching Dragon Flame before they even had time to scream.
The firelight painted his face in a shade of orange-red.
He stood there dumbfounded for a long time, forgetting to consider how many people they had lost under this onslaught.
Ha, with such power, why bother with conventional siege warfare?
That day you flew over our heads, why didn’t you simply take our lives?
"By Saint Fire!"
Beside him, Mujit was pale with fright and continuously prayed aloud.
He was the Guard Officer of Damascus, and although he had heard many legends of the Frankish Demon King, he couldn’t help but feel a slight disdain, thinking it was just an excuse for the losers.
"How could he truly possess such terrifying power!"
"This is the opponent that has caused my father days of mental and physical exhaustion, sleepless nights, and his illness to relapse, confining him to bed—an opponent even he cannot defeat. How can I arrogantly think there’s any chance of turning the tide?"
He sighed despondently, as a prince with ambition and drive, he was not like ordinary people who placed their hope in ethereal faith.
But at this moment, aside from praying for the protection of Saint Fire, he seemed incapable of any effective response.
...
"Enough."
Losa gently patted Ladon’s head, he was not like the Tatars, who were eager to turn the world into pasture and destroy civilization. Damascus would be under his control, so he naturally wouldn’t let Ladon wreak havoc.
The Dragon Flame gradually died down, but the morale of the defenders on the city walls plummeted to the deepest depths.
Boom—
The massive Siege Tower was placed on the city walls, and the Flemish flag-bearers and the Swiss Long Halberd flag-bearers wielding War Axes, Hammers, and Shields poured out of the Siege Tower, advancing in perfect coordination.
They formed Shield walls, advancing side by side, continually compressing the living space of the defenders on the walls, creating ample room for subsequent troops to climb up.
More and more Crusaders began to mount the walls, and the Saracen defenders, whose morale was thrown into chaos, were utterly unable to resist, even the elite Kasaji Guard found themselves overstretched and struggling.
"Your Highness, the first wall can no longer be held."
Mujit anxiously urged Malik, hoping he would immediately leave the walls and retreat to the inner city.
But Malik stood there as if his soul had been shattered, his eyes no longer held the vitality and spirit they once did.
"Your Highness!"
"Mujit, do we still have a chance to win?"
Mujit hesitated for a moment, but still said, "Of course, Your Majesty must have a backup plan. As long as we hold fast, there will surely be a way!"
"Forget it, no need to lie to me."
"Mujit, you are my father’s most loyal confidant, can you now tell me where all the lost treasures and military equipment went?"
Mujit’s expression changed slightly.
Seeing Mujit’s face, Malik chuckled, "Now, those things should already be in Aleppo, in the hands of my incompetent brother, right?"
Only now did he finally realize his father’s true intentions, that everything left in Damascus was but abandoned pieces.
Aziz was perhaps cowardly, or perhaps because he saw through this he chose to abandon the city and flee.
"I just don’t understand why father would place the family’s final hope on Zahir, can he really bear such a responsibility?"
Mujit was silent for a moment, then spoke, "Your Highness, His Majesty never placed hope on Prince Zahir. In Aleppo, General Taqidin is there, secretly commanding a royal elite force."
He paused briefly, then continued, "He will escort some of your young nephews and nieces, leading the army north, traversing the lands of the Seljuk, and into the Caucasus Mountains."
"I see..."
Malik smiled bitterly, he really hadn’t expected this outcome.
Taqidin was indeed talented, but during his time as Governor in Egypt, he did many ludicrous things, and some even accused him of colluding with the Christians.
When Saladin publicly reprimanded this fat man, Malik had believed that he had been exiled from the core of power as Zahir’s subordinate.
"Never thought that father trusted him the most."
Malik smiled bitterly as he unsheathed his weapon.
"General Mujit, go and protect my father. Tell him that his eldest son, the heir, died in battle on the walls of Damascus, fighting to protect his country from the Heretics."
"Your Highness!"
Mujit raised his voice, but ultimately just silently watched the Prince’s departing figure, no longer trying to stop him.
A dozen Kasaji Guard followed in silence, they were the most loyal warriors of the Royal Family, and at this moment chose to follow in Malik’s footsteps.
"Come on, you bunch of bastards!"
Malik, with these dozen elite guards, charged towards the approaching Crusader Walking Knights.
These Walking Knights were all equipped with Barrel Helmets, clad in Chain Armor and Coveralls, they were
Malik smiled bitterly as he unsheathed his weapon.
"General Mujit, go and protect my father. Tell him that his eldest son, the heir, died in battle on the walls of Damascus, fighting to protect his country from the Heretics."
"Your Highness!"
Mujit raised his voice, but ultimately just silently watched the Prince’s departing figure, no longer trying to stop him.
A dozen Kasaji Guard followed in silence, they were the most loyal warriors of the Royal Family, and at this moment chose to follow in Malik’s footsteps.
"Come on, you bunch of bastards!"
Malik, with these dozen elite guards, charged towards the approaching Crusader Walking Knights.
These Walking Knights were all equipped with Barrel Helmets, clad in Chain Armor and Coveralls, they were