Chapter 89: Storming the Castle
With Duane’s order to attack, the first wave began.
First came the catapults.
As long as they were positioned correctly, the simple instructions from yesterday were enough to operate them.
The Militia quickly loaded the stones, released the ropes, and used the power of the levers to hurl the boulders toward the opposite castle wall.
Although some shots went wide, the soldiers defending the wall panicked in the face of the incoming barrage.
A direct hit from one of the basketball-sized stones meant injury at best, and death at worst.
In addition to the catapults, the Basic-level Warriors began hurling the spears captured from the Frog Fish Monsters. With their arm strength, the distance was no issue.
The Archers also began to draw their bows and fire.
"John, bring me my longbow."
John hurriedly handed the longbow over.
Duane took the bow and arrow, drew it slowly, and aimed at a Warrior atop the castle wall.
During the recent barrage, that man had not only deflected catapult stones but had also cut down numerous spears and arrows. He was clearly skilled.
Bard watched silently as the Baron took aim. He hadn’t expected the young nobleman to be skilled in archery.
With a TWANG, the bowstring sang, and the arrow flew.
WHOOSH!
Everyone watched the arrow arc through the air and strike the Warrior on the wall squarely in the face.
With a cry of agony, the man fell dead upon the wall.
Instantly, Duane’s men erupted in cheers.
’My Basic Archery, about to break through to the Master Skill Level, is quite formidable,’ Duane thought, a small smile touching his lips.
He nocked another arrow and searched for his next target.
"Baron..."
Gaius couldn’t help but murmur, "His Archery is impressive!"
"It is impressive!"
Such a young Middle Level Warrior, with astonishing courage, precise Archery, and sharp Swordsmanship...
’To be honest, if I were to set aside our positions and interests, I would have to admit the Baron is exceptional,’ Bard thought.
Duane loosed five arrows in quick succession, killing three men and missing twice—an excellent record.
"Raymond, Bard, get ready to cross."
By now, the assault had thrown the defensive formation on the wall into disarray.
Raymond roared, "Set the ladders! Raise your shields! Charge!"
At once, the Militia brought out long ladders. The Guards held their Shields above their heads, stepping onto the ladders to cross the moat.
Meanwhile, Bard, Gaius, and the others followed the plan, getting a running start of several meters before leaping directly across.
Kaelon and Raymond followed close behind.
"Everyone, smash them!"
Uleir and Simone finally appeared on the wall, ordering the men of the Holy Hand Association to lift stones and hurl them down.
This was also part of their plan, but with so many of their men already fallen on the wall, their defensive strength was greatly reduced.
Uleir and Simone also swung their swords, unleashing Fighting Qi Slashes and using other Combat Techniques, but Bard and his men arrived just in time to block them.
Standing on the other side of the moat, Duane couldn’t help but sneer.
’Bard’s acting is truly convincing,’ he thought. ’He’s actively blocking attacks. You can’t see a single flaw in his performance.’
"Breaking Army Slash!"
Kaelon arrived at the base of the wall and bellowed, unleashing a powerful Combat Technique that swept upward. Uleir scrambled to dodge, narrowly avoiding a serious blow.
Seemingly terrified, he immediately ran down from the wall. "Hold the main gate!"
Simone didn’t linger on the wall either, following him down.
"Cease fire!"
Duane called a halt to the catapults and other projectile attacks.
Now that his men had reached the other side of the moat, continuing such an assault risked friendly fire.
Looking at the men on the wall, although they were still resisting in waves, their efforts had clearly weakened.
Duane guessed this was just a feigned defense, with the true goal of luring them into the city.
"Evans, take your second squad and cover the siege hammer as it crosses the moat," Duane commanded.
"Yes, sir!"
The second squad moved out immediately, working with the Militia to carry the five-to-six-meter-long siege hammer across the moat using the ladders.
At the same time, Willie’s third squad was providing cover.
As for Bard’s Broken Wave Gang, Duane had ordered them to the base of the wall to attempt a climb with long ladders.
After some difficulty, the siege hammer reached the base of the main gate.
Raymond shouted, "Ram the gate!"
Instantly, the Militia gathered, heaving the siege hammer and smashing it against the gate. At the same time, the Guards formed a shield wall on either side to defend against attacks from above.
The main gate of Daniel’s Castle was made of steel—thick and sturdy.
The siege hammer struck four or five times. Although the gate shuddered violently, it didn’t break open.
"Bard, let’s coordinate with our Combat Techniques," Raymond yelled.
At this point, Bard had no choice but to cooperate.
On the next impact, the two men used their Combat Techniques in concert with the force of the siege hammer.
With a thunderous BOOM, the steel gate tore from its hinges and fell inward, crushing a group of Holy Hand Association members who had been bracing it from behind.
"Charge!"
Without waiting for Raymond’s command, the Warriors surged through like a tide, cutting down the enemies inside the gate.
Raymond said, "Let’s get up on the wall and lower the drawbridge!"
"Right!"
Two Advanced Warriors and two Earth Tier Warriors fought their way onto the wall and operated the mechanism to lower the drawbridge.
With a rumbling sound, the two barriers—the moat and the wall—were overcome.
"Cross the moat!"
Duane shouted, leading the rest of his men across.
He arrived at the base of the wall and looked up.
The wall was over ten meters high. An Earth Tier Warrior could probably leap to the top.
However, doing so would be risky. After all, it’s difficult to change momentum mid-air.
If targeted by an attack, one would be at a great disadvantage.
That was why Duane didn’t have Kaelon do it. He had to be wary of the people above, and also the people below.
When Duane passed through the gate and entered the castle grounds, the surrounding enemies had been cleared out, and the thick smell of blood hung in the air.
"Where are Uleir and Simone?" Duane asked, already knowing the answer.
Raymond replied, "They seem to have retreated into the inner castle."
Duane sneered. "They didn’t even defend the wall with their full strength. With that kind of attitude, the Holy Hand Association thinks they can resist me?"
"Indeed!"
Bard laughed. "But they have a sturdier fortress behind this. Perhaps they think they can use it to stop you."
Duane scoffed. "Then we continue the attack!"
The troops regrouped. The wounded were left behind for Ronald and his assistants to treat, while the others, their morale high, pushed forward.
Daniel’s Castle wasn’t very large. After crossing a few open areas and the training ground of the rear keep, they reached the so-called fortress—which was really just a small inner castle.
’A wall only a few meters high, with no moat or trench... what kind of defense is that?’
This time, however, Daniels himself appeared on the wall.
"Baron, I never thought you would be the one to attack me first!"
He still wore that damnable smile. "I always thought the Broken Wave Gang would be the ones to fall before me."
From the crowd, Duane retorted coldly, "And I never thought that you, revered by so many as a divine healer, would turn out to be a demon in human skin."
"Today, I will avenge those who died horribly at your hands!"
As if a nerve had been struck, the smile vanished from Daniels’s face.
"Heh heh, young Baron, the truth can be quite cruel!"
In an instant, dark Fel Energy surged around him, and a demonic phantom enveloped his body.
"Demon of the void, heed your master’s call and descend!"
A black-and-green Summoning Array materialized out of thin air, and a monster emerged from within it.
It landed on the ground with a thunderous CRASH.
The monster stood five meters tall. It had a rhinoceros-like head, from which a pair of curved, spiral horns extended backward, giving it a terrifying and savage appearance.
Its body was covered in dark red scales, between which a sulfuric yellow slime seemed to ooze, emitting a scorching steam.
The Demon’s towering frame alone was a testament to its strength, but the massive battle-axe in its hand, wreathed in green Fel Energy flames, said it all!
Duane’s eyes trembled. The scene was simply too overwhelming.
It wasn’t just him; the others, especially the Militia, were terrified.
Even the men of the Broken Wave Gang showed expressions of terror.
Daniels laughed maniacally. "Go, my servant, and give them a taste of fear!"