I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 443 A Lot of Unexpected Events
The night in early winter was as thick as ink, splashed across the gray rock pass.

The cold wind howled between the rock walls, and the swirling snowflakes whipped at everything, silencing even the slightest sounds.

Under the pale moonlight, the massive outline of the Naxi Fortress resembled a lurking beast, exuding a cold and deathly aura.

At the entrance to the limestone pass, a forbidden zone for the snake people.

Standing before the crowd of players, Xiao Daochi checked his pocket watch one last time. The cold metallic touch invigorated him... The watch's time meant nothing to him, but doing this action brought him joy.

The players of the Overlord Tigers have assembled, equipped with a variety of deadly weapons, their eyes gleaming with excitement and bloodlust behind their gas masks.

A dozen heavy explosive charges were gathered together and carried by a group of fearless volunteers, some of whom also carried battering rams.

The siege spears will be used in the first wave of attacks, but after observing the gates of Naxi Fortress, the player's demolition expert believes that the siege spears are unlikely to blow through the gates. At most, they will leave a hole in the gates, which can be used to place explosive charges.

Therefore, the explosive charge is more important than the siege spear, but the latter also needs to be detonated.

Without a detonation point, the explosion of the explosive charge might not be able to completely blow open the door.

Don't underestimate the resilience of wood.

"Bros!"

The sound of the knife came through the gas mask, carrying a hoarse, metallic scraping quality.

"Target, that door of the fortress, let's blow it open, rush in, and twist off the heads of those worms to kick around like balls!"

Midnight will be our moment of victory, for military merit, for prestige, for the mountain tiger!

A low, suppressed roar of excitement echoed among the players.

They didn't care about casualties; death was just a minor inconvenience for resurrection.

What they crave is the rapid advance after breaching the city, the generous system rewards after the battle, and the thrill of combat.

The gambler's flame burning in Xiao Dao's eyes ignited the fervor of the entire battle group.

To the north, on the cliffs north of the Naxi Fortress.

The biting wind blowing from afar pierced through the thin clothing of the self-rescue army soldiers, making them shiver, but no one backed down.

Colonel Vigo checked the commando members' equipment one last time: short axes, chisels, several bundles of rough but tough rope, tinder... and the resolute will to die in everyone's eyes.

The commando team consisted of only seven men, all of whom were the most agile veterans who knew the fortress's internal structure like the back of their hand, including the one-eyed old engineer.

"remember……"

Vigo's voice was so low it was almost swallowed by the wind.

"Your lives are worth ten thousand times more than the snake people in the fortress. Infiltrate, create chaos, open the side doors, or make as much noise as possible."

Don't fight head-on. Only by staying alive can you create the greatest value. The main force will launch a feint attack from the front to draw enemy fire. You... are our only key.

The commandos nodded silently, gripping their tools tightly.

Vigo looked at them, his eyes filled with sorrow.

He turned to the main force, to those hundreds of faces, blue with cold in the wind, yet filled with hatred.

"When the fires blaze inside the fortress and the battle cries of us Minisians resound, it is the signal to charge! With your fury, with your flesh and blood, nail the eyes of those beasts to the front walls, for our homeland, for our revenge!"

"For our homeland, for revenge!"

The deep, powerful vow echoed through the mountain valley, only to be swept away by the cold wind.

Inside the Naxi Fortress.

The snake people entrenched inside the fortress seemed unaware of the approaching storm; the thick walls and harsh weather had lulled them into a false sense of security.

Most of the snake people huddled in makeshift nests built from human remains and rubble, relying on each other's cold body heat to ward off the bitter cold.

Only a few sentries patrolled listlessly on the city wall, their cold, vertical pupils sweeping across the dark swamp, almost ignoring the sheer cliff behind them that was considered an insurmountable barrier.

The sentries on the highest watchtower were half-frozen, huddled in a corner, half-asleep. The fortress was filled with a strong, pungent stench of fish and decay, mixed with the damp, cold air, making one want to vomit.

……

Seven brave warriors from the Self-Rescue Army assault team, like seven geckos, clung to the cold, slippery cliff face as much as possible, beginning this silent yet thrilling climb.

Their every breath condensed into white mist, which was instantly torn apart by the howling cold wind.

On the frozen, iron-hard rock surface, each strike of their axes and chisels only managed to carve out a small, insignificant dent, with sparks briefly bursting in the cold darkness before being extinguished.

The heavy rope was passed silently between the team members, tightening, loosening, and tightening again. Each handover was accompanied by a breathtaking pause, a relay of trust and responsibility on the edge of life and death.

Despite the difficulties, they never considered giving up.

The target... that unremarkable weathered rock area halfway up the mountain, shimmering grayish-white under the moonlight.

That was the only hope, the end of this death climb, and the starting point for their desperate counterattack.

At the same time, a group of players were sneaking towards the gate of Naxi Fortress. These people were fully prepared, not only wearing white snow camouflage suits from head to toe, but also wearing breathing masks even though it was freezing cold.

This resulted in everyone's vision being extremely blurry, and a thick layer of white frost quickly condensed on the cold glass goggles under the players' rapid and warm breathing.

With each breath they exhaled, the hot air rapidly liquefied and froze inside their masks, blurring and distorting their vision at a visible speed, until only a hazy, swaying light and shadow remained within a few feet of their eyes.

The members of the demolition team seemed to have severe cataracts, stumbling and groping their way forward in the dark.

"Damn it... I can't see anything!"

A player carrying a heavy explosive charge cursed under his breath. He had to wipe his mask frequently with his gloves, but it didn't help much. He could only wipe off the outside; the fog inside the mask was the real problem.

"Can I take off my breathing mask? I can't see anything like this..."

"No, you idiot!"

The player leading the team had a hoarse voice; he was also feeling suffocated by the mask, but he suppressed his frustration and growled.

"The snake people's thermal vision is at its peak at night, especially in this awful weather. They can see a plume of heat coming from hundreds of meters away. Take off your mask, and you'll be a sitting duck!"

"OK, OK..."

The player who made the suggestion grumbled in frustration, and could only proceed more cautiously, each step feeling like walking on cotton or treading on the edge of an abyss.

Click!

A crisp, teeth-grinding metallic clang suddenly ripped through the oppressive silence in the cold wind!

"Ow..."

The sudden pain caused a piercing scream to erupt. It was the player who had complained about the blurry vision who had stepped on something hidden under the thin snow and withered leaves... a huge, rusty but still sharp-toothed animal trap.

The cold, steel fangs snapped shut, successfully piercing through his thick snow boots and wool socks, embedding themselves deep in his ankle and shinbone. The excruciating pain caused him to scream involuntarily, his body lurching forward as the heavy explosive charge on his back slammed onto the snow.

"Damn, it's a trap!"

The team leader's heart stopped, and he instinctively looked up towards the city wall.

too late.

That scream was like a signal flare in the dark night.

Above the city wall, several pairs of previously lazy, cold, vertical pupils instantly focused. They captured the source of the sound, the outline of a human struggling on the snow, and... more importantly, the blood gushing from the injured player's ankle, which, in the snake-man's heat vision, was as bright and hot as a torch.

"Hiss..."

The piercing, sharp alarm wailed like an icicle piercing the night sky, startling the drowsy snake-man sentry on the highest watchtower, who then sounded an even louder alarm.

A muffled but hostile screech quickly echoed across the city walls.

"Damn it, we're exposed!" The team leader's scalp tingled and adrenaline surged the moment he heard the snake-man's hiss. He no longer cared about tactical concealment and roared at the top of his lungs, his voice cracking. "Abandon the wounded! All demolition teams, charge! Follow me to the city gate and set it on fire!"

The command was like igniting a powder keg! The demolition team players, who had been stumbling forward in their blurred vision, instantly went berserk, the command overwhelming the fear brought on by the obstructed view.

They cast aside all their worries and, like a herd of enraged white bulls, howled and stumbled as they launched a desperate charge toward the massive, indistinct shadow of the city gate.

The snake-men on the city wall reacted faster than expected. Cold arrows shot down like venomous snakes, while several rough matchlock guns with sparks flying from their muzzles protruded from the crenellations, spitting deadly lead bullets at the people below.

Perhaps because the snake-men were not good at shooting, or perhaps because their twisted claws could not perform precise and delicate operations, their shots were just sweeping across the chaotic area of ​​charging white figures, rather than precise bursts.

In theory, such shooting should not pose a threat to the players; however, the demolition team members are having really bad luck tonight... Perhaps they are cursed by the snake-man god.

"Pfft!"

A player carrying a bomb was shot in the thigh by a crossbow bolt, screamed and fell to the ground. Red blood quickly spread in the area where the still-shaking arrow shaft had been, staining his white camouflage cotton coat red.

"what!"

Another player was grazed on the shoulder by a lead bullet. The huge impact made him stagger a few steps, but he gritted his teeth and dragged his injured leg forward.

More bullets and arrows struck the snow, splashing mud and snow, or embedded themselves in the rocks next to the player, making a chilling sound.

"Never mind, charge! Charge!"

The leader of the demolition team roared, and he felt something fly past his helmet, bringing with it a gust of cold wind.

But all he could see was the city gate, which was getting closer and closer, and appeared incredibly huge in his blurred vision.

The abandoned wounded lay on the cold snow, their ankles gripped tightly by the saw teeth, the pain excruciating.

He watched in despair as his companions charged toward their deaths like madmen, as shadows flickered on the city walls and crossbow bolts and lead bullets whizzed past his head and body.

He reached out in vain to untrap the animal trap on his foot, but the cold and excruciating pain made his fingers completely unresponsive.

"Fuck...fuck your grandpas...take me with you!"

He could only curse helplessly.

With their numbers and fearless charge, the demolition team managed to reach the massive iron-clad oak city gate despite the snakemen's relatively light first round of fire. After suffering three arrow wounds and two injuries from stray bullets, the team managed to tumble and crawl through the air.

The cold metal door studs and the rough texture of the wood became the only guides.

The explosions rang out quickly.

That was a directional explosion of the siege spear.

In the chaos, the team leader only had time to cower in a corner of the city gate, desperately protecting his head and face with his arms. A scorching, violent shockwave, mixed with a deafening roar, and a spray of blood slammed into his back!

The immense force slammed him against the cold stone wall, his internal organs seemed to shift, and his helmet emitted a piercing wail.

The choking smoke, dust from splintered wood, and the stench of burning metal instantly filled the entire city gate, causing him to cough violently.

In addition, the tinnitus was so sharp it felt like it was going to pierce the meninges, and the whole world was spinning.

He forced himself to turn around after the explosion, his dizziness and nausea making him look hopefully toward the city gate.

The next moment, immense disappointment was like being doused with ice water!
The anticipated scene of the city gates opening wide and revealing a bright and open vista did not materialize.

The massive iron-clad oak gate still stood stubbornly there, the only charred, smoking crater left by the siege spears' explosions in the lower center of the gate.

The thick oak wood was blasted outwards, cracked, and revealed the twisted and broken wood fibers and several bent reinforcing iron bars. A faint light could even be seen coming from the inner passageway of the city gate.

However, the door was not broken open.

"Damn, they were right!"

Someone was shouting loudly, and then something even worse happened... The team leader heard something fall nearby, making a thumping sound.

After at least a brief pause, the player understood what was going on.

"Damn it, that snake-man jumped down from the city wall!"

"Hold them back, brothers, hold them back... buy me some time..."

The team leader shouted, his voice carrying an unquestionable resolve!

"Throw all your explosives at me!!"

Without hesitation, the surviving demolition team members immediately understood their leader's intentions.

All the explosive charges were quickly thrown at the leader's feet.

"To kill these snakes, we'll take care of the mountain tiger!"

The remaining few grabbed their weapons and charged at the serpentine alien, and a bloody close-quarters battle erupted instantly.

The leader knew they couldn't hold out for long because they weren't wearing armor and only had simple short weapons for self-defense.

Even under such circumstances, players can't kill many snake-men; not all players are Monokuma.

Therefore, the team leader was oblivious to the fierce fighting behind him; his world consisted only of the crater emitting blue smoke in front of him and the several heavy explosive charges scattered at his feet.

He knelt on the cold ground and used all his strength to stuff the explosive charges into the crater one by one.

The first one went in smoothly, but the second one got stuck on the curled-up wood shavings.

He growled, using his shoulder to push against the hard wood splinters with his gloved but still frozen fingers. Rough splinters pierced his fingers, drawing blood, but he felt nothing.

He forcefully squeezed the third explosive charge into the box, making it stick tightly to the previous one.

The fourth one... the space in the pit was almost too small, so he frantically pounded the wood at the edge of the pit with his fists, trying to widen the space, until his knuckles were torn and bleeding!

"Quickly, we can't hold on any longer!"

A desperate scream came from a player wielding a knife. He only had one arm left, and blood stained half of his body. He could only barely use his other hand to swing the machete to block.

The team leader suddenly grabbed the fifth explosive charge placed under the city gate and, with all his might, shoved it into the already full crater. Part of the explosive charge was even squeezed out of shape!

That should be enough!

With trembling hands, he pulled a kerosene lighter from his pocket. With a click, a weak flame flickered and he groped around until he grabbed the shortest fuse extending from the pile of explosives.

"laugh……"

The flames greedily licked the fuse, and the familiar, heart-stopping sound of burning rang out once more.

The team leader laughed.

"Boom..."

This explosion at the city gate was a hundred times more powerful than the previous siege spear explosion.

All the explosive charges piled up at the weakest point of the city gate were detonated simultaneously in the narrow space. The violent energy, like a volcano suppressed for thousands of years, found its only outlet in an instant... that massive oak gate that had been battered and ravaged.

A blindingly large fireball, like a falling sun, instantly engulfed the entire city gate.

The leader, the snake-man warriors rushing towards him, the players and snake-men still fighting... everything was completely engulfed by this destructive light and shockwave!

The sturdy iron-clad oak city gate, along with the surrounding stone door frame and city wall structure several meters thick, collapsed and disintegrated like a sandcastle smashed by a giant's warhammer amidst earth-shattering roars and flames.

Huge stones, burning wooden beams, twisted metal fragments, and... indistinguishable limbs were hurled into the air like a storm and crashed down inside and outside the fortress like hailstones!
A colossal, terrifying gaping hole, its edges flowing with molten iron, burning with flames, and spewing thick smoke, appeared on the seemingly impregnable southern wall of the Naxi Fortress, like the gaping maw of hell!
The door was finally blown open!
Almost a second before the devastating explosion, in the shadow of the cliffs to the north of the fortress, Colonel Vigo and the main force of his self-defense army seemed to have faintly caught a muffled sound coming from the direction of the main city wall...

The unexpected sound that came ahead of time made Vigo's heart sink!
What happened? What's going on?

Have the commando team been discovered?

(End of this chapter)