Heroes of Might and Magic: Grand Consul

Chapter 337 Flame Flower

Rosalind had barely finished making her arrangements when she saw the distant rocks shimmering with a crimson light, and a large number of terrifying-looking bats were flying towards the city.

"Enemy attack!"

Rosalind shouted loudly, summoning the guards around the city.

In fact, Wind City has quite a few guards, nearly 10,000 in total, but most of them are low-level troops such as centaurs and dwarves. Even the treant warriors are just temporary craftsmen put together, and their combat strength is average.

After all, no one expected that someone would break through into Isildur's occupied territory and carry out a large-scale sweep.

Before the Battle of Sunset, Isildur even believed that they were about to conquer the Kingdom of Eldon and become the owners of the land.

However, humanity's strong defense shattered the elves' illusions, and the chain reaction led to the forced alteration of the earth elemental magic's properties, resulting in slow city construction. Otherwise, if they had simply conquered the capital, Isildur might have even had the opportunity to take over the plains without bloodshed.

Having received Lloyd's message, Rosalind was well-prepared, and the great elves took to the arrow towers to fire at distant enemies.

However, the vampires were very fast, and they reached the city after only withstanding one volley of arrows.

Despite being called Wind City, it was actually just a newly built fortress. Although the area was covered with thorns, there were no powerful defensive magic arrays, so it was no challenge for the vampire count.

Rosalind brought a lot of scrolls. She herself was a hero proficient in advanced wind and water elements. At the start of the battle, she immediately stacked buffs on her soldiers, and used spells such as Holy Blessing, Swiftness Acceleration, and Perfect Shot as if she didn't need mana.

Rosalind (Druid): Attack 4, Defense 6, Spell Power 4, Knowledge 5.

Characteristics: Balancer, gardening master, alert.

Advanced Gardening Master: When a hero oversees the construction of a city, the natural prosperity of buildings is increased, and there is a chance that natural mutations will occur, allowing the construction of a garden vault.

Intermediate logistics studies, basic intelligence skills.

Advanced Air Element Mastery, Advanced Water Element Mastery.

When it comes to construction, Rosalind is indeed a rare talent. The fact that the Isidore Empire has lasted for so long is also related to the treasury of the fortress.

[Garden Vault: The Garden Vault grants +20% bonus coins on the first day of each week and produces an additional 1 crystal.]

Don't underestimate this 20% increase; it applies to all cities and can be stacked. Although there are limitations on the range of the Earth Spirit, preventing unlimited expansion, it can easily encompass a dozen or so cities within a duchy.

The elders transferred Rosalind to this place to carry out construction because they valued her special abilities. After all, it's a new city, and even if it costs more, they can make up for it later.

As more buildings are constructed in the Forest of Fal, the Garden Vault will play a significant role.

Moreover, her strength is not bad either. Her advanced mastery of air/water elements allows her to handle most situations, but unfortunately, not today's duel.

The vampire count, like a wolf among sheep, is practically slaughtering the low-scaling bulwark army.

Dozens of centaurs might be able to surround the vampire count and inflict some damage, but a single counterattack from the vampire could drain them dry and replenish his own life force.

To the counts, the bastion troops before them were nothing more than mobile blood bags.

The only troublesome ones are the Silver Pegasus and Treants, especially the Deadwood Warriors, who have thicker skin and are more durable.

But this time, Liliana targeted the leader first, leading her personal guards directly towards Rosalind, breaking through the Wind City's defenses and entering the city.

The scattered bastion troops were forced to retreat, but the Night Queen was surrounded by vampire princes, who were far more lethal and no match for her.

After about half an hour of chaotic fighting, the Bastion Legion completely collapsed, the Silver Pegasus scattered and fled, the Deadwood Guards died on the battlefield, the centaurs and dwarves turned into skeletons, the thorns were set ablaze, and Wind City was engulfed in flames.

Rosalind was brought over by Akasha, her body tightly bound, several bones broken, and soaked in blood. Only her face, after being carefully washed, revealed the beautiful features of this female druid.

There are no ugly elves in the bulwark, a proverb circulating in the world of heroes, and it's very true.

Liliana glanced at Akasha, somewhat speechless; this girl always had such strange ideas.

From the perspective of the undead, beauty and ugliness are indistinguishable. How could you expect these skeletons to have any aesthetic sense? Akasha only acted this way because she knew Su Mu's true identity; perhaps in her mind, the lord was just a lecherous and reckless man. How foolish!
Uli was right next to her. When he saw the female druid, he was clearly taken aback. He looked at the Night King with a rather strange expression, his gaze constantly moving downwards.

He had initially thought the other party was a cold-blooded, ruthless, and mysteriously powerful undead, but now he felt that the other party might have some special fetishes.

"Besides the boundary markers inside the city, are there any other remaining?"

Upon hearing Liliana's question, Rosalind realized their purpose; no wonder they chose a new city for a surprise attack.

"It's gone, you've seized it all."

"Where are the resources for urban development? Are there other reserves?"

“These are all resources allocated by the Empire. I’ve only occupied a few mines. It’s not as much as you think.” Rosalind didn’t offer much resistance and cooperated fully. However, she would think for a long time each time, probably stalling for time.

"Do you know anything about the defenses of other fortified cities? What intelligence did you pass on before?"

This time, Rosalind didn't speak. After a long silence, she smiled and said, "Even if I told you, would you believe me?"

Liliana stepped forward and slapped her, attempting to use her charm to interfere with her mind, but Rosalind remained steadfast and unaffected by the spell.

Uri then stepped forward and maliciously lifted Rosalind's chin: "Don't think that you're done for once you're dead. Your beautiful body can hold a lot of bones."

"I sealed your soul within a corpse, letting you witness the desecration of a pure spirit—that feeling was wonderful."

As he spoke, Uli used his bone knife to cut open Rosalind's clothes, revealing a large expanse of pure white stained with blood.

Rosalind's expression first turned to disgust, then to determination: "Since you know I'm delaying things, what else is there to say? Just kill me."

The physical body is merely an outward manifestation of a druid; naturally, it will gather my soul and transform it into next year's Flameflower.

"you!"

Uli wanted to tear off the druid's robe in public to show off to the lord with his unusual fetish, but Liliana grabbed his arm.

They both looked at Su Mu, who was not far away.

"My lord, my soul-searching questions can make her reveal more information; I need to use some methods!"

Uli was extremely confident; his research on souls was unparalleled, and even druids were no match for him. He had already sensed Rosalind's inner panic. If he continued to apply pressure, she would definitely break down, and extracting her soul at the moment of collapse would be the most delicious feast.

Su Mu glanced at Rosalind, who was trying to appear calm, and said, "A hero should have a dignified death. After she dies, her soul will be placed in the crucible."

After saying that, Su Mu turned and left, looking at the boundary stone that the vampire had seized, leaving only a sheepish Uli behind.

Liliana watched the lord's retreating figure, keeping those words in mind.

For the undead, there is no good or evil, only the achievement of their goal; that's why Uri used what he considered normal methods. But Liliana, being a half-dead, felt something was amiss.

A direct confrontation, a death on the battlefield, defeat and slaying—there's nothing more to say; Rosalind clearly knew her fate. But to use such despicable means against a hero is utterly repulsive.

Putting aside her stance, Rosalind did a great job. She never left the city she defended until the very end and did everything she could.

Su Mu is right; such a hero deserves respect.

Perhaps if there had been no war, Rosalind could have built a beautiful garden city, where elves would dance and the beauty of nature would be on display.

But now, all that remains is endless war and hatred, and neither side has a choice.

Liliana personally carried out the execution. Before Rosalind closed her eyes, she was shown a glimpse of the burning city. Amidst the crimson flames, she was lost in memories: "The flowers of my homeland have withered, just like these flames, everything is dying! We have no way out."

Then, with a swift stroke, Liliana handed the hero's head to Uri.

"Don't try anything funny, I'll be watching you!"

Uri obediently took the head, placed it into the cauldron, and absorbed the soul of the second hero.

Once Liliana had moved away a bit, he sneered inwardly, "We're all undead, what's with the pretense of nobility? If you want to respect her, why not just release her? She'll just end up in the cauldron anyway, becoming a treasure. How hypocritical!"

However, after he finished cursing, he fell into deep thought and looked at Su Mu, who had walked away, with a puzzled expression.

"Could it be that he knows dark magic can absorb the resentment of heroes? Is he doing this on purpose to guard against me?"

"That's impossible! I've never shown any magic in that area. He couldn't possibly have guessed it!"

As he pondered this, Uri began to become suspicious and started considering conspiracy theories.

In fact, Su Mu did have reasons to be wary of him, but he was mostly following his own heart.

The total of five and a half cartloads of boundary marker stones seized was already beyond expectations. There were even more raw stones, a full 180 portions; and over 40 portions of crystal, a rather good haul. Su Mu ordered the army to take the resources and retreat westward, leaving this area as soon as possible.

The firelight illuminated half of the Night King's face, while the rest remained hidden in the deep darkness.

He stood atop the blood-stained cliff, gazing at the endless grasslands, the ground littered with tattered banners and armor. No one knew what this man was thinking.

In this chaotic battle, there may be no winners; only the most steadfast and powerful will emerge victorious.

(End of this chapter)