Knight Lords: Infinite Simulation and the Path of Light

Chapter 239: Iron Torrent
The biting wind, carrying ice pellets, lashed my face like tiny whips.

Haven followed closely behind his father, navigating the maze-like passages within the second line of defense. The slight embarrassment of his fall on his backside was long forgotten, replaced by a heavy, powerful pounding in his chest, each beat carrying a chilling excitement and an indescribable tension.

The air was filled with the smells of rust, sweat, and leather, along with a faint, diluted stench of blood in the cold wind.

The atmosphere in the operations room was completely different from that in the command room where the father and son had just sparred. Huge maps of the Northern Territory and the Arma Defense Line hung on the cold stone walls, and a pale light was cast by a magic crystal lamp.

Senior Strategist Quinn was bent over on a sand table representing the "Skullcrusher Pass" area, his brow furrowed. Several messengers stood solemnly to his side, still covered in unmelted snow and breathing heavily.

"Your Majesty the Marquis!"

Quinn looked up, saw Kevin, and immediately pointed to a narrow pass model on the sand table.

"The scouts confirmed that the wolf banners of the Blade Fang Clan have appeared on the north slope of the pass, numbering about two thousand men. They are moving very stealthily, using the cover of the wind and snow to try to bypass the observation range of our forward eighth watchtower."

Kevin strode to the sand table, his gaze sharp as a hawk's:
"Two thousand-man squads? Baki's scrambled wolf cubs... They're not the main attackers, they're scouts and clearing obstacles."

There's definitely a big fish coming. The pass is narrow; what are they planning? To find out the weaknesses in the eighth watchtower's defenses? Or... to pave a path for the heavy infantry behind them, avoiding our main firepower?

Kevin's fingers traced the steep mountain walls on either side of the pass.

"Quinn, order the Eighth Watchtower to increase its vigilance, activate all hidden sentries. Have the 'Eagle Eye' mage squad activate the high-altitude detection array and keep a close watch on them!"

Additionally, notify the White Lion Rangers' 100-man unit to infiltrate the cedar forest on the flank and ascertain their intentions and follow-up forces. Remember, do not engage in battle, only scout!

"Yes!"

Quinn immediately turned and gave a series of instructions to the messenger.

Haven stood behind his father, watching Kevin's every move. He said that although he had experienced some wars, this was the first time he had faced orcs directly.

Kevin seemed to sense his son's gaze and said without turning his head:

"You brat, take this carefully. War is not a sand table simulation; things can change in an instant."

Every move the enemy makes may conceal a venomous fang. The appearance of the Blade Fang means that the main force of the orcs has likely already assembled somewhere nearby that we haven't yet seen, ready to pounce on any defensive line they deem vulnerable.

"Let's go, I'll take you to the front lines to see what kind of enemies we've been facing all these years. I'll leave this place to you, Quinn, make sure everything runs smoothly."

"Understood, Your Excellency! Please be careful!"

Quinn solemnly obeyed.

Kevin grabbed the heavy cloak hanging on the wall and tossed Havet a steel breastplate lined with enchanted fur.

"Put them on! There are no marquises or young masters on the battlefield, only soldiers! Kubasi, your men stay behind to rest and replenish supplies, you stay with my son."

"As ordered!"

Captain Kubasi responded in a deep voice and quickly fastened the clasp on Havent's breastplate. The cold metal against his skin carried the heavy weight of death.

As we passed through the heavy gate again, a blizzard hit us instantly, several times more intense than the one we had experienced inside the second defensive line.

When Havent stepped onto the city wall passage of the first line of defense, the height and field of vision here were much wider, which also meant facing the bitter cold of the ice field and the threat of the orcs more directly.

The sight before him made Haven hold his breath instantly.

Beyond the city walls lies a vast, white, deathly snowfield.

But at this moment, this white expanse is being eroded by a writhing, roaring torrent of black. As far as the eye can see, countless orcs, like migrating ants, are howling and pushing, slowly pressing towards the city walls.

"Woo~wu~wu~"

The deep, oppressive sound of orc horns rang out again, like the dying gasps of a giant beast, piercing through the wind and snow and striking the hearts of everyone.

"coming."

Kevin's voice was exceptionally clear in the howling wind. With a cold composure, he raised a monocular magic telescope and carefully observed the orc formation.

"As expected, a probing attack. The main force consists of gnolls and warboars, followed by a small number of tiger-men overseeing the attack. We didn't see any behemoths, no half-dragons, and even the siege equipment consisted of only a few rudimentary ladders... Ha, do they intend to use these cannon fodder to exhaust our arrows, oil, and soldiers' stamina?"

Haven also squinted at the sight, just like his father.

From a distance, the orcs appeared as blurry black dots, but their primal, wild battle cries combined to form a chilling sound wave that subtly assaulted the eardrums even from this distance.

The soldiers on the city walls were already on high alert, gripping their weapons tightly and staring intently at the approaching black tide.

The veterans, who had experienced numerous battles, had solemn and resolute expressions, while the new recruits, who were rotating in, had pale faces and their hands, which were holding spears or bows and arrows, trembled slightly, but no one backed down.

The cold, gleaming ballistae whistled, and the massive trebuchet winches tightened with a sickening creak. Archers placed their quivers within easy reach at their feet, fingers on the bowstrings, the arrows gleaming with a deathly light in the snow.

"Archers, prepare! Elevation fifty degrees! Covert fire ready!"

The commander in charge of this section of the wall, a centurion with a scar on his face, roared at the top of his lungs.

The atmosphere froze to the extreme, with only the sound of the wind and the increasingly close howls of the orcs remaining.

"Father……"

Haver opened his mouth instinctively, his voice a little hoarse. This was the first time he had ever felt the terrifying pressure of war so vividly; the overwhelming sense of oppression was almost suffocating.

Kevin lowered the binoculars and glanced at his son. There was some tension in Haven's eyes, but more than that, there was a determined and resolute composure.

“Remember, lad. Fear is normal, but don’t let it take your mind and your sword. They are the enemy, and if you don’t kill them, they will tear your homeland apart. To defend this place is to defend the Kuban’s school, the He-Man’s trade routes, and the farms and workshops you have in your plans.”

"put--!"

The centurion's roar was like a thunderclap!

Om-!
Thousands of powerful bows trembled simultaneously, the vibrations of the bowstrings converging into a deep and deadly thunder that instantly drowned out the wind, snow, and the howls of the orcs!

Haven looked in the direction the arrow had flown.

Suddenly, a dark cloud of death, composed of steel arrowheads, rose into the sky, dense and overwhelming! With a sharp, piercing sound, they swept across the gray sky like a torrential downpour of divine punishment, crashing down on the charging orc vanguard with relentless gravitational acceleration!

Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff—!

The dense, chilling sounds of flesh being pierced and screams of agony instantly replaced the orcs' battle cries! The cannon fodder array that had been howling and charging just moments before was now being swept away as if by an invisible giant scythe!

The gnolls and boarmen at the forefront were the first to be hit.

Their tattered shields, pieced together from leather and wood, were as fragile as paper before the armor-piercing arrows forged from fine steel! The arrows easily pierced the shields, tore through the leather armor, and penetrated deep into their flesh! Blood splattered and stained the pristine snow like ink, quickly forming large, shocking patches of reddish-brown stains! One second the gnolls were ferocious-looking, the next they were corpses riddled with arrows, twisted and lying on the ground, or sitting ducks, struggling in vain.

The thick-skinned boar-men fared slightly better, but only slightly. Sharp arrows could still tear through their relatively tough skin and muscles, sending up puffs of blood mist. Their heavy bodies, struck by arrows, emitted painful howls, their charge abruptly halted. Many rolled to the ground, trampled by their surging companions, instantly turning the snowfield into a "flowerbed" of severed limbs, shattered organs, and dying cries.

This extremely bloody massacre scene is more impactful than any sand table simulation or story description. The strong smell of blood mixed with the stench of ruptured internal organs is carried by the cold wind to the top of the city wall and directly into the nostrils.

However, the orcs' ferocity and madness far exceeded expectations! Death and bloodshed did not deter them; instead, they ignited the bloodlust and savagery within them. The cries of their comrades and the falling corpses became the most savage war drums!
"Waaagh!!!!!"

A primal war cry, more frenzied and deafening than before, seemingly tearing apart the soul, erupted from the orc ranks like a volcano! It instantly drowned out the cries of the wounded and the whistling of arrows!

The orcs that followed, stepping over the still-warm corpses and pools of sticky blood of their comrades, their eyes turned bloodshot, saliva mixed with blood dripping from between their fangs! They continued their charge with even greater speed, with a more frenzied attitude, completely disregarding their own casualties.

The gnolls braved the sparse rain of arrows, even using their bodies to withstand them, all to get closer to the city walls! The tiger-men overseeing the battle roared, hacking down any cowards who tried to retreat with their battle axes, driving their cannon fodder to fill the path to the city walls with their lives!
"Ballast guns, prepare! Aim at the rear guard and those carrying ladders. Free fire."

Kevin's cold command was instantly issued via the magical communication device.

collapse!collapse!collapse!
From several specially thickened and reinforced firing ports in the middle section of the city wall, the massive ballistae emitted a deep and terrifying roar! Heavy crossbow bolts, as thick as a bowl and nearly three meters long, were wrapped in a faint magical glow. Like the javelin of death, they tore through the air, emitting a shrill shriek that made one's teeth ache, and were fiercely fired at the relatively conspicuous targets in the orc ranks: the tiger-men wielding battle axes and supervising the battle, and the squads of war-pigmen carrying wooden ladders!

Boom! Snap!

A tall tiger-man overlord, who was hacking away at retreating gnolls, was struck in the upper body by a heavy crossbow bolt, instantly triggering the explosive runes within. With a muffled explosion, the tiger-man overlord's massive upper body exploded like a ripe watermelon, scattering chunks of flesh and broken bone armor in all directions, drenching several gnolls nearby.

A makeshift ladder, carried by several war pigmen, was struck precisely at its joint by another crossbow bolt. Wood chips flew everywhere, and the ladder instantly disintegrated. The heavy timbers crashed down, crushing the war pigmen below, causing them to break bones and scream in agony.

The precise and deadly strike finally halted the orcs' frenzied charge, causing a moment of chaos. But the sheer number of cannon fodder was overwhelming! Like an endless tide, one wave fell, only to be replaced by another! The corpses piled higher and higher beneath the city walls!
"Prepare boiling oil and torches!"

The centurion roared again.

The soldiers, already prepared, swiftly lifted the heavy insulated lid covering the enormous iron cauldron. Scalding hot, viscous, black liquid, emitting a pungent odor, poured from the spout! Below the city walls, an even more piercing, inhuman scream echoed once more! It was "Fire Oil," mixed with alchemical ingredients provided by Fiona—viscous, easily adhering, extremely hot, and difficult to extinguish!

The archers on the city wall immediately fired down the lit fire arrows!

boom--!
A wall of fire instantly shot into the sky from the base of the city wall! The viscous black oil burned fiercely, crackling and popping! The scalding oil and flames rained down on the orcs below!

"what--!!!"

The orcs, doused in boiling oil, let out desperate screams as their flesh was instantly scalded, blistered, and charred! Their makeshift leather armor melted and clung to their flesh! The flames, like maggots clinging to bones, frantically licked at their bodies! Countless orcs writhed and howled in extreme agony, the air thick with the nauseating stench of burning flesh! Corpses rapidly piled up and burned beneath the city walls, forming a terrifying slope of charred carcasses and flames!

"Damn it! They're going to climb up over corpses!"

Kubasi, with his extensive experience, immediately saw through the orcs' intentions!

Sure enough, the following orcs, especially the strong bear-men and tiger-men warriors whose ferocity had been unleashed, fearlessly stepped over the scalded, even still-burning, corpses of their comrades, and struggled to scale the city walls with crude ladders and grappling hooks! The cannon fodder's mission was complete—they paved the way to the city walls with their lives!

"Spearmen! Hold on! Pierce them down!"

"Axemen! Chop the ladders! Chop the ropes!"

"Roll logs! Rocks! Throw them at me!!!"

The defenders on the city wall roared in fury! The real hand-to-hand combat had begun!

The sounds of steel clashing with flesh and blood, the dull thud of blades piercing bone, the screams of the dying, the roars of berserkers, the whooshing of falling logs... all these sounds mingled together, playing a primal, cruel, and magnificent war symphony amidst the howling wind and snow!

Havent's location was near a battlement.

A bear-man warrior, charred black and reeking of burnt flesh, yet still incredibly ferocious, somehow managed to climb halfway up the city wall using only brute force, withstanding two protruding spears! His hideous bear face was covered in blisters, one eye was burned out, and his remaining eye flashed with a crazed red light. His massive bear paw, carrying a foul stench, reached for a young, pale-faced recruit beside him!

"careful!"

Haven drew his sword almost instinctively! His body moved faster than his mind.

laugh--!
A flash of cold light! Haven's longsword pierced precisely into the bear-man warrior's gaping throat, which was gaping open in fury. Warm, pungent, and foul-smelling beast blood gushed out, splattering half of Haven's body and face!
The bear-man warrior's movements came to an abrupt halt. The madness in his single eye froze and dimmed instantly. His massive body swayed, and with an expression of disbelief, he crashed heavily backward off the city wall, landing on the burning pile of corpses below.

Haven stood there, gripping his blood-dripping longsword. Warm animal blood, carrying a strong smell of rust and stench, streamed down his face.

"Well done, kid!"

A blood-soaked veteran with half an ear missing used his shield to shove aside another gnoll trying to climb up and roared at Havent.

"Don't stand still! This is a battlefield! It's either kill or die!"

The veteran's words were like ice water poured over his head, instantly snapping Haven out of his brief daze.

Fierce fighting was taking place throughout the city walls! Soldiers fell to the ground, struck by orcish axes and bone arrows, while orcs who tried to climb up were hacked down and pushed aside. The roars of battle, the screams of the dying, and the clashing of weapons filled the air!

This is... the real war!

Haven wiped the blood off his face and roared as he drew his sword and joined the battle!
Using their agility and superior swordsmanship, and under the cover of the battlements and shield walls, they worked with the veterans around them to continuously stab, parry, and slash at the orcs trying to climb up.

As the military commander, Marquis Hailan did not directly participate in the fighting. Instead, he stood like a rock in the relatively safe rear command post, his eyes sharp as he surveyed the chaotic battlefield. When he saw his son charging forward with his longsword, he couldn't help but chuckle.

At this moment, another change occurred!
Boom!

A deafening roar, accompanied by a violent tremor, came from a section of the right flank of the city wall! It was more powerful than any previous explosion! A thick plume of black smoke, mixed with rubble and dust, shot into the sky!

"what happened?!"

Kevin and Haven were both shocked!

"My lord! It's...it's that section of the city wall that was blown up last time and just repaired! The third section on the left flank! The orcs...the orcs used that unknown method to blow it up again!"

A messenger covered in blood stumbled in to report, his voice filled with fear.

"The gap... the gap is bigger than last time! It's seven or eight meters wide! Orcs... orcs are charging in like madmen!"

Kevin's face instantly turned ashen! The same method, the same location! This was no coincidence! The orcs' previous probing attack, besides attrition, had a more important purpose: to confirm the effectiveness of this explosive tactic and the weaknesses in the city's defenses! They succeeded!
"White Lion!!!"

Kevin's roar was like thunder, instantly drowning out the noise on the battlefield! The lion head emblem on his waist, symbolizing the White Lion Construct Knights, burst forth with dazzling light!

"exist!!!"

The White Lion Knights, already assembled and waiting in the rear, clad in the latest magic-patterned armor, roared in unison! A thousand knights, along with their heavily armored warhorses, instantly unleashed a terrifying aura like a landslide and a tsunami! The cold armor gleamed in the dim light, like a torrent of steel!
"Target! The gap on the left flank of the third section!"

Kevin pointed his sword directly at the rising smoke, his voice resolute and unwavering, carrying an undeniable chilling authority.
"Crush those scum who rushed in! Leave no one alive! Seal the breach!"

"For the Empire! For the North! White Lion—Charge!!!"

"Roar--!!!"

Amidst a deafening roar, a thousand white lion knights, like arrows released from a bow, led by their chief knight, transformed into an indestructible torrent of steel, crushing the ice and blood on the ground, and with an all-consuming force, surged toward the enormous gaping hole that devoured life.

(End of this chapter)