Divine Seal: Infinitely stack Q, protecting light and reincarnation.

The Bloodblade Battalion's garrison was located in the northwest corner of the fortress, in an area of ​​low-lying stone houses.

We're very close to the city wall here, and we can clearly hear the footsteps of the soldiers patrolling on the wall and the distant, faint roars of the demons.

The second squad already had twenty people living in the stone house. With the addition of ten newcomers, thirty people were crammed onto the communal bed, almost shoulder to shoulder.

"Listen up, everyone."

Chen Ping stood in the center of the room, his voice not loud, but enough to silence everyone. "I am Chen Ping, the captain of the second squad, a fourth-tier warrior. You can call me Captain Chen."

"This is the Bloodblade Battalion, one of the infantry battalions with the highest casualty rates in the southeastern fortress. We are responsible for the defense of the city walls, raids and mopping-up operations, and the most dangerous night patrols."

He pointed to the weapons rack in the corner: "There are spare weapons there. If they break, you can replace them, but if you lose them, your pay will be deducted. If your leather armor is torn, you can ask the logistics department to replace it, but only if you come back alive."

"You ten new recruits will not participate in combat directly for the next two weeks."

Chen Ping's gaze swept over Lin Feng and the others. "Your mission is to serve as close bodyguards for the squad command, following me, the vice-captain, and the three squad leaders to familiarize yourselves with the battlefield and learn how to survive the demons' attacks."

Personal bodyguard.

It sounds safe, but it's not.

The squad command post is often located on the flank and rear of the most intense battle zone, where it must face not only scattered demons that may break through the defenses, but also demon sneak attacks and even the threat of area magic.

This is the fastest way to "force" new recruits to grow up – either they grow quickly under pressure or they die in fear.

"As for military merits, killing a second-tier demon is worth one point, a third-tier demon ten points, a fourth-tier demon one hundred points, and as for fifth-tier and above, I haven't even killed one, so don't even think about it!"

After briefly explaining how to obtain military merits, Chen Ping glanced at the ten new recruits and then left the stone house, returning to his residence.

He originally didn't want to talk about military merits, since it was very difficult for new recruits to earn them.

But what could he do when Qi Tian was in his team? After all, he was someone the higher-ups wanted him to keep a close eye on.

Qi Tian was very satisfied with this arrangement.

He needs to defeat the demons in blood and fire to increase his strength.

Entering the Bloodblade Camp allows one to observe the battlefield up close, understand the characteristics of the demon race and the army's combat methods, without being too conspicuous.

After all, the soldiers in the Bloodblade Camp are all reasonably strong.

The next day, Qi Tian and nine other new recruits followed Chen Ping up to the city wall.

The top of the southeast fortress wall is over fifty meters wide, resembling a winding dragon. From the demon's perspective, it is over a hundred meters high, truly a formidable pass.

The outer side has chest-high crenellations, while the inner side is a flat passage. Every hundred meters there is a tall tower, where magicians and magic cannons are stationed.

Behind the city wall was a huge platform where the high-ranking officials of the Southeast Fortress stood, including the Chief of the Army, the high-ranking officials of the Warrior Temple, and the commanders of the various temples supporting the Southeast Fortress.

Qi Tian felt immense pressure after just one glance.

Standing on the city wall and looking out, the view is breathtaking.

Beyond the fortress lay a scorched wasteland, repeatedly fought over. The land was blackish-red, barren, and riddled with craters, scorch marks, and the wreckage of broken weapons.

Further away, there was a hilly area shrouded in a light gray mist—the frontier of the demon-controlled territory. Occasionally, huge figures could be seen passing by in the gray mist, letting out chilling roars.

"Those are demon scouts, mostly low-level wolf demons, bat demons, and invisible earth demons."

Chen Ping pointed in the direction of the gray fog, "Don't underestimate them. They are fast and numerous. When the demons don't launch a large-scale attack, they often sneak under the cover of night to cause damage to the city walls."

"Your first task is to learn to distinguish their sounds and smells, and to save your lives in future night battles."

For the next week, Qi Tian and the others followed Chen Ping on patrols of the city wall, learning how to deal with and identify demons.

During this time, the demons also launched some attacks, but on a smaller scale. Qi Tian didn't kill many demons, but since it was his first time killing a second-tier demon, his inner spiritual power still increased by ten points.

However, you can only increase your inner spiritual power by one point for every hundred second-tier demons you kill.

However, for third-tier demons, there are ten of them.

During this time, Qi Tian also learned about the specific situation of the Blood Blade Camp.

The battalion commander is Qin Lie, a peak fifth-tier Battle Venerable. He was once a member of the Demon Hunter Corps, but retired due to injury and came to the front line to lead troops. He is extremely strict in disciplining his troops, and his rewards and punishments are clear. He has a very high reputation.

Qi Tian also noticed another person—the war supervisor Luo Gang, a high-ranking military officer sent by the Holy Temple Alliance, who possessed sixth-order strength.

This man always wore a neat military judge's uniform, patrolling the city walls with a blank expression, recording every battle and every oversight.

His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, and several times, Lin Feng felt his gaze linger on him.

After sensing this person's attention, Qi Tian knew that he was being watched, but he didn't care. After all, he was there to deal with the demons, not to cause trouble.

As time went by, the patrols continued. Among the new guards, three had already collapsed under the pressure and were transferred from the front lines to do menial tasks.

The two were injured by demonic magic while on night patrol, and one of them succumbed to his injuries.

The remaining five, including Lin Feng and Zhou Ming, gradually adapted to the rhythm of the battlefield. The initial fear faded from their eyes, replaced by a numb resilience.

Until the fifteenth day, the darkest hour before dawn.

Suddenly, the mournful sound of horns pierced the night sky, one after another, echoing from all parts of the city walls.

This horn sound was familiar to everyone in the Southeast Fortress; it was a warning signal for the demons' all-out attack.

"Enemy attack—! The main force of the Demon race is besieging the city—!"

After several roars rang out, the entire Southeast Fortress came to life instantly.

Countless soldiers poured out of the barracks and rushed toward the city wall.

Countless magical weapons also began to charge, waiting for their full-force attack.

Qi Tian followed Chen Ping up the city wall and looked into the distance.

The sight before them was enough to terrify even seasoned warriors.

A massive, dark mass of demons surged toward the southeastern fortress like a tidal wave, numbering over a million.

The demons at the forefront are the most common and numerous dual-wielding demons, followed by inferior demons and evil spirits.

These are all second- or third-tier demons, used to deplete the magical weapons and magical energy of the mages in the Southeast Fortress. They don't play a significant role, but we still have to be wary of them.

Following these ordinary demons are mid-level demons such as the Demon Eye Sorcerer, the Emerald Twin Blade Demon, the Mid-Rank Evil Spirit, and the Rook Clan.

Finally, there was the fifty-sixth demon god of the demon race, the evil spirit demon god Gremory, and his subordinates, who were stationed at the southeastern fortress.

As the demon army moved, the human race also made its move.