Chapter 403: Battle of Garrison Fort
"I heard the Kingdom of Catemia has been destroyed by the Demon King's army. Is it true?"
"Of course it's true. No way it's fake."
"According to the Temple's information, the Demon King's army is attacking the Kingdom of Armenia and the Dragon Kingdom!"
"Any news from the Duke?"
Everyone turned to look at Mors.
Mors was the lord of Garrison Fort.
If anything happened here, the Duke would surely know.
Even if there was news, it would be conveyed only to Earl Mors.
Facing everyone's gaze, Mors nodded.
"The Demons are launching a massive invasion, sweeping through the northern countries in just a month. A few days ago, the Duke sent a message instructing us to hold Garrison Fort and defend the western border of the principality."
"So all our preparations over the past year were for nothing?"
"Not exactly. We've just postponed things."
"Easy for you to say! Maintaining an army isn't cheap!"
"Let's all go home for now. We'll talk again once the northern war settles."
"The Demons are coming in strong. The Duke might conscript troops nationwide!"
"It hasn't gotten that bad yet. The Principality of Irisis is at the southern tip of the Southern Continent, far from the north!"
"Humanity is one body. Some things you can't run from."
"True. If the northern kingdoms fall, the Principality of Irisis won't escape doom either."
"Earl Mors, what do you think?"
Everyone looked again at Earl Mors.
After some contemplation, Mors lifted his head and looked around.
"The Ogre Mountains have been unstable lately. I fear something might happen. Personally, I hope you lords can station your troops at Garrison Fort for three months. Of course, provisions and salaries during this period will be my responsibility!"
The lords exchanged looks.
Three months wasn't long.
And with Mors covering the costs, they could afford to do him this favor.
"Alright, I have no objections."
"Fine, let's do it."
"If the Duke conscripts nationwide, we won't have to recruit separately."
"Report! Report!"
Suddenly, urgent shouting came from outside.
A soldier in armor rushed into the hall.
He half-knelt, saluting.
"My lord, urgent military report! A large fleet of airships has appeared over the Ogre Mountains outside the high wall! They are approaching Garrison Fort!"
"What?"
Mors was shocked and immediately stood up.
He had received traces of airship activity over the Ogre Mountains long ago.
He thought they were just passing adventurers.
Maybe the Adventurer's Guild had opened a new route.
But now, with a fleet approaching directly, it was clearly hostile.
"Report! Report!"
Another soldier rushed in.
"My lord, scouts report a goblin army, over three hundred thousand strong, stretching tens of kilometers, occupying every inch of Wind Valley, advancing toward Garrison Fort!"
Hearing this, Mors and the lords' faces changed dramatically.
Over three hundred thousand goblins coming straight for them?
Everyone turned to Mors.
Mors headed outside.
"You may leave, but your armies must stay!"
With that, Mors donned his helmet and strode out in full armor.
Garrison Fort, high walls.
Afternoon, the sun gradually setting.
Less than twenty kilometers from the high wall, in the skies above Wind Valley, a fleet appeared.
White sails formed a vast white cloud.
Dozens of airships covered the sky.
Nearly fifty airships slowly flew over Wind Valley.
At the valley's end stood the towering walls of Garrison Fort.
"Humans! Haha, we're almost there!"
On the decks, goblins cheered excitedly.
Goblins crowded at the rails, peering ahead.
On one ship's deck, a massive goblin warrior stood at the prow.
Gobu Hui estimated the distance.
"We're close enough!"
Gobu Hui grinned and shouted,
"Boys, form a firing line!"
The lookout quickly blew the horn.
Urgent horn blasts rang out.
The fleet split into two lines, forming a horizontal firing formation.
All airships pointed their broadsides at the high walls five kilometers away.
"What are those airships doing?"
The human soldiers on the walls noticed the change.
The airships lined up side by side, stretching for miles.
"Haha, boys, fire at will! Empty the magazines! Open fire!"
Gobu Hui laughed fiercely and gave the order.
"Boom!"
The flagship fired first.
The broadsides' magic cannons roared, spitting fire.
"Boom!"
Other ships followed.
From the walls, soldiers saw distant flashes.
Seconds later, shrieking shells screamed in.
"Boom!"
Explosions rocked the walls.
Mushroom clouds of fire rose outside the walls.
The walls shattered under bombardment, leaving giant craters.
Some shells hit directly atop the walls,
Blasting fire and shockwaves that engulfed soldiers.
Bodies flew from the walls, falling inside and outside the city.
Screams filled the air.
Some shells even fell inside the city.
Mushroom clouds of fire erupted in the neighborhoods near the walls.
Buildings were destroyed, fires raging.
"What happened?!"
"Magic attack?!"
"How can they hit from so far?!"
The intense bombardment threw the soldiers into chaos.
They barely understood: flash—then scream—then explosion.
"Iron balls! They're firing iron balls!"
High-level professionals saw the shells clearly.
Iron balls rained from the sky,
Exploding on impact.
"Fight back! We must shoot down the airships!"
"Impossible! They're too far!"
The fleet was five kilometers out.
Way beyond normal magic range.
Only imperial or divine magic could reach.
"All mages, prepare the spell—Flame Sun Wheel!"
Suddenly, a commanding voice rang out.
A middle-aged mage in a fiery red robe raised his staff.
Above his head, a giant fiery magic circle formed.
"That's Archmage Alaid!"
Someone recognized the figure.
Soldiers and mages alike looked at him with reverence.
A Saint-ranked Fire Archmage,
The only Saint-level mage at Garrison Fort.
"All mages, assist Archmage Alaid!"
"Yes!"
The mages dropped their barriers.
Waves of magic energy flowed into the giant circle.
A massive fire ring, thirty meters wide, spun rapidly within.
In an instant, the ring shot out at the fleet.
The circle disappeared as the ring launched.
Alaid stood motionless, supported by other mages' barriers.
"Something's coming, boss!"
The fire ring raced across the sky like a fiery shooting star.
"Boys, water element shields up!"
Gobu Hui shouted back.
Horns blared.
Water-blue shields shimmered around the airships.
"They have magic shields?!"
The human soldiers gasped.
"Boom!"
The fire ring crashed into a ship's shield.
A massive shockwave swept out.
The fire ring fiercely cut into the shield.
In less than three seconds, the water shield shattered.
The fire ring slammed into the ship,
Slicing it clean in half.
The burning wreckage fell.
"Yes!"
The soldiers on the wall cheered.
The fire ring didn't stop.
It turned and attacked another ship.
The second ship's shield rippled violently.
"It's breaking!"
Panic spread among the goblins.
The second shield tore apart.
Another airship was cut down,
Wreckage raining from the sky.
The fire ring dimmed noticeably,
Turned to strike again,
But this time dissipated against the shield.
On the distant wall,
Alaid staggered back, pale, leaning on his staff.
"Damn humans! Bomb them to hell!"
Gobu Hui roared furiously.
The fleet's cannonade grew even fiercer.
Garrison Fort's walls crumbled under fire.
"Retreat! Fall back to the inner city!"
The massive bombardment devastated the defenders.
Blood soaked the walls.
Mors, arriving at the scene, saw hell itself.
He immediately ordered a retreat.
"Retreat! Fall back!"
Mors' command sent the survivors fleeing.
"Holy Shield Block!"
Mors summoned a radiant barrier,
Just in time to intercept a cannonball.
The blast knocked him back several meters.
"What are these weapons?!"
Mors looked in horror at the airships.
The explosive iron balls were stronger than high-level war magic,
Firing from unbelievable distances,
And striking like a deadly rain.
Meanwhile, atop a distant mountain.
Li Meng sat leisurely at a stone table.
Xiao Bai served him at his side.
The table was laden with fruits and food.
"Boss, aren't you going to act?"
Annie asked, happily munching on a drumstick.
A mere human fortress. Boss could crush it with a finger.
Li Meng smiled and tore into a drumstick himself.
Since taking human form, his tastes had become more human too.
"No need. Let my boys handle it."
Annie glanced at the distant walls.
"Boss, the humans are retreating!"
"Good. Time for the next phase!"
"Next phase? What is it?"
"Watch and see."
As Li Meng finished speaking, horns echoed from the valley.
A second airship fleet appeared.
Dozens of airships,
Decks packed with goblins and ogres, no cannons.
Flying low, they quickly moved into Wind Valley.
Closing on the high walls unopposed.
The transport fleet docked skillfully atop the high walls.