For a while the focus of the war shifted towards the southern side. Dream Avenue was free to place more support there, making life difficult for the mercenaries. And yet tension was high as everyone knew that Galaxy was about to make a new move any second now.
Shorty waited patiently for five minutes until the dead players revived. He listened to their reports, keeping every detail in mind. After that was done, he swiped his eyes over all the players. Seeing a lot of doubt and anxiousness on their faces, Shorty knew that he had to instil confidence.
"Spiked Pen. It's time to play your trump card."
"Now? We originally planned to wait until the walls are down to cause chaos in the town."
"No. Now is the right time."
Spiked Pen frowned. He had already lost some trust in the strategist's capabilities. However, they were already riding the tiger and couldn't get off anymore. They might as well see it through to the end now.
"Ok. Go ahead."
With that Spiked Pen sent out a mental command. A second later a buzzing sound could be heard, and a shadow fell on the players. Everyone looked towards the sky and discovered a massive locust with a bulging body and a black and green carapace consisting of impenetrable, thick plates. Immediately the fire reignited in the eyes of Galaxy's members.
Back in Greypine Town Dream Avenue was still dealing with the mercenaries. But they remained vigilant, knowing that a threat could arrive any second now. And indeed, a minute later two thick beams of green light shot into the sky in the east and the west.
"New enemies!"
"Keep your eyes open! They might try a stealthy advance again!"
Immediately an incessant buzzing noise spread through the battlefield, sending shivers down everyone's spines. The mist began to churn. It didn't take long for dense, black clouds to fly out of the mist, aiming right for the town. Everyone felt their stomachs sink.
"I don't think they are trying to be stealthy this time…"
"Well, no sh*t!"
"It's a locust swarm!"
"Eww, so many insects!"
"No need to panic guys, they are only level 5 monsters."
"Yeah, but there are thousands. Even if each monster only deals one point of damage, it will still amount to a lot!"
The locust swarm flew incredibly fast. They formed black walls towards the west and the east, putting the town in a pincer attack, looking as if they were about to crush the defenders between them.
"We need something to hold them back!"
"Do we have some meteor spell? Burn them all to ashes!"
While the players and NPCs revealed their anxiousness, the higher-ups had already finished discussing. They determined that this should be Galaxy's trump card and decided on the appropriate countermeasure.
Cyclone grinned. She was glad that the guild was well prepared for the guild war. She even suspected that Liam had known what Galaxy was planning, or else why would their recruited NPC be this suitable for the task? But Liam insisted that it was a coincidence.
"Well, doesn't matter…"
The guild leader murmured to herself while giving a signal to Zeuerch. The Arachne had been sticking to Greypine Tower upside down, dosing off. Suddenly he awoke with a start, his eyes focusing on the locust swarm in the distance. He licked his lips before getting to work.
Zeuerch shook his butt and a sticky web shot out, sticking to the top of Greypine Tower. Next, he moved his legs, walking through the air as if it was solid ground, reaching the western end of the town in seconds. Behind him was a long string, which transformed into an extensive web by itself, covering little more than half of the town, supporting itself on the few towers without falling to the ground.
At first the players below the web felt relieved but then they noticed something. The large web had such big holes that it was impossible to catch all the locusts. They were just about to discuss this problem, but it was already too late as the dark swarm descended upon the town.
"Get ready! Kill as many as you can!"
"Don't forget about the mercenaries outside!"
"Ahh, so many disgusting insects!"
Immediately there was chaos. On the eastern side of the town, the locusts invaded freely, attacking the defenders from all sides. They found it incredibly difficult to deal with the insects. Although they were weak, their speed was not low. The mages could take out large swaths of the locusts, but they also had to keep an eye on the army outside.
Meanwhile the situation on the western side was completely different. The players got ready to fight for their lives but when the Dark Swarm descended, it immediately got stuck in the web. It didn't matter if the locusts tried to slip through the holes. An invisible force held them in place ignoring their struggles. It was as if a dark carpet covered the sky above the players' heads.
And on this black carpet Zeuerch raced left and right. Wherever he passed all the locusts ended up in his mouth. It was like an insatiable black hole.
[Callida: Move, move, move! Defend the east!]
Even Callida was surprised by the Arachne's effectiveness for a moment. But her order quickly came through, waking all the players and NPCs up. The troops were rearranged, improving the defence towards the east and the south. This alleviated a lot of pressure and allowed the alliance to slowly but surely deal with all the locusts.
Just as the situation seemed to be solved, a sharp-eyed hunter discovered something:
"There are players within the locust swarm! They are trying to climb the walls!"
The defenders were surprised. Even Callida hadn't anticipated this move. However, she was still confident. With the bulk of the army concentrated towards the south and the east a few players couldn't make a difference.
Yet what she didn't expect was that the few players were actually eight hundred people, four hundred on each side. In the east the player managed to reach the wall due to the cover of the locust swarm and swiftly climbed up, causing chaos among the defending army. Their goal wasn't to conquer a core but instead it was to accumulate points to killing which, assisted by the locust swarm, was indeed effective.
Galaxy's points were rising again, putting pressure on Dream Avenue. They were forced to burn some precious spells. Lekraxc's spell was off cooldown again and giant water fists landed among the mercenaries, destroying another catapult. Simultaneously a powerful wind-attributed spell raged among the locust swarm, decimating the insects.
Meanwhile the team of Galaxy's players attacking from the west were dumbfounded. They watched as the locust swarm got caught in a gigantic spider web. However, they swiftly adjusted their minds. Thanks to the locust swarm they had already reached the walls. Even though the insects were met with their natural enemy, this couldn't stop the players.
"Don't stand there in a daze! Quick, throw the hooks! Get ready to climb! Move, move, move!"
Urgent orders spread among the players. Those in the lead finally acted. Thirty hooks sailed through the air and found something to cling to at the top of the wall. Galaxy's players were ecstatic. Since Dream Avenue had pulled away the players stationed in the west, there was no one to block their path or destroy the hooks. This was their time to shine!
A thief belonging to TwinThieves took the lead. With great agility he jumped and grabbed onto the rope attached to the hook. He raised his right hand and pulled himself up on the rope. But suddenly something tore on his clothes. He found himself stuck as the clothes on his back were glued to the town wall.
"What is this… no, no, no."
The thief wasn't the only one experiencing troubles. All the players hanging to the ropes got stuck as soon as any part of their bodies touched the wall. Those still standing on the ground got an ominous promotion. It seemed that although the spider web didn't cover the wall densly, its effect still extended to the ground.
Now the first players to climb the wall were caught like flies, literally struggling in the web. Some tried to pull their clothes away, only to touch the wall with their hands and getting even more stuck.
"Let's try attacking the wall! Perhaps we can break the spell!"
Someone soon came up with a possible countermeasure. Swords, arrows, and magic struck the wall, but it had no effect on the trapped players.
"Damn!"
The thief who first tried climbing the wall was still struggling. He was just about to try one of his escape skills when he suddenly noticed a shadow looming over him. He rigidly raised his head and was stared at the four-eyed monster which had appeared above his head.
"Hehe, how tasty. Way better than these measly locusts."
Zeuerch's grim chuckle sent chills down everyone's spines. They watched in horror as the Arachne opened his mouth unnaturally wide like a creature straight out of a nightmare.
"AHH!"
Only the thief's terrified cry rang out as Zeuerch swallowed his body whole. Fortunately for him, the thief was sent to a graveyard nearby just before he was fully devoured, protecting his sanity.