Cyclone was positioned on the wall staring solemnly at the charging army. Throughout the territory challenge the mercenary army had attracted a part of Dream Avenue's attention. They fought in a forth and back. In terms of soldiers killed, Dream Avenue held the big advantage but the mercenaries were also close to their goal of making it through the town wall.
As the war went on, Cyclone soon came to consider the mercenary army bait, a smokescreen used to hide the real lethal attacks like the invisible army. And she was not alone with this assumption. But now the situation suddenly changed, and Galaxy attacked in full force from the south. The bait had become the main weapon. Was this a strategy from the start? Or was it a spontaneous change? Whatever it was, Cyclone had to admit that the enemy's commander couldn't be underestimated, possessing clever wit and versatility.
But this was only the beginning. Dream Avenue's players watched as the charging enemies caught up with the weakened mercenary army, filling the gaps. Fierce attacks were exchanged between the guilds as the attacking army finally had strong artillery fire in the form of mages. Just as the defenders were feeling the mounting pressure, the attackers revealed another move.
Shorty wore a bright grin as he raised the scroll in his hands. The guild leaders watched curiously. A magic circle formed in the sky, immediately staring to absorb vast amounts of mana. After three seconds the spell was ready. The magic circle created fiery sparks which danced through the air like little fireflies, creating a dreamy scene above the battlefield.
The sparks slowly sank to the ground, settling on the bodies of Galaxy's soldiers. They didn't hurt. Instead, they unleashed a mysterious force which drove into the soldiers, providing them with seemingly unlimited energy. Their blood began boiling and each of their cells were brimming with life. They felt as if they could run ten marathons. In terms of attributes, their STR and AGI rose considerably.
Silken, Sevrance, and the other leaders glanced at their strategist. It seemed he really considered everything from the beginning. The spell Shorty just used was less effective on mages and perhaps this was the reason why he insisted on these particular mercenaries, who didn't have any mages in their formation.
On the other side Balm, Callida, and them didn't have time to think about this. When the army right outside their doors received such a considerable buff they were stifled from the oppressive might. The mercenaries at the front had already been tanky enough in their sturdy, silver armours. But now they were like blocks of metal, almost impossible to penetrate. Under Shorty's command they protected the few siege weapons they had left with their bodies, forming walls around them.
[Callida: Mages, attack the battering ram! Don't let them destroy the wall!]
[Callida: Rangers, hunter, focus the enemy mages!]
[Callida: Show some courage! Don't hide behind battlements all day! Let the healers do their work!]
[Callida: Earthquake, get ready to form a defence line within the town!]
Callida was stressed out, micro-managing the players. She had a frown on her face as she watched the enemies striking the walls. The defensive structure didn't have a lot of HP left. Callida could already tell that they wouldn't be able to hold on. Only a glance at the score brought her some relief. Since the full-scale assault, the point gain of both guilds was relatively even, which was in Dream Avenue's favour as long as Galaxy couldn't conquer any cores.
"Don't falter!"
"Charge! Charge! Charge!"
"Catapult… fire!"
Their bodies brimming with energy, the attackers outside the wall shouted fiercely, only knowing how to push forward. Although Dream Avenue was in an advantageous position on top of the walls, this was made up for by the boost coming from Shorty's spell. Flames, ice, wind, arrows, bolts, and more filled the air. The mages from Nest of Flames were eager to prove themselves, unleashing everything they got. Galaxy's ranged players wanted to see their guild at the top, retaliating in kind. The battle was intense, the atmosphere ferocious. Another catapult broke down.
And yet Callida couldn't celebrate. She focused on one of the wall segments and her heart grew heavy.
[Basic Town Wall
Category: Special
HP: 12.000/5.000.000]
Twelve thousand HP was not enough. As Galaxy placed their focus on this segment, it would at most survive half a minute longer. Callida had no choice but to give a difficult order.
[Callida: Everyone on segment 4, evacuate! Disperse between segments one to five!]
The order came as a shock to many. Giving up the segment meant that Galaxy would soon be able to invade the town. The players were unwilling. Dream Avenue's members recalled the scene of the breached wall during the territory war. Their hearts beat wildly, and some players slowly took out the few scrolls and bombs they had.
Liam was again standing next to Callida. He observed these subtle actions and couldn't help but feel touched. Yet he quickly told Cyclone to stop them.
[Cyclone: I appreciate your sentiment! Thank you! But the situation is not that dire yet! Conserve your strength and follow orders, please!]
The players fortunately trusted their guild leaders. They put the consumables away and subsequently evacuated segment 4. The attackers observed the movements, and their fervour reached a new peak.
"Haha, they are running away!"
"Brothers, our time has come!"
"Tear down the wall!"
"Galaxy! Galaxy!"
The shouts grew louder, turning into waves which weighed heavily on the hearts of the defenders. Yet there was nothing they could do. There was one last catapult still standing, which delivered the final strike to the wall.
Boom!
Segment 4 lost its last bit of HP. The basic wall couldn't hold on anymore. It crumbled, spreading dust and splinters in all directions. A breach large enough for ten players to pass abreast had formed.
"Let's go!"
"Destroy them!"
"Conquer the cores!"
The attackers were raring to go. However, just as they wanted to charge into the breach, a command from Shorty stopped them. Although everyone was dissatisfied, they still complied. If it were earlier, Shorty might have failed to hold the players back. But by bringing out this powerful buffing spell Shorty had reinstated his prestige among the army.
"What are they doing? Aren't they coming?"
"Boss, should we attack instead?"
"Are they afraid?"
In Greypine Town, close to segment 4, a sturdy wall of bodies had formed. It was led by earthquake who commanded almost all the melee players, safe for a few scattered patrol teams. Earthquake and his close subordinates were staring towards the breach in the wall. They couldn't wait for the enemy to come and face them in a blood-curling, face-to-face battle. A battle of real men! A battle where only the strongest can emerge victorious!
Unfortunately, Shorty had other plans. Under his command the army split into two, leaving a long corridor in the middle. The soldiers started attacking segments 3 and 5 while Shorty made new arrangements. He scrolled through the options and quickly found what he was looking for. Spending the rest of the budget sponsored by Galaxy he hired another mercenary troop.
On top of the mountain, located within the mist, new soldiers suddenly appeared. They were few in numbers, only twenty. But each soldier emitted the invincible pressure of a powerful elite. Their appearance alone would deter everyone who thought to mess with them. They were seated on bull-like monsters with bodies consisting purely of muscles and terrifying sharp horns. All the soldiers were of the orc race, wearing dark plated armour and double-bladed axes rivalling a modern car in weight.
Just as the orc mercenaries surveyed their surroundings with their cold eyes, they were teleported away and appeared at the battlefield, emerging from the southern deployment point. A broad, green light shot into the sky, alarming everyone.
[Balm: They still have reinforcements?!]
[Phoenix Feather: It can only be a group of mercenaries.]
[Cyclone: Let's hope there are not too many…]
[Balm: Should we hire more mercenaries as well? We still have 1000 gold.]
[Callida: Let's stick to the plan for now. Save the gold until we know what Galaxy is planning.]
The others accepted Callida's suggestion. Everyone stared at the mist, waiting for the new troops to appear. And they didn't have to wait for long. After a dozen seconds the mist stirred and the twenty bull-riding orcs appeared, radiating a menacing might. And yet everyone on Dream Avenue's side was quite confused. In a battle like this, could 20 mercenaries make a difference? Only Liam knew the answer.
The veteran stared at the newly emerged mercenaries who began to charge as soon as they appeared and recalled the information about them. He suddenly drew a sharp breath, warning the leadership.
[Bleary Mirage: It's the Black Horn Mercenaries! Earthquake, be careful! They are known for their skill [Might of the Bull] which becomes more powerful the longer they charge! They want to break through your defence in one swoop!]
[Earthquake: Hehe, just right…]