558: Chapter 266 Subjective Initiative_2 558: Chapter 266 Subjective Initiative_2 The heavy footsteps of the Horror Mountain Bear landed, and with a single physical “two-dimensional foil,” it crushed the insignificant Corpse Ghosts beneath the city walls into a bloody, indistinguishable “two-dimensional” pulp.
“Break down that gate!”
Leon ordered sternly.
Upon hearing this, the Horror Mountain Bear roared loudly, the terror-striking King of the Forest charging at the city gate with thunderous momentum.
Weighing tens of tons and galloping at dozens of kilometers per hour, it was like a moving mountain, fiercely smashing into the blood-soaked, reinforced city gate.
In an instant, the earth quaked and mountains swayed as a deafening roar echoed through the heavens.
The unimaginable force shattered the side gate on the northern section of the city into ruins.
Before the Horror Mountain Bear could even release a roar to vent its violent emotions, it transformed into specks of light, swiftly withdrawn into Leon’s palm to conserve Magic Power.
Witnessing the fantastical silhouette of the massive beast ahead, Yevan, who was cutting down undead atop his warhorse, widened his eyes, doubting whether he was hallucinating.
He stared in astonishment at the charging figure of Baron Avalon in front of him, finally understanding the meaning of the Siege Magic that the Baron had mentioned earlier.
The Avalon Cavalry, like Yevan, were similarly shocked, but having previously seen both the large and small Griffins under their Lord, they were somewhat mentally prepared.
Horse hooves clattered as they marched single file through the collapsed city gate, their tight formations charging into the dimly-lit district cloaked in the glimmer of darkness and death.
Undead roamed aimlessly on the streets, their attention drawn by the sudden invaders, howling in groups of three or five as they charged forward.
Compared to the shambling, decayed bodies of the Undead, the Corpse Ghost soldiers armed with spears and blades finally posed a significant threat to the elite Avalon cavalry.
Olivia pressed her heels against her horse’s sides, discarded the reins, and swung her long spear with both arms, plunging into the undead ranks ahead.
The silver blades spun like a vortex, shredding apart each charging undead warrior.
Lokhak swung his long-handled axe, crushing the Corpse Ghost soldiers blocking their path with brute force.
Along with the other knights who followed closely, the spear, blade, axe, and halberd danced in turns, cutting down every enemy standing in their way.
In the fierce battle, the intense turbulence of souls attracted the attention of faintly discernible wandering spirits.
Dim, wailing evil spirits gathered like swarms of bees, drawn from the shadows where they sobbed and howled.
Clutching in their hands the familiar lethal weapons conjured from the remnants of their memories, they attacked the charging Avalon cavalry.
(Ancient Lorelette Language)
Seeing streaks of ghostly green light rushing toward them, Leon immediately raised the Holy Lamp and shouted an ancient Magic Curse of exorcism.
The light that erupted from the Magic Lantern spread violently like the halo of a blazing sun.
Using the Holy Lamp against the undead for the first time, Leon discovered its power far surpassed his previous expectations.
Countless evil spirits and resentful ghosts that failed to escape let out harrowing screams.
Some weaker souls dissolved into fragments and vanished into the air, while many others fled in terror.
Repelling waves of incoming spirits, the hundred horsemen pressed forward down the streets under the protection of the Guardian Spirit Holy Lamp, hacking and slashing as they went.
Finally, guided by Yevan, they rounded a street corner and reached the district near the grain warehouse…
But what opened up before them made Leon’s heart sink.
The worst possible scenario he feared had come to pass.
Expanses of charred blackness and emptiness unfolded before their eyes.
Twisted and deformed wreckage alongside splintered beams resembled the skeletal remains of wizened elders who had weathered time; the massive cluster of granary buildings that once stood here had been reduced to a sprawling wasteland of meaningless fire debris.
The mountain-like piles of food clearly had been reduced to nothing, now mere dust amidst the ruins of the warehouses.
Olivia pulled her warhorse to a slow stop ahead and turned back to glance worriedly at her lover.
The cavalry halted their steel hooves in unison.
Baron Yevan tightly gripped his bloodstained spear as he stared at the cruel reality of the burnt remnants.
Anger and despair surged through him.
This was the sight everyone dreaded most.
The undead, being unburdened by the need for food, naturally…
had no reason to spare food for the living…
Leon’s gaze scanned the granaries, clearly burned deliberately, through the slits of his helm, recognizing that this could not have been the work of ordinary undead.
Corpse Ghosts, lacking intelligence, did not possess tactical awareness of this caliber.
Evidently, this was the act of a more intelligent High-level Undead adversary.
There was no point in lingering further.
Spotting the Winged Corpse Demon approaching from afar, he immediately turned his horse and issued the command: “Retreat.”
Before the more elite and powerful undead forces could react, Leon led the cavalry in a rapid withdrawal from Ashford Port.
Thanks to their horses, they evaded pursuit by the Corpse Ghosts in the wilderness, ultimately escaping the undead forces that had been disturbed within the port.
Leading his soldiers toward the planned evacuation point along the riverbank, Leon silently contemplated the increasingly dire situation.
The entire stockpile of over twenty thousand quintals of grain at the port’s granaries had been deliberately set ablaze by the undead-controlled Corpse Ghost commanders.
He now only hoped that the other four teams might bring back good news…
Having left Ashford Port and returning near the riverbank, they could see the opposite shore beyond the Cloud Domain shroud, already veiled in night.
Arriving sooner than anticipated, Leon did not intend to immediately head back to the North Shore.
He found a secluded mountain bowl that was easy to defend and difficult to attack, ordering the men to make camp for rest as they waited for Glenn Soren’s Ranger squad to return.
Drinking from his water flask and eating the military ration he carried, Leon couldn’t help but glance at the food in his hand.
In truth, according to Lola’s analysis, the peculiar environment of this Undead Domain actually benefited the preservation of grain and food rather than harming it.