“I’ll be back.”
“Ugh, I’m not going. I’ll get some sleep.”
Unlike Joonbum, Jinpok threw himself into a portable bed as he spoke. Doral laughed but also laid down on the bed next to it.
“Oh, you’re out already?”
“Don’t worry. You know me.”
“Y-yes… but still. Everyone is worried about you, Your Majesty.”
A soldier was worried about Joonbum.
“You should take a rest…”
Joonbum smiled. His body no longer needed rest. He was human, yet no longer human in some ways. Still, he was glad that he was being cared for.
“Yeah, I’ll rest next time. But I need to get that settled first. I can’t return like this. What do you think?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The soldier bowed and ran back. Joonbum also quickly ran toward the fortress wall.
The sounds of explosives and monsters screaming filled the air. Soldiers shouted as the battle went on.
“Small monsters climbing up the wall! Prepare the chains!”
It was a tall wall, but small monsters easily climbed up the wall using their claws. Their speed was like a man running at full speed across flat ground.
“KEEEH!”
Countless monsters jumped a few feet with ease and were now climbing the wall. It was a terrifying sight. However, no soldiers seemed to be afraid.
“Chains are ready!”
“Show them what we’ve got!”
“Release the chains!”
“Release the chains!”
Chains that were thicker than a man’s thigh dropped down from the wall. As it fell along the wall, the monsters screamed and fell as the chains struck them. Most died immediately from the impact, but there were a lot that weren’t hurt.
“Ready the flame pots!”
“Ready!”
Large pots were brought up to the wall.
“Light the fires!”
As fires were set, a flag was raised to signal to throw them.
“KEEEK!”
The monsters screamed in rage. The sight of a flaming hell was unleashed down the wall. The smell of burning monster flesh filled the entire fortress.
“It’s like hell broke loose,” Doral said as he arrived.
“If they get past us…”
That was a disaster that they weren’t prepared to see. The Khalodian Empire was barely able to defend against these monsters with the help of the giant valley and firepower. The number of monsters grew by the day and only a small amount went to other countries. That alone made them face extreme danger. If Lown Peak was breached, it would be the end for all humans.
‘The bigger problem is that their numbers are growing.’
Their numbers were never-ending. Joonbum bit his lip as he still had no intention to back down. He was going to fight until the end.
After a while, the bigger monsters fell to the ground as the poison unleashed on them worked and all the monsters began falling back.
“The monsters are retreating. Change shifts with the backups! Check your equipment, fix them, or exchange if needed! MOVE!”
“YES, SIR!”
The battle was over, but not everyone went to rest. Some soldiers were slumped by the wall and they began eating rations.
“Hey, go to the cafeteria if you’re going to eat!”
“Yes, sir!”
One of the officers frowned at a young soldier.
The soldier turned back and asked, “Officer, do you want food too?”
“No, go ahead.”
“Yes, sir!”
The fire at the bottom of the wall was now dying out. However, the soldiers didn’t welcome the sight at all. It only meant that the time for the monsters’ return was imminent.
“AAARGH! Save me! Save me!”
One of the soldiers screamed at the wall. There was a monster who had jumped up from below and was attacking him.
“JOEY!”
“NO!!!”
Other soldiers charged in with their wooden spears, but it was a poor choice. As they moved out of their ranks, another monster charged at the soldiers.
“AAARGH!”
The soldier screamed as the monster ripped his neck. The more he moved, the more blood poured out like a fountain.
“Put him out of his misery.”
“KEEEK!”
With someone’s shout, arrows were fired upon the soldier and the monster.
“NEVER! Move! Out! Of! Position! If you move, we are all dead! Stand your ground and fight! If we fall, our families will die! We must protect this wall! Khalodian abandoned us! We must protect our land!”
“YES, SIR!”
The soldiers looked determined. However, unlike what Knight Rohm said, Khalodian did not abandon them. They actually sent warnings and asked for immediate help. It was the kingdoms and nobles that ignored the Khalodians’ warning. And so did the people of those lands. They didn’t want to be dragged into a war.
And now, they were paying the price.