Chapter 56 : Chapter 56
Chapter 56. Ningshuang City, the Rear Stronghold Under Surprise Attack
At that moment, a shrill scream suddenly echoed through the sky.
Immediately afterward, a figure plummeted from high above like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily onto the mountain of corpses below with a dull, thunderous thud.
It was a Legendary Knight clad in shattered armor. Half of a long spear had pierced through his chest, and he was clearly already dead.
The fierce battle raging in the sky seemed to intensify because of it. The brilliance of Dou Qi and magic intertwined and flashed, and from time to time droplets of blood fell from the clouds.
Kroll II stared fixedly at the corpse of the Legendary Knight on the ground. After recognizing the style of the armor, the tension in his clenched jaw finally eased slightly.
Fortunately, he was not from the Kroll Kingdom.
Not far away, Prince Tanley also recognized that the armor was not the standard equipment of the Dragon Kingdom. Without revealing any emotion, he nodded slightly and shifted his gaze back to the sky.
Inside the central command tent of the Kadiya Kingdom, the First Princess Selena witnessed the scene, yet her expression remained utterly calm. She did not even bother to raise her eyelids.
She merely turned her head toward the Third Prince of the Barbarian Royal Court beside her and asked in a composed tone, “That legion should be arriving soon, correct?”
The Third Prince hurriedly nodded, a trace of urgency flashing in his eyes. “According to the agreed schedule, they should be almost here.”
Selena gave a soft “Mm” and lowered her gaze to the sand table once again, her eyes resting on the marker representing Ningshuang City. Her fingertips lightly tapped against the table, as if she were waiting for something.
No one noticed that at this very moment, far from the main battlefield outside Ningshuang City—
A mixed legion composed of Kadiya regular troops and elite warriors from the barbarian tribes had already taken advantage of the cover of night and terrain. Silently and unnoticed, they had crept close to the city walls of Ningshuang City.
Their horses’ hooves were wrapped in cloth, their blades sheathed, and even their breathing was deliberately suppressed. Like venomous snakes lurking in the darkness, they waited patiently to deliver a fatal strike to their prey.
William had just returned to the fortress from the manor. Over the past several days, he had spent large sums purchasing slaves and had expanded several estates.
He calculated that once he returned to the Royal Capital, even if the First Prince had already secured his position, these industries alone would be enough to ensure his own safety.
As he was pondering inspecting the progress of the manor expansions tomorrow, chaotic shouting suddenly erupted outside, mixed with the sharp clang of weapons colliding.
The door burst open.
Tos rushed in with a deathly pale face and grabbed William’s arm.
“Your Highness, quickly! A mixed legion of Kadiya soldiers and barbarians has been spotted outside the city. We do not know their exact numbers. We must leave immediately.”
As he spoke, he tried to pull William outside.
Still confused, William stumbled along as he was dragged forward and asked urgently, “What exactly happened? Did Father lose the battle?”
“I do not know.”
Tos’s voice was tense, and he did not slow his pace.
“His Majesty should not have been defeated yet, but no one knows how they managed to approach Ningshuang City without making a sound.”
William’s mind raced.
Suddenly, he stopped and shook Tos’s hand off.
“We cannot leave.”
Tos froze. “Your Highness?”
“Tos, go to the manors immediately.”
William’s eyes suddenly turned sharp, and his words came out rapidly.
“Arm all the slaves and send them to reinforce the city walls.”
“Also, mobilize the Palace Knights. Gather all the noble youths who have not yet evacuated the city. Their private soldiers will be temporarily placed under royal command and deployed together.”
Tos hesitated for a moment, still unable to process everything.
“But…”
“There is no ‘but.’”
William suddenly raised his voice, the shout startling Tos into stiff attention.
“If Ningshuang City falls and the supply lines are cut, Father and the legions at the front will all be buried on the Ice Snow Plains.”
“Only by holding this place can Father have the chance to send a legion back to reinforce us. Go now.”
“Yes… yes!”
Tos finally snapped out of his daze. Bowing hurriedly, he turned and ran out, stumbling as he went yet not daring to waste even a moment.
William took a deep breath.
He turned around and retrieved the custom-made Royal Armor from his Spatial Ring.
The armor gleamed with a cold silver light, its edges inlaid with dark patterns symbolizing the royal bloodline.
He swiftly donned the armor, the sound of metal colliding echoing steadily through the chaotic castle.
When he stepped out of the room, the corridor had already descended into disorder. Soldiers were running everywhere, while knights shouted commands yet struggled to rally anyone.
William drew the sword at his waist. The blade flashed coldly beneath the torchlight.
“Everyone, stop!”
His voice was not particularly loud, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.
The fleeing soldiers instinctively halted and looked toward the suddenly fully armed Fourth Prince.
“I am William, the Fourth Prince of the Kingdom.”
He raised his sword high, sweeping his gaze across the crowd.
“All soldiers and knights inside the castle, gather around me. If Ningshuang City falls, none of us will survive. If you want to live, pick up your weapons and stand with me to defend this place.”
The chaos seemed to halt at that very moment.
The soldiers exchanged glances. Finally, a knight stepped forward and knelt on one knee.
“I am willing to follow Your Highness!”
Once the first appeared, the second quickly followed.
Soon, the scattered soldiers and knights gathered together. The panic in their eyes slowly transformed into the beginnings of fighting spirit.
William looked at the troops assembling around him and tightened his grip on the sword.
He knew that this battle to defend the city would determine the fate of them all.
With a wave of his hand, William led the assembled soldiers and knights toward the city walls at a swift pace.
Along the way, Palace Knights continually joined them, bringing with them private soldiers clad in all kinds of armor.
The originally scattered forces gradually merged into a considerable fighting strength. Their footsteps echoed through the streets and alleys, carrying a sense of desperate resolve.
Soon, the city walls came into view.
The battalion commander responsible for defending the city was in a panic, directing soldiers to move rolling stones. When he saw William approaching below with a large force, he was so shocked he could barely speak.
Leaning over the wall, he shouted anxiously, “Your Highness! It is dangerous on the walls. You must not—”
“Open the gate and let them onto the walls,” William interrupted loudly, his tone leaving no room for refusal.
The battalion commander hesitated for a moment. Seeing the prince’s firm attitude and the enemy formations steadily approaching behind him, he gritted his teeth and waved to the soldiers to lower the drawbridge.
Soldiers and knights streamed upward, quickly filling the defensive gaps along the walls.
William stepped toward the stone staircase leading up to the wall.
Two guards instinctively tried to stop him, but the sharpness in his eyes forced them to retreat unconsciously.
“I am the Fourth Prince of the Kroll Kingdom.”
William spoke in a deep voice. Though not loud, it carried clearly to those around him.
With that, he strode upward and climbed onto the city wall.
A cold wind carrying the stench of blood struck his face.
Below the battlements, the mixed legion of Kadiya soldiers and barbarians had already begun raising siege ladders. Their roars surged upward like a tidal wave.
William rested a hand on the battlement. His gaze swept over the densely packed enemy troops below, then toward the soldiers beside him who, though still uneasy, had taken up their weapons.
He drew a deep breath.
“Archers, prepare. Aim for the siege ladders. Rolling stones and boiling oil—wait for my command.”
His voice carried across the walls through the wind. The frightened soldiers seemed to find an anchor of stability and tightened their grips on their weapons.
Seeing this, the battalion commander quickly stepped forward.
“Your Highness, this subordinate awaits your orders.”
William nodded.
“You know the defenses best. Deploy men to guard the eastern and western arrow towers. Remember—every moment we hold the walls is another moment of hope.”
“Yes!”
Below the walls, the first siege ladder had already been raised against the ramparts. A barbarian roared and began climbing upward.
William’s eyes sharpened.
He drew his sword, pointing the tip straight downward.
“Fire!”