Chapter 501 - 293: Nine Star City Arrives to Support
The Fox King was confident.
Most of those demon beasts did not understand strategy well, but now that they occupied an overwhelming advantage, they didn’t bother with such things at all.
They rushed into the city, only to find it completely empty.
The Fox King again ordered caution against ambushes.
Finally, after information was gathered from a demon beast, it was discovered that the human race had retreated to the second layer, instantly filling the demon race with joy.
"Now they are truly trapped like turtles in a jar," the Fox King rejoiced.
It was aware that South City had a second line of defense, but capturing the outer district at this moment was equivalent to winning half the battle.
The Fox King did not plan to give the human race any time and ordered an attack.
Just then, the ground suddenly exploded.
The Fox King looked at the ground, only to see countless flames bursting forth, and when it turned back, the city walls also collapsed with a roar.
The houses of the outer district collapsed one after another, with flames and smoke everywhere.
"They planted explosives!" the Fox King was both terrified and angry.
The human race always valued their property, and South City’s outer district was the largest, now the entire outer district was destroyed.
This city was effectively half-ruined.
The human race actually severed an arm of themselves to hinder their attack.
For powerful demon beasts, explosives did not cause much harm.
But the explosion was so sudden that it caused some damage.
The Fox King could only order a temporary retreat.
.....
At the same time, the humans guarding the second layer heard the explosion outside, their hearts bleeding.
This city was their home.
They personally destroyed their own homes, merely to halt the advance of the demon beasts.
But this delay, according to estimates, could only last a day.
This decision was proposed by Lin Chen.
Explosives indeed could not harm the main forces of the demon beasts, but they could delay for a day, allowing the defensive army to rest an extra day.
"Now there is no news of reinforcements from outside, is our previous plan...." Chen Ming also began to doubt.
Up to now, not a single Monster Hunter from outside had appeared.
Could it be that no one would come to support them at all.
Lin Chen remained silent.
Instead, a man next to him patted Lin Chen on the shoulder and said, "Young Brother Lin, we don’t mean to blame you. The decision was jointly made by all of us, there’s no need to feel guilty."
Lin Chen turned around to see many people nodding.
Chen Ming also said, "The urgent task now is still how to defend the third wave."
Upon those words, silence fell over the crowd.
At this moment, the man who spoke earlier said again, "If it really doesn’t work, then switch to another way."
"Leave the non-combat personnel behind, those who are capable, break out from the south, perhaps...."
"Perhaps there is a way out."
Upon these words, everyone exchanged looks.
When the plan spoke of fleeing, it meant no one believed this war could still be won.
Chen Ming timely spoke up:
"This plan can be kept, but we are not at the final deadline yet."
"Let the deadline be three days."
"If reinforcements have not arrived in three days, then proceed as you said."
.....
Lin Chen walked out of the room and stood at a high place, looking outside, the outer district had already become ruins.
The high city walls were long gone, the once bustling streets had become fallen bricks and tiles.
Nearby, the Spirit-Devouring Vine called out to Lin Chen, meaning that if they really couldn’t hold the defense, Qin Shaoshao had given it instructions before coming, to ensure Lin Chen’s safe departure.
Lin Chen didn’t speak.
Just as Chen Ming said, there were still three days.
Now, there’s still hope for a miracle.
However, Lin Chen was also curious as to why not a single Monster Hunter from outside had shown up by now.
Could it be that they did not receive the message?
Or perhaps....
The call simply went unanswered.
At this moment, Lin Chen also fell into deep self-doubt.
After all, human nature is the most unpredictable thing.
The next day, the demon beasts attacked again, rushing towards the second layer, and the great battle erupted once more.
The city walls of the second layer were not as good as those of the first layer, but they had an advantage: the range of the walls was smaller, making it easier to defend.
The demon race was truly anxious, initiating a tide of demon attacks, the human race held off one wave, only for another to follow immediately.
On this day alone, the human race held off a full six waves of attacks.
Everyone watched as many spirit beasts, and human warriors, collapsed in exhaustion and finally died convulsing.
Some were torn apart in mid-air by demon beasts, blood and flesh everywhere.
Many who saw this scene were left with eyes red with tears.
Some even had their psychological defenses break down, wishing to surrender.
But Lin Chen understood that surrender did not mean the demon race would spare them.
This time, the demon race tore apart the Celestial Realm Mountain agreement, indicating one thing....
The demon race wished to gain a certain status on this land.
Thus, it became an accepted fact that the two races could not coexist.
Once surrendering, what awaited them was still death.
....
Until nightfall, the war finally ended.
People went to the battlefield to clean up the bodies, finding them piled layer upon layer.
This time, the human race lost over half its troops.
Some were dead, others injured.
According to statistics, the number of soldiers able to fight the next day might be less than a third of their peak.
This bad news immediately deeply upset the human race.
That night, Chen Ming convened everyone.
This meeting was no longer a high-level meeting but a meeting for everyone.
"Everyone, I am Chen Ming."
"City Lord of South City."
"I’m sorry, we can’t hold on any longer."
"Starting tomorrow, the defensive army will be disbanded, anyone who can leave may do so...."
Ordinary people began to cry upon hearing these words.
Unexpectedly, at the end, Chen Ming raised his hand and said loudly, "But I will not retreat."
"Tomorrow, I will continue to fight."
"If anyone is willing to fight alongside me, they may join."
"As long as I’m here, the city stands; if I perish, the city falls!"
Everyone was stunned, and at this moment, instead of a desire to survive, their pupils ignited with a spirit belonging to the human race.
On the third morning, the demon beasts attacked again.
Just as he said before, Chen Ming donned his armor, brought his spirit beasts, led his army, and stood at the forefront.
He shouted to the people behind him:
"Those who want to leave, do so now, we will fight to carve a bloody path for you."
Lin Chen also participated in the battle, but all his battles happened under the cover of the Spirit-Devouring Vine.
Unexpectedly, two hours into the battle, the human race began to falter.
Those who were dead, were dead; those who were injured, were injured.
Covered in wounds, Chen Ming had also lost two spirit beasts.
He stood sorrowfully atop the city wall and cried out:
"South City... I ultimately could not hold you."
"But I have not failed you!"
He charged valiantly to his death, heading toward the Demon King in the sky.
"City Lord!"
Below, someone cried out in strong disapproval, but Chen Ming’s resolve to go was already set.
From afar, the Undying Phoenix saw Chen Ming daring to charge at it and sneered coldly, intending to crush him and then order a bloodbath across South City.
Just then, a leaf flew over, directly blocking the Undying Phoenix!
"Who is it!"
The Undying Phoenix roared warily.
Lin Chen and the Spirit-Devouring Vine’s eyes shone brightly, and just then, a voice echoed throughout South City:
"Jiuxing City.... has come to aid!"