Chapter 159: Fortress Siege 4

Chapter 159: Fortress Siege 4

TL: Etude

Duke Dodge watched the battle atop the fortress with a stern expression.

The situation was dire. The defending forces were clearly being overwhelmed by the rebels.

After careful consideration, he commanded, Deploy the reserve troops to assist our soldiers in retreating to the inner wall.

The bugler beside him immediately raised his horn and began to blow in a special rhythm.

The old Duke said to an officer behind him, Bring out our secret weapon.

The officer was shocked. My lord, thats our last resort! It shouldnt be used unless absolutely necessary!

Duke Dodge gave a bitter smile, Cant you see? The time of absolute necessity is now. Or rather, if we dont reveal this trump card soon, we wont survive to see that moment.

With a bitter expression, the officer nodded and replied, Yes, my lord, before turning and sprinting away.

Retreat to the inner wall!

Retreat to the inner wall!

The officers, fighting alongside the soldiers on the fortresss outer wall, passed down the command to their subordinates.

The defending soldiers quickly gathered around their respective commanders, covering each other as they moved towards the inner wall.

As a complete defensive stronghold, Thorn Fortress had two layers of walls. The distance between the outer and inner walls was about 15-20 meters, with the inner wall being taller, thicker, and more difficult to breach.

The rebel soldiers, having climbed the outer wall, pursued relentlessly. They couldnt afford to rest now. Allowing the defenders to fall back to the inner wall would cause many problems. The merlons on the inner side of the outer wall were short and small, offering poor defense against arrows from the inner wall.

However, the inner walls gates suddenly opened, and a large number of soldiers, the reserve troops of the defending army, who had been conserving their strength, eagerly watching the battle on the outer wall, rushed out as soon as the Dukes order was given.

The reserve troops immediately replaced their brethren who had been fighting earlier. The rebel soldiers, having fought hard for a long time, were already showing signs of fatigue and were unexpectedly suppressed by the fresh reserve troops on the outer wall.

But the reserve troops did not linger in battle. Given their numerical disadvantage, they quickly retreated back to the inner wall after covering their retreating brothers, then firmly closed the gate.

Lord Samar! Weve taken the outer wall!

Good!

Samar was overjoyed, not expecting to take the outer wall of Thorn Fortress so quickly.

Immediately send the second wave of troops to press forward!

Yes!

The rebels, braving the arrow and bolt fire from the inner wall, opened the outer gate. A large number of rebels carrying scaling ladders and battering rams charged in, and the attack on the inner wall of the fortress commenced immediately.

Still leading the charge were those soldiers in enchanted leather armor, biting their swords and vigorously climbing the ladders to the inner wall. From the initial 500, about 300 remained capable of fighting after the earlier skirmish.

Another group of soldiers gathered at the city gate, vigorously battering the gate with a ram.

Oddly, the defenders only hindered the rebels as they climbed the ladders. Without the cover of siege engines, the rebels suffered heavy losses from stones and flaming oil attacks. However, once they reached the top of the wall, the defenders who had fiercely resisted suddenly dispersed to the sides, leaving a large area around the siege ladders empty.

What are they up to? the rebels wondered, momentarily stunned upon reaching the wall. Nonetheless, they raised their weapons, remaining vigilant, and covered their comrades as they continued to ascend.

More and more rebel soldiers climbed onto the inner wall.

Attack!

The defenders cavalry, seeing that the remaining rebel forces were well-prepared, withdrew back into the fortress after a short pursuit.

Samar breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately ordered the regrouping of his troops and summoned one of the returning officers for a detailed inquiry.

The officer, with a striking burn on his arm and still in shock, said, The enemy used some method to spray unextinguishable flames at us. Many many of our brothers were burned to death.

Unextinguishable flames?

Yes, my lord! Unextinguishable!

The officers face showed fear and disbelief.

Between the outer and inner walls, theres a small pond. Some brothers who were on fire jumped into it to extinguish the flames, but but

But what? Samar demanded.

But the flames on them grew even bigger!

How is that possible?

Even Scott, standing beside Samar, doubted his ears. Water extinguishes fire this is common knowledge even to a three-year-old.

Flames that grew stronger in water, something not even the proudest of mages magic could achieve how did these mortals manage it?

Samar, however, was unusually calm. He let the officer go to reorganize his troops and then, with a stern face, ordered, Retreat!

Retreat? No, my lord!

Scott was reluctant to withdraw like this; he had high hopes for this attack.

Its just some incendiary substance. Theres no such thing as fire that water cant extinguish. Those fleeing soldiers must have made up excuses because they are scared to death.

Shut up! My soldiers are fighting to the death out there, and you dare to slander them like this?

Samar suddenly yelled at him, his face and neck turning red with anger.

Scott was startled by his outburst and stood speechless.

Sorry, Mage Sir, I was a bit impulsive just now.

Samar calmed down.

I know that officer. He is not a coward. Otherwise, he wouldnt have been chosen to command the assault team. And have you heard of Greek fire?

Scott heard the term for the first time, his face showing confusion, Greek fire?

Samar nodded, Greek fire, a terrible flammable liquid. A long time ago, possibly during the era of the ancient Gubera Empire, Greek fire was once widespread. Its said to be made from a black viscous oil, mixed with certain proportions of sulfur, tar, resin, and other flammable substances. Not only is it highly flammable, but it also burns on water, and cant be extinguished. But the specific formula, especially the black oil, was lost due to excessive secrecy.

Scotts eyes widened, Theres such a miraculous substance?

This is a disaster that only God can save us from, the only way to escape when attacked with Greek fire is to kneel and pray for heavenly salvation thats how it was described in the legends.

Samar sighed, Alas! I never thought this long-lost weapon would reappear in the world and that I would encounter it.

Scott, still unwilling to give up, asked, Isnt there any way to counter Greek fire?

Samar shook his head, Perhaps there is, but I dont know it. For now, all we can do is retreat and keep watching the fortress. I cant risk the Dukes troops a second time. A single misstep could greatly trouble the Dukes plan to unify the south.

Scott looked back at Thorn Fortress with endless regret and said, Alright! Ill follow your arrangement.

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