SWDnovel Chapter 241 Fortress and Demon Tide
Chapter 241 Fortress and Demon Tide
Relying on his memory of his last visit, Lin Tian walked calmly and precisely through the intricate and heavily guarded passages inside the fortress.
Celia followed closely beside him, her high heels clicking crisply and rhythmically on the black stone ground, creating a strange contrast with the surrounding grim and austere atmosphere. This drew curious, amazed, or wary glances from the elite soldiers on guard along the way.
Soon, the command post came into view.
The soldiers guarding the gate were the same ones as before. Lin Tian had been here before, and they recognized him. The moment they saw Lin Tian's face, their eyes sharpened, and they immediately straightened up, bowed respectfully, and silently made way for him.
Lin Tian walked straight into the command post.
On the huge sand table, the markings representing enemy and friendly forces are intertwined, clearly showing the tension of the front line.
The communication magic crystal flashed intermittently, carrying urgent reports from the watchtower ahead.
The person he was looking for had his back to the door, gazing at the huge military map on the wall, marked with countless red dots.
Seemingly hearing footsteps, the person slowly turned around.
It was Xiao Tianhao, the supreme commander of the Abyss Fortress.
When Xiao Tianhao's gaze fell on Lin Tian's face, he was clearly stunned for a moment, and a trace of undisguised astonishment flashed in his weathered eyes.
He had just received a brief message from Huangpu Yun, the Lord of Luoxia City, via encrypted magical communication, informing him that a "strong ally" would be arriving immediately to help resolve the threat of the monster leader.
The message was vague, only emphasizing that this person was exceptionally capable and should be treated with respect and with utmost cooperation.
Xiao Tianhao was still wondering who this "strong reinforcement" was, that the city lord needed to personally introduce him, and how much time it would take to prepare and receive him upon his arrival at the fortress... But before the light from the communication crystal had even completely dissipated, the person in question had already appeared in his command post like a ghost!
This speed... is simply too terrifying! Could it be that he happens to be near the fortress?
Or perhaps... he possesses some kind of teleportation ability over extremely long distances? Several thoughts flashed through Xiao Tianhao's mind in an instant, and his gaze towards Lin Tian became even more scrutinizing and suspicious.
However, Xiao Tianhao was, after all, a ruthless general in charge of a defensive line, with a will far stronger than that of ordinary people.
He quickly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and with a gentle expression on his face, he nodded to Lin Tian.
"Lin Tian...we meet again." Xiao Tianhao's voice was deep and hoarse, with a unique magnetism formed from years of giving orders.
He remembered Lin Tian; the young man had come here before to complete a tricky cleanup task, demonstrating strength far exceeding his level at the time, which left a lasting impression on him.
"Commander Xiao." Lin Tian returned the greeting calmly, without any pleasantries, and went straight to the point, "The city lord has surely already informed me of my purpose."
Seeing Lin Tian's directness, Xiao Tianhao was happy to save time. He straightened his expression, pointed to the huge military map, and got straight to the point: "The situation is not optimistic."
His thick fingers traced the area marked in scarlet on the map, his tone heavy:
"For the past two weeks, the abyssal monsters outside the defense line have been unusually active and highly organized. The waves of attacks are getting stronger and stronger than ever before."
They were no longer engaging in chaotic slaughter, but rather employing clear tactical coordination: cover, feints, concentrated breakthroughs... Behind this, there must be one or more highly intelligent leaders directing the operation.
Xiao Tianhao's brows furrowed deeply, forming a deep furrow: "We have organized three elite teams to try to penetrate the monster-controlled area, find and decapitate this command node. But each time we failed."
There were too many monsters, and their leader was extremely cunning, appearing and disappearing unpredictably. He never showed himself easily, and once he sensed danger, he would immediately flee, leaving us empty-handed and subjected to a ferocious counterattack, resulting in significant losses.
He withdrew his finger and slammed his fist heavily on the edge of the sand table, producing a dull thud that revealed his inner anxiety and helplessness.
"The fortress's defenses are under immense pressure. The soldiers are exhausted, and the casualty count is rising daily. If a solution isn't found soon, and the enemy discovers a weak point in the defenses, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
Just as Xiao Tianhao finished explaining the grim situation, and the atmosphere in the command post reached its most oppressive point—
"Ugh—!!!!!"
A piercing alarm, sharp enough to shatter eardrums, suddenly rang out from the highest watchtower of the fortress, instantly spreading to every corner of the fortress!
This alarm was unlike the usual small-scale harassment warnings; it was a signal of the highest level of enemy attack! It meant that a large-scale, high-intensity monster horde had already reached the city gates!
The expressions of everyone in the command post changed drastically!
"Report! Commander! A massive monster horde has appeared three kilometers outside our frontline! The numbers...the numbers are enormous! They're rapidly approaching!"
A messenger practically tumbled in, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
"All personnel, enter maximum combat readiness! All personnel, take your positions according to the pre-arranged plan! Quickly!" Xiao Tianhao reacted extremely quickly, his roar shaking the rooftops and instantly dispelling the brief panic in the command post.
He himself strode out.
"Young friend Lin, come with me!" he hissed without turning his head.
Lin Tian remained calm, and with Celia by his side, he followed Xiao Tianhao at a leisurely pace, climbing the tall, heavy city wall that bore the marks of war.
As soon as you step onto the city wall, a hot wind mixed with the smell of sulfur, blood and destruction hits you.
The sight before them was enough to terrify anyone with a weak mind.
The once-gray horizon was now covered by an endless, surging "black tide"—countless abyssal monsters!
Leading the charge were the thick-skinned, roaring Abyssal Terrors, which resembled mobile miniature fortresses;
Closely following behind were the [Fire Hounds], their bodies engulfed in green evil flames and dripping lava from their mouths. They were incredibly fast, leaving charred footprints in their wake.
In the sky, numerous elusive [Phantom Demons] capable of unleashing mental attacks circled and shrieked, disrupting the guards' concentration...
The dust kicked up by the surging monsters shot straight into the sky, like a curtain of death, slowly advancing towards the fortress.
The earth groaned under their iron hooves, unable to bear the burden any longer.
On the city wall, the well-trained soldiers, though pale-faced and with fear of death in their eyes, moved with perfect composure.
The archers had already nocked their arrows, the taut bowstrings sounding like the whisper of death; the mage ranks in the rear held their staffs high, chanting obscure incantations, and various magical lights began to converge.
The heavily armored warriors held their ground behind the crenellations, their shields linked together to form an iron wall.
An atmosphere of impending doom permeated the city walls; battle was about to erupt!
Xiao Tianhao looked at the surging tide of demons like a tsunami, his face as solemn as water.
He took a deep breath, preparing to issue the order he least wanted to give, yet had no choice but to do—
"Open the flank gates! First and third elite cavalry units, prepare to follow me out of the city to meet them. We must disrupt their formation before they get close to the city walls!"
This is a cruel tactic that trades lives for time to defend the city walls.
However, just as he was about to give the order, a steady hand gently pressed down on his arm, which was gripping the hilt of his knife and had bulging veins.