78: Chapter 78 The Shadow Strikes

On the night of the third day, Tianqi City was shrouded in a tense atmosphere.

On the city walls, torches blazed, guards were fully armed, and their eyes vigilantly watched every movement outside the city.

Inside the city, members of the major guilds had gathered, ready to engage in battle at any moment.

Ye Liuli and I stood on the East City Gate, with two hundred elite members of the Dawn Guild behind us.

"Are you nervous?" Ye Liuli suddenly asked.

"A little," I admitted honestly, "but mostly, I'm excited."

"Excited?"

"Yeah," I grinned, "A battle like this isn't something you encounter every day. Being able to participate in it is an honor in itself."

Ye Liuli looked at me, a flash of complex emotion crossing her eyes.

"Ergou, promise me, you must survive."

"Don't worry," I patted my chest, "I'm Chen Ergou, my life is tough as nails!"

Ye Liuli wanted to say more, but just then—

[Warning! Warning! Shadow Pavilion is attacking Tianqi City! All players, please prepare for battle!]

The system alarm resounded throughout Tianqi City, and red light flickered in the sky.

They're here!

Ye Liuli and I looked outside the city at the same time.

In the darkness, countless black shadows were surging toward Tianqi City.

That was the force of the Shadow Pavilion!

Five hundred elite members, like a black tide, came sweeping across the sky and land.

Behind them were hundreds of puppets, as well as various summoned beasts. Those summoned beasts came in different shapes; some looked like wolves, some like tigers, some like snakes, and each one exuded a fierce aura.

And at the very front of the group was a man wearing a blood-red robe.

The man had a sinister face, cold eyes, held a pair of blood-red daggers, and exuded a thick murderous aura all over his body.

[Blood Hand Asura, Level 35, Assassin class, one of the four guardians of the Shadow Pavilion]

Looking at this ID, my heart sank suddenly.

Level 35... He was a full 10 levels higher than me!

"Dawn Guild members," Blood Hand Asura's voice sounded like it came from the nine nether hells, cold and bone-chilling, "Today is your doomsday!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly spread throughout the entire East City Gate.

"Bullshit!" I roared, "You think you can destroy our Dawn Guild by yourself? Keep dreaming!"

Blood Hand Asura sneered, "Hard-mouthed kid, I'll let you know what it means to wish for death later!"

"Attack!"

With his order, the members of the Shadow Pavilion surged forward like a tide!

"Brothers, prepare for battle!" Ye Liuli shouted loudly, "Mage corps, prepare for spell coverage! Warrior corps, prepare to engage the enemy!"

"Yes!" The members of the Dawn Guild replied in unison, all rubbing their palms and eager for battle, their fighting spirit soaring.

"Kill!" I roared and charged out first!

Sword Saints Three Styles, First Style—[Sky Breaker]!

A sharp sword qi broke through the air, directly slashing and sending the few Shadow Pavilion members at the front flying!

"Good swordsmanship!" A flash of surprise crossed Blood Hand Asura's eyes, but it immediately turned into disdain, "Too bad, your level is too low!"

Before the words faded, his figure suddenly disappeared! An Assassin's stealth skill!

My heart tightened, and I immediately activated my perception, vigilantly observing my surroundings.

"Behind you!" As soon as Ye Liuli's reminder sounded, I felt a sharp murderous aura attacking from behind! So fast!

I spun around violently, blocking horizontally with my longsword! "Clang!" With the sound of metal clashing, I felt a huge force, and I was knocked back several steps!

Blood Hand Asura's figure appeared, with a playful smile on his face, "Not bad reaction, but your strength is a bit lacking."

"Lacking your head!" I roared, Sword Saints Three Styles, Second Style—[Earth Splitter]!

The sword qi swept out like a violent storm, enveloping Blood Hand Asura!

Blood Hand Asura's expression changed slightly, and his figure flashed, barely dodging the attack.

"A bit interesting," he licked his lips, "Looks like I need to get serious."

Before he finished speaking, his figure disappeared again! This time, his speed was faster and more bizarre!

I only felt a blur before my eyes, and Blood Hand Asura had already appeared in front of me, his dagger thrusting straight at my heart!

"Ergou, watch out!" Ye Liuli's exclamation came, and at the same time, an ice wall rose in front of me, blocking Blood Hand Asura's attack!

"Thanks!" I shouted, taking the opportunity to retreat and put some distance between me and Blood Hand Asura.

"Annoying woman!" Blood Hand Asura snorted coldly, his figure turned, and he actually charged toward Ye Liuli!

"How dare you!" My eyes were splitting with rage, and the qi in my body circulated crazily! Sword Saints Three Styles, Third Style—[World Annihilation]! Complete version!

A terrifying aura erupted from my body, and the entire battlefield went silent!

Blood Hand Asura's expression changed drastically; he felt a fatal threat! "What kind of move is this?!"

"The move that takes your life!" I roared and slashed out with my sword!

In an instant, the world changed color! A huge sword qi spanned across the sky, as if it were going to split the whole world in two!

Blood Hand Asura dodged desperately, but was still grazed by the sword qi. He flew out like a kite with a broken string, fell heavily to the ground, and spat out a mouthful of blood!

"Damn it!" He struggled to get up, his eyes full of shock, "This kid... how can he be so strong?!"

I didn't give him a chance to catch his breath and raised my sword to charge. But just then, other members of the Shadow Pavilion rushed up and surrounded me tightly!

"Protect the Guardian!" "Kill him!" Dozens of Shadow Pavilion members attacked me simultaneously. I had to give up pursuing Blood Hand Asura and instead deal with these enemies.

"Brothers, kill them!" Members of the Dawn Guild also rushed up, engaging in a fierce battle with the forces of the Shadow Pavilion!

For a time, under the East City Gate, blades flashed, spells flew, and the shouts of battle shook the sky!

I waved my longsword, using the Sword Saints Three Styles in turns, and every sword strike claimed a life.

But there were simply too many enemies; one after another, as if endless!

Ye Liuli commanded from the rear, ice spells covering the battlefield, freezing large swaths of enemies into ice sculptures.

But the Shadow Pavilion members were no pushovers; they coordinated well, with orderly offense and defense. Gradually, the Dawn Guild members began to struggle to hold on.

"Damn it!" I gritted my teeth, watching more and more brothers fall, my heart feeling like it was being cut by a knife. If this continues, we will definitely lose!

"Ergou!" Ye Liuli's voice came, "Use that!"

I froze for a moment, then realized! The city defense array core!

"Everyone, retreat!" I roared, "Retreat inside the city gate!"

Although the Dawn Guild members didn't understand what was happening, they followed the order and retreated one after another.

The Shadow Pavilion members thought we were fleeing and pursued even more crazily.

"Want to run? Not that easy!" Blood Hand Asura had also recovered and led people in pursuit.

I looked at them, a sneer appearing on the corner of my mouth. "Run? I'm just afraid of accidentally hurting my own people!"

As I spoke, I took the city defense array core from my bosom and crushed it violently!

In an instant, a golden light shield rose from the city gate, enveloping the entire East City Gate!

"What?!" Blood Hand Asura's expression changed drastically, "This is... the city defense array?!"

"That's right!" I laughed loudly, "Blood Hand Asura, if you have the ability, come on in!"

Blood Hand Asura's face turned livid; he tried to attack the light shield, but all his attacks were deflected.

"Damn it!" He gritted his teeth, "How long can a mere protective shield last?"

"Long enough to beat you to the ground!" I retorted.

Blood Hand Asura sneered, "Fine, then I'll see how long this broken shield can last!"

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the Shadow Pavilion members began to launch frantic attacks on the light shield!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Various spells, arrows, and swords fell on the light shield like raindrops, making a deafening roar.

The light shield trembled violently, but it was never broken.

[System Prompt: City defense array activated, remaining duration 29 minutes 32 seconds]

I looked at the system prompt and calculated secretly in my heart. 30 minutes... we must think of a way within these 30 minutes, otherwise, once the light shield disappears, we will be in danger.

"Ergou," Ye Liuli walked to my side, "What now?"

I looked at the dark mass of enemies outside the city and took a deep breath. "Wait."

"Wait?"

"That's right," I nodded, "Wait for reinforcements from the City Lord's Mansion, wait for support from other guilds. As long as we can hold out for these 30 minutes, victory will be ours!"

Ye Liuli looked at me, a flash of trust crossing her eyes. "Okay, then we wait!"

Just like that, both sides fell into a stalemate. The Shadow Pavilion people were attacking the light shield frantically, while we inside the shield were nervously waiting for the arrival of reinforcements. The great battle had officially begun!