36: Chapter 36: Leaving the City, Kill!

"Awoo——!!"

That shrill wolf howl, like the horn of the Grim Reaper, instantly tore through the warmth that had just risen at the city gate.

News of the Demonic Beast attack soon reached the ears of Strategist Zhu Ge.

The young man in white, sitting in a wheelchair, turned his head abruptly and looked at the East City Gate, which was already close at hand and symbolized warmth and a path to survival.

That was a chance at life they had begged for all the way after walking seven hundred li.

As long as they crossed into it, there would be a way to live!

Why did it have to be at this moment...

Strategist Zhu Ge looked at the damaged city gate, which was open but lacked any defensive fortifications, and then glanced at the top of the city wall.

He understood that at this moment, even though the city gate was within reach, they could not continue to enter the city.

The refugees who were all following orders still had the strength to fight, but if they scattered, they would be lambs waiting to be slaughtered!

Furthermore, the Demonic Wolves would take advantage of the chaos to rush into the city!

Those were hundreds of bloodthirsty Demonic Beasts!

Once they entered the city, it would be a catastrophe for the unsuspecting citizens of Flower City.

The benefactor was willing to take them in, which was a great act of righteousness.

But if they brought disaster upon their benefactor just to save their own lives, that would be... biting the hand that feeds!

"Hoo..." Strategist Zhu Ge took a deep breath, and the flush that had originally appeared on his face due to excitement quickly faded.

He turned around abruptly and shouted decisively at the group of refugees who were preparing to swarm into the city gate:

"Stop!!"

"Everyone stop entering the city!!"

This shout was like a thunderclap, forcibly halting the commotion of the crowd.

Immediately after, he pointed to the wolf pack surging like a tide behind him and sternly ordered:

"Front army becomes rear army! Turn around! Form ranks!"

"Prepare to face the enemy!!"

At the same time, Strategist Zhu Ge turned with difficulty in his wheelchair, bowed deeply to Zhou Yun on the city wall, his voice trembling but firm:

"City Lord!"

"The Demonic Beasts are fierce and numerous! Since we are the ones who brought this disaster, we must not implicate Flower City!"

"Please, City Lord, quickly close the city gate! Block the gap! Do not let the Demonic Beasts mistakenly enter the city!"

"We will... defend the area outside the city to the death!!"

At his command, those refugees who had already stepped one foot into the city felt a flash of longing for life in their eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a fierce, death-defying resolve.

Clatter——!

There was no complaining, no running away.

Those young and able-bodied men who had been supporting the wounded silently set down their companions and picked up wooden sticks.

Those wounded, wrapped in bandages, and even missing arms or legs, gritted their teeth, supported each other to stand up with difficulty, picked up stones from the ground, and wobbled to block the front of the city gate.

Although their formation was crude, and their weapons were just broken wood and scrap iron.

But at this moment, they were a single entity.

Like a wall built of flesh and blood.

...

On the city wall, Zhou Yun's hand rested on the cold brick, but his gaze seemed to have been scalded, pausing slightly.

"Ask me to... close the city gate?"

They were going to face the Demonic Beasts alone?

Compared to yesterday's group of refugees who only knew how to snatch porridge and push each other around, the quality of today's group was... so high it made one's heart ache.

Even though there was only a pile of debris at the city gate that could not possibly stop them, they knelt in the snow, insisting on waiting for permission before rising.

Even though everyone was so weak they were about to faint, the group as a whole was very quiet, with not a single person crying or making a fuss.

Even though the Demonic Beasts had come and the city gate was open, all they had to do was run inside to survive.

Yet, in order not to implicate this city, they turned back, choosing to use their own lives to feed the wolf pack.

"Good."

"What a group of righteous men!"

Zhou Yun took a deep breath, the appreciation in his eyes growing stronger.

He turned around abruptly, "Lei Lie!"

Lei Lie, who had long been unable to restrain himself, shuddered and responded loudly: "I am here!!"

Zhou Yun pointed to the backs below, his words heavy with weight:

"I order you to lead the troops out immediately!!"

"Kill the Demonic Beasts! Ensure the refugees are safe!"

"I want them... to enter the city alive, every single one of them!"

"Make no mistakes!!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Lie felt a surge of hot blood rush straight to his head.

"As you command!!"

He turned around sharply, facing the squads of various Professionals who had already assembled behind him, drew his sword, and roared:

"Zhang Qin!"

An Archer commander with sharp eyes stepped forward: "Here!"

"Lead your unit of Archers! Prepare to face the enemy! Once the Demonic Wolves enter range, immediately unleash covering fire! Suppress their charging momentum for me!"

"Yes!!"

"Liu Gan!"

A Mage commander holding a large broom responded loudly: "Here!"

"Lead your unit of Mages; once the Demonic Wolves enter range, immediately cast Fireballs! Blast them back for me!"

"Yes!!"

"Zhao Qian!"

A female Priest commander wearing a white robe responded softly but firmly: "Here!"

Lei Lie's tone softened slightly, but became even more solemn: "Lead your unit of Priests and immediately treat the wounded among the refugees! Cast shields on them! Coordinate with them in battle and ensure their safety! If a single refugee dies, I will hold you accountable!!"

"Yes!!"

Finally, Lei Lie looked at the Professionals who had already assembled behind him, and his long sword pointed sharply outside the city,

"Su Nan! Guo Qiang! Cao Suanzi!"

The three Professionals roared in unison: "Here!!"

"Lead your units of Paladins, Berserkers, and Assassins! Follow me..."

He leaped, jumping directly off the thirty-meter-high city wall, and while still in mid-air, his roar resounded through the sky:

"Leave the city!! Kill the wolves!!!"

...

The Demonic Wolves were extremely fast; they were like streaks of gray lightning, charging across the several-hundred-meter open ground in the blink of an eye.

Their hideous fangs and bloodthirsty eyes were already clearly visible.

On top of the city gate tower, Archer squad leader Zhang Qin stared fixedly below, his palms full of sweat.

Although he was now a Professional with Black Iron Rank strength, this was, after all, the first time in his life he had faced a real Demonic Beast tide, and even more so, the first time he was giving orders as a commander.

Closer, even closer!

When the wolf pack charged into the one-hundred-fifty-meter line of life and death, Zhang Qin swung his trembling arm down abruptly and roared:

"Fire!!"

However, he was not the only one who was nervous.

At this command, nearly a hundred Archers who had only changed classes a few days ago drew their bows and fired almost instinctively.

At this moment, a problem with the command appeared.

Zhang Qin was too nervous; he only shouted "Fire," but forgot to shout "Fire what."

Was it a normal attack? Or a skill? If it was a skill, which skill to use?

Consequently, the scene instantly went out of control.

Everyone was on the battlefield for the first time, and their minds were blank. Since the captain didn't specify, well... just use whichever skill they were most familiar with!

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh——!"

In an instant, a multicolored rain of light rose from the top of the city wall.

Some Archers habitually used Guided Arrow, the arrows drawing eerie blue arcs in the air, automatically tracking their targets.

Some Archers pursued power and directly unleashed Explosive Arrow, the arrowheads burning with red flames, whistling away.

Others with steady personalities used Aimed Shot, the arrows carrying a green wind-attribute enhancement, moving at astonishing speeds.

Red, blue, green... arrows of various colors mixed together. At first glance, it didn't look like a battle, but rather like setting off fireworks, dazzlingly messy.

Looking at this disorganized rain of arrows, Zhang Qin's heart sank, and his face instantly turned red to the roots of his ears.

"Oh no! Command error!"

With such messy attacks, let alone coordination, even the coverage area was uneven.

However... it didn't matter anymore.

Because this was Flower City.

Because this group of Archers, who looked like rookies, were each a genuine Black Iron Rank combat force!

In the face of absolute power, a lack of skill could be completely compensated for by damage!

"Puff puff puff puff——!!"

The dense rain of arrows fell; although many arrows missed due to poor aim and plunged into the snow.

But even with only a one-third hit rate, for these hundred-plus Demonic Wolves, it was a catastrophe.

A Demonic Wolf charging at the very front was about to leap when an Explosive Arrow slammed directly into its forehead.

"Boom!" The wolf's head instantly exploded, and red and white matter splattered.

Another Demonic Wolf tried to dodge, but was locked onto by three Guided Arrows. With three "puff" sounds, they pierced directly through its soft abdomen, and it rolled over a dozen meters on the ground while screaming, dying on the spot.

It was just a single wave of chaotic shooting.

"Awoo——!!" The pack of Demonic Wolves, which had been charging with fierce Aura and perfect uniformity, instantly seemed to have slammed into an invisible wall of air.

Screams rose one after another; the thirty or forty Demonic Wolves at the front fell instantly, their blood staining the white snow red.

"This..."

The Archers on the city wall were stunned.

Their hands holding the bows were still trembling, but their eyes had changed from fear to dullness, and finally to ecstasy.

They had heard from the older generation that Demonic Beasts were incredibly fierce, had thick skin and flesh, and were hard to injure with ordinary swords and blades.

They had all prepared for a bitter battle.

As a result... that's it?

Doesn't seem that tough!

They were practically made of paper!

An unprecedented sense of confidence instantly filled everyone's chest.

Zhang Qin was also greatly invigorated.

He looked at the disheveled wolf pack below; his previous nervousness was swept away, and his confidence in commanding instantly rose.

In that chaotic volley just now, he keenly discovered that the area-of-effect damage caused by the Explosive Arrow was the best.

Consequently, he raised his hand again without hesitation and shouted the order:

"Everyone listen to my command! Explosive Arrow——Fire!!"

This time, with a unified command, the Archers' movements were much more uniform.

The sound of bowstrings vibrating was like a muffled thunderclap.

However... the scene was still somewhat awkward.

Because many people had already used it during the first round of chaotic shooting, and the spiritual power circuits of their skills were still on cooldown.

This resulted in this round of volley fire having less than half the people firing Explosive Arrows with flames, while the rest could only stare blankly, or fire normal arrows.

The rain of arrows became sparse, and its Aura was far inferior to the first wave.

But as the saying goes, hard power is enough!

The Demonic Wolves were ultimately just low-tier Black Iron Rank Demonic Beasts; surviving the first round without dying was already a miracle.

Facing this second round of Explosive Arrows, which were sparse but immensely powerful, the remaining Demonic Wolves completely collapsed.

"Boom boom boom——!!"

A series of explosions rang out within the wolf pack.

Flames soared into the sky, and severed limbs flew everywhere.

When the smoke cleared, of the original grand pack of over a hundred Demonic Wolves, only a mere dozen or so broken soldiers with blown-off legs and shattered courage remained standing, whimpering with their tails tucked, trying to run back.

"We won!!"

"Haha! What kind of damn Demonic Beast, too weak!"

"Huh? Is this the extent of it?"

"What Demonic Wolves, I think they are nothing special!"

...

The Archers on the city wall cheered and jumped for joy.

Zhang Qin was even more excited, his face glowing with red light. He raised his hand again, preparing to order a third round of finishing blows to completely annihilate this pack of Demonic Wolves and take the first credit for the defense of Flower City.

"Everyone prepare! Give me..."

However.

Just at the moment Zhang Qin's arm was about to swing down.

A large hand suddenly reached out from the side, grabbing his arm tightly, with enough force to almost pull him over.

"Who?!" Zhang Qin turned back in anger.

He saw Mage squad leader Liu Gan, who was currently glaring with a pair of bloodshot eyes, roaring at him in frustration:

"Stop! You stop it!!"

Zhang Qin was stunned: "Liu Gan? What are you doing? I'm trying to annihilate the enemy!"

"Annihilate my ass!!" Liu Gan pointed at the few remaining stray wolves below, his spit almost spraying onto Zhang Qin's face,

"You Archers have eaten all the meat, not even leaving us a sip of soup?!"

"You've killed them all, who are we supposed to kill?!"

"Next time! Next time!" Zhang Qin, while perfunctorily dealing with Liu Gan who was pulling his arm, kept his eyes fixed on those few low-health Demonic Wolves in the distance, the bowstring tightly gripped in his hand showing no sign of loosening.

At the same time, he said quickly:

"We're close, right? Right? This time your brother will solve it for you! You Mages have such a hard time casting spells, save some spiritual power, save some trouble! Come on, let go, let me finish them with the last arrow!"

"Screw that!!" Liu Gan was so angry his face and neck turned red, and he roared loudly: "Zhang Qin! Be a human for once!!"

"Over a hundred wolves, you Archers ate eighty! You won't even leave us these last dozen cripples?!"

"Don't move again! If you move again, I'm going to flip out!"

Clatter——!

Following Liu Gan's roar, the dozens of Mages behind him, who had long been holding back with red eyes, took a step forward in unison. The tips of the staffs in their hands flickered with light, and they looked ready to blast their own allies off the wall if things went wrong.

"Fine, fine, fine! I'm scared of you guys!"

Seeing that this group of Mages was truly getting agitated, Zhang Qin could only sigh helplessly, released the bowstring with a pained expression, and waved his hand,

"Everyone! Stop firing! Let the Mage brothers have... the Demonic Beasts!"

Hearing this, Liu Gan's expression instantly turned from cloudy to sunny, "That's more like it!"