157: Chapter 157 The battle is at a stalemate! The beast horde probes! Undercurrents are surging!

Over the next few days, the battle for Black Mountain City entered a stalemate.

The beast tide did not recede, continuing to attack the walls of Black Mountain City day and night without pause.

However, with the addition of fresh troops from Gino City, the defenders were able to rotate and rest, and morale began to recover.

And Rowan, just as the advisor had suggested, began to choose his moments to strike.

He did not strike frequently, often only once or twice a day.

Usually, this was when the beast tide's offensive showed signs of fatigue.

Sometimes, he would also strike when the pressure on the defenders spiked, disrupting the beast tide's offensive.

Each strike perfectly neutralized the greatest point of pressure facing the defenders, yielding immediate results and greatly boosting the defenders' morale.

However, keen observers could tell that The Count seemed to be intentionally conserving his stamina, never again displaying the terrifying power of clearing the field with a single arrow as he had when he first entered the city.

This restrained and precise deterrence clearly had an effect.

Although the beast tide's offensive outside the city continued, it no longer had that crazed momentum of charging forward without regard for casualties.

The beasts had become cautious.

Their attacks began to involve more probing and maneuvering.

The beast tide began to use new tactics—harassing the enemy when they were tired, and retreating when they advanced.

Once they encountered a strong counterattack or saw Rowan strike, they would quickly retreat rather than fighting to the death.

This appeared extremely intelligent and cunning, as if there were some invisible signal directing them.

The entire battlefield seemed to have shifted from a one-sided, frenzied siege to a tug-of-war.

After enduring days of bloody torment, the Black Mountain City defenders finally held the initiative and psychological advantage on the battlefield for the first time.

The city walls were able to get a reprieve for repairs, and the wounded received better treatment.

"The Count is truly mighty!"

"With him here, those beasts won't be able to turn the tide!"

"Heh, I bet that skulking Wolf King is afraid of The Count and doesn't dare to come out!"

Similar discussions spread among the defenders, and their confidence was being rebuilt bit by bit.

However, beneath this improving war situation, undercurrents were surging.

On the edge of the Eternal Freeze Forest, deep within the Mess Mountains.

A pair of ice-blue wolf eyes, constantly perceiving through the beast tide, coldly watched every move on the ramparts of Black Mountain City.

That day, a strange scene appeared in a relatively open clearing in the forest.

A man with a scar on his face stood with his head slightly bowed before a colossal creature.

The scarred man spoke respectfully:

"Noble Lord of Frost Howl, King of the Snow Ridge, Ruler of the Eternal Freeze Forest."

"My master sends you his greetings and brings with him the sincerity of cooperation."

Scarface carefully organized his words, not daring to be the least bit negligent.

"I believe you have already gained Insight into the recent battle situation."

"That newly arrived Count Golden Flame indeed has his extraordinary aspects, and his power and threat have already interfered with your hunting."

"According to the original plan, my master is willing to join hands with you to eliminate this trouble together."

"You only need to appear in person during the coming offensive to attract the attention of Count Golden Flame, forcing him into a direct confrontation with you so he has no time to attend to anything else."

"After doing this a few times, my master will find the right moment to destroy the core defensive magic array of Black Mountain City, causing its city defenses to develop a fatal flaw and fall into chaos."

After speaking, he took out a strange crystal carefully wrapped in ice silkworm silk and continued:

"This item is the deposit my master offers to show his sincerity. After the matter is accomplished, there will be an even greater reward."

"When the time comes, Black Mountain City will fall, and the flesh and souls accumulated in the city will be yours to enjoy as you please. My master only requires what he needs, and he promises that in the future, the northern part of Gino County, south of the Eternal Freeze Forest, will be your exclusive hunting ground, which humans will never easily set foot in."

...

Looking at the tiny human before it, the Lord of Frost Howl slightly lowered its massive wolf head.

Over the past few days, by driving the beast tide to repeatedly probe and observe, it had basically determined that although the newly arrived human powerhouse's attacks were sharp and strange, his energy level was indeed only in the realm of a human Low-tier Great Knight.

The opponent had not displayed the most significant sign of a High-Order Grand Knight: the Battle Aspect of Dou Qi.

Having occupied the Eternal Freeze Forest for over a hundred years, its strength had long stood at the peak of the Low-tier Lord level, and it was only one opportunity away from breaking through to the High-tier.

It did not fear the opponent.

Even if this tiny human in front of it hadn't come, it was already preparing to choose a moment to strike and conduct a greater degree of probing.

Thus, a trace of human-like greed flashed in its wolf eyes. It stretched out a front claw, hooked the Earth Vein Ice Essence, and then, without even looking at it, tilted its head and swallowed it into its belly.

This was the signal of agreement.

Seeing this, the heavy stone in Scarface's heart fell, and he hurriedly bowed: "My Lord is wise!"

...

Black Mountain City.

The secret dark room where Viscount Willis was hiding.

A structural map of Black Mountain City hung on the wall, with several places circled—these were the locations of the core energy nodes of the defensive magic array.

Scarface stood with his hands down before Viscount Willis, reporting in a low voice the details of his meeting with the Lord of Frost Howl.

"Good, good, good!"

After hearing this, Viscount Willis could not suppress the twisted smile of mixed ecstasy and malice that appeared on his face.

He paced back and forth in the narrow dark room with his hands behind his back:

"Haha, this beast really couldn't resist the temptation of advancing! As long as it is willing to strike and pin down that little bastard Rowan head-on..."

Speaking to this point, he stopped abruptly, signaled for Scarface to leave, and then turned to look at a figure in the shadows of the dark room's corner.

"Sir Knight Chitu," Viscount Willis's voice carried a hint of suppressed excitement:

"You heard it all, right? Next, we just need to wait for that beast to initiate and draw Rowan into battle, and then we can proceed according to plan. As for your side..."

Knight Chitu waved his hand impatiently and said:

"I can understand human language. But, Willis, you are being far too cowardly!"

His eyes were full of disdain:

"Coordinating with that big wolf, plus you and me, that's three Great Knight-level combatants besieging a greenhorn who looks like he just stepped into this realm. In our grasslands, this formation would be enough to slaughter the chieftain of a small tribe!"

"What are you waiting for with that bullshit magic array destruction? Why not just find an opportunity to all charge at once and tear him to shreds?"

"I've been watching these past few days; that kid's arrows are a bit weird, but he can't turn the sky upside down!"

The smile on Viscount Willis's face froze slightly, and a flash of gloom and wariness passed deep in his eyes.

Caution is the parent of safety; this was the principle he had realized most deeply after experiencing many storms.

"I naturally know of your valor, Sir Chitu." Viscount Willis squeezed out a smile and softened his tone:

"It's just that Rowan also has some extraordinary aspects, and he acts with ruthless decisiveness; one cannot be too careful."

"If we can first break his city defenses and throw his army into chaos, then attack together with thunderous force, only then can we ensure absolute success and minimize the risk."

"After all, this matter concerns our lives and our future grand plans."

Knight Chitu curled his lip, clearly unimpressed by this rhetoric, but he was too lazy to argue further:

"Fine, fine, fine. You Southerners have as many schemes as a honeycomb. Do as you please!"

"But I'll say the ugly words first: I'm here under orders to help, not to be your long-term laborer."

"That old dog from the Lance family is watching closely, and the front lines are still in a tug-of-war. I can stay here for at most seven more days."

"Within seven days, this matter must be finished! Otherwise, I'm packing up and leaving, you can play by yourselves!"

"Seven days... that's enough!" Viscount Willis's eyes flashed with intensity as he nodded heavily:

"Rest assured, everything has been arranged properly. Our people are making final preparations on the magic array; it will be soon."

"When the time comes, I will still have to rely heavily on your divine might, Sir."

"Hmph." Knight Chitu snorted through his nose, crossed his arms again, and closed his eyes to rest.

Viscount Willis said no more, turning back to look at the structural map of Black Mountain City on the wall, his eyes burning with near-maniacal heat and greed.

"Rowan Flynn... your good luck ends here." He whispered silently.

As long as he could slay Rowan here this time...

Then, the credit for cleaning up the mess and turning the tide, plus the full support of the Royal Family and The Count...

Who else but him could be Count Golden Flame?!

He seemed to already see the scene of himself wearing the Count's formal attire, seated high upon the main throne of Golden Flame Castle.

As for the destruction and casualties caused by this battle... those were all the evil consequences of the former Count Golden Flame, Rowan Flynn's, stubbornness and command errors!

Once he held the power, he would definitely carry out a thorough reckoning and seek grand justice for those fallen souls and the soldiers and civilians who bled!