149: various forces

More undead passed through the blazing flames, reaching the base of the city wall and beginning to climb.

For every undead repelled by the defenders on the city wall, two more would climb up from below.

Their ascent was slow, but they possessed immense patience.

They groped for handholds on the stone wall, their pale green eyes constantly looking upwards.

They continuously let out cackling laughs, as if they had already tasted blood.

Among these undead, some were men in life, their emaciated bodies still clad in tattered fragments of old armor.

Others were women, and even children, still wearing cheap woolen sweaters, clutching maggot-infested dolls tightly in their hands, climbing step by step.

Whatever their expressions were in life, they were now replaced by the same terrifying yet blank smile.

The first undead climbed near Derek. A long, slender forearm stretched out, swaying in the air, desperately struggling and groping at the top of the city wall.

Derek waited for it to fully emerge before swinging his short sword down fiercely.

The arm snapped at the elbow, and the climbing undead fell with it.

Immediately after, another skeleton climbed up, gripping the edge of the city wall tightly.

Vanka swung her sword downwards, but perhaps in her haste, she missed her target, and the blade struck the stone with a clang.

Another hand immediately appeared beside the first, its ashen fingers gripping the city brick tightly, about to clamber over.

Moonbrook intervened in time, swinging her sword from the side and severing the climber's wrist.

The attacker tumbled to the ground, leaving only its two severed hands still gripping the edge of the city wall.

“Thank you!” Vanka thanked Moonbrook.

“We need to go treat the wounded,” Moonbrook responded. “Can you handle it alone?”

Seeing Vanka nod, she and another Mountain People member turned to their primary duty of treating the wounded.

Many undead creatures had already appeared on the wooden city wall, and flocks of carrion bats circled overhead.

These damned monsters constantly harassed the archers on the city wall. Many archers were bitten and scratched, forced to wave torches to drive them away.

The casualty count was slowly rising.

By now, more arms were reaching for the edge of the city wall.

Along the city wall, the swordsmen were busy chopping off the grasping hands, knocking the undead back to the ground.

Vanka looked up, and after only a moment, she saw the slowly moving Night Mist.

The white Night Mist and the black smoke from the fires intertwined and drifted above the besieged town, making her throat dry and itchy.

On the city wall, the sounds of battle rose and fell—the sharp scraping and clanging of metal weapons, intertwined with the screams and shouts of the human defenders.

And amidst all this clamor, the tide of death continued to surge, as if it would never end.

Jessica handed over command to the Sheriff and Ismark.

He had deployed everything and informed all commanding officers of the detailed plan; now, he needed to do something else.

Within the mist, a massive figure slowly appeared.

The thing was four to five meters tall, and no one could accurately describe its appearance.

It seemed to be pieced together from the bodies of various creatures; its thickest arm had been transformed into a large hammer, and the end of its other arm was a large scythe.

Beneath it was a bull-like body with six limbs, which were either horse hooves or ox hooves, moving rapidly towards the main gate of Mist Town.

The thudding footsteps heavily impacted everyone's hearts.

On the other side of Mist Town, a ghostly figure descended from the sky, landing silently on the chimney of the mayor's residence.

Olivia looked up and glanced at the flag fluttering in the wind, a disdainful smile on her face.

She turned her gaze to the townspeople scurrying through the streets.

Watching these ant-like, lowly creatures struggle for their pathetic lives, she found it utterly ridiculous.

However, this time, she hadn't come for food.

As one of the Dark Lord's least favored brides, Olivia had always been a lone wolf, but this also allowed her to act as she pleased.

Therefore, upon learning of the arrival of the new Baron of Qingfeng Valley, she didn't have to be as cautious as the others.

She had already received some information from Rage Claw.

Apparently, this new Baron was a priest of the Mother Earth and seemed to have gained the attention of that old hag.

Olivia pondered how to toy with this little priest.

For example, turning him into a derivatives and making him her slave—she had done such things before.

Watching the followers of the good gods struggle in bloodthirsty despair was a pleasure for her.

She continued to gaze at the city wall not far away.

The fall of Mist Town was only a matter of time. That bastard Isgrasa had deceived the great master with a feigned death, secretly accumulating such formidable power.

But Olivia was not worried; she was a lone wolf, and it was Deacon and Elizabeth who should be concerned.

Finally, she turned her gaze to the village church, leapt, and flew towards that place.

Meanwhile, outside Mist Town, the undead army had attracted Elizabeth Vandro and Deacon Toredo.

These two most powerful rulers of Qingfeng Valley were together, enjoying the destruction of this place.

Each accompanied by their trusted subordinates, they were gathered together for a rare occasion that was not to fight each other and drain each other's blood.

“Olivia is here too,” Deacon said to Elizabeth.

The leader of the Vandro clan showed disdain. She knew very well that Deacon mentioning Olivia was merely to provoke her.

“She’s just a stray dog,” she replied.

“Is a newly appointed Baron worth our personal attention?

“A fool, just like the ones before.”

Deacon laughed, “But I heard that kid is quite capable, even outsmarting Rage Claw and causing him to lose quite a few men.”

The female vampire responded, “A brief victory means nothing.

“Look at the Lovich Family; everything they fought so hard to protect is about to turn into ruins.

“As for that deity who dared to challenge our Lord, it has long since hidden in a corner of another realm. Do you still think it has the courage to return?

“Now, its followers are few, and it is weak itself.

“I'm more concerned about what Isgrasa will do after Mist Town is destroyed.”

Deacon agreed, “Although our philosophies differ, neither of us wants the dead to rule Qingfeng Valley.

“If Isgrasa has designs on the Throne, then we should cooperate.”

Heh, so this is the real reason you invited me to meet, Elizabeth sneered in her heart.

The Toredo clan were all pure hedonists, good for nothing but causing trouble; cooperating with them would only bring problems.

“No, he cannot rule Qingfeng Valley,” Elizabeth said with certainty. “As for you, you'd best look out for yourselves.

“I’m sure that after Isgrasa occupies Mist Town, he will target you first.”

If it weren't for your infighting with the Throne Seer, I almost would have believed that.

Deacon likewise snorted inwardly.

If an alliance was not possible, then they would have to rely on their own abilities.

He refocused his attention on the battlefield.

That terrifying flesh golem was attacking the city gate.

It wouldn't be long before that wooden door was broken open, and then the tide of death would swarm in.

Deacon couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy, that this small town, which had resisted them for hundreds of years, would meet its destruction in such a way.