Accompanying low-lying snow clouds and a chilling north wind, the sky darkened to pitch black, making it impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face. On either side of the wall, countless torches flickered like stars, dimly illuminating the open space before them.
"They're here."
Though no enemies were yet in sight, a familiar suffocating tension told Li Xi that the attackers had reached the outer perimeter of the wall.
"True Sight."
Twenty-four spellcasters cast their spells simultaneously, like twenty-four stars brought down to earth, showering the ground with a cool, clear light in the ancient castle's sky.
Indeed, under the light, cool and clear as water, dozens of sparse, hazy figures that had infiltrated close to the wall were revealed.
There was no pre-battle declaration at this moment. The mercenaries of the Three Great Mercenary Corps drew their long swords and brandished their sharp blades, facing the enemies before them. Amidst the ear-piercing sounds of weapons piercing flesh and blood spurting, these dozens of infiltrators were cut down beneath the wall before they could even scale it.
As soon as the infiltrators revealed by the light appeared, a primal roar that shook heaven and earth echoed from afar.
"Thump." "Thump." "Thump."
It sounded like the heartbeat of the earth pulsing beneath the ancient castle, causing the fine gravel on the ground to dance up and down in rhythm.
Li Xi cast his gaze into the distance. In the darkness, a behemoth with short, thick horns on its head was unceremoniously snapping a few bare, crooked trees by the roadside as it charged headlong towards the wall.
Its thick, calcified hide, like stone, protected its fragile internal organs. Its tail, like a python twenty meters long, could crack the frozen ground with a casual sweep. Its four thick legs, five meters high, made the crooked trees by the roadside look like dwarfs suffering from dwarfism. Even its seemingly short horns were two meters long; anyone impaled by them would be like a person sliced in half at the waist.
A heavy-duty truck with eight wheels in the front and eight in the back would appear small and cute in front of this behemoth, for this was the largest known beast among the sub-dragon race, bar none. It was also one of the few sub-dragon beasts that dragons could control. Don't be fooled by its weight of thousands of tons; its stony hide boasted a defense comparable to a peak Rank Six expert, and its strength surpassed even that of a Rank Seven expert. Yet, it was, in reality, a herbivore!!!
This was the most docile of the sub-dragon beasts, the Foundation Sub-dragon. Despite its gentle nature, it possessed no offensive skills beyond simple movements. However, its enormous size meant that a single sneeze could kill a fragile life.
"Stop him."
Galidors shouted with his hoarsest voice, his words laced with fear. If this Foundation Sub-dragon reached the wall, this dilapidated structure would likely not even be enough to trip it.
The mercenaries of the Three Great Mercenary Corps looked at the behemoth charging like a steamroller and then at their weapons. A blow against the Foundation Sub-dragon would likely not even pierce its skin.
"Whoosh." "Whoosh." "Whoosh."
Dozens of large fireballs flew from the mercenary ranks, striking the Foundation Sub-dragon's head with unerring accuracy. Each impact caused a startling explosion.
However, before the flames even subsided, the Foundation Sub-dragon, unperturbed, smashed through the lingering embers of the fireballs and continued its steadfast charge toward the wall.
Flaming Wind Blades, Earth Spikes, Ground Traps, Water Snake Restraints, Mud Golem Summoning, Hunter's Arrows, Flying Wheel Slashes imbued with Battle Qi energy...
Alas, no matter what magic, Battle Qi attack, or whistling arrows were unleashed, they were like a wild boar breaking through a fence against the Foundation Sub-dragon. They left only minor marks on its body and failed to impede its advance.
"Form ranks!"
The commander's roar echoed across the battlefield beyond the wall. The unique beast cavalry of the Mammoth Mercenary Corps began to form ranks directly in front of the Foundation Sub-dragon. Their mounts, half a head taller than ordinary warhorses and large enough to accommodate two warhorses, were rendered insignificant by the Foundation Sub-dragon; they were less than even a sturdy rabbit next to an elephant.
The fur on the mounts, so thick that flies landing on it would slip, heaved with each heavy step of the Foundation Sub-dragon. Even though each mount trembled with fear and wanted to retreat, their eyes revealing their apprehension, their riders could not suppress their tears. Each rider cherished their mount even more than their own family. Yet, under the control of their masters, knowing retreat was impossible, they prepared to launch a desperate charge against their invincible opponent.
Everyone understood that this battle would be unprecedentedly dangerous. But for the honor of the mercenaries and for the two princesses behind them, no one could retreat, no one could lose. Honor was their life, and advance was their pursuit.
Bruce's eyes were filled with reluctance and pain. After this battle, their painstakingly accumulated beast cavalry, saved through great effort, would be lost. Yet, the situation had come to this, and there was no possibility of retreat.
Bruce stood at the forefront of the beast cavalry, slowly drawing his two-handed greatsword weighing hundreds of pounds from his back. He wished to leave behind a sliver of their beast cavalry's bloodline and flame for the Mammoth Mercenary Corps. Only with him, a Rank Six Indomitable Warrior, holding the line at the very front, was there any hope.
Taking a deep breath of the cold, snow-laden air, he calmed his lungs and mind from the pre-battle frenzy. "Beast cavalry, follow me..."
"Wait, leave this behemoth to me. Commander Bruce, you go deal with the other enemies." Li Xi suddenly appeared beside Bruce without anyone noticing. At the same time, two more Li Xis appeared before and behind the Foundation Sub-dragon. These three were naturally Li Xi's shadow clones.
"Lord Li Xi, I..."
Although Bruce knew Li Xi could handle the terrifying Foundation Sub-dragon before them, this feeling of being protected made the renowned Mammoth Mercenary Corps feel somewhat embarrassed.
In the past, who would dare to speak of the Mammoth Mercenary Corps without calling them a group of hardened men? They were heroes who dared to charge head-on against Orc armies without yielding an inch, fighting to the last man without surrender. Even when facing cruel ogres, these hardened men could fight to the death without advantage in numbers. Now, before even engaging the enemy, they were being protected and made spectators. This did not align with the Mammoth Mercenary Corps' style of doing things.
"Commander Bruce, while honor is important, the lives of our brothers are even more so. Your mission ahead is even more critical." The shadow clone Li Xi did not look back, knowing that every beast cavalryman was grateful. It wasn't that these mercenaries feared death or clung to their lives; rather, facing an opponent like the Foundation Sub-dragon, which was truly insurmountable, they feared their sacrifices would be in vain.
Bruce had no time to stubbornly insist on attacking, for the shadow clone Li Xi had already made his move.
The Foundation Sub-dragon's intelligence was not high. Once controlled by dragons or other life forms, it would only move towards its target. Coupled with its ability to ignore over eighty percent of attacks in the world, the Foundation Sub-dragon appeared indifferent to everything, including the fact that its next step would land on Li Xi. To the Foundation Sub-dragon, stepping on a few humans was no different from stepping on a few unwary beasts.
Facing a foot larger than a four-person dining table about to crush him, the shadow clone Li Xi bit his thumb and slammed his hand onto the ground. Countless runes appeared.
"Ninjutsu: Summoning Technique: Rashomon."
Amidst the leisurely swaying of a giant wind chime, a massive, all-metal demonic gate, several meters thick, rose from the ground, its height exceeding that of the ancient castle. Flin, who was peeking from a window, stared in astonishment, his mouth agape.
"Brother Xi, you're amazing." Flin spoke his most admiring and praising words to Li Xi on the rooftop, his eyes sparkling with starry admiration, as if he wished to pledge himself to Li Xi on the spot.
"Boom."
"Creak."
The entire head of a Foundation Sub-dragon was pressed out from the back of Rashomon. Its "short" horns, each two meters long, even pierced through Rashomon, directly aiming for the shadow clone Li Xi. The shadow clone Li Xi truly did not expect that a defensive summoning technique of Rashomon's magnitude could be pierced solely by the brute force of the Foundation Sub-dragon.
Fortunately, the momentum of the Foundation Sub-dragon's full-speed charge knocked it unconscious upon impact. The recoil force caused its stony hide to ripple like water, spreading from its head to its entire body.
Its eye, the size of a pot lid, wobbled uncontrollably in its socket. Before Rashomon even disappeared, it flipped onto its belly and fainted.
Everyone watching the fainted Foundation Sub-dragon simultaneously let out a sigh of relief. This behemoth, at such high speed, had only knocked itself unconscious by crashing into the all-metal gate. Its defense was truly unreasonable.
Li Xi, the main body, did not rejoice at the Foundation Sub-dragon knocking itself unconscious by crashing into Rashomon. Feeling the aura of numerous powerful individuals in the distance, and one among them that stood out like the moon in a dark night sky amidst a large enemy crowd, Li Xi knew this expert was his opponent.
"Do you still remember how to use this thing?" Li Xi handed Flin a box of explosive tags. Li Xi could no longer stay to protect Flin, so he took out these useful and practical explosive tags.
Flin's eyes lit up like a thief spotting a rare treasure upon seeing the explosive tags. "I know, I know! I haven't finished using the ones you gave me last time."
"Just throw them at any enemy you see, and I guarantee no one will dare to approach you." Even though Flin was equipped with magical gear all over, Li Xi was still worried.
Biting his finger, he placed it on the rooftop.
"Ninjutsu: Summoning Technique."
"Bang."
A mountain ape over twenty meters tall, clad in heavy, non-reflective steel plate armor and wielding an iron rod thicker than a water bucket with a hammerhead at both ends, appeared before the ancient castle. This was Sun Er Dai, Li Xi's summoning beast that had not appeared for a long time.
Sun Er Dai's appearance immediately drew everyone's attention. The expressions in every gaze were filled with disbelief, as no one in this era had ever seen a beast wearing such complete equipment, especially armor that could assemble half a combat brigade.
When did beasts stop relying on their strong physique to fight opponents head-on and instead start wearing equipment like humans? This was simply an anomaly in the beast world. While other beasts attacked with their claws, this beast used an iron rod with a hammerhead. Such a beast lacks martial virtue!
"You stay here and protect Princess Flin. Her words are my words. Understand?" Li Xi instructed Sun Er Dai.
After hearing Li Xi's instructions and looking at Flin, Sun Er Dai's face revealed a smile that even an ordinary person could detect as slightly lewd.
"Roar, roar."
He understood.
"Brother Xi, your contracted beast has such high intelligence, with such a complex expression." Flin did not understand the meaning behind Sun Er Dai's lewd smile, mistaking it for simple cleverness.
Li Xi glared at Sun Er Dai. Flin didn't know what Sun Er Dai meant, but he did. Sun Er Dai had taken Flin as his third mistress. Such a smile was merely praising his master's prowess!
"Don't mind him. With him here, and with so many explosive tags, plus the magical equipment you're wearing, it's enough to ensure your safety."
Flin, being particularly sensible, said, "Brother Xi, you be careful too. I believe you are the strongest, but if you encounter too many enemies, come back. No enemy can enter the ancient castle."
Beyond the defensive line of the Three Great Mercenary Corps, a large number of figures suddenly appeared. Among them, a golden-haired man, whose radiance could not be obscured even by the night, was the most conspicuous. It was like a peacock appearing in a flock of chickens, or a shark mixing into a pond of turtles. One look and all eyes would be drawn to him.
The empty-handed golden-haired man, Adrian, looked disdainfully at the three great mercenary corps standing in formation. Even Bruce, Alisha, and Ivan, all peak Rank Six experts, did not elicit any change in his expression, as if they were all insignificant trash. Only upon seeing Li Xi on the ancient castle's rooftop did his expression become solemn. An expert knows an expert; Li Xi's ability to take down the Foundation Sub-dragon with a few shadow clones was enough to attest to his strength.
"Mercenary Li Xi, come out and fight."
His voice shook the surroundings, scattering the falling snowflakes, as if the light snow had turned into clouds at that moment.
Everyone, whether the attackers preparing to earn bounties or the mercenaries tasked with protecting the princesses, looked towards the figure on the ancient castle's rooftop, standing behind the mountain ape clad in armor, like soldiers awaiting their general's command.
...
On Li Xi's first day at the ancient castle, he met the Grand Princess in her study. Uncharacteristically, the Grand Princess was not handling state affairs. She was alone in the brightly lit room, gazing into the roaring candle flame, her deep, bright, and slightly weary eyes not blinking for a long time.
She heard everything happening outside, but it seemed as if the entire study was a world apart from the outside.
Just as the golden-haired man Adrian challenged Li Xi, in the study, at the desk of Grand Princess Fimor, a dark crack suddenly appeared in space. As the crack expanded, an old man in a grey mage robe, holding an ancient staff, walked out with a smile.
At this moment, an old woman entirely clad in red suddenly appeared behind the Grand Princess and stood before Grand Princess Fimor.