Chapter 54: Blood-Soaked Scorched Earth

The promise before dawn was torn to shreds, replaced by the roar of steel and death.

"Fire arrows!"

As Chen Wen gave the order, the sparse arrows on the low earthen walls of Jiao Tu Zhen leapt into the air, desperately pouring down upon the advancing enemy formation.

This was their sole long-range advantage, the fruit of Shi Dun leading the blacksmiths and women and children to work day and night.

However, facing the shield formation below, like a moving castle.

Most of the arrows weakly lodged into the thick wooden shields.

Or they were deflected, and occasionally a lucky one slipped through a gap, eliciting a muffled groan.

But to the entire army formation, it was merely a ripple on the lake.

Liu Du Tou's troops displayed the quality expected of elite local warlords.

The sword-and-shield bearers advanced like a mountain, the spears followed like a forest, and the archers, under shield cover, launched a more precise and concentrated counterattack.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!"

The black arrow rain fell like a swarm of locusts onto the parapet.

Although Chen Wen had previously ordered the raising of the hastily made wooden shields.

Yet some militiamen were struck by stray arrows through the gaps, screaming as they fell from the wall or lay groaning in pools of blood.

"Lower your heads! Raise your shields! Don't panic!"

Zhang Cheng shouted hoarsely, holding an iron-plated wooden shield before him; instantly two or three arrows stuck in its face, their feathers still trembling.

He personally saw a young fellow who had just been sharing hardtack with him, an arrow piercing his throat, the light in his eyes instantly extinguished.

The cruelty of war was laid bare for the first time before these peasants who had only recently taken up arms.

Fear spread like a plague, were it not for Chen Wen standing like a reef at the most dangerous position.

Using his eightfold senses, he precisely deflected arrows aimed at vital spots, and continually issued concise, effective commands!

This hastily assembled force would likely have already collapsed.

"Second squad, forward! Aim at the enemy archers and launch!"

"Rolling logs and stones, ready!"

Chen Wen's heart bled.

Each falling arrow could take away a life that trusted and followed him.

He swung his long blade, deflecting an arrow aimed straight at his face; the shock numbed his tiger's mouth.

Individual bravery appeared so insignificant before an army of this scale.

He might be able to protect himself, even slay dozens of foes, but he could not shield every person behind him.

"Hold steady! Conserve the rolling stones! Wait until they draw near!"

Chen Wen's voice cut through the clamor, carrying an unquestionable calm.

He knew the true test lay ahead.

The enemy vanguard, enduring the arrow rain, finally reached the base of the wall.

Several makeshift ladders were raised high and hooked onto the parapet.

"Grappling hooks! Quick! Push the ladders down!"

The militiamen summoned courage, vigorously pushing and shoving the ladders with long poles.

But the enemy below firmly held the ladder feet!

Meanwhile, more enemy soldiers, knives clenched in their teeth, began to climb up fearlessly.

"Kill—!"

The first wave of enemy troops leapt onto the parapet, blades flashing, blood spraying.

In the brief melee, the militiamen's lack of training was fully exposed.

Despite having eightfold training as a base, granting them strength and reflexes surpassing ordinary people!

But the experience and ruthlessness of life-and-death combat were far beyond what these former farmers could match.

Often, a single encounter was enough for the ferocious enemy soldiers to cut them down.

"Fill the gap! Spearmen, thrust!"

Chen Wen surged into the melee like a whirlwind.

His swordplay had no flourish, only ultimate speed, precision, and ferocity!

Eightfold strength and speed exploded; wherever his blade passed, a spray of blood inevitably followed.

He was like an invisible bulwark, appearing at the most perilous point of the defense!

Each of his strikes could instantly clear a small area, barely holding the line.

Zhang Cheng also went berserk, forming a spearhead with the bravest militiamen, rushing wherever the enemy was thickest.

The parapet instantly became a bloody meat grinder, with roars, screams, and clashing weapons intertwined.

The soil was soaked with blood, turning to mire; each step could tread on a severed limb or corpse.

The battle descended into brutal attrition.

The defenders clung on, relying on the wall's advantage and a surge of blood courage.

But the absolute disadvantage in numbers and manpower made the defense like a spiderweb in a storm, ready to tear at any moment.

Chen Wen glanced at the interface in his mind; the WP value, amidst the fierce emotion and slaughter, continued to slowly rise.

But at this moment, that number seemed so pallid!

What he needed was power that could instantly turn the tide, not a cold tally.

Even if he possessed sixteenfold ability, he likely could not salvage the present situation!

Individual strength is ultimately too small!

"The east wall is under attack! Come quickly, anyone!"

A mournful shout came from the left side.

Chen Wen's heart sank.

The east wall is a relatively weak section of the defense.

He roared, and with one strike split the enemy officer before him, armor and all, then shouted to Zhang Cheng:

"This is yours to handle! Hold the line!"

Before his words even faded, he darted toward the east wall like a leopard.

The sight before him made his eyes almost burst.

A stretch of wall nearly ten meters wide had been seized by the enemy, with troops continuously pouring up from there, while the militia defending it kept retreating, suffering heavy casualties.

Zhao Lao Nian, responsible for that section of the defense, had his thigh pierced by a spear, fell to the ground, and still used the cleaver in his hand to hack at the enemy's ankles.

If this point were completely breached, the enemy could use it as a fulcrum to attack from inside and out, and the entire defense of Jiao Tu Zhen would collapse instantly!

"Follow me up! Drive them down!"

Chen Wen's eyes bloodshot, he led the few reserve troops at his side and charged straight into the enemy mass.

He was like a tiger among sheep, his blade flashing, instantly cutting down several.

But the enemy also noticed this great threat, and immediately more soldiers swarmed in, among them not a few skilled fighters.

Chen Wen instantly felt the pressure surge; a slight delay in his movement drew a cut on his arm armor, burning with pain.

He fought desperately, temporarily holding back the enemies climbing the wall, but enemies continued to climb the ladders.

The defenders' morale had reached the brink of collapse.

Just at this critical moment——

"Wen Ge'er! Watch out for cold arrows!"

From behind came Wang Shen's sharp scream.

Chen Wen jerked sideways; a sinister crossbow bolt grazed his ribs, taking a piece of flesh.

He turned back to see Wang Shen holding a kitchen knife, shielding the wounded Zhao Lao Nian in front of her.

Her face was spattered with blood, yet her eyes were unusually resolute.

Several half-grown children actually grabbed stones and hurled them at the base of the wall.

Even the weakest women and children have joined the battle!

A surge of indescribable grief and fury exploded in Chen Wen's chest.

Could it be that even with all our might we still cannot protect this last patch of pure land?

Could it be that after all our effort we still cannot escape the crushing tide of this chaotic age?

In his mind, the WP value soaring to 8350 fluctuated violently, as if roaring and urging.

That cold upgrade prompt once again became extraordinarily clear and tempting.

"WP has reached the upgrade requirement; should we immediately upgrade to Lv. 4 (16x effect)?"

The city walls trembled, comrades fell, and homes wept.

Chen Wen's gaze swept over the blood-drenched Zhang Cheng, over the desperately fighting Wang Shen, and over every despairing yet resolute face.

He gritted his teeth so hard his gums almost bled.

Not enough…… not yet the time!

Upgrading now would be merely a personal burst, unable to save the situation of the entire line collapsing.

He needed…… needed an opportunity that could completely turn the tide!

A node where this 16-fold power could be exerted to the utmost and truly protect everyone!

"Hold on! Believe me!"

Chen Wen let out an earth-shaking roar, swung his blade again toward the enemy horde, and with his own body bodily plugged the gap.

However, the enemy's offensive surged like waves, one wave fiercer than the next.

From the direction of the western main wall came even more urgent cries, obviously Liu Du Tou had placed the main thrust there.

Jiao Tu Zhen, this lone leaf in a storm, already groaned amid the raging waves, on the verge of breaking apart.

True despair has only just begun.