War is on the verge of breaking out!
"There aren't any Alpha-level dark creatures!"
Lilith frowned. It was unusual that no Alpha-level creatures were attacking the city.
"Let's wait a bit!"
"We need to be on guard against these sneaky bastards trying to draw our attention. They might strike the south gate walls at any mont."
Delilah stood atop the city wall, hands folded behind her back, staring at the wave of dark creatures swarming in from the distance. Her face remained unreadable.
Far off, deep in the darkness, there ca a strange low roar, buried beneath the chorus of ordinary dark creatures—so well hidden that it was almost impossible to notice.
Enchanted butterfly, the butterfly-assassin, and that invisible butterflies leader all twitched their antennae. It seed they'd received so sort of signal. All three stopped where they were and fell silent.
In the shadows, a tentacle monster and two newly arrived Alpha-level dark creatures watched the surge of dark creatures assaulting Blackstone City, as if biding their ti. In reality, this wave was only a test—to see whether there was an arrow tower in the west of Blackstone City.
As the dark creatures approached the city, spears, bolts, and rolling boulders showered down, but there were no bright, devastating bolts—no sign of a tower.
"There's no arrow tower here. This is their weak spot!"
The one speaking was none other than that surviving tentacle monster. Its voice was raspy, layered with echoes. It had nearly been killed by Rendall before slinking back into the darkness, then devoured a large number of dark creatures to recover.
"Just wait. Let's send in a few more waves. When the cannon fodder climbs those walls, we'll see what's really going on."
Of the two new arrivals, one was a Four-Winged Blood Bat and the other an eight-ard Night Stalkers. The speaker was that eight-ard Night Stalkers, whose voice was sharp, almost grating.
anwhile, the Four-Winged Blood Bat kept quiet, covertly sizing up the other three Alpha-level powerhouses from Butterfly Ridge. By rights, they were all supposed to lead this invasion.
Before descending, the Bat had also received Sophia's instructions to obey the butterfly-assassin's commands. But now, that butterfly-assassin was still hidden away, not making an appearance or even sending a transmission.
Having survived countless slaughters, the Four-Winged Blood Bat found this situation suspicious.
"Leader, when are we going to attack?"
After so thought, the Four-Winged Blood Bat spoke, directing its question to what seed to be empty air.
"As soon as we get the results of these tests, we'll begin."
Although the butterfly-assassin still didn't appear, its voice echoed through the darkness. Hearing this, the Four-Winged Blood Bat let out a quiet sigh of relief. At least the Phoenix Butterfly Ridge side hadn't abandoned the invasion.
…
On the western wall of Blackstone City, the enemy numbers were ballooning. So dark creatures had already broken through the covering arrow fire. A few leaps later, the more powerful among them landed on the city walls.
Crack!
A giant blade whistled through the air, striking cleanly and beheading a Night Stalkers. Scenes like this played out repeatedly across the battlents, especially in the zones guarded by Alpha-level fighters.
In a flash, the walls were drenched in blood; limbs were scattered everywhere. The slaughter raged on, and lives were snuffed out one after another.
"They're coming!"
Lysinthia's warning rang out again. The other elders felt a cluster of Alpha-level auras approaching from afar.
Just then, a piercing hawk screech sounded over Blackstone City, tinged with urgency.
"Lilith, you're in charge!"
High above Blackstone City, a flock of invisible butterflies appeared. Trailing behind them was a Four-Winged Blood Bat. Thunderhawk Rayden's cry wasn't about claiming territory or intimidating opponents—it was a distress call.
Delilah took a horn from her belt and blew it. This was her private signal with Thunderhawk Rayden, their agreed-upon cue.
Monts later, Thunderhawk Rayden dove down from the sky. After Delilah nodded at Lilith, she leapt onto the thunderhawk's back in a single bound.
Two Alpha-level dark creatures had appeared in the sky, and Thunderhawk Rayden needed backup—otherwise, there was a real chance it could die in battle.
As if on cue, the arrow tower on the far west side of Horde Hall lit up and fired a glowing arrow into the sky.
Boom!
The mont the invisible butterflies flock approached Blackstone City, just entering the arrow tower's range, they were hit. One invisible butterfly was instantly shot down, and two more got caught in the blast, plumting to their deaths.
Hovering in the air, Delilah spread a pair of fleshy wings behind her, rising steadily on Thunderhawk Rayden's back with a razor-sharp glare.
She held spider silk in her right hand and a taming collar in her left, guiding Thunderhawk Rayden as it swooped after the Four-Winged Blood Bat. As for the invisible butterflies, they had already flown into the arrow tower's kill zone, so they could be ignored for now.
On the ground, besides the butterfly-assassin and the enchanted butterfly, the tentacle monster, and the eight-ard night stalkers had already joined the fight.
"I'll take on the tentacle monster!"
Onyx's tone was casual but radiated confidence. He didn't bother asking any other elder to partner with him. Onyx leaped off the city wall, and the ground cracked beneath him. A crimson Dark Armored Beetle burst upward, catching him neatly. That beetle was Onyx's Blood Spirit.
"Earthshaker, co on! Let's chop down that eight-ard Night Stalkers!"
"Got it!"
Not to be outdone, Rendall shouted at Earthshaker, then jumped off the wall himself.
"You guys can't handle that enchanted butterfly. I'll go."
"Lysinthia, have Twilight Viper co with !"
"Slagor, you manage the battle. Order reinforcents whenever there's a gap in our defenses!"
Concern darkened Lysinthia's face. Out of everyone in the Stoneheart Horde, aside from Orion, Lilith was the one who treated her the best.
"If you're not on these walls watching over him, I'm worried that damned butterfly-assassin might take him down," Lilith said, pointing at Slagor. She smirked, then leapt over the parapet.
Lysinthia wanted to say sothing else, but it was too late. With no other options, she had to rely on Twilight Viper to help Lilith.
In the blink of an eye, the only Alpha-level fighters left on the city wall were Slagor and Lysinthia. Lysinthia drew the slender sword at her side. Her hair turned into writhing black serpents, each one poised to strike. She stood atop the wall without expression, silent, her senses stretched to their limits.
Slagor glanced at Lysinthia, then at the handful of succubus bloodline warriors awaiting orders behind him. For a mont, he was at a loss for words.
"I'm a fighter, too—you don't have to protect
like I'm defenseless."
Even as he sighed, Slagor realized sothing else: aside from Orion, anyti an elder served as the Stoneheart Horde's commanding officer, they were pretty much a sitting target.
"The fact that command's in your hands ans you're up to it," Lysinthia said calmly. "Stay focused on the battle. Reinforce weak links right away. Minimize casualties."
Her cool voice made Slagor pause. Then he nodded in silence and directed his attention to the edges of the battlefield, keeping watch on every corner.
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