NOVEL WEB Chapter 66: Defenses Collapses!
A thunderous explosion rocked the fortress city, crimson fire consumed entire sections of the city, and billowing smoke rose through the night sky, illuminated by the moon, boosted by the starry sky.
People of the myriad races fleeing from the front in disarray, a sharp contrast from the organized movements of the soldiers and civilian volunteers, it was as if a sharp arrow was thrown and penetrated every fiber of the world in a real-time simulation through the complex movements of different parties.
Such art forms, even in the deepest of all hells, that even as chaos reigns, beauty could still be found.
However, with the days-long siege and psychological warfare introduced by the ghoulish army, morale was down, and eventually the numbers of the myriad army kept dwindling by the day. Thus, with the attack of this night, it did not take long before the defenses fell, and once again, the ghoulish army of death and destruction entered through the gates, therefore spreading it back inwards.
Survivors and civilians alike, well, civilians who remained despite the order from the military, retreated with haste and utter desperation. Behind them were the survivors from the first line of defense.
Unfortunately, as they got near the castle defenses and therefore its ramparts, they were left with their mouths agape at the utter horror they saw and felt. The bridge was raised, leaving them outside the castle. They've been basically left for death.
With panic-driven masses, they ran and climbed, never mind stepping on another; they would step on another just to get to safety. It got worse and worse to the point that a bridge of people was forming to climb the castle walls, with those at the bottom getting crushed. It did not take long before it became a massacre, not through the ghoulish army, but through their allies.
Their myriad allies started firing arrows at them in a bid of desperation to hold off the ghoulish army, even some hurl rocks, never minding the look of betrayal their fellow myriad at the bottom were giving them, all they know is that they must hold. It did not stop there, even hot oil and fire were drawn and fire overhead and into the people, the myriad towers that were forming collapsed as those at the top were burnt with fire and melted alive. Some who were in close proximity to each other started forming myriad smoothies of an abomination.
The soldiers and volunteers who fled from the first line of defense when it fell watched in horror and affirmed themselves to a fate worse than death if they ever attempted to save their souls from their current situation. Thus, clutching their weapons and a bead of prayers in their hands and heads, they turned their backs and made a formation once again. This time, they have resolved themselves to fight to the death.
Some volunteers were young, perhaps too young to even be participating in such conflicts or to be even part of or have knowledge of. Nevertheless, it was the only thing they could do anyway, as they had been practically abandoned, so they might as well die with honor, knowing they did not die with their backs to the enemy's front.
They made formation, formed ranks and files, and waited until the chaos subsided. Some survivors and civilians, realizing the futility of their situation, picked up fallen weapons and joined the volunteer militia, and with fear present in their very hearts, they waited.
The soldiers and civilians evacuated early, so the ghoulish army first looted the enemy base for leftovers like injured myriads, practically anyone who was incapable of leaving with haste. So, with horror and terror in their expressions and emotions, they were taken and brought as livestock.
After a few moments of looting and tasting some "delectable" livestock, the ghoulish army is once again on the advance. Unfortunately, they would meet a far more organized enemy, one that is powered not by the desire to live, but to bring down as many as they could.
As the ghoulish army were moving down the street, a hail of arrows rained down from the sky, utter shocking the ghoulish movement, a few ghouls were shot, but not severe enough for them to be stopped, and once they started moving once again, myriads people started appearing at the top of the houses and starts to shoot at them frantically.
Arrow by arrow started falling, and hitting the ghouls, but without precision, you cannot kill a ghoul just by hitting it with an arrow. It must be precise, right where it sustains them. Nevertheless, the people provided a good enough distraction and inconvenience for the main force to be able to start preparations.
The ghouls jumped off the streets and climbed from the sides and mercilessly massacred the people of the myriads; they stood no chance other than being a bump on the road.
With the people massacred to death, the ghoulish army once again advances, but is halted once again, when crazed army men of the first lines started rushing them. Their swords, instead of shining blue like the rest and past them, were now shining red, signifying bloodlust and their crazed state.
Defense? What defense? They all slashed very aggressively, with no absolute thought of even self-preservation. Even when they were stabbed, they did not stop to even treat the wound, they just pulled their backup knife or just directly resisting, to counter the ghoul. They only stopped attacking when they were dead or had run out of blood from all the wounds they had suffered so far.
Unfortunately, just like the last time, though this time they did kill a lot of ghouls, but not really enough to stop the intelligent undead army. With that in mind, one by one they were killed and finished until nobody was left in their path.
Soon enough, they were left with the final defense of the city, the castle. The cowards who locked themselves in and left the others of their very own kind to die outside are staying.
With sweaty palms and increased heartbeats, the survivors from all places watched as the ghoulish army assembled at the front, thinking about how they would scale or attack the castle of the city.