The sun rose higher and higher, but it seemed as if the entire world was growing colder.
From a high-altitude view, the massive city wall, which encircled the Valyria Peninsula like a mountain range, was being battered by countless demons surging forth like a black tide.
Dense swarms of demons climbed up the hundreds-of-meters-high mountain, howling and continuously leaping, firmly embedding their sharp claws and weapons into the mountain wall, each leap covering several or even dozens of meters.
Layers of surging black clouds in the sky also rolled towards the city wall, with wave after wave of demons falling like rain from the sky and the wall, submerging into the forward-rolling torrent.
Arrows and crossbow bolts rained down, whistling through the sky, unleashing unprecedented sharpness, but were instantly overwhelmed by wave after wave of the demonic tide.
Legion-level magic resonance exploded in the sky, creating a dazzling torrent of spells that swept away tens of thousands of demons, but the cleared space was instantly refilled by new demons surging forward.
Huge, scaly Magic Dragons and Flying Dragons of various colors roared and circled back and forth in the sky, spewing out scorching Dragonfire and concussive sound waves.
Demons were burned in swathes by the furious flames of these enraged Magic Dragons; every moment, hundreds of thousands of demons turned into blazing torches and fell from the sky, and every second, batches of demons had their internal organs, brains, or wing bones shattered by the sound waves and crashed down.
There was no probing; a full-scale war erupted from the very beginning. Demons never used such tactics; their absolute numbers were their unstoppable force.
The last remaining majestic city in this world was like a lone reef in the ocean, enduring the impact of the monstrous waves of demons.
A tide of hundreds of thousands of demons launched an unprecedented fierce attack today. If not for this city wall's defense, being surrounded by the sea on three sides, it would have been breached by the pervasive demons long ago.
In the boundless ocean waves, giant sea beasts and monsters also emerged, native species and extraordinary creatures of this Ice and Fire World, among which were sea monsters even larger than the Magic Dragons spewing Dragonfire in the sky.
A colossal deep-sea lurking Claw Fish revealed its enormous body on the sea surface. Its body, like a small landmass, had countless thick tentacles, dozens of meters long with huge suction cups, slapping in the tide, rising into the air, coiling up demons and dragging them into the deep sea, drowning some demons alive.
Demons that couldn't be drowned tried to surface and fly again, but were re-coiled by the giant Claw Fish's tentacles. The densely packed, blade-like teeth on its suction cups slid across the demons' bodies, sucking and grinding them into skeletons.
There were also whale shark monsters in the sea, over a hundred meters long, spewing water jets. Although their power was weak, it was enough to knock down low-level flying demons.
This giant whale shark knocked demons into the sea, then its massive tail slammed down, directly smashing demons into pieces on the surface, their foul blood spreading and gradually polluting the nearshore.
Some sea beasts were also easily killed by demons, floating belly-up on the surface.
These creatures, seen and worshipped by the inhabitants of this world under the name of 'Drowned God,' were mostly just enormous in size due to the characteristics of this world and did not possess extraordinary power.
Although they could kill demons with their immense physical strength, they could also be easily killed by demons.
Some other sea beasts were controlled by enslavement scrolls created by the Imperial Mages. These sea beasts, under the control of some entry-level low-level spellcasters, showed some cooperation and could also cause some trouble for the demonic army on the sea surface.
However, most of this continent was in a magic-barren region. To fully launch their offensive, countless demonic legions on the Long Summer Land across the strait were using their innate power to freeze the entire strait.
They aimed to freeze the turbulent sea into a continent of ice, then step onto it and destroy this city, which seemed precarious but remained steadfast.
High-ranking demons stood on the opposite side of the strait, swinging long whips, driving lower-ranking demons to use their power to forcibly freeze the seawater.
But to completely freeze the vast sea in a magic-barren region required an immeasurable amount of power. Tens of thousands of demons exhausted their strength, freezing the sea forward by inches or feet, and then could do no more.
Though unreplenished, these demons, while not as formidable as usual, still possessed combat capability.
However, the high-ranking demons did not care about these low-ranking demons. The large-scale mobilization made these high-ranking demons very impatient, wasting time.
They actually had the low-ranking demons behind them directly push the demons in front into the sea, then replaced them with another batch of demons to continue the previous action.
The demons floating in the sea struggled to freeze into ice, but no low-ranking demon dared to defy the high-ranking demons' orders, nor would any low-ranking demon sympathize with their companions.
Crack!
A long whip with spikes and hooks lashed out, whipping an exhausted demon into the sea. The Six-Armed Snake Demon slithered its body and coldly shouted, "Next batch!"
Hundreds of exhausted demons wailed as they were mercilessly pushed into the sea by their companions behind them, becoming stepping stones.
But the Six-Armed Snake Demon suddenly turned its head, looking towards the distant mountains.
Even amidst the torrent of spells and demonic shadows, a brilliant white light still surged there, particularly eye-catching along the entire defensive line.
In the Six-Armed Snake Demon's eyes, although this intense light was not as annoying as the holy energy spell light that targeted demons, it still posed a powerful threat to demons.
And that scorching flame, somewhat similar to the Magic Dragon's flames in the sky, was even more fierce and violent. Every time it erupted, even from a great distance, the Six-Armed Snake Demon could sense how much this flame, imbued with the aura of a Red Dragon, desired to destroy all living creatures in its path, even demons.
Whoosh!
An unparalleled pillar of fire swept across the city wall. The enraged Sahar spewed the destructive power granted to him by the Red Dragon from between his fangs. His flames were even more explosive than the Dragon Breath spells of other Dragonborn.
Even mid-ranking demons mixed in the tide, once touched by the Red Dragon's fierce flames, had no resistance whatsoever, turning to ash in the fire. All energy and matter served as accelerants for this destructive flame.
Flash!
A dazzling light suddenly flared, as if a small, brilliant white sun appeared in the sky, completely enveloping an area of several hundred meters with its dazzling light.
"Awooo… Awooo…"
Countless demons wailed pitifully as they fell from the city wall. Any demon within the range of this light had no resistance whatsoever.
Gilinis's resolute face was completely covered in dense psionic energy, like another layer of armor. Bright light erupted from his raised warhammer, and surging psychic blows directly tore apart the souls of the low-ranking demons, then instantly extinguished them.
It wasn't that this warrior's strength was insufficient, but rather that these warriors had long mastered the technique of utilizing every bit of power during prolonged combat, never wasting a single ounce.
The demons on the city wall and in the sky were instantly cleared, which gave Gilinis a chance to speak. He quickly shouted, "Reserve units, prepare to take over the defense line! Legion warriors, assemble immediately!"
The power of this legion commander did not surprise the surrounding warriors; it was Gilinis's unusual excitement that surprised them.
Gilinis gently swung his heavy hammer. He always felt that his re-forged weapon seemed to be more effective, and the power within him was continuously surging, expanding with his heightened fighting will.
The surging psionic energy was growing stronger with his will.
He could feel that the source of this power, the Emperor of the Empire, was gradually approaching this world, getting closer and closer.
As a legion commander, he knew that the current legion alone could not hold out for long. Using the city walls to defend against the first and fiercest wave of attacks was already considered a good outcome.
The subsequent demonic onslaught would gradually intensify, so they had to launch an active counterattack to alleviate the immense defensive pressure. This might allow them to hold out until the Ancestral Red Dragon arrived.
They had always done so in the past, only today, he was even more excited.
Bang!
Golem warriors, with fists of rock and steel, directly smashed the entire heads of climbing demons, then, gripping the demons' arms still embedded in the city wall's cracks, lifted their bodies whole, striking and sweeping them against the wall, crushing and knocking down the demons behind them.
Warriors resembling demons themselves swiftly assembled, hacking true demons to death or knocking them off the city wall.
The reserve units were already in position. Rather than being called reserve units, they were more like the support defense teams behind these warriors. These reserve unit warriors were elite warriors drawn from this world.
They always stayed behind the legion warriors, ready to take over the entire defense line at any moment.
The summoned mage corps were also in position, beginning to cast spells collectively, adding magical shields and elemental absorption three-dimensional defense spells to the Dragon Legion warriors preparing to charge.
Then they bestowed spirit weapons and stamina-boosting buffs upon the reserve unit warriors, who began to take over the city defense line.
Bartoli, the Flying Dragon Battle Commander, held her dragon spear, soaring on the back of the Flying Dragon Swift Shadow, but always maintained close contact with the city wall's defense line.
In legion combat, cooperation is paramount.
Seeing Gilinis's orders and actions, Wyvern Commander Bartoli quickly adjusted the formation, beginning to dispatch wyverns and false Dragons, preparing to coordinate with Gilinis's actions.
The command for the defense line change was quickly relayed, and a surge of people began to move along the city wall, systematically handing over the defense line.
The Dragonborn werewolf soothed his somewhat dry and hot throat, wisps of smoke emerging from between his fangs. But the hundred-pound greatsword in his hand never stopped.
Whenever an Unsullied warrior was knocked down by a demon, the Dragonborne Wolf's greatsword would always cleave off the demon's head in the next second, defending the entire line impregnably.
Although some warriors would also be killed by demons, the defense line was never shaken.
However, Sahar shared the same idea as Gilinis: in this world, where imperial power was severely lacking, relying solely on defense would be unsustainable.
Thus, he quickly responded to Gilinis's idea, beginning to dispatch legion warriors to gather at the main gate of the city wall's defense line.
By the time he finished clearing the defense line and arrived, all the legion warriors were already waiting. Two massive Titanoboas clung to the battlements, clearing the entire area of demons.
The Empire's spellcaster legions cast spells in unison, using Burning Hands and Crushing Soundwaves to clear a temporary open space on the ground, preparing for the legion warriors to descend.
The Wyvern Knights in the sky, under the command of Bartoli and the Dragon King Family, began a reverse charge, clearing a battlefield in the sky that would not affect these warriors.
"I have foreseen," Gilinis roared, raising his heavy hammer, "the Emperor of the Empire is about to arrive! Today is the day of repentance for these demons! Let them repent! Today is their day of death!"
"Repent! Today is their day of death!"
The continuous clang of steel resounded. The Imperial warriors' fighting spirit soared, and sharp, cold glints shone on the city wall. Demonic warriors spread their wings, Dragon warriors roared Dragon Breath, Devil warriors hungrily bared their claws, and Golem warriors grunted deeply.
And the Golem Legion was the first to descend from the city wall.
Bang, bang, bang!
One by one, Golem warriors, cast from huge stones and steel, slid down from the city wall, directly crushing dozens of demons that were climbing and leaping up, then trampling the demons into pulp.
But the huge and heavy bodies of these Golem warriors were instantly overwhelmed by the surging tide of demons using their own flesh. The Golem Legion's power was immense; their pounding heavy hammers directly bludgeoned demons to death.
However, dozens, even hundreds of demons, clung to the Golems, tearing with claws and teeth, hacking with weapons, pulling and smashing, and instantly brought down six Golem warriors.
But one by one, heavily armored Bloodscale Berserker Legion warriors, spreading their Dragon Wings, descended from the sky. Surging Dragon Breath erupted from their mouths powered by their bloodline, sweeping in a fan shape around their bodies, igniting the surrounding demons, who howled and rolled into the sea, then were dragged into the deep by sea beasts.
"Tear them apart! Kill them! They actually dare to leave this big shell…"
Low-ranking demons surged forward again. Perhaps some demons feared death, but pushed by the demons behind them, they fearlessly used their bodies to overwhelm the flames of these dragon blood warriors.
But a laughter more terrifying than the furious roars of the demons descended from the sky. Warriors resembling high-ranking demons and devils completely unleashed their bloodline restraints, revealing their battle forms with goat and ox horns on their heads and large demon and devil wings.
These brutal Demon Hunters and Dragon Devil warriors struck with their heavy weapons in their right hands, sending the attacking demons flying. Their left hands, like Dragon Claws, burned with the evil fire of demons and devils, directly piercing the demons' hearts, crushing the hearts of the attacking demons.
Mid-ranking demons mixed in the tide shrieked and lunged, but two massive Titanoboas darted out from behind these warriors, their hook-like fangs directly slicing through the formidable mid-ranking demons, then swallowing their hearts and essence.
Boom!
Two powerful warriors leaped directly from the hundreds-of-meters-high city wall, causing the solid ground of the entire Valyria Boulevard to crack into fine fissures.
Hundreds of surrounding demons were sent flying by the impact of these two powerful warriors.
Gilinis raised his heavy hammer, and Sahar gripped his heavy sword, revealing an excited expression.
"Repent! Today is your day of doom!"