"Hold the line! Hold the line for me!" Duke of Montfort, Fulcard, stood tall atop the watchtower, shouting aloud, "Deploy more soldiers to the breach!"

"Attack!!" More peasant soldiers charged to the city walls under the command of the Master Knight, engaging in a life-and-death struggle with the Undead Army.

But soon, swarms of black bats and Bloodthirsty Celestial Ghosts joined the battle. These noisy creatures swooped down from the sky, their sharp claws tearing apart the fragile leather and cloth armor of the Peasant Infantry, savoring the flesh of peasant soldiers. The remaining peasants couldn’t escape their dreadful fate; clusters of Archers plummeted from the walls amidst their screams, landing in piles of bones and tides of undead, their fate sealed.

The remaining Peasant Archers futilely shot arrows at these Undead Air Force, only a few arrows managing to kill some Celestial Ghosts and bats, which scattered and dodged immediately.

The Undead Air Force flew directly toward the high walls, using impact and claws to smash or break the core parts of the giant Catapults. The Artillerymen responsible for loading the artillery also ducked down to evade. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The artillery and Catapults atop the towers were forced to halt their attacks, and the dark mass of Undead Air Force headed straight for the Duke himself and his Personal Guard Knights on the watchtower!

"Flash’s Scorching Gaze!" Montfort’s Court Wizard acted, the Light Mage chanting aloud a spell, bright white beams piercing the eyes of the Celestial Ghosts and bats, driving them back temporarily. The power of Hayhee Magic scattered this disorganized crowd.

Having fended off the threat of the Undead Air Force, Fulcard anxiously rushed to the battlement edge.

In Fulcard’s view, this section of the wall was almost cleared. Then, five or six sturdy ladders were set against the battlement, and under the lead of Desolate Tomb Guards, more Undead Army climbed onto the walls.

A group of Knights tried to assist, but the Undead Magic from the Undead Grand Mage followed closely. Death Wind howled past the walls, striking thirty-odd Knights instantly, flesh parting from bones, armor rotting away, turning them into a wisp of dust.

The peasant soldiers screamed as they started to flee. Under the power of the undead, the struggles of mortals seemed so laughable. Their weak Long Spear Array and sword blades couldn’t stop the advance of Desolate Tomb Guards. Knights were forced to join the battle, along with those immigrants from the Empire. Even knowing victory was impossible, Free People militia still chose to fight for this castle till the last moment. Three groups of mixed armies formed by Empire immigrants rushed into the breach on the wall, using their flesh and blood to halt the undead’s advance. They shouted the name of Charlemagne, vowing never to yield to the undead scum.

The undead would not retreat simply because of mortal bravery. The tireless, emotionless Desolate Tomb Guards wielded their War Blades and long halberds, reaping the lives of the Empire immigrants. Each time a mortal died, he would immediately be resurrected as a Zombie or Skeleton Warrior under Kemler’s Magic Power. The deceased Knights turned into Desolate Tomb Guards and Undead Knights.

Under the overlook of the Gray Mountain Range, the entire western wall of Montefel Castle billowed with thick smoke, casting shadows of clashes between human defending forces and the Undead Army.

Kaled led a squad of elite Knights, rushing to aid everywhere. Thanks to the sufficiently wide and sturdy walls of Montefel Castle, relying on the group charges of the Knights, the teetering front line was sustained at a fragile balance point, poised to shift at any moment.

The front line was temporarily held, but only temporarily, as the quantity of undead was like a snowball, only increasing as they were killed.

"They held the line!" The Duke’s Steward shouted to the Duke, "We will claim victory!"

"Yes, we will claim victory!" Duke Fulcard received his Cross Helmet, topped with a golden castle sculpture, from his Personal Guard Knight, tightening his Secret Silver Plate Armor with the black-on-white castle family crest gleaming brightly: "In the Lady’s name, we will achieve victory!"

"Duke? No, you must not personally go to the frontline!" The Steward quickly detected the Duke’s intentions.

"My people need me, and I will answer their call!" Duke Fulcard unsheathed his own treasured sword, the Montfort Sword, inherited from the First Duke of Montfort, Mark Luther, burning with platinum flames: "Knights, hear my words!"

Hundreds of Knights drew their sharp swords together, "At your service, my Duke!"

"Against evil, we shall never yield! Facing threats, we shall never slacken! My Knights, defend the lands, safeguard our home and country, as Arthur did a thousand years ago, so do we a thousand years later. Although we can never compare to our Ancestors, my Knights, we must muster our courage to confront the enemy!" Duke Fulcard shouted passionately, his voice roaring like a bell: "Fight, Montfort Knights, the Lady is always with us!"

"For the Lady! For Montfort!"

"For the Lady! For Montfort!"

The walls echoed with cries of hope, and Duke Fulcard personally led his Personal Guard Knights to join the battlefield. The Holy Song of the Lake Fairy resonated along the walls, and the knights of Montfort Duchy sang ancient ballads together on the charge. It was an old song sung in Ancient Brittani Language; in today’s world dominated by Low Gothic Language, only a few could understand the song’s lyrics.