Chapter 62: Chapter 52: The Ultimate Answer of the Extraordinary World

If the fortress possessed such immense power, why was it so worried about this anomaly?

The next moment, Isaac understood...

From the rear of the Black Orc army, more than a thousand Black Orcs suddenly let out wretched screams as they melted into streams of Evil Energy, forming the phantasmal image of a Demon with giant bat wings in the sky!

The grinning Demon phantom reached out. With a light pinch of its savage claws, the Magical Torrent that had left Isaac in awe just a moment ago instantly disintegrated!

It turned into Chaos Magic Power, stirring up the clouds in the sky! 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Isaac sucked in a sharp breath.

The Heart Demon of ’insufficient firepower’ that had just taken root in his mind was instantly devoured by a new one: ’personal might’.

’It seems that in this Extraordinary World, personal might is the ultimate answer after all!’

DING!

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

However, the fortress’s offensive didn’t stop there. Just as the Magic Array above began to contract, ripples spread across the fortress walls. Amidst the clanking of machinery, rows of Magical Cannons emerged. Their dark muzzles gathered Magic Power at an incredible speed, and then...

An endless barrage of Magical Shells shot out, tearing through the sky. They rode the turbulent flows of Magic Power in the air, hurtling toward the Black Orc army!

At that moment, after flashing another malevolent grin, the Demon phantom formed from the sacrifice of over a thousand Black Orcs abruptly dissipated. Immediately after, another thousand Demonized Black Orcs melted. A tremendous surge of Evil Energy merged with the remnants from the previous wave, coalescing into a shimmering green Evil Energy Barrier that firmly shielded the Black Orc army.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

For a time, the battlefield roared with constant explosions. Countless shells slammed into the Evil Energy Barrier, rapidly draining the abundant Evil Energy contained within. At the same time, within the Black Orc army, a Black Orc would occasionally dissolve, turning into Evil Energy to replenish the barrier.

This was a war of attrition.

The only difference was that one side was consuming its stored Magic Power and stockpile of Magical Shells, while the other was consuming the lives of its Black Orcs.

"Tsk." Watching the spectacular scene unfold, Isaac couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement. "So this is war in the Magic World?"

"Not entirely," Caesar was the one to answer Isaac. Cheryl had to focus her energy on controlling the Magical Cannons and the Mage Tower, leaving her no time to explain. "Under normal circumstances, we’d lead our troops into a frontal assault. For one, defending the border isn’t just about passive defense; proactive strikes are better for controlling the situation. For another, activating these magical devices is very expensive..."

As Caesar explained with a sense of resignation, Isaac gradually began to understand the situation.

It turned out that while the fortress looked impressive right now, every single shot fired was a shot of money.

The Magical Shells cost money. Maintaining the Magical Cannons cost money. Repairing the Mage Tower cost money...

Each one was a major expense!

What they were firing weren’t shells; they were Gold Coins!

Even if Cheryl could pull in some wide-eyed Official Wizards from the Truth Association to work for free, the cost was still extremely high!

The Mage Tower was especially troublesome. The first two—the shells and cannons—could be purchased, and even bought cheaper through certain... indescribable channels. But there was no such workaround for the Mage Tower.

Although the Magic Power being fired was accumulated over time and didn’t have a direct cost.

But firing a Magical Beam of this magnitude caused immense wear and tear on the Mage Tower. Not only did it require a thirty-minute cooldown after firing, but it could only perform two volleys at most. Otherwise, the Mage Tower would be completely paralyzed, and the repair costs would multiply several times over!

That was why, under normal circumstances, they would never use such an ultimate move so casually.

This instance—both the Mage Tower’s volley and the Magical Cannons’ large-scale bombardment—was the first in ten years!

In fact, it was the first time the Mage Tower’s volley function had been activated since its construction!

This one wave had just wiped out ten years of the Solomon Territory’s savings!

Gulp.

Watching the Magical Cannons that were still spitting fire, Isaac swallowed hard. He now had a much deeper understanding of the adage that every cannon’s roar was paid for in a mountain of gold.

The roar of the cannons lasted for a full ten minutes!

The barrels of the Magical Cannons were glowing red-hot!

And the number of Black Orcs had been whittled down to fifty-five hundred...

"Phew..." Cheryl caught her breath slightly and looked at Isaac. "Third Brother, it’s time for your Demons to take the stage. The Mage Tower’s next volley won’t be ready for another twenty minutes!"

"Understood. Leave it to me!" Isaac nodded.

This had been agreed upon beforehand. Barbara’s Snake Monsters were like children to her, and the Soldiers in the fortress were all living, breathing people. Since the Mage Tower didn’t have a feature to turn off friendly fire, the gap before the second volley needed to be covered by Isaac’s cannon fodder army!

’But were they really just cannon fodder?’

The corners of Isaac’s mouth curved up slightly. ’Don’t underestimate what I’ve accomplished during this time...’

He gently pressed down on his wide-brimmed Wizard Hat. Harmon slithered out from the nape of his neck, its five fingers splaying open. Its palm split apart to reveal a gaping, blood-red maw lined with jagged teeth, which let out a silent roar.

THUMP THUMP!!!

A heartbeat like that of a giant echoed in everyone’s ears, making all their hair stand on end!

THUMP!

Following an even more powerful heartbeat, the sound of countless rats scurrying about arose...

SQUEAK! SQUEAK! SQUEAK!!!!

Under Isaac’s control, the Flesh Nest, which had accumulated immense Magic Power, began transporting at hyperspeed. Countless Demonized Rats poured out from the Flesh Nest like a tide, swarming at everyone’s feet, flowing over the city walls, and surging toward the Black Orc army, who were just then slowly dispelling their Evil Energy Barrier!

GULP... GULP...

Amidst the cacophony of squeaking rats, the sound of gulping was incessant. Everyone’s gaze toward Isaac was now tinged with a hint of fear!

’There were just too many rats!’

A single rat and a Rat Tide were two entirely different Concepts!

Just looking at the latter was enough to make one feel nauseous!

Staring at it for too long could even cause mental problems!

’In other words, this thing came with its own built-in psychic attack!’

However, the instigator of it all wore a completely calm expression. Not only did he not find it disgusting, he even found it a little bit cute~

’After all, this was all Firepower!’

Squeak~

As the Rat Tide surged toward the Black Orc army, Shushu also let out a soft squeak from Isaac’s shoulder. It raised its front paws and rubbed them together. Faint gray motes of light silently drifted out, merging into every single Demonized Rat along with its Authority.

Soon, the Demonized Rats, which Isaac had improved many times, crossed the thousand-meter distance in a short time at an incredible speed, closing in on the Black Orc army!

At that moment, the Orcs had only just finished dispelling their Evil Energy Barrier!

Squeak~

The moment they made contact with the Black Orc army, the front ranks of rats leaped up, pouncing on the Black Orcs in a dense swarm!

The Black Orc army’s reaction was also extremely swift. After being subjected to the Erosion of Evil Energy, they had lost most of their emotions, their minds filled with nothing but the desire to destroy. Thus, they had no reaction to the tide of rats. They merely swung their weapons with cold indifference, unleashing waves of Sword Qi that blasted the rats into a bloody paste!

A mist of blood began to spread across the battlefield!

It came entirely from the Rat Tide. It seemed... to be completely ineffective...