Xiao Xun found the military camp life monotonous and could even understand why ancient times allowed "slaughtering cities." It wasn't just about grain and deterrence; it was the sheer oppression. This kind of pressure dragged out the beasts from people's hearts, only to chain them tightly. Without release, these men would go mad. Perhaps only "war lovers" would enjoy fighting; otherwise, who wouldn't want a peaceful life?
Thinking this, he said to Bai Yang beside him, "Go get a large sound system. Tonight, a grand celebration."
Bai Yang was now essentially a messenger. Strangely, the High Priest often had Bai Yang convey messages and fetch things, as if spatial mages were meant for such tasks.
Soon, the entire city of Midoya was immersed in a vibrant "ocean of joy." All the soldiers of the Phoenix Army sang and danced. Those who could sing took to the stage in the plaza to belt out songs, and those who could dance swayed to the music.
Although they had experienced fierce fighting during the day, at night, everyone ate and drank as usual.
Roasting tender meat and drinking sweet wine, all fear and exhaustion vanished for the moment.
Xiao Xun knew this was merely a temporary fix. The next day, he might sink into even greater despair and pain.
The only way to boost morale now was to win a battle. After all, the best way to conquer unknown fear was to understand it.
Eighty thousand men seemed like a lot, but in the vast city of Midoya, they were far from enough. Defending was already a struggle, let alone attacking.
However, staying put wasn't an option either, as the consumption of grain and fodder was a major issue. It was autumn now, and winter was fast approaching.
Xiao Xun knew that haste made waste, but he felt that the Scourge Legion was even more anxious than he was. Did they have some reservations?
Looking at the stars in the sky, his thoughts were a thousand emotions.
At this moment, Bai Yang reminded him, "Sir, look ahead."
Xiao Xun took the telescope from Bai Yang's hand, extended the barrel, and saw the distant mountain peaks. Countless blue lights were surging down the mountain, dense and numerous.
"Pass my order: all personnel, prepare."
Bai Yang signaled Jin Niu, who rang the city's great bell with all his might.
As the bell chimed, the singing and dancing abruptly stopped. All troop types began to assemble by their legions.
Within ten minutes, all combat personnel had assembled, and the legion commanders began their pre-battle mobilization.
Then, they boarded the city walls in batches, facing the increasingly approaching blue lights, everyone at their posts, ready for battle.
Xiao Xun stood on the city gate tower, looking through the telescope at the blue lights moving towards them, up and down, with great speed.
Finally, bathed in moonlight, Xiao Xun clearly saw the first row of blue lights. They were emanating from the eyes of soldiers wearing "gas masks."
Xiao Xun was about to shout behind him: "It's the Scourge Legion! Everyone, prepare for combat!"
But just as he was about to shout, Xiao Xun thought: I can't tell them the truth. If they knew it was the Scourge Legion, some might lose their will to fight immediately.
With this thought, Xiao Xun shouted to the people behind him, "It's Kustu's rebel army! I know everyone is full of anger today. Now, release it all!"
Following Xiao Xun's words, tens of thousands of people raised their fists and roared in unison, their shouts echoing through the entire city.
This was the effect Xiao Xun wanted. "Bring over the magic cannons."
Following Xiao Xun's order, the five magic cannons, the only ones in the Phoenix Army, were concentrated on the city gate tower.
The muzzles were aimed at the Scourge Legion soldiers. At Xiao Xun's command, the five cannons fired in unison. The magnificent magic 'eggs' pierced the sky with graceful arcs, falling into the Scourge Legion's formation.
As the 'eggs' fell and instantly exploded into countless sparks, a bizarre scene occurred: the Scourge Legion soldiers, before everyone's eyes, vanished.
Xiao Xun watched through the telescope, and cold sweat instantly broke out. "Damn it, could these people be invisible?"
When the afterglow of the 'eggs' completely disappeared, the dense blue lights reappeared. Xiao Xun knew that these people were not affected by simple magic and that some unconventional means would be needed.
Xiao Xun ordered water to be prepared and poured down the city walls. Although the legion commanders didn't know Xiao Xun's intentions, obeying orders was their duty, the same in any world or era.
Soon, the entire city wall became wet, but it wasn't enough. They were ordered to continue pouring water.
Xiao Xun himself went to Boergard and asked it to exhale cold air at him. However, Boergard refused, citing the contract that explicitly prohibited mutual harm.
"It's not harming me. This is to defeat the enemy."
After much persuasion, Boergard unleashed its most powerful freezing spell onto Xiao Xun. Although Xiao Xun was prepared, his body still shivered uncontrollably, as if electrocuted.
Having received the cold air, Xiao Xun was teleported by Bai Yang to the city gate. He unleashed the "absolute zero" cold air onto the wet city walls, which were still being watered. The entire city wall instantly froze into an "ice city."
The Scourge Legion, with their blue lights, were already close. Xiao Xun prayed that it would work.
When he played games, he had encountered similar enemies. The best way to deal with them was area-of-effect attacks, leaving them with nowhere to dodge or escape.
"Pass my order: heat the pots and oil."
The soldiers were bewildered, not knowing what their commander intended to do. Were they going to deep-fry these people?
Soon, giant iron pots were set up on the city wall, filled with all the animal and vegetable oils they could find in the city.
At this moment, a legion commander ran over, "Your Highness, the oil is hot."
"Continue heating it. Assign four men to each pot. The rest will gather in the plaza for my next command."
Xiao Xun watched them through the telescope. They were indeed the same type of soldiers that the scouts had shown him in the memory stone, carrying 'water bottles,' holding 'water guns,' and wearing 'gas masks.'
He still didn't know how they attacked, but with their teleportation ability, which required no magic, no chanting, and no skill casting animations, he knew that their masks were designed to withstand the damage caused by sudden teleportation.
When the Scourge Legion formed a pincer movement, Xiao Xun roared, "Pour the hot oil onto the city walls."
As the scorching hot oil cascaded onto the melted ice, the entire city wall instantly exploded like a giant 'oil bomb,' with huge splashes of hot oil mixed with ice shards flying everywhere.
Xiao Xun laughed heartily, "No matter how much you teleport, you can't escape my attack range."
He heard cries of agony from below. Xiao Xun knew his method was working.
Suddenly, blue energy shields lit up below, blocking all the hot oil and ice fragments.
Seeing this, Xiao Xun's expression turned panicked. "Could this Scourge Legion possess future technology? If only I had plasma grenades, I'd blow you all to bits."
Soon, the 'oil bomb' effects disappeared, and the remaining Scourge Legion soldiers began to attack the city gate.
Their 'water guns' sprayed a green viscous liquid that instantly melted the city gate. The gate, made of wood and steel, was thick and heavy, yet it turned into a compound of mud and molten iron that fell down.
Xiao Xun was stunned. What kind of technology was this? What kind of chemical agent could dissolve both wood and iron simultaneously?
Xiao Xun ordered Bai Yang to relay the order to attack. The people in the plaza had long been ready. Upon hearing the command, the cavalry initiated the charge.