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Chapter 136: A Tense Confrontation

At this moment, over a hundred miles away from the fortress, the combined forces of two nations loomed like dark clouds, obscuring the horizon. Dressed primarily in blue for Aixinzhe and black and gray for Malta, they presented a unique and ominous presence on the plain. With an army of 50,000 soldiers, it was nearly the full might of Malta and Aixinzhe. King Lex of the recently usurped Aixinzhe throne was determined to annihilate their century-long rival, the Kasmi Principality, with the help of Lord Apanla Gang.

King Philip of Malta, along with Lord Longbit, also sought to claim their share and use it as a stepping stone to expand their dominion into the realm of these three kingdoms. Both sides took this opportunity to launch an all-out assault, aiming to breach the seemingly impregnable fortress of Kasmi, which had remained unscathed for over a century. This conquest would open the gates to the Kasmi Principality, granting them access to its wealth and resources.

Philip, adorned in magnificent armor and wearing the crown of a king, rode atop his armored steed. He grinned as he addressed Lex, who shared a similar attire. "Today, we\'ll reach the walls of the Kasmi Fortress, my good friend. While they may have 20,000 defenders, my years of siege warfare experience and the loyalty of my lords ensure that we can trample this self-proclaimed impregnable fortress in less than two months."

Lex, with his purple hair slightly visible beneath his helmet, turned his head and looked at Philip, whose face bore wrinkles and hints of silver in his hair. Lex calmly offered a reminder, "King Longbit, remember that our vanguard has been wiped out. The element of surprise is no longer on our side. They\'re well-prepared for our attack... I hope that Inos will bless our endeavor."

Philip\'s face contorted in concealed disdain, but he quickly resumed his jovial demeanor. "My dear friend, haven\'t all the fortresses I conquered in the past claimed to be impervious? And yet, didn\'t they crumble like fragile parchment before my armies? The Kasmi Fortress will be no different, even if it\'s the Shield Fortress."

Ignoring this taunt and pointless banter, Lex smiled faintly and chose not to engage in Philip\'s arrogance. The Shield Fortress was the most formidable and heavily fortified of all. Lex, well aware of the defensive strength of the fortress, saw no value in entertaining Philip\'s hubris. He simply offered a reminder, "In two more months, winter will be upon us, and we\'ll be at a severe disadvantage. Moreover, I\'ve heard that the Holy See has taken an unusual proactive stance in this matter, dispatching the Hospitaller Knights to mediate. Are you willing to face the challenge of a direct confrontation between your army and the three major knightly orders when that time comes?"

Clearly, both kings were well aware of the Holy See\'s involvement in the war. However, Philip remained unfazed and even somewhat smug as he remarked, "Rest assured, the Hospitaller Knights won\'t arrive so soon. You must understand that I, too, have influence within the Holy See. They won\'t appear on this soon-to-be blood-soaked battlefield before winter ends. Once they arrive and witness the complete destruction of the Kasmi Fortress, their stance will likely change. After all, a nearly defeated principality holds little value to the Holy See."

"But, the principality\'s suzerain state, the Empire of Englan, has sent reinforcements. This..." Lex started to say.

"Hmph!"

Philip interrupted Lex, speaking in a tone of contempt. "Englan? The Empire is no longer what it used to be. They\'ve been embroiled in endless conflicts with the Mu\'ram people from the desert and dealing with barbarians raiding from the north. Why would they bother with their internal strife? Sending five thousand men at most is merely a show of face to maintain the dignity of their empire."

Hearing this, Lex chose to remain silent. He and Philip both knew that Englan would never send just five thousand men. Facing the mighty armies of Englan, which had an undefeated reputation in battles, would be a daunting challenge. Philip\'s words were nothing more than a facade.

Meanwhile, Philip was secretly contemplating that if things didn\'t go well, he could simply surrender and return home. He cared little about the fate of Aixinzhe. Furthermore, he was unaware that Donald Javier was already dead, and the Paladin now inhabiting his body was merely wearing the skin of Donald. At this moment, the Paladin was silently riding on his horse, observing the approaching army that lay ahead.

But let\'s turn our attention to the other side. The fortress was on high alert, with numerous spearmen and swordsmen clad in sturdy armor positioned on the walls. Large bags of stones and barrels of oil were placed at their feet, ready for use. Ballistae and crossbows were mounted on every tower and bastion. Archers were divided into three groups. The first group positioned themselves on the outer walls, flanking both sides of the city gate. The second group carried quivers of arrows to the concealed openings within the inner walls, where they loaded arrows into the slots.

The third group, the largest in number, occupied the streets near the walls and rooftops. They formed a circular perimeter around the walls like a noose, prepared to fire their arrows in unison. As for the knights, they had no place in this siege. They reluctantly dismounted from their beloved warhorses, bearing shields and swords, and joined the nobles who commanded various sections. Only a small portion of the knights served as commanders for their respective regions. After all, without commanders, the soldiers\' morale might quickly deteriorate, leading to their own collapse.

Because the forces under his command were primarily composed of mercenaries, Count Torch, responsible for logistics, led a team to transport supplies from the fortress\'s north and west gates. This was where the enemy\'s attacks were most intense, and it was essential to ensure a timely delivery of medical supplies, food, clean water, and arrows. The approaching winter had brought cooler weather, which was ideal for soldiers clad in armor. However, all these preparations would be in vain once winter arrived.

Paladin, carrying a backpack, worked alongside a group of priests to set up numerous beds in vacant rooms. While fatalities were inevitable in warfare, the number of wounded was often higher. Now was the time for these accompanying priests to truly showcase their value, though it was a value they wished they didn\'t have to fulfill.

Wearing full plate armor and with his hand on the hilt of his sword, Alfred patrolled his assigned platoon. Perhaps blaming the doppelganger for his sudden disappearance last night, Orinna, who had remained in the empty chamber, experiencing the pleasures of love for the first time, was furious. When news of the war arrived today, fueled by her insecurities, she suspected that the doppelganger had gone astray. As a result, Alfred found himself among the few officers and knights appointed as commanders. Alfred wasn\'t bothered by this; he had experienced firsthand the capricious nature of women\'s emotions from Alfred\'s memories. What he did care about was the gloating smile on Bob\'s face after being given this command.

"That brat, if he were a bit smarter, he\'d try to please me. To dare to oppose me... he truly knows no boundaries," the doppelganger muttered as he gazed at the endless plains before him. He wore a mocking smile. Bob must have whispered some malicious words to Orinna, leading her to recklessly send her beloved companion into the fray. However, the doppelganger was well aware that with the power of five hundred elemental forces, he could endure even being pierced by dozens of arrows. After this battle, Bob, who had acted foolishly, would undoubtedly regret his actions.

Suddenly, the doppelganger heard a thunderous vibration, as if the earth were shaking. A soldier on the lookout tower frantically rang the bell and shouted, "Enemy! Enemy is approaching!" Then, on the horizon, an army appeared, accompanied by countless banners, spreading across the horizon. The soldiers by his side looked pale with anxiety. The doppelganger murmured softly, "Belaire was partying on the battlefield, and Enos was dancing beside him. This is a real meat grinder."