Chapter 557: The Battle of Eiben Fortress (2)

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

In the past two days, the Shanyue guild deployed over a million troops, in coordination with more than ten thousand Lienhardt troops, to attack the Eiben Fortress located at the mouth of the Eiben River.

However, this fortress was heavily fortified, equipped with numerous large-caliber cannons, and relied on an extremely robust defense system to firmly withstand their assault.

Like a meat grinder, of the initial million troops deployed, now there were less than four hundred thousand remaining. If we added the troops from other guilds, it was likely that the losses in front of the fortress had already exceeded a million player troops.

Even Lienhardt himself had lost around thirty to forty thousand soldiers there.

The determination of the Kingdom of Bass to defend the Eiben Fortress far surpassed everyone’s expectations.

“Did your King King Island Guild make any progress?”

Wang Shanyue shook his head with a headache, looking at I_Love_Black_Stockings beside him.

The King Kong Island Guild was based on overseas islands, so it naturally nurtured many maritime units as part of its forces. Various types of maritime and amphibious units made up four-fifths of the guild’s unit count, and they excelled in battles on both the sea and rivers.

I_Love_Black_Stockings shook her head. “The Kingdom of Bass has filled the sea with mines and alchemical bombs at the mouth of the river. The connecting water gates are very sturdy, and there’s also a contingent of high-level aquatic units numbering around five thousand guarding the area. Coupled with coastal artillery suppression, it’s difficult for us to launch an underwater assault.

All, if only Big Boss Islander were here; he could definitely wipe out those soldiers.”

Wang Shanyue stayed quiet. They began their expedition from Feiguang City together, but once Ji Chen delved deep into the ocean to find the two missing fleets, he never came back.

However, he didn’t think that Ji Chen’s presence would make a qualitative difference in the current situation.

The scale of this war had already reached the level of several million. Tens of thousands of troops might have perished in just half an hour. In such a massive war of head-on confrontation, thousands of troops thrown into the fray would barely make a ripple.

That’s also why, as time passed, solo players were gradually decreasing, and player organizations like guilds and alliances were on the rise.

Even if solo players were well-developed, they would have at most ten thousand troops, while player organizations could easily muster tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of troops. Individual strength was simply too weak in comparison.

Unless that individual’s power had reached a level where they could contend with thousands of troops.

Watching I_Love_Black_Stockings’ fangirl expression, Wang Shanyue felt that he shouldn’t say much more on this topic to avoid any tension.

He sighed and said, “Regardless of whether Ji Chen comes or not, we must break through the Eiben Fortress. Otherwise, we won’t obtain any loot or Lienhardt’s reward, and the losses we’ve suffered with the troops will be irreparable.”

Even though he held the prestigious position of a guild leader, he had a duty to his guild members. If they invested so much but didn’t see adequate returns, it would not only dampen morale but also harm his reputation.

His expression turned resolute.

“I will deploy another five hundred thousand troops to assist in drawing their fire. Once you, the King Kong Island, launch another attack, make sure to break through the Eiben Fortress’s water gate.

Internal defenses are often easier to breach than external ones. Once you breach it, I will immediately send in the remaining troops to help you finish the job!”

I_Love_Black_Stockings nodded and instructed the Kobold strategist beside him.

“After noon, deploy a hundred thousand aquatic forces to launch an assault on the fortress’ water gate defenses.”

“Yes!”

Just after noon, a new round of attacks began.

The Shanyue Guild dispatched five hundred thousand troops, collaborating with Lienhardt’s fifty thousand troops to launch another assault. On the other side, the King Kong Island Guild also sent a hundred thousand aquatic troops, quietly arriving at the estuary via the water route and heading towards the fortress’s canal gate.

The cannons roared, arrows flew like locusts, and death spread and flourished freely on this land, where life became the cheapest commodity. Soldiers fell every moment and every second.

However, what disappointed them was that the Eiben Fortress stood as solid as a mountain in front of them. No matter how many troops they poured in, it remained unyielding. The King Kong Island Guild’s attack was also blocked. The defenders of the Eiben Fortress seemed determined to hold on, directly sealing off the water gate, completely collapsing the passage for entry. The King Kong Island Guild’s aquatic troops could only watch as the passage crumbled before their eyes, feeling helpless.

In desperation, Lienhardt’s army chose to sound the retreat, temporarily stopping their advance.

The soldiers retreated like a tide, leaving behind a sea of corpses.

Wang Shanyue and I_Love_Black_Stockings felt immensely disappointed seeing this scene, but they could only order their troops to retreat along with them.

Witnessing their successful repulsion of the enemy’s attack once again, the morale of the Eiben Fortress defenders soared, their spirits high. They even let out coarse taunts, filling Lienhardt’s soldiers with a sense of anger.

Wang Shanyue didn’t have much of a reaction; he just sighed and said, “It looks like we won’t be launching another attack today. Let’s withdraw our troops for now.”

Wang Shanyue was about to leave when he noticed I_Love_Black_Stockings standing still, her face filled with surprise.

“Big Boss Ji Chen is here; he wants us to coordinate with him for an attack on the Eiben Fortress!”

Wang Shanyue was puzzled and asked, “How many troops did Brother Ji Chen bring with him?”

“Um… it seems like he’s the only one.”

Wang Shanyue couldn’t help but smile bitterly and said, “Without Lienhardt’s artillery cover, even if we want to get close, well have to endure significant casualties, not to mention other factors. And if the reinforcements really consist of only Brother Ji Chen, it’s impossible to break through the Eiben Fortress.”

Warfare was not a matter of personal will, nor could it be influenced by one person alone. This was the lesson Wang Shanyue learned over the past few months.

I_Love_Black_Stockings also realized this, but there was only a moment of hesitation before her eyes became determined.

She gritted her teeth and said, “I believe in Big Boss Ji Chen. He won’t do something without confidence.

All King Kong Island troops, prepare for an attack at any moment!”

Wang Shanyue found himself at a loss for words. As he gazed at I_Love_Black_ Stockings’ resolute determination, memories of rumors surfaced. These rumors had been shared by a noble from the Lienhardt Grand Duchy, suggesting that Ji Chen had once bravely fended off an army of a hundred thousand from the Bass Kingdom when war broke out.

He always thought the rumor was partly true at best. If Ji Chen had played some role in helping Feiguang City repel a hundred thousand troops, that claim might have some validity.

But to single-handedly repel them? That seemed a bit far-fetched. A hundred thousand troops were not a hundred thousand pigs. How could one person possibly repel them?

Was this some kind of joke from another world!?

At this moment, seeing l_Love_Black_Stockings unconditionally trust Ji Chen, Wang Shanyue couldn’t help but ask in confusion, “Why do you trust Brother Ji Chen?”

I_Love_Black_Stockings looked distant, as if recalling some profound memory, and slowly said, “I once witnessed Big Boss Ji Chen in action. He merely waved his hand lightly, summoning a huge wave that surged over like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing the enemy and saving me.

I can say that without Big Boss Ji Chen’s help and continued support, I would never have reached the position I am in today. He has done me a great favor, and I cannot ignore it.

But there’s one thing you must believe: some people are naturally suited to this world, able to reach heights that others cannot in a short period of time, leaving everyone else far behind. Big Boss Ji Chen is one of those people.”

Wang Shanyue felt a bit resentful. He had built the Shanyue Guild with his own hands in just a few months, developing it into such a large guild with hundreds of thousands of troops. Naturally, he had some pride in his heart.

However, he didn’t show any of it on his face and had no intention of sending more troops to their deaths.

At this moment, a member of the Shanyue Guild hurriedly ran over and said urgently, “Guild Leader, there’s a message from Lienhardt’s army. They want us to prepare our troops and wait for their attack.”

Wang Shanyue furrowed his brow and said, “Didn’t we just withdraw our troops? Why are they suddenly launching another attack?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” replied the messenger. “I heard it’s an order from Monica and the commander of Lienhardt’s army. It seems to be in coordination with someone named Ji Chen. Wait a minute, that name sounds somewhat familiar…”

“Ji Chen?”

Wang Shanyue was left in a state of bewilderment, unable to comprehend how this individual had gained such trust, even from the Lienhardt Grand Duchy.

Could it be that Monica, the daughter of the Grand Duke, was really romantically involved with him?!