City of Desire: Chapter 1038 Attack (Patreon)

Proofread by Thomas F

Count Viremont

I looked over my men moving through the camp. They were awake and well-rested, ready for the battle they would be fighting soon.

“Show me,” I said, turning to the man beside me.

Selveron didn’t reply, but his staff lit up, and an aerial projection of Panar appeared. It fluctuated and grew grainy because of the resistance.

They could only interfere, not stop his spell. Only a Great Mage could stop a Great Mage’s spell or some special skill, which Silver and his men didn’t have.

I activated War Count’s Insight. One of my inheritance skills; immediately, I understood it better.

The image didn’t become clear; I was just perceiving it better through the resistance.

Selveron had been using this skill since we came, and since then I have been studying his men and their positions. His men are alert and disciplined, more than I had expected.

Still, it mattered little for what was about to happen next.

I studied it for a minute before turning to the man beside me. It’s time to start the war.

“Do it,” I ordered, activating Noble’s Blessing.

The army is not ready, but it could be within minutes. If I readied the army, Silver might become more alert, and I don’t want that to happen.

There was nothing for a few moments before it finally appeared, and immediately it attracted the eyes of everyone.

“Stonefall,” said Selvaron as a massive pillar of black stone appeared in the sky above Panar, before it fell toward it, specifically toward the wall.

The spell's purpose is to breach the wall. Once it does, I will force my way into the city.

With my bigger army and the superior number of powerhouses, I would conquer it. It would be bloody, but it would be quick. If it works, then I would have Panar in my hand by the afternoon.

Even before that.

“Assemble,” I ordered my army, without taking my eyes off the pillar.

In a few moments, it will destroy the wall.

The pillar reached near the wall when I noticed a deep frown appear on his face. I was about to ask when I sensed it as well and focused.

It shouldn’t be!

There was nothing for a moment before it appeared.

…

A few minutes before.

“Even now the powerhouses didn’t appear,” said General Javier, looking at the latest information coming out of the Gailhorn.

“They are being careful, but they will come.”

“They might have large numbers, but their numbers are not infinite. It won’t be long before their pillars and powerhouses would need to step onto the battlefield.” Replied Irab.

I listened, but said nothing. I had nothing to add to these experts.

“What is the progress of Summerfield’s forces?” I asked.

“They are marching very fast. If they keep that pace up, they will reach Greltheaven by late morning,” replied Zela. That is indeed quick.

Much faster than how General Axeer is marching.

We had intentionally asked not to march fast. Our purpose is to conquer Norke, and that will only happen with the army at its peak, well-rested and ready.

If they had marched at Summerfield’s army’s speed, they would have reached there by now.

Also, we need that battle to start late.

“I wish he had come sooner; an early victory would have motivated our men,” said Irab, getting nods from across the table.

“It would indeed have helped; even without it, we will w,”

I was speaking when I suddenly stopped. I sensed something, not with skill, but with my very class. It is vibrating in the warning.

“My lord, what happened?” asked General Javier, seeing me suddenly freezing up.

“The attack,” I replied.

‘The attack is coming!’ “The Great Mages spell.”

The voices of General Azalia and Leila rang out in my mind and in my ear.

Immediately, everyone got up and moved with speed. Javier went toward the wall with a few of the officers, while Irab, Leila, and others followed me to the roof.

There we saw the massive stone pillar hanging in the sky.

“Stonefall,” whispered Irab.

As he said it, the massive stone fell toward the city. Toward the wall, which it would destroy if it were not stopped. Once that happens, we would be in great trouble.

We have a chance as long as the wall is standing. If it is destroyed and Viremont’s forces breach inside, it will be over for us.

It won’t happen. I will not let it happen. So, I turned to the person who could stop it.

“Great Mage,”

…

CountViremont

An icy blue mist appeared first, before it morphed into a giant hand made of ice.

It slapped the pillar, sending it away from the city.

A few seconds later, it crashed on the ground. Shaking it like a great earthquake.

I watched it, shocked. I had expected many things, but not this.

Silver had a second Great Mage.

One is already surprising enough, but now there is a second.

“It’s her, Leila Silver!” stated Selvaron.

He didn’t have to say it; everybody could see it. She is the highest-level Ice Mage among Silver’s people and the one who had a chance to become a Great Mage.

A chance!

The intelligence had stated that she might become a Great Mage. There are many who might, but few could reach that level.

It is extremely difficult to become a Great Mage. I have fostered a couple of talented High-Mages for decades, but not a single one has advanced to Great Mage.

“Well, this is going to make things difficult,” said Loxley, but I shook my head.

“She might be a Great Mage, but she is new; Great Mage Selveron will defeat her with no problem,” I replied, and the man grinned; it’s empty praise, but the truth.

“A little pressure from me and she might do that job herself,” added the man.

Ah, yes, her artifact.

It's powerful, but dangerous. It had killed many of its masters before, and most of them died in battle. If Selveron did well, the same thing would happen to her.

“He just revealed a Great Mage. I wonder what else he has hidden?”

I turned to Viscountess Virebrook, coming from behind with a group of nobles. I could see calculations moving behind their eyes. Even now, they are weighing their options.

Well, there is nothing new about it.

They are nobles; they are always calculating things.

“Whatever he is hiding, we can deal with it.” It’s not bravado, but confidence. Yes, Silver had surprised everyone many times, but I had even prepared for this.

Nothing has changed, except for the difficulty. I will have to use the things I planned to hide until I reached Greltheaven.

“My lord, the army is ready,” informed Gaiden.

I nodded and turned back to the army of two hundred and eighty thousand, six hundred and fifty-two men. It’s a massive army, over three times what Silver has.

They are powerful and experienced. They will destroy Silver’s men, who have only fought against simple undead and monsters.

“Forward,” I ordered.

I rode forward with the others, with my army marching behind me, with each step from their feet making the earth shake and the hearts of the enemy tremble.

I could see them looking at us from the wall; I could see the fear in their faces.

It would be bloodless if Silver surrendered; there was no other way out.

“There are no mines,” informed Selveron. With the Great Mage, mines would have been useless. He could deal with even the best ones.

Loxley even has a powerful sensory skill.

We reached the range of the cannons, but kept walking. I was prepared to deal with the volley, but not a single cannon or spell came in our direction.

Until only a mile remained between us and the city, where a clear line is drawn.

It’s clear; any further and he will attack.

I stopped, and the army stopped with me and looked ahead. There on top of the western wall is Silver, with his general and sister to his left and right.

“This won’t be too difficult; there are only three Lv. 40s. The rest are below them,” said Loxley, and I smiled.

The other three gates also had people, but only one each.

Javier, Irab, and Uram- two are generals, while the other one is a colonel of an elite unit; as Loxley pointed out, not a single one of them is Lv. 40.

One of them might be, or at least two; even if all three of them are at Lv. 40, it wouldn’t change things much.

I looked at Selveron, and he nodded; a moment later, I felt his spell.

“Lord Silver, I hope you have been well,” I said, looking at the young man, who had achieved quite a few feats.

The way he is growing, I wouldn’t be his match in a few years. Unfortunately, he will not get the chance. He will become a caged bird like all masters.

“I am, thanks for asking, Count Viremont,” he replied with a smile.

There was not a hint of worry to be seen in his face or heard in his voice.

“It would remain the same if you surrendered,” I said, and the man laughed. Well chuckled, that is, filled with mirth.

“You stole the words from my lips, Count Viremont. I was going to make the same offer to you. Even offering a 25% discount on the ransom I would get from you and all the people you have brought,” he replied.

“He is confident,” said Direlle, the mercenary.

“He needs to be; he can’t project defeat when he intends to fight,” replied Viscountess Valebrook.

“Think about it, Lord Silver. If I attack, there will be no mercy; the blood will flow, and even I cannot control the deaths when it begins.” I urged.

I relish battles, but I like to make them as bloodless as possible. There will be more battles, and I don’t want to lose people before that.

“You are absolutely right, Count Viremont; the blood will flow if you attack. So, think carefully before attacking.” Hearing that, I sighed.

“Since you want the war, Lord Silver. I will give you the one that you will regret for the rest of your life,” I said.

The words hadn’t left my mouth when I activated Indomitable Army, Iron Tide, and War Count’s Force, my second inheritance skill.

“Attack!”

I ordered, and my army moved immediately.

Four groups of fifty thousand separated and moved toward the four gates.

Viscount Mirevell is leading the first corps toward the northern wall; he will fight against the orc colonel of the elite battalion. He is quick; his job is to capture the gate as soon as possible.

He shouldn’t face any problems; the young orc is very good, but he is not at Lv. 40, and has much less experience than Mirevell.

Hartor Vark is leading the second corps.

He will be fighting General Jarvis. The general might not be Lv. 40, but the information stated he is powerful and likely has the aura method.

I had paid the man a lot, and I hope he doesn’t disappoint me.

“Is that Zorazal Lant?” asked Selveron, looking at the woman in her late thirties, leading the third corpse.

He isn’t the only one looking at her; others are doing the same. Even Silver’s eyes seemed to be focused on her for a few moments.

That is because until now, nobody knew about her. Everyone thought she was still in the Empire; she is not.

She is one of the Lv. 40 powerhouses they provided to me. I didn’t want to reveal her, but Silver’s Great Mage had forced me. She is powerful; she won’t have any problem dealing with him.

I turned to the last corpse, led by Loxley. He isn’t the only one in it.

Viscountess Valebrook and Captain Dallier are with him; these three will deal with Silver and his General.

I want to deal with Silver personally, but Loxley is capable, and I promised him a fight with Silver. As for the Great Mage, Selveron will handle her from here.

As Loxley’s corps crossed the line, the attack began immediately.

The shower of cannon, trebuchets, and arrows began on the entire army, not just on a single corps. The response surprised me; it was far more powerful than I had thought.

I didn’t move and watched as my men's defense and each corps moved toward the wall.

It didn’t take long before Loxley was just a hundred meters away from the wall when something surprising happened.

Silver and his sister flew out of the wall on a platform of ice; they didn’t leave, just moved back and up in the sky, leaving the general alone on the wall.

“That is not giving me good feelings,” whispered Gaiden.

I hate to admit it, but my skill and instinct are warning me the same.

Especially when I looked at Silver.

This time, he is not hiding his emotions. I could see them.

I could see fear in his eyes, but also hope in them. I would have felt sure if it had been full of confidence, but this look did not give me a good feeling.