Face to Face: The Clash of Titans

"What… what kind of bow and arrow is this?"

The middle-aged guard commander exclaimed as he witnessed the chaos. "Shoot! Hurry and shoot! We can't let them suppress us!"

Though the five or six hundred archers on the city wall were frightened by the barrage of arrows, military orders compelled them to fire back despite their trepidation. Unfortunately, they realized that the opposing force had retreated to a safer distance, making it difficult for their arrows to reach the enemy.

To make matters worse, those below were clad in thick, reinforced steel chainmail beneath their flimsy leather armor. How could their weak arrows penetrate such defenses?

On the other hand, the guards had high-grade bows with remarkable range and power. Even at a distance, their shots could inflict significant damage. Moreover, the members of the royal guard were elite soldiers, far superior to ordinary troops.

What seemed like a mutual exchange of fire was, in reality, a one-sided massacre. Within moments, several soldiers on the city wall had fallen, and if this continued, soon no one would dare to stand on the battlements.

Seeing this, the commander bellowed, "Close the city gates! Everyone, charge! Wipe out the rebels!"

The heavy gates began to close again, and a chorus of battle cries echoed from all directions.

Ronald was momentarily startled as he noticed a surge of soldiers pouring in from both sides of the walls and the streets behind him. In an instant, it turned into a ten-sided ambush!

"Your Majesty, what should we do?" Liu Long asked anxiously, eyeing the approaching enemies.

Veins popping on his forehead, Ronald's temper flared. "What else can we do? Fight back!"

"Kill!!" Liu Long roared, leading the charge forward!

In the blink of an eye, blood flew everywhere!

The royal guard, armed with high-grade steel long swords and reinforced chainmail, quickly gained the upper hand in the clash.

From his vantage point on horseback, protected by a wall of soldiers, Ronald surveyed the battlefield. The sight of carnage did not faze him. He shouted, "Zhang Tie! You hold the left flank!"

"Yes!" someone shouted back from the chaos.

"Liu Long, you cover the right flank!"

"Yes!" Liu Long replied, dispatching enemies with swift strikes.

"Cuihua! You guard our rear!"

"Yes!" A clear voice responded. Cuihua, at the second level of Body Refinement, was slightly stronger than Liu Long.

"A Qiang! Scatter the enemies in front of us!"

"Yes, Master!"

A Qiang, the strongest among Ronald's forces at the third level of Body Refinement, was well-equipped to break through enemy lines.

Under Ronald's tactical command, their formation solidified; they no longer fought haphazardly or as individuals.

As the fighting intensified, bodies piled up on the ground. A closer look revealed that nearly all the dead were guardsmen, while the royal guard sustained minimal injuries. The reason was clear: the disparity in equipment was too great. A single strike from their steel swords could take down an opponent, while ordinary weapons failed to breach the reinforced chainmail.

Moreover, the personal abilities of the soldiers differed vastly. It was akin to a casually dressed person wielding a wooden stick battling a heavily armored muscle-bound warrior with a massive blade; the outcome was predictable.

On the left flank, the muscular Zhang Tie swung twin swords, hacking mercilessly. Although he hadn't reached the Body Refinement stage, his sharp long swords and strong armor allowed him to cut down enemies with ease, resembling a god of slaughter.

On the right flank, Liu Long wielded his sword with one hand. As a martial general of the kingdom, he was skilled and swift, leaving a trail of fallen foes in his wake.

Meanwhile, Cuihua, donned in red armor, proved to be just as formidable. Enhanced by genetic augmentation, she was a top contender among her peers, effortlessly dispatching ordinary soldiers with clean and decisive strikes.

As for the front lines, the scene was brutally intense. A Qiang's strength was unmatched; armed with a specially crafted Guanyu sword from Ronald, he swept through enemies, causing chaos and devastation. Few dared to approach him.

Not far from the city gates, atop a high building, Li Haotian watched Ronald commanding his forces with determination, noting the monstrous prowess of his royal guard with a darkened expression.

Beside him, Mia, usually composed and elegant, showed signs of surprise—not only at the royal guard's impressive combat capabilities but also at Ronald's unexpected demeanor.

In her mind, Ronald had always been gentle, weak, and easy to manipulate. Yet, in the heart of battle, the calm and resolute young man shattered her previous impressions.

"Could he have been pretending all along?" Mia thought fleetingly, but quickly dismissed the idea. "If he were truly this cunning, how could he have been so flustered on our wedding night?"

Lost in her musings, she heard Li Haotian speak softly, "Princess, I didn't expect this man to be so formidable. What's your take on the current situation?"

Mia took a deep breath, clearing her mind. "Your Majesty need not worry. From what I see, though the rebels are fierce, their numbers are insufficient."

"If the standoff continues, they will tire. At that point, General Zhao An could lead a charge with elite troops and easily capture the rebels."

Li Haotian sighed at her words. "I think the same. The rebels are merely relying on superior weaponry. I'm curious where they acquired so many high-grade arms; I'll need to investigate later."

Pausing for a moment, he called to the attendant behind him. "Notify Zhao An to resolve the situation with the bull tribes as soon as possible. If he doesn't arrive within the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, he can return to farming."

The attendant bowed respectfully, replying, "Your Majesty, I have news. General Zhao has quelled the unrest with the bull tribes and is now leading his royal guard this way."

"Good."

Li Haotian nodded, falling silent again as he grimly observed the unfolding battle ahead.