A year later, from the sky, Bilu City came into view. Its walls were lined with men and women, bows in hand, arrows nocked, all facing west. Then, the western gate opened, and a large army poured out, forming ranks to confront the invading monsters.
The enemy force was a nightmarish blend of creatures. Flying goat monsters, the same ones that had attacked Shentong, hovered in the air. Boar monsters, standing upright like men, wore full armor and gripped halberds in their hands. Plush wolves, dragging sledges, carried human-sized toy figurines armed with bows. Towering lizards brought up the rear, with massive crossbows on their backs that automatically loaded and fired elemental arrows.
Bilu City had no choice but to fight a decisive battle. Their supplies were dwindling. If they waited any longer, they would fall to starvation and defeat themselves. Thus, while they still had enough provisions, they chose to gamble everything on this battle, hoping to break the siege and defeat the invaders.
A small army surrounded the invaders from the outskirts, and Kanoru stood among them.
News of Bilu City's decision spread quickly, first reaching one of the scattered groups around the city and then igniting like wildfire across all the surrounding forces. Every group, knowing the stakes, resolved to join the battle.
If Bilu City fell, they would be surrounded with no place to escape. Over the past year, they had learned that most of the region had already fallen into the invaders' hands or was still engulfed in battle. Even if they avoided the risk today, they would be forced to fight eventually.
Bilu City had a chance. Though the invaders outnumbered them, the difference wasn't overwhelming. The city's forces weren't facing double their number, and with the smaller groups harassing the enemy's flanks, they could divert portions of the invader army. This would increase Bilu City's chances of victory.
Kanoru stood with his group around him, glancing back at Asuna and Gu Mingzhu, who were positioned further behind. His group was tasked with holding back the charging invaders, keeping them at a distance so the warlocks in the rear could bombard them with spells freely and without worry.
The deep, rhythmic beat of war drums and the blare of horns filled the battlefield. Kanoru watched as elemental spells rained down from Bilu City, blazing toward the invaders. In response, the warlocks behind him unleashed their own barrage, and the invaders answered in kind, launching their own spells.
As the two sides exchanged fire, Kanoru spotted a grey energy arrow hurtling toward him. He quickly mobilized his spirit, and a wind arrow shot from above his head, intercepting the enemy spell. The two arrows clashed with a small burst, destroying each other.
He didn't waste time casting a spell—there was no wind spell he knew, and even if there was, he wouldn't squander time on a lower-ranked one. The wind arrow was purely the result of his growing mastery. After months of visualizing the tornado, his spirit had strengthened enough to mobilize the surrounding wind element. He was now a lower-ranked wind priest.
Suddenly, the invaders facing them let out feral roars and charged. Kanoru heard the calm, steady voice of the spirit realm expert, the commander of their group, ordering them to hold their ground. They obeyed, waiting as the warlocks continued hammering the charging invaders with relentless spells.
The monsters kept falling, but more surged forward. Boar monsters led the charge, their heavy armor withstanding two or three spells before finally breaking.
When the invaders closed the distance, Kanoru heard the commander's voice ring out with a single command: "Charge!"
Kanoru and his group roared in unison, surging forward to meet the enemy head-on.
For Kanoru, the lower- and middle-ranked boar monsters were easy prey—their armor offered no protection against him. With his precise swordsmanship, he targeted the gaps in their armor, and when facing multiple enemies, he unleashed Nature-Cut.
His sword sliced through their armor and flesh like a hot knife through butter. In a short time, he had already slain at least twenty of them.
His swift and ruthless onslaught soon attracted the attention of a higher-ranked boar monster. Kanoru recognized it instantly—it was bulkier and taller, and its armor had no visible gaps. Even at the joints, the metal bent fluidly as if it were liquid.
Without hesitation, he opened with Nature-Cut, but while the boar was physically stronger, its reactions and combat skills were inferior to his. Kanoru nimbly dodged its heavy attacks and struck back with clean, precise sword swings. His blade tore through the armor, drawing blood, but the higher-ranked boar's armor was far more durable. The damage was shallow, barely wounding the beast.
To make matters worse, the armor regenerated. Each time he cut it open, it mended itself, forcing him to break through repeatedly before he could inflict any real damage.
Kanoru considered opening the Sixth Gate, but before he could decide, a higher-ranked warlock appeared beside him and said, "Leave this one to me. You handle the middle-ranked monsters."
Without argument, Kanoru nodded and seized an opening to step away, leaving the higher-ranked boar to the warlock. He immediately sought out another group of monsters and resumed his relentless assault.
The battle, which had begun at dawn, raged on until sunset. As the last rays of light slipped below the horizon, both sides gradually pulled back, halting the fight. The monsters, like the humans, lacked the stamina to battle endlessly.
Both armies had reached an unspoken agreement: When the sun set, the battle would stop. Neither side saw victory within reach in the span of a few hours, making it a battle of endurance rather than a single decisive clash.
However, Kanoru knew that if either side sensed victory, no such truce would prevent them from pressing on.
Blood-soaked and exhausted, Kanoru trudged back to Asuna and Gu Mingzhu. Without speaking—they were too drained to even part their lips—they returned to their group's camp. Kanoru slumped to the ground, too weary to do anything but sit and rest.