Descendants of the False Gods

Chapter 7: The Hope of Xingyue City

After entering the city, the armies of the Northern and Southern Beast Kingdoms began to reorganize their ranks. One unit after another lined up neatly in the square, and it was only at this moment that the full force of the participating beast troops was revealed.

The Black Ox Guards, originally two thousand strong, now had only five hundred remaining. Among them, three hundred had been trapped outside the city by the fire, and within the city, nearly all had perished, leaving only the Black Ox Guards’ leader and a small group of his personal guards.

The Southern Beast Kingdom’s Lion-Tiger Cavalry numbered fifteen hundred, followed by five hundred members of the Black Panther Strike Team. These panthers were all expert assassins, known for their agility and ferocity in combat.

The Southern Beast Kingdom also deployed the Rhino Armored Division, a thousand strong. This unit was composed entirely of warriors clad in rhino armor, mostly from the prairie rhino tribe. They specialized in operating large siege weapons and occasionally used shields for defense.

The Northern Beast Kingdom’s Bloodclaw Wolf Cavalry numbered two thousand. This was the most brutal unit of the Blue Wolf Kingdom, known for their deep-seated hatred of anything related to the divine race. It was said that two hundred years ago, the Bloodclaw Tribe had participated in a war against the divine race, only to be completely annihilated within five minutes.

Additionally, the Northern Beast Kingdom dispatched a thousand-strong Forest Wolf Division. This unit was developed after the war with the divine race, as the Blue Wolf Kingdom realized the importance of long-range weapons. The ballistae and small catapults used in the ambush against the Fury Armor Army were all constructed by this unit using timber from the Four Winds Valley.

The final unit was shrouded in mystery, numbering fewer than two hundred. Each soldier wore a mask and a hooded cloak, and very few knew which force they belonged to.

Once all the beast forces had taken their positions, the unit leaders began assigning tasks. After receiving their orders, the wolf cavalry was the first to move out, charging down the main street toward the eastern and western districts. Their mission was to eliminate any remaining defenders in the streets.

The Black Panther Assassins followed closely behind, slipping into areas the cavalry could not reach. Meanwhile, the Forest Wolf Division unloaded timber from supply carts to assemble siege weapons.

Due to their devastating losses, the Black Ox Guards were now relegated to support roles. Only the Lion-Tiger Cavalry and the mysterious unit remained stationary.

The battle within the alleys began. The wolf cavalry charged fiercely, making direct resistance impossible. The defenders of Xingyue City had no choice but to retreat into buildings, using the terrain to wear down the enemy.

Most of the remaining defenders were women, primarily armed with bows and crossbows. However, in the narrow alleyways, they were at a severe disadvantage against the speed of the wolf cavalry. Many were struck down before they could even fire a second arrow.

Yet, once inside the buildings, the defenders gained an advantage. Crossfire from doorways and windows made it impossible for the wolf cavalry to defend themselves. If the cavalry entered a house, they would be forced to go in one by one due to the narrow doorways, making them easy targets for ambush.

The beast forces quickly changed tactics. The wolf cavalry secured the main streets, dividing the districts into smaller sections. Meanwhile, dismounted wolf riders joined forces with the Black Panther Assassins to clear buildings one by one.

The panther assassins were masters of close combat, swiftly clearing multiple blocks with minimal casualties.

The wolf forces soon completed assembling several dozen light catapults. They coated stones in flammable oil and set them ablaze before hurling them into the streets. The wooden structures quickly caught fire, forcing the defenders out of their hiding places, where they were easily cut down by the waiting wolf cavalry.

The Forest Wolf Division also built massive rolling crushers, which were manually pushed to demolish buildings and level the ruins. In a short time, they had cleared a large, empty space.

For more solid structures that could not be easily destroyed, they resorted to arson. It was evident that the beast forces intended to completely annihilate Xingyue City, leaving no survivors.

The city’s defenders continuously retreated while depleting the enemy’s numbers. However, the beast forces, relying on their superior numbers, kept advancing.

After several hours of intense fighting, the battle neared the administrative square. The remaining defenders abandoned the last district and withdrew into the administrative building—Xingyue City’s final stronghold.

In the guest rooms of the administrative building, three visitors from the Xin Tribe were resting, exhausted from days of travel. They were jolted awake by the chaos outside. Standing by the window on the third floor, they could see half of the city.

What had been a peaceful and harmonious city that morning was now in ruins, engulfed in flames and smoke. Xingyue City’s citizens were retreating toward the administrative building, while wolf cavalry galloped through the rubble-strewn streets. Flaming boulders tore through the sky, crashing into the last remaining intact buildings, which then collapsed into smoldering ruins.

A horrifying realization dawned upon them—Xingyue City was under siege.

Seeking answers, they searched for guards but found none in the hallways. Left with no other choice, they headed to the administrative hall on the fourth floor.

Inside, the hall was bustling with people arming themselves. The weapons storage was located just downstairs, ensuring that as long as there were people, there would be resistance.

The three guests assisted in equipping the defenders while gathering information on the current situation. Determined to help, they requested weapons and armor to join the fight.

The personnel distributing weapons hesitated. Knowing they were guests from the Xin Tribe, they were unsure whether to allow them to participate. Seeking guidance, they reported to the city lord’s wife.

The city lord’s wife refused their request, advising, “The friendship between the Divine Offspring and the Xin Tribe is eternal, but that does not mean the Xin Tribe must die for us. Xingyue City is likely doomed. If no one survives, its destruction will remain a secret. The citizens have chosen to perish with their city, but you must live and leave Xingyue City.”

After a moment of thought, she continued, “Beneath the storage room is a wine cellar, and within it, a hidden passage leads to an underground drainage channel once built by the divine race. Over time, the drainage system fell into disrepair and was converted into a waterway. This waterway connects to an underground river influenced by Xingyue Lake. Since it is now autumn and the lake is in its dry season, the river’s flow should be manageable. If you follow the river and avoid the downward paths, you should be able to escape. This is a secret known only to the highest-ranking Divine Offspring.”

The Xin guests were shocked and asked, “If there is a secret passage, why not escape with some of the people?”

The city lord’s wife replied, “No one is willing to flee. Everyone was born in Xingyue City, spent their lives building it, and are ready to die with it. Even the youngest children have chosen to fight to the death.”

One of the guests hesitated before asking, “What about the infants and toddlers who cannot understand?”

After a long silence, the city lord’s wife said, “This is their fate…”