After his speech, amid the relentless shouts of his soldiers, Henry turned toward the Barbarians' campsite, where a massive human wave had formed. The Barbarians clutched their stone weapons tightly while arranged in a simple horizontal line.
"RUAH!" - They crazily screamed and hit their chests, like beasts challenging their preys for a small game of life and death. The air seemed to tremble under their merciless chants.
Normally, the entire capital should be resonating with the cries of these invaders, casting a shadow of fear over Eisenburg's people. However, right now, there was only a single desire in their minds, be it soldiers or normal citizens: The savages had to die here.
"STAHL!" - Luther, who stood on the wall beside Henry, countered their war cries with a shout filled with righteous anger, one destined for protection. It infused courage into the hearts of the people. They were united. They wanted their corpses for a new future.
The soldiers kept shouting and the citizens joined in, raising their voices to a crescendo that seemed to create an illusion of a red wolf's face, howling madly at the sky before baring its teeth at the Barbarians. It was Stahl's will. The wolf of the North.
Without an ounce of fear, the barbarians charged toward the walls. Thousands of them, running madly and chaotically towards their objective. It was like a black wave leaving its traces on the pure snow.
"Archers!" Luther's experienced command echoed, and hundreds of longbow archers took their positions atop the wall, drawing their bows.
"Mark your targets!"
"Hold!"
"Hold!"
"Hold!"
"Loose!" Luther gave the order as the Barbarians reached a specific range, symbolizing the beginning of a deep-rooted revenge.
The rain of arrows seemed to cover the sun, like a full eclipse, like the messenger of death itself. However, the barbarians were fearless. Some used the ladders to protect themselves while others refused to protect their bodies or fend off the deadly black sun. They chose to dive deeper into the eclipse of death. As a result, hundreds of them perished in a single moment, pierced by the sharp arrows.
Those who survived pressed on, not minding the arrows lodged in their flesh. It was as if the arrows that could kill a human in a single strike couldn't even halt the barbarian's march. They were like a relentless and unstoppable force of nature.
On top of the walls, Henry watched this brutal spectacle with a mixture of emotions: fear, excitement, and curiosity. Fear, as a soul from modern times and unused to such violence. Excitement, as he saw an opportunity to put his knowledge and desire for greatness into action. Curiosity, about the Barbarians' extraordinary vitality and strength, their ability to endure injuries that would be fatal to ordinary humans, all without harnessing Mana outside their bodies. It was a phenomenon that demanded further study.
"They're about to enter the explosion range" - Iosif reported as the wild Barbarians drew nearer. The General of the City's Command toyed with a crude axe, his anticipation growing. He longed to join the battle and unleash his fury.
After a few seconds - "Ignite the seeds" - Henry commanded, his tone filled with both anxiety and exhilaration as he observed the approaching line of Barbarians.
At the command, Iosif turned his head and nodded to a miner, whose skin bore countless frostbite injures and clothes were torn in various places. The miner descended from the wall and disappeared into an underground passage near the fortifications. Within moments, the same miner emerged, sprinting toward a nearby house and covered his ears.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Loud explosions made the area beyond the city walls tremble, followed by agonized screams from the Barbarians.
"Open the gates!" – Olaro and Luther shouted, their voices completely enveloped by an intent to kill – "Let's hunt them down!"
(Edited)