As Xieman reviewed the inventory list, a sharp warhorn pierced the air.
An attack alarm!
Frowning, Xieman put away the list and quickly strode out.
Not far from the barracks, he ran into a hurried group of wizard apprentices, led by Artir.
"Who's attacking?" Xieman demanded.
"Dark elves!" Artir replied without hesitation.
Xieman was unsurprised by the response.
The surrounding tribes and monsters had already been cleared out. The only remaining threat lay further ahead: the dark elves.
If an attack was happening now, it could only mean the dark elves were making their move.
When Xieman and Artir reached the southern wall, the battle was already in full swing.
---
Tarren City was nestled within a massive cavern, its back against a stone wall with defensive structures on the other three sides.
The dark elves' forces focused their assault on the southern wall.
Ogres, bear goblins, kobolds, and lizardfolk swarmed forward in waves. Telescopic siege ladders extended to scale the walls, while battering rams pounded against the gates. The more disciplined minotaur units stood by in reserve. Strangely, few dark elves were visible.
Beyond the outer defenses, massive trebuchets were set up, launching heavy stone projectiles toward the city walls.
Under normal circumstances, Tarren City would have been caught off guard by such a ferocious assault.
But the Star Alliance's tireless golems, devoid of fear or panic, held the line. They methodically defended the walls, their iron fists crushing any who dared to climb.
In the chaos, faint skittering sounds announced the arrival of double-bladed spiders. These mechanical constructs scaled the walls from the flanks and descended upon the attacking horde. Their sharp limbs tore through enemy lines with ease, forcing a retreat.
---
From atop the wall, Xieman observed the battle with a calm demeanor.
Recent interrogations of local captives had revealed much about dark elf tactics.
Among their hordes of fodder, only the minotaurs could be considered true elites. Ferocious and resilient, they far outclassed the ogres, goblins, and kobolds.
As the initial waves faltered, the ogres and goblins began to retreat. A deep warhorn sounded, signaling the advance of the heavily armed minotaurs.
Seeing this, Xieman decisively ordered the gates to be opened.
While defending a city was advantageous, the golems were far more effective in open-field combat.
---
Boom!
The gates opened, and the towering golems marched out, crossing the spider constructs to form an unyielding steel wall.
No matter how fiercely the minotaurs charged, the golems held their ground.
Taking advantage of the stalemate, two elite iron golems stepped forward. Their chests glowed briefly before unleashing projectiles of visible distortion.
Crushing Sonic Waves!
Buzz!
A violent sonic explosion erupted, sending tangible shockwaves rippling outward. The blast shredded everything within a radius of over ten meters, annihilating the minotaur ranks.
The iron golems continued their relentless barrage, unleashing spell after spell, slaughtering hundreds of minotaurs in mere moments.
Even the fearless minotaurs began to waver.
---
At that moment, a massive spider-shaped illusion materialized in the distant sky, casting an ominous shadow over the battlefield.
From the dark elf fortifications, lizard-mounted cavalry emerged. Their riders, clad in exquisite chainmail, bore silver hair and obsidian-like features. Armed with long spears, they charged forward.
"Dark elves!" Xieman's eyes narrowed.
Finally, the real threat had arrived.
These were the true elites of the dark elf forces. The earlier waves had been nothing more than cannon fodder.
The lizard cavalry surged into the fray, cutting through the golem lines with alarming efficiency. Blades flashed coldly, reducing the stone golems to rubble.
"They match the reports," Artir remarked, her sharp gaze fixed on the battlefield. "Every one of them fights at a knight's level, rivaling the Blackrock Cavalry of the Star Empire."
---
As the lizard cavalry turned the tide, the battle descended into chaos.
Yet, Xieman and Artir remained composed, calmly observing the scene.
To the Star Alliance, the golems were expendable.
But for the dark elves, each lizard knight was a precious resource, and every loss was a painful blow.
This attritional warfare was bound to favor the Star Alliance.
As expected, the dark elves' warhorns soon sounded again, signaling a retreat.
---
Just as the golems moved to pursue, a shadow streaked out from above, darting through over a dozen golems in an instant.
A series of sharp cracks followed, leaving shattered fragments of stone strewn across the ground.
Amid the debris stood a hybrid figure, half-human and half-spider.
---
Her upper body resembled a stunningly beautiful dark elf woman, clad in tight-fitting armor that accentuated her curves. Twin curved blades gleamed in her hands.
Her lower body, however, was a massive black spider, its metallic sheen glinting menacingly under the faint light. Her eight legs appeared sharper than the double-bladed spiders themselves.
"A Spiderling!" Xieman's expression grew serious.
This was the true threat.
Seeing it in person, Xieman realized the Spiderling was even stronger than the reports had suggested.
Among the golems it had just destroyed was an elite iron golem, a second-ring legendary construct.
For the Spiderling to cut through such a foe with ease, it clearly surpassed the average fourth-ring legendary creature.
Fortunately, the Star Alliance was not without its own trump cards.
---
Xieman turned toward the figure standing silently beside him.
The individual wore a large gray robe, obscuring their body entirely. Even most of their face was hidden beneath the hood, leaving only a pale chin visible.
Truthfully, Xieman had been shocked to learn this was a puppet.
Never before had he seen a construct so lifelike.
If he hadn't known in advance, he might have mistaken it for a living human.
Though it lacked the imposing stature of the golems, Xieman harbored no doubts about its combat capabilities.
After all, it had been sent by his teacher specifically to deal with the Spiderling.
"Take care of it," Xieman said softly.
The figure nodded slightly.
---
The robe fluttered away, revealing a tall and slender young woman.
She stood nearly 1.7 meters tall, clad in a skintight suit of silver scales that accentuated her curves.
Without hesitation, she leaped from the wall.
Mid-fall, her descent abruptly slowed, and moments later, she surged skyward, streaking toward the Spiderling like a comet.
---
The Spiderling sensed the approaching threat immediately. It slashed its blades forward, sending twin arcs of black energy slicing through the air.
Unfazed, the woman plowed through the attack. An invisible field shimmered around her, nullifying the dark energy.
With a deft motion, she countered, hurling a bolt of crackling blue energy straight at the Spiderling.
Lightning Arc!
The Spiderling screamed as electric currents engulfed its body, writhing across its flesh.
---
From the rear ranks of the dark elf army, the commanders stared in disbelief.
"A spellcaster!"
"Could that be the Star Alliance's leader?"
"It has to be her!"
The Star Alliance was rumored to be led by a powerful wizard, and this young woman's mastery of magic left little room for doubt.
"Seize the opportunity! If we kill her, the Star Alliance will collapse!" declared Luretta, the dark elf warlord commanding the army.
Her troops surged forward, renewed by her rallying cry.
---
But on the battlefield, the tide had already turned.
The puppet-woman's relentless assault overwhelmed the Spiderling, leaving it bloodied and battered.
Finally, with a decisive strike, her enchanted blade pierced the Spiderling's chest, ending its life.
The dark elves faltered, their resolve shattered.
Luretta had no choice but to sound the retreat.
---
As the dark elf army fled into the shadows, Xieman gave the signal.
A blaze of light burst into the sky, illuminating the battlefield as waves of Star Alliance cavalry emerged from the darkness, cutting down the retreating dark elves.
Though some managed to escape, the dark elf army had been decisively defeated.
"Prepare the Spiderling's remains for transport to Dragonwood," Xieman ordered.
This was a matter of great importance, as emphasized by his teacher.
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