Zhao Haiping sighed quietly. If he hadn't done his research and predicted a possible third phase based on historical events, he would probably be devastated by now.
It was like those action games where, after countless tries, you finally beat the boss, only to be met with a cutscene and a new, even tougher boss.
But now that he was here, he had no choice but to soldier on.
Zhao Haiping had never reached the third phase before, so he had no strategy and could only rely on guesses.
However, after discussing with Chu Ge, he figured that the third phase would likely differ from the first and second phases.
The first phase's challenge was subtle: you could slack off, but not too much. While slacking off would let you clear the first phase, it would put you at a disadvantage entering the second, leading to much greater difficulty.
The second phase required thorough preparation—convincing the general to dig the well and slaughter the horses, and taking the lead yourself.
As for the third phase, historical records were vague, only mentioning that, after a hard battle, reinforcements arrived and only seventy-four soldiers survived to see them.
But how they managed to hold out was not mentioned.
Chu Ge speculated that each phase could represent a different kind of test.
As a soldier, cold-weapon combat skills were essential and would be key to clearing every phase, but each phase focused on a different attribute.
The key to the first phase was courage—to step forward.
As a low-ranking soldier, you could stay back, but this would hurt your chances later. Only by stepping up and performing well could you earn the general's favor, improving your starting position in the second phase.
The second phase emphasized judgment and strategy.
With a higher rank in the second phase, you could influence the general and make strategic choices. Relying on brute strength alone would lead to defeat in the second wave of attacks by the Di forces.
So Chu Ge speculated that the third phase's key would be an unyielding spirit.
When faced with true despair, one would have to hold their ground, never retreating, and fight until the very end.
Zhao Haiping agreed with Chu Ge's reasoning.
If that were true, then the third phase might be simpler—just hold on and keep fighting, and eventually, he should clear it.
Sure enough, this time, the game didn't allow much preparation. Just as Zhao Haiping was adjusting to his surroundings, the Di soldiers began their assault!
In the midst of swirling snow, the war drums thundered from below, and the Di soldiers charged towards the city walls once more!
The snow lay thick around the city, slowing the Di soldiers, but they were still in their prime, unlike the Chu soldiers on the walls, who were all over seventy.
There were few words exchanged. Scenes like this, these old soldiers had experienced countless times.
With a roar from General Geng Zhong, all the soldiers drew their weapons and charged forward, shouting!
Zhao Haiping fought as before, staying close to the general and bravely defending him.
He noticed that although his aged body was not as strong, his combat techniques seemed to have improved. He instinctively executed swift, clean attacks, making full use of his "Licking the Blade" talent, slaughtering enemies like a god of war!
Blood splattered across the wall, staining the snow crimson.
But the Di soldiers kept coming, endless as the snowfall.
Zhao Haiping held on for a long time, but as he watched his comrades fall one by one, he noticed there were fewer than seventy men left, and still no sign of reinforcements in the distance.
General Geng Zhong, drenched in blood, sighed deeply, "Take the last warhorse and try to break through. I am resolved to die with this city!
"You must return to Chu and report what happened here to the emperor, so that the court may know we fought to the last!"
Zhao Haiping quickly shook his head. "General, reinforcements will come!"
General Geng Zhong looked bitter. "Forty years! We've sent countless messengers, but none returned. Perhaps the entire northwest has fallen to the Di.
"Go, quickly!"
Of course, Zhao Haiping wouldn't leave, because according to history, the reinforcements were close. Why leave now?
So he shook his head again, expressing his intent to stay until the last moment.
Seeing this, General Geng Zhong didn't insist. He sent another bodyguard to break through, but that soldier was quickly caught by Di cavalry and died heroically.
The battle on the walls continued, but Zhao Haiping's Chu soldiers dwindled further.
Finally, the Di soldiers overwhelmed them, and Zhao Haiping and General Geng Zhong were hacked to death in the snowstorm.
...
Back at the start of the third phase.
Zhao Haiping felt a bit defeated.
Dying wasn't scary—he'd died countless times in this dungeon and was used to it by now.
The problem was… he felt cheated!
"This is strange. Where are the reinforcements?
"Wasn't it said that seventy-four soldiers survived?
"I fought to the death, but even then, I didn't see any reinforcements!
"Could the game be so shameless as to remove the historical reinforcements?"
Zhao Haiping fell into confusion.
He'd died countless times in both the first and second phases, honing his combat skills. So even with his weakened state in the third phase, he had managed to hold out until the end.
But holding out hadn't led to victory!
Frowning, Zhao Haiping looked at the three talent cards again.
When his eyes fell on a familiar card, an idea sparked in his mind.
"Could it be… that the messenger who broke through for reinforcements… was meant to be me?
"If I don't leave the city, no reinforcements will come?"
Analyzing the game's logic, Zhao Haiping realized this was very likely.
No, it was probably the only answer.
In the second phase, if he hadn't figured out the plan to personally suggest to the general, he would likely have been stuck there forever.
The same logic applied here.
If no one goes to request reinforcements, they won't come.
The problem was, requesting reinforcements wasn't that simple!
The snow was heavy outside, and the Di had encircled the city.
Earlier, the general's guard had tried to break through, only to be intercepted and killed by the Di.
To break through the encirclement and find the reinforcements in a snowstorm?
How could a seventy-year-old soldier manage that?
It was absurd!
But after thinking it over, Zhao Haiping realized there was no other solution. He'd already tried holding the wall, and without reinforcements, it was a dead end.
"So, this 'Mounted Archery Proficiency' really isn't a useless talent.
"Horsemanship only becomes relevant now!
"Though on the bright side, the game is a bit lenient. At least it doesn't require me to use the same talent in all three phases. I can switch talents before each phase."
Zhao Haiping felt that the game was slowly shaping him into a masochist. Even this tiny mercy made him grateful.
If the game had forced him to use the same talent through all three phases, he'd probably be stuck here for days.
Anyway, with a new hypothesis, he was ready to test it out.
Zhao Haiping chose the "Mounted Archery Proficiency" talent and restarted the third phase.
Snow was still falling heavily on the walls, and the Di soldiers were poised to attack.
This time, Zhao Haiping didn't waste any time. He volunteered to break through for reinforcements before the general even summoned him.
General Geng Zhong seemed to have this in mind, so Zhao Haiping didn't need to persuade him as much as in the second phase. He quickly slipped out through a breach in the city wall.
The fierce wind carried snowflakes, blanketing everything.
Both Zhao Haiping and his horse were shivering, barely able to see the road.
Before he left, the general had pointed him roughly southeast, saying there might still be defenders there. But once Zhao Haiping left the city, it was impossible to tell directions.
With no choice, he trusted his instincts.
The snow was several feet deep, making progress difficult even on horseback.
Before he'd gone far, he heard the war drums echoing from the city. The Di were attacking again!
And in the blizzard ahead, Di soldiers appeared.
They spotted Zhao Haiping and began their pursuit!
Gritting his teeth, Zhao Haiping turned in the saddle, trying to draw his bow.
He gripped the horse's flanks tightly, maintaining balance, but his arrow vanished into the snow, with no idea where it landed.
"Damn!"
Zhao Haiping was frustrated.
Even with the "Mounted Archery Proficiency" talent, this was the result. Without it, he'd probably have fallen off as soon as he let go of the reins.
Fortunately, as he rode, the talent's effects quickly kicked in, and he felt his riding skills improving.
After some distance, his mounted archery also became more proficient. Initially, he shot aimlessly, but soon he managed to hit a Di soldier's horse, showing rapid progress.
With his prior archery skills, he only needed to combine them with riding.
But as more Di soldiers caught up, he was eventually surrounded, shot off his horse by a volley of arrows.
Back at the start of the third phase.
"Damn it, let's go again!
"Once my riding skill is perfected, I'll wipe you all out!"
Without hesitation, Zhao Haiping restarted.