A night of starry darkness—perfect for killing.
The City Defense Army and Imperial Soldiers were preparing for tomorrow’s rebellion.
Tonight, everyone had to eat their fill and rest well!
Restore their spirits!
After all, tomorrow would determine life or death.
But none of them expected that a massacre led by the miners would begin in the depths of the night!
First, the miners inside killed the guards and sentries, then let in the army led by Willis.
“Don’t shout! No gunfire, keep it quiet!”
Willis’s orders were executed perfectly.
The miners knew exactly what they were doing, so they dared not make too much noise and risk ruining the entire plan.
“These filthy dogs, pigs! Sleep, and never wake up again!”
Nidnia’s face was fierce as she led a team into the dormitory, slaughtering the sleeping soldiers inside.
Then they cleaned the battlefield, looted the spoils, and gathered them for distribution.
Next, Willis headed to the next mine.
By dawn, the miners around her were all exhausted—even though they had taken advantage of the enemy’s unawareness.
“How many did we clear?”
“Ten large mines, about fifteen thousand people… The rest are small and medium-sized veins, each with fewer numbers.”
“Among them, five thousand were captured… The miners begged for their lives, saying they were soldiers whose consciences hadn’t been lost.”
Nidnia replied.
Willis lay there while Ofilia kept massaging her body, showing no complaints at all.
So strange.
“No one escaped, right?”
“Heh, before the battle, our people surrounded the area, and they were all asleep—no one could get out to leak information!”
Everything went surprisingly smoothly.
Except for two mines where the guards discovered them and put up considerable resistance.
The rest were wiped out in their sleep.
Yet, Willis still felt as if she’d overlooked something.
“Mm, let everyone rest. We have another battle tonight.”
“Also, send out patrols. Any soldier coming to deliver a message—control them or kill them. Don’t let news reach the other mines.”
Willis gave her orders, while Nidnia indicated it was already arranged.
Willis relaxed, then looked at the blonde girl beside her.
“Ofilia, help me deliver a message.”
“To whom?” Ofilia asked.
Willis gave a name and address.
The blonde girl was shocked.
“Him!? But why would he be…?”
“Just go as told. Why so many questions?”
Willis slapped her on the butt.
Night.
“How far is the Imperial Army searching outside Ushi City?”
“Heh, they’re thorough, advancing ten miles a day without fail. Even riding all night, it’d still take a day to reach Ushi City!”
At those words, the dwarf sneered.
“Move!”
Across the entire base—and throughout Ushi City—every Nightfall operative sprang into action.
At the same time…
“Lord Gabur, it’s time!”
Mien Klincha gathered his men.
At this moment, all City Defense Army under their control inside Ushi City had assembled.
“So it’s finally come to this?”
Fully armed, Gabur stood and began mobilizing the troops.
Meanwhile, the western and southern city gates had already fallen under their control.
Soldiers from surrounding mines flooded in.
“Why are there so few? Where are Glomor, Xie Mo, and the others from the large mines?”
Gabur felt a twinge of unease.
They waited a long time, but no one came.
“Don’t tell me…”
Mien Klincha swallowed.
“They changed their minds at the last minute?”
Just then, a shout broke out, cutting off their hesitation.
Everyone turned in shock—only to see Hill Yu, armored and sword in hand, charging with her forces.
“All troops, listen! Slay the traitors! Ten gold for every ten enemies! Kill fifty, and you’re promoted! Kill!”
Hill Yu repeated Willis’s exact words from before.
Leading five hundred soldiers, she charged directly.
Seeing this, Mien Klincha hurriedly rallied the nearby mine soldiers to resist.
“We have over seventeen thousand men! What’s there to fear? Kill!”
Hill Yu’s appearance was expected.
Such a large-scale troop movement couldn’t be hidden from the Castle Lord’s Mansion.
But Willis knew and still didn’t leave—she went in and out of the Castle Lord’s Mansion every day!
Was she seeking death?
In an instant, both sides clashed on the city gate’s street.
Swords and magic intermingled in chaos.
Only then did Mien Klincha realize—the narrow streets made it impossible for a large army to spread out!
No matter how many they had, only so many could face Hill Yu at once!
“I’ll hold her off. You take men and flank them from the side streets! Hit their rear!”
Gabur drew his sword, engaging Hill Yu immediately.
Here, only his strength could contain Hill Yu’s relentless slaughter!
Hearing this, Mien Klincha nodded and led a squad to encircle from another side.
The moment Hill Yu faced Gabur, she felt immense pressure!
He didn’t use sword energy, but every strike was as heavy as ten thousand pounds—and his angles were sharp!
She fought with all her might, relying on the support of surrounding soldiers to barely hold on!
“Fall back!”
Sensing defeat, Hill Yu led her forces in retreat.
Gabur gave chase, determined to keep her trapped!
“You didn’t stay hiding in your Castle Lord’s Mansion turtle shell—came out to die? Hill Yu, you’ve only yourself to blame!”
Now, Gabur fought fiercely, his sword attacking relentlessly.
But then, sealed jars appeared among Hill Yu’s ranks—and were hurled at the enemy.
The City Defense Army, unfamiliar with these objects, tried to cut them with swords.
But Hill Yu’s troops fired flaming arrows, piercing the jars.
Boom!
A violent explosion, heat, and flames instantly killed and burned a swath of men!
Especially on these cramped streets!
“Royal sister’s gifts aren’t bad at all!”
Hill Yu laughed at the panicked City Defense Army.
When the powder was spent, fires raged across the street.
Seeing Hill Yu out of explosives, Gabur charged again with his men.
***
Meanwhile, outside the Castle Lord’s Mansion.
More than two thousand black-robed figures had gathered.
The dwarf sneered at the wide-open gates of the Castle Lord’s Mansion.
“So this is all Willis is capable of? How disappointing.”
“Did she really think the only ones after her were the City Defense Army? Hah!”
“Kill!”
“Kill!!”
In an instant, hundreds of black-robed men surged into the mansion.
“Willis, today is your death!”
“Oh? Is that so?”
Anne, disguised as Willis, stood at the entrance of the main hall.
At that instant, the dwarf sensed something was wrong.
“No, it’s a trap! Get out!”
“Hehe, too late!”
Anne mimicked Willis’s cold smile as a rain of crossbow bolts erupted.
At the same time, pre-set magic circles unleashed their attacks!
Over three hundred City Defense Army burst from within the Castle Lord’s Mansion, while nearly four hundred more soldiers charged from distant homes.
In a blink, the enemy was surrounded!
Thwang!
Thwang!
The sound of giant crossbows echoed inside the Castle Lord’s Mansion.
Within a second, Nightfall suffered heavy casualties.
Then came Wind Blade Formations, Earth Walls blocking escape, burning Fire Oil—
Traps and magic combined, catching them completely off guard!
Worse still, buried explosives detonated!
The thunderous blasts were devastating, sending black-robed men flying and killing them outright!
The massive noise stalled all attacks!
“Don’t panic! They’re only seven hundred—our numbers are greater! Kill! Kill Willis!”
Seeing the chaos, the dwarf roared and charged Anne in rage.
But then—
Deafening battle cries erupted again.
Looking back, the dwarf’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Impossible!?”