Lei Lin listened, his heart sinking into silence.
Given the current situation, when the high-level combat strength on both sides was roughly equal, this was only natural.
But now, with their side's Realm Guardian nearing the end of his lifespan, they were at a distinct disadvantage.
Though extermination was unlikely, if they lost, the human race's living space would certainly be squeezed — that much was almost guaranteed.
"Our overall strategy is still anchored on Dolen's three major fortress-cities for defense. Each city is garrisoned with large numbers of troops and holds two Tier 2 Wizards stationed within, while the Eastern Domain Guardian serves as central coordinator, ready to reinforce at any moment!"
Lei Lin stroked his chin.
"So the bloody struggle revolving around Dolen is going to be absolutely horrifying…"
"Roar, roar…"
As though growing impatient with the wait, the horde of Dark Beasts roared and surged toward the city walls.
The sight of countless beasts charging as one was like ten thousand horses stampeding, making the very ground tremble beneath their feet.
"Activate first-tier defenses!" Fantix's expression remained unchanged as she relayed the command through a secret sigal imprint.
Soon, an array of runes surfaced across Dolen's massive walls, emanating a resplendent glow that coalesced into a single, unified barrier.
Boom!
Fire! Countless tongues of flame shot outward, engulfing the nearby Dark Beasts!
The waves of fire grew ever larger, steadily spreading outward.
"Isn't it a bit premature to deploy the Fire Elemental Energy formation this early?" Lei Lin furrowed his brow slightly.
"The enemy Dark Beasts are individually weak, but their numbers are too great — we can't let them grind away at our base-level forces. Besides, this is the very first battle. We need to build morale from the outset. Our Magic Stone reserves are still plentiful, and this is merely the outermost defensive array — nothing to worry about!"
Fantix kept her eyes fixed on the battlefield, offering Lei Lin a casual explanation as she spoke.
Raging flames burned bright, looking like an enormous torch blazing in the darkness, drawing countless Dark Beasts toward it like moths to a flame.
Ailin stood atop the wall, watching the scene unfold, his face somewhat pale.
The combined aura of so many Dark Beasts bore down on him, making his body tremble involuntarily.
Once this wave of fire subsided, the remaining Dark Beasts had already reached the base of the walls, moments away from clashing with the human defenders.
From Ailin's vantage point, he could already make out the sharp claws and drool-slicked white fangs of the savage beasts across from him.
At the same time, he stared at the dusty, grayish ring on his right index finger and screamed inwardly: "Grandpa Merlin! If you don't act now, I'm dead!"
"Don't worry, with me here, you'll be fine!"
Immediately, Merlin's voice echoed through Ailin's mind — not Leilin pulling strings behind the scenes, but the semi-intelligent program acting on its own.
"In truth, deserting outright would have been your best option, but unfortunately we're in wartime! The moment you run, every Wizard faction will hunt you down together!"
Merlin seemed to sigh.
In peacetime, deserting would naturally only bring pursuit from one's own faction, but the situation now was entirely different.
"I know that perfectly well!" Ailin was nearly frantic.
"Take three steps back! Use Minor Flame Sphere! Fifty degrees to the right!"
At that moment, Merlin's voice cut through sharply, carrying an unmistakable tone of command.
Ailin's body retreated three steps before he could even think, narrowly dodging a beast's claw.
"Caw! Caw!"
A massive black Crow circled downward. Seeing its strike miss, a trace of almost human-like disappointment flickered through its eyes.
"Damn it! I'll kill you!" Ailin rapidly chanted several clipped syllables and flung his right hand forward.
A small sphere of flame shot out and struck the Crow.
*Boom!* Vivid red flames engulfed the creature's entire body in an instant, and the dark beast barely managed a few shrieks before it crumbled into a pile of charred remains.
"Just now…" Ailin's gaze went slightly unfocused.
He had seen it with perfect clarity — his fireball should never have hit, yet the Crow had been foolish enough to fly straight into it.
"That's prediction! It's a little technique every Wizard learns. If you don't want to die on the battlefield, you have to master it tonight!"
Wizard Merlin spoke flatly from inside the ring.
Ailin looked at the surrounding apprentices, their expressions a mixture of awe and eager flattery, and quietly clenched his fist: "I will…"
…
More than ten hours later, a desolate beast's roar echoed from the distance, and the swarm of dark beasts receded like an ebbing tide. Vandix finally nodded: "Looks like today was just a probe. Let's head back for now!"
Meanwhile, behind the beast horde, several Dark Knights mounted on burrow frost spiders stood atop an earthen rise, surveying the distant scene. They nodded.
"All three of the enemy's Ancient Matriarch-level beings are here. Confirmed — this is a main battlefield. Send the signal!"
The Knight spoke a few words to a snow-white messenger bird, then released it from its bindings.