ACT 4 Opening of the Siege

It looks even more absurd close up.

Ark had arrived in front of the castle while leading the 4,300 troops.He had thought Silvana castle was great when he saw it from a distance. But it was unbelievable when he saw it close up. The castle walls was so high and thick that it looked like a rock wall and the steel on it made it seem like one giant shield.It was an overwhelming sight.

But it isnt my opponent!

Ark looked at the soldiers lined up on the wall.Thats right. Arks opponent wasnt the wall.It was the members of the Hermes alliance!

Racard.

Ark murmured in a low voice.Then a bat flew out of the sky onto Arks shoulder. It was Racard.

Have you figured out all the movements of the Hermes troops?

Huhuhu, nobody can avoid my eyes.

Racard declared with an arrogant expression and explained.

Yesterday evening 5,600 troops gathered in the castle. Today at dawn 1,400 people were divided between the left with right Defense Towers, with each one receiving 700 people each. 1,000 people were left in the castle while the remaining 3,200 people were stationed at the front.

In a siege, the system was that the defending side couldnt help having the advantage. The reason for that wasnt just the high walls and Defense Towers. The biggest advantage between the challenger and the defenders was the tactics range.When the siege started, as the challenger Dark Eden would have no choice but to gather in front of the castle. And they could only move the troops after the siege started.Therefore the troops on the walls could see where Dark Eden would move its troops. But the Hermes alliance wouldve already deployed the troops and with the high walls, there was no way to determined accurately the deployment.SoArk had used Racard to reveal the Hermes alliances cards.There was no need to explain why.Thus two days ago Ark had ordered Racard to watch the castle using satellite surveillance mode. It was in order to catch the movements of the Hermes alliance.

Have you confirmed who is commanding the troops outside?

Yes I saw it. She is the leader of the Silver Gate guild called Gwen.

Racard replied after recalling his memory.Ark had fought with the Hermes alliance before in the siege. Because of that Racard could remember the main guilds which belonged to the alliance.

If Gwen is leading the attack then is Raiden hiding inside the castle?

The siege warfare was a battle to take control of the throne.Obviously the alliance would have some users to protect the throne.

And the arrangement outside the castle?

Look at this.

Racard took out a few memo papers.He had roughly drawn the symbols for Ma and Jeon on it, so the symbols were recorded like they were a code. Racard had used satellite surveillance mode for two days and completely grasped the movements of the troops.Ma: 50 meant that there were 50 magicians, while Jeon: 200 meant there were 200 warriors. Thus Ark was able to 100% identity the complete movements of the Hermes troops.

Hehehe, didnt I do well? Shouldnt it be sufficient for 200 points?

Racard murmured as he twisted his hands together.

This will be worth 150 points.

Eh eh? But..

But if you continue to monitor the enemys movements and report it to me then I will give you another 150 points.

Eh! R-really? Then I can finally..!

Racard looked at the scarf and gloves Ark was wearing with longing eyes. Racard had been watching the enemy for two chilly days but he hadnt complained in order to earn points.Previously his pets had worked so hard to buy the equipment but they had only earned around 100 points by the time they had to leave Lancel.At the time Ark had taken out the gloves and scarves he received from So-mi and said.

If you reach 400 points then I will give you these winter equipment.

Ooh!

His pets eyes popped out.In fact, his summons had thought they would only be given one shabby coat after scraping together 400 points. Yet Ark was showing them gloves and scarves made of the finest wool!In addition, each set also had a different embroidered design of a bat, a skeleton and a snake.

You guys only have 100 points. Youre also leaving Lancel so you cant do any business anymore. But the weather is getting colder so if you earn 300 points during the siege then I will 100% give you these high quality equipment.

That was the reason why Racard wasnt complaining.

Once my pets also have a goal then they listen well.

Ark looked down at the papers Racard had written on and laughed.Then a horn sounded from the Shrine of War and a NPCs voice was heard.

I now declare this the siege area! Aside from the people participating in the siege, nobody can approach this area until the siege ends!

Ku ku ku ku, kong!

Then a huge hourglass started rotating slowly. It was the hourglass which indicated the 24 hours of the siege. Once all the sand had fallen down, either Ark or Raiden would be the winner.

Its started!

Ark simultaneously summoned the leaders of his group.JusticeMan, the rehabilitation members, Shambala, Bread, Redian, Lariette and Roco.The core power of Dark Eden was gathered in one place.However, the result Ark quickly summoned them wasnt to consult about the strategies. The strategy he had determined to recapture Silvana had replayed in his mind hundreds and thousands of times.There was no reason for him to discuss it now.

But it is necessary to change something because of the placement of the Hermes troops.

Ive confirmed that there are 700 people stationed in each Defense Tower.

JusticeMan scratched his beard and murmured.

Does that mean they have a surplus of troops?

No, they have no intention of having a full-fledged war with us.

Ark took out Racards memos and explained it.

If you look at their configuration, most of the magicians and archers are placed along the wall as well as the warriors. They will concentrate on defending the wall.

It was a basic tactic in a siege to place archers and magicians along the walls while the warriors were stationed behind the gate. Depending on the circumstances, they could come out to inflict a counterattack. Suddenly running out of the gates and attacking before running back in was a fairly stressful tactic.However, the Hermes alliance had arranged their warriors along the walls. And there were quite a few troops in the Defense Towers. It meant they intended to defend the walls rather than a full-fledged battle.There was a reason the Hermes alliance selected this method. The Hermes alliance wanted to avoid the financial cost of a war of attrition. If Hermes concentrated on defending then it would be difficult for Dark Eden to win.

The Hermes alliance is using the tactic of hiding behind the castle wall like turtles. If I want to win then Ill have to either climb over the walls or go through the gate. But our numbers are inferior so well just receive damage if we attack like that.

In order to break the gate they had to remove a Defense Tower.The Defense Tower raised the defense of the walls and gate and healed their durability. So it wasnt an exaggeration to say that the Defense Tower was the key between victory and defeat.If they couldnt remove the Defense Towers then not even siege weapons could destroy the gate.

Then isnt it obvious that there are considerable defences around the towers?

For example, Alans method of burying traps and using long ranged attacks was a common tactic. The Hermes alliance would also use the same tactics.

In order for a siege to be successfully, I will have to enter the castle within 18 hours. When considering the time it takes to capture the gates, I need to take control of the Defense Towers in 14 hours. But 700 people are deployed there so I will have to send at least 1,000 troops to capture it within 14 hours. That was a total of 2,000 people. If I do that then Ill only have 2,300 troops left.

The Hermes alliance had 3,200 troops deployed outside.Since they controlled the castle, it was possible for them to exit and attack the main forces at any time. Looking at their arrangement, the Hermes alliance had no intention of coming out but that would change if Ark only had 2,300 troops left after sending people to capture the Defense Towers. Even the ones inside the castle would come out and attack.Then it would be a battle of 4,200 vs. 2,300 people.

It is difficult. There should be at least 3,000 people remaining in the main force. Then I can only send 500 people to the Defense Towers. With that number I absolutely cant capture the Defense Towers in the time limit.

In this situation it wasnt possible.They had already run into a wall at the start of the guild. However

It does not matter. Because it isnt necessary for us to smash the Defense Towers.

Ark replied with a wicked grin.JusticeMan also nodded and said.

Thats right.

Like Ark said, the Defense Towers was very important when building a strategy. But he had no intention of removing the Defense Towers. No, it would actually be a problem if the Defense Towers were removed.Ark looked at Bread and Redian before saying.

Bread, Redian, I want you guys to lead 500 troops to the Defense Towers but do you understand? You can attack the enemy but you cant attack the Defense Towers. You should pretend to attack of course, but concentrating on decreasing their numbers.

Okay.

So Bread and Redian made their way to the Defense Towers. Ark opened his mouth again after they left.

You already roughly know my strategy for this siege. Security is the most important thing in this mission. If those guys notice then this plan will 100% fail. Each unit has to move as planned without violating any orders. When leading the unit, dont let them know the contents of the plan until the last moment!

Ooh!

Ark grabbed the hands of the leaders and shouted powerfully.Then he turned his body and shouted towards the soldiers.

Now, lets begin the attack! 1st siege weapons unit!

Ku ku ku ku, ku ku ku ku, ku ku ku ku!

At the same time, some catapults moved forward slowly. It was the catapults Ark had asked the raccoons to make.

Concentrate all attacks on the gate!

Ridiculous.

On the walls outside Silvana castle. The commander called Gwen snorted as she looked at the catapults.

They expect to attack a castle protected by C ranked Defense Towers using 10 catapults?

The siege weapons played a huge role in a siege. It was almost impossible to break the walls and gate of a castle using general weapons.Of course, it they attacked the gate for a while it was bound to break but attacks would also be pouring down from above. They could only break down the gates when they were already close to destruction.Thus a siege weapon was needed.The siege weapons did 200% more damage to the gate than normal attacks. But the siege weapons had a fatal weakness. They couldnt move freely because of their weight. While the siege weapons had a longer range than magic or arrows, the opponents could still attack it from the walls.Therefore 40 catapults were usually needed in a siege. The catapults could be set up in a rotation, with damage catapults being swapped to repair the damage.But Ark had only prepared 10 catapults. It would be impossible to do much damage to the walls before the catapults were destroyed.

You fool, you know how important siege weapons are. Is it a lack of money? Anyway, we seem to have overestimated Ark too much. Use full force to intercept the catapults!

Arrows and magic was fired from the walls after Gwen gave the order. Hundreds of magic and arrow was concentrated on one catapult. No matter the endurance of the catapult, it would be destroyed instantly from the concentrated attacks! But

Huh? What the?

What? Arent those siege weapons far away?

The soldiers buzzed with confusion.The magic and arrows couldnt reach the catapults and just fell. Hadnt the catapults come into range yet? That was the opponents thoughts but the catapults were already firing rocks at the gates.

Kwa kwa kwa kwang, kwa kwa kwa kwang!

What is this? Isnt the range of a catapult similar to magic and arrows? Then how could a catapult that is outside the 10 metres range attack the gate?

Gwen looked at the catapult with a confused face.The only thing she could think of was that Arks catapults had a longer range.

Is that the reason he only mobilized 10 catapults? Good but

Gwen smiled and raised her fist.The several soldiers peeled off the tents placed here and there.

Huhuhu, its not an accident that weve maintained this estate for 1 year. This Silvana isnt the old Silvana. It is a military fortress!

Gwen murmured as the massive object hidden by the tent appeared. The thing inside the tent was a catapult! No, they were 10 gun turrets fixed on the walls.The gun turrets were the Hermes alliances anti-siege weapons!No matter how long the range of Arks catapults, with the turrets on the walls then the attack had no chance of hitting. And the projectiles shot out by the turrets wasnt simple rocks. They boasted tremendous explosive power!

The bombs are expensive so I didnt really want to use them but I have no choice.

Launch! Attack their siege weapons!

Tu tu tu tung, tu tu tu tung!

Bombs were simultaneously launched by 10 gun turrets.The bombs fell in a big parabola towards enemy lines.

Syu syu syu syuk, syu syu syu syuk! Kwa kwa kwa kwang, kwa kwa kwa kwang!

Suddenly a huge number of fire arrows were shot from the catapults. They flew up hundreds of metres to impact with the bombs, causing them to explode in thin air.Gwen looked at the catapults with stupid eyes. At the same time, two carriages appeared on either side of the catapult.It was a machine with dozens of holes on the top like a honeycomb with smoke gushing out of it.

What the, that is?

Gwen muttered in a stupid voice.Then the carriages turned towards Gwens direction.At the same time, dozens of flaming arrows went flying out of the hole. They were giant arrows 10 times larger than crossbow arrows.

Huck! S-scatter!

Gwen shouted with astonishment as she hid her body behind the wall.

Kwa kwa kwa kwang. The flaming arrows caused a large impact as it crashed into the walls. The alliance members who couldnt avoid it quickly enough had 40% of their health drained away at once. The magicians who had low health died instantly from the flaming arrows.

What on earth? Ive never seen a siege weapon like that!

Huhuhu, how do you like my modern weapon?

Ark chuckled as he soon Gwen who had panicked.While this siege was unexpected for Raiden, Ark had been planning how to win back Silvana for a long time. Thus he had invested in the raccoons and developed the modern weapons in the underground laboratory beneath Lancel.It was this bee hive type carriage.The official name was Fire Barrage Crossbow.

-Fire Barrage Crossbow (Special Manufactured Product)

Weapon Type: Large Weapon

Attack: 100 ~ 150 X 24

Range: 500 metres

Durability: 500/500

Weight: 800

User Restriction: Special craftsmen use only

A large weapon created by the raccoons who had studied for a long time, 24 flaming arrows can be loaded on it and fired. In addition, the range at which it can be launched is 1.5 times more than a crossbow.However, the reload time takes longer than other siege weapons.

<Option: Fire attack +40>

* When used by the raccoon clan, the Firing Speed and accuracy will increase by 20%.