Randall commanded the surviving soldiers and civilians to move everything in the royal city that could be used to defend against foreign enemies to the entrance of the hall.

Exquisite and heavy marble sculptures were knocked down and used to block the entrance; gorgeous and expensive linen curtains were torn down and used as drapes.

Randall forcefully pried open the throne, then threw the pile of wood and cushions—no different from any other material—into the front lines to use as sandbags to protect against enemy bullets.

Having prepared everything, he led the surviving soldiers to their positions, the archers nocked their arrows, and the spearmen gripped their spears.

The waiting time here becomes so unbearable; a minute feels like an eternity.

After an unknown amount of time, shouts and footsteps of foreign races came from outside the royal city. More and more enemies gathered in front of the tightly closed gates of the royal city and began to pound on the heavy doors.

Randall looked at a young Lone Rock soldier beside him, covered in wounds but gripping his weapon tightly, and asked softly, "Are you afraid?"

The latter swallowed hard, kissed the cross on his chest, and said, "No, God is with me."

Randall lowered the visor of his helmet, picked up the shortbow in front of him, nocked an arrow, and said, "That's right, God has always been watching over you and me."

Heavy pounding sounds echoed from the city gates, the hinges of the doors creaked and groaned, and suppressed cries of children could be heard from the crowd in the hall.

The gap in the door, created by the impact, grew larger and larger. Randall slowly raised his bow and aimed the arrow at the gap.

A short while later, a hole the size of a palm was smashed open, and an Ayyubid soldier peered through the hole, trying to observe what was inside.

Randall held his breath, released the bowstring with his right hand, and the gleaming arrow left the violently vibrating bowstring, its fletching swaying as it shot towards the hole in the gate.

A scream rang out, and blood splattered everywhere.

The Imperial soldier who had been peeking out was struck through the head by an arrow and fell to the ground, lifeless.

After a brief moment of astonishment, shouts from a foreign race came from outside the door.

Randall lowered his bow and said to the soldiers beside him, "Lower your body and get ready, the enemy is coming in."

A few minutes later, the sound of burning came from outside the gate.

Immediately afterwards, a violent explosion blasted open the tightly closed door, revealing a hole in the door panel large enough for two people to pass through at the same time.

After the smoke cleared, heavy infantrymen clad in plate armor and carrying iron shields crouched low and entered the cave. Randall raised his bow and fired an arrow at the first enemy soldier who charged in.

The arrow traced a graceful arc through the air, piercing the heavy infantryman's eye once more.

However, the death of one enemy soldier did not affect the enemy's morale in the slightest. More and more heavy infantrymen squeezed through the breach.

Seeing this, after ordering his soldiers to fire a volley of arrows, Randall drew his longsword and pounded his chest armor: "For honor! For faith! Charge!"

The remaining soldiers picked up their weapons and followed Randall, charging into the enemy ranks who had not yet gained a foothold.

Using the strength and speed of the dragon bone, Randall fell one heavy infantryman after another, while the soldiers behind him swarmed forward and killed the fallen enemies one by one with their weapons.

In an instant, the imperial army that rushed through the gate was suppressed by the fearless defenders and showed signs of collapse.

Just then, a dignified voice came from outside the door.

The Imperial heavy infantrymen hurriedly moved aside, clearing the entrance to the gate. Immediately afterwards, dozens of muskets were thrust in from the opening, aimed directly at the unsuspecting defenders.

A barrage of gunfire erupted, and a storm of bullets swept towards the defenders of Lone Rock City. Fragile human bodies burst into brilliant blooms of blood amidst the shards of steel before withering away.

Randall, riddled with bullets, knelt on one knee. He looked at the corpses of the defenders lying scattered around him, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

Just then, a melodious and high-pitched female voice rang out in the hall.

Barbara stepped out of the crowd, singing hymns aloud as she fearlessly walked forward.

It started with just a child's innocent voice, but then more and more people joined the choir.

The elderly, children, men, and women all stood up, took out the crosses from their chests, and walked forward hand in hand. Their faces were stained with dust and gunpowder, but their eyes showed no fear or panic.

As the crowd drew closer, some of the imperial soldiers began to retreat, while others slowly lowered their weapons.

A loud shout came from outside the door, and the soldiers looked at each other, hesitant.

A muffled scream came from outside the door; a cowardly Imperial musketeer was being executed by the overseer.

After a brief moment of panic, the Imperial soldiers raised their muskets again and aimed them at the advancing civilians.

"No!"

Randall forced himself to his feet and rushed in front of Barbara, trying to use his body to block the next attack.

Gunfire erupted again.

Rows of people fell to the ground, and a wooden cross in a child's hand flew into the air before landing in a pool of blood.

As for Barbara, who was walking at the very front of the group, Randall was ultimately a step too late... Blood seeped from her body, staining her clothes a deep crimson.

At this critical moment, a roar came from the depths of the royal city. Accompanied by a slight tremor in the ground, a strong orc over two meters tall swung his fist, the size of a sandbag, and charged into the imperial army. In one fell swoop, he smashed a heavy infantryman into the air and knocked down a group of soldiers outside the gate.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!