A Holy Blood Beastman with the bloodline of a Beast God, yet his core talent comes from the Shadow Abyss's Shadow Power? And this talent is so powerful, so "original," so natural?
This cannot possibly be just a coincidence! This defies all logic!
Nix's background... is probably much more complicated and... much heavier than he had previously imagined!
Her hazy childhood memories after waking up in the wilderness may just be a facade to cover up the truth!
Deep within her bloodline may lie secrets related to the Shadow Abyss, the Shadow Dimension, or even some ancient taboos! Beneath her "holy blood" may flow a terrifying power that is corrupted, distorted, or... itself originating from the Shadow!
Linde looked at the catgirl in front of him, who seemed terrified and uneasy because he had used the power of Shadow Abyss, yet was also full of attachment to him, with pleading and confusion in her eyes. A strong sense of protectiveness and a heavy feeling welled up in his heart.
He strode forward and gently stroked the top of Nix's soft head, his voice deep and unwavering:
"Nix, don't be afraid."
No matter where your power comes from, no matter what your bloodline holds, you are my Nix.
Your past may be shrouded in mystery, but I will face the future with you and uncover it together.
I will never let anything hurt you.
Nix felt the warmth of her master's hand and the unwavering promise in his words, and her fear subsided slightly. She nuzzled Lind's hand affectionately, letting out a soft, reassuring purr.
"Meow...Nix will always believe in her master, Nix is not afraid anymore, meow..."
Linde withdrew his hand, his gaze once again falling on the lusterless, seemingly "ruined" light vein box, and then sensing the purple polyhedron system in his mind that had become more complex and profound, having fused the light vein divine blood and the remnants of the Shadow Abyss.
New forces bring new possibilities, but also unveil deeper mysteries and potential dangers.
…………
The days passed in bloodshed and vigilance.
Contrary to Lind and his companions' expectations, after that fierce siege, the Sassians did not launch an even more frenzied attack as anticipated.
Instead, they retreated to their camp like wounded beasts, completely changing their strategy.
On the city wall, Lind and Lilens stood side by side, and the situation of the Sassian camp was clearly visible through Lind's activated vision.
Outside the moat that had been mostly filled in, new and deeper moats are being dug out.
The excavated soil was piled up to form higher and thicker walls, which were then covered with sharpened wooden stakes.
Barricades and stockades were layered around the camp, and the number of sentry towers had increased significantly, with soldiers stationed on them vigilantly scanning the direction of Greenburg.
Deep within the camp, craftsmen were busy reinforcing the tents, seemingly preparing for a long-term stay.
A somber and oppressive atmosphere of "cowardice" permeated the air above the Sassin camp.
"They've learned their lesson."
Lilens's voice was weary, but his eyes were sharp.
"They've abandoned a direct assault and are opting for a war of attrition. They intend to trap us here and kill us."
Linde nodded expressionlessly. He understood the other party's intention.
Although Greenburg survived the last fierce attack, it came at a great cost.
The city wall was cracked in many places, especially the main city gate, where the huge dent and spreading cracks were shocking. It was only by temporarily reinforcing the inside with thick logs that it was barely kept closed.
Nearly half of the crossbows were destroyed, and the craftsmen's efforts to repair them day and night were slow.
The defending forces suffered heavy casualties, and those who survived all bore the lingering weariness on their faces.
Greenburg is like a warrior with a broken spine and covered in blood, barely standing, but its defensive capabilities have been greatly reduced, and the structural damage will not be repaired overnight.
The Sassians clearly understood this and intended to use time and siege to wear down Grinburg's will to resist, or even wait for Grinburg to collapse on its own due to lack of supplies or a breakdown in morale.
"Trying to wear us down?"
A cold smile curled at the corner of Linde's lips. His eyes showed no fear, only a hunter's sharpness.
"It's not that easy."
Lind, of course, would not sit idly by and wait for his doom, besieging the city in distress as the Sassians wished. He wanted the enemy to know that even though Grinburg was battered and bruised, it was by no means a pushover!
Thus began a cat-and-mouse game that caused immense suffering for the people of Sassa.
Linde abandoned large-scale night raids and instead adopted more flexible and unpredictable harassment tactics.
He no longer set a fixed time, but rather, like a ghost, randomly selected a moment that the Sassians would never expect—perhaps when dawn was breaking and the garrison was at its most exhausted; or perhaps when the midday sun was at its strongest and the soldiers were sweating profusely as they repaired the fortifications; or even perhaps when it was the dead of night and most of the camp was fast asleep at midnight.
Each time, Lind led only ten of his most elite Silver Lance Knights, slipping out of Greenburg like sharp daggers. They used the terrain and the dim light of dawn/dusk to approach the outer fortifications that the Sassians were reinforcing undetected.
While the Sassin soldiers were busy digging trenches, moving timber, and building barricades—
"Release the arrows!"
With a low shout from Lind, a precise rain of arrows, like venomous bees, poured down from unexpected angles! The target was not to kill large numbers of soldiers, but rather the unprotected engineers working in the fields and the precious tools!
"Ah! Enemy attack!"
My leg!
"Get out of the way!"
Screams and cries of alarm shattered the camp's "peace" instantly.
The soldiers, who were working, dropped their tools and frantically searched for cover.
The supervising officer shouted and tried to organize a counterattack, but the attackers came quickly and went even faster!
Often, by the time the Sassians had organized a decent defensive force and rushed out of their camp, Lind and his squad had already vanished like ghosts into the ravines or woodlands of the wilderness, leaving behind only wrecked fortifications, wailing wounded soldiers, and destroyed tools.
Sometimes, Lind's targets were patrol teams.
A small patrol team, far from the camp and following a predetermined route, would suddenly be met with a hail of crossbow bolts and a short but deadly cavalry charge at a certain corner. They would be torn apart in an instant, and the survivors, still in shock, would flee back to the camp to report the news, causing even greater panic.
Furthermore, Lind will utilize the shadow-traveling ability granted by his newly acquired [Shadow Aura], in conjunction with Nix, a true master of shadows, to infiltrate even closer under the cover of night.
Instead of venturing into the core area, he released the Shadow Abyss Black Mist, which possessed strong corrupting properties, on the periphery, aiming directly at the wooden watchtowers or barricades that the Sassins had just erected!
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!
The sickening sound of decay was especially clear in the darkness. The sturdy wood became brittle and rotten at a visible speed under the erosion of the black mist! By the time the terrified soldiers discovered them and tried to fight back, Lind and Nix had already vanished into the shadows without a trace.
This relentless and unpredictable harassment caused immense suffering for the Sassins.
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