Blackburg Fortress is a real fortress.

The exterior is almost entirely made of dark black stones. It is difficult for Lu Ban to tell exactly how many years ago these stones were carved. Those mottled marks could not be made by humans. Only monsters could leave such twisted wounds.

The entire fortress was like a huge hemisphere looming over the ground. No sunlight could be seen from inside, and there were only a few small windows through which weapons could fire.

Above the hemisphere, there are watchtowers, high walls, catapults, etc.

Outside the fortress, some ruins of buildings can be vaguely seen. According to Jonah, this was originally the capital of a country. The spread of the Black Forest destroyed that country. It was not until later that the Black Tower took back the fortress from the monsters.

Surrounding the Black Castle were five layers of fortifications, including wooden spikes, stone walls, trenches, and spikes. All the means that humans could think of to block the movement of monsters were used here. Since the monsters in the magic tide were different, these fortifications could at least block some of the physical monsters.

The spell detection covering the entire fortress can detect and restrict those intangible monsters in the first time. Lu Ban saw that there were obviously more mages inside the black castle. It seemed that as the main defense point, the defense here was more strict.

"The demonic tide will spread from the west, and the entire area will be shrouded in endless darkness. What we need to do is to attract as many monsters from the demonic tide as possible, and it would be best if they all gathered near this fortress, leaving them no time to go outside the Black Forest."

Before the meal, Jonah explained the details of the battle to Lu Ban and other rangers.

"We have to resist for at least three days until the demonic tide recedes. If we survive, we will win."

"Wait, since the Eternal Night will bring darkness, and it is only afraid of sunlight, then aren't we just waiting to die here?"

Lu Ban blurted out.

The other young rangers looked at each other in panic.

"That's the meaning of our existence in Blackburg."

Jonah pointed down.

"The Black Castle has been remodeled. With the support of a certain number of mages, it can cast a powerful spell, the Eternal Blazing Sun. This spell can simulate the sun to a certain extent and can affect an area of ​​about ten miles around. We can attract the Eternal Night to come, and then cast this spell to eliminate most of the Eternal Night's followers to the greatest extent possible."

"I see."

Lu Ban applauded.

When the other rangers saw Lu Ban’s actions, they hesitantly followed suit and applauded.

"...Put your hands down. Ahem. This is just the ideal scenario. If the fortress is breached early, we will have to use magic in advance. The followers of the Eternal Night will avoid the fortress and attack areas outside the Black Forest. When those areas fall, it will only be a matter of time before we are eroded."

Jonah cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Don't worry. With the support of the magic light source, it will be difficult for the Eternal Darkness' followers to capture the fortress. All we have to do is to be careful and delay time."

He finally comforted her.

At dinner time, Lu Ban was wolfing down his food at the dining table.

The food here consists of broth, meat sauce, mashed potatoes, bread, vegetables, etc. The taste is just edible, but the weather is too cold and Lu Ban has a very good appetite. He still feels it is not enough after eating two large bowls.

"Think about it, if you were eaten by Yongye's followers tonight, would you regret not eating more at night?"

Lu Ban looked at the stunned Birmingham and explained.

"That seems to be the case... Then I'll have another bowl too!"

The young man also took another bowl.

There was enough food at the front line, and Lu Ban felt very satisfied.

After dinner, it was Lu Ban and Birmingham's turn to keep watch, and the two came to the high wall of the fortress.

From here you can see a large area of ​​forest under the moonlight. In the cold wind, the trees rise and fall like waves. The snow falls to the ground, scaring some animals and making the night watchmen more alert.

There are still many people keeping watch on the high wall. Through the light of the watchtower, you can see that they are all huddled around the stove. The weather is really too cold. If it weren't for the report from the Observation Center, everyone might really think that the coming demonic tide is frost.

Lu Ban looked into the distance. [True Vision] gave him a good vision. Lu Ban could see that on the other side of the horizon, there seemed to be a forest completely covered by darkness. Even the moonlight could not reflect it.

That may be the eternal night that is gradually approaching.

"The demonic tide will arrive by tomorrow night at the latest."

From behind the two of them came Jonah's voice.

"Nervous?"

He asked about Birmingham, because Lu Ban was obviously not nervous at all.

"I will do my best to complete the task."

Birmingham stood up straight.

"Don't be so reserved. We are comrades now."

Jonah patted the boy on the shoulder.

"When I was experiencing the demonic tide, I was also very scared. I was afraid that I would be killed by the monsters, and I was afraid that my teammates would die because of my hesitation. I still don't want to recall the memories of those days."

"But don't worry, this fortress has never fallen since it was recaptured. Every time it has been a bridgehead against the demonic tide, there will be no problem this time."

When Lu Ban heard what Jonah said, he wanted to complain that people should not make flags casually, but suddenly he saw that the people in the next tower seemed to be behaving strangely.

The man's companion stood in front of the watchtower, looking ahead, while he himself sat by the fire and suddenly drew the dagger from his waist.

Instead of attacking his teammates, the man trembled and shook, pointing the blade to his own throat.

Lu Ban immediately materialized his [Last Words], and just as the disruptive bullet was fired, the man's blade pierced through his throat.

Lu Ban saw a peaceful smile on the other person's face and he pulled with his hand.

A large amount of blood gushed out and turned cold in an instant. The man's companions hurriedly called for help, but everyone knew that there was no hope.

Lu Ban and others came to the watchtower and looked at the bodies being carried down.

The corpse had a happy, peaceful, sleepy smile on its face.

"He resisted just now, as if his body was being controlled."

Lu Ban said, he looked at Jonah, this kind of extraordinary and strange phenomenon can only be clearly understood by the magician.

"Is he really like that?"

Jonah's expression was a little strange.

Before he could explain, he saw the companion of the man just now suddenly draw out his knife.

“No, no…”

The blade moved towards his throat and he seemed to be resisting some force with all his might.

Birmingham tried to help but was immediately stopped by Jonah.

"Don't go over there, you'll be infected..."

He raised his hand and looked at the horrified ranger.

"It might be a little painful, but at least you can save your life."

Before the ranger could react, Jonah clenched his right fist and turned it.

Puff——

The ranger's hands fell as if they were cut by a sharp blade, and the dagger lost its support and fell to the ground.

"Don't touch him, it's a plague."

Jonah added with a serious expression.

"The master of the twelfth demonic tide, Plague."