Örengrád was a beautiful city in winter. The city was located at the mouth of the Linsk River above the Claw Sea and was the starting point for the kingdom to travel to other parts of the Old World.
In ancient times, this was the northernmost and easternmost city of the Old World built by the Elven Empire. After the Battle of the Long Beard, Örengrád was also abandoned. The mouth of the river provided an ice-free harbor for the warm lake and protected the people from being frozen by the violent winds in the north. An island in the middle of the lake had a major commercial port. As a commercial center, Örengrád's walls weren't very high. Apart from the Linsk River, the city only had one gate in the southeast that led to the Empire's Auster and Miden territories.
It was now the end of November 2514 of the Empire's calendar. The House of Frost (Hotel) in Örengrád had been converted into a pre-war command post. The Örengrád Shiravek Group was holding a pre-war meeting here.
The meeting included the commander of Örengrád's defense, Marshal Rokossovsky, and the deputy commander, Marshal Kuznetsov.
The former warden of Cheka Prison, Örengrád's acting Minister of Internal Affairs, Josep Bruz.
The youngest Bear God, Essun, and the High Priest, Bagration.
The veteran Örengrád Ice Witch Elder, Ivanovna, was a veteran Legendary Ice Witch. She unexpectedly chose to defend to the death.
The situation was getting worse.
On the 19th of November, the Noska Mountain Legion appeared at the edge of the Groorwald Forest, which covered the north and east of Örengrád. The defenders of Örengrád achieved small victories through ambushes and guerrilla warfare, but they couldn't stop the Noska Mountain Legion from advancing. The Noska Mountain Legion and the Chosen of the Four Gods of Chaos, Wamir Aslin, split into two groups and approached from the north and east. They quickly captured the town of Kwas in the northeast of Örengrád and forced the defenders to retreat.
On the 23rd of the 11th month, the Noska Mountain Army continued their attack. The few outposts and fortifications that Rokossovsky had set up in Growald Forest quickly fell.
On the 26th of November, part of the Army of the Noska Mountains crossed the Linsk River and approached the southern part of Örengrád and the upper reaches of the Linsk River. The town of Jon fell, and the defenders tried to attack, but they were unable to take back the important stronghold. The upper reaches of the Linsk River were cut off.
On the 30th of the 11th month, the Noska Mountain Army captured Gauschdorf Castle to the southwest of Örengrád. From then on, all communication between Örengrád and the Old World was cut off. Örengrád lost all possibility of obtaining supplies and reinforcements from the outside world.
At this time, the situation in Örengrád was very serious. The entire city originally had about 80,000 residents, and there were about 300,000 refugees from all directions. In total, there were close to 400,000 people hiding in the city. What was worse was that the entire city only had about 4,000 tons of food reserves. No matter how much they calculated, these reserves could only last for about a month.
The interior of the House of Frost was luxurious. The bearskin sofa and many high-end furniture imported from the Empire were displayed. The dwarven grandfather clock was exquisite in appearance and workmanship, and the wooden floor and carpet were imported from the High Elves and Tyrell. But at this time, no one was in the mood to think about these things.
The first to speak was Marshal Rokossovsky. This marshal of the Bear Cavalry had become very haggard after suffering so much. His handsome face seemed to have lost a lot of vitality, but he knew deep down that he could not fall now. The marshal's military uniform was brand new and well-made, but his white gloves were dirty. "The enemy is approaching from all directions. Örengrád is about to be besieged from all directions."
"We have tried many times to break through the encirclement, but all attempts to contact the outside world have failed." Marshal Kuznetsov's face was very pale. "The soldiers have charged many times, but they were unable to open a gap. The army of Auster was not prepared for war at all. Facing the small Army of Chaos that crossed the Linsk River, they were defeated immediately and were quickly chased into the Dark Forest. Fifty kilometers? Or even further? In short, we can't count on the Empire to help us open a gap in the coming war. "
"This war will be unprecedentedly long and difficult, but the son of Essun will obtain the final victory, I swear." The youngest High Priest of Essun in history, the Bear God's Chosen Bagration, was only in his early forties. He had beady eyes, a big nose, and thick brown curly hair. "Essun has already told me how to defeat them."
"No one knows how to defeat them, not even Essun," Joseph Brutus said gloomily. Josep Bruz was pessimistic about all of this. "If only we knew that their threat had long been eradicated. They were invincible. The only thing we could do was to muster up our courage and survive, hoping for reinforcements from the Empire or Brittania."
Ice Witch Ivanovna and Bagration looked at Joseph with disdain and disgust, even though he was right.
"Enough, we are the only ones left in the kingdom. What else do you want?" Luo Shuai raised his head. His expression was very determined, but everyone could still feel an emotion called pleading. Kislev used to be so glorious, with a strong army and strong horses. He used to be under the command of the Red Tsar Boris, with shining generals and talented people. Everyone thought that the kingdom would have a bright future.
In just a few decades, everything had changed. Those great names had either died in battle, left their homes, or disappeared. The founder of the first Cheka, Felix, and the chief minister had left for Ruthia. The chief engineer, Sheogh, died in prison. Berliat had joined a large group of people to serve the Knight King. Marshals Zaev, Konev, Fedosov, and Romanov had all died in Zedevka.
As for Katarina? Haha, let's not talk about her.
Now, this group of people had formed the Shiravek Group, but they were like an island in the middle of the ocean. They were isolated and helpless, and there was no hope. Where was their future? Were they still Mrs. Kiesler? If they couldn't defend Örengrád, then all of them would die in battle. But what if they could defend it?
The air in the room was already very cold, and after Luo Shuai's words, it almost froze. An invisible but incomparably heavy pressure pressed down on everyone, making it hard for them to breathe. It was like some kind of black hand that was tightly grasping their hearts, oppressing everyone's nerves.
"Today, I only need to pay attention to one thing, and that is how to defend against Aislin's attack." Ku Shuai came out to smooth things over.
"There's not much we can do." Rokossovsky shook his head. "Facts have proven that our previous attempts to break out of the encirclement have not yielded any results except for the loss of soldiers. The last thing the Nosikas are afraid of is fighting us in the open. Currently, our only hope is here, on the walls of Örengrád."
No one objected to this. Bagration nodded. "Our only hope."
Hurried footsteps came from outside, attracting everyone's attention.
The General of the Bear Cavalry, Federinsky, quickly opened the door and came in. The cold air in his face violently affected the temperature of the fire in the room. Rokossovsky looked at the fireplace worriedly. The City Commander knew that there was not much wood and coal left in the city for heating.
"They're here."
Fifteen minutes later, on the east wall of Örengrád.
Outside the city walls, hundreds of bonfires lit up the sky. On the icy plains outside the city, thousands of tents were emitting black smoke. The Noska Mountain Army had already surrounded Urlengrad. A foul stench filled the air, and from the city walls, one could clearly see that the sky was covered in black smoke.
Everything was like a joke, a funny and ridiculous joke. The sons of Kislöw, the descendants of Essun, the Bear God, had been on the ice field for thousands of years. Countless ancestors had shed their blood on the ice field just to keep the kingdom alive. Now, Chaos was here again, bringing with it their destruction, unparalleled power, and determination to crush everything.
Again, they're here again. How much blood do the sons of Kislöw have to shed for Chaos to be satisfied?
No, Chaos would never be satisfied. Even if this world was completely destroyed, the Evil Gods would not be satisfied. They would immediately search for the next world. The war would continue forever until the mortals could no longer hold on.
Will we be able to escape this calamity?
A cold wind blew, and Rokosovsky shuddered. The Marshal of the Bear-mounted Cavalry suddenly felt that he should put on a warm bearskin coat, a bearskin cloak, a bearskin waistcoat, and a bearskin hat, just like Bagration, the High Priest of Usun.
"There are more than fifty thousand enemies." High Priest Wu Sun asked Luo Shuai tentatively, "Is that the news?"
"More, far more." Luo Shuai pointed in the distance and said, "There are Dragon Demons, large Orc tribes, and Chaos creatures. This is an army that we haven't seen before."
"Very good. Looks like we have to wield our weapons a few more times." Bagration said in a loud voice, "No matter what, Constantine, thank you."
"Thank me? Thank a prisoner on death row? " Rokossovsky couldn't help but laugh. He said dispiritedly, "I've never been afraid of death, but the high walls of the ice palace are intimidating."
"You're a pure soldier, Constantine. You saved the situation and preserved the last spark of Kislöw," Bagration said. Bagration said, "Don't forget that Madam Kisler is the most tenacious race in the world. We must make Chaos pay a terrible price for every step it takes. Remember, the three gods of the north will always be with us."
In Örengrád, every adult male was recruited to fight in the defense of the Citadel. All the gold coins were collected and spent on the most important areas. The Kirov factory produced guns and cannons day and night. Every blacksmith spent all their energy forging weapons. The Bear Cavalry, Winged Cavalry, and the survivors from the Battle of Zedevka joined the defense of the citadel and fought alongside the natives of Örengrád. The Ice Witches were casting spells to strengthen the defense of the citadel. The Red Sea Army abandoned their warships and stood on the citadel.
"This is all because of your hard work, Constantine. If it weren't for you, Örengrád wouldn't have maintained such strength." Essun bowed deeply to the commander of the citadel. "Katarín just doesn't understand. If we can survive this time, I will make her change her mind."
Rokossovsky knew Katarín well. He knew that even Essun's words wouldn't make Katarín change her mind, unless her father, Red Tsar, was reborn. However, looking at the tens of thousands of defenders standing on the citadel, the commander of the Bear Cavalry still felt proud.
The tip of the spear and the blade of the halberd also reflected light under the cold sky. Ugor's people held their hard bows and lined up in a few rows. The snipers were checking the muskets and loading the cannons. The commander of the Bear Cavalry was quite pleased. He was proud of his people. His people were the most tenacious.
Örengrád would never fall until the last son of Kislöw bled dry.
"Yes, there are a lot of these guys. But we also have a lot of people, enough to stop them. " Essun said loudly. He seemed to have cast a magic spell on his voice. His voice was like the roar of a giant bear, spreading through the eastern citadel of Örengrád.
Then, Bagration was the first to sing. "The Army of Chaos is the Black Crows."
Singing came from the citadel.
"The Army of Chaos is the Black Crows."
"They want to trample us under their feet."
"From the Rinsk River to Prag East."
"Hey, Essun is the strongest in the world."
"Warriors of Kislöw, polish your scimitars."
"Hold the guns in your hands tightly."
"We should all become more tenacious as we fight."
"Fight to the death with the enemy on the battlefield."
As if responding to the singing from the citadel, the Nosikas outside the citadel blew their horns and sang their own songs. They sang praises of the civilization brought by the Four Gods of Chaos, praises of the heroes who succeeded in becoming Demon Princes, and also praises of the legends and stories of those who failed. Some of the songs could even be traced back to ancient times, sad epics of them being chased out of the Old World. Many of the Nosikas' ancestors were originally residents of the northern part of the Empire. At that time, Chaos had yet to appear, and both sides were still brothers.
If there was no Chaos, perhaps both sides would still be brothers. On the citadel, Rokossovsky couldn't help but think.
But the sadness only lasted for a short period of time. Soon, thousands of roars and the sound of axes and swords clashing against shields joined in. The Supreme King of Noska, Aislin, had given the order. The barbarians were ready to attack.
"So, it's about to begin," Rokossovsky said to Essun.
"For Örengrád, for Kislöw!" The high priest clenched the scepter in his hand.
"The Three Gods of the North above! May the power and flame never be extinguished. "
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