Lord: I Grind EXP with Warband Panel

While the nobles at Qimo Fortress could afford to hold small banquets at the moment, that was only because they had won a victory and cleared the entire defensive line of enemies.

Prince Kase, for his own political considerations, decided to launch the attack ahead of schedule.

It wasn’t just the humans who were unprepared; in truth, the Beastmen weren’t fully prepared either.

Fortunately, the orders from Prince Kase were to simply tie down the troops at the major fortresses.

And for a pinning action, there wasn’t much to think about. They just had to throw the cannon fodder at the city walls. The true main army in the rear—composed of massive numbers of goblins, kobolds, murlocs...—was already on the move. They wouldn’t have to worry about a shortage of cannon fodder resources in the future.

With the Beastmen no longer holding back and fighting with reckless abandon, the human side was in a grim situation.

Everyone had originally expected the Beastmen to launch their all-out offensive next week.

But now, Prince Kase, wanting to seize the opportunity presented by Prince Noah, had marched his grand army forward, giving the humans no time to react.

Fortunately, however, years of constant warfare had given the Frankish Nobles superb adaptability. The truly essential preparations had been underway ever since the Beastman Empire began its campaign, so holding their ground now was still not an issue.

.....

Other locations were not a problem, but two places were in genuine crisis.

At O’Neil Castle, which directly faced Prince Kase, the roar of Magic Crystal Cannons, trebuchets, Magic Bed Crossbows, and goblin cannon fodder had been relentless since last night.

It was no exaggeration to say the enemy covered the mountains and plains; life, at this moment, was reduced to a number.

Meanwhile, at Golden Fortress, separated from O’Neil Castle by a single mountain range, Thunderhawks danced in the sky as a ceaseless stream of Beastmen arrived from the distance.

Prince Kase had set their arrival time for the evening, yet the Beastmen, in a burst of speed, reached the battlefield by noon.

The Beastman Army made almost no attempt at concealment during their march—or rather, they had no need for it.

"Archers, fire!" Atop the battlements, Viscount Godfrey wiped the cold sweat from his brow. Even when he had faced enemies that blackened the horizon like a dark cloud, he had never felt as panicked as he did at this moment.

It was all because of the skeletal ram’s heads on this enemy’s banners and armor.

The war had been going on for so long that both sides had a rough understanding of the other’s military strength.

The army before him was the main force that had steamrolled Vanguard Fortress, a primary legion of the Beastman Imperial Court. Godfrey didn’t know their designation, but he had heard much of their fearsome reputation.

It wasn’t just Viscount Godfrey; every human noble on the walls of Golden Fortress was wiping their brow, staring tensely at the enemy.

At Viscount Godfrey’s command, the archers on the walls began to fire.

Arrows rained down, but most glanced off armor. Some pierced flesh, but a nearly three-meter-tall Beastman simply pulled an arrow out and continued to charge, following his leader.

Viscount Godfrey watched nervously as the Beastmen in the vanguard charged.

’They aren’t even carrying siege ladders. How are they going to assault the walls?’

SCREECH!

"Commander! Get down!"

Suddenly, the cry of a strange bird came from somewhere, and then Viscount Godfrey felt himself being pushed down.

"Monster! Taste my blade!"

By the time Viscount Godfrey realized what was happening, he saw his Personal Guard shielding him. Then came another long, bird-like screech...

"ROAR! For His Majesty the Beast Emperor!"

A three-meter-tall, purple-skinned giant wielding a massive axe leaped down from a Thunderhawk.

Moments after landing, the figure unleashed his battle aura, which shone with a silver light. He was a Silver Tier Beastman Warrior!

"ROAR! ... ROAR! ..."

"Commander! It’s bad, Commander! We can’t hold the gate!" His adjutant rushed forward, his voice choked with panic, on the verge of tears.

"Commander! We can’t hold! The enemy is too fierce!"

’Can’t hold? Why can’t we hold?’ Although Viscount Godfrey’s own cultivation was at the Silver Tier, he had been targeted by the Beastmen’s Cursed Sect of Shamans in a previous battle and was still suffering from an old wound.

Otherwise, Viscount Godfrey would be at O’Neil Fortress right now.

Viscount Godfrey staggered to his feet, only to be met with the sudden appearance of a massive axe swinging toward him.

CLANG!

A brief exchange of blows—it was Viscount Godfrey’s son, the genius Silver Fifth Tier Knight, Sir Sniff.

"Father, are you alright?" Sir Sniff asked, looking at Viscount Godfrey after dispatching the Beastman.

"ROAR! For the great Beast Emperor!

Take this place quickly!"

Viscount Godfrey didn’t respond to his son’s concern, instead looking anxiously toward the city below.

The city had truly fallen. In an instant.

Leading the charge was, astoundingly, a Beastman bathed in white light—a Golden Tier Beastman Commander.

"Where are the Magic Crystal Cannons? Where is Viscount Lin Man?" Viscount Godfrey looked around and realized that, at some point, the walls had been completely overrun by Beastmen. The Human Race’s warriors on the battlements were almost all gone.

"Something’s wrong! Go, now! Get down from here!" Viscount Godfrey yelled at Sir Sniff.

"Hurry! Golden Fortress has fallen! Get to the griffins! We have to get this message out!"

With that, Viscount Godfrey quickly pulled Sir Sniff and charged down from the battlements.

’This isn’t normal! This is completely abnormal!’

’Golden Fortress is just a small city, a minor stronghold... How could it draw this many enemies?!’

Although Viscount Godfrey had no idea what the enemy’s ultimate goal was, as a career soldier, he knew the most important thing to do right now was to get this intelligence out.

’The enemy’s objective is a matter for the higher-ups. I just need to complete my mission.’

"All of you! On me! Help me break through!" Viscount Godfrey commanded, looking at his personal guards around him.

Without another word, Viscount Godfrey descended from the city wall without looking back, dozens of armored soldiers following close behind.

....

"That way! Over there!"

"The Griffin Cage!"

Fortunately, Viscount Godfrey was extremely familiar with the fortress’s layout. He reached the Griffin Cage before the Beastmen could catch up.

"Quick, lead it out!" Viscount Godfrey urged his son.

Viscount Godfrey had spent a fortune raising Sir Sniff, sending him to study at the Southern Kingdom Academy from a young age. He was the future heir to the family.

"Right!" Sir Sniff approached the Griffin Cage, opened it, and expertly led the griffin out.

"My lord! The enemy!" a personal guard ran over and shouted.

"They’ve broken through to this level!"

"Hurry and go!" Viscount Godfrey said.

The small group hurriedly led the griffin, rushing toward its flight platform.

A Griffin Cage was typically built into the side of a mountain and featured a large balcony supported by Magic Power.

"ROAR!"

"They’re up there! Don’t let them escape!"

The voices of Beastmen suddenly came from behind them, and Viscount Godfrey’s expression turned grim.

"Go straight to Devil City! Understand? Don’t make any stops! Go directly to Devil City!

Get the message to Marquis Oscillate.

Tell him the main Beastman legion, with Thunderhawks, is led by a Gold Tier! Golden Fortress has fallen, and the enemy’s objective is unclear. Do you understand?"

Viscount Godfrey looked at his son on the griffin.

"I understand... Father..." Sir Sniff said, looking at Viscount Godfrey. In his heart, he already knew the choice the Viscount would make.

According to the laws of the Frank Kingdom, a noble could not retreat without a direct order from a superior.

It was just like with Sunset Fortress before; without the King’s command, no one dared to leave alive.