Heroes of Might and Magic: Grand Consul

Chapter 65 Shield Soldier's Defense
At dawn, smoke rose from the cooking fires in the Allied camp as the soldiers gathered to eat their fill, having heard that a battle had broken out.

Several nobles tidied their armor and began to discuss among themselves.

What lies within this illusory land illuminated by the aurora borealis?

"It looks like a tall tower. Could it be that it contains magic scrolls?"

"I don't think so. This tower looks more like a training ground. Perhaps we can recruit some soldiers from here to supplement the Allied forces."

After all, no useful information had been obtained yet, and the building was shrouded in the aurora, making it difficult to see what was inside. Everyone could only guess.

"If it's just a building for recruiting soldiers, there's no need to rush. Buildings can't just disappear, can they? We'd better wait until we've finished attacking White Stone City before coming back to occupy this place."

"You don't know this, there aren't that many permanent special buildings. These illusion-type buildings are all temporary, and they'll probably disappear after only a few uses."

"But isn't it impossible to take it down in one go?"

The nobles who were chosen for the mission clearly showed little interest; an advance force had entered yesterday but hadn't come out at all. This indicated that the defenses inside were quite strong.

However, since everyone is united as one, and the decision was made through voting, we naturally have to give it a try.

So the assembled army marched toward the Land of Aurora, with a knight hero leading 150 halberdiers to test the waters first.

Mogo (Knight): Attack 4, Defense 2, Spell Power 2, Knowledge 2
No element.

Intermediate Logistics Training, Basic Fire Element Mastery.

Thanks to the logistical support, Mogo's corps was able to escape more quickly, and he could immediately withdraw if things went wrong.

The halberdiers marched into the magical land covered by the aurora, their figures quickly becoming obscured.

The nobles outside couldn't see the battle raging inside, but when they heard the sounds of fighting, they became anxious.

"What's wrong with Mogo? He was told to go and gather intelligence, and he immediately came out to call for reinforcements. Why has he been inside alone for so long?"

"Could it be that they're trying to monopolize the building rewards? That doesn't seem like it, because all I hear are the wails of halberdiers inside?"

Just as everyone was about to go inside, a cloud of dust billowed out, and Mogo led dozens of heavily wounded halberdiers out.

Mogo's horse ran a few steps before collapsing completely. Everyone rushed forward to help him up and ask what was wrong.

"I can't see clearly! That building must be related to defensive units or magic."

"As soon as you enter, you will be put to the test. You will be facing wolf riders and orcs. You will need to withstand three waves of their attacks. They are no match for you."

"I relied on logistics to escape when I was really outmatched, so I took a shortcut back. We almost lost the whole army."

The crowd looked at the few remaining halberdiers he had left and were speechless; it was practically the same as annihilation.

However, we did manage to uncover some crucial information, so it was worth it.

The reserve soldiers took Mogo back to the camp to heal his wounds. The remaining nobles looked at each other and instantly lost their determination to seize the property.

"Haha, the weather is nice today, perfect for marching. I think we should hurry to White Stone City, otherwise we won't even get a bowl of soup there."

"That's true. The coalition's goal has always been to quell the rebellion. There's no need to waste precious troops on unexpected events."

After offering each other words of comfort, they returned to camp.

The plan to conquer the magical land under the aurora was thus abandoned, as the benefits were far less than those of a title and fiefdom.

Let whoever is willing to fight to the death here be the sucker.

……

The allied forces set off again the next day, but two units remained behind.

Zoran stood on the high slope, looking somewhat hesitant: "Mayor Sumu, can this illusion really be overcome?"
Although Mogo did not have many troops, they were not weak. According to him, the building guards were wolf riders and ranged units, making them extremely powerful.

Unless we deploy flying griffins, but if the losses are too heavy, we will miss the feast in White Rock City.

It's not worth it for a temporary recruitment building.

After listening, Su Mu patiently explained: "If it weren't for Mogo's probing, I wouldn't have been confident in taking over this building."

But after you provided detailed information from our first raid, I'm confident we can capture this tower with minimal losses.

"Moreover, it's not just an ordinary recruitment building; it's crucial for a hero's growth."

Seeing Su Mu's resolute attitude, Zoran recalled Eugen's instructions and gritted his teeth to persevere: "Fine, I trust Mayor Su Mu. If you say you can do it, then I'll work for you!"

Zoran brought over 120 griffins and a group of spearmen with him this time.

This was all the strength he had accumulated in his wilderness stronghold over the years. Of course, only a portion of his forces were deployed, since no one could predict the course of the war and it was impossible to bring all his resources.

But now that the Griffin Nest is abandoned and has lost its level 3 troop source, Zoran is worried that he will be unable to make ends meet in the future, which is why he is so nervous.

Su Mu didn't say much and led all his soldiers into the Aurora.

After a blinding flash of light, they saw a large open space ahead, behind which stood a mysterious tower, from which came authoritative voices.

[Welcome powerful heroes to come and be tested. If you can pass the three waves of attacks from the Illusion Guardians, you will receive a pass token. The holder of this token can enter the tower to train!]

Are you willing to accept this challenge?

High in the sky, a commander clad in full armor, formed from the atmosphere, posed a serious question.

Just by looking at the imposing presence of this tower, one can sense its majestic and extraordinary nature.

Su Mu nodded without hesitation: "I'm willing!"

He turned to look at Zoran: "Lord Zoran, you don't need to go into battle with me. Give me 20 griffins as a reserve force. If we can capture the city afterward, you will get a share of the credit."

Surprisingly, Su Mu was very cooperative. Zoran was more than happy for Su Mu to take command personally, since he himself was not good at fighting.

With a casual gesture, he dispatched 20 griffins to accompany Su Mu into battle.

Su Mu rode on the Gale and led his troops into the battlefield. A tornado rose from the ground and quickly sealed off the battlefield.

No wonder Mogo and his scouts suffered heavy losses and were locked inside, unable to escape. If Mogo hadn't had logistical support to help them escape, they probably would have been wiped out.

Su Mu didn't bring his entire army this time. 20 Griffins, 80 Shield Soldiers, and 50 Earth Bows were just enough to deal with the Illusion Trial.

In fact, the first method to defeat these temporary illusions is to overwhelm them with sheer numbers, directly deploying hundreds or even thousands of high-level troops. Building defenses have a limit; even at their maximum, they can't withstand the onslaught of a large army and will naturally be breached.

However, this situation is suitable for large forces to push through maps. For small noble alliances like these, they might be able to crush them even if they send all their troops, but the casualty ratio would be painful for everyone.

The second method is to counter the enemy's moves by using units that have an advantage against them, and only a portion of the troops need to be deployed.

What is the core of the Mariette Tower? Defense!

It teaches heroes defensive skills, and its challenges are naturally related to defense. In this situation, demonstrating the strongest defensive capabilities is the only way to break through the formation.

When the smoke cleared, enemy soldiers appeared on the battlefield.

【恶狼斗士（据点2级2阶兵种）：攻击力8（12），防御力5，杀伤力3-4，生命值10，速度8（10），体型中等。

Element: None.

Wolf Rider Charge: Skilled scimitar techniques allow them to perform combos. After charging a certain distance, there is a chance to unleash a blade aura, dealing minor damage.

Comment: Don't underestimate wolf riders; they're incredibly fierce when they charge.

A large number of wolf warriors appeared, their dire wolves digging fiercely into the ground with their forepaws, their eyes burning with bloodlust. Behind them were orcs wielding throwing axes, positioned further back and well-equipped with ammunition. Even at the speed of a griffin, it would take them some time to rush over.

Orc (Level 3 Tier 1 unit): Attack 8 (12), Defense 4, Ammo 12, Damage 2-5, Health 15, Speed ​​4 (6), Small size.

Element: None. Ranged unit.

Comment: I can't believe the Orc army has such a weak Tier 3 unit. Its only distinguishing feature is probably its ranged attack!

Good heavens, an orc.

Su Mu breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, they were the only ranged attackers, which made his tactics even more impeccable.

150 wolf warriors, 50 orcs, no big deal.

The bells on the distant tower rang, signaling the start of the battle.

The wolf warriors charged ahead, one wolf at the front, while the others deliberately circled around to launch a surprise attack on the Earth Bow from the rear.

The test limited the number of heroes, so I didn't bring Oling this time.

Su Mu ordered Mead to step forward and commanded the shieldbearers to spread out, forming an arc-shaped defense. He didn't send out the griffins, nor did he rush to use the Earth Bow, seemingly waiting for the enemy to charge in.

Zoran was stunned when he saw this. Was there really such a way to deal with an enemy charge?
When facing high-speed units, isn't the strategy to push your melee units forward and block the enemy's path, while letting ranged units unleash their power?
Although the shield bearers also set up a defense, how could these level 1 soldiers possibly stop the charge of the wolf warriors?

Once the defenses are breached and the marksman gets close, it's all over.

Su Mu remained calm and composed, slightly raising his arm to cast a spell on the shield soldiers blocking the front line. Their skin seemed to be covered with a layer of stone armor, greatly increasing their defensive capabilities.

[Stone Skin Protection, Defense +6]

The wolf riders were incredibly fast, reaching the front lines almost in the blink of an eye. At this point, the Earth Bows, naturally, held back, unleashing a barrage of stone arrows that struck the pack of wolf cubs.

Blessed by the illusion, the wolf warriors and orcs have increased their attack and speed, making them truly sharp swords.

So the illusion is naturally testing the strongest shield.

But the Bow of the Earth can impose some restrictions on them.

A volley of arrows rained down, and more than 50 wolf warriors fell, their feet covered in mud that slowed them down.

Before long, a curtain of water fell from the distance, dispelling their debuffs and keeping their speed unchanged.

Having withstood the furious barrage of arrows, the wolf warriors pressed themselves tightly against the defensive line. Now, by simply stepping over these level 1 soldiers, they could crush the vulnerable archers. Some wolves even bared their fangs, ready to feast.

The shieldbearer raised his large shield, showing no fear in the face of the menacing wolf warriors.

Zoran, watching from afar, felt his heart clench: "Who would dare to fight off wolf riders like this? It's all over, I must have been delusional, this is utter chaos..."

"Boom!"

When the wolf riders clashed with the shield formation, there was no merciless trampling or biting from the dire wolves as one might have imagined. On the contrary, almost all the wolf warriors turned into a bloody pulp the moment they hit the giant shields.

Flesh and blood were flying everywhere, and the body was incomplete.

The wolf riders in front of Mead didn't even get a second swing before they became a pool of blood stuck to the giant shield.

In that one move alone, the enemy lost more than 70 wolf riders.

Zoran stared in disbelief: "This is truly chaotic... amazing!"

Su Mu glanced at the battlefield, waved his hand, and the griffins, poised to pounce, charged out and quickly wiped out the remaining wolf riders.

When it comes to defense? Shield soldiers have never been afraid of anyone.

With the Dwarf King's Shield, Su Mu has 4 points of defense attribute. Combined with the shield soldier's own 8 points of defense and the 6 points of defense added by the protective stone skin, the shield soldier can directly output a counterattack with a fluctuation of 9.

Most of the wolf riders were left with low health after being hit by the Earth Bow. Their fate was predictable when they charged into the enemy lines head-on.

Once the charging wolf warriors are dealt with, the remaining weak orcs are a piece of cake. They are no match for the Earthbow, let alone the shield infantry and the griffins that harass them.

Before long, the orcs were captured, and the enemies on the entire battlefield were wiped out.

His losses amounted to less than 10 people, and depending on the situation, the medical tents could still be used to save them.

Congratulations on passing the test! You are now qualified to practice at Marit Tower and receive blessings.

The aurora illusion temporarily dissipated, and a towering structure, layered upon layered, stood before them, magnificent and imposing, full of defensive features.

【Marit Tower (Illusionary Building): The instructors in the tower can teach you some defensive skills, and a hero visit grants +1 defense (a single hero can only receive this enlightenment once).

Heroes who obtain the pass can freely visit, with 0/8 of their attempts.

Eternal special buildings were more common in ancient times, but are now quite rare, and only extremely powerful forces can control some of them.

Most of the buildings nowadays are illusory structures formed by the condensation of magical power, and they have a limited number of uses, which is why they attract nobles to compete for them.

This place is a valuable resource, and it's hard to come by.

Su Mu doesn't have that many heroes now, but he can stockpile them and make them a rare commodity.

Having passed the test, he naturally did not hesitate any longer and immediately entered the Marit Tower to gain enlightenment.

Before my eyes appeared an ancient warrior battling dragons and beasts. Every move, every parry, was perfectly timed, leaving me in awe.

[Through the demonstration by the ancient heroes, your understanding of defensive techniques has deepened; +1 Defense]

"call!"

Taking a deep breath and feeling the changes in his body, Su Mu revealed an excited expression.

Having passed the test, the seal naturally broke, and he beckoned Ouling and Zoran over.

Only they were qualified to visit the Mariette Tower, so they naturally couldn't miss it.

Needless to say, Orling is one of the most relied-upon heroes right now, so he naturally wouldn't miss out on such an advantage. As for Forrest, sending a messenger to deliver a message and having him come over would be necessary; even as an architect, he needs to improve his strength.

He has a pass; as long as Forrest has the token, he doesn't need to be tested anymore. The others don't have this privilege, and in the current chaotic situation, it's unlikely that any troops will attempt to test him.

As for Zoran, he was an ally after all, and Su Mu couldn't go back on his promise. He was a man of his word.

When Zoran emerged from the Marit Tower, his face lit up with joy, his eyes gleaming as he stared at the shield bearers. If he hadn't been so short of griffins, he would have even considered trading them for the shield bearers.

This battle greatly changed Zoran's thinking. The previous rumors that Mayor Kuraki was incompetent and relied too much on his subordinates were utter nonsense.

No wonder Eugen personally stepped in to fight for Kuraki's interests; he really has the power.

Therefore, he discussed with Su Mu that the two markets could exchange goods to promote trade development.

Seeing that Zoran was so cooperative, Su Mu naturally agreed.

Developing more allies means having more help in critical moments.

The kingdom is still in order, and those in the marquisate who can speak on your behalf may play a significant role at crucial moments.

For example, Zoran played a crucial role in this intelligence gathering.

Making the best use of resources and talents, and avoiding hoarding, is the key to sustainable development.

I will try to update more on weekends in the future, and maintain a steady update schedule during the week. Thank you for your support.

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(End of this chapter)