I can evolve everything

Chapter 89 Beast Tide (5)

For the next two days, the soldiers of Shattered Tooth Canyon did not find any trace of monsters coming from afar.

It was like the sea before a storm, so calm it was unsettling.

There were no monsters, no wolf howls, and even the wind and snow had lessened.

Renn did not let his guard down.

The area remains under the highest level of alert, with soldiers taking turns to rest. Hank has also led his men to reinforce the first line of defense, which has been weakened by the bombing.

For the past two days, apart from necessary inspections, Raine has spent most of his time on the top floor of the stone tower.

A few days later, in the early morning.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, and gray clouds hung heavy overhead.

As usual, Renn practiced his swordsmanship in the morning light.

"One by one—"

The sound was not an alarm bell signaling an enemy attack, but rather a rapid knocking coming from the watchtower.

"Look to the west!"

The scout on the lookout tower shouted to the soldiers below.

Raine's eyes narrowed, he sheathed the greatsword behind his back, and rushed to the edge of the battlements.

On the western horizon, in the direction of the encampment of the [Black Pine Forest].

A thick plume of black smoke rose straight into the sky.

"That's—" Ella ran up as well, and her expression changed drastically the moment she saw the column of smoke.

"Wolf dung smoke".

Sergeant Hank followed closely behind and uttered the word.

In the northern fortress, this was a rather old, but also rather direct, method of communication.

While there are beacon towers between the various outposts, these are alarm bells directly connected to the northern fortresses, and their activation signals the highest level of alert across the entire front. Between adjacent defense zones, veterans use this traditional method to transmit specific tactical information.

Wolf dung mixed with pine resin and sulfur produces extremely thick smoke when burned, and the smoke lingers for a long time.

"Black—" Renn stared at the column of smoke, his mind quickly recalling some information that Valen had given him shortly after he arrived at the Northern Fortress.

Yellow indicates minor disturbances that can be resolved independently.

Red indicates a large enemy force; please pay attention to the flanks.

And black—

"The defenses are under critical pressure; we request reinforcements."

Hank's voice was a little hoarse: "That's Sir Valen's camp. The Black Pine Forest—I'm afraid there's danger there."

Ryan slammed his hand down on the cold stone bricks.

Valen.

The man who was smiling at the intersection just three days ago and said, "As long as I'm not dead, I'll definitely bring my soldiers to support you."

Now it's his turn to ask for help.

"No wonder it's been so quiet here these past few days."

Ryan's mind raced.

When they parted ways, Valen's 23rd Patrol had significantly more soldiers than Renn's, and the number of soldiers at each garrison was about the same, plus Valen, a true knight, was leading the team.

If the beast tide that Valen encountered was similar in scale to that of [Shattered Tooth Canyon], then the defenders of [Black Pine Forest] should be able to hold out completely by manpower alone, even if they didn't set up layers of defenses like those in Raine.

Unless the beast tide there is much larger than that in [Shattered Tooth Canyon].

While Shattered Tooth Canyon is a windy spot, its narrow terrain makes it unsuitable for large-scale beast hordes. In contrast, the relatively flat Black Pine Forest would fall very quickly if a large-scale beast horde attacked.

It seems that the main force of this first wave of beast tide, which fled in panic to the vicinity of the northern fortress, chose to attack Valen's defense zone.

If the Black Pine Forest falls, the monsters will be able to advance unimpeded, cutting off not only the retreat route of Shattered Tooth Canyon but also directly threatening the flanks of several surrounding outposts.

That would be a disaster.

"Form up the team."

Renn turned around without hesitation.

Saving Valencia is saving himself. If the flank collapses, there's no point in him holding the canyon to the death.

"Hank!"

"exist!"

"You take three hundred men and defend the stone tower to the death," Renn said rapidly. "Remember, don't let even a fly in. If you really can't hold it, then blow up the canyon!"

"Exploded—exploded?" Hank was stunned.

"Yes. Blow up the rock walls on both sides and completely block the road." Ryan's tone was sinister.

"—Yes!" Hank gritted his teeth and pounded his chest to indicate that he had received the order.

"Ella, Thales, Vina."

Renn looked at his squad.

"Take ninety soldiers on patrol, and one hundred heavy infantry from the encampment. Travel light, carrying only weapons."

"We're going to the Black Pine Forest."

Half an hour later.

The side entrance to Shattered Tooth Canyon is wide open.

The force of nearly two hundred men had assembled. All the soldiers carried only pack bags and weapons.

They all knew what the black smoke signal meant.

That means the place we're heading to is on the verge of falling.

Renn sat on horseback, a greatsword towering behind him.

He glanced at Ella beside him.

Are you scared?

"Of course I'm scared." Ella tightened her cloak. "But if I save that bearded man, maybe he'll treat me to dinner every day afterward?"

Renn nodded.

He turned to look at the reluctant-looking mage, Thales.

"Stop looking, that's a different price," Thales muttered. "When I get back this time, I'm going to drink all of Warren's treasured vintage wines."

"Vina?"

The pastor was checking the first-aid kit on the saddle when she heard Ryan's shout, but she just coldly raised her head.

"I don't have enough medicine for two hundred people. Let them conserve their blood."

"very good."

Renn tightened the reins, and the warhorse neighed.

"Set off!"

Two hundred people rushed out of the side of the canyon and crashed into the swirling snow.

The black pine forest is only a dozen kilometers away from here. Even if you walk through a blizzard, it will only take seven or eight hours at most to reach it. The wind and snow sting your face.

Raine squinted, staring intently through the gaps in his helmet at the ever-thickening column of black smoke in the distance.

"Hang in there, Valen."

Renn silently recited it in his mind.

The Black Rock Breathing Technique within his body began to operate at an accelerated pace, and the continuous heat dispelled the chill.

A 15-kilometer forced march is a dream come true for ordinary people, but for the troops who have served in the northern fortresses for a long time, it is just a slightly longer warm-up.

The wind and snow howled in my ears, and swathes of snow kept scraping against my helmet.

As they drew closer to their destination, Ryan suddenly pulled on the reins. The rye slid a few meters through the snow and came to a stop, releasing a strong odor.

That doesn't taste like snow.

That was the acrid smell of burning pine resin, mixed with the stench of blood splattered on the frozen ground.

"arrive."

Raine squinted, peering through the swirling snowflakes at the black pine forest ahead.

The sight before them made even the soldiers behind them, who were already accustomed to the blood of monsters, gasp in shock.