On a key road to the Northern Grain City, a small group of mutated Hu Kingdom cavalry raced forward at top speed. Their armors were shattered all over their bodies, and they were covered in bloodstains, yet they still seemed to feel nothing, just like tireless killing machines. The night wind howled, and as the warhorses galloped, they kicked up clouds of dust, as if it were the low murmur of the Reaper.
"Fire!"
In an instant, a shower of arrows blotted out the sky. The sound of the arrows piercing the air was like the wailing of evil spirits, and they shot straight at that group of monsters. However, although the arrows stuck into their bodies, it failed to stop their advance. They didn't even try to dodge and charged directly into the formation, brandishing their swords to slash. In a flash, blood spurted wildly, and desperate cries echoed non-stop. The battlefield transformed into a nightmarish hell in an instant.
Lin Yuan's eldest brother, Lin Feng, second brother, Lin Gang, and fifth sister, Lin Ran, each led one hundred thousand elite troops, and they charged forward together with several groups of generals and soldiers from the Man Kingdom.
"Charge!"
The shouts of killing shook the heavens and the earth. Lances clashed with swords, and sparks flew. The soldiers used their own flesh and blood to resist the charge of the iron cavalry of the Hu Kingdom. However, the enemy soldiers were fearless of death. Under the slashes of their long swords, the shields of the soldiers of the Da'en Kingdom shattered into pieces, and blood dyed the ground red. The cavalry of the Hu Kingdom were not afraid of sword wounds. Even when cut open by sharp blades, they kept swinging their swords hard, like they felt no pain and couldn't be killed.
Lin Feng swung his sword down, and the breastplate of a cavalryman from the Hu Kingdom cracked. But the opponent didn't fall. Instead, he suddenly swung his sword to hack at Lin Feng's mount. Sensing something was wrong, Lin Feng leaped up and swept his long sword horizontally, cutting off the head of the enemy knight. The body of the headless knight twitched a few times and then fell to the ground motionless like a puppet with its strings cut.
"Chop off their heads! That's their weakness!" Lin Feng roared.
The generals of the Man Kingdom heard the command and instantly bellowed, "Do as told! Chop their heads off!"
For a moment, the situation on the battlefield reversed. The soldiers of the Da'en Kingdom and the Man Kingdom all changed their combat strategies and focused on attacking the necks of the enemy. Blood spurted out, and heads rolled. The cavalry of the Hu Kingdom finally fell one by one. By the time dawn broke, all the cavalry of the Hu Kingdom had been wiped out. Lin Feng and the others were extremely exhausted, and there were bloodstains all over their bodies.
Early the next morning, an urgent report came from within the army.
"Report!"
Lin Jiwu had a white cloth tied over his shoulder, indicating that he had been injured in the chaotic battle. But he remained firm in the military tent. He opened the report and frowned.
"General! Your son has managed to defend the Northern Grain City. As expected, the army of the Hu Kingdom launched a surprise attack at night. But now, more than half of the three hundred thousand elite troops have been lost. Lin Gang... by accident, was severely wounded by the enemy. I'm afraid..."
The messenger fell silent, his eyes filled with sorrow.
Lin Jiwu's palm tightened slightly, and the military report became crumpled in his grip. With his eyes tightly shut and chest convulsively rising and falling, he seemed on the brink of passing out. Lin Yuan and Lin Wan, standing anxiously beside him, cried out, "General!"
The Valley Master of the Divine Doctor Valley stepped forward. With a solemn expression, he said in a low voice, "On the battlefield, you are the faith of the Da'en Kingdom. Don't faint." Before he finished speaking, he lightly tapped his finger, and the silver needle accurately pierced Lin Jiwu's wrist.
Lin Jiwu shuddered violently and immediately came to his senses. He took a deep breath, pushing down his feelings. His eyes grew cold and determined again. "I know. War means losses. It's serious business."
The atmosphere in the tent was heavy, and all the generals and soldiers remained silent.
Just then, a sentry came running in, his face as white as a sheet, and his voice urgent.
"General! There's an abnormal situation in the sky in the distance!"
Everyone quickly walked out of the military tent. In the distance, the sky was pitch black, as if dense clouds were churning. At first, it looked like a flock of crows. But when they got closer, they could see clearly that it was actually a group of strange creatures. Their heads were savage, faces contorted, and eyes devoid of life. Though they resembled birds, they bore human faces. Their rasping, otherworldly cries rang out in the wind.
Staring at the monsters, Lin Yuan felt a sudden chill. "Human-headed strange birds..." he whispered.
===================
北部粮食城的某条必经之路上,一小队胡国变异骑兵正以惊人的速度疾驰而来.他们浑身铠甲破碎,血迹斑斑,却依旧毫无知觉,宛如不知疲倦的杀戮机器.夜风呼啸,战马奔腾间卷起漫天尘埃,仿佛死神的低吟.
"放!"
顷刻间,箭雨遮天蔽日,破风声如厉鬼哀嚎,直直射向那群怪物.然而,箭矢钉入他们的身体,却未能阻止他们的脚步,他们甚至未曾躲闪,径直冲入阵中,挥刀便砍.一时间,血花四溅,惨叫连连,战场顿时化作人间炼狱.
林远的大哥林锋,二哥林刚,以及五姐林然,各率领十万精锐,与几队满国将领和士兵一同冲杀而上.
"杀!"
喊杀声震天动地,长枪与刀剑相撞,火光迸溅,士兵们以血肉之躯抵挡着胡国铁骑的冲锋.然而敌军悍不畏死,长刀劈砍之下,大恩国士兵的盾牌裂成碎片,鲜血染红了大地.胡国骑兵无惧刀伤,即便利刃划开他们的身躯,依旧奋力挥刀,仿佛没有痛觉,不死不灭.
林锋挥刀劈下,一名胡国骑兵的胸甲破裂,但对方竟未倒下,反而猛然挥刀砍向他的坐骑.林锋察觉不对,翻身跃起,手中长刀顺势横扫,将敌军骑士的头颅斩落.无头骑士的身躯抽搐数下,随即如断线的木偶般倒地不动.
"砍头!那是他们的弱点!" 林锋大吼.
满国将领听闻,当即高喊:"听令,斩其首级!"
一时间,战场局势逆转,大恩国与满国士兵纷纷改变战法,专攻敌军脖颈之处.鲜血喷溅,头颅滚落,胡国骑兵终于一个个倒下.战至天明,胡国骑兵全数歼灭,林锋等人疲惫至极,身上多处染血.
第二日清晨,军中传来急报.
"报!"
林季无肩上绑着白布,看起来是在混战中受了伤,但仍稳如泰山地站在军帐内.他展开军报,眉头紧锁.
"大将军!孩儿保住了北部粮食城,胡国军队果然在夜间偷袭.但三十万精锐如今损失过半,林刚... 一时不慎,被敌军重创,恐怕..."
传令官噤声,满眼悲戚.
林季无手掌微微收紧,军报被攥得起了褶皱.他闭上双目,胸膛剧烈起伏,彷佛下一刻便要昏厥过去.
"大将军!" 林远和林婉站在一旁,满眼担忧.
神医谷谷主走上前,目光肃然,低声道:"战场之上,你可是大恩国的信仰,可别晕啊." 话音未落,他手指轻点,银针精准扎入林季无的手腕.
林季无猛然一震,顿时清醒过来.他深吸一口气,压下心头翻涌的情绪,眼神恢复如昔的冷冽坚定.
"我知道... 战争必有伤亡,并非儿戏."
帐内气氛沉重,众将士皆默然不语.
就在此时,哨兵狂奔而至,脸色煞白,声音急促.
"大将军!远方天空出现异状!"
众人迅速走出军帐,只见远处的天空黑压压的一片,仿佛密云翻滚.起初看似成群的乌鸦,待靠近后才看清,那竟是一群怪异的生物,它们头颅狰狞,面目扭曲,双目空洞,身形如鸟,却长着人的面孔,嘶哑的怪叫声在风中回荡.
林远看着那些怪物,心头陡然升起一股寒意,忍不住低声呢喃:"人头怪鸟..."