Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 453 - 235: Crusaders

Lord Enrique glanced tiredly at the houses within the city that had been crushed by boulders.

The castle was left with just the main tower still standing, but it was also battered by wind and rain, riddled with holes.

The air was filled with a faint stench of decay and a somewhat pungent smell of tar.

It was the scent of bodies yet to be cleared from the ruins and burnt houses.

The Saracens had placed a vicious flame curse on the stone projectiles... though some said it was merely some kind of oil.

But Enrique had never seen oil that could burn for so long.

Some had only been splashed with a bit, and not even water could extinguish it, leaving their skin to roast into charcoal.

"Do they want to bury us alive with these stones?"

"I feel they want to stone us."

"Damn, are those sons of bitches treating us like whores for execution?"

"When will His Majesty the King finally arrive? It has been the sixth day."

The Crusaders fell into silence.

They had asked this question many times recently, and the expectation in their eyes had gradually vanished.

"My lord, do we have reinforcements at all?"

"Yes, but it takes time to mobilize them."

Enrique repeated more than once.

Someone grumbled with resentment: "Perhaps when we are all dead, they still might not make it in time."

"Doesn’t the Hospital Knight Order still have two thousand men at the Knight Castle? Why aren’t they coming?"

Enrique hesitated.

He wanted to say, what use would the two thousand men from Knight Castle be even if they arrived? Moreover, that is the Hospital Knight Order’s stronghold, how could they abandon their home to support a minor lord?

But he also understood the soldiers’ pressure and fear, who can think rationally in such circumstances?

Every day, they had to be careful not to be crushed into mince by stones.

Opening their eyes was first to observe whether the Saracen army outside had launched an attack.

Constantly worried about having their heads severed while dreaming by ruthless heretics.

Such nerve-wracking days could drive a person to collapse.

A Crusader soldier spoke in despair: "My lord, can we truly ascend to the Celestial Kingdom?"

"For God we fight, surely we can."

Enrique reached out, adjusting the helmet for the young warrior before him.

His gaze was firm: "Pull yourselves together, soldiers. I was once surrounded by tens of thousands of Andalusians in Valencia, and in the end, it was we who triumphed."

Sparse and feeble responses sounded around.

They did not doubt that their side could achieve final victory, but they very much doubted whether they could survive to see that day.

...

Time passed slowly.

By noon, the sun hung high, and with the well buried under the ruins, the Crusader soldiers defending the city had cracked lips, hiding in the shade, unwilling to move.

Enrique wondered how much combat strength his soldiers still had left.

If the Saracens launched an attack now, they might be slaughtered within an hour, right?

What are those Saracens thinking?

Thousands of troops devour food and chew like horses daily just to throw those precious boulders into the castle in the desert?

"Watch out behind you, my lord!"

Nearby, the priest suddenly spoke.

Enrico turned instinctively, seeing a huge stone flying towards him with a roaring wind.

With a loud crash, it slammed into the tower.

Splashing stones rained down like raindrops.

When he realized it, he saw that the tower he originally had was completely collapsed.

Soldiers hiding in the tower’s shade were almost entirely buried under the rubble.

The explosion left his ears buzzing.

Everywhere on the walls were soldiers wounded and maimed by the stones, emitting dying wails.

No one could save them.

Just as no one could come to save him.

"Heavenly Father above."

In an instant, despair surged in Enrique’s heart, causing him even to have the urge to leap off the wall.

seeming to see his determination to die, the priest wearing the chain armor shirt and holding a nail head hammer quickly approached: "Life is given to us by God; He gives, He takes, and you must never destroy it yourself."

In the teachings of Public Teaching, suicide is an irredeemable grave sin that leads to unending Fire Prison.

Enrique let out a bitter laugh: "Father Rodrigo, I understand this reason."

"Just..."

He looked around at the cries everywhere.

It is already hell on earth here, Father.

A low, mournful horn suddenly sounded.

"Are the Saracens attacking?"

Enrique gripped his half sword tightly, his face unexpectedly showing a kind of relief.

He reached out, bracing against the parapets, attempting to stand.

Indeed, there was agitation in the distant Saracen camp, but the sound seemed not to come from there.

A cheer suddenly emerged beside his ear.

"Look there!"

In the distance, accompanied by the horn sound, a flying banner appeared on the horizon.

A whole row of knights dressed in bright plate armor and holding lances emerged slowly on the hillside.

"Double-headed Eagle... It’s Marquis Losa’s army!"

"My lord, the reinforcements have arrived!"

The entire castle erupted into a frenzy.

People were shouting excitedly with full faces.

Big droplets of tears seeped from Enrique’s eyes, his lips trembling, for a long while before he spoke: "They have finally arrived; Heavenly Father has not abandoned us, His Majesty the King has not abandoned us."

With the arrival of the Crusaders, an earth-shattering roar emerged from the Saracen camp.

Following that, a giant shadow flapped its wings and soared from the camp.

It was a gigantic black dragon, and the fierce roaring sound of its wings seemed like a stone catapulted by a catapult.

Wearing a golden mask helmet, the Crusader Princes rode two-meter-high giant horses, standing at the front of the formation, raising their swords high.

"Deploy the crossbow cannon!"

The command was quickly relayed.

In this era, there were few weapons that could threaten a flying dragon, though these specially made crossbows had a long range, the firing Demon-Blocking Gold arrow lacked Nishaya magic enhancement due to its Breaking Magic Attribute.

At most, they were used to deal with those fierce dragons.

But at this moment, something had to be done to let the soldiers know they weren’t without means to counter the evil dragon.

In the ranks, Jeanne, shouldering the Holy Spear, was already prepared, alongside Losa, they were the main force of this battle.

Facing this legendary creature, fear was unmistakable on the faces of the Crusader soldiers.

Many prayed, fearing that the terrifying dragon flame would descend from the sky.

In the skies, the dragon circled for a moment. Sensing a hidden danger, it exhibited its might but showed no intention of diving down to spew dragon flame.

"That cunning beast."

Losa cursed lowly.

Jeanne whispered: "Or maybe it’s the caster on its back, should I try to hit him with a Holy Spear?"

Losa shook his head.

The appearance of the enemy’s dragon dealt a huge blow to the Crusader’s morale.

Even if a Holy Spear failed to achieve results, it could boost morale.

But this compared to exposing their trump card, it was evidently not equivalent.

Specially made giant crossbows stood upright, and the Crusaders did not rush forward but began to build their camp.

Having traveled far, neither their physical strength nor morale could be said to be high; prioritizing defense was sensible.

...

Saladin led hundreds of black-armored Kasaji Guards to the front lines, eyeing the arriving Crusaders.

Taqidin wondered: "Why doesn’t Master Shemir make a move?"

Saladin shook his head: "Master Shemir naturally has his considerations, Losa had killed no less than one giant dragon before; never underestimate him."

"We can’t just watch them set up camp here smoothly, my king, with rare battle opportunities, allow me to lead the dragon beasts to charge once and test these Crusaders’ worth."

Taqidin spoke.

"Not yet."

Saladin glanced at him and still shook his head: "Whether to attack, wait until Master Shemir returns then make a decision."

Taqidin opened his mouth but closed it again.

He knew ever since Casters intervened in worldly wars, his previously adept strategies were no longer valid.