Chapter 347 - Blackwind Falls
Watching their team leader fly off on his Dark Wyvern, the group of Great Warriors was all filled with respect and envy.
"Aiya, I wish I was also lucky enough to find a Dark Wyvern Egg and raise a Dark Wyvern to become my life companion as well." A Great Warrior said enviously.
"Hahaha, keep dreaming! If you really want one, you should just visit the Dark Wyvern Nest and steal one." Another one laughed.
"Ptui! You really want to see me gone, huh? Who doesn't know the strength of adult Dark Wyverns? Going there is simply suicide! What I meant is to be lucky enough to find a random Dark Wyvern Egg like Big Brother Goldeneye!" The Great Warrior spat.
"Honestly, I'd be happy having any flying mount at all. Alas, demonic beasts are too difficult to tame with their high aggressiveness and low intelligence. Only demonic beasts like the sub-species of True Dragons, Dark Wyverns are relatively easier to tame if raised since birth."
"That's for sure. Adult Dark Wyverns are simply too prideful to be tamed." The vice-leader of the group shook his head before he said, "Alright, that's enough chit-chatter. Let us pick up the pace. We still need to save our allies."
"As if you care about that, vice-leader. You just don't want to fall behind after seeing how much stronger the others have grown from the battle with the Bone Army." A Mid-rank Great Warrior smirked.
"No need to call me out like that." The vice-leader smiled.
…
The Blackwind Tribe was not inferior to the Darkmoon Tribe. They had their own Shamans and defensive formations to prevent their Blackwind City from being overrun, but despite that, the situation could be described with one word, tragic.
Since the start of the Bone Calamity, they had lost more than 70% of their fighting force. 50% of those losses happened in the last few hours after their first line of defensive formation was torn down.
The total death count equated to more than half of their tribe's population and continues to climb ever higher with time.
In addition to the losses they sustained throughout the battle, they had also wiped out 90% of the 2.1 million-strong Bone Army.
Looking at the statistics, it seems like it would be a pyrrhic win, but that is actually far from the truth.
Even if the remaining 8 thousand people fought with everything they have, they were still up against 210 thousand Bone Demons. Among these 210 thousand Bone Demons were also several hundreds of Behemoth-class Bone Demons.
It was just a matter of time before they face annihilation.
"Where are the reinforcements?! It has been many hours since we sent the first distress signal! Our defensive line has already been breached! At this rate, we are all going to die!" A Blackwind Tribe's Great Warrior said with agitation.
Despite having hundreds of wounds and losing half an arm, the Great Warrior continued to fight furiously with desperation at the forefront of the battlefield.
"They are most likely too busy fighting their own battles! It'd be a miracle for help to come this soon!" Another Blackwind Tribe Great Warrior spoke.
The Great Warrior continued to fend off the onslaught of Bone Demons desperately like everyone else, but the flames of hope in his eyes had already died out.
Death Energy has corroded his body through his numerous wounds, as blackened spots could be seen in various places. His blood has turned black, and his body exuded a pungent smell of death.
Even if the Blackwind Tribe manages to repel the Bone Army, he would still die, nonetheless. No one was more familiar with the Great Warrior's condition than himself.
Despite knowing death was inevitable, he did not give up on fighting. On the contrary, he fought even harder. The more Bone Demons he eliminates, the higher the abysmal chance of his tribe's survival.
"Chief, we won't be able to last much longer! Our city wall has been broken, and our defensive formations have been rendered useless! What should we do?! The Bone Demons are getting too strong!" A Great Warrior cried on another part of the battlefield.
As the Tribe Chief of Blackwind Tribe, Blackarrow was naturally aware of the dire straits they were in despite being tied down by many Bone Kings.
"Razorleaf, go back and gather all the remaining survivors towards the North Gate! Help will not be coming! If we want to live, we must cut open a path and flee to the north! Go! Leave this place to me!"
Blackarrow continued to fend off the Bone Demons with a Bone Saber he was not accustomed to.
Chief Blackarrow was another Battle Master, but unlike Chief Valencia of the Darkmoon Tribe, he was a rare bow-user with incredible firepower.
With his Tier 5 Dominator's Bow, Blackarrow had sniped down many Bone Kings and other Behemoth-class Bone Demons that had arisen in the past few hours.
Nevertheless, bow-users had a very extreme limitation, their ammunition. After fighting for so long, Blackarrow had long run out of arrows to fire, which was also around the time the distress signal was sent.
"Are we abandoning the tribe, Chief?! What about you?! You are not used to using saber-type Soul Weapons, Chief! How will you be fine without me here to assist you?!" Razorleaf questioned.
"We are not abandoning the tribe! The Blackwind Tribe is its people, not the city! The city can be rebuilt, but people cannot be revived! Understand? Don't worry about me and go! Someone needs to cover the rear, and that person can only be me!"
"But how can we go without—"
"Stop being a pansy and go!!!" Blackarrow roared angrily.
Seeing how headstrong his Chief is, Razorleaf had no choice but to comply. He nodded silently with red eyes and left.
…
By the time Goldeneye reached the Blackwind Tribe, half of Blackwind City was already destroyed and almost overrun by the powerful Bone Army.
"This situation here is so much worse than what I had imagined! It is already too late! The Blackwind Tribe is finished! I must quickly report back to the Chief, so we can have ample time to prepare for what's to come!"
Goldeneye was shocked.
The city was on fire and smoldering thick black smoke billowed into the night skies while towering white giants bulldoze their way through the fallen city.
"Hm?"
Goldeneye was about to pat his Dark Wyvern and take off when he suddenly noticed a situation in the city's northern parts.
"There are still people left! They are trying to break free from the encirclement and flee north!" Goldeneye concluded after a short observation.
To help or not to help?
He was told to retreat if he found the situation too dangerous, but he cannot ignore the lives of so many people! He must stay true to his Warrior's Way and honor the alliance! After a short moment of hesitation, Goldeneye made his decision. He must help!
"Let's go, pal. Let us help these people out and give them a chance at life!" Goldeneye rubbed Dark Wyverns neck.
Roar!
The Dark Wyvern gave a mighty roar in response to his words and began its dive with great speed towards a group of Bone Knights on the ground.
"Mama, look! It is a Dark Wyvern! A Dark Wyvern coming straight at us!" A child pointed at the sky and exclaimed while being carried by a female warrior.
"Oh no, what bad luck! Why is there a Dark Wyvern! Are we destined to die here?!" Another female warrior wailed in anguish.
At this moment, the Blackwind Tribe had less than 7000 people left. While the warriors led the charge and fought their way through the 30 thousand Bone Knights on the northern side in a wedge-like formation.
Razorleaf was at the forefront of the group, but he still managed to slip a quick peek at the sky before his eyes lit up.
"That Dark Wyvern belongs to the Dark Wyvern Rider, Goldeneye of Darkmoon Tribe! Help is here, everyone! Charge with me!" Razorleaf roared with hope.
"Dark Wyvern Rider, Goldeneye?! I've heard of him! Ah, I also want a flying mount! How envious!"
"Now is not the time to be worrying about that!"
The warriors were evidently rattled with excitement by Goldeneye's arrival with their chatter.
Although the Dark Wyvern tamed by Goldeneye had yet to reach adulthood, its strength was still comparable to a Rank 1 Transcendent. After all, Dark Wyverns were one of the superior species among the Dark Continent's demonic beasts.
"Goldeneye, my brother! You are late!"
After the Dark Wyvern swooped down and clawed through the crowd of Bone Knights with its powerfully sharp talons, Goldeneye raised an eyebrow and shouted, "Better late than never!"
"Hahaha, and for that, we are very grateful!" Razor laughed excitedly. When he failed to see anyone else coming, he asked, "Where're the others?!"
"I'm the only one! The rest of my team are still on their way! I can only assist your people in fleeing from here! As for your city, I am sorry to say this, but it is f*ked!"
"Dammit!"
Razorleaf was rather disappointed to hear this. He thought there was hope in overturning the situation and reclaiming their city, but that hope was quickly dashed.
In the end, they were still forced to abandon their city! Their home!