Chpater 76: Direwolves and Ironhide Boars

Night descended swiftly as Jiang Feng and Yumo worked tirelessly, their relentless efforts undeterred by the late hour. Even under the veil of darkness, dozens of formation lights illuminated the scene, casting an ethereal glow across the wall's expanse.

The air was alive with the clang of hammers and the hiss of sparks, both atop the walls and within the inner defenses. Smooth, steel plates were being carefully installed into the gaping breaches, their reflective surfaces momentarily catching the light before being secured.

Jiang Feng found himself suspended at the midsection of section 9E, supported by ropes and braces. He was a picture of focus, hammering a massive steel plate—approximately eight feet wide and twelve feet tall—into place.

With a precise motion, he summoned his flames, the mystical fire of his blacksmith bloodline engulfing the edges of the plate. The heat was intense, melting the steel into the wall as if it were always part of the structure.

Below, Yumo worked with equal focus, sweat glistening on his brow and soaking through his tunic. He methodically cut and shaped steel plates, the rhythmic sound of his tools blending with the clamor of the wall's restoration. Once a plate was ready, he would tie it securely and signal for it to be hoisted up to Jiang Feng.

"I need to clear some rocks from this section!" Jiang Feng shouted, his voice carrying over the cacophony. He swung across to a crumbling part of the wall, where a massive slab of stone teetered dangerously. With no time to waste, he drove his hands into the rock, his fingers digging deep into its surface.

Muscles rippled and strained as he heaved the enormous stone upward, veins standing out along his forearms. With a grunt of effort, he hurled the boulder over the wall, sending it crashing down into the Obsidian Forest on the other side. Dust and debris exploded outward, but the section was now clear for reinforcement.

"What are the dimensions? Does it just need plating, or are we adding beams too?" Yumo called up, taking a moment to wipe his brow and guzzle a mouthful of water.

Typically, the inner walls would have been handled by the assigned internal team. However, Jiang Feng and Yumo's relentless pace had left the team struggling to keep up. Rather than slow their progress, the two had opted to take on the additional workload themselves. Their initiative had earned them a hefty payout—an impressive 800,000 low-grade spirit stones—a reward befitting their extraordinary effort.

-

By the dawn of the third day, the Eastern Wall was alive with activity. Blacksmiths hammered and forged, the clang of metal against stone reverberating across the worksite. The Ironwood Sect's workers moved with precision, erecting scaffolds and securing ironwood braces.

The Zhen Clan, renowned for their mastery of rune formations, painstakingly etched their sigils into tempered steel plates, preparing the wall to resist both physical and spiritual energy assaults.

High above, Lei Clan archers lined the battlements, their crimson robes fluttering in the brisk wind. Each carried a bow infused with lightning energy, their sharp eyes scanning the dense treetops of the Obsidian Woodlands. They worked in coordinated teams, their arrows crackling faintly with stored energy as they kept a vigilant watch for threats.

The Situ Army had fanned out across the perimeter, their disciplined formations creating a steel barrier against potential incursions. Armored soldiers patrolled in pairs, their spears gleaming in the morning sun. Commanders barked orders from horseback, ensuring no corner of the wall's defenses was left vulnerable.

In the distance, Jiang Feng and Yumo worked tirelessly at section 9E. The past two days had been grueling, but progress was undeniable. The fractured debris had been cleared, the foundation stabilized with ironwood beams, and the first layers of tempered steel plating secured.

Jiang Feng wiped the sweat from his brow, glancing over their work with satisfaction. "Another two days, and this section will hold against anything the beasts throw at it. Well at least for now!" he said, his voice carrying a mix of exhaustion and pride.

Yumo grunted in agreement as he hammered a final brace into place. "Let's hope we get that time. Something tells me this quiet won't last."

He wasn't wrong.

Shortly before noon, a low, guttural roar echoed from the Obsidian Woodlands. The sound rolled across the clearing like a wave, carrying with it a primal sense of dread. Every worker paused, their gazes snapping toward the shadowy forest on the other side of the wall. Even the air seemed to shift—growing heavier, more oppressive.

Jiang Feng's grip tightened on his hammer as he exchanged a tense look with Yumo. "That didn't sound far."

"It wasn't" Yumo replied grimly, his eyes fixed on the tree line.

Moments later, Overseer Yuan He's booming voice cut through the rising unease. "All teams, fall back to defensive positions! Archers, prepare for engagement! Situ Army, ready at will!"

The worksite erupted into controlled chaos. Workers scrambled to secure tools and supplies while soldiers and clansmen took their positions. The Lei Clan archers nocked arrows, their bows sparking to life as they aimed toward the forest.

The first wave emerged seconds later. It was a large beasts tide!

A pack of Shadowfang Direwolves burst from the treeline, their sleek black fur blending with the shadows as they sprinted toward the wall. Each wolf was the size of a small horse, their glowing red eyes locked onto the workers and the wall ahead. Their claws gouged deep grooves into the earth as they charged, and their howls seemed to shake the ground.

Behind them came a second wave—Ironhide Boars, their massive tusks gleaming like polished steel. These beasts barreled forward, their thick, armored hides capable of shattering stone with sheer force.

"Hold the line!" a Situ commander roared, raising his spear.

The Lei Clan archers loosed their first volley. Arrows streaked through the air like lightning bolts, striking the direwolves with pinpoint accuracy. The frontmost wolves collapsed, their bodies convulsing as the lightning energy coursed through them. But for every beast that fell, two more surged forward.

Jiang Feng stood his ground at section 9E, his tools abandoned in favor of a weapon. Jiang Feng lifted a dagger that almost looked like a short sword, its weight very light with sharp edges. He had forged this dagger on his second night.

"We need to hold this section" Jiang Feng said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. "If this part of the wall falls, it's over."

Yumo nodded, his stance firm. "Then we fight."

"No, you're not made for fighting. Leave quickly!" Jiang Feng turned to Yumo, his eyes burning with what Yumo could only identify as excitement. Nodding his head hurriedly, Yumo jumped off the midsection of the wall, onto a ramp and ran towards the second wall as did the others!

-

Jiang Feng wasn't entirely sure if any beasts could breach their defenses with the combined firepower of the Lei Clan and the Situ Army. Yet, despite his confidence, there was a thick tension in the air. Warriors stood at the ready, their blades gleaming. Some stood atop the high walls, bows drawn and arrows nocked, while others leaped to the ground below, brandishing long spears, glaives, warhammers, and massive shields.

Among them, Jiang Feng's eyes caught a figure stepping off the high wall—Lei Wenshan. The man landed with a heavy thud, his lightning spear crackling with arcs of electricity that illuminated the battlefield.

"Is he mad?" Jiang Feng muttered to himself, watching Lei Wenshan stride toward the front lines without hesitation. But after a moment, he reconsidered. If Lei Wenshan wasn't capable, the Lei Clan elders wouldn't have entrusted him with such a pivotal role on the front lines.

A deep, guttural howl ripped through the air, snapping Jiang Feng's focus back to the battlefield. From the treeline, the first Direwolf emerged, its hulking form illuminated by the light of the formations. The beast was monstrous—twice the size of a regular wolf—with a coat of black fur and glowing black fangs that gleamed like polished onyx. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Lei Wenshan as it lunged forward, claws tearing into the ground with predatory force.