Morale was in total disarray. Just then, two soldiers approached, carrying a pair of spears—one long, one short. The generals stepped aside, and Yuna Ji accepted both weapons.
Yuna Ji tilted her head, looking at me. For an instant, I thought I saw her smile—hidden beneath the skeletal mask was a fleeting expression of warmth.
"It's terrifying, truly. No matter how many times, I've witnessed this since childhood. Brothers, sisters, one after another, all gone. My parents left early too. I've asked myself over and over—what is there left to fight for? There's nothing worth struggling for anymore."
The threat seemed to take hold. Yuna Ji suddenly spun around, fixing her gaze on all the generals.
The imperial army in the distance began to stir. I drew Belle from its sheath—if those skeletal generals charged first, I'd have to leap from the wall and find a way to hold one back.
General Red Plume's words were compelling, but Yuna Ji's face grew tense. None of the rebel generals showed any sign of surrender.
But these words seemed unable to shake the soldiers either. Everyone here was seeking deliverance, not realizing that it had become nearly impossible.
"Hear me! If you still have the heart to fight for freedom, stand with me. Battle only ends when you surrender. As long as you hold onto your will to fight, miracles can happen—just like that day."
At that moment, I saw behind General Red Plume a procession of twelve skeletal horses pulling a carriage, slowly drawing near. Massive skeletons wielding broad bone shields surrounded it. I caught a flash of crimson—that was General Crimson Plume, a crossbow strapped to her back. Someone was seated in the carriage, getting closer by the second.
Rufina Howard?
I gasped quietly, and Ji Yun'er covered her forehead, looking troubled.
Suddenly, as I landed, a forceful aura surged toward me—it was General Crimson Plume, mingling with the attacking troops.
With a metallic clang, I blocked General Crimson Plume's strike.
Suddenly, Ji Yun'er gritted her teeth so hard it made a grinding sound. I couldn't figure out what Huangfu Ruofei was thinking, coming to the front lines in person. But with the skeletal generals' protection, even the spying Qing ghosts coveting the Underworld Stone couldn't do anything. No matter how powerful they were, they couldn't match the skeletal generals.
The only thing we needed to worry about now was ourselves. Suddenly, Ji Yun'er jumped onto the rampart and shouted loudly.
"We won't surrender, and we won't reconcile! It doesn't matter who the emperor is—we will fight for freedom!"
As Ji Yun'er shouted, the soldiers on the wall began to cheer, their voices swelling instantly. Huangfu Ruofei covered her ears, looking panicked. I sighed.
"Girl, what exactly are you here for?"
The words Huangfu Ruofei just shouted were probably fed to her by someone beforehand—they didn't sound like something she'd say. The corpse general Zhang Qingyuan was still standing behind me, and I started to worry. Huangfu Ruofei knew about me; if I sent the corpse general into battle, it would definitely expose me.
A thousand 'what should I do?' ran through my mind. But then I thought, even if Huangfu Ruofei came to the front lines, with her current strength, she couldn't see the battle clearly. She'd stay in the rear, and after this speech, she'd probably be sent back to the capital.
Sure enough, the carriage Huangfu Ruofei was riding in had already turned and left. At this moment, General Red Plume shouted again.
"Our Emperor has personally come to the front lines. We've shown our utmost sincerity. If you insist on resisting—especially you leaders—after your resurrection, you'll face a lifelong prison sentence. Think carefully about it."
After issuing this threat, General Red Plume left. I saw many generals fall silent. In this world, death isn't frightening—the real terror is being imprisoned, unable even to die, resurrected only to suffer endless captivity. That's more cruel than death itself.
The threat seemed to work. Ji Yun'er suddenly turned around and looked at all the generals.
"Has your desire for liberation over these centuries really been so fragile? The enemy threatens you a little and you retreat? You're not fit to be generals. If you're afraid, you don't have to join this war—go to the recruitment center and help with logistics. Cowardly soldiers aren't needed on the battlefield. If you give up before the fight even begins, I don't need you."
Ji Yun'er's voice was so loud that nearly everyone near the city wall could hear. Sure enough, a few generals climbed down from the wall, and some of the soldiers began to waver.
I immediately jumped onto the wall, trying to grab Ji Yun'er, but she pushed me away.
"Listen up! Those who still want to fight for freedom, follow me. The battle only ends when you give up. As long as you don't abandon your fighting spirit, miracles will happen—just like that day."
Ji Yun'er shouted, but she clearly didn't have the same charisma as that monster. A few generals still left, and some soldiers realized there was no hope—the enemy army was overwhelming. To continue fighting in such hopeless circumstances was suicide.
A rumbling sound echoed again and again. The soldiers on the wall started whispering among themselves.
Morale was completely shattered. At that moment, two soldiers came forward, carrying one long and one short spear. The surrounding generals stepped aside, and Ji Yun'er took the two spears.
"One last thing: if we win this war, we have a chance at freedom. This battle requires the effort of every one of you. It's not just about dying for nothing—it's for the wars to come. If you still want to repeat this endless cycle and abandon the hard-won fortress, then do as you wish. All troops, prepare to meet the enemy!"
A long blast from the horn sounded. The soldiers on the wall readied their bows and arrows. Crates of arrows had already been brought up, along with spears to defend against the enemy's assault.
I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Ji Yun'er's words had changed the atmosphere somewhat. Huangfu Ruofei was already gone and hadn't reappeared. I sighed.
The imperial army in the distance began to move. I drew my Beauty—if those skeletal generals charged first, I'd have to rush down the wall and try to hold one off.
The corpse general was already waiting at the middle section of the wall, ready to act on my command. If enemies came from the air, he would attack them.
The generals on the wall spread out, each commanding soldiers along different sections. Ji Yun'er sat cross-legged atop the wall, cradling both spears, quietly watching the enemy's movements.
They were getting closer. The enemy in front all held wide bone shields, tilted over their heads as they advanced slowly. Row after row of shield-bearing enemies approached. Their tactics were simple: push forward, let the siege engines smash open the gate, then flood in with the whole army.
The enemy began clearing obstacles. The soldiers atop the city wall had their bows ready—this was the most effective way to counter a siege.
More and more of them appeared—a vast, endless army stretching as far as the eye could see, a dark mass moving closer and closer.
"I've seen this scene countless times before. Heh."
Ji Yun'er tilted her head and looked at me. For a moment, I thought I saw her smiling—beneath her skeletal exterior was a smile.
"It's truly frightening! No matter how many times, I've witnessed this ever since I was a child. Brothers, sisters, one after another, all died. My parents left early too. I've asked myself so many times: what am I still struggling for? Clearly, there's nothing left worth fighting for."
I swallowed hard. Ji Yun'er stood up, inserting both spears into the wall with a clang, raising her hand.
"Maybe, like some of the soldiers hidden away now, if we just try a little harder, maybe the door to hope will open. Just a little more effort."
Suddenly, a thunderous cry for battle erupted. Arrows rained down from the city wall, showering the ground below. When the enemy was less than a hundred meters away, Ji Yun'er gave the order to attack.
Wave after wave of arrows fell. Enemies outside the wall kept dropping, but the shield-bearing soldiers in front pushed forward, already covering a long stretch of ground.
Suddenly, I heard whizzing sounds. Through gaps in the shields, I saw smaller skeletons with crossbows. Wails rang out atop the wall as soldier after soldier was struck and fell.
I clenched my fist, quietly watching to see if anything unusual would happen. Just then, Ji Yun'er suddenly grabbed both spears and leapt off the wall—the enemy army was less than twenty meters away.
"Keep attacking—don't stop!"
Several generals shouted. Gritting my teeth, I climbed the parapet and jumped down after Ji Yun'er. The situation was dire—if the enemy reached the base of the wall, we'd be at a huge disadvantage. We had to break through somewhere.
Suddenly, as I landed, I felt a powerful aura rushing toward me—it was General Scarlet Plume, mixed in with the attacking troops.
With a clang, I blocked General Scarlet Plume's attack.
"Today is the day you die!"
I immediately retorted with a cold laugh.
"Likewise."