Chapter 81: Why Are These "Natives" So Strong?

"What a spectacle...

This really is a proper 'ten thousand players on the same screen, in a national war' scenario, huh?"

A warrior player, gazing at the bandit army below, couldn't help but murmur.

Most players had fallen silent. It was similar to team-based games where people could joke before a boss fight, but the moment it began, only the leader's voice was left, with everyone else focused on their roles.

Now, everyone was ready for battle, feeling the pressure as the demon army closed in.

If this were a real battlefield, some would probably be trembling or even wanting to flee. But these players had been through countless battles, training through the trials and confident that this was just a game. Not only did they feel no fear, but they were also fired up, eager for the war to begin!

"Prepare to draw!"

On the east wall, a player acting as a squad leader gave the order. Behind him, warrior players raised their bows in unison, aiming at the advancing bandits below, but holding their fire. The scholars in each squad recited motivational verses, like "Draw a mighty bow, wield long arrows," enhancing the warriors' stats.

As the bandits entered arrow range, the player gave the command: "Loose!"

A chorus of arrows cut through the air, hundreds flying as one and creating a continuous hum as they formed a rain of arrows aimed at the approaching bandits.

Archery was an essential skill for warrior players, required to pass their trials and master the "Skillful Archer" talent. The volley hit the bandits' vanguard, felling many, though several in the front ranks raised wooden shields to block the arrows.

The second volley soon followed, with some arrows finding gaps in the shields to take down more bandits. But this Eastern Yi unit advanced resolutely, showing no signs of retreat.

Soon, many bandits drew their own bows and returned fire at the players atop the walls!

A few players cried out, having been struck by arrows. They hadn't expected the bandits to shoot back from such a distance and had been caught off guard.

With the players on the wall, and bandits below, the players should have had a range advantage due to their higher position. But the bandits' range exceeded the players' expectations.

Seeing this, Chu Ge frowned slightly.

"The bandits' combat power has noticeably increased since being possessed by demons.

Not only are their strength, speed, and vitality enhanced, but they're fearless and tireless, launching attack after attack.

"Bandits who die don't disappear either, which means these aren't projections, as in the 'Demon Invasion' offline event. They seem to be physical entities created by demons."

While Chu Ge and others analyzed the demons, the two sides continued exchanging volleys.

Many bandits were shot down, but players were also starting to take casualties.

Some warriors were especially unlucky, peeking out to shoot but catching an arrow to the head before they could even fire, dying instantly. They were frustrated—dying before they could even clash with the bandits? Harsh.

The battlefield is unforgiving, and sometimes the end comes all too quickly...

Fortunately, dead players became spirit forms and respawned at the town center, where they saw a special screen.

**[Remaining Revivals: 0/1; Revival Countdown: 29:59]**

Seeing this screen, the deceased players felt a little better. At least they had a chance to revive!

Even though it was only one revival with a 30-minute wait, it was better than none. They decided to be more cautious with their next lives.

The surviving players also took note and became more cautious, realizing they couldn't afford reckless moves.

Before long, the bandits had reached the walls, setting up wooden ladders to climb up!

This small county town had only earth walls, not very high and full of gaps, and the relentless bandit assault soon led to close-quarters combat.

Warrior players on the wall quickly discarded their bows, switching to shields and spears to fend off the climbing bandits, stabbing down at them.

Some drew long knives, hacking at the bandits in a frenzied melee.

The scene turned chaotic, but the warriors adapted quickly. Many had experienced siege defense in their trials and managed to repel the first wave.

Zhao Haiping and his squad guarded a breach in the wall, using spears to thrust down at bandits attempting to climb through.

Players had discovered that, in this "Restorers' Expedition" mode, they could summon endless supplies of spears, shields, and other cold weapons, just as in the offline MR event.

So, players didn't hesitate to throw spears as javelins, switching to knives for close-range combat.

Shouts and clashes echoed from other parts of the town, while loud thuds came from the city gate—that was the bandits ramming it!

A squad stationed inside rushed over, some even throwing themselves against the gate, only to feel their heads rattle from the impact of the battering ram.

"Quick! Tear down nearby houses for materials to block the gate!"

Thinking fast, the squad leader had players scavenge stone and wood from nearby buildings, piling them against the gate.

In "Restorers' Expedition," although the town retained the same layout, the buildings had an aged, brittle quality, as if weathered by time. Players hacked away at wooden beams and stones, piling them up to reinforce the gate.

Just then, a shout rang out: "The north gate is breached! We need reinforcements!"

The town's defenses were already weak, and players hadn't had much time to prepare.

Though some players tried barricading the north gate with furniture and debris, they hadn't finished when the bandits broke through, rushing in!

Players who had been bracing the gate were thrown back, struggling to their feet only to be struck down by a bandit's cross spear.

A bandit leader entered, his black-glowing eyes scanning the town. "Find the Restorer! Kill them a thousand, ten thousand times if needed until they're forced to leave!"

…

At that moment, Meng Yuan was on the wall, fighting alongside other players.

Seeing the demons' overwhelming force, Meng Yuan was somewhat shocked.

This was the first time he'd experienced such a large-scale battle to defend a historical fragment and purge demons.

"Who knows if we can hold, but all we can do now is trust the players.

The demons likely still think we're all just illusions of the natives. This misunderstanding works in our favor."

As he fought, Meng Yuan refrained from revealing himself.

Since he'd divided his power among the players, he couldn't use much of it himself. In the past, Restorers had relied on two abilities to single-handedly defend fragments, facing tens of thousands of demon-possessed bandits.

One ability was summoning native illusions to aid in defense. The other was concentrating power within themselves, allowing them to singlehandedly overpower large numbers of demons.

For demons, reclaiming a fragment meant locating the Restorer among countless native illusions, then overwhelming them with sheer numbers until they were too weak to remain in the fragment, allowing the demons to reclaim control.

But this time was different.

Instead of summoning native illusions, Meng Yuan had summoned players and distributed his power among them, giving them far more strength than native illusions.

While he couldn't freely wade through demon hordes, the players' collective strength was greater and added layers of confusion for the demons.

Of course, the players had to work together and perform well.

Seeing the breach in the north gate, Chu Ge ordered, "Assassin unit, prepare for ambush! Ranger unit, head south and circle around to attack the bandits' flanks!"

…

To the north of the town, in the Eastern Yi camp, a general emitting thick black mist waved an iron fan, directing the assault.

Beside him stood a towering warrior monk, wrapped in white cloth, robed in a monk's kesa, armored underneath, and holding a long polearm similar to a naginata.

The general, fanning himself, was puzzled.

"How strange. Why are these native illusions summoned by the Restorer so strong? They're well-organized, disciplined, fearless, and seem able to summon weapons out of thin air!

Stranger still, why is the Restorer hiding among these illusions instead of fighting directly?

Does he think these illusions alone can defeat us?"

The warrior monk spoke in a booming voice, "No matter. We'll raze the entire town if needed. Sooner or later, we'll root out that Restorer."