Kovak gritted his teeth, the muscles beneath his scales taut.
He tried to counterattack, swinging an uppercut directly at Zarjin's lower ribs.
However, this strike was easily parried by the opponent with his axe handle, who then followed up with a fierce kick to his abdomen.
Kovak grunted, stumbling back several steps, the intense pain in his abdomen almost suffocating him.
Zarjin let out a triumphant roar, his offensive becoming even more ferocious, his battle axe raining down like a storm, completely suppressing Kovak.
Kovak's blocks became increasingly strained, his footing unsteady, and he was on the verge of being pushed into a desperate situation.
Just at this critical moment, Kael, who had come down from the Tower of Radiant Flame, rushed closer.
He saw Kovak in danger and felt a chill run through him, followed by a surge of hot blood to his head.
Kael didn't overthink; all fear and distracting thoughts were instantly cast aside.
He quickly gripped the lute on his back and brought it to the front.
This time, he didn't play complex melodies, but poured all his emotion and conviction into a short, stirring battle song.
A faint magical glow emanated with the rhythm, drifting towards Kovak and Zarjin, who were still locked in combat.
Kovak instantly felt a warm current surge through his body, dispelling fatigue and intense pain.
His arms regained strength, his reaction speed sharply increased, and the world in his eyes became even clearer.
Meanwhile, Zarjin felt an inexplicable irritation and weakness wash over him, as if invisible shackles bound his movements, and the motion of swinging his battle axe noticeably slowed for a moment!
Now!
Kovak's eyes blazed with light, seizing this fleeting opportunity, and let out a furious roar.
His battle axe slashed back with speed and power far exceeding before!
No longer a block, but a fierce counterattack!
Zarjin was caught off guard and could only clumsily raise his axe to parry.
But weakened by the bard, he could no longer easily block Kovak's burst of power.
Clang!
With a loud crash, Zarjin's arm was numbed by the impact, the web of his hand split, and his battle axe nearly flew from his grasp!
He stepped back in astonishment, a displeased expression appearing on his face for the first time.
Kovak pressed his advantage, his battle axe tracing a dazzling arc in the firelight, aimed directly at Zarjin's head.
Zarjin hurriedly dodged, but Kovak's attacks were relentless, each strike carrying a deadly resolve.
Their figures rapidly intertwined on the battlefield, the clanging of metal echoing continuously, sparking off bursts of fire.
Kael stood to the side, anxiously watching the battle.
His lute never stopped, continuing to play the stirring battle song, providing support to Kovak while weakening Zarjin.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, the brutal slaughter continued.
Casualties on both sides continued to mount, with the bodies of defenders and Forest Trolls strewn inside and outside the wall breaches; neither side could completely defeat the other in a short time.
The battle once again fell into a cruel stalemate. Just then, "In the name of the earth, quell the strife!"
A spell-casting chant emanated from behind the settlement.
The Ice Troll Shaman, who had been silently guarding the shrine, eyes closed in concentration, preparing a large-scale spell, had finally completed his ritual!
He clasped his hands together, then suddenly spread them apart.
Buzz!
A yellowish-brown energy, like a ripple, spread out from him!
Immediately after, the ground beneath the Trolls fiercely attacking New Voljin suddenly churned violently, then cracked open!
Several bottomless fissures opened up like gaping abysses, instantly swallowing more than a dozen Trolls caught off guard!
Accompanied by their screams, these Troll warriors were mercilessly buried in the earth!
The remaining Trolls were shaken off balance, their formation instantly thrown into disarray!
This sudden earth spell became the final straw that broke the camel's back!
The Amani Trolls offensive then disintegrated!
Kovak swung his axe, felling Zarjin, who was distracted by the spell, then roared loudly: "Counterattack! For New Voljin!"
The morale of the defenders surged, and they launched a counterattack, seizing this excellent opportunity.
A team of adventurers suddenly charged out from the flank, like a dagger plunging into the chaotic Troll formation!
Subsequently, the Amani Trollss' rout began.
Witnessing their leader struck down by Kovak, his fate unknown, and most of their witch doctors dead, coupled with the sudden attack of the earth-splitting spell, their last bit of fighting spirit was completely shattered.
After a mournful wail, the pillagers threw down their weapons one after another, fleeing in terror towards the coastline.
"Archers! Free fire! Druids, intercept them!" Kovak did not give the order to pursue relentlessly, to prevent any accidents.
This was an isolated island; even if they wanted to escape, they had nowhere to go.
Archers and hunters climbed the surviving walls, using arrows to pick off the fleeing figures.
The Druids, meanwhile, once again urged vines to sprout from the ground, entangling the slower Trolls.
Kael immediately directed the priests who could still move to fully treat the wounded, while the Paladins guarded the shrine and important areas, preventing any desperate counterattacks from the Trolls.
The battle gradually subsided with the appearance of the first ray of dawn.
Zarjin, who had stubbornly resisted, was surrounded by Kovak and several warriors, struck by multiple axes, severely wounded, and captured.
Upon tallying, the defenders paid a heavy price, losing a total of over sixty people.
The dock was completely destroyed, and multiple ships sank.
The walls were damaged in many places, and some farmland was burned.
The Amani Trollss, however, left behind over one hundred and fifty bodies and more than thirty captives.
According to the Druids and hunters, a small portion had also fled deep into the forest.
The smoke of battle had not yet cleared, and the morning light, just beginning to break, illuminated the devastated New Voljin.
The cost of victory was heavy, and the oppressive air was filled with the smell of blood and char.
The survivors silently began to clear the battlefield, collect the remains of their comrades, and extinguish the lingering fires.
Kovak, dragging his tired and wounded body, forced himself to arrange personnel, repair fortifications, and maintain vigilance.
Several hours later, the wounded were initially settled, and the bodies of the fallen were properly collected.
Kael, with heavy steps, returned to the Tower of Radiant Flame and entered the dungeon below it.
What were originally just a few simple stone cells used for temporarily holding troublemakers were now filled with Forest Troll captives.
In a cell lit by a dim torch, he met Kovak.
Although the Blue Dragon's wounds had been simply treated, the bandages were still stained with blood.
His face was slightly pale from excessive blood loss.
The two Dragonkin exchanged glances, both seeing a heavy burden in the other's eyes.
"The condition of the wounded has stabilized, but everyone's divine grace is basically exhausted," Kael whispered.
Kovak nodded, his voice slightly hoarse, "I have deployed double the sentries along the coastline to ensure the Trolls don't land silently again."
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