"There it is. Crimson Cliffs. Men! Bring out the siege weapons! Prepare for battle!" The king ordered as soon as the Demon King's fortress was in sight.

The soldiers were all brought to a halt. Some set down their bags and others helped unload the carriages that carried large pieces of unassembled siege machines. After unloading everything, the soldiers began to quickly and expertly assembled the pieces until finally, two battering rams and three catapults were constructed. This seems meager but it can't be helped. These five siege weapons are the only functioning ones left. As a group of soldiers pushed the siege weapons to the frontlines, XiYang and his party approached the king.

"What are your plans?" The king asked as he noticed the hero and his party.

"We plan to have Pine infiltrate the castle while the demons are focusing on us and open the gates from within." XiYang replied.

"It's a dangerous task for one person. Why not bring a few more brave men with you?"

"No, too risky. Too many people will attract unwanted attention. It will be much safer if Pine went alone. But don't worry, Risa will cast a spell of invisibility on Pine as well as some buffs to help him get through this mission."

"Still sounds dangerous. I have confirmation on a demon elite with the ability to detect presences. I don't think a mere invisibility spell would work."

"Is that so? Hmmm...nevertheless, I have confidence in Pine. Besides, he isn't weak. He can take care of a demon elite or two on his own."

"Is there a better option?"

"There may be...but I haven't thought of any good ones yet. We don't have time to think of other options so we need to go through with this one." Pine firmly replied, his fighting spirit blazing to the brim.

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Seeing the courage in Pine's eyes, the king finally gave in with a sigh. "Fine. But you must stay alive. That's an order."

"Yes your Majesty!" Pine bowed before leaving with Risa.

The king turned to XiYang and Janet. "As for us? What should we do?"

"We fight. I'll be vanguard and Janet will fight off any demons that get close to me. As soon as the first explosion sounds, fire the catapults and the long-ranged troops. When the gates open, have the infantry and cavalry charge in." XiYang replied after a momentary pause.

"And if the gates don't open?"

"I'll find a way."

The king stared at XiYang who did not back down and instead, met his stare with full self-confidence. "Alright. I'll trust you."

The king looked to his flagbearer and ordered him to indicate the start of the battle. With a few swift movements, the flagbearer signaled to the soldiers below to get into positions. The flagbearer looked to the king who nodded his head. With a raise of the flag, the flagbearer pulled out a horn from his belt and blew it.

The sound of the war began. The soldiers raised their voices and marched forward. The siege weapons rolled slowly and steadily towards the entrance of the castle. Many people from the frontlines could see the demons scurrying about on top of the castle walls. Archers and mages were lined up and aiming. Not waiting for them to shoot, XiYang withdrew a stone from his pouch and smashed the stone with his paddle. The stone flew like an arrow and pierced the skull of one of the demon mages.

The demon mage standing beside the victim was frightened by the sudden death of his demon brethren. The demon mage, like other demons, had assumed that the humans wouldn't be able to attack from the distance they were currently at. But to think the humans could actually accurately attack from so far away. Forgetting his superior's order to wait and coupled with his shock, the demon mage hastily fired a large fireball towards the human army.

Seeing the incoming fireball, XiYang lunged forward ahead of the other soldiers and brought his paddle to his waist. He brought out his right foot and bent down, turning his waist so that his right shoulder faces the incoming fireball. Just as the fireball entered his range, he retaliated.

"Iai Stance: Splitting the Heavens!" XiYang roared as he slashed his paddle upwards like a blade, splitting the fireball in half.

The air pressure of the counterattack pushed the fireball halves back, each diverging towards opposite ends of the front gate.

BOOM!

"That's the signal! Men! Catapults! Fire!" The king roared as soon as he saw the explosion.