lerbook #392 - Chapter 126: Shocking Changes in the Frontier (VI)
#392 - Chapter 126: Shocking Changes in the Frontier (VI)
Davos, standing beside him, was stunned by this scene, having never seen the Red Woman so distraught. He couldn't help but ask, "What is this evil power?"
Melisandre took a deep breath, calming herself before replying, "It is the Others. They are coming soon!"
Stannis frowned, asking doubtfully, "Are you sure? Do the Others really exist?" Although he had heard about the Others many times in the Night's Watch reports these days, he considered them nothing more than a fairy tale to scare children.
In contrast, the wildling leader showed extreme panic. He widened his eyes and stammered, "Damn it! The Others are actually here! How many did you see coming?" This person was Tormund, concealing his identity.
Melisandre turned her gaze towards him, her expression grave, and said, "Many, many, too many to count, covering the mountains and plains."
Tormund stopped pretending and directly addressed Stannis, "The White Walkers and the army of the dead have arrived, southern king. We must cooperate if we want to survive."
Stannis frowned deeply, seemingly wanting to say something. Melisandre interrupted him, "Your Majesty, now is not the time to hesitate. The servants of the dark god are too powerful; neither side can defeat them alone. We must cooperate, and I have seen you fighting side by side in the flames."
Stannis was easily swayed by her words. Since the curse that killed Joffrey, he had deeply believed in the prophecies in the flames. He nodded and agreed, "Very well! I agree to join forces with the wildlings."
Hearing this, Tormund said with dissatisfaction, "We are the Free Folk! Not wildlings!"
Stannis glanced at him, "I can temporarily ally with you Free Folk, but that doesn't mean you will be accepted. After we defeat our common enemy together, we can discuss whether you will yield!"
Hearing this, Tormund was unhappy but knew now was not the time to argue. He curled his lip in disdain and turned to walk towards his people. Stannis watched Tormund's departing figure, sighing inwardly, knowing that these wildlings were not so easily tamed.
Just like that, the two groups who had been fighting tooth and nail not only stopped fighting but also prepared to join forces against a common enemy. They crossed the low wall into the defensive works and began to discuss how to deal with the impending crisis.
On the other side, the wildlings seemed particularly nervous, cautiously watching every move around them, afraid that those monsters would suddenly emerge from some corner. Seeing this, some soldiers in Stannis's army couldn't help but laugh, "Look at these cowards! They're just dead people, aren't they? What's so scary about them?"
However, the wildling warriors secretly grumbled, thinking that these southerners had no idea how powerful the White Walkers were. When they truly faced those terrifying monsters, let's see who would still be laughing.
Just then, several skinchangers had awakened. The news they brought was worrying, and the situation became extremely serious.
According to their reports, the enemy was numerous and aggressive. The haunted forest was full of those ghostly things, cutting off contact between Storrold's Point and the inland. The situation was very bad; they were trapped on the peninsula by the Others.
Hearing this news, Stannis's heart sank, but he did not panic. He decisively commanded his soldiers to act quickly. He knew that he could not underestimate any enemy, and regardless of whether the Others were powerful, he had to be fully prepared. He immediately ordered the strengthening of the defensive works and sent people to contact the fleet at sea, telling them to be ready to provide fire support to the shore at any time. For those ships without ranged attack capabilities, he ordered them to dock, evacuate the wounded and those unable to fight, to reduce unnecessary casualties.
At the same time, Tormund also led the wildlings to busy themselves. They used simple tools to dig trenches and set up obstacles, striving to enhance the defense of the line. Everyone was full of fighting spirit, with their wives and children behind them.
Just as people were busy and tense, a gust of cold wind blew past, mixed with a hint of coolness. This cold wind made everyone present shiver, and an ominous premonition arose in their hearts. They knew that this war would be exceptionally difficult.
Suddenly, someone pointed to the distant forest and exclaimed, "Look!" Hearing this voice, everyone turned to look in the direction the soldier was pointing. Their eyes passed through the forest and finally saw the chilling white ice fog in the distance. This ice fog was tens of meters high, like a huge white dragon dancing in the air, carrying a biting cold and the aura of death.
As the ice fog approached, the wind, which was only slightly cold, suddenly became exceptionally fierce, like cold blades scraping people's cheeks painfully. The cold wind howled through the trees, bringing bursts of chill, making people shiver.
Under the cover of the ice fog, vague figures began to appear and sway in the dark forest. These figures were blurry, but they gave people a strong sense of unease. They were like demons crawling out of hell, exuding endless evil and terror.
"It's the Others!" a wildling shouted loudly, his voice full of fear and despair. Other wildlings also shouted, and panic spread quickly. The whole scene fell into chaos, and the already tense atmosphere became even more oppressive, with everyone feeling the approach of death.
Stannis looked solemnly at everything before him, gripping his longsword tightly, his eyes firm and steady. He knew that in the face of such a powerful enemy, he had to remain calm to find a way to survive. So, he shouted loudly, "Everyone, do not be afraid! We have strong walls and sharp weapons, and we will definitely be able to resist the attack of these monsters! Archers, get ready... fire!"
As soon as Stannis finished speaking, the archers, who had been panicked, immediately came to their senses. They quickly drew their bows, lit the arrows, and aimed at the shadowy figures in the ice fog.
When Stannis gave the order, they released their bowstrings simultaneously. In an instant, countless rockets flew out like locusts. The rockets streaked through the sky, flying towards the blurry figures with blazing flames, illuminating the forest.
The white ice fog seemed to be controlled by a mysterious force, stopping in place and no longer advancing. However, when countless rockets hit it, they either extinguished immediately or were deflected, as if there was an invisible barrier.