Chapter 36: A Formidable Foe from Dragon City

After dispatching the harpies to track down the so-called "Red-Crowned People," Li Mingxing focused all his attention on the newly constructed pikeman sentry post. He had gathered various species from the surrounding area and had them undergo training at the post.

The results were discouraging: the jungle lizardmen, typically used as cannon fodder, were unqualified to become pikemen. Their volatile nature meant that the mere scent of the training grounds sent them into a frenzy, rendering them unsuitable for the disciplined tactics required of a pikeman. The harpies were likewise unfit. While the centaurs under his command were the most naturally suited for the role, they were already locked into fixed unit types and could not change their professions; Li Mingxing could only have them practice spear techniques at the post.

Ultimately, Li Mingxing settled on a race he had recruited just days earlier to serve as the core of his pikemen. They were distant relatives of the centaurs who called themselves the "Luminous Clan." In reality, however, they were known throughout the forest as Goat-Men. They possessed the heads and hindquarters of goats, moved with decent speed through the woods, and were rare herbivores. Unfortunately, their goat-like heads caused them endless trouble, as many dark magical rituals required goat heads as offerings, leading to a persistent, unwarranted association with demons. Despite their peaceful nature, they were perpetually stigmatized, and only their small numbers and reclusive habits had allowed them to survive in the forest.

When Li Mingxing first approached them, they were reluctant to serve him. It was only after he promised that within his city they would be known strictly as the Luminous Clan—never as Goat-Men—and that he would never use their heads for rituals, that they agreed to join him, eventually becoming his strongest pikemen.

Li Mingxing later harbored some regret, noting that the goat skulls possessed a distinct dark aura; if left in the Dark Forest, they could have accelerated the corruption of the environment. However, bound by his promise, he abandoned the idea of slaughtering them. Instead, he began planning to establish a dedicated burial ground for the Luminous Clan within the city’s darkening forest, a move that would foster their loyalty while simultaneously fueling the forest’s corruption.

During this period, Li Mingxing had been busy purging or recruiting, successfully clearing out seven or eight local tribes. While he lacked many high-tier units, his numbers in the first and second tiers were substantial. Beyond the 178 Luminous Clan members training as pikemen, he possessed 70 boar-men acting as shield-bearers, 100 small wolves, 40 white tigers and black panthers, over 200 common goblins, and 400 lizardmen cannon fodder, along with various other creatures. For the first time, his total force exceeded a thousand.

Li Mingxing did not keep them all in the city, as that would have been a waste of resources. He divided them into groups of 30 to 50 and assigned them to areas around his city, Darkleaf, treating these zones as their own territories where they could build treehouses and forage undisturbed. His only condition was that they must report any enemy forces and delay them for at least half a day. The tribes accepted this readily, as the arrangement offered them ample space to develop. They assumed that because Li Mingxing had consolidated all nearby factions, no one would dare challenge him.

They were mistaken. Dragon City’s response was swift; the day after receiving word of Li Mingxing’s city, they dispatched a force. By the time Li Mingxing had distributed his troops to their zones and before they could even finish their treehouses, the Dragon City army had already struck, wiping out two of his units.

Li Mingxing felt the pressure. He knew he was now in direct opposition to Dragon City; if he failed to repel them, his claim to the city would be void, and his new allies would abandon him. He immediately ordered all troops not currently on the front lines to retreat to the city. He also accelerated the construction of the walls. Lacking sufficient archers for arrow towers, he instead built a magical platform for his blue harpies, where they would be protected while free to unleash their spells.

When the Dragon City force arrived, it was not large. Aside from three pegasus riders, it comprised the three mainstays of the Dragon City regulars: centaurs, dwarves, and elves. This was Li Mingxing’s first look at Dragon City’s centaurs, who apparently served as mere cannon fodder, much like his lizardmen. Their strength was modest, but they were remarkably uniform; if not for their varied faces, Li Mingxing would have suspected they were fixed-source units like his own. Unlike wild centaurs, these used shields and swords, focusing their training on defensive shield-work.

Li Mingxing watched as the centaurs maneuvered beneath the walls, forming a shield wall designed to deflect any counter-attack. With this formation, the hill dwarves behind them were freed from defensive duties to focus on destruction, brandishing two-handed axes and hammers. Some wore no armor at all, their raw aggression signaling their intent to strike with devastating force. Finally, the elves—the elite of the elite—were divided into three groups: sword dancers, archers, and druids. Though there were fewer than ten druids, the archers numbered a full 150.

"Forest Nymph Legion, fall back," Li Mingxing ordered calmly. "Set up the medical tents and be ready to treat the wounded. Luminous Clan, take the walls. My demand is simple: every time the elven arrow rain subsides, use your pikes to shove those climbers off the wall."

The Luminous Clan members climbed the battlements, understanding that they were now the first line of defense for Darkleaf. Li Mingxing turned to the Blackrock Hero. "Do you dare to sortie?"

"Of course," the Blackrock Hero replied firmly.

"Good. Take all the gray dwarves and lure those dwarves away. I don't care about your losses; I need them away from my walls for at least three hours."

The Blackrock Hero glanced at the 100 dwarven warriors below, then at his own 18 gray dwarves, and struck his chest. "Rest assured, they will not be here for three hours."

Li Mingxing nodded and beckoned. "I still have use for the second-tier centaurs. Take the first-tier centaurs, the 40 white tigers, and the panthers. Three hours."

The Blackrock Hero departed without another word. Li Mingxing then turned his gaze to the enemy centaurs and elves. "Harpies, listen to me. Do not worry about magic consumption. When the swarm moves, use your most powerful spells to strike the centaurs wielding swords."