Free Web NovelChapter 97: Chapter 97: North Ridge Wings
The second day began with rain.
Cold drops fell across the ruined outpost, turning dust into mud and soaking the already damaged walls. Captain Ren’s remnants moved slowly from exhaustion, but none complained. The first night’s successful defense had restored some spirit to them. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
Qin Yuheng noticed that.
Mission entities or not, morale mattered.
He gathered everyone near the inner gate.
"Today we scout north ridge and prepare against flying beasts. South marsh remains unscouted, but poison routes are slower. The north threatens the beacon tower directly."
Captain Ren nodded.
"If the beacon falls, no warning reaches the rear line."
"What happens if no warning is lit?"
The captain’s expression darkened.
"The valley dies before reinforcements know."
Qin Yuheng understood the mission logic.
The beacon was more than a structure. It was a symbolic objective. If destroyed, even surviving the outpost might not produce high evaluation.
Qin Mo inspected the old ballista again.
"With proper cable, we can shoot down large flying beasts."
"Where do we find one?" Qin Yuheng asked.
Captain Ren answered, "North ridge watch post. If it still stands."
Of course.
The needed resource lay in the dangerous route.
Qin Yuheng selected the scouting team: himself, Qin Lian, and one frontier scout named A’Shou. Qin Yuchen would stay to continue repairs and protect the outpost. Qin Mo would reinforce the beacon base and prepare ballista repairs.
Qin Mo looked at him.
"You are leaving me in charge of mechanisms again."
"Yes."
"This is becoming a pattern."
"A useful one."
He sighed, but his hands were already moving.
The north ridge path climbed through broken stone and thorny brush. Wind grew stronger as they ascended. The rain made footing treacherous. Halfway up, Qin Lian spotted the first flying beast.
A dark bird with bone-like wings circled above.
[Ridge Bonewing]
[Level: 19]
[Type: Flying scout beast]
Qin Yuheng did not let it call others.
He drew a short throwing spear provided by Captain Ren, infused a trace of thunder, and threw.
The spear pierced the Bonewing through the chest.
It fell silently into the rocks.
A’Shou stared.
"Our spears do not fly like that."
Qin Yuheng smiled faintly.
"I practice."
They reached the north ridge watch post near midday.
It was damaged but standing.
Three dead ballista frames lay inside. One still had an intact tension cable made from beast tendon and metal thread.
But the watch post was occupied.
Five Bonewings perched on the roof.
And inside, a larger creature slept with wings folded around its body.
[Ridge Bonewing Matriarch]
[Level: 21]
[Elite]
Qin Lian whispered, "If they cry out, more will come."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"We kill scouts first."
The fight required silence and speed.
Qin Lian moved through rain-shadow, her cloak nearly invisible. She killed the first Bonewing by piercing its throat. Qin Yuheng used short thunder bursts to strike two more before they took off. A’Shou shot one with a crossbow. The fifth opened its beak.
Qin Yuheng’s sword flashed.
Too late to stop sound?
No.
The Silent Moon Shadow Cloak swept past as Qin Lian threw a dagger into its open mouth.
The cry died.
The Matriarch woke.
Its eyes glowed pale blue.
The elite beast spread its wings, filling the small watch post.
Wind pressure exploded outward.
Qin Yuheng stepped in.
He could not allow it to take flight.
War Thunder Advance drove him through the wind. His sword struck the wing joint. Qin Lian attacked the other side. A’Shou, despite fear, fired two bolts into its chest.
The Matriarch shrieked.
This time, sound escaped.
Distant cries answered from the ridge.
Qin Yuheng’s eyes sharpened.
"Take the cable!"
Qin Lian cut the tension cable from the old ballista while Qin Yuheng held the Matriarch. The beast’s claws scraped across his armor, leaving deep marks. Its beak snapped toward his face. He redirected and thrust into the exposed chest.
Thunder erupted.
The Matriarch collapsed.
[Ridge Bonewing Matriarch defeated.]
[North Ridge Scout Objective completed.]
[Ballista Tension Cable acquired.]
But more Bonewings were coming.
They fled down the ridge under pursuit.
This became a running battle.
Qin Lian killed stragglers. Qin Yuheng blocked dive attacks. A’Shou guided them through narrow paths to avoid open sky.
When they returned to the outpost, Qin Mo was waiting at the beacon base.
"Cable?"
Qin Lian tossed it to him.
He caught it and looked at the sky.
"Many wings."
Above the ridge, a flock descended.
The second major attack began before sunset.
Qin Mo repaired the ballista in record time, using puppet mechanism knowledge and formation support. Qin Yuchen organized archers. Captain Ren’s remnants used oil smoke to disrupt the Bonewings’ vision.
The first large Bonewing dove toward the beacon tower.
Qin Mo aimed the repaired ballista.
"I prefer stationary mechanisms," he muttered.
He fired.
The bolt pierced the Bonewing midair.
The remnants cheered.
Morale rose.
The battle lasted nearly an hour.
By the end, the beacon tower still stood.
[North Ridge Attack repelled.]
[Beacon Tower Integrity: 51%]
[Outpost Integrity: 49%]
[Frontier Remnants Alive: 12]
No one had died.
That mattered.
But the outpost was weakening.
The third route remained.
South marsh.
Poison.
Qin Mo looked at the mission panel.
"Tomorrow will be worse."
Qin Yuheng stood beside the repaired ballista and looked toward the darkening south.
"Yes."
The final tide was coming.
And before it, they still had to enter the marsh.
