A Realistic Mount & Blade Game

The Black Tide has finally descended!

Just as tonight transitioned into darkness, the moment the undead rules manifested on Blue Star.

The near balance that once existed between the undead rules and Blue Star's rules, where undead rules governed the night and Blue Star's rules maintained the day, was instantly shattered.

So much so that as soon as the pitch-black night arrived, everyone on Blue Star felt a tremor from the depths of their hearts!

A tremor at the soul level.

And also…

A coldness brought about by the undead rules' rejection of light and heat, affecting both the physical body and the soul!

Even within the "Dhëreim" village, protected by the Mount \u0026 Blade rules, everyone standing and active felt this cold, as if the weather had suddenly changed and drastically cooled down.

This could even be seen as a sign that the Mount \u0026 Blade rules, known for their resilience, completeness, and the support of countless Mount \u0026 Blade worlds…

Were temporarily at a disadvantage due to the surge of the undead rules!

To be precise.

It wasn't just the Mount \u0026 Blade rules.

The spirit realm rules and Blue Star's rules were all completely suppressed by the undead rules entering the Black Tide phase!

But Shen Mu wasn't without options.

"Light the fireplace!" Shen Mu directly waved his hand, instructing the Swadian militiamen who were acting as service personnel in the castle hall.

"Understood." These Swadian militiamen immediately sprang into action.

From the pile of pre-prepared materials, they brought firewood, clothing, and various heavy books, stuffing them all into the fireplace.

Then, they poured gasoline on it, and with a click of a lighter, it burst into flames, burning fiercely.

Along with the fiercely burning fireplace, a smoky smell filled the air, and a trace of comfort from Blue Star's rules, all that remained for the humans of Blue Star, finally emanated from the burning fireplace.

"Light the torches, and tell everyone in the village to light fireplaces in every building, and bonfires at both city gates."

Shen Mu's new orders were issued one after another.

"Yes, sir!"

These Swadian militiamen turned and went to convey the orders.

In a short time, thirty to forty bonfires were quickly lit between the various buildings throughout the village.

Including the inner sides of the two city gates, and the concrete walls, bonfires were lit.

Moreover, the most numerous and largest group of Swadian militiamen were now holding torches, forming a large patrol and sentry network, incorporating every corner and key area of the village into their patrol routes.

"My predecessor didn't really understand the Black Tide, because he would hide in his apartment room every time the Black Tide descended, never going outside."

Shen Mu came to the outside of the castle hall at this time.

Standing on the huge concrete pier, looking up at the village scene within the city walls, adorned with bonfires and torches, he nodded slightly.

He was satisfied with this arrangement.

However.

What made Shen Mu even more satisfied was the hundred or so people squatting there, panting for breath, on the east side of the city gate.

It was the 50 villagers and 30 bandits who had urgently gone out to grind monsters in the afternoon, finally gathering enough experience to level up, as well as the Swadian sergeants and the experienced Lake Rat Gang thugs who Bandak and Fatis had specifically named to bring along.

They had finally rushed back a few minutes before the Black Tide descended, and were now wearily resting.

"Upgrade them all."

Shen Mu communicated with the system through his thoughts.

Having leveled up in the underground garage, the 50 villagers and 30 bandits had met the requirements for upgrading.

Now, they could become Swadian recruits and even stronger Lake Rat Gang newcomers!

[You have soldiers…zzzzzz…can be upgraded…zzz…]

[Zzz…zzzzzz…]

However, what appeared in front of Shen Mu at this time was not the simple and clear dialogue box content as before.

Instead, there were some garbled codes that seemed like data errors, and even just noise!

"Huh?" Shen Mu frowned: "What's going on?!"

You must know that this was a situation that had never occurred since the Mount \u0026 Blade system appeared!

The originally calm and confident Shen Mu.

At this time, his face suddenly became solemn, and even his hand subconsciously clenched the hilt of the Sacred Tree Cavalry Sword at his waist.

The Mount \u0026 Blade system was Shen Mu's golden finger.

An absolute trump card.

It could be said that it was Shen Mu who was able to live so well in this apocalyptic Blue Star world because of his command of the Mount \u0026 Blade system!

He originally thought that there would be no mistakes, and that anything produced by the system must be excellent.

Now.

Even the Mount \u0026 Blade system had problems.

How could it not make Shen Mu, the user who could only live so comfortably by controlling the Mount \u0026 Blade system, feel a little uneasy?!

"Is it because of the Black Tide?"

Shen Mu frowned, slowly raising his head, looking at the completely dark night outside.

At this time, on the periphery of the Mount \u0026 Blade village of "Dhëreim", it was obvious that the darkness, as black as ink, as if truly defining the word 'black', was solidifying on the outside.

Now Shen Mu frowned, carefully looking at the complete darkness outside.

He could even faintly discover.

At the boundary between the darkness and the dim night of the Mount \u0026 Blade rules, wisps and strands of gray mist, seemingly imperceptible, but keenly detected by Shen Mu because he was bound to the Mount \u0026 Blade system…

Were permeating over here!

Although, upon contacting the dim night under the Mount \u0026 Blade rules, the gray mist completely turned into nothing, as if it had come into contact with some light and flame, in about half a breath.

However, in Shen Mu's eyes and perception, he really discovered those wisps and strands of gray mist.

They really did permeate in for half a second!

You must know.

In the past.

When the Black Tide had not descended.

This kind of gray mist permeation had never happened, not even for a millisecond, a moment.

"The situation is a bit wrong." At this time, Shen Mu finally understood why his predecessor, and even the ordinary people who had survived to this day, begged for protection in various lord territories.

It was to prepare sufficient supplies, hide, and not dare to show any trace of their figures outside the light.

Slowly swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

Combining what he had learned before with what Zhang Song had told him, that those ordinary people needed to pray sincerely at all times to strengthen the Blue Star rules and recharge the lord's core.

He had a conjecture: "When the Black Tide descends, it is also the strongest time for the undead rules!"

Not only could the Blue Star rules not resist.

The daytime became a playground for undead monsters.

Even the spirit realm rules, including the various spirit realm imprints and even the lord imprints brought by the shattering of the fantasy crystal wall system and its fall on Blue Star.

Were all unable to resist!

They could only struggle to support themselves.

Otherwise, would the spirit realm be directly shattered into countless fragments, allowing the undead rules to be so tyrannical?

[Ding! You have soldiers who are allowed to upgrade!]

[① Villagers × 50, can be upgraded to 'Swadian Recruits (5 denars each)']

[② Bandits × 30, can be upgraded to 'Forest Bandits (20 denars each) / Lake Rat Gang Newcomers (20 denars each and requires a Lake Rat Gang training camp)']

However, just as the knuckles of Shen Mu's hand holding the sword hilt turned faintly white from exertion.

Symbolizing that his emotions were somewhat fluctuating.

The dialogue box in front of him was finally completed.

'Buzz!'

Then, following all the upgrades that Shen Mu had previously confirmed, a surge of power from the Mount \u0026 Blade rules erupted from between Shen Mu's eyebrows once again!

Only this time, the gush of white light was incredibly turbulent.

It was like lake water bursting through a dam.

Or like a cheetah breaking free from its restraints.

'Buzz!'

It directly transformed into a tyrannical, invisible wave, surging back and forth within the village's boundaries.

As if displaying its power.

And at the same time, it was scouring away those grayish mists that dared to intrude.

In reality.

They were actually trying to erode the rules of the undead!

'Buzz!'

After completing all of this, the white light formed by the streams of data finally began to descend.

It directly sank into the bodies of the 50 villagers and 30 bandits.

A short ten seconds or so passed.

When the white light dissipated.

After forcefully returning to Shen Mu's brow.

On the east side of the city gate, 50 Swadian recruits had already appeared there.

And the 30 bandits were brought to the Lake Rat Gang training camp as if by a flash of white light, and then, in the disappearing white light, they transformed into 30 Lake Rat Gang newbies wearing leather jackets and carrying fish darts.

"It seems that the Mount \u0026 Blade system was delayed just now." Shen Mu revealed a smile at this scene.

The hand that was originally gripping the sword hilt finally relaxed.

It's good that it works.

This represents that his golden finger, his trump card, his greatest trump card, the Mount \u0026 Blade system, is still running well.

It was just a minor crash due to the appearance of the Black Tide.

"Don't stop me! I want to see Lord Shen Mu!"

Just as Shen Mu had a smile on his face, understanding that there was no problem with the Mount \u0026 Blade system, a fierce commotion came from the tower of the castle hall behind him.

And a small figure quickly ran out from the spiral staircase.

It was actually Pero, the halfling elder and follower of Miss Lyuna, the level 2 druid.

Seeing Shen Mu turning to look, his eyes lit up, and he shouted loudly with a look of anxiety: "Lord Shen Mu! This is the Black Tide! Lord Shen Mu! This is the Black Tide! We are in danger! This territory is also in danger! We must act quickly!"

There was even a hint of cracking in his voice.

It was obvious that this Elder Pero was now shouting out of genuine emotional excitement.

He really knew the seriousness of the matter!

"Alright, let Elder Pero come over."

Shen Mu stretched out his hand, stopping the two Swadian militiamen behind him, who were tumbling down the spiral staircase in a flustered manner, from taking any violent action.

And he comforted them, "Halflings are naturally agile. You did everything you could. Go back and rest."

"Sorry, Lord Shen Mu, we will strive not to make this mistake next time."

The two Swadian militiamen lowered their heads in shame, apologizing for failing to guard the tower.

At the same time, after glaring fiercely at the halfling elder Pero.

They limped away from here.

After all, Shen Mu, this lord, this legendary figure, had spoken, so of course they had to obey.

The halfling elder Pero didn't care about their fierce gazes at all, but instead looked at Shen Mu and said, "Sorry, Lord Shen Mu, this time I came down, I really have something I want to report to you."

"Yes, speak." Shen Mu nodded.

"I really didn't expect that the speed of this Black Tide's arrival would be so fast, so sudden, leading to the current situation."

The halfling elder Pero's expression was anxious at this time, looking at the pitch-black darkness outside, and said with a trembling voice: "Moreover, Lord Shen Mu, I suddenly discovered that you seem to be completely unaware of some of the things you need to do after becoming a lord."

Shen Mu was somewhat puzzled by Elder Pero's words: "What do you mean by some of the things that must be done after becoming a lord?"

"You really don't know! ?" On Elder Pero's furry face, what was revealed at this time was horror, surprise, and despair:

"You really don't know that when the Black Tide descends, it is when the rules of the undead occupy an absolute advantage, and you need to find many humans similar to those from your Blue Star, to pray sincerely together, contribute their mental power, to maintain the Blue Star rules near the territory, as well as to charge the Spirit Realm rules that have merged with the Blue Star rules, that is, the Spirit Realm Lord's core?"

The words spoken by Elder Pero were a series of questions.

Which made Shen Mu slightly stunned.

He still answered: "I have heard others mention these things before."

Of course, he didn't seriously consider it.

He had the Mount \u0026 Blade system, such an important trump card, which could easily allow Mount \u0026 Blade soldiers to complete upgrades and undergo earth-shattering changes.

Of course, Shen Mu couldn't allow outsiders to enter his village and territory to investigate his strengths and weaknesses.

At least for now, his village is still small.

There are also few buildings.

He absolutely cannot let in any Blue Star humans, or their Spirit Realm followers.

Including Lyuna and the halflings now, they are all confined in the castle tower, letting them entertain themselves here, and by the way, after solving many troubles, let this level 2 druid professional make some contributions to agriculture in the future.

As for going out casually like now, that is definitely impossible.

It is a completely restricted state of freedom.

"You actually really don't know! ? Great natural will be above! You are so powerful, yet no Spirit Realm human told you some of the situations you must know!"

Elder Pero was really furious, flustered, and extremely terrified at this time.

Shen Mu was very calm.

Because he knew that he still had the Mount \u0026 Blade system and Mount \u0026 Blade rules as his backing.

There is no need to completely rely on Blue Star rules and Spirit Realm rules.

"During the Black Tide process, because the territory contains Blue Star rules and Spirit Realm rules, this will lead to targeting by the undead rules. At that time, there will be an extremely large number of terrifying undead monsters coming to attack."

"And the Black Tide will last for a week, a full seven days, with undead monsters constantly coming to attack."

"If you are unlucky, you will also encounter those undead legions or demon legions that even the joint forces of countless Spirit Realm races, when the Spirit Realm crystal wall system still existed, could not suppress, coming to attack."

"Those are real, systematic legions. Generally speaking, even small legions are commanded by intelligent, high-ranking undead or demons with titles."

"At that time, lords who are not adequately prepared and their territories will be completely slaughtered and bloodbathed."

"Just like what happened in the Spirit Realm!"

The halfling elder Pero was still talking incessantly, his furry little face twisted and deformed by fear.

His entire small figure was still pacing back and forth in front of Shen Mu.

Appearing extremely anxious.

And incomparably fearful and despairing.

Because he discovered that it was because Shen Mu, this human lord whom he originally favored, actually knew nothing, leading to inadequate preparation.

As a result, during the Black Tide process, it was impossible to have any way to survive!

He, including the other halflings.

Even Lyuna.

Will die miserably here because of their current unlucky situation, at the hands of the undead monsters they are destined to encounter over the course of seven days!

"It's over! It's over! It's all over!" This halfling elder Pero finally began to give up on himself.

"Elder Polo, we clearly still have hope."

Just then, on the spiral staircase of the tower, Lyanna, wearing a black robe, came down holding a flower pot.

At this moment, her pale little face, usually deprived of sunlight, carried a hint of determination.

Always socially awkward, she was now willing to come down and face the difficult situation before them.

"You are too young, you don't understand!" Elder Polo's eyes were filled with tears.

"I understand."

At that moment, Lyanna, holding the flower pot, came to Shen Mu and gently stretched out her hand, a wisp of green light floating in her palm.

Shen Mu looked at her, frowning slightly, unsure of what the girl was going to do.

"Lord Shen Mu, please look."

Lyanna held the flower pot with her left hand, while her right hand pressed the green light into the soil of the flower pot.

A special rhythm began to emerge.

It even triggered a reaction in Shen Mu's chest, where the heart was located, from the so-called fragment of the will of nature locked inside by the Mount \u0026 Blade rules.

A special cool sensation gradually emerged in Shen Mu's body and mind.

"Indeed, I knew it, Lord Shen Mu, you also have the blessing from the will of nature."

At this moment, Lyanna's voice became joyful.

Her eyes released a flowing light.

Making her pupils resemble emeralds.

Then, the green light that appeared in her hand, that refreshing feeling, completely disappeared into the flower pot she held in her left hand.

'Buzz!'

Then, the soil in the flower pot began to shake slightly, and a small bulge gradually appeared.

Then, in the eyes of Shen Mu and Lyanna.

A small sapling was breaking out of the soil, with emerald green shoots, and began to grow rapidly in the green light.

In just over ten breaths, it had grown into a small sapling!

"Lord Shen Mu, look, as long as we persevere and strive hard, even the most difficult situation will be like the apple sapling in this flower pot, and will eventually emerge from the soil one day!"

Lyanna said very solemnly.

Moreover, when she said these words, her face faintly carried a bit of holy expression.

Even her head, which was usually drooping, was now held high, raising her chin, completely showing her pale and delicate little face in front of Shen Mu.

"..." Shen Mu's expression was a bit complicated.

First, he glanced at Lyanna, then at the apple seedling in the flower pot, and finally looked at Elder Polo.

"Cough..." Elder Polo wiped the tears from his face with his furry, claw-like hand, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face: "This child's intention is good, at least now... You see, we have indeed broken free from the despairing emotions just now..."

Elder Polo's words became weaker and weaker.

Finally, he pursed his lips.

And sighed.

"Alas."

"But we really should work hard!" Lyanna still opened her mouth very seriously beside her.

Especially the green light in her hand, the power of nature once again condensed, gently placed on this apple sapling, making its growth rate even faster, while her tone was also filled with excitement: "At least, we must never give up hope at any time!"

"Yes, you are right."

Shen Mu nodded in response, but at this moment, a dialogue box appeared in front of him.

It was a temporary mission from the Mount \u0026 Blade system!

[Ding! The temporary mission system has detected an event!]

[Mission issued: The Power of Hope.]

[Mission Introduction: Miss Lyanna has proven with her words and actions that hope is crucial, and that one must be full of hope no matter how difficult the situation.]

[Mission Requirements: Acknowledge and encourage Miss Lyanna's words.]

[Mission Reward: Horn of Encouragement (Oddity). Effect: When this Horn of Encouragement is blown, the soldiers who hear the sound of the horn will gain +30% mental resilience, +30% courage, and +30% morale within 30 minutes.]

This was also why Shen Mu directly admitted that Lyanna was right.

Such a lovely and innocent big truth.

Indeed, very correct.

"..." The halfling Elder Polo looked at Shen Mu with a complicated expression at this moment.

And looked at Lyanna, who had a cheerful smile on her little face after hearing Shen Mu express his approval of her words with a certain tone.

He still sighed and said nothing.

But just at this moment.

The dialogue box appeared in front of Shen Mu.

[Ding! Congratulations! You have completed the mission: The Power of Hope!]

[You have obtained the Oddity: Horn of Encouragement!]

A golden card depicting a horn immediately appeared in Shen Mu's mind.

It was the reward for the mission, the Horn of Encouragement!

"This temporary mission is simple enough."

Shen Mu pursed his lips.

But looking at Lyanna, who was still here holding the flower pot, showing off the apple sapling to him.

He still looked at Elder Polo and said: "Elder Polo, next, my troops and I will have our own unique means to defend this village, I think you can rest assured about the upcoming defense work."

"Okay, I understand."

Elder Polo of course heard that this was Shen Mu's euphemistic way of asking him to leave.

And also to let this innocent and lovely little girl Lyanna leave.

He shook his head, said nothing.

He pulled Lyanna, who clearly wanted to continue saying something, and walked towards the spiral staircase of the tower.

Soon.

Only Shen Mu was left in the castle hall.

And as he closed his eyes, communicated with the system, countless streams of data began to surge from between his eyebrows, and the Horn of Encouragement began to materialize.

'Buzz!'

The Mount \u0026 Blade rules descended again and poured into the palm of his right hand.

Materialization was beginning.

'Crack!'

But just as the small Horn of Encouragement, made of what seemed like bull horn, had just heavily appeared in Shen Mu's palm.

Outside the village.

As if sensing the condensation of the Mount \u0026 Blade rules here.

Sounds like eggshells breaking began to appear one after another in the darkness.

'Crack, crack, crack!'

It didn't stop until it seemed to be blocked at the edge of the village.

As Shen Mu clenched the Horn of Encouragement in his hand and turned his head to look, his eyes also narrowed slightly: "That is... a dimensional rift!"

Because he clearly saw it.

On the edge of the border between the dim night and the complete darkness.

A crack flashing dark red, as if countless embers or magma were flashing with a grim light inside, appeared there.

Even the pitch-black darkness could not hide it.

Even the thick gray fog could not cover it.

And from within that crack, there was also a faint roar.

It was as if a huge eye flashing countless dark red flames appeared in that crack, as if turning the entire crack into its eye.

"Territory of the humans..."

"Hahahaha!"

Then, with some arrogant and complacent laughter.

Then, countless dark red rays of light burst out, directly covering the outside of the city wall.

Within the dark red red light and flames.

A true demon army.

Also appeared at this moment!

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