Second World

"White Tiger Emperor?" Jack uttered. He looked at Leavemealone's tiger form's head. The golden fur on top of that head did resemble a crown.

"White Tiger Emperor form is an enhanced version from the standard White Tiger form," Peniel informed. "There is only one available in the world, much like your Supreme Dragon form."

"You have a Supreme Dragon form?" Carnelia asked in consternation.

After transforming, Leavemealone became faster. However, his larger body made for an easier target. Thus, his opponent managed to hit him more often. But Leavemealone's HP and defense were much higher in this form, so he could take a few hits. Additionally, he gained HP recovery ability with the beast form.

With this form, he could finally retaliate. His claws struck in counterattack whenever there was an opportunity.

The fight was more even then. Suddenly, Leavemealone's claws enlarged. So long and large that it was like each of his hands was holding three short swords instead of claws. When Leavemealone swung, it produced three trails of white flashes in the air.

When the cloaked soldier blocked Leavemealone's swing, his dagger was smashed away. The strength difference was now at Leavemealone's advantage. When the enlarged claws struck the cloaked soldier, the damage produced was also much higher than before.

"I suppose those oversized claws are the beast form's skill?" Jack asked.

"You are correct," Carnelia answered.

"The white tiger form excels in melee engagement," Peniel said. "It is an ideal form complimenting his fighting style."

As if to support Peniel's statement, Leavemealone activated another of his form's abilities. Its tiger furs all stood up. It made him look like a feline porcupine. White aura also swirled around him. All his traits were further enhanced following this transformation. His attacks became more fierce. His opponents retreated from each impact until he was backed to a wall and could only defend helplessly while getting clawed relentlessly.

"That is White Tiger Rage ability, it enhances all melee damage and defense, as well as increases attack speed and recovery speed. No one sane will want to engage tiger form users in a melee when they are in that state."

The arrow tower was finally destroyed from the accumulated damage at the same time Leavemealone finished the cloaked soldier.

With the arrow tower crumbling, the chaotic armies fighting outside were visible again. Jack saw his soldiers were trying to reach the next siege weapons. Grace was leading one group of soldiers in that endeavor. She was now holding two mace weapons instead of her usual mace and shield.

This was due to the Phantom Beating Stick martial art that Jet had taught her. Her fighting style focused on the fast movement of her maces with minimal hand movements. Her wrists did most of the work. Her two maces hit hard and fast and kept the opponents dazed. But the technique shone the most on counterattacking. Her left mace struck the incoming weapons for defense while her right mace delivered an offensive blow to the opponent's weak points.

Grace had practiced hard on this martial art during her time inside Village of Peace, now that she could put her practice into a real fight, she felt excited. She had no problem dealing with special elite soldiers that were one or two levels above her. Even against three such soldiers ganging up on her, she could keep them at bay with her new fighting style.

Of course, she was not fighting alone. On her side, Oswald was mowing down enemy soldiers together with Jack's other soldiers. Grace had summoned him to help. With his newly gained mana sense ability, Oswald had no problem dealing with this chaotic fight. His usual fighting style was ambush and assassination. Direct combat was not his forte. But with mana sense, he had no problem detecting various attacks that came at him and reacted properly.

Aside from mana sense, Jet had also taught him martial art using knives, called Twin Moon Fangs. Same as mana sense, Oswald had diligently trained this martial art as well. With this martial art, his two daggers struck fiercely as if the two fangs of a wild beast. Each strike created a flash resembling a crescent moon. With this martial art, even after exhausting his skills, he could still deliver deadly attacks with only standard attacks.

The two led the soldiers to open the way to the next siege weapons. Jack and the others immediately rushed over to join them. Leavemealone who was in his tiger form was the fastest. He even ran with four feet. It was like seeing a large tiger running towards its prey. Once he reached the frontline, he charged into the enemy, barreling through enemy soldiers. An imaginary gigantic roaring tiger head followed his wake.

"That is obviously a skill, right?" Jack asked while trying to catch up. He wished his dragon form was off cooldown, so he didn't lose to that guy in showing off.

"Yeah, it's White Tiger Charge," Peniel answered.

Once Leavemealone was deep inside the enemy ranks, he uttered a deafening roar. The roar created a shockwave that radiated out, knocking the surrounding soldiers down and damaging them at the same time.

"White Tiger Roar," Peniel informed before Jack could ask.

With the opening created by Leavemealone, Jack's soldiers had an easier time breaking through. But Leavemealone was not done. His right hand emitted energy that was the characteristic of the Overlimit ability. Twenty large fireballs emerged in the air. He directed these twenty fireballs to the nearest siege weapon. They struck the machine together with the soldiers that protected it.

With the defensive perimeter in tatter, everyone crashed into the siege weapon following the beast emperor. Jack had sent Therras who had fast movement speed ahead to support Leavemealone.

"I must admit, that White Tiger Emperor form is indeed impressive," Jack said.

"Of course. White Tiger form is the best beast form for those who possessed a bloodline that absorbs essences from beast-type monsters," Peniel said.

"So, he can get that beast form because he has the King of Beast bloodline?"

"Yes, just like how you can get the dragon form because you have a high-level draconic bloodline. Carnelia had made a perfect choice for him."

Leavemealone had max-leveled his beast form using his saved free skill points, so he could last ten minutes in that form.

They continued to persevere in destroying the siege weapons. But after a while, the commotion at the back turned louder. Jack received a message from Jet, "Jack boy, we can't hold on anymore!"

Jack looked back and saw the middle section blockage had completely crumbled. The enemy soldiers were pouring forth.

"What about Arlcard?" Jack asked worriedly. Jack might need to forcefully unsummoned the vampire back to where he came from if he was in danger. Jack opened his companion interface and saw that the vampire's HP bar was still around 70%, but if Arlcard got surrounded by enemy soldiers, then things could go ugly fast.

He is still fighting a level 62 rare elite together with your Ice Demon Fiend. They have drawn that rare elite away. I think they are in a stalemate.

"There is another high-level rare elite in this convoy army?" Jack muttered. The other high-level rare elite mage officer was still being kept busy by Uvira.

"In that case, we need to hurry," Jack said and then he yelled the command for everyone to pick up the pace. Everyone saw the incoming enemies from the back. They knew they didn't have much time. There were several siege weapons still intact.

The battle raged on.

In the end, the incoming enemy pushed back Jack's soldiers that were still hitting the siege weapons. They managed to save a few siege weapons while keeping Jack's soldiers at bay. Jack tried urging the assault but they couldn't get to the three machines that were being moved further away. They had lost a lot of players in the assault. The native soldiers under Jack were also not in a good shape.

John issued the order to cease the offensive. Jack wanted to continue, but after seeing the situation, he reluctantly stopped. They looked at the convoyed army bringing the remaining three siege weapons, two trebuchets and one arrow tower, further and further away.

Jack came to John who was standing at the hill. "Can we rush in a circle and ambush them again?" Jack asked.

"No," John said. "We have lost almost three-quarters of players. By my estimate, you have also lost around one thousand native soldiers. We didn't take down too many of their soldiers because we focused on the siege machines. I reckon they still have as many as fifteen thousand soldiers. If they don't have to protect the siege machines and instead focus on killing us, we won't stand a chance."

Jack looked at the enemy army that was going further. He was unwilling.

"Forget about going for them," John added. "I have received messages from players still inside the reinforcement army. Therribus had caught news of our ambush. He had sent a legion to come to escort the remaining siege machines. Armstrong tried to have the reinforcement army intercept this legion, but was attacked by Prince Therribus' main army instead. They had a brief clash not long ago. They only retreated after Armstrong stopped pursuing the legion. We won't have a chance to get to the three remaining siege machines anymore."

"There are only three siege weapons, Fort Garadhor should be fine, right?" Jack asked.

"I hope so…," John said, but Jack didn't sense John's usual confidence in his voice.