Another undead bug seized the opportunity to pounce from behind, its mouthpiece wide open, trying to tear off the Duke's faceplate and forcibly inject a parasite.

"Die."

But Edmond's fighting energy burst forth, and with a reverse sweep of the giant hammer, he smashed the entire upper body of that undead bug flat with a thunderous crash, splattering sticky bug flesh in all directions, leaving not even bone fragments behind.

Yet another undead bug launched a surprise attack, leaping into the air!

"Clang!"

He raised his arm to block, and with the momentum, he slammed the hammer into the ground, causing a shock wave that triggered the resonance of the ice veins beneath. Instantly, the underground crystals shattered, and the explosive shock wave sent the undead bug flying ten yards back, crashing into the ice layer, unable to move.

"It's time to end this."

He hefted the hammer again, locking onto the corpse of Hiro preparing to gather power.

The latter, although mindless, was as persistent in battle as a remnant soul from a blood sacrifice.

"Hiro, how grotesque."

Edmond gazed at that twisted face, still bearing a "sad smile," and with a step, the entire battlefield trembled!

The ice layer shattered, snow and mist kicked up, forcibly dragging all remaining undead bugs towards him!

And he leapt high, the Hammer of the Sky falling like a meteor.

"Be ended!"

BOOM!!

Where the hammer fell, the ice cracked a hundred feet, light consuming everything.

Hiro's corpse was thoroughly shattered by this attack, the head smashed to bits, the axe handle broken, flesh and shattered armor flying into the air like ice crystals, as if this tragedy had finally come to an end.

The remaining High Tier undead bugs, seeing their leader fall, charged again like cornered beasts, attempting to perish together with Edmond.

The Duke, however, was bolstered by fighting energy, standing like an indomitable cold mountain at the center of the battlefield.

"You shall not pass!" he shouted, sweeping swiftly, the giant hammer arcing around, smashing all enemies daring to approach.

But this slaughter was far from over.

Hiro's body was shattered, but the wrathful tide from the Nest still spread.

The undead bugs seemed endless!

On the other side of the horizon, densely packed swarms loomed over like an avalanche, layer upon layer pressing forward, utterly fearless.

They had no emotions, no fear, only the relentless march and constant devouring.

"They never end..." Edmond panted heavily, but his gaze remained steadfast.

He smashed yet another High Tier undead bug charging at him; once, it might have been a Northern Cavalryman.

Its steps were agile, combat techniques bizarre, but crushed under the face of the hammer and fighting energy, it shattered into pieces, the remnants cast into the Ice Lake.

Another undead bug, launching a sneak attack from behind, was smashed in half by a reverse blow.

Yet another descended from the sky, its mouthpiece opened, spewing silk and putrid poison.

"Shut up."

His fighting energy surged, a hammer blow detonating fiercely, responding to all abominations with violence.

However, Edmond knew clearly that he too had limits.

These undead bugs, like waves from hell, for each one slain, ten, a hundred more followed.

And he already felt his arms sore, his breath chaotic.

Though fighting energy could still be maintained, old wounds faintly ached, the previous axe wound burning painfully, as if something was writhing inside.

No more fighting.

He must retreat.

Not for himself, but to let the remaining knights survive.

"Fall back to Frost Halberd City," he ordered gravely.

"Duke—!"

"Silence, follow orders."

Several Extraordinary Knights, struggling to cut down several undead bugs, then retreated as instructed.

And Edmond once again swept the giant hammer, clearing a bloody path for those behind.

He fought until he could barely stand, one hand grabbing the neck of a pouncing undead bug, tearing it apart, throwing it into the snowdrift.

With the other hand he held his hammer, blocking like an iron tower at the last.

Not until everyone retreated into Frost Halberd City did he step back, covered in blood, fighting energy surging, turning and leaping into the shadow of the wall at the last moment before the gates closed.

Boom!

The heavy iron gate fell, sealing off the howling undead bugs outside.

But a single layer of walls could not possibly withstand this apocalyptic tide.

The undead bugs commanded by the Nest showed no intent of retreating, continuing to surge forward towards Frost Halberd City without hesitation.

They understood nothing of tactics, but they knew one thing, which was destruction.

"Activate the Cold Vein Fortress."

With a command, the seventeen Magic Fortresses of Frost Halberd City abruptly activated, the Cold Flame Reactors roared into operation, an ice-blue energy web extending from the heart of the city, linking to the fortress spires, instantly awakening ancient circuits buried underground.

The cold crystal patterns slithered across the ground like ice snakes, invigorating the city's entire magic system, countering the surging insect tide with extreme cold!

"Fire!"

The Frost Halberd Catapult group also activated, Cold Crystal Magic Explosion Bullets streaked across the sky with white-blue flames, whistling sharply, trailing frosty tails, crashing fiercely into the insect sea!

Boom! Boom!! Boom boom boom!!!

Each impact was a burst of icy crystal storms.

The limbs of the Nest ruptured, the blood of the undead bugs froze, toxic mists instantly solidified into frost...

Their once overwhelming momentum was forcibly interrupted under the dual assault of ice veins and magic bursts!

Several yet-to-hatch Nests were blasted apart mid-air, bug eggs scattered, turning into sparkling debris within icy mist;

Low-tier undead bugs tumbled like waves, batch after batch blasted, frozen, shattered, leaving a thick layer of blackened bug corpse ice shards on the ground.

And the Doomsday Nest, quietly writhing in the distance, seemed enraged by this fierce counterattack as well.

Yet under the ice veins of Frost Halberd, the insect tide was finally stalled, a breath remaining.

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