"Now it is three against two."
"Three against two?"
Suddenly a voice came from below.
"It is clearly three against three!"
Balin rushed over.
Gandalf looked at him, somewhat surprised: "How did you..."
"Do not ask, Gandalf. I just came over before I had time to get scared."
"What do we do now? Which one do I fight?"
"Just stay by my side."
Hiss.
Sharp screams echoed over the territory as all three Nazgûl moved simultaneously. One charged toward Gandalf, while the other two headed straight for Falodan.
Clearly, they understood the principle of strategic positioning. If they could eliminate the relatively weaker Falodan first, they could focus on dealing with that troublesome wizard.
"Die!"
Terrifying figures howled as they attacked. Falodan barely managed to block one sword, while the other Nazgûl materialized a hammer in his hand. Scarlet glowing eyes fixed ahead without any ripple, as if facing merely a piece of iron while he was a craftsman about to forge.
But Falodan ultimately was not iron. If this blow landed solidly, even potions would be hard-pressed to save him.
In haste, he drew his dagger, quickly making defensive moves, shifting his position to minimize damage.
At least he could not be killed in one blow. As long as he did not die immediately, there was still a chance...
"Hah!"
Clang!
A steel axe suddenly appeared in view, striking the Nazgûl's helmet with a resounding clang, making him stagger.
Balin rolled as he landed, patting his chest and breathing deeply.
"Ha, I did it!"
He had jumped up and struck a Nazgûl's head!
This was a feat no dwarf had ever accomplished.
The head-struck Nazgûl made a neck-twisting motion, habitually reaching behind him but grasping nothing, so he switched sides and drew another Morgul-blade.
Then charged toward the attacker, who was shorter than himself.
Meanwhile.
Scrape. The Barrow-blade and Morgul-blade nearly struck sparks. Falodan used all his strength to parry the Nazgûl before him, then raised his other hand, stabbing fiercely toward the Nazgûl's helmet!
The dark helmet was completely empty, like a void, but the dagger definitely struck something. The sensation was indescribably strange, incomparable to any existing material.
If forced to describe it, it would be "forbidden."
"Ahhh!"
Ear-piercing cries exploded before him as the Nazgûl dissolved his form, retreating dozens of meters. Soldiers along the way quickly dove and rolled aside to avoid being hit.
"Help!"
Just as Falodan temporarily wounded one Nazgûl, cries for help came from beside him.
Balin held his war axe against a Morgul-blade, eyes wide as he called for aid.
The Nazgûl he had ambushed was pressuring him.
"Nobody told me Nazgûl were this strong! He is comparable to the most warlike dwarves. I have never dealt with such monsters!"
As a dwarf, Balin had never fought Nazgûl, but similarly, this Nazgûl seemed to lack experience fighting dwarves.
Against Rangers or humans, he could strike with heavy blows, even dragging them from nearly perfect hiding spots. But facing a dwarf, he needed to think a moment longer.
The conclusion was to crush with superior strength.
Seeing that sword pressing his axe nearly to his skin, Balin quickly looked left, shouting at soldiers on that side:
"You lads over there, do not just watch. Come help!"
Several soldiers prepared to advance, but the Nazgûl also turned to glare at them, letting out a low growl that made them stiffen completely. They lost mobility while their chests heaved and foreheads sweated as if suddenly struck by serious illness.
Balin looked the other way, but before he could speak, the Nazgûl preemptively intimidated that side too, following his gaze.
Now neither side dared approach.
Hence the previous scene.
"Help!"
Balin shouted loudly.
Boom!
White light exploded as a flaming straight sword struck, forcing the Nazgûl back.
It was Glamdring.
A grey figure appeared, blocking the Nazgûl.
"Gandalf."
"Commendable courage. Stay close and do not wander far."
During their exchange, another batch of soldiers infected by the Nazgûl's power was carried away, temporarily reducing the gate's defensive strength by half.
Fortunately, when Gandalf fought his way over to join the other two, the three opposing Nazgûl were momentarily suppressed and at a disadvantage.
"We three are really strong, right?" Balin gripped his war axe tightly, staring fixedly at the Nazgûl.
Silence from his companions.
"Yes, you can maintain that thought."
Gandalf replied without taking his eyes off the Nazgûl.
Obviously, without stronger methods, the Nazgûl temporarily could not break through the three's blockade.
The situation reached a stalemate.
Until massive explosive sounds came from below.
Crash!
The gate shattered.
Giant beasts roared as orcs laughed wickedly and cheered, only to be dumbfounded a second later.
Behind that grand gate was still a wall.
The orc leader responsible for the siege turned purple with rage.
Though he might have been crooked to begin with.
"Damn it, they do not even have a gate!"
How did these people get inside?!
At this moment, even the Nazgûl were left speechless by this wall.
But the situation remained dire. Though wall and gate breakthrough attempts had failed, massive siege ladders were now completed, being pushed forward by trolls.
Pop!
Fireworks exploded, blocking the trolls' steps without causing much damage.
Their skin was simply too tough. Ordinary swords might even damage themselves striking it.
Obviously, no soldier present carried ordinary swords.
Attack, defense...
"Hey!"
Just as the situation continued its stalemate, a loud shout attracted everyone's attention.
Falodan turned his head toward those trainee Rangers obviously struggling to breathe under fear's pressure:
"Perform better. Your lord might personally give you extra points!"
"What?!"
"Extra points?"
Swoosh. Suddenly the Nazgûl felt many gazes settling on them, containing a certain longing.
A trainee Ranger struggled to breathe and shot an arrow.
Thwack!
The arrow was immediately severed by the Nazgûl, fragments scattering aside.
The Ranger smiled.
He had attacked a Nazgûl.
Though causing no damage, it made the Nazgûl sense an ominous trend.
Initially, these soldiers would tremble at the first shriek, eyes glazing over, almost unable to think.
But after witnessing the wall battle, they seemed to be gradually developing resistance.
Perhaps they still feared and were still infected by evil breath and dark magic, becoming seriously ill. Unable to draw bows properly or even walk steadily.
But now they could raise swords and face enemies directly. Though still weakened, they were no longer completely powerless.