Chapter 33: Deploying Troops and Dispatching Generals
Within the Chaos Territory. In an area under the jurisdiction of the Radiant Church. On an official road. An endless, seemingly unending army of soldiers marched forward continuously. The officers riding magical beasts or warhorses shouted loudly on both sides of the long column.
“Move faster!” Wielding horsewhips, the officers all wore stern expressions.
Forced march!
They all remembered the orders given this time: they must rush to the border of Sheli County City at the fastest speed. The border of Sheli County City was also one of the border areas between the Baruch Kingdom and the territory under the Radiant Church’s jurisdiction, and it was the closest border on the Radiant Church’s side to the magic crystal mine.
The mass mobilization of troops could not possibly be concealed from the Baruch Kingdom. So naturally, they accelerated their march.
At this moment, at the border of Sheli County City, nearly two hundred thousand troops had already gathered. These troops, who had rushed over in forced marches, would rest for a day or two before participating in the war.
“We are about to have a decisive battle with the Baruch Kingdom.”
In a quiet courtyard, the Red Archbishop ‘Gilmore’ was looking at the northern sky. The main person in charge of this war was not Alfonso, but Gilmore. After all, in terms of influence, this Red Archbishop Gilmore was stronger.
Moreover…
During the war, Saint-level experts were not allowed to participate. Alfonso being there was useless, while Gilmore, a ninth-level Grand Magus, could instead exert great influence.
“What a pity. A youth who could have been used by our Radiant Church back then has now become a great enemy of our Radiant Church.” Gilmore sighed inwardly. He had watched Linley’s growth all along. From a magical genius, a seventh-level magus, to becoming a ninth-level expert capable of killing Clayde.
After being dormant for over ten years.
In one fell swoop, he killed six ninth-level angels, and then his reputation soared in the O’Brien Empire. Later… he established the Baruch Kingdom in the Chaos Territory.
“Over twenty years have passed, and this Linley has grown so powerful that even the Arbiter and the others on the Sacred Island dare not come out.” Gilmore lamented in his heart.
“My lord?” The knight beside him respectfully reminded him.
Gilmore, who had been immersed in his thoughts, snapped back to reality. He glanced at him and said indifferently, “Let’s go. Come with me to the border of Code County City to meet that Black Robe Archbishop of the Dark Church. Let’s see if this Black Robe Archbishop ‘Visport’ has made any progress in these decades.”
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In the royal capital, Baruch City. Within the royal palace.
Woton, Linley, Barker, and others were gathered in the main hall. In the center of the hall was a large military sand table. A resolute middle-aged man was holding a thin stick and outlining: “My lords, the magic crystal mine is here. If the Radiant Church attacks us alone… their closest attack point would be Sheli County City.”
Linley and the others nodded slightly.
“However…” The middle-aged man shook his head and said, “Unless the Radiant Church commander has a brain problem, they wouldn’t choose this as their main attack point.”
“Oh?” Barker raised an eyebrow.
The middle-aged man continued: “The magic crystal mine is over three hundred miles from the royal capital. The border of Sheli County City is also four to five hundred miles from the royal capital. These are straight-line distances! If they attack from Sheli County City all the way to the magic crystal mine, following the official roads, it would be nearly a thousand miles. Along this thousand-mile route, there are over a dozen cities of various sizes. The Radiant Church side, penetrating deep into our territory, fighting over a thousand miles? Nearly half of their troops must be stationed at their borders with the O’Brien Empire and the Luo’ao Empire. Only half of their army can attack us.”
“Therefore, their military strength is roughly equal to ours.”
The middle-aged man pointed at Sheli County City and said: “With equal strength, we defend, and they attack… Moreover, they are deep in our territory, attacking over a thousand miles? That’s simply suicide.”
“So… for the Radiant Church to attack us, there’s only one way: ally with the Dark Church. They have no other choice!” The middle-aged man took a deep breath and drew a line with his thin stick. “Our border with the Dark Church is over a thousand miles long. The closest point to the magic crystal mine is undoubtedly here!”
“The border of Code County City!” The middle-aged man pointed this out.
“The magic crystal mine is outside the small town of Nifeng. Nifeng Town is a small town under the jurisdiction of Code County City. From the magic crystal mine to Code County City is only a little over a hundred miles.” The middle-aged man’s expression was serious. “Once the enemy breaks through here, the terrain behind is flat and open. They have several routes to reach the magic crystal mine!”
Linley nodded slightly.
This sand table clearly illustrated everything.
“Watts,” Woton suddenly said, “If I give you full authority to deploy the troops to deal with this war, do you have the confidence to win?”
Barker also said, “And I will provide you with over thirty magic crystal cannons. I’ll handle the transportation of magic crystals and other matters.” Barker held an extremely high position in the Baruch Kingdom. He was the kingdom’s only marshal, and his personal strength was also terrifying.
Not long after Linley reached the Saint level in human form, Barker also reached the Saint level. Once he transformed… he became a peak Saint-level Undying Warrior. Having already comprehended ‘force’, Barker’s current strength was in no way inferior to that of Yussen.
Upon hearing about over thirty magic crystal cannons, Watts’s eyes immediately lit up.
Watts puffed out his chest and said firmly, “Your Majesty, as long as you grant me the authority, I only need to use five hundred thousand troops of the kingdom to have a one hundred percent certainty of repelling the enemy at Code County City.”
“Very good.” A smile appeared on Woton’s face.
The Baruch Kingdom’s standing army already exceeded one million, not counting the ordinary city defense forces.
“Your Majesty,” Watts said seriously, “I am worried… that the enemy might unleash a terrifying force beyond our expectations. If these force majeure factors appear, then our defense will be in danger.”
“Terrifying force?” Woton asked doubtfully.
“Yes, for example, if Saint-level experts suddenly appear, or if the Radiant Church dispatches their legendary massive Mage Corps, we would be in great danger.” Watts said seriously.
The Radiant Church and the Dark Church both put great effort into training mages. Both major powers possessed terrifying Mage Corps. The weakest member of such a corps must be at least a seventh-level magus, and the highest-ranking ones are ninth-level Grand Magi.
With over a thousand powerful mages gathered, guided by many ninth-level Grand Magi, the collective magic they ultimately unleash…
Its power is in no way inferior to a Saint-level Magus’s ‘Forbidden Spell’.
This is also… after the major empires forbade Saint-level experts from appearing in normal wars, the Mage Corps became the most terrifying type of force.
“The enemy’s Saint-level experts will not appear.”
Linley’s voice rang out.
Watts immediately looked at Linley. Seeing that it was Linley speaking, his attitude became much more respectful. Linley said calmly, “Don’t worry. The Radiant Church and the Dark Church will at least not send Saint-level experts. And as for the terrifying Mage Corps you mentioned…”
“If they want to cast a Forbidden Spell, don’t worry. They won’t be able to.” Linley said indifferently.
Although it was stipulated that Saint-level experts were not allowed to participate in the war, Linley knew the power of a Forbidden Spell. One spell could probably destroy the entire city of Code County City, and the number of deaths would be terrifying. Linley would not stubbornly adhere to some agreement and let nearly a million people in a city die.
The lives of a million people, are they worth less than an agreement?
Furthermore…
So-called agreements between nations are only binding when the powers are balanced. When one side is extremely powerful, tearing up the so-called agreement and directly starting a war is not uncommon in the history of the Yulan Continent.
Of course, this would only force Linley to act if the enemy sent a Mage Corps to use a ‘Forbidden Spell’.
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Watts was appointed as the overall commander for this time. Various intelligence reports were continuously delivered to Watts. Watts and his deputies quickly issued orders one after another.
News of the Radiant Church’s troops gathering at the border of Sheli County City quickly arrived.
Could it be… that the Radiant Church was going to launch an attack from Sheli County City?
“At the border of Sheli County City, on the basis of the original legion, dispatch another legion. Two legions, totaling two hundred thousand men… focus on defense. Destroy the woods at the border of Sheli County City to prevent the enemy from having any place to hide troops for a sneak attack.”
“Here at Sheli County City, the enemy is definitely not launching a real attack. They are just tying down our forces. Our side only needs to hold the defense.”
The troop movements of the Dark Church side completely confirmed Watts’s guess. Sure enough… the Dark Church had also joined the war.
“Destroy all the bridges on the river in front of Code County City. Also, destroy the roads around Code County City… Leave the enemy with no other paths to take. Force them to attack Code County City.” This order indeed caused the Radiant Church and the Dark Church a lot of trouble.
“Within the city of Code County City, relocate all residents. Transform Code County City into a military fortress. Be prepared for street fighting within the city.”
Orders from the general headquarters were issued one by one, and various detailed orders were executed by different departments. An order also arrived at the magic crystal mine: “Mobilize maximum manpower to excavate magic crystals at the fastest speed. No need to conceal it any longer.”
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For twelve years, the three major powers in the Chaos Territory had only engaged in small-scale skirmishes. Never before had they, before the war even started, mobilized such a terrifying number of troops. It was clear—
This time, the three sides were no longer just playing war games. They were getting serious.
Under the vast sky, Linley, wearing a sky-blue robe, flew at extreme speed, heading towards the Dark Church’s side. Linley knew O’Casey’s residence. It was the Dark Church’s headquarters in the Chaos Territory, an ordinary-looking Dark Temple.
Linley’s gaze was cold and deep.
“O’Casey, you actually agreed to the Radiant Church’s side. Hmph!”
Linley didn’t know that the Dark Church had no choice. If the Dark Church helped Linley wipe out the Radiant Church’s forces in the Chaos Territory, they feared Linley would turn on them and deal with the Dark Church.
One must know…
The current Linley, along with Barker and Gates, who had both reached the Saint level in human form, and Bebe, this group of Saint-level power was too terrifying. The Dark Church couldn’t match them either.
If Linley turned hostile and disregarded the agreement, what could the Dark Church do?
They knew that Desri was actually biased towards Linley.
Linley’s side had too many Saint-level experts. Only with both the Dark Church and the Radiant Church existing could Linley be restrained. Once one of them was destroyed, it was very likely both would be finished.
“Saint-level experts are not allowed to participate in the war and massacre ordinary people. However, I can still come to kill Saint-level experts.” Linley looked at the distant Dark Temple. “Threatening O’Casey with death. Maybe O’Casey will come to his senses.”
Linley immediately released his spiritual energy, covering the entire temple.
“Hmm, not here?”
Linley frowned. Then, with ripples of air around his body, Linley shot like a streak of light, silently turning the window glass into powder that drifted down like dust. Linley himself entered the room.
“Where is O’Casey?” Linley looked indifferently at the old man in a light gold robe before him.
This old man in the light gold robe was the strongest person currently in this Dark Temple—a Saint-level expert. However, he was only a beginner Saint-level, much weaker than O’Casey.
“Linley?” The old man said with a smile, “Lord O’Casey long ago ordered me to wait here for you, Lord Linley. Let me introduce myself. I am a four-winged Fallen Angel of the Dark Church.”
Linley looked at the old man indifferently.
The old man’s attitude was humble: “Lord O’Casey instructed me to tell you, Lord Linley, that this war is unavoidable. As for Lord O’Casey himself, he has already returned to our Dark Church’s headquarters. Now, I am the only Saint-level of our Dark Church here.”
Linley frowned.
This O’Casey had actually fled back.
“Aren’t you afraid I will kill you?” Linley stared at the old man before him. A four-winged Fallen Angel.