Chapter 703: Lanchi's War (Part 2)
Chapter 703: Lanchi's War (Part 2)
Both the Kraoxin Empire's soldiers and the warriors of the Posen Kingdom froze in their tracks.
"The Seventh War God of the Kraoxin Empire, Philip of the Blood Jade Marrow Seat."
Giovanni forced out this chilling name, his face ashen.
According to rumors, Philip was the most bloodthirsty among the Kraoxin War Gods, and he had likely been eagerly awaiting this war.
Philip curled his lips in a cruel smile and raised his right hand. The ground beneath their feet began to crack open, emitting crimson light that rapidly intensified until it blazed like a scorching sun.
"The Duke of Aquidan is not here to greet me? Then who among you dares to stand against me?"
Philip laughed loudly, a hint of disappointment in his voice,
"Is it you, or perhaps you?"
Before he finished speaking, hundreds of fiery pillars, each dozens of meters wide, erupted from the ground beneath Hargengard, reaching for the sky.
Countless soldiers, along with the remnants of the walls, were reduced to molten metal, their screams piercing the air.
Philip strode forward, and the Posen Iron Cavalry warriors before him were like paper dolls, effortlessly melted away by his power.
"Beast!"
General Giovanni roared in fury and swung his sword at Philip.
But before his blade could reach the War God, an invisible force knocked it away, sending it flying into the ground, where it snapped in two.
Before Giovanni could react, Philip's fist had pierced his chest, and a fountain of blood sprayed out.
"You're not worth my time."
Philip released his bloody fist, letting Giovanni's corpse fall to the ground.
Lord Roland, a seventh-rank cultivator like Giovanni, fared no better and soon joined his comrade as a bloody puddle, his very bones dissolved.
Minutes later...
The sudden fall of Hargengard revealed a grim scene of carnage.
Not a single member of the Posen Iron Cavalry had survived. Even the communication devices on the ground continued to ring, with the rear command post repeatedly inquiring about the frontline situation, only to be met with silence.
...
In the southwestern border region of the Kingdom of Posen stood the ancient fortress of Hargengard, nestled among rolling mountains. It guarded the borderland cities beyond.
Hargengard was surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only a narrow valley passage to the south where the central army of the Kingdom of Posen was stationed, forming the first line of defense for the kingdom's southeast border.
Smoke billowed from the shattered remains of the fortress, its thick walls battered by magitech devices and riddled with holes. Rubble tumbled down, stirring up clouds of dust.
The air was heavy with the acrid smell of gunpowder and blood. Inside and outside the fortress lay severed limbs and corpses, their blood staining the soil and pooling into putrid crimson lakes.
Huge black crows circled overhead, their shrill cries piercing the crimson-hued sky that seemed to press down upon the fortress. In the twilight, it seemed as if the heavens themselves mourned the tragedy.
From within the fortress came the intermittent sounds of clashing blades, anguished cries, and explosions, reverberating through the valley and tearing at the nerves of every soldier.
In this hellish landscape, the soldiers of the Kingdom of Posen erected their final bastion, using their very bodies as a bulwark.
Holding fast at Hargengard was the central force of the Kingdom of Posen.
Seven days prior, when the Kraoxin Empire launched its offensive, the Kingdom of Posen had opted not to mobilize the crucial garrison forces to the south. Instead, they dispatched their central army with all their might to join forces with the southwestern border garrison, forming a united front.
This force was known as the "Posen Iron Cavalry," and among them, the First Legion and the Fifth Legion were tasked with defending the Hargengard fortress.
The commander of the First Legion, Giovanni, was renowned as the "Battlefield Tiger." He stood tall and proud, his eyes piercing and his voice thunderous.
General Giovanni was a valiant warrior, known for leading charges into battle, leaving trails of defeat in his wake.
The Fifth Legion was led by Lord Roland, a valiant and fearless commander.
Though advanced in years, with white hair and a face etched with the marks of countless battles, he remained vigorous and alert, a testament to his extensive experience on the battlefield.
The Posen Iron Cavalry was comprised of fearless warriors. Their armor glinted coldly through the smoke, and their black capes snapped in the wind, emitting an air of resolute determination.
As the members of the Shadow Blade Squad traversed the Silva Forest, the wind howled eerily through the trees. Their leader, Reno, an elite seventh-stage assassin with a lithe frame and swift movements, sensed that something was amiss. With the instincts honed over countless missions, he knew danger was approaching.
Reno drew his dagger, his eyes sharp as a hawk's as he scanned the surroundings. "Be careful, there's an enemy nearby."
The rest of the squad, each with their unique abilities and always ready to support each other, immediately went on alert, their weapons at the ready.
Katherine, the deputy leader, narrowed her eyes. The squad was on edge, yet they couldn't spot any enemies. Something was definitely amiss.
Then, a faint scent of sandalwood wafted through the air, incongruous with the damp forest atmosphere.
"There's no need to be so tense, I mean you no harm," a gentle voice suddenly spoke from behind them.
The squad spun around, astonished. How could they, a group of top-tier assassins, be approached so closely without their knowledge?
What chilled them to the bone, however, was the bone-piercing chill emanating from the speaker, as if ice water had been poured into their veins.
Before them stood a young man in a white robe, embroidered with intricate and exquisite patterns. His short, light golden hair framed a clear-cut face, but it was his silver eyes, capable of seeing through people, that were the most unnerving.
This man exuded an otherworldly aura, completely out of place in the sinister Silva Forest.
"Y-you are...?!" Reno exclaimed, his face twisting with surprise, yet he dared not launch an attack. Standing so close, he felt no confidence in his ability to assassinate this man.
"Simon Luo, Eleventh Divine General of the Kraoxin Empire, holder of the Jade Seat," the man in the white robe introduced himself, his tone mild.
"Look at the beautiful moon tonight, it's not a night for fighting," Simon continued, his voice soft as a sigh. "What do you think?"
"...!" No one dared to answer.
The air seemed to freeze, the only sound the rapid breathing of the squad members. They waited for Reno's command.
"If we want to leave, will you let us go?" Reno asked, his voice steady.
"Of course not," Simon replied matter-of-factly. "I can't let you endanger the Kraoxin Empire any further. It's inevitable that I'll have to capture you."
"Attack!" Reno shouted, not wasting a moment.
Being captured was worse than death!
As he shouted, Reno threw his dagger, aiming straight for Simon's throat.
The silver blade flashed, and it hit its mark.
At such close range, Simon didn't completely dodge.
Or perhaps...
He didn't intend to.
The dagger pierced Simon's chest, but instead of drawing blood, it shattered into specks of light that dissipated.
"Now, can we all calm down? I really don't want to hurt you," Simon said, unperturbed. The wound on his chest had already healed, leaving only the torn fabric of his white robe.
However, the members of the elite assassination squad from the Hutton Kingdom had no intention of negotiating with Simon. In their view, he had given them too many openings.
It was time to strike, to run, to do whatever it took.
But...
All their attacks fizzled out mere feet from Simon, as if they had hit an invisible wall.
"If negotiations have failed, then I suppose we have no choice," Simon sighed, a hint of finality in his tone.
As Reno shouted, the wind howled through the Silva Forest, sending a chill down everyone's spines. Reno, the leader of the Shadow Blade Squad and an elite seventh-stage assassin, was the first to sense the impending danger. With his lithe frame and swift movements, he drew his dagger, his eyes sharp as a hawk's as he scanned the surroundings.
"Be cautious, there's an enemy nearby," Reno warned, his voice steady despite the trepidation that gripped him.
The rest of the squad, each with their unique abilities and always ready to support each other, immediately went on alert, their weapons at the ready. Katherine, the deputy leader, narrowed her eyes, sharing the squad's tension. They scanned their surroundings, but to their confusion, they couldn't spot any enemies.
Then, a faint scent of sandalwood wafted through the air, a stark contrast to the damp forest atmosphere.
"There's no need to be so tense. I mean you no harm," a gentle voice suddenly spoke from behind them.
The squad spun around in astonishment. How could they, a group of top-tier assassins, be approached so closely without their knowledge? But what truly chilled them to the bone was the bone-piercing chill that emanated from the speaker, as if their veins were filled with ice.
Before them stood a young man clad in a white robe, intricately embroidered with exquisite patterns. His short, light golden hair framed a clear-cut face, but it was his silver eyes, capable of seeing straight into their souls, that were the most unnerving. This man exuded an otherworldly aura, completely out of place in the sinister Silva Forest.
"Y-you are...?!" Reno exclaimed, his face twisting with surprise. Standing so close, he felt no confidence in his ability to assassinate this man.
"Simon Luo, Eleventh Divine General of the Kraoxin Empire, holder of the Jade Seat," the man introduced himself, his tone mild, as if he were discussing the weather.
"Look at the beautiful moon tonight. It's not a night for fighting," Simon continued, his voice soft as a sigh. "What do you think?"
The squad fell silent, too stunned to respond. The air seemed to freeze, the only sound the rapid breathing of the assassins. They waited, tense and ready, for Reno's command.
"If we want to leave, will you let us go?" Reno asked, his voice steady, though his heart raced.
"Of course not," Simon replied matter-of-factly. "I can't let you endanger the Kraoxin Empire any further. I'm afraid I'll have to capture you."
"Attack!" Reno shouted, not wasting a moment. Being captured was worse than death!
As he shouted, Reno threw his dagger, aiming straight for Simon's throat. The silver blade flashed, and it hit its mark. At such close range, Simon didn't completely dodge. Or perhaps... he didn't intend to.
The dagger pierced Simon's chest, but instead of drawing blood, it shattered into specks of light that dissipated. Simon stood there, unharmed, the wound already healing, leaving only a torn fabric of his white robe.
"Now, can we all calm down? I really don't want to hurt you," Simon said, his tone unperturbed. "I'd like to negotiate."
However, the members of the elite assassination squad from the Hutton Kingdom had no intention of negotiating. In their view, Simon had given them too many openings, and it was now or never to strike and flee.
But to their dismay, all their attacks fizzled out mere feet from Simon, as if they had hit an invisible wall.
"If negotiations have failed, then I suppose we have no choice," Simon sighed, a hint of finality in his tone.
Even so, it would take a significant amount of time, and the risks would be extremely high."
"Your identity as a researcher is enough to prompt the Kraoxin Empire to dispatch forces to kidnap you. In the worst-case scenario, if your travel itinerary is leaked, you'll face a perilous situation with little chance of survival."
Nigel added, his expression grave.
While the Kraoxin Empire's main forces might not directly invade the borders of the Posen Kingdom, their high-ranking assassins and even the War Gods could launch surprise attacks. Once they left the country, they might even encounter a War God.
"Don't worry, Nigel. We knew the risks when the war started, and we're thankful we didn't have to set off immediately after waking up. Otherwise, we might have been blocked halfway through our journey."
Lanchi shook his head, patting Nigel's shoulder reassuringly.
The last time they faced a strong eighth-rank opponent, it was a close call, and they only emerged victorious thanks to their combined efforts and tactics. If they encountered any of the Empire's War Gods, the outcome could be disastrous.
Moreover, even if their raw power was somewhat comparable, having a type advantage would result in a one-sided battle.
For example, Talia's spirit magic would be ineffective against alchemical creatures, so she wouldn't stand a chance against Bishop Formor.
"Lanchi, Tata..."
Nigel's expression turned bitter, as if he had something difficult to say.
It would be best to wait for a suitable opportunity to arrange for Lanchi's return.
For now, with the turmoil at its peak, the Posen Kingdom had its hands full dealing with its own problems.
"Can I ask you to take on the role of our magitech engineer for the time being?"
Nigel looked at the two of them, finally voicing his request.
He already owed Lanchi and Tata a debt of gratitude, and now that the Posen Kingdom lacked the capability to ensure their safe return, he had to ask them for help instead. This made him feel indebted and apologetic.
"No problem," Lanchi replied promptly after a quick glance at Talia, nodding firmly.
Nigel was a friend they trusted with their lives. There was no need for further discussion.
"Thank you so much. You're a great help," Nigel sighed in relief.
Not only were Lanchi and Tata providing assistance as Platinum-level card makers and magi-crafters, but their presence as top-tier combatants would also ease some of his concerns, given the kingdom's current lack of elite fighters.
Suddenly, Nigel's communication device rang.
"Nigel, we've received intelligence that the second line of defense on the southwest border is on the brink of collapse," a voice crackled through the device, accompanied by static.
"How is that possible? So soon?"
Nigel stood up abruptly, his eyes widening in surprise.
Lanchi also furrowed his brows in confusion, as he had been keeping an eye on the battle lines. Although he didn't have the authority to coordinate the war effort, he provided technical support and advice.
"It's the doing of the Seventh War God, Philip, the holder of the Blood Jade Marrow Seat. He's gone mad and launched a second wave of attacks!"
"...!"
Nigel's expression froze at these words.
"I'm sorry, Lanchi, Tata. I need to go verify the situation, and if necessary, I'll head to the front lines to provide support," Nigel apologized as he prepared to leave, his tone filled with regret.
Lanchi and Talia exchanged a glance.
"Nigel, what level of power do the War Gods possess?"
Not wanting to delay Nigel any further, they quickly fell into step beside him and asked their question.
Lanchi had only heard rumors about the strength of the Twelve War Gods, but he wanted to know the truth from Nigel, a trusted general of the Posen Kingdom, rather than rely on the hearsay from the alchemy students of Ikelite Academy.
Nigel paused for a moment before responding.
"If we're talking about the strongest War Gods, no unit in our kingdom can stand against them in a one-on-one confrontation. I fear only your nation's High Priest, Loren, would be capable of facing a War God."
There was a solemn tone to his voice.
"Aside from the First War God, Haxintos, are there any other individuals in the Kraoxin Empire stronger than Loren?" Lanchi inquired, his eyes narrowing in thought.
Based on his knowledge, the strongest individual in the Kraoxin Empire, aside from the blood tribe, was Haxintos, the pinnacle of power in the Southern Continent.
The Northern Continent's Extinction Bishop, known for his "super-bishop-level strength," was often mentioned in the same breath as Haxintos, the leader of the Twelve War Gods and the holder of the Diamond Seat.
In Lanchi's understanding, Loren represented the pinnacle of strength, a figure renowned throughout the Southern Continent. No one dared to question his might.
However, Lanchi was unsure how Loren compared to Haxintos.
"I'm afraid there are three to four individuals who surpass Loren in strength," Nigel admitted, shaking his head. "I mean no offense, but I'm merely stating the facts. Loren would be considered among the upper echelons of the Twelve War Gods, but not at the very top."
"..."
Lanchi and Talia shared another glance, their eyes filled with concern.
They trusted that Nigel's intelligence and judgment were accurate.
Nigel was the type of comrade one could rely on without a doubt.
In contrast, a prime example of someone who couldn't be trusted was the Ice Snow Witch, whose intelligence always seemed to be inaccurate.
"Nigel," Lanchi called out, causing Nigel to pause in his tracks.
Lanchi activated the sound-blocking barrier with the help of Cat Boss, indicating that he had something important to discuss.
"During this period, Tata and I will do our best to assist the Posen Kingdom from the rear. But can you help me obtain a new identity and some means to infiltrate the Kraoxin Empire from the south, perhaps as a merchant from Aquidan?" Lanchi asked, his eyes fixed on Nigel.
This was something he couldn't entrust to anyone else in the Posen Kingdom, nor did he trust anyone else with such sensitive information. Only Nigel, whom he trusted implicitly, would do.
While Lanchi wasn't skilled in direct confrontations, he excelled at infiltrating the enemy's camp and causing chaos from within.
...
(End of Chapter)
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