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Chapter 294: The Southwestern Border Under Attack
🕑 Added 2024-10-05 05:20:09 +0000 UTC"Something like this happened?" Hogus's tone was filled with surprise as he fell into deep thought, muttering, "If that's the case, then the credibility of this information has just increased significantly."
"Yes... So until the situation becomes clearer, maintain the same attitude toward Rhett. Do not reveal anything about our conversation to him; continue as you have been."
"Understood, I know what to do."
Two days later, Rhett returned to the Sixth Legion's temporary outpost and met with members of the Fourth Legion in the hall.
Since the deputy commander of the Fourth Legion had recently fallen in battle, the only person present in the hall was the legion commander herself, a middle-aged woman with a full figure and short brown hair. She stood proudly and saluted Rhett with a smile, her bright eyes appraising him as she said, "Hello, Deputy Commander Rhett. I've long heard of your reputation, and I'm glad to finally meet you."
"A pleasure to meet you. I've heard from Commander Bomir that your Fourth Legion has a distinguished record as well. I hope our cooperation will be just as successful."
"With someone as powerful as you who has mastered Mysticism, I'm sure it will be," the Fourth Legion commander replied, exchanging pleasantries with Rhett before continuing with a sigh, "But I must say, I'm surprised by how young you are. I can sense that you're not even fifty yet."
"Is fifty still considered young? In the world of ordinary people, I'm practically an old man," Rhett shrugged with a smile as he observed the Fourth Legion commander. She was dressed in red armor, her bright blue eyes shining, and through the gaps in her armor, he could catch glimpses of her swan-like, fair neck.
"Haha, what's the point of worrying about age? Now that Rhett has returned, why don't we discuss our next steps?" Ledros, who had been poring over a map, lifted his head and called out to Rhett and the Fourth Legion commander.
"Why the rush, Ledros? You're just as impulsive as ever, I see. Some things never change," the Fourth Legion commander retorted with a playful glare before turning back to Rhett with a smile. "Before we get down to business, we should at least introduce ourselves. I'm Freya, the commander of the Fourth Legion, an Eighth-Level Dark Knight... and unmarried."
"Hold on! You old hag, was there any need to mention that you're unmarried during your introduction? Are you trying to seduce my deputy commander to join your legion? Well, I’ll tell you right now—no way!" Ledros shot Freya a wary look, as if she were a thief, and loudly emphasized his point.
The knights standing guard nearby couldn’t help but laugh, but under Freya's suddenly menacing gaze, they quickly fell silent.
Rhett's face darkened slightly, and he couldn't help but twitch his lips in exasperation. Unsure of what to say, he simply walked over to the map and commented, "Commander Freya, you certainly have a sense of humor..."
"Of course! I was only joking, after all. Ledros, your pettiness doesn’t suit a man—your sister has a much broader mind," Freya retorted with a hint of mockery.
Ledros rolled his eyes and, not wanting to argue with Freya, casually remarked, "Tsk, don't think I don't know what you're planning. A talent like Rhett is a valuable asset anywhere, but he’s a hero of our Sixth Legion. The only way he's leaving is through a promotion! But... since you complimented my sister, I'll let your little scheme slide."
Hearing this, Rhett feigned curiosity and asked, "From what you're saying, Ledros, your sister is also stationed at the Cold Stream front?"
"That's right." Ledros nodded. "I forgot to mention it earlier. My sister and I came to the Cold Stream front together, but since she's a precious Light Mage, she joined the Frost Healing Squad, which is why you don't see her in the legion."
"Next time you see Annabella, please thank her for me. She saved my life half a year ago, and I haven't had the chance to thank her in person," Freya added, her tone softening.
"She saved your life? Were you seriously injured at the time?" Ledros asked Freya in surprise.
"More or less. I was ambushed by a Shadow Tiger. Its shadow form is nearly invisible even in daylight—impossible to guard against."
"That must be one of the top-tier Shadow Tigers among the royal bloodlines—truly difficult to deal with. I wonder if it’s still alive..." Ledros muttered, frowning.
"Probably. I heard the other beastmen addressing it by the surname 'Rog,' which is the chieftain's lineage among the Shadow Tigers—an elite, without a doubt," Freya said, her tone laced with bitterness. "I hope it hasn’t died yet so that I can have my revenge."
"You? Better not. Unless you’ve mastered Mysticism, you won't stand a chance against a royal beastman, let alone one from the Rog lineage," Ledros chuckled, shaking his head. "Single combat against a royal beastman is no joke."
"How would I know if I didn't try? I've been tracking their movements for the past six months, but I haven't found any leads," Freya huffed.
Rhett, listening to their conversation, thoughtfully remarked, "Speaking of which, when I was patrolling a few days ago, I noticed that the soldiers' bodies showed signs of being attacked by Shadow Tigers. To be able to take down so many mid-level and even high-level transcendent beings, there must have been a high-ranking Shadow Tiger involved. Perhaps… it’s the same one that injured you?"
Freya's eyes lit up, but she quickly frowned and said, "It's possible, but... the Cold Stream front is vast, and there are many beastmen. The odds are still low."
"Who cares? Even if it isn't, killing its companions is still a form of revenge," Ledros shouted. "We should focus on discussing our tactical coordination and team assignments. Time is of the essence; we need to reach the battlefront's middle line as soon as possible."
"Yes, we need to focus. I suspect they might strike again tonight. It takes at least half a day to reach the edge of the middle line from here, and crossing it takes several days. We should finalize our plans within the next two hours," Rhett agreed.
Freya nodded and approached the map, pointing to a particular mountain. "According to my scouts, there's a group of Nightcats lurking here. We could send a team to eliminate them but deliberately let a few escape to report back, possibly luring the beastmen's elite raiding party."
Rhett’s eyes flashed as he considered her suggestion. If Freya was correct, then the original course of events likely involved carrying out this plan and heading to that mountain, where they would encounter the Third Legion battling a Draconian army during the march...
He didn’t respond immediately, falling into silent contemplation. But soon, Ledros spoke up:
"That location... isn't it a bit too deep? It's already two hundred kilometers past the middle line of the battlefield. If we encounter danger, there's no other legion nearby to support or reinforce us."
"So what? The beastmen often cross the middle line to launch raids," Freya responded coolly. "That raiding party may have been operating for several days and could be looking for a place to rest. The mountains along the middle line have been ravaged by years of war, leaving few places suitable for concealment. The mountain I mentioned is the only one within a thousand kilometers that offers cover. Even if we don't encounter any beastmen, securing this area would be a significant achievement."
"That makes sense..." Ledros stroked his chin and looked at Rhett, asking, "What do you think, Deputy Commander Rhett?"
When asked for his opinion, Rhett's first instinct was to agree—they had to go! But after a moment's thought, he decided it would be wise to verify it through a simulation.
After all, the beastmen’s raiding party seemed incredibly powerful. Who knows what unforeseen events might occur...
With that thought, Rhett focused inwardly and opened his system to initiate a simulation.
[Would you like to initiate a text-based simulation? Each simulated year will cost 5 Destiny Points.]
"Yes, simulate one year."
[Year 481 of the Kingdom Calendar, October 8th: You lead the Sixth Legion to the middle line of the battlefield, having requested support from the Fourth Legion. Along the way, you encounter the Third Legion battling a Draconian army, and the Third Legion is clearly at a disadvantage. But with your assistance, the tide quickly turns.]
[However, the favorable turn of events doesn’t last long. You hear an enraged roar, followed by a massive disturbance in the sky. Blinding firelight fills the air as a rain of fire descends. You cast Earth Light Shield and Earth Armor for protection while quickly gathering your troops to retreat. Before leaving, you glance up and, through the firelight, catch a glimpse of King Milan, who is engaged in battle with a Shadow Tiger cloaked in black mist.]
[The Shadow Tiger attempts to break through and attack your forces, but you hear King Milan threaten to wipe out its royal beastman unit, forcing it to hold back. You successfully retreat.]
[October 10th: While resting at the Sixth Legion's temporary outpost, King Milan suddenly appears in your room, questioning your plans for that day. You truthfully recount the events and then ask how he came to be in that area, fighting a Saint-level beastman. King Milan claims he was merely passing by before questioning whether you would be willing to leave the Sixth Legion and join the Cold Stream Guard. After careful consideration, you decline the offer.]
[January 11th, Year 482: You lead your troops into battle against a Shadow Tiger unit. Thanks to the additional reinforcements you requested, you achieve a decisive victory. Upon returning to the outpost, you receive intelligence from scouts indicating that the beastmen have assembled eight Saint-level warriors, while our side has gathered twelve Saint-level warriors, including three kings and several key figures, to conduct a counter-siege against the beastmen. You are shocked and puzzled by the news.]
[January 13th, Year 482: After discussing with Ledros, you once again join forces with the Fourth Legion to sweep the battlefield's middle line. While passing through the Iceband Creek (coordinates 17, 28), you are ambushed by three Pale Knights. The eerie blood energy radiating from them feels familiar to you, so you order the main force to retreat while teaming up with Ledros and Freya to fight the three Pale Knights.]
[After a fierce battle, the three of you successfully capture the Pale Knights, with only Freya and Ledros sustaining minor injuries. As Ledros prepares to interrogate them, you intervene and quickly retreat with your companions. Moments later, the three Pale Knights self-destruct.]
[On the way back, the two of them question how you knew the Pale Knights would self-destruct. You claim that your heightened mental strength allowed you to sense the danger. However, by observing their expressions, you realize this explanation has not completely dispelled their doubts.]
[January 21st: Upon returning to Cold Frost Fortress, you report the encounter with the Pale Knights.]
[January 27th: You find an excuse to leave the legion outpost and head to Raven Valley to investigate whether any Pale Knights remain.]
[February 4th: Upon reaching Raven Valley, you find it deserted. You search the area but discover nothing. Just as you prepare to leave, King Milan suddenly appears, questioning your reasons for being there.]
[Facing his scrutinizing gaze, you realize your unusual behavior has aroused his suspicion. Thinking quickly, you claim to have received a mysterious note stating that Sheman is still alive and that the Third Legion Commander is also a traitor on the Cold Stream front. King Milan, looking at you oddly, eventually escorts you back to the Cold Stream camp.]
[February 27th: You hear that the Third Legion Commander has been removed from his position and has disappeared from the Cold Stream camp.]
[March 13th: You visit the alchemy workshop, where nothing out of the ordinary occurs.]
[March 27th: You hear that Master Isard was assassinated by a mysterious figure during an outside mission.]
[April 7th: You receive orders to join the Eighth Legion in flanking the beastman army as they launch a major offensive. That night, near the middle line of the battlefield, a massive battle erupts.]
[April 15th: The war rages for seven days and nights. The sky is lit as bright as day by the glow of elements and battle energy, blood soaks the land, and bones pave a continuous carpet of death. During the battle, you are heavily targeted and surrounded by several high-ranking beastmen. However, due to your prior precautions, you stay close to other high-level transcendent beings, successfully protecting Lawrence and Makov. Unfortunately, Tack falls in this battle.]
[June 3rd: The pain of losing your son fuels an intense hatred for the beastmen, and you become increasingly ruthless in combat. As the number of beastmen you kill grows, you become infamous among the beastmen.]
[July 14th: While on another patrol mission, you suddenly feel a crushing pressure on your chest, followed by a thunderous explosion. The sudden appearance of King Milan shocks you, as you watch him strike down a Saint-level Draconian warrior in a burst of flame. The two engage in a titanic battle. Under King Milan’s urging, you flee, but are still gravely injured by the aftermath of the battle.]
[July 21st: After a life-and-death struggle, Lawrence finally breaks through to become an Earth Knight.]
[July 24th: During a walk, Sveta forgets to wear her hat, catches a cold, and is confined to bed.]
[July 29th: You hear of King Milan's injuries, which dispel any lingering doubts you had about him.]
[August 2nd: Under Maru's careful care, Sveta recovers. Reflecting on his recent experiences, he feels deep gratitude towards Maru and decides not to hide his feelings any longer. He confesses his love, and the two happily come together.]
[August 11th: While on patrol, you receive a report from scouts that the Canyon Front has been attacked by a mysterious figure. Strangely, both humans and beastmen have suffered heavy losses. When you inquire further, you learn that many bodies have mysteriously vanished.]
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