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Chapter 295: Rescue and Siege
🕑 Added 2024-10-05 05:20:16 +0000 UTC[Text Simulation Ended. Would you like to continue simulating?]
"No!"
As the screen before him gradually faded, Rhett finished reviewing the simulation but was left with more questions than answers. One of the most glaring concerns was how King Milan managed to appear at critical moments repeatedly, almost as if he had a tracking device on Rhett, always finding him no matter where he went.
But why was this happening?
After a bit of contemplation, Rhett suspected that the most likely explanation was that King Milan was secretly monitoring him. Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain why he kept coincidentally showing up nearby. In previous simulations, such occurrences were completely absent.
"Could it be... they're suspicious of the information I've been providing?"
Rhett couldn't think of any other reason and could only speculate this way. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. After all, there had been no Saint-level powerhouses at the Canyon Front, but now, at the Cold Stream Front, there were more than one. Even if they weren't directly targeting him, they were surely trying to find the so-called "mysterious person," which meant they would undoubtedly start by investigating him...
This made perfect sense as to why they might be monitoring him.
At this realization, Rhett instinctively wanted to glance around but stopped himself, knowing such a move would be too obvious. If a Saint-level powerhouse was indeed secretly watching him, such actions could easily arouse suspicion. So, he maintained his posture without moving.
"Rhett? What are you thinking about? You seem preoccupied..." Ledros noticed Rhett's unusual expression and reminded him.
Rhett snapped back to reality, realizing that he had important matters to attend to. He needed to voice his thoughts. Without the insight from the recent simulation, he might have suggested immediate action. However, having gained new knowledge, this matter needed careful deliberation. The fact that a Saint-level Shadow Tiger was in the same area and King Milan had appeared, resulting in a fierce battle, raised significant concerns. Rhett couldn't guarantee that the fallout from their confrontation wouldn't affect them, so it was safer to be cautious.
Tapping the stone frame of the map, Rhett finally spoke:
"Ahem, I don't think we need to take this risk. If it's just a Nightcat stronghold, it's not worth our effort. If we were dealing with Shadow Tigers or Draconians, it might be a good plan to eliminate them all, but for ordinary beastmen, the risks of going deep into enemy territory far outweigh the benefits."
After expressing his revised thoughts, Rhett looked at the others and saw them deep in thought. Half a minute later, Freya frowned and asked, "But if we don't go to the stronghold I mentioned, where should we conduct tonight's operation? The Fourth Legion can't just sit here wasting time..."
"Why don't we cross the battlefield's middle line entirely? We could conduct a long-term support operation, moving wherever the fighting is fiercest. With no clear target, it would be harder for the enemy to predict our moves and adjust accordingly," Ledros suggested decisively.
"That's a crazy plan..." Freya frowned deeply, feeling uneasy. But after giving it some thought, she realized it might be feasible...
"However, it's not impossible," Freya continued, "For such a long march, we can't bring too many troops. Only mid-level transcendent beings and above should participate. This kind of operation requires high mobility, and weaker soldiers would only slow us down."
"You're right; lower-level soldiers should stay at the outpost and patrol the surrounding areas," Ledros agreed, nodding slowly.
At this moment, Rhett listened to their conversation and realized that if he hadn't objected, this would likely be their plan.
However, this long-term, extended march had even more uncertainties. Rhett decided to run another simulation to verify whether this operation might lead to unforeseen dangers.
He also needed to report certain information in advance to prevent a repeat of the Canyon Front's disaster and conduct a small experiment to see if he was truly being monitored.
[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 battlefield's middle line, this time requesting support from the Fourth Legion. You choose a remote route and avoid encountering the Third Legion and Draconians.]
[October 9th: You encounter hundreds of Minotaurs chasing a small team of scouts, and you annihilate them all.]
[October 23rd: You encounter a retreating unit from the Ninth Legion, who report that over a thousand beastmen, including nearly a hundred royal bloodline beastmen, have ambushed them in the Kava Ravine. The Ninth Legion has suffered heavy losses. After learning that the beastmen have also lost about half their force, you suggest launching a decisive counterattack. Ledros agrees, and you, along with the remaining forces of the Ninth Legion, launch an assault on the Kava Ravine.]
[Soon, you arrive at Kava Ravine and find a Sky Knight struggling to hold off the beastmen. As you marvel at his speed, you recall how Somjet had mastered the wind-based Mysticism—Superspeed—when he advanced to Sky Knight. This man's situation is identical. Your forces immediately form up and launch an attack. After fierce fighting, you achieve a hard-won victory. The Ninth Legion's deputy commander, Locke, is deeply grateful and forms a strong friendship with you.]
[November 15th: After more than a month of harassment operations, you return to the Cold Stream camp. After reporting your results, you inquire about the recent situation, particularly that of the Third Legion. You learn that in early October, the Third Legion suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of a Draconian force, with no Saint-level fighters involved. You quietly take note of this information.]
[December 12th: You receive intelligence that the beastmen are deploying nearly a thousand Shadow Tigers to the Cold Stream Front, increasing the pressure on you.]
[January 7th, Year 482: You engage a Shadow Tiger unit, resulting in heavy losses on both sides, and strategically retreat. While resting at an outpost, you receive a report that the beastmen have gathered five Saint-level fighters, while our side has assembled twelve Saint-level fighters, including three kings and several key members, to launch a counter-siege against the beastmen. All five of the beastmen's Saint-level fighters are killed.]
[January 8th: King Milan personally visits you and informs you that Sheman has been captured and confirmed as a spy for the beastmen. He praises your outstanding contributions, calling you the greatest hero in the history of the Kingdom of Kinlund, and promises you a duchy after the war. You feign excitement but then suggest that the mysterious note warned that Sheman is highly skilled in disguise and escape, and recommend a thorough investigation to ensure Sheman is truly dead. King Milan merely glances at you and says he will keep that in mind.]
[January 13th: This time, you request the help of Locke, the Sky Knight who has mastered wind-based Mysticism, and, after consulting with Ledros, you once again join forces with the Fourth Legion to sweep the battlefield's middle line. When passing through the Iceband Creek (coordinates 17, 28), you are ambushed by three Pale Knights. The eerie blood energy they emit feels disturbingly familiar, but after intense fighting, you successfully eliminate them.]
[January 21st: After returning to Cold Frost Fortress, you report the encounter with the Pale Knights. Bomir says he will quickly relay the information.]
[January 27th: You send a team of scouts to investigate the Raven Valley area (coordinates 39, 02).]
[February 13th: The scouts return, and you listen to their findings, which include no sightings of Pale Knights or King Milan.]
[February 22nd: The alchemy workshop is attacked, and a terrifying force obliterates all nearby fortresses. Many alchemists are killed, including Isard.]
[March 1st: You seek out King Milan again, claiming that the mysterious person sent another message, warning that the Blood God Patriarch plans to launch an indiscriminate attack on both beastmen and humans at the Canyon Front, and that Sheman is likely the true culprit behind the alchemy workshop attack. King Milan gravely states that their investigations have confirmed Sheman is still alive and that they are pursuing him with all their resources. He assures you they will take precautions regarding the Canyon Front.]
[King Milan then asks for the ashes of the note. Having anticipated this, you provide a new explanation—that the message was delivered through subtle manipulation of earth elements. King Milan questions whether the sender could be an Earth Saint Mage. You reply that you aren't sure, but based on the subtlety of the manipulation, it's unlikely to be achieved by any other type of Grand Mage.]
[April 7th: You receive orders to assist the Eighth Legion in flanking the beastman army as they launch a major offensive. That night, near the middle line of the battlefield, a monumental battle breaks out.]
[April 15th: The war rages for seven days and nights, with the sky lit by the glow of elements and battle energy, blood soaking the land, and bones carpeting the battlefield. You are heavily targeted by several high-ranking beastmen, but due to your prior precautions and collaboration with multiple Sky Knights and Grand Mages, you avoid danger and successfully protect your subordinates.]
[April 19th: A scout reports that Boze Peak has been attacked again and is occupied by a group of Shadow Tigers. That night, Ledros assembles a large force to launch an assault on Boze Peak.]
[April 20th: At dawn, you arrive at Boze Peak, only to find several hundred Nightcats. This strange sight fills you with unease, and you suggest returning to the outpost to check on things.]
[Upon returning, you find that all the soldiers stationed at the outpost have been slaughtered. Based on the footprints, you estimate that several hundred Shadow Tigers were involved.]
[April 25th: After gathering information over the past few days, you and Ledros realize that none of the patrols sent out have returned, signaling that the beastmen are likely targeting you specifically.]
[April 29th: You return to the Cold Stream camp to request assistance from the Wind Sky Knight. Bomir informs you that there are no available Wind Sky Knights at the camp, but promises to coordinate as soon as other legion members return.]
[May 18th: You disguise yourself as a regular soldier and lead a patrol, only to be ambushed by over a hundred Shadow Tigers. They emerge from the ground with incredible speed, and despite your fierce resistance, you only manage to kill thirty Shadow Tigers before being surrounded and ultimately perishing after taking down two high-ranking Shadow Tigers.]
[Text Simulation Ended. Would you like to continue simulating?]
"No!"
"Damn! That's brutal—ten high-ranking Shadow Tigers? It's like they emptied the entire Cold Stream Front of Shadow Tiger elites!"
Rhett was utterly shaken by this outcome. Being ambushed by so many royal beastmen felt like a personal attack.
After calming down, he reflected that while he couldn't understand the exact motives behind the beastmen's strategy, it was clear that this group was indeed the elite strike force responsible for annihilating the Fourth Legion's elite scout team and vice commander.
Only a force of this magnitude could slaughter small-scale units beneath Saint-level strength without leaving a single survivor to report back...
As terrifying as Draconians were, they lacked the stealth and mobility needed for such a plan. Shadow Tigers, on the other hand, were perfectly suited for this.
"Indeed, the casualty rate at the Cold Stream Front is terrifyingly high..." Rhett sighed. Recently, simulations involving the Cold Stream Front had shown him dying more frequently than ever before.
He understood this well—not just him, but other high-level transcendent beings and high-ranking beastmen at the Cold Stream Front couldn't guarantee their survival. And no matter how powerful an individual was, they would still be overwhelmed on the battlefield if faced with enough opponents.
"If only I were a Wind Grand Mage... Even if I couldn't win, I'd have a much better chance of escaping. Unfortunately, as an Earth Grand Mage, I have unique strengths, but flexibility and mobility aren't my forte," Rhett lamented.
Dying so early in the simulation left him regretting that he couldn't gather more information about the subsequent developments at the Canyon Front. He was also curious about how King Milan and the others would respond to the warning and whether they could turn the situation around.
Rhett was tempted to run another simulation to see how things would unfold, but reason told him it was unnecessary. There was still nearly a year before that critical moment, with too many variables in between, making it pointless to track events that far ahead now.
"But what surprises me is that Sheman seems determined to target the alchemy workshop. Why is he so fixated on Isard? Even after sharing the recipe, what good would killing him do? Even if they killed more, the royal family could just send replacements or, worse, share the recipe with the Circle of the Tower, which would be disastrous for the Draconians."
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