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Chapter 267: Preparing for the Great Battle
🕑 Added 2024-09-30 08:12:15 +0000 UTCOne year later.
Training Grounds.
The knights' shouts were uniform and vigorous, resonating through the skies. Each man bore heavy burdens as they practiced their drills, wielding shields and swords in a series of motions. Upon closer inspection, it was evident that their exercises in thrusting, defense, and movement were not geared toward individual combat but rather towards coordination on the battlefield.
Sitting on a large stone block nearby were two beastmen—Giant Horn, the Minotaur, and Blackhide, the Boarman. They were gnawing on several roasted animal legs, devouring their meals with loud chomps.
Initially, the two beastmen were integrated into the training grounds to assist with preparations for the Ring Tower incident, as predicted by the early simulations. Though the plans had changed, reducing their participation, their involvement was never completely eliminated.
However, over the past month, something had changed. The training grounds received orders from Rhett to intensify the training regimen, restoring the original schedule and goals.
Now, the knights at the training grounds were required to dedicate significant time and energy each day to combat practice against the Minotaur and Boarman, honing their skills and gaining experience in fighting against beastmen.
As Dark Eagle City’s reputation soared, its population—both permanent and transient—increased dramatically, making it the jewel of the southwestern frontier. As the lord of this prosperous land, Rhett benefited greatly, with tax revenues filling the coffers of the Green family. The number of knights pledging their allegiance also grew substantially.
Looking out over the training grounds, one could see nearly a hundred knights engaged in training, and this was just a fraction of the total, excluding those patrolling and guarding the streets and villages across the territory.
The sight of all these knights training in unison was truly magnificent and impressive.
At the same time, a one-eyed man, stern and authoritative, strode through the ranks of the knights in training.
"Angra, speed up your thrusts! If you don’t, I’ll add more weight to your arms!"
"Yes, Instructor!"
"Prytz, where’s that energy you had yesterday?"
"And you, Oryx, don’t think I don’t know where you and Prytz went last night!"
The two men who were called out felt a chill run down their spines, inwardly cursing their luck, but they kept their expressions neutral, not daring to reveal anything. The instructor continued:
"Hmph! Have you forgotten what I used to do? As Dark Eagle City’s Chief of Security, I know this place inside and out. The scent of perfume on you is something I often smell in certain disreputable taverns—it’s unmistakable!"
The two men met the one-eyed man’s severe gaze with forced smiles, one of them speaking up: "Instructor, you’ve got it all wrong. Who would dare act out during these special times? We just happened to try a new strong liquor at the Rattlesnake Tavern last night, and we drank too much."
"I don’t care what the reason is. Just don’t let it happen again!" The one-eyed man punched each of them in the chest and continued patrolling the ranks of knights, his sharp eyes scanning for any signs of slacking.
His gaze was like lightning, leaving no room for error as he supervised and corrected every mistake.
From time to time, his stern voice rang out, issuing commands and reprimands, creating an atmosphere of intensity and solemnity among the knights.
Not far away, Rhett sat on a stone block by the wall, quietly observing the scene.
He remained there until the red sun rose high in the sky, illuminating the gray world with the light of dawn. Soon after, the morning drills were brought to an end. The one-eyed man called a halt to the training, gave a brief summary, and then dismissed the knights.
This one-eyed man was none other than Vides. According to a plan set more than a year ago, Rhett had intended for him to serve as the Chief of Security in Dark Eagle City. Indeed, Vides had held that position for a year, and if nothing had changed, he would have continued in that role.
However, a month ago, after Rhett mastered the Resonance and Dispersion Arcane Arts to perfection, he initiated another simulation. The occurrence of a major event forced him to start making preparations—an epic war was about to break out at the Coldstream Line.
In response, the Kingdom of Kinlund issued a national mobilization order, gathering nearly half of the noble forces to form a powerful army to join the battlefield at the Coldstream Line. Naturally, Rhett responded enthusiastically, not only to contribute to the fight against the beastmen but also to seize the opportunity to collect Fate Points on the battlefield.
"Rhett, you’re here quite early today. The morning drills are over. Let’s go, it’s time to eat."
As the knights jogged off the training grounds in an orderly manner, Vides approached Rhett, a rare smile on his face.
"No, I already had a light meal before leaving the castle. I have some matters to attend to in Dark Eagle City later," Rhett replied, shaking his head. "Vides, thank you for all your hard work these days. Moving you from the relatively easy role of Chief of Security to training all these knights must have been exhausting."
"It’s been mentally tiring, but that’s secondary. The main issue is that I don’t have as much freedom as before," Vides said honestly, not bothering with pleasantries. He sighed, a hint of longing in his eyes.
Rhett chuckled and teased, "Freedom? You never complained when we were in the army. I bet you’re missing your lovely Miss Daisy, aren’t you…"
"Cough, cough." It was as if Vides had been caught off guard; his face reddened slightly as he replied awkwardly, "Well… we haven’t seen each other in a long time."
"You’re right…" Rhett nodded, feeling a bit guilty. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "In that case, I’ll allow Daisy to move into the secondary fortress and live with you. She doesn’t need to join Green Manor."
"This… isn’t that against the rules? There’s never been such a precedent at Green Manor," Vides hesitated.
Rhett frowned at Vides and said, "What are you worried about? Being indecisive isn’t like you! Where’s that decisiveness from when we fought side by side?"
"It’s different…" Vides shook his head and said, "Daisy and I aren’t married yet. She’s always been very reserved."
Vides then cautiously added, "If we don’t end up together, wouldn’t I be wasting her time?"
Despite his battlefield experience and strict work ethic, Vides was surprisingly awkward and inflexible when it came to matters of the heart.
Rhett gave his old comrade a long, thoughtful look, then stroked his chin and said seriously, "You love her so much; I have to help you! Let Daisy move in. We can prepare a separate room for her. Besides, you’ve done so much for me over the years, and I’ve been wondering how to repay you."
Vides’ eyes lit up with joy, and he said with heartfelt gratitude, "Thank you!"
"Come on, no need to thank me!" Rhett laughed, patting Vides on the shoulder. Then, with a teasing smile, he added, "Speaking of which, if you marry Daisy, you won’t have to worry about all this anymore. So… when are you going to propose?"
"Maybe in the next couple of years. I want to save up some more gold before I bring it up with Daisy," Vides replied softly, a trace of anticipation in his eyes.
"If you need money, I can lend it to you," Rhett said earnestly. "And you won’t have to pay it back."
"Haha, no thanks!" Vides laughed heartily. "Marriage isn’t the only major event in life. I’m not in the habit of relying on others."
"Fair enough. I figured you’d say that," Rhett replied with a helpless smile. He knew Vides well and understood his stubborn nature.
After a brief chat, the two men parted ways. Rhett left the training grounds and headed to Dark Eagle City.
In the dark dungeons of Dark Eagle City, the sound of fearful screams and the clinking of chains echoed intermittently.
In the dim light, Rilai and Taylors stood side by side, while Rhett stood before them.
In the cell in front of them sat a frail man with disheveled hair. Empty bottles, plates, and scraps of food littered the floor of his cell.
At that moment, the man, filthy and haggard, sat on the ground, his appearance wretched. His eyes were closed, but his face was twisted in pain, sweat dripping from his brow.
Rilai turned to Rhett and said, "Father, this man has been committing crimes across our territory for the past six months, using his extraordinary abilities. He has assaulted and killed dozens of women. He was finally captured two weeks ago while attacking in Deep Rock Village."
"Hmph!"
Rhett’s gaze turned cold as he looked at the man in the cell. This scum deserved to die. His only value now was to serve as nourishment for Taylors’ Dream-Eating Sprite, a miserable fate he more than earned.
In fact, ever since the reputation of Dark Eagle City had spread, the improved conditions had attracted a large influx of people, inevitably leading to a rise in criminal activity.
Rhett surveyed the surrounding cells. Most were empty, but a dozen or so were occupied by wizards—though they were all low-level, with half being sub-tier wizards. They weren’t particularly strong, but they still provided enough for Taylors to feed on.
At that moment, Taylors spoke up: "Father, Rilai, I think we can reduce the number of wizard criminals we keep here. The Dream-Eater needs time to rest after a few feedings. Based on my tests, keeping six or seven should be enough, but we should exclude sub-tier wizards—they aren’t of sufficient quality."
Rhett nodded in agreement. "Then let’s follow Taylors’ suggestion. From now on, any sub-tier wizard sentenced to death should be executed immediately. We should also execute any third-tier wizards; given your current power, it’s not safe to assume you can always keep them under control."
"No problem, Father!" Rilai agreed with a nod.
Not long after, the Dream-Eating Sprite emerged from the heads of the prisoners, like a ghost of the night, and returned to Taylors’ body with its spoils. Taylors closed his eyes, processing the energy for a few minutes before opening them and saying, "The feeding is done. I should head back to the Alchemy Tower. I’ll return in a week."
Rhett placed his hands on the shoulders of Rilai and Taylors, saying, "Both of you should focus on your training. Make sure to dedicate time to meditation and improving your spellcasting abilities."
Over the past two years, Rilai had been occupied with the affairs of Dark Eagle City, and Taylors had been absorbed in his alchemy research. Although they hadn’t neglected meditation, their time spent on spellcasting practice had gradually diminished.
Rhett had noticed this but hadn’t commented, thinking their current state was fine. But now, with a year until the upcoming war, it was crucial to emphasize that they needed to brush up on their skills and maintain their combat readiness.
"Taylors, why don’t you stay in Dark Eagle City for now? Half a year ago, we completed the construction of the extraordinary training grounds. We can train together, and I can help you practice your magic," Rilai suggested.
The extraordinary training grounds were located on the outskirts of Dark Eagle City. It was Rilai’s idea to solve the problem of the city’s many extraordinary individuals having difficulty finding safe training spaces. Training in the Anwen Eagle Range was dangerous, and practicing in the wilderness risked bandit attacks. Rhett had gladly approved the project, which was then spearheaded by Maruna, a mid-tier alchemical equipment expert.
Rhett nodded approvingly. "Rilai’s suggestion is good. Taylors, why don’t you stay in Dark Eagle City for now? I’ll come by occasionally to guide both of you!"
"Well… alright." Taylors hesitated for a moment but agreed.
Rilai, his mind already at work, then said, "Father, you could also offer guidance to some of our other extraordinary clients from time to time. It could help boost the reputation of our training grounds."
Rhett stroked his chin thoughtfully. "That’s not a bad idea. Let’s do that."
With that decided, Rhett personally dealt with a few of the death row inmates in the dungeon, reducing the number of prisoners to a manageable level. Then he left the dungeon.
The seasons changed, and six months passed in the blink of an eye.
Dark Rock Fortress.
Rhett sat in his room, meditating on the arcane mysteries of the earth element. With the Resonance and Dispersion Arcane Arts perfected, and his considerable mastery of the Condensation Arcane Art, his combat strength had reached an impressive level.
He was confident in his ability to challenge foes beyond his level, knowing that the arcane arts gave him an edge that could bridge even a significant gap in spiritual power. However, his progress had also hit a bottleneck. It seemed that, short of breaking through to the next level, there were no further immediate gains to be made in terms of combat power.
Surrounded by swirling yellow sand, Rhett seemed to be immersed in an ocean of earth elements. After a while, he opened his eyes and sighed, "Sigh."
"It’s still no use. Without a special affinity for the arcane, comprehending the Condensation Arcane Art is like moving at a snail’s pace. It’s nothing like the other two arcane arts!"
Rising from his bed, Rhett walked over to his desk and took out the Illustrated Guide to Sprites given to him by Prince Hoggis. He opened it and began to read.
Flipping to the table of contents, Rhett scanned the pages until he found a few entries that might be related to earth element sprites.
"Swamp Sprite: Can accelerate the growth of both water and earth element magical plants and beasts. No records of the taming process. No illustrations available."
"Rock Sprite: Can accelerate the growth of earth element magical plants and beasts. No records of the taming process. No illustrations available."
"Magma Sprite: Can accelerate the growth of both earth and fire element magical plants and beasts…"
After reviewing the entries, Rhett identified three possibilities. The Rock Sprite was undoubtedly an earth element sprite, and Rhett suspected it might even contain traces of the Condensation Arcane Art. If he could tame this sprite, it would undoubtedly be of great help to him.
In addition, the other two sprites were rare among the sprites mentioned in the Illustrated Guide, as they had the ability to bless both types of magical plants. This puzzled Rhett a bit.
After some thought, he decided to open the system and run another simulation. He had developed a habit of running simulations every three months, even if there were no significant changes in reality, just to see if there were any new developments regarding the sprites. Although he hadn’t found any sprite-related information in the past year or so, he couldn’t afford to be complacent and risk missing something important.
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