Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yuri Qualls rose and drew the curtain, revealing the map on the wall.
The battle direction had already been outlined on the huge map.
Yuri then said calmly, âCole, lead the first legion to attack. The second and third legions will feint. Legions four to seven will circle around Machusa. If Coleâs attack is blocked, the four legions will have to show their strength and break through Machusa.â
âYes, sir!â
The hundred regimental commanders comprehended the plan.
The seven legions would enter the battle from two different directions.
The first legion would lead the main attack, and if thwarted, the four other legions would demonstrate their strength, breaking through Machusa.
The main attacker would be determined by their ability.
They would adjust the offensive strategy based on the battlefield situationâa testament to the terror of the Northern Army.
This group of young lieutenant commanders were famous generals who had experienced the brutal reality of war.
They boasted commanding prowess that overshadowed their cultivation talent.
The children of the Northern Army were known for their arrogance, bravery, and fierceness.
Just like Maddox Johnstone who had once killed a regimental commander.
It was because that regimental commander had misjudged the situation and was not suitable to lead troops.
On the contrary, the ten ruthless men of the Northern Army were all excellent commanders.
Otherwise, why would their regimental commanders be so loyal?
âWeâll leave in an hour,â Braydon Neal announced with a smile.
âYes, sir!â
The hundred regimental commanders promptly stood up and left, recognizing the urgency with only an hour to prepare before the imminent battle.
The battle was about to commence, and all regimental commanders needed to return to their posts.
Once the regimental commanders departed, Luther Cardenâs eyes betrayed a hint of worry.
He whispered, âIâm not concerned about Machusa. The purpose of this battle is to train our soldiers. Otherwise, if we wanted Machusa, we could just send Frediano. With his strength, even the quasi-divine Haidar Msiza would fall. He is capable of conquering a city alone.â
âAre you worried about the Zunde Royal Dynasty?â Laird Xenos asked silently.
Yuri, looking at the map with hands behind his back, sighed. âI am worried too. A dynasty governing 73 aboriginal cities with a territory of 10,000 miles and a history spanning thousands of years must have amassed a terrifying foundation.â
âEach of the 73 aboriginal cities houses at least a few million residents, and at most over a thousand giants. Excluding the aboriginal tribes in the wild, the city population alone totals around four hundred million!â Skylar Neal reached out, gently brushing the map.
The world of ruins proved exceptionally suitable for martial artists.
Moreover, the environment favored the aboriginal martial artists, with combat strength comparable to war god martial artists in the outside world.
Without such strength, leaving their homes in the ruins would be perilous, considering the threat posed by spirit beasts that had yet to develop spiritual intelligence that could easily swallow them whole.
Danny Que remarked, âWhatâs there to fear? Life and death is part and parcel of life. There is no fear of death in the Northern Army!â
âGet out!â
Luther shot him a cold, venomous look, akin to a poisonous snake.
âOh!â Danny lowered his head.
âGiven the vast population, and everyone being a martial artist,â Joshua Mandor remarked softly, âI canât fathom how many martial arts experts have emerged over the generations. The concentration of expertise here must be staggering.â
âExperts are bound to be highly concentrated here!â
Yuri pointed at a large red dot on the mapâZunde Royal City, the super city where the Zunde Royal Dynasty was located, serving as a core capital city.
In the wilderness, any aborigine with strength preferred heading to the capital city to align with a faction rather than staying in a border city like Machusa.
âIf the Zunde Royal Dynasty dispatches numerous experts, itâll pose a challenge for the Northern Army,â Luther noted.
âIn the ruins, the outcome of a battle isnât determined by the number of soldiers but the top combat strength!â Yuri sighed faintly.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
An emperorâs might was equivalent to a million soldiers; against an emperor, a million-man army was merely a swarm of ants.
âNot long ago, in the 14th ruin, the Oracle Palaceâs Divine Priest mentioned an imperial decree in each ruin. Emperor martial artists from both sides are prohibited from participating in battles without permission,â Braydon shared.
âIf thatâs the case, we have nothing to fear,â Luther pondered.
The Northern Army had a quasi-emperor, namely Frediano Jadanza.
As they conversed, an unsuspecting boy, clad in shorts and flip-flops, strolled into Northern Armyâs highest military conference hall while munching on cucumbers, and no one dared to stop him along the way.
Everyone in the Northern Army was familiar with this demon kingâthe younger brother most favored by the commander.
He held a unique status in the entire region.
âBrother, are you heading to war?â Luke Yates asked with curiosity.
âStay at home with Frediano,â Braydon responded, reluctant to take him to attack Machusa.
âI want to go too,â the little fool insisted. âI want to fight all the way to the 14th ruin, to the bamboo forest, and thenâ¦â
âAnd then go find Jada, right?â Braydon interjected, glancing at him.
The girl in the bamboo forest, Jada Mabaya, was undeniably beautiful.
It was uncertain if Luke genuinely liked her or if it was just a jest.
Often, boysâ jests concealed their true feelings.
These jests would eventually turn into reality.
âI donât care,â Luke replied seriously. âI want to join the Northern Army.â
âSo be it. You donât cultivate anyway. I think youâve grown fat over the past few months!â Yuri remarked, discontentedly.
As the seven legions of the Northern Army completed their assembly, the army was finally prepared.
The first legion, composed of elites, marched directly toward Machusa with 100,000 cavalry leading the way.
The cavalryâs thunderous footsteps resonated with a terrifying momentum.
They were followed by 700,000 disciplined infantry.
Though the swords remained sheathed, every soldierâs hand rested on the hilt, ready to draw and fight at a momentâs notice.
The 700,000 elite troops advanced swiftly, causing even high-level spirit beasts to retreat, steering clear and avoiding any proximity.
Only eighth and ninth-level spirit beasts dared to approach such a considerable number of martial artists.
However, the massive commotion had attracted the attention of a beast group.
A wolf pack stood in their way!
It appeared to be the largest wolf pack within several hundred miles, consisting of over a thousand green-brown wolves.
Each was as robust as a cow, with foul saliva oozing from their mouths.
Their vertical pupils exuded the ruthless essence of wolves.
Clearly, this wolf pack had gone hungry for many days.
Undeterred by hunger, the wolf pack, consisting of 1,800 wolves, densely populated the plains.
This obstacle blocked the path of the first legion that was paving the way for the Northern Army.
Cole Colbie, personally leading the troops in a black cloak, drew his sword and shouted, âWhere are the Northern Army cavalry?â
âSir!â
The 100,000 heroic men tightened their reins with their right hands and gripped their sword hilts with their left hands.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
The pitch-black blades were unsheathed, all 100,000 of them.
Coleâs voice echoed like a tigerâs roar as the 700,000-strong army pressed forward.
The first legion served as the vanguard, clearing a safe passage for the six legions following behind and eliminating all obstacles.