Civilization: Beyond Two Worlds

353 War Has Changed

It was almost midnight.

The night that should have been silent and deep revealed a strange light. The sky shone with a red light, and the dark clouds in the distance were as red as blood. An entire day of high-intensity spell confrontation had caused the proportion of elements in the atmosphere to be extremely imbalanced. Its direct manifestation was the red sky without the light of the stars and moon.

The expeditionary army’s surprise attack had come to an end. The various departments were repairing themselves. If necessary, night battles were still the worst option. In the strategic room of the headquarters, the advisors did not rest. There was no sound in the tent. The elves did their own things in silence and glanced at the commander sitting at the desk from time to time.

‘This is the fifth time’, they said in their minds.

Against Kang De, the Cathayan from the east, they set up layers of defense and tried to surround and intercept him in various ways. Those methods were all huge successes because they successfully stopped him every time, but the outcome could not satisfy the elves and even gradually shocked them.

This was because the banner of the headquarters changed again and again.

The demon from Cathay has crossed Harlem.

The bloodthirsty and cruel Demon King of Terror has broken through the Summer Leaf.

The flesh-devouring Destroyer approaches Greensart.

The Son of Slaughter slaughtered the Fire Feather Legion.

—What should they hang this time?

The intelligent and brave elf advisors discovered that such a banner and those blood debts no longer made them produce only courage and anger.

There was also something they did not want to admit.

In particular, this battle report… the commander did not read it in front of everyone.

They only knew that the person in charge of intercepting Kang De this time was the Stone Heart Legion.

The rare magicized army was also supported by the various garrison armies around its defense area. They even had a large air team…

The elves asked with their eyes.

How long did they last?

“We fought from dusk to night.”

The battle report was in the hands of the Lord of Dawn Light.

No… rather than calling it a battle report, it was more like the ultimate stroke of the commander of the Stone Heart Legion. The words were no longer elegant, and they were even scribbled and stained with blood.

“We lost.”

Lines of words were read silently by the expeditionary army commander, Sylvan Keller.

“When I write this line of words, the last warrior of the Stone Heart Legion has already decided to offer his last loyalty to the Empress and the council. Just like how flowers and leaves fall to the ground and fuse into the ground, they will become nourishment to nurture the new buds and buds. Together with nature, the soul of the warrior will also return to the forest and throw himself into his mother’s arms. He will forever protect the glory of Twilight and watch the new warriors and his old comrades.”

Sylvan Keller outlined the appearance of the commander of the Stone Heart Legion in his mind.

Belampus was a venerable arcane scholar. When Twilight recruited him, he fought for the elves with swords and magic. Magic turned into a master of war and wrote a large number of tactical monographs. He worked to fuse the traditional combat thoughts with the new magic equipment and develop new combat theories to completely change the war situation.

As an arcane scholar, he had been recruited by the army because of factional strife.

However, Belampus did not complain. When he was called into the army, he became a good soldier, an officer, and even obtained appreciation with his military contributions and achievements. He led an army alone to verify his doctrine and theory.

Then, he left such a letter.

When he thought of this, Sylvan Keller’s heart ached.

As a soldier, he was already used to seeing life and death, but the brave and fearless elf warriors died just like that. Geniuses who originally had endless possibilities died in the beginning, one after another.

Marges, the alchemist who spread the school, used his life to prove the feasibility of his path.

Now, it was Belampus’s turn…

He blinked his slightly sore eyes and sighed softly.

“We have long lives and live with nature. We were born in the forest and built the initial civilization and country there. Fate is maintained here and we’ve long known that no matter how powerful a predator is, there will be a day when they’re injured or die. I’m not afraid of such an outcome. No matter what the reason is, we came to the land of a foreign country to fight and kill the enemy. We should be aware of being killed.”

“I’m only depressed and regretful. I don’t yearn for death. I still have many things to do.”

Sylvan Keller watched slowly.

“However, other than being depressed and regretful, I’m also happy. If I’m destined to die on the battlefield, if I’m destined to die in a defeat, I’m satisfied with the last battle of my life.”

“We paid the price of failure and death and learned our lesson. We lost. It was not only this battle, but we were completely behind in the fields of military and magic skills and even war theory. We encountered an unimaginable attack. I set up the formation, the scouts patrolled, the mages were on guard, and the magic devices were preheated and activated. Then we were attacked. More than ten kilometers away, death fell from the sky.”

“An explosion. Unlike the explosion of a spell, the soil that splashed up, the violent flames, and the invisible air wave that spread and blasted out like a thin film are almost impossible to recognize with the naked eye. They tore through the battle line and covered the spellcasting position. They’re extremely fast and fierce. They’re not any spell we know, so dispersing and obstructing spells are almost useless. Or rather, our mage army doesn’t even have time to react.”

“There were 12 terrifying attacks every time. They shattered the array, tore through the formation, and threw the soldiers into the air. On average, it took less than six seconds for the second attack to come quickly. In half a minute, we were attacked five rounds and exploded 60 times. There was dust all around.”

“We lost a third of the mages and a high-level heavy magic device in the beginning.”

“The array was scattered, the soldiers’ minds were shaken, and the steel-like discipline collapsed.”

“Then, I organized the magic troops to counterattack.”

“Retaliate and suppress the direction of the attack. The remaining mages, warlocks, and magic device troops will launch a counterattack as soon as possible. The air force will also mobilize to investigate. The wandering cavalry will disperse, and the cavalry will accelerate. All the mobile troops will surround the direction of the attack as soon as possible.”

“I think, at the very least, I have to know what the thing that attacked us is.”

“I didn’t get what I wanted. The spell counterattack attacked. I commanded the magic attack team to continuously advance the dense spells in the direction of the target in a slow attack. Under the cover of the mages and magic devices, the air force and cavalry rushed forward, but they arrived at the target and did not discover any enemies.”

“In the next moment, that sharp and crazy whistling streaked through the sky. A rumbling explosion sounded from the other direction. A terrifying explosion exploded in the cavalry group and the remaining mages.”

“Our enemy has the ability to move at high speed.”

“I don’t believe that the continuous terrifying attacks were cast by Kang De alone, because we discovered some traces at the first target location. There should be more than ten heavy magic devices, but Kang De can bring them to teleport. There’s nothing more terrifying than this.”

“I ordered the mages to disperse and the cavalry to disperse, but it was too late. The cavalry troops had suffered a destructive blow. Sword Saint Snowfall and the Crimson Queen threw a large number of heavy alchemical bombs at them. The lethal radius of an alchemical bomb is at least 200 meters. It’s useless to disperse the formation.”

“I order the air force to change direction as soon as possible and bite the enemy. Bite Kang De before he teleports away. At the very least, we have to see what weapon it is.”

“Then, the air force was wiped out.”

“Fire river. I saw six fire rivers cross the gradually dimming sky and tear apart horned eagles and pegasuses. That light is so dazzling as if countless fire missiles rushed into the sky. Thousands of them shot into the sky in a minute. Can a dragon block such an attack? I don’t know.”

“I’ve been making mistakes.”

“The mages, the cavalry, and the air force have suffered increasing casualties. I can only futilely command the long-range troops to counterattack. This is indeed useful, but it’s limited because Kang De is continuously changing directions.”

“Then, I understood that this was indeed an unprecedented powerful enemy because they used an attack method we’ve never seen before. Powerful, cruel, efficient, and violent.”

“The enemy bombarded and suppressed us with extremely frequent and powerful long-range attacks. It’s similar to magic battle tactics, but the efficiency and power are stronger. It’s not that there are no spells that are stronger than that attack, but there are many. However, the casting time is long and the rest time is longer. It’s impossible to have such speed.”

“However, our counterattack is not useless.”

“Ice, lightning, and even flames have the best effect in creating an elemental environment on a large scale. I think it’s probably related to the nature and mechanism of the other party’s magic device. Unfortunately, from the beginning to the end, I was unable to see the appearance of that magic device, but I can confirm that that weapon is not invincible.”

“After we gradually grasped the countermeasure, Kang De gave up on long-range attacks and began to approach.”

“The arrowless crossbow that was increased in the previous battle reports appeared. Its power is greater than described. There are also explosive crossbow bolts. They’re less powerful than that heavy attack, but their firing speed is faster.”

“Our soldiers resisted heroically.”

“I discovered a relatively effective defense and counterattack method. I ordered the mages to use earth spells to create a passageway gully lower than the ground and ordered the arrow regiment soldiers to enter the gully and lie low. If necessary, they can use simple spell scrolls to create a thicker earth wall, deepen it, or strengthen it.”

“I order the soldiers to disperse the formation and spread out as much as possible. We have to do this, or we’ll be killed together. As long as we disperse enough, the enemy’s killing efficiency will greatly decrease. Earth walls, sand walls, or walls mixed and frozen with water spells have extremely good protective effects.”

“This is how we fight.”

“Although this can only delay the efficiency of the enemy’s attack, although the soil wall built will still be broken by the larger and more powerful arrowheads, that’s only a hastily built protective wall. Twilight can completely push out a more effective defense mechanism, and this is the value of our sacrifice.”

“If I’m destined to die on the battlefield or in defeat, I’m very honored to participate in such a battle.”

“This is the reason why I wrote to you.”

“As a commander who’s about to be defeated and die in battle, I make my last suggestion to my country and you. I think war, war has changed.”

“We fight the world with bows and magic. We’re brave warriors, steel discipline, exquisite cooperation, and a solid array. The iron cavalry charge, the arrow array covers, and spell attacks. We’re used to gathering together and gathering the strength of all the elves to fight powerful enemies in a rock-solid array.”

“However, the strength and tradition we’re proud of have suffered a heavy blow and failure under Kang De’s attack. This failure is not because we lack courage and strength, but because our strength is no longer suitable. Just like the appearance of cavalry, the traditional land formation is no longer suitable. Magic has appeared, and the traditional defense formation is no longer suitable… This is even more terrifying than defeat.”

“I use my sacrifice and life to beg you to take this matter seriously.”

“After personally experiencing Kang De’s attack, I felt… fear.”

“Because I discovered something even more terrifying than failure.”

“Kang De will win. Commander, it’s not only this battle. Perhaps the war against Goethe will end in a way we’re unwilling to see.”

“The reason why Kang De can win is not only because he has a powerful alchemical weapon.”

“He doesn’t only have this, but a complete war system.”

“Our infantry maintains the formation and resists the cavalry. Our wandering cavalry harasses, plunders, and restrains the enemy. Our archers shoot destructive arrows that cover shock. Our mages control arcane magic and suppress confrontation. Our heavy cavalry destroys everything and is unstoppable… These are our war system.”

“Kang De has it too.”

“He used that slow and powerful long-range bombardment to shatter our line and that river of flames to shatter our air force, cavalry, infantry, and even fortifications. He has different weapons systems to fight and destroy. This is what he used in these battles.”

“I don’t know what he hasn’t taken out.”

“No, there must be.”

“I only recalled that when our Horned Eagle Knights and the Pegasus Knights turned into a blood fog and dissipated in the air, a terrifying thought suddenly arose—what about his air force? What will it be like? What about his navy?”

“The attack that destroyed the five Dragon Flag Legions in that instant was his forbidden curse.”

“It’s also part of his war system.”

“This is our enemy.”

“It’s time for us to change.”

“Because in Glory Sand, it took him a long time to complete his revenge. Now that he already has the strength to defeat an army, what will he have in the future?”

“Our tactics, our defense concept, our military theory, our strategic direction, our equipment, our weapons, and our future.”

“I’ll leave this to you and the lords.”

“My war is over.”

Sylvan Keller was stunned into silence.

At the end of the letter were the last words left for him by Belampus. This arcane scholar was from a noble background. He did things in a rigid manner and never did anything he should not have done or said anything he should not have said.

However, in the end, he made an exception.

“If I were you, Commander, I wouldn’t wait for him to come.”

Lord of Dawn Light slowly put down this letter and pressed his hand to his face.

He closed his eyes, his mood intensely turbulent.

He did not believe it. He was hesitant and decisive, angry and afraid. He held a large number of soldiers and held the fate and future of this Elven Expeditionary Force. Some decisions were really too difficult.

“My war… is not over.”

He muttered to himself.

It was very soft, but it attracted the attention of his advisors.

The Deputy Chief of Staff took a step forward and said softly, “Sir?”

Lord of Dawn Light raised his head and looked at the other party. He was silent for a long time before asking, “Tell me, which is more important, your career, honor, and reputation, compared to the future of the Twilight Dynasty?”

The other party was shocked and subconsciously said, “Of course, the future of the country is more important.”

“I… think so too.”

Sylvan Keller smiled bitterly. “I’m afraid Lord Therlandron thinks the same.”

Therlandron?

The Deputy Chief of Staff was stunned for a moment before remembering that it was the name of a defeated general.

The former commander of the Dusk Legion surrendered to Kang De and was sent back with a deterrent message.

This officer who had lost almost all his subordinates and returned to the capital with humiliation was once a new star with a bright future, but he had lost all his courage and will in a failure.

It was said that he had given up on the stand of the pro-war faction and tried his best to oppose the war. After being stripped of all his honor and status, he entered prison. He had been pardoned by the Empress and reduced to the streets. He had been insulted and bullied by the relatives of his subordinates who had died in battle, despised by the citizens, and abandoned and neglected by his family. However, he still insisted on opposing the war and made a speech to dissuade everyone. The people of the pro-war faction despised his betrayal, but the people of the peace faction did not agree with his method.

So… why did the commander say this?

Therlandron also felt that the country was more important than individuals? What did he mean?

In his daze, he saw the commander stand up.

The Deputy Chief of Staff immediately stood up, and the other advisors stood up.

Sylvan Keller said calmly, “Send orders to all departments to prepare for a night battle in an hour. Order all the air force and heavy magic troops to prepare to enter a full-scale attack on Red Maple City. This is an order.”

“I want to eat breakfast at the palace of Red Maple City before dawn.”

He looked out of the tent in the direction of Red Maple City.

Belampus was right. They could not wait for Kang De like this.

Kang De had already returned to Earth.

In the second half of the previous battle, his methods became cruel and fast again. Facing the remaining elf army that was hiding and defending, he flew into the sky on the Hima Eagle and poured down those anti-army landmines that weighed 25 kilograms each, smashing two more oil storage tanks.

There was no other reason.

After using up his ammunition, he habitually refreshed the map and wanted to replenish it, but he discovered something.

The howitzer and air defense vehicle did not appear.

…