Chapter 264: Fog
The final battle is about to begin.
A decisive battle often commences when both sides believe they can win.
If King Richard of Lionheart is given more time, he can package and transport the fallen Demon Lord’s extraordinary materials. By then, even if the beastmen win, they won’t be able to obtain the Demon Lord’s extraordinary materials.
Thus, under the will of the Mother of Beasts, war beasts from various regions gather together, resolutely marching towards the outskirts of the Leon Port, the encampment established by humans.
If someone were to open the God’s perspective and look down from the clouds, they would see a swarm of beasts made up of countless brown-yellow dots moving slowly yet steadily towards the chivalrous army.
Initially, the brown-yellow dots drifting on the outskirts of the beast swarm continuously collided with the knights of Bartó, resulting in small scale skirmishes that became increasingly intense.
Once the beast swarm pressed forward, these small skirmishes came to an abrupt halt.
The beast swarm finally came to a stop, settling on the scorched earth.
Ji Ma spread her wings wide, hovering in the air and observing the vast beastman army.
The number exceeds ten thousand, without end.
Seventy thousand tall and strong beastmen are gathered together, their battle line stretching over ten kilometers. Ji Ma flew high, unable to see the edge of the beast swarm.
This was not just due to the sheer number of beasts but also the fog.
Today, the fog hung heavy, a grayish-white mist enveloping the charred earth, the brown-yellow figures of the beasts appearing hazy. The nearby coast was also shrouded in mist, with several warships of the Bartó knights anchored on the sea; unfortunately, their crossbows lacked the range to provide support on the battlefield.
Ji Ma strained her gaze beneath the gray fog, desperately searching for any sign of her “demonic brethren.”
She gave up, folding her wings and gradually descending. Below, King Richard I of Lionheart was riding his massive griffin, soaring through the air to inspect the enemy formation.
He called out from a distance, “Hey, succubus Ji Ma, do you see anything worthy of note?”
“The enemy has a cluster of Cyclopes in their center.”
“I see that too.” The griffin carried him closer as he brandished a lion shield, his face shield raised to reveal a square jaw, “What else do you see?”
“Nothing else, Your Majesty.” Ji Ma replied, “I only worry about the demons.”
“George has already informed me.” King Richard I said, “He praised you as a military genius, saying that you have commanded several battles. I ask you, if you were sitting on my griffin, wearing my crown, and holding my lion shield, how confident would you be in this battle?”
Ji Ma was quite surprised. Although George openly declared that she was his fiancée, many still regarded her as George’s familiar, filled with hate and suspicion towards her demon race, wary of her.
For the proud Bartó knights, seeking advice from a demon, especially a female one, was simply unimaginable—Bartó knights believed that military matters were inherently incompatible with women; they were best left encouraging the warriors from the rear or casting a few terrifying spells on the battlefield.
“Eighty percent.” Ji Ma said, “Because you have fearsome and valiant knights.”
“If I wanted flattery,” King Richard I’s face grew cold, “then the camp’s flamboyant jester would say it a hundred times better than you.”
“Indeed, he is a professional.” Ji Ma stretched her wings and floated in mid-air, saying, “What I say is not flattery, but a rational conclusion considering the advantages and disadvantages of both sides.”
No matter what, it was important to build herself up.
“If you’re about to say nonsense,” King Richard I said, “I will consider you George’s exclusive jester.”
“The enemy has four advantages: a large number of beasts, strong infantry, numerous Cyclopes, and the Demon race’s trump cards.”
“Among them, the numerical advantage of the beasts is the least significant because these beastmen can barely form the most basic phalanx; once the battle starts, they will inevitably rush in a chaotic swarm, unable to perform even a rotational battle, as they cannot replace the frontline beasts.”
King Richard I silently watched her, speechless, and Ji Ma felt an inexplicable pressure.
Fortunately, this was not just her idle chatter. Out of boredom, she had examined the details of this battle. As a platinum-level “Scout,” she might be the most informative person in the entire army.
She had long since written her conclusions in her personal system. Ji Ma looked at the floating text and continued:
“The advantage of infantry is rather tricky. Although, Your Majesty, many of your infantry are pilgrims and accompanying warriors, many of whom are illegitimate children with excellent armor, and you also have broad positions for your longbowmen. However, these won’t hold out long against the tall minotaurs and horned beasts who have tasted human flesh and are in a blood frenzy.”
“Many valiant knights will attempt to flank the enemy.”
“But the enemy also has numerous Cyclopes; the knights’ flanking only delays the inevitable collapse of the line. If you truly commit your core forces to support the line, the Cyclopes’ boulders can destroy this small encampment before the enemy infantry escapes, clearing a bloody path.”
King Richard I slightly nodded, showing no excess emotion.
Ji Ma understood that the previous rebuttal was merely a test of her.
“But the enemy is not without flaws, Your Majesty.” Ji Ma said, “In terms of strength alone, the Mother of Beasts is at a disadvantage in numbers, as commanding thousands is difficult, yet strong individuals are easier to find. Many strong individuals from the Bartó knights have been called to serve you; in this regard, she is at a loss.”
“Moreover, her nemeses are here, like Cardinal Gregory and Dragon Slayer George; the former can counter the Mother of Beasts’ regeneration abilities, and the latter once severed the head of the Mother of Beasts. This means she must be cautious and cannot carelessly depart from a large force’s support.”
“And conveniently, you have a large number of griffin knights and pegasus knights; even thousands of troops cannot halt them. As long as you can find the right moment to strike with all your mobile forces together, you can easily slay the Mother of Beasts. At that time, even if the line collapses completely, you still have your knights, who can rely on mobility to carve up the battlefield, gradually picking off the leaderless beastmen.”
King Richard I appeared unmoved. He asked, “So if you were in command, would you throw all mobile forces against the Mother of Beasts?”
“Or the Cyclopes, with the latter prioritized.”
“Why?”
“Because the latter cannot be surrounded by a group of the Mother of Beasts’ progeny at all times.” Ji Ma explained, “Cavalry combat must pick on the weak.”
King Richard I, the king of the Bartó knights, a monarch ruling from horseback, had commanded holy wars. His personal martial prowess and military command earned him high praise. He prided himself on being the best at commanding cavalry.
Suddenly, he laughed, as if he had heard a child pointing and giggling.
Ji Ma, feeling quite confident, wanted to add that the battlefield is ever-changing, and specific tactics must be adjusted in real time.
Therefore, she remained silent, watching the laughing King Richard.
“Good, just as I thought.” King Richard I’s smile vanished: “This indicates that Dragon Slayer George is indeed not a blind holy knight; if we win this battle, I will reward you with a pegasus, an adult pegasus.”
“A pegasus?”
Ji Ma was both surprised and delighted.
It seems King Richard I truly recognized her achievements all along; she had thought Bartó knights were all the same, considering reconnaissance, curses, and similar roles to be of little honor.
No amount of wealth could buy a mature pegasus; after all, every tamed pegasus is raised from a young age, and those capable of raising pegasus foals would never lack for money—they would never sell a pegasus.
The thought of having an eighty percent chance to ride on a snow-white pegasus brought Ji Ma immense joy.
The pegasus even had a pair of pristine wings; regardless of whether she wore black or white stockings, they would look splendid against the feathered snow-white wings.
Ji Ma “humbly” replied:
“Your Majesty, your innate military talent and the virtues of chivalry are as dazzling as the Milky Way in the night sky. My humble military suggestions are trivial and merely serve to remind you. Thus, my achievements do not merit the honor of receiving a pegasus.”
“Then you don’t want the reward?”
Ji Ma immediately felt a pang, saying:
“As a succubus, I am inherently greedy; how could I not want the king’s reward? I just wanted to remind you that no matter how much I do, to outsiders, it will appear as mere lip service. Therefore, rewarding a lowly succubus might lead to doubts from some simple-minded fools regarding your character.”
King Richard I smiled, revealing eight white teeth. After laughing a few times, he closed his mouth and said, “People’s jealousy will trouble you. Since I intend to reward you, I must ensure it does not cause you distress. I will directly reward Dragon Slayer George, who will then pass it on to you.”
“Thank you very much.”
Ji Ma’s favorability towards King Richard I immediately soared.
King Richard I waved his hand, speaking in the tone of someone dismissing a servant, “You may leave.”
This caused her favorability to drop slightly.
Well, he still preferred to treat her as a useful and extraordinary servant.
Ji Ma clasped her chest and said, “Your Majesty, I take my leave.”
With that, she dove down to the ground.
Back on the ground, George asked her what she discussed with the king. Ji Ma excitedly whispered the details to him.
However, George was not particularly happy; in his view, it was not a commendable reward, more a discount on its true value.
The two browsed talks faded, eventually stopping.
Because silence surrounded them, Ji Ma stood on George’s steed (which made the old white horse sneeze in annoyance), gazing ahead.
Her eyes soared over the human infantry holding giant swords or axe spears, the mist-enshrouded beast swarm appearing far more terrifying than when viewed from the sky.
The pale mist revealed clusters of brown-yellow hues spreading to the edges of her sight, with no end in sight. Among these brown-yellow masses stood indistinctly shaped Cyclopes, towering and instilling inherent fear in the hearts of those who beheld them.
Even the young and impetuous chivalrous knights could not help but feel a wave of fear rise within them, falling into a hush.
This included her brother George, who gripped his lance tightly; clearly afraid, yet unable to stop gazing intensely at the giants in the mist. For the first time, he realized he was not as brave as he had imagined.
——————
I am guilty, not a man. Until I finish my updates.
Owe 7000 words.
