War, the Battlefield, and the Fighting

"Gentlemen! It is an honor to command you in battle!"

Grand Speaker Griffin Williams' voice, amplified by magic, resounded far and wide.

"We fight here today to make Kang De and his henchmen regret everything they've done! To make them pay the heaviest price for their sins!"

The politician's voice echoed in the dim sky as soldier Karl gripped his crossbow.

"For the innocent victims of the Tower of All-Seeing!"

The vast battlefield was covered by a hazy layer of dust, and the air was filled with the lingering pungent smell of smoke, and even a faint stench of corpses. The battle had been fierce these past few days, and every bit of magical power had been used to fight Kang De, leaving no spare time to dispel the odors or freshen the air.

"For the dignity of the Arcane Council has been humiliated and trampled upon!"

In the trenches, the soldiers stood silently, their expressions solemn. Karl listened intently, only hearing the increasingly rapid breathing of his teammates beside him.

His heart pounded like a war drum.

Passionate blood began to boil within his ordinary body.

The soldiers' spirits began to dance and soar with the speaker's words. Karl's eyes darted around, searching for the Grand Speaker. The rumors and stories about Lord Griffin could fill three days and three nights. This venerable old man was enthusiastically sung about Council the council members and regarded as their spiritual father.

But Karl, who had just been drafted into the army three months earlier, did not know that the reason he was so emotionally stirred and fired up by the speech was not, or at least not entirely, due to Griffin's outstanding words and personal charisma.

Spiritual Arts, Mass Inspiration – A special oratory technique, this is the most traditional, classic, and ancient magic in the Mortal World, almost tracing its origins back to the birth of the first barbaric tribe in the era of shamanism.

At that time, the first extraordinary beings awakened their spiritual power, inspiring, rallying, and subjugating their followers in the name of the gods, thus making their followers brave, fearless, and invincible.

Even now, through thousands of years of history, with the rise and fall of nations and the evolution of the times, this technique remains highly effective.

Just like the definition and explanation of magic inscribed at the entrance of the Tower of All-Seeing by the first Grand Chancellor of the Arcane Council —magic is extraordinary power.

What is extraordinary?

--Transcending mortals, controlling mortals, using mortals.

Just like at this very moment, tens of thousands of soldiers deployed along the long front lines are listening to the Speaker's speech, his voice carried everywhere by the wind, clearly audible in every trench.

Karl listened intently. To him, the Grand Speaker was a god in the Mortal World; what he said must be correct, what he did must be benevolent, and what he did must be just.

He heard his comrades whisper in agreement and curses with each word the Grand Speaker spoke. Together, they were encouraged and guided. When the Grand Speaker cited the horrific massacre at the Tower of All-Seeing, they were enraged. When the Grand Speaker enumerated Kang De's sins, they were filled with hatred. When the Grand Speaker called for the necessity of war, they were convinced. When the Grand Speaker praised the glory of victory, they were filled with fervor.

"For revenge, justice, and glory! Young men, we will march to the battlefield! The first offensive must crush Kang De's resistance! Our mage ranks will suppress Kang De's alchemical weapons, and our powerful spellcasters will cover your advance... We will achieve victory here!"

The soldiers roared, clenched their fists, gestured to each other, and shouted excitedly.

"We'll win, won't we!"

Karl's excited shout was met with his friend's agreement, "Yes! That must be true!"

What they didn't know was that the Grand Speaker's impassioned voice contained a wondrous power they could never comprehend in their lifetime. That power had a long history, existing in ancient times beyond their comprehension and knowledge, and would continue into the future.

That power is called magic, which can numb, make stupid, fanatical but obedient people, make them hostile to each other, teach them to kill each other, until they are swallowed by the abyss of despair and pain.

--And to ensure that all of this will continue forever.

A biting wind swept across the somewhat dilapidated position. The relentless bombardment by Kang De over the past few days had left the area scarred and devastated. Even with the repairs by the civil engineering legions and dwarven craftsmen, the vast area was still marked by the devastation inflicted by the Dragon of Cathay. Amidst the scorched earth, soldiers in the front-line trenches inspected their crossbows and knives, encouraging each other before strapping on and securing their caskets of enchanted short crossbow bolts.

Meanwhile, in the rear, spellcasters, their protective Bulwark illuminated and their emergency escape gear in place, took their positions and adjusted their tactical magic devices. Their mission was to provide remote arcane support under heavy protection.

As spellcasters, the Grand Speaker's Inspiration Spell was nothing more than a passing breeze to them. These noble powerhouses glanced across the long trench at the uniformed animals huddled together, their expressions indifferent.

In a more secure underground command post, reinforced with layers of earth, officers surveyed the position using detection devices, while observers from various countries also stood among them, their expressions reserved and calm.

They knew the tricks Grand Chancellor Griffin used; everyone was using them. The first rule of the Mage Code, first proposed by the Arcane Council and eventually adopted by the world, strictly forbade the "illegal" use of magic against mortals.

With an intimate knowledge of the game's rules, their gaze became more profound, like deities looking down from the clouds, having already seen through the workings of the Mortal World. These elites also knew the fate of the initial brave warriors in the impending battle—not out of cold-bloodedness or cruelty, but simply the laws of war.

The laws of victory are built upon the blood of soldiers.

Phaethon, who had been observing indifferently, gave a disdainful sneer.

Mud Seed... Through countless cycles of time and countless years, it has always remained the same.

Griffin's pre-war speech was drawing to a close.

The bugle sounded.

Whether soldiers or spellcasters, battlefield officers or generals, everyone subconsciously looked north, regardless of whether their view was obstructed.

They knew that beneath the dark sky, to the far north of the earth, the Dragon of Cathay was waiting.

"Remember your training! Obey orders and hold your weapons firmly!"

The officers from various units addressed a group of faces that were both energetic and filled with fear and excitement.

"Remember to turn the knob when loading the crossbow magazine; this will activate the bolt's enchantment, giving them power—otherwise, they'll be weaker than your piss!"

A few dirty jokes can relieve tension. Amidst a burst of laughter, the imposing officer with a long beard shouted, "Spread out as much as possible, move in small groups, cover each other, and help one another! The mages will support you. Our mission is to advance! Advance cautiously and bravely!"

"Charge! Charge into the enemy lines, into the trenches that that son of a bitch Cathayan dug! Use your enchanted crossbows, pistols, and alchemical bombs to wipe out his foes! Hold the line and wait! Then you will see our comrades surge in like Raging Tide!"

The inspired young men nodded repeatedly. They were soldiers who had been conscripted in the past few months and, after months of training, had gathered under Lord Griffin Williams' command with aspirations for justice, honor, and the future. They were about to pursue and accomplish this on the battlefield.

The orderly carried over a bucket of potions and then used a ladle to pour the alchemical liquid, diluted with wine and sugar syrup, into each soldier's mess box. Like Mass Inspiration, this was a "legitimate" way to maintain morale; every country has this excellent tradition and secret recipe.

Karl greedily sipped the sweet liquid, licking clean any that smeared his chin and mouth. The wine tasted very sweet and delicious, reminding him of the small half-bottle of cola that the workshop owner had given to his group of workers a few months ago. Each of them had drunk a capful, and the taste was unforgettable.

As the wine was swallowed, courage grew, strength increased, and pain subsided.

After that, all that remained in the world was anger.

These brave soldiers came to the ladder in the trench at the officer's command. Their eyes gradually turned fierce and excited, and all their confusion and unease disappeared. Karl pressed his hand on the rough, jagged wood of the ladder. The wood was not polished and splinters pricked his palm. The pain, however, made his mind more focused and calm.

Finally, the field officer at the front bit the steel whistle, violently exhaling all the air from his lungs, and the sharp whistle pierced the ears of every soldier.

"For the victory of the Council!"

Karl used both hands to propel himself across the trench at great speed. Beside him, at the forefront of the battle line, the vanguard troops sent out to fight surged out of the trench like ants.

The array mages unleashed their long-prepared Courage Spell, Bloodlust Spell, Pain Dulling, and Potential Activation, silently striking the brave charging soldiers.

This is a tactical arrangement from headquarters.

The soldiers, however, were completely unaware.

Their arcane knowledge prevented them from identifying the types of buff spells on their bodies.

Even now, they believe they are fighting with courage and conviction.

Immediately, the Council's mighty and proud legion of mages began a joint spellcasting session.

Elements gather, celestial phenomena ripple.

Dark clouds rolled in and pressed down, and thick fog spread and gathered, condensing in the void and radiating from the ground, enveloping the battlefield between the two positions and obscuring visibility.

The surging Magic Power that gathered spread along the earth, and thick earthen walls rose up from the ground, spreading out across the battlefield in endless rows.

"Forward! Forward!"

The officers leading the charge shouted, "Use the earthen walls for cover! With the fog obscuring our view, the enemy cannot spot or attack us! Advance quickly!"

The battlefield was shrouded in thick fog, and fierce winds raged behind them. With drugs and magic working in tandem, the soldiers transformed into wolves. Howling, they traversed the rugged, muddy ground, splashing through filthy puddles, clutching their fully activated rapid-fire crossbows, and charged madly forward!

Just then, a sharp whistling sound rang out from the sky.

One officer's expression changed drastically. He hadn't drunk the medicine, because someone had to remain calm. The experienced, specially trained officer immediately shouted, "Little..."

The next moment, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky!

A sharp flash illuminated the muddy, filthy ground, and a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, instantly striking the oncoming shell. The fire element contained within the spell model immediately spread and permeated every crevice, causing the 155mm high-explosive shell to be intercepted and detonated high in the air!

In an instant, a blazing fireball burst open in the sky, unleashing a torrent of Flame and spreading an invisible shockwave. However, the sharp shrapnel was slowed down, losing its terrifying, indestructible force as it was thrown down from the sky, and the shockwave's power diminished with distance.

The strong wind and rain of iron blasts crashed to the ground, only knocking nearby soldiers to the ground. Shrapnel, its kinetic energy diminishing, killed a dozen or so people as easily as cutting melons and vegetables, but many more were merely startled and stumbled or knocked to the ground by the shock, before roaring and getting up, uttering meaningless shouts.

The potion they had been drinking contained a drug that increased resistance to sound waves. This drug was often used by cavalry units to greatly reduce the war beasts' sensitivity to loud noises, so they wouldn't be disturbed by noise spells like Thunder Spell —after all, simply plugging their ears wouldn't stop Arcane sound waves from penetrating.

Now, this drug helps soldiers maintain their courage amidst the deafening explosions.

Karl rolled over on the ground twice, then got up. He was covered in mud and filth, and his crossbow was splattered with mud, but he felt no fear, only excitement, as the potion was working intensely in his mind.

"You see it! The mages are supporting us! The spellcaster legion will hold off Kang De's attack and pave the way for our victory!" the officer roared. "Charge! Charge!"

The battlefield has been shrouded in a magical fog, a battlefield spell called "Fog of War."

The model for the Fog spell is specially designed; its unique elemental structure can interfere with detection spells and physically block spying and line of sight. However, the caster's mental detection and elemental vision can freely expand within the fog, creating a one-sided transparency effect on the battlefield. This spell is usually only used when arcane magic has a significant advantage and can overpower the weak, but now it is proving extremely effective.

Griffin began simulating and planning for this battle months in advance.

The first wave of reconnaissance troops moved through the fog, with earthen walls rising from the ground providing cover for their advance. Deceleration Field was activated, and the mobile interception force gradually advanced the battle line. With the help of the one-sided transparent Fog of War, the spellcasters intercepted the incoming ranged attacks.

Shells and lightning intertwined, whistling rockets and scattered elemental missiles danced wildly in the air, and intense flames bloomed endlessly, illuminating the dark sky beneath the black clouds with a fierce brilliance. Shrapnel and shockwaves fell like a storm, and shells that failed to intercept exploded on the ground, sending flesh and blood flying. Soldiers, awakened from their blind rage and courage, clutched their severed wounds and screamed in agony.

Karl had long been separated from his soldiers and did not know where they had gone. He and many others crossed the area of Flame and death, charging in the direction they had chosen.

He left the footsteps of death behind, hiding behind rows of standing earthen walls, swept up by the winds of war. He felt that the world had been divided into two parts by these winds, just like his life.

The intense light of the sky and the howling torrents of elements surged through his mind, awakening the beast within him along with the potions and Bloodlust Spell. The surrounding death terrified him, yet also gave him power. He no longer considered the justice or necessity of this war; he only wanted to protect himself. This was an animal instinct, pitiful yet ferocious. For survival, one could disregard everything and destroy everything. Killing the enemy was protecting oneself.

Yet the memories accumulated over the past twenty years stubbornly remind him of the meaning of his actions. He recalls the gentle breeze and bright wilderness of his hometown, with braids swaying in the endless wheat fields. He remembers the warm breath of a girl's lips lingering on his cheek, so beautiful and tender.

I will fight like a man, and I will return with honor.

He remembered the dagger his father handed him. "Son, fight for Griffin Williams like I do." He remembered his mother's trembling embrace. "Follow the Speaker, he needs our help, but he must come back alive." He remembered his brother holding his hand, following him to the draft station, head held high. He remembered the worried glances back in the crowd, and in those turquoise eyes, the light of Lake Sai'an shimmered...

But the memories of the past, the intoxicating beauty, all vanished without a trace amidst the boiling of his blood, the roar of his brain, and the death screams of the battlefield. He looked around blankly. Behind him, the battlefield spewed forth fountains of mud, and the dozen or so people gathered together disappeared. On the other side, he seemed to hear shouts; it was a friend he had just met three days ago waving at him. But then he seemed to step on something, and his body dissolved in the intense light.

Just like those beautiful memories that vanished under the Shadow of death.

Karl howled and roared, and together with the unfamiliar beasts around him, following the direction of the rising earthen wall, he held his expensive repeating crossbow and pulled the trigger, causing the elemental light to flicker endlessly on the misty other side.

But beyond the thick fog, all remained silent.

"Enemy infantry are approaching--"

"Battlefield thermal imaging scan activated. Targets will be indicated. All units, please monitor your AR tactical panels."

"I am Kang De, and before the battle begins, I have something to remind you of."

"The trenches you are in are neither important nor valuable; their value is practically zero. They were given to you for free. If necessary, I can repair them all the way to the walls of Danfeng Lucerne."

"The weapons and equipment you use are quite valuable, and have undergone some degree of modification and enhancement to suit the new battlefield environment and combat requirements. They deserve to be protected and used with care."

"And you yourselves, having experienced your mothers' pregnancy, childbirth, and raising you from infancy, regardless of your origins, have survived to this day without perishing, and even bravely marched to the front lines as soldiers. You are all healthy, strong, and proud individuals. Your lives are unique, your courage is admirable, and your lives are so precious, far more valuable than the fortifications you occupy or the weapons you wield."

"So, you know what you should do."

Firing ports, observation posts, firing points... The soldiers, now in position, gazed into the fog before them, pulled down their visors, and the steel helmets gleamed coldly in the Arcane light that echoed through the sky.

They gripped their weapons tightly, their gazes calm, listening intently.

"Obey orders, fight bravely, and do not put yourselves in danger. On this basis, I order you to inflict merciless casualties, deterrence, and punishment on the enemy, and with supreme courage and determination, strike them, frighten them, and annihilate them!"

"The enemy has arrived! All units, heed my command—annihilate them!"

Grasping heavy machine guns and setting up sniper grenades, each infantry squad inspected their weapons.

The riflemen released their safety; their weapons had been urgently upgraded to special weapons designed for subsonic heavy bullets, their magazines crammed full of "flying weights."

In addition to conventional weapons, elite troops with a certain level of arcane magic skills will be tested in this combat exercise with new weapons—new weapons that incorporate the Yilan-Tai'er weapon system.

"Check that the Primal Gel circuit is clear and install the Radiant Crystal."

The futuristic, all-silver heavy weapons have Levitation Stone built into their stocks and other parts to reduce the burden of combat. The elite soldiers of the warband took these weapons out of the boxes, extended their mental energy, and activated the Radiant Crystal Circuit. The cool weapons transformed and unfolded from the inside, revealing three circular grooves.

The soldiers took out several shimmering stones from another box.

They were then inlaid one by one.

"Weapon Core - Flame Spear Laser"

"Output Assist - Multiple Scatter."

"Efficiency Assistance - Energy-Gathering Echo"

The elite soldiers selected from Astolfo's battlebands chanted incantations, embedding Radiant Crystal into their weapon systems. The circuits lit up, and the weapons in their hands hummed and vibrated, as restless energy began to accumulate.

"I hope these weapons work as well as the weapons of war of our ancestors."

The soldier who had finished all this turned around and saw the platoon leader and several squad leaders opening a large weapon and loading gems into the six Radiant Crystal slots one by one, occasionally exchanging a word in hushed tones.

He was a remnant of Yilan-Tai'er, a member of the Oathbreakers, and he knew what was going on.

A month and a half ago, the Truth Office officially deciphered the Stellar Code, restarted the Yilan-Tai'er Radiant Crystal process, and continuously deciphered and analyzed the ancient Yilan-Tai'er craft formulas, and then began to produce the source of power from the heyday of the ancestral Civilization.

However, the priests of Yilan-Tai'er and even the City of Atonement imprinted circuits on their bodies and equipped themselves with Radiant Crystal to use extraordinary powers, ensuring that this skill became the cornerstone of their rule and a monopolistic force.

Kang De, however, was not regarded as a new god by Kang De Oathbreakers saved Yilan-Tai'er. They were simply grateful and devoted to him, making a pact with the new monarch of the new world. They admired Kang De's decision and followed the wishes of their former leader and the previous new king, Aifu, allowing the legacy of Yilan-Tai'er to nourish the new Mortal World race and bless new life under the oppression and threats of the Star Palace generation.

Thus, the secrets of the Radiant Crystal were revealed and studied in preparation for large-scale application, and attempts were made to make it compatible with the Mortal World magic system so that the new races of the Mortal World could also use the power of Yilan-Tai'er.

In return, the people of Yilan-Tai'er also began to come into contact with the arcane arts and Dou Qi aura of the Mortal World. They will learn, they will inherit, and eventually merge, creating a new future for their race.

Just as Kang De promised, Yilan-Tai'er will become the people of this era, standing alongside the Mortal World races, respected for their good deeds, righteous acts, and achievements.

That's the whole reason he's standing here, holding his weapon.

He had experienced that great war and seen what the Distant Harbor looked like. He realized the tragic fate of his people in the past and witnessed the future that Kang De promised. Therefore, he knew his mission.

"Encountering the enemy--"

New patterns were projected onto the visor lenses, enhancing reality. Human figures were outlined in the thick fog, and weapons and statuses were scanned and marked. Enemies were roaring and charging towards them.

The former Oathbreakers, now a new Chapter Sergeant, raised his Radiant Crystal Lance without hesitation. The blazing Flame Spear Laser, enhanced by the Energy-Gathering Echo, shot out scorching light, splitting into three crimson beams by the Scattering Gem, which swept towards the enemy he did not know like light blades.

When rays strike the human body, they cut through the skin like shredded leather.

Soldier Karl fell to the ground, his mouth full of mud.

His strength vanished like the wind, fear surged like the tide. He stared blankly at the gray sky, as if he saw the gleaming oak trees of his hometown. Leaves rustled softly, tender embraces filled the Tanaka, family members gazed silently, countless uncertain futures, longing for love, yearning for harvest, the scenes in his dreams and the melody of the bagpipes, like red fruits hanging from branches, like the shimmering waves on Lake Sai'an, all dissipated in the silent screams and the dreamlike death, becoming distant and desolate, shattered like a mirror.

He is no longer himself.

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PS1: Update... I've been feeling down these past few days, and my writing has been lifeless. I don't really like it and keep deleting and revising. Treatment will take some time, and there's a shortage of beds in Hangzhou. Examinations are slow, and surgery can't be scheduled. It's making me very anxious and uneasy. I finally managed to contact a hospital in Shanghai with a private room. I'm leaving tomorrow. I hope everything can be settled soon and I can resume updates.