A Brief Calm

Before long, the Logistics Regiment had finished clearing the battlefield, and the entire camp had moved into the canyon. The warriors had won their victory with blood and sweat, and morale throughout the camp had reached unprecedented heights. Everyone wore smiles on their faces. Even the infantry and cavalry, who had been stern and taciturn when they first arrived, were discussing the previous battle and sharing its thrilling moments and close calls.

With the battlefield cleared, the Logistics Regiment's primary task had been completed, but the work did not stop. The commanders knew there was still much to do. They swiftly assigned new tasks: one group continued reinforcing the defensive works to ensure the line was solid and reliable, while another was sent to the other side of the canyon to gather more boulders for the catapults.

Ang and his companions were assigned to the boulder-gathering team. They crossed the camp and entered the other side of the canyon, where they began searching among the rocks for suitable stones. These boulders had played a major role in the previous battle, and they knew the catapults' ammunition would be an important weapon in the battles to come.

As he gathered boulders, Ang felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. Looking at his companions, he saw everyone working together in perfect coordination, carrying boulders one after another to their designated locations. Though the task was arduous, everyone was full of drive, as if the joy of victory had given them endless strength.

Meanwhile, back in the camp, another group from the Logistics Regiment worked with the infantry and cavalry to continue reinforcing the defenses. Under the commanders' guidance, they set up more traps and obstacles, ensuring that any enemy attempting a breakthrough would pay a terrible price. As the fortifications improved, the entire camp became sturdier, and its defensive strength increased greatly.

By evening, the sky had grown dark, and Ang's boulder-gathering team returned to camp. Looking at the solid defenses, they felt a sense of security unlike anything they had known before. Campfires illuminated the night sky as the soldiers sat together, sharing the results of the day's work and discussing plans for future battles.

Inside the command tent, the commanders continued discussing the next battle arrangements. Meredith summarized the lessons of their previous victory and stressed the importance of the coming defensive works. He encouraged everyone to maintain their high morale and continue strengthening their training to face the Demons' subsequent attacks.

Count Hugh Pierre, standing nearby, gave a detailed explanation of how to make effective use of the existing fortifications, as well as how to better employ catapults and other weapons for counterattacks.

Meredith and Hugh exchanged a glance. Meredith told the military officers present, "Our temporary mission has been completed. Now we must hold this canyon and await the next orders from the Duchy and the Military Department."

Hugh added, "Holding our position does not mean we cannot take the initiative. Using this place as our base, we must send out cavalry to sweep the surrounding area and ensure no Demons remain nearby."

Having received the orders of the two supreme commanders, the other officers returned to make their task arrangements.

The entire camp passed the night in tense but orderly activity.

The next day, the battlefield statistics were released. In the previous battle against the Demons, the Infantry Regiment and Cavalry Regiment had killed more than 3,500 Demons in total, achieving a remarkable victory. The Infantry Regiment's courageous performance received high praise. Meredith publicly announced that everyone's merits had been recorded in detail and copies sent to the Military Department and the Duchy for future rewards based on merit.

At the same time, the four commanders of the Logistics Regiment were commended for their outstanding performance. Meredith especially praised the regiment's hard work and coordination. It was their efforts that had allowed the battle to proceed smoothly and achieve such a major victory. To reward the Logistics Regiment's contributions, rewards were issued immediately. Each person received 50 Silver Wack, equivalent to a year's military pay. Those logistics personnel responsible for the catapults during the battle received an additional 50 Silver Wack each.

Ang had happened to be responsible for assembling ammunition for the catapults during the battle, and unexpectedly received this extra reward. Looking at the Silver Wack in his hand, he was deeply surprised. In Ang's impression, the Logistics Regiment had never been rewarded before. Still, these rewards made him feel that his efforts had rightfully been recognized.

The entire camp was filled with celebration. The soldiers congratulated one another, sharing both the joy of victory and the delight of receiving rewards. During their rest, Ang and his companions gathered together to discuss their upcoming tasks and future battles.

Foul Spirit Commander Dawuyura led the remnants of his forces back to the Kewenhua Grand Plains, where the Demons had their central camp. Dawuyura had led nearly ten thousand Demons this time, but had lost nearly half his forces in the mountain and canyon battles. Now, he could only return to the central camp in disgrace, his heart filled with anxiety and fear.

The Demon camp on the Kewenhua Grand Plains was gloomy and oppressive. Dawuyura slowly entered the camp with his exhausted, defeated remnants. The surrounding Demons saw their state and cast scornful, mocking looks their way. Dawuyura kept his head lowered, trying to avoid those piercing gazes. Deep down, he knew that his failure would surely bring severe punishment.

Upon entering the command center at the heart of the camp, Dawuyura met his superior commander—Grumka, a tall Demon general with four arms and fierce eyes. Grumka stood in the center of the command center, staring coldly at Dawuyura with rage filling his eyes.

"Dawuyura, you actually came back with only half your troops!" Gewalong's voice was like thunder, making the entire command center tremble. "You actually allowed those lowly humans to defeat our Elite Troops!"

Dawuyura knelt on the ground and answered tremblingly, "General, the enemy was exceptionally cunning. They used fire attacks and poison, catching our troops off guard. We did our utmost to resist, but in the end, we were still unable to turn the tide."

Grumka's expression darkened further. "Did your utmost? This is nothing but disgrace! Our forces have suffered grievous losses, morale is low, and the humans' defenses are only growing stronger. Do you know what that means? It means we will be at an enormous disadvantage in the coming battles!"

Dawuyura did not dare say another word. His heart was filled with fear for the future. He knew that his failure had not only placed himself in a difficult situation, but had also brought greater challenges and danger upon the entire Demon army.

Grumka looked at him coldly, then turned and ordered the adjutant beside him, "Immediately assemble all forces and reorganize Dawuyura's remnants. We must restore our combat strength as quickly as possible. At the same time, send out scouts to closely monitor the humans' movements. We must never make the same mistake again."

The adjutant immediately carried out the order, and the entire camp once again fell into a state of tense preparation. Dawuyura slowly rose to his feet, feeling weak all over. He knew the coming battles would be even more difficult, and that he would have to use actions to redeem this failure.

In the days that followed, the Demon army began a tense reorganization. Dawuyura was also reassigned to another post. He understood that only by slaughtering the humans could he regain the trust of Grumka and the other Demon generals.

The atmosphere on the Kewenhua Grand Plains grew increasingly tense, with every Demon preparing for the next war. Dawuyura secretly swore that this time, he would never let the humans succeed so easily again. He would avenge his previous defeat.

Two-armed Foul Spirits were Level 1 beings among the Demons, comparable to human Level 1 Warriors and Rank 1 Mages. However, human Level 1 Warriors were no match for Level 1 Demons. In a one-on-one fight, a Level 1 Demon could easily deal with a Level 1 Warrior. They possessed not only great strength and astonishing endurance, but also extremely high combat skill, leaving human warriors often helpless when facing them.

Level 1 Demons were even more overwhelmingly superior to human mages in close combat. Though mages possessed powerful magical attacks, their physical qualities were far inferior to those of warriors. Most mages focused more on improving their magical skills while neglecting physical training. As a result, many mages were frail and lacked the necessary defenses for close combat.

In battle, Level 1 Demons often exploited this weakness, using high-speed close-range assaults to shatter a mage's defenses. Before the mage could fully cast their magic, the Demon could rapidly close in and end the battle with a deadly attack. Although mages could injure Demons with long-range magic, once a Demon got close, they were almost powerless to fight back.

The threat posed by Level 1 Demons made them like mobile fortresses on the battlefield. They could not only easily defeat human Level 1 Warriors, but also swiftly eliminate mages. This kept humanity at a disadvantage in its war against the Demons.

Four-armed Foul Spirits were equivalent to humans of Level 2, while four-armed Demons with horns growing from their heads were equivalent to humans of Level 3.

Some soldiers in the Cavalry Regiment and Infantry Regiment were warriors at the peak of Senior Squire rank. Every one of them wore Duchy-standard Enchanted Armament armor. This armor was not only sturdy and durable, but could also enhance a warrior's strength. Senior Squires wearing this Enchanted Armament possessed combat power equivalent to a Level 1 Warrior. Such equipment made them especially outstanding on the battlefield.

Naturally, there were also many true Level 1 Warriors in the army. These warriors stood at the peak in strength, skill, and endurance, displaying astonishing combat power in battle. During the previous fighting, some peak Senior Squire warriors had successfully broken through under extreme pressure and the stimulation of combat, advancing into genuine Level 1 Warriors. These newly advanced Level 1 Warriors undoubtedly strengthened the army's overall combat power, giving them an even greater advantage against the Demons.

These Senior Squires who had advanced to Level 1 Warriors displayed extraordinary courage on the battlefield with their newfound strength and superior combat skills. Their breakthroughs not only inspired the other soldiers, but also boosted the morale of the entire army.

Overall, the soldiers of the Cavalry Regiment and Infantry Regiment relied not only on their formidable personal strength and exceptional equipment, but also on continuous training and accumulated combat experience to maintain powerful combat strength in the face of the Demon threat. The presence of these warriors provided a solid guarantee for the Duchy's victory.