Anxious Battle

The fighting in the rear had ended, while the battle at the front continued. Meredith fell silent after receiving the report from the warrior. His expression was grave, clearly showing deep concern about the current situation. The Foul Spirits' surprise attack had caused tremendous losses. Apart from the personnel responsible for the Archer Regiment's logistics at the front line, almost all those in the Logistics Regiment tasked with operating the catapults and transporting massive stone ammunition had been critically wounded. Only a handful survived, with many injured, making the situation extremely dire.

Meredith listened carefully to the warrior's report and realized that the losses in the rear had severely impacted the overall war effort. He knew that the current situation desperately needed reinforcements, especially logistical support. Meredith took a deep breath and decided to take emergency measures.

Count Hugh Pierre immediately began drafting a detailed situation report, outlining the current losses, urgently needed aid, and expectations for future battles. He described in detail the losses suffered by the Logistics Regiment and their impact on the ongoing fighting, emphasizing the importance of replenishing logistical resources.

After completing the situation report, Count Hugh Pierre handed the document to Meredith for review. Meredith read the report carefully, confirming its accuracy and urgency. He realized the current situation was extremely critical and swift action was necessary.

Meredith quickly arranged for a special messenger to deliver the situation report to the Duchy. The messenger, carrying the documents, sped along the designated route, heading for the Duchy's command center.

While awaiting the Duchy's response, Meredith and the officers discussed subsequent countermeasures, working to prepare for the arrival of reinforcements. They knew that the Duchy's aid was now the key factor in determining the direction of the war.

Meanwhile, upon receiving the situation report, the Duchy's command center reacted immediately. Senior officers quickly convened an emergency meeting and decided to dispatch a new Logistics Regiment and necessary reinforcements to support the front-line operations. The deployment of new reinforcements had been rapidly initiated; they would proceed to the battlefield as soon as possible to compensate for the losses of the existing Logistics Regiment and ensure the continuation of the fighting.

Ange and Rika lay in bed, their wounds bandaged. The bandages were made from cloth Ange had collected while guarding supplies for the Logistics Regiment, which had been boiled at high temperatures and sun-dried to ensure cleanliness and hygiene. Ange's injuries were not severe, just minor scratches and bruises. Rika's injuries, however, were much more serious; the bone in his left upper arm had been broken by a Foul Spirit. If not for the armor he was wearing, his arm might have shattered into several pieces.

Although there were people in the camp capable of treating external wounds, no one knew how to handle such severe internal injuries, let alone set a bone. After Rika had collapsed from exhaustion and fainted, Ange bought him a Lesser Healing Potion, hoping to alleviate his pain and speed up his recovery. However, setting a bone was a delicate procedure, and Ange had no experience with it, either before or now.

He could only grope his way through it, aligning Rika's broken bone and then letting it heal with the help of the healing potion. Although the bone did heal, it clearly hadn't healed well. Rika's arm bone was noticeably bent, and a large callus had formed at the fracture site. Looking at Rika's arm, Ange was filled with guilt, feeling he hadn't done enough to help his friend recover.

Rika was still unconscious. The pain from the bone setting was unbearable, causing his body to enter a protective state of unconsciousness. However, his arm was saved, which was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. Ange got up and sat on the bed, beginning to meditate.

This battle had clearly made him feel his Qi force strengthen. What was once as thin as a cotton thread was now as thick as a household electrical wire. Ange observed the Qi force within him and became immensely excited. Qi force was the foundation of his existence, and such progress undoubtedly boosted his confidence.

During his meditation, Ange recalled every detail of the battle. He remembered how he had channeled his Qi force into the axe blade during the fight, greatly increasing the axe's attack power. He began to wonder if this ability was unique to him or if other warriors could do it too. He carefully recalled Rika's fighting style and found that Rika clearly hadn't used such a technique.

Ange decided that after Rika woke up, he would ask him about his understanding of Qi force and his usual training methods. Perhaps the knowledge learned at the Battle Academy could help answer this question. Ange also planned to pursue further studies at the Warrior Academy later to see if there was any knowledge regarding the application of Qi force.

The battlefield ahead remained fierce, with the battle between the Foul Spirits and humans having lasted for several rounds, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage. Gewalong had hoped Dawuyura would launch a surprise attack behind enemy lines to deliver a fatal blow to the humans. However, he had not received any news from Dawuyura for a long time. Perhaps Dawuyura had indeed attacked but was unfortunately eliminated by the humans. This was also Dawuyura's fate in failure; since he failed, he had to pay the price. Foul Spirits never lacked warriors, and the sacrifice of the defeated would only inspire more warriors to press forward.

Gewalong clearly felt that the human offensive had become more urgent. Although Dawuyura had failed, he should have achieved some results. According to reports from the front line, Dawuyura had destroyed some important human facilities, including the crucial long-range attack weapon, the catapults. This was a critical blow to the Foul Spirits, greatly weakening the human offensive. Therefore, even though Dawuyura was dead, his sacrifice was not in vain; instead, it bought valuable time and an advantage for the Foul Spirit army.

Gewalong pondered his next strategic move. He knew the humans would not give up easily, especially with their catapults destroyed. Their offensive would become even more fierce and desperate, and they had to be prepared.

Meredith's mood was also extremely anxious. The might of the Foul Spirits had thrown the entire Cavalry Regiment and Infantry Regiment into a stalemate. The initial strategy of a swift advance was no longer feasible; they were trapped here, unable to advance or retreat. Meredith constantly reflected inwardly, perhaps the initial victory had made him a bit complacent, and he had underestimated the enemy's strength.

He pondered for a while, carefully considering his next course of action. The table was piled high with intelligence and official documents submitted by soldiers, each indicating the severity of the war situation. As he was lost in thought, a messenger rushed in and handed him a new official document. Meredith unfolded the document and felt a slight sense of relief. The Duchy's approval had been received, promising to arrange for supplies and a new Logistics Regiment to be sent as soon as possible to provide support.

This was undoubtedly good news, which could temporarily alleviate their urgent need. Meredith knew that the replenishment of supplies and personnel would greatly boost morale and combat effectiveness. He decided to hold their positions until the reinforcements arrived, while also strengthening their defenses to prevent further losses.

Meredith summoned the commanders of each unit and quickly formulated a new defensive strategy. They decided to temporarily halt the offensive, concentrate their forces on consolidating their existing defenses, and utilize the terrain to their advantage for defense. He also assigned a crack team specifically responsible for scouting the Foul Spirits' movements to prevent surprise attacks.

The Foul Spirit commander, Gewalong, had initially expected the humans to launch a full-scale assault, but he did not anticipate the humans choosing to shrink their defensive perimeter and engage in small-scale harassment battles. The humans remained entrenched within their defenses, only coming out to fight when the Foul Spirits deployed a large number of their forces. This tactic put both sides on equal footing, with neither able to gain a decisive advantage.

Gewalong was confused and dissatisfied. His initial assessment was that after the initial victory, the humans would maintain their offensive momentum, attempting to completely break through the Foul Spirits' defenses. However, the human commander was clearly more cautious, opting for a conservative strategy. While the small-scale harassment battles did not cause significant losses, they continuously wore down the Foul Spirits' patience and resources.

Under these circumstances, Gewalong had to re-evaluate the situation. He realized that this human tactic was not only for self-preservation but also to deplete the Foul Spirits' strength while awaiting reinforcements. Gewalong knew that a prolonged standoff was extremely disadvantageous to them. Foul Spirits had always relied on swift attacks and fear to defeat their enemies, and this stalemate was gradually weakening their advantage.

Gewalong summoned his adjutants to discuss countermeasures. Some suggested continuing large-scale offensives to break through the human defenses in one fell swoop; others advocated maintaining the status quo, waiting for the humans to reveal a weakness. Gewalong listened to all opinions and decided to adopt a compromise strategy: maintain a high-pressure posture while dispatching small elite units for infiltration and sabotage to disrupt the human defenses and supply lines, forcing them to take the initiative to attack.

At the same time, Gewalong also ordered the strengthening of defenses to prevent a sudden human counterattack. He knew well that this battle was not just a contest of strength but also a test of wisdom and will. Although both sides were currently in a stalemate, he believed that as long as they found the enemy's weakness, they could completely turn the tide.

At this moment, every inch of land on the battlefield, every soldier, became a crucial piece in this complex chess game. Gewalong was determined to use all means necessary to win the final victory in this battle.

The humans desperately needed supplies and manpower to sustain the ongoing battle, while the Foul Spirits possessed a more terrifying method of replenishment: replenishing energy by consuming the bodies of their fallen comrades, which also enhanced the strength of the surviving Foul Spirits. Moreover, human corpses were also an extremely effective supplement for the Foul Spirits.

After every battle, any human corpses that were not promptly retrieved became food for the Foul Spirits. These corpses not only provided ample energy for the Foul Spirits but also significantly boosted their strength in a short period. The Foul Spirits had no qualms about this predatory consumption; each corpse was treated as a trophy from which they could absorb life force.

In the Foul Spirit encampment, consumption occurred almost daily. The bodies of Foul Spirits who died in battle were rapidly dismembered and consumed. With each feeding, the living Foul Spirits became stronger, their eyes gleaming with a wilder light, and a more terrifying aura emanating from their bodies. This brutal method of replenishment allowed the Foul Spirits' combat effectiveness to recover rapidly after each battle, and even further enhance it.

The humans were powerless to stop this. Every time they saw the bodies of their fallen comrades left on the battlefield, their hearts were filled with anger and helplessness. They knew that the presence of these corpses not only signified the sacrifice of their comrades but also the continuous growth of the enemy's strength. This vicious cycle plunged the humans into an even more difficult situation.

To prevent this situation from worsening, the human commander Meredith ordered that all possible efforts be made to retrieve or burn the bodies of the fallen, ensuring they did not fall into the hands of the Foul Spirits. At the same time, he continuously requested the Duchy to send more supplies and personnel to cope with this sustained war of attrition.