Probing and Tug-of-War

Thinking of this, a faint smile appeared on Glaide's lips, which then quickly returned to its normal shape.

"It seems the guy on the other side has also realized the importance of this position. I wonder if, after capturing this position, he will fight back step by step, gradually chipping away at our strength, or will he fortify the position with high trenches and hold firm?"

Having benefited from using someone else to do his dirty work, Glaide had grown accustomed to the thrill of reaping the rewards. To achieve his ultimate goal, he needed to employ this tactic once more. Therefore, he had to understand the personality of his hidden ally; otherwise, he might not be able to borrow the weapon at the crucial moment. Thus, Glaide began commanding his army to launch a counter-offensive against the enemy, using this opportunity to probe the character of his hidden ally.

"Brothers, those cowards in Ishgar have been intimidated by our momentum. Now let's charge at the enemy and take back our land!"

Hearing Glaide's call, the morale-boosted dragons of the Western Continent began to dismantle their defensive formation and charge towards the fallen camp. Goodpes and Hit tried to stop this suicidal charge, but the soldiers charged faster than they could speak, and thus a self-destructive attack unfolded before their eyes.

At the summit of the mountain

Seeing that the situation had stabilized, Sordil prepared to head to the other two fronts to check on the battle. Just then, Diphiya, standing on the edge of the mountain, suddenly screamed, "Sordil, come quick! The enemy down below has made a new move!"

Sordil rushed to the edge of the mountain and looked down. He saw that the enemy troops, who had originally formed a circular formation, were now rushing towards the camp from all directions like mad beasts.

"The opposing commander was clearly about to lead his troops to retreat, so why did he suddenly return? No way! We must hold onto this position no matter what, otherwise our plan will be ruined!"

Thinking of this, Sordil dared not hesitate any longer. He immediately activated Mind Talk to contact Igneel and asked him to hold the position to the death.

"Brother Igneel!"

"Brother Igneel, did you hear that? If you did, answer me right now!"

Igneel, who was locked in a bloody battle, looked up and searched around after hearing the voice in his head, but couldn't find Sordil anywhere. He scratched the back of his head and muttered to himself, "How strange! Why is Sordil's voice in my head? Have I been drinking for too long and am I hallucinating?"

"This isn't a hallucination; I'm communicating with you!"

Upon hearing the voice in his mind again, Igneel was terrified and lost his composure. In his indiscriminate and chaotic attack, two enemy soldiers and two allies fell to the ground.

"Holy crap! Brother Sordil, how did you get into my head?"

"Brother Igneel, I'm not going into your head, but communicating with you through my heart."

"Are you communicating with me through your heart?"

"That's right! Brother Igneel, I'm communicating with you telepathically. Actually, this is one of my abilities called Mind Talk. You just need to silently say what you want to say in your mind and I can hear you. You don't need to shout it out loud."

Based on the brotherly bond they had cultivated over the years, Igneel subconsciously chose to believe this seemingly absurd story. He silently prayed to himself, "Brother Sordil, I've performed so well, could you add a chicken leg and a bucket of wine to dinner tonight?"

Upon hearing Igneel's first Mind Talk after logging in, Sordil was both amused and exasperated. After a long pause, he replied speechlessly, "Sure! And if you perform well from now on, the chicken legs and wine will be doubled!"

With delicious food and wine, Igneel's enthusiasm for work soared instantly, and his typing speed... no, his reply speed increased dramatically.

"Brother Sordil, just let me know if you need anything, and I'll make sure you get it done perfectly!"

"Brother Igneel, you immediately meet up with Brother Metalicana and the others, then command the brothers to defend the camp to the death and not let a single enemy in!"

"Okay, I'll take care of it right away!"

Faced with their own counterattack, the enemy troops in the camp refused to yield an inch. Breaths of air rained down from the camp's high ground, and comrades fell one after another, their lives extinguished. After the attack lasted for five or six minutes, Glaide, realizing the time was almost up, decisively gave the order to retreat before Goodpes and Hit could speak.

"Brothers, the situation is critical, retreat quickly!"

Upon hearing Glaide's order, the soldiers who were launching their fearless charge retreated to their rear.

Although Glaide was retreating with the main force, his eyes never left the enemy's position. Seeing that they had retreated four or five hundred meters and the enemy still hadn't counterattacked, Glaide concluded that the man opposite him was a cautious and prudent person. Having learned of the enemy's character and knowing how to use him later, Glaide immediately turned and ran forward without looking back.

Seeing the enemy army flee down the mountain in a panic, the dragons belonging to Ishgar cheered joyfully in the camp. Among them, Igneel, encouraged by chicken legs and fine wine, shouted the loudest.

"Vyseria, what's wrong with Igneel? Why is he shouting so excitedly?"

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

No sooner had Vyseria finished speaking than Metalicana immediately interjected.

"Ask me! I can tell you what happened!"

The black-and-white duo looked at Metalicana with suspicion and disdain, then said in unison, "You're not Igneel's alcohol worm, how could you possibly know what he's thinking?"

"Tch! I may not be a drunkard in his stomach, but I know this guy's character too well! I bet you guys, the reason he's so excited is because that master has given him some delicious food and drinks again!"

The black-and-white duo looked in the direction Metalicana pointed and saw Sordil waving down the mountain. They glanced at Sordil, then at Igneel, and noticed a significant increase in dopamine and heightened excitement in Igneel upon seeing Sordil. With Metalicana's suspicions confirmed, the black-and-white duo respectfully extended their right thumbs and offered their knees in a gesture of deference.

After the situation had completely stabilized, Sordil once again spoke to Igneel Mind Talk.

"Brother Igneel, I'm leaving this place to you. If anything happens, have Anna let me know. I'm heading to the southern front to command the battle!"

"Brother Sordil, don't go yet! I haven't had the chicken leg and wine you promised!"

"I've given the food and wine to Anna. She's on the mountaintop. If you want some, you can come up and ask her now!"

"Wait! Brother Sordil, wait for me, I'll go up and see you off right away."

"Brother Igneel, don't move! Look up at the mountaintop!"

Hearing Sordil's words, Igneel quickly looked up towards the mountaintop. There he saw Sodir standing on the edge, making a peculiar gesture. Sordil's right thumb was bent at a slight angle, then brought close to his straight index finger, maintaining a certain distance, while the other three fingers were clenched into a fist. Just as Igneel was puzzled, Sordil began to explain the meaning of his gesture.

"Brother Igneel, did you see what I did?"

"Brother Sordil, I saw it. What do you mean by this?"

"Brother Igneel, when I make this gesture to you, it's to tell you that even when I'm not by your side, I will always care about you and be watching over you. If you feel the same way I do, then you don't need to come up to see me off; just use this gesture to tell me!"

Upon hearing this, Igneel stopped his revelry and, amidst the puzzled looks of the crowd, repeated Sordil's actions.

"Thanks, Brother Igneel! Goodbye!"

Igneel stared intently at the mountaintop until long after the Silver-White Light had disappeared, before slowly lowering his right hand.