Chapter 802

The Holy See's army was unstoppable, surging toward the capital of the Gabella Empire like a flood released from a breached dam and crushing all before it.

However, this seemingly invincible army had recently encountered a problem that gave its commander, Selvan Hammond, a terrible headache.

Its strongest military force—the War Elephant Legion—had already lost more than half its elephants. Their deaths had not all been caused by battle; another major killer was illness brought on by their inability to adapt to the local environment.

And as the Holy See's army advanced deeper into Gabella's territory, every remaining elephant in the War Elephant Legion began to fall ill without exception.

The elephants that had once been so majestic now looked listless and dispirited. Their massive bodies were no longer upright, their legs trembled faintly, and even supporting their own weight seemed difficult. Cold sweat seeped from their rough skin. Their eyes, once bright and alert, had grown dull and lifeless, their eye sockets sunken, revealing pain and exhaustion. Their ears drooped helplessly, and their trunks no longer curled nimbly. Instead, they hung limp against the ground, occasionally letting out low groans, as if voicing their suffering.

During the march, the elephants' steps became slow and heavy, every stride seeming like a struggle against an invisible force. Their appetites dwindled sharply. Even when the freshest fodder and fruit were placed before them, they could barely manage a few bites. Red, swollen patches appeared on some of their skin, and they even began losing hair. Their wounds were slow to heal and gave off an unpleasant odor. Their keepers were frantic over their condition and tried every method they could think of to cure them or ease their suffering, but with little effect.

At the war council, Deputy Commander Webster was filled