The Agony and the Decision

The Imperial Capital Army was still marching north, but its morale was visibly declining.

Despair began to spread.

The Northern Air Force had actually inflicted very few casualties. With only about twenty people in the Bombing Squadron, and without using their reserves of Hextech Crystals, they might injure only a few dozen people a day—even if the Imperial Capital Army had no air defenses at all.

But the problem was... even knowing how little damage these things could do, the soldiers still grew tense when the Dragon Riders began their dives, crying out as they swooped down.

After enough of that, anyone would grow weary, and morale would naturally fall, bit by bit.

Even a will as unyielding as steel didn't make someone actual steel. Even someone as powerful as Lux or Yin Nuo needed several months of gradual training under Karya's guidance to reach a state where they could go without sleep. There was absolutely no way these soldiers could adapt to incessant air raids in such a short time!

Unless Jarvan IV was willing to stop and give the soldiers time to become completely desensitized to attacks from the sky.

But Eight Paths Slope was just ahead, and Rizos was only a dozen or so days away. If they stopped now, they'd be in the middle of nowhere, with their supply line stretched long behind them...

When someone suggested this, he was met with immediate opposition from everyone.

So, ever accommodating, Jarvan IV decided to make the soldiers suffer a little. They would reach Rizos and teach those despicable Northern People a lesson, making those cowards who relied on petty tricks taste the fury of the Imperial Capital Army!

Under Jarvan IV's orders, the Imperial Capital Army quickened its pace.

Curiously, as their march accelerated, the Imperial Capital