Blessings of the Loa
Zul'ra and Bolvar disagreed, each trying to convince the other. Bolvar thought Zul'ra's idea was cowardly, arguing that the Dwarves tanks were insufficient for a Charge charge. Zul'ra, on the other hand, believed Bolvar's formation was too Recklessness, failing to fully utilize advanced weaponry and neglecting the situation of the Qiraji; failing to break through the insectoids would have disastrous consequences. 💥💥 🎃💞
Although both sides were somewhat annoyed and even wanted to strangle each other during the process of persuading the other, Zul'ra ultimately chose to back down. Firstly, he was not very confident in his military capabilities, having previously won mainly through cheat codes. Secondly, he did not want to widen the rift in the argument, worsen the relationship between the two armies within the coalition, and ultimately escalate into a situation like Japan's, where the land and sea forces drag each other down.
Faced with Zul'ra's compromise, Bolvar made some minor adjustments. While maintaining his original stance, he divided the mortars, javelins, and infantry in the formation to the flanks, while the remaining infantry and archers were placed in the front as a feint, and the musketeers and tanks in the rear as the main force. The cavalry were distributed on both flanks alongside the feint.
When facing the insectoids, the feint formation in front retreats to the solid formation, leaving an open space for the cavalry on both flanks. This open space not only provides room for the allied bombs to annihilate the enemy to the greatest extent possible, but also ensures that the cavalry on both flanks can bypass the bomb field and launch a general offensive into the enemy's territory.
Zul'ra agreed to Bolvar's newly adjusted pocket formation and then made a series of additions. For example, goblins could lay mines in advance on the Goblins formation's grounds, and after the Scarab Wall was opened, the dragons should launch an initial bombardment to force the beetles out of the Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj.
In addition to bombing the interior of Ahn'Qiraj, the coalition forces also needed aerial reconnaissance and a way to unify the command system of the entire army, to tell the cavalry of the general offensive where to charge, because telegrams could not transmit real-time information, and there was no time to set up radio and telephone lines here.
Is this Zul'ra Jin a Goblins in Trolls skin? Faced with Zul'ra's series of additions, many high-ranking members of the allied forces, even those from the Horde, couldn't help but have some reservations, since his suggestions were mostly related to explosives and he was particularly fond of doing business.
Despite their internal disagreements, Zul'ra's suggestion was still reasonable. The dragons, after seeing the bombs, also expressed their willingness to help. After some discussion, the mages agreed to use magic fireworks to help the allied forces conduct emergency communications. The Goblins also agreed. However, Zul'ra still asked the Dwarves to help them lay landmines to prevent them from accidentally injuring themselves and their allies.
After a full day of discussions, the battle plan was largely finalized, and then corresponding battle orders were issued to various locations. First, the troops that had been resting in various locations began to converge on the front line, and then each unit was arranged to enter its position.
Just as the allied forces entered the position with full preparation, waiting only to break the seal of the Scarab Wall and officially launch the Second War of the Shifting Sands, Zul'ra felt that he had missed something. So he lit incense and set up the Snake God Banner in a secluded tent, trying to contact Ulathek or the gods.
"Gods, answer me and bless us with victory in this war!" Zul'ra prayed with her eyes closed amidst the swirling smoke, radiating a devout faith to attract the Loa, even if it was just the Ulathek.
After half an hour of devout prayer, Zul'ra suddenly felt a tightness in his heart. The smoke in the room spread out, and a dozen wild beasts and countless Trolls phantoms entered his mental vision. There were more Loa than when he took over Amani, and some of them were ones he had never seen before.
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"Gods, please guide me, please give me strength." Zul'ra looked at the various Loa in the phantom image, including a bear, a cat, an eagle, Dragonhawk, a mammoth, a leopard, a tiger, Wind Serpent, a rhinoceros, and Trolls, and quickly lowered his posture to the lowest possible level.
"Zul'ra Jin, do you think you're the only one preparing for war?" The serpentine Loa, with horns on his head and claws on his belly, looked down at Zul'ra and gave guidance in his familiar tone.
He wasn't the only one preparing for war. Facing the guidance of the familiar voice, Zul'ra suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He realized what he had overlooked: the seal on the Scarab Wall had loosened, and something must have infiltrated Kalimdor from the other side as well.
"Don't worry, Zul'ra Jin, you will win this war. Although you will shed blood, it will be worth it. The world will be protected by you once again, and we will give you strength. You will be the Warchief of the Horde, you will be the center of the world." The Dragonhawk, head held high, spoke with a proud voice.
"Don't be modest, Zul'ra Jin, you deserve this." The massive mammoth curled its trunk.
"The glory of the Trolls will once again spread throughout the world."
"You will be the king of the world."
"You will live forever." Each blessing gathered into power, about to be injected into Zul'ra's body, when a sudden sentence interrupted, abruptly stopping the blessing. All the Loa turned their gaze to the serpentine Loa with its head, horns, belly, and claws.
"That's right, you will live forever, and that's what you deserve." Facing the gazes of the crowd, the serpentine Loa spoke resolutely, pulling away the power that the Loa had gathered to inject into Zul'ra's body.
"This is the proof we've given you." The serpentine Loa with its head, horns, belly, and claws gathered its power into a single entity, which it then poured into the Snake God Banner that Zul'ra had hung up.
The intense power transformed the banner, causing the serpentine silver embroidery on its surface to twist and evolve into images of wild beasts, from cats, tigers, and leopards to bears, snakes, rhinoceroses, mammoths, eagles, and Dragonhawk, each beast resembling a character.
"Thank you, gods, thank you, gods." Zul'ra faced the serpentine Loa who was channeling power into the banner. Recognizing that it was Ulathek, he counted in his mind and repeatedly expressed his gratitude. He was also confused about the situation, but he believed that Ulathek would not harm him.
"You deserve it." The Loa seemed a little caught off guard, but when faced with Zul'ra's gratitude, the bear-shaped Loa spoke first.
"This is what you deserve," the cat-shaped Loa then caught.
"This is what you deserve." The voices converged into one sentence, and some Loa left one after another after speaking, just like the flying Loa including Dragonhawk, Eagle Wind Serpent.
"This is what you deserve, Zul'ra Jin. Go! Go and protect our world." After saying this, the serpentine Loa took the lead and left, and then all the Loa dispersed.
Smoke still lingered inside the tent. Zul'ra opened her eyes and looked at the Snake God Banner in front of her, its surface covered with countless hieroglyphic symbols. Hmm, it shouldn't be called the Snake God Banner anymore; it should have a new name. Perhaps "Banner of Many Spirits" would be a good name. But she wondered what those Loa were thinking!