Prelude to the Offensive

"Yes, Nalant. Going deep into the Northern Principality is simply too dangerous. And to get there, you'll have to cross that boundless desert wasteland. We heard Cort say before that when they came through, they paid the price of several hundred men just to cross it successfully."

"So you should retreat with us!" Boris and Rell immediately chimed in with their own persuasion.

To nobles like them, unfamiliar with the terrain, the desert was a forbidden zone.

Only those small principalities in the desert could survive there by relying on camels.

This was also the main reason why the two great principalities had not made a move against those small principalities all these years.

"Don't worry. I know how dangerous the desert is!" Nalant had already made up his mind. "The desert actually isn't a problem for me. I have a way to cross it safely. But once I get behind the Northern Principality, I'm not sure whether I'll be able to make any difference for the army..."

While Nalant and the others were discussing whether to retreat or advance, in a valley several hundred miles east of Oak City.

At that moment, flames soared into the sky from a camp in the valley, while the sounds of slaughter and wailing echoed without end.

This was one of the earl-led forces the Onyx Principality had sent to guard the roads. It was the second-farthest garrison from Oak City, surpassed only by Nalant's group.

Originally, everyone assigned to this watch had believed they merely needed to prevent any fish that slipped through the net from escaping Oak City.

But half an hour earlier, a cavalry regiment three thousand strong had launched a surprise assault on this garrison.

They first sent several dozen Title Knights to secretly approach the camp, then