Before war came probing attacks.
Although the Holy War had yet to begin in earnest, scattered probing engagements had already started.
The fighting before the Holy War erupted on a full scale could hardly be called warfare. These were merely clashes. Across many stretches of sea, opposing fleets kept crossing paths, and battle inevitably followed.
Every day, one or two such battles broke out somewhere. Though small in scale and impact, they were like thorns constantly pricking the nerves of humans and Elves. The tension grew ever thicker.
The flames of war had already spread far afield.
That day, in a stretch of sea that had been utterly quiet, an Elven Fleet suddenly encountered a training fleet from the Radiance Church.
The crew aboard the Revival were ready to deploy.
"Captain, a human fleet has been spotted ahead!" the lookout reported.
"Prepare for battle, loyal subjects of Anion!" the captain immediately called out.
"Yes!"
"Mages, prepare at once! Priests, get ready to cast divine blessings! Druids, act as you see fit!" the captain continued. "Notify the flagship and the other vessels."
"As you command!" Luo Laike answered on behalf of the mages.
Among the assembled mages, his cloak made him particularly conspicuous. He was an eighth-level mage, a human commanding the Elven mages aboard this ship.
Anion was a strict and just god. Luo Laike had repeatedly distinguished himself, and naturally received rewards.
After igniting his divine fire, Anion had vigorously introduced formal training among the Elves, imparting systematic methods for training warriors and mages.
Over five years, the warriors had been transformed, and the number of mages had increased dramatically.
Previously, their only weakness had been a shortage of priests. That gap had now largely been filled, though their levels were still low.
Almost simultaneously, the human fleet opposite