"Still no word from headquarters?"
"No. We've requested instructions many times, but there's still been no reply."
"Damn it, what the hell is going on! What about those Order people outside? Have they built their castle yet?"
"The scouts haven't returned yet. I suspect the other observation posts have also lost contact with headquarters. Our intelligence and command systems may well be paralyzed."
"How is that possible? There must just be something wrong with the clay figurines here."
Just then, someone slid down from above. It was one of the scouts from this stronghold.
"What's happening outside?"
"Order's battle formation has withdrawn."
"What, withdrawn? Have they finished building their castle?"
"No, they haven't. I saw that it was less than half finished. Also, on my way back, I deliberately contacted the nearest stronghold. They've lost contact with headquarters too. I suspect the Order legion may have used some large-scale forbidden-grade jamming spell art."
"No, impossible. Our Earth God Church's clay figurines work on completely different principles from other churches' communication methods. We wouldn't be affected by that."
"Then headquarters must have..."
"No, that's even more impossible!!!"
Clearly, this commander was unwilling to believe something had gone wrong at headquarters, because the consequences would be far too terrible.
Under normal circumstances, breaking an army apart for a dispersed defense was tantamount to choosing a slow suicide;
only the terrain and the characteristics of the Earth God Church and the Life Order God Church had turned that disadvantage into an advantage. But the prerequisite was that the command system had to remain stable, keeping the entire defensive system operating efficiently.
Once that command system was lost, the small garrisons scattered throughout the canyon's strongholds would become toads sitting in dried-up wells.
"What's this?"
Someone cried out in alarm. Smoke had appeared beneath