The campfire was reduced to embers, and the guards had already changed twice.
As dawn approached, Mu En was reviewing the battle.
After all, this was the first time his Blessed Warrior, or rather, the power of the Golden Order, had been used in actual combat.
Overall, it's a mixed bag.
Keep in mind that just four days ago, most of these ten people were ordinary people who weren't even qualified to be militiamen.
The formation was crooked and shaky, discipline was negligible, and even the swords could not be held steadily.
But now, they have undergone earth-shattering changes.
The blessing enhances physical fitness, the hellish training hones mental fortitude and combat skills, and the military philosophy brought by Mu En further strengthens the character.
They transformed them from a group of armed civilians into an entity that could barely be called an army.
Even if there are some minor mistakes, they can still make up for them with their powerful combat capabilities.
For example, the physical stamina required to run forty kilometers without rest in the desert;
The ability to recover quickly enough to rejoin high-intensity combat after a short rest;
And most importantly, the holy sword and shield that will enable the Blessed Warrior to still fight on this battlefield of firearms.
The bandits could never understand, even in death, why those lightsabers could so easily cut through gun barrels and armor, and why bullets couldn't penetrate that thin layer of golden light.
However, Mu En was not blinded by this victory.
To anyone unaware of the details, it appeared to be an overwhelming victory, a swift and decisive raid, with mountains of spoils and the complete annihilation of the enemy with zero casualties.
But he himself knew that this battle had exposed many of the Blessed ' weaknesses.
The first issue is consumption.
The Blessed Warrior is similar to the "Prayer" and "Mage" in the Elden Ring, with the vast majority of their combat power built upon Incantations.
Once physical and mental strength are exhausted, the Blessed Warrior will fall into a state of weakness, which is extremely dangerous.
The success of this battle was based on the fact that the enemy was in the open while we were in the dark, the bandits underestimated us, and the battle was short.
Even so, there were still near-misses with casualties.
What if the enemy knows the Blessed Warrior' weaknesses and uses attrition tactics, constantly forcing them to activate their shields with ranged firepower?
Ordinary soldiers only need to reload, aim, and pull the trigger; they hardly need to worry about any consumption issues before running out of ammunition.
But the Blessed Warrior have much more to consider.
Secondly, there is the act of Incantations.
Mu En had noticed this problem during training, but its seriousness only became apparent during actual combat.
To perform a release Incantations, one must assume a specific posture and pray to Him, the " Erdtree," in one's heart.
This is a necessary condition for guiding the Rune energy within the body and transforming one's mental and physical strength into Incantations.
This requirement became a major weakness for the Blessed Warrior.
On a rapidly changing battlefield, standing still and posing is almost tantamount to suicide.
You can see the clues by looking at some characters who get kicked away during their transformations.
Nausicaä can cast Incantations instantly because she has a deeper connection with herself and the Golden Rune within her are more powerful.
Once she truly crosses the threshold of " Knight Level ", she will no longer need to strike a pose; she can unleash her power with just a thought.
But Nausicaä is special.
Her innate and unique ability to resonate with nature allows her to go further and more easily on the path of the Golden Order than others.
For other Blessed to reach her level is an insurmountable challenge, at least in the short term.
"The power of the Golden Order alone is not enough," Mu En concluded.
Blessed Warrior can be the spearhead, the sharp blade that tears through enemy lines, but they cannot replace an army, nor can they contend with organized, heavily armed units on the front lines.
So, how can we further enhance the Blessed's combat power?
Mu En's thoughts began to wander.
As mentioned earlier, those Blessed possess physical qualities far exceeding those of ordinary people.
So, are they capable of doing things that ordinary people cannot?
For example, accurately hitting a target from a kilometer away with the naked eye? Withstanding the recoil of a heavy machine gun with bare hands and maintaining ballistic stability? Aiming and firing a rocket while moving at high speed?
The answer is: Yes.
In all these respects, the Blessed can do better than the average person.
The blessing grants them powerful dynamic vision, strength, and reflexes, enabling them to carry out precise sniping beyond the line of sight of ordinary people, to carry and use heavy firepower weapons alone, and to quickly maneuver while accurately judging the trajectory of bullets.
Mu En even envisioned more distant applications, such as enabling the Blessed to pilot aircraft and perform highly maneuverable maneuvers that ordinary people could not accomplish...
Until we can create the world-destroying demigods like those in " The Elden Ring," combining firearms with superhuman physiques may be the only real way out.
"We must walk on two legs," Mu En decided. "Continue manufacturing and training Blessed Warrior, while simultaneously creating modern weaponry for the Valley of the Wind as quickly as possible, from firearms to artillery..."
These things need to be put on the agenda as soon as possible.
As dawn breaks over the horizon, the desert temperature begins to rise.
The camp has awakened.
Wisps of smoke rose again. The bandits had stockpiled enough food to feed this group of refugees for a long time. They had previously withheld rations only to prevent the slaves from having the strength to escape.
Mu En naturally wouldn't be stingy with these meager, ordinary grains.
The refugees held their wooden bowls and swallowed their food. After a good night's sleep and two hearty meals, their condition had improved significantly.
Although he was still ragged and haggard, he was no longer ashen-faced, and there was hope in his eyes.
"Your Highness!" Por reported to Nausicaä, "All the supplies have been loaded onto the trucks, and the wounded refugees have received basic first aid and treatment."
Although two medics nearly collapsed from exhaustion, if they hadn't used the power of Incantations, someone else might have died last night.
Nausicaä's gaze swept across the camp, and she nodded.
Is there enough food?
"The bandits have stockpiled enough grain to feed these people for about ten days. At their current pace, they should arrive the day after tomorrow. We have already set aside enough surplus grain."
"Very good, let's get ready to go."
One hundred and seventy-three refugees, ten Blessed Warrior, plus captured supplies and prisoners.
It's impossible for such a large team to all squeeze onto Horseclaw.
Therefore, the refugees had no choice but to continue on foot to the Valley of the Wind, while most of the Blessed Warrior would stay behind to escort them.
They are physically fit and powerful enough to handle most threats.
At the same time, ten of the strongest Horseclaw were selected to be responsible for transporting food, water and necessary supplies.
Wheeled carts are not suitable for transporting goods in the desert, as the wheels would get stuck in the sand.
Instead, a wide wooden platform, similar to a sled, was used, with a smooth metal plate wrapped around its bottom to reduce friction.
Using this "desert sled," the Horseclaw will be able to carry far more weight than it can carry on its back.
At this moment, a large number of Horseclaw have been harnessed and are ready to go.
Nausicaä mounted her horse, with Yupa, Por, and the other two Blessed Warrior following behind her.
"Let's set off and return to the Valley of the Wind."
This expedition has ended in triumph!