Fishing Operation

In fact, the joint military operation was not smooth from the very beginning. It wasn't just high-ranking officials and nobles like Catherine who held the idea of defense as a substitute for offense; the common people were the same. They hoped that the current peace could last a little longer, even if it couldn't last much longer, it was still much better than being destroyed by their own hands.

Although Gabriel understood that the common people and the upper classes had little interest in initiating a war, as the Archangel, she couldn't refuse, as she had received an order from the God of Justice. For an angel, the divine command was naturally far more important than the people's. Therefore, she had to work with Catherine to persuade the war-weary populace. The final result was that the nobles and the people agreed to send troops, but only a small force to probe the outer defenses of the undead army. After all, nothing was prepared at the moment; the transportation and management of supplies were not yet in place. Starting a war was premature, but merely retreating to defense without gaining experience in fighting the undead would not give them an advantage in future battles. Catherine and Gabriel used this point to persuade the nobles and the people, and thus convinced them to send troops.

Simply put, their original purpose for coming out this time was to "train" their troops, not to launch an attack.

However, as the saying goes, "A general in the field may disobey orders." Once across the border, the mysterious man immediately seized power and launched an attack against the Undead Legion. Although the initial resistance was considerable, after he easily captured two cities, this man had become a symbol of hope in the eyes of the expeditionary force at the front.

At this moment, they had forgotten their original purpose of coming out to train troops. Many soldiers hoped to completely annihilate these undead creatures, even if it was a slow advance. As long as they could wipe out all these damned things, their trip wouldn't have been in vain. Although some high-ranking officers maintained a calm and clear head in the face of victory, the lower-ranking soldiers didn't share their strategic vision. In their view, as long as they were under the leadership of that great one, and with the Saintess and angels present, what obstacle could they not overcome?

These two battle reports, once sent back to the United Kingdom, caused a considerable stir among the nobles and common people. It's important to understand that on the battlefields against the Magic Empire, humanity had always been forced to retreat against the undead armies; simply holding onto a city was already a significant achievement. Yet now, this expeditionary force, originally sent out for training, though small in number, had actually captured two cities occupied by undead creatures?! This completely exceeded everyone's initial expectations.

Whether for reasons of military families or political propaganda, it was impossible to abandon these two cities at the moment. Public opinion of the expeditionary force was also at an all-time high. Coupled with the "celebrity effect" of Catherine and Gabriel, the United Government in the rear quickly made a decision to provide logistical supplies and personnel replenishment for the expeditionary force, hoping they could continue their efforts. Of course, it didn't matter if they couldn't capture other cities, as long as they could establish the two existing cities as bridgeheads against the undead.

The United Government had its reasons for this consideration. Although it was currently wartime and those cities couldn't be reclaimed for civilian use, every inch the expeditionary force advanced provided the United Kingdom with an additional military buffer zone. At least when the undead army attacked, they couldn't directly attack United Kingdom territory first; they would have to pass through these fortresses established outside the border. This would provide the United Kingdom with a necessary barrier. As for the civilians, they didn't care where the fighting was taking place, as long as it wasn't on their own land. Ideally, both sides would fight fiercely on land that didn't belong to them, as long as it didn't affect their daily lives, it wouldn't matter at all.

However, Catherine and Gabriel naturally understood that the man was not so easily satisfied.

Judging from his current orders for the army to carry out only small-scale defensive construction in place, he clearly did not intend to build these two cities as long-term military fortresses; obviously, the man had other ideas.

However, even Gabriel didn't know what this man was thinking. Although she was also frustrated and full of questions, she couldn't show these emotions in front of Catherine. After all, Catherine was just an ordinary angel, and if she were to be affected by her own emotions, things could very well become complicated.

Of course, Catherine herself did not think so.

During this waiting period, the undead creatures did not attack again. According to reports from the scouts sent out around the area, almost all the undead creatures around the two cities had disappeared. Obviously, they may have sensed that something was wrong and had begun to move away consciously, or they may be gathering and waiting for the moment to strike.

The expeditionary force's high command had held several private meetings to discuss this matter, but they couldn't reach a conclusion. One faction believed the undead must have some other purpose, and that the current strategy should be to hold the line, conduct large-scale patrols and intelligence gathering to stabilize the situation. The other faction, however, believed this was simply the undead's panicked reaction to the current situation. They strongly demanded that, before the undead had a complete countermeasure, they continue their advance, seize the opportunity to eliminate all the undead, and reclaim the land that originally belonged to humanity!

Of course, both sides argued their points logically, but Catherine and Gabriel, the two most qualified to speak, remained silent. After receiving Li Lin's orders from Suoxiate, Catherine finally understood what she had to do, so she waited patiently for things to unfold, while controlling its direction to prevent it from deviating or shifting.

Finally, five days later, another army of about 5,000 men arrived at the front and joined the expeditionary force. As a result, the total number of the expeditionary force, which originally numbered only 12,000, immediately began to approach 20,000. At the same time, the abundant logistical supplies reassured both the soldiers and officers. Now all they had to wait for was the final order—whether to defend or attack.

That man did not disappoint them.

The day after reinforcements arrived, he immediately led his entire army forward, capturing the third city after two days. The undead might be adept at siege warfare, but they were utterly inept at defense. After the man led his army into the city, although most of the undead attempted to leverage their superior strength for urban warfare, it proved utterly ineffective against the man's strange power. Whenever he used that strange power, the once incredibly powerful undead became exceptionally vulnerable. Coupled with the holy light of Catherine and Gabriel, hundreds upon hundreds of undead were reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye. Those who managed to escape were no better off; their weakened bodies were powerless against the fully armed paladins and warriors, and they were quickly chopped into mincemeat.

Good news came in quick succession.

Soon, the entire United Kingdom learned of a mysterious messenger of God of Justice (that's the only way to refer to him now), leading the united army to victory after victory. He possessed power sufficient to subdue the undead, negating all their advantages. Before him, the undead were no longer lightning-fast, ox-strong monsters, but merely walking corpses. Of course, there were also many rumors about how the saintess Catherine and Gabriel cast holy light to shield the warriors from filth and spread the light of justice throughout the world. Furthermore, although the united army strengthened the protection and investigation of logistics after capturing the third city, they were surprised to find that these undead were completely tactless. They never even attempted to ambush the supply lines; on the contrary, in the first few days after capturing the city, the undead foolishly charged straight through the gates, only to be wiped out by the well-positioned soldiers.

These facts have significantly boosted the morale of the coalition forces' soldiers.

These undead creatures have only won so many battles because of their great strength, speed, and numbers. They don't understand any tactics or skills at all! With proper preparation, eliminating them is only a matter of time!

Such opinions held considerable sway within the Allied Forces. Although a few officers remained clear-headed—after all, the Magic Empire's magical weapons had not yet appeared, the dragons from the previous battles in the Federation had not yet materialized, and the floating city that had once massacred Casablanca City was nowhere to be seen—they naturally refrained from offering any discouraging remarks given the overwhelming excitement of the majority.

But things finally changed on the eighth day after the city was captured.

The once clear sky turned overcast that morning, and a light drizzle began to fall. Most of the soldiers returned to their camps to rest, but many others patrolled the city walls. Although no one said anything, the gloomy atmosphere made many feel heavy-hearted, as if something bad was about to happen.

Sure enough, their premonition came true.

As dusk fell, the rain intensified, and the wind across the plains grew stronger. The icy raindrops, swept by the wind, relentlessly lashed at everyone, as if foreshadowing what was to come. The howling wind sounded like the angry cries and screams of the dead, and a chill that shouldn't be present in spring filled the entire city. Even the burning bonfires dimmed considerably in the cold, powerful whirlwind.

Soon, the soldier on the watchtower spotted a black dot slowly moving on the distant horizon. At first, he didn't pay much attention; after all, hundreds or even thousands of undead creatures had been attacking the city every day, but none had ever gained any advantage. The soldiers privately mocked these undead armies, calling them nothing more than fools who only knew how to charge forward. Some even said that facing these undead creatures, you didn't even need to make any moves; just stand there with your sword, and they would run into it on their own—though that was only partly true.

However, a mission is a mission after all, so the lookout perked up and placed his hand on the clock rope beside him.

Then, a heavy bell rang out, announcing the imminent enemy attack—which then turned into a rapid series of short chimes.

This is an alarm signaling an approaching large army.

The soldiers quickly rushed out of their barracks. In the days of fighting, they were filled with absolute confidence and courage, so confident that they believed they could withstand the attack of any undead creature. But when they reached the city wall, what they saw before them still sent a chill down their spines.

A dark mass of undead creatures appeared on the other side of the horizon, their crimson eyes flashing. In the hazy rain, they looked terrifying. The crimson points of light converged into a slowly moving river, meandering across the land. The deathly rage and despair contained within it sent a chill down the spines of all the living. It was absolute nothingness, a form incapable of life's existence or transformation; it was absolute evil and distortion, a terrifying thing that could never have arisen naturally.

They roared, screamed, and howled, for the lives they had lost and could not regain, and for the lives before them. They tried to fill the unfillable emptiness and greed deep within their hearts with this desperate act.

At this moment, everyone was wondering if they had underestimated the true strength of the undead army.

However, these questions vanished after the appearance of the divine man, as well as Catherine and Gabriel.

"Don't worry!"

The man still concealed his face with his cloak, preventing anyone from seeing it, but his voice reached the ears of every soldier. His seemingly Magic Power aura dispelled the fear in their hearts and reignited their fighting spirit.

"These undead creatures won't be rampant for long. No matter how many come, they can't stop our advance!"

As the man spoke, Catherine and Gabriel slowly floated into the air, their pure white wings unfurling from behind them. Warm holy light radiated out, enveloping every soldier and warming them from the depths of their souls. It rekindled their hope and passion, and their unwavering will to face battle. At this moment, the undead creatures below no longer seemed so terrifying to these soldiers.

They even developed the delusion that they were capable of annihilating the entire undead army here.

Just then, a sharp, ferocious, petite voice rang out from the howling wind and rain, like a roaring wild beast.

"Stop your futile struggles, you lowly humans!"

Lightning roared past, illuminating everything before them. Not far in the sky, a girl floated, her devilish wings outstretched, thick black energy swirling and dispersing above her. Gale and rain seemed to avoid her, scattering in all directions and striking the silent undead army at her feet.

"I thought it was something extraordinary, daring to obstruct my army? Turns out, it's just a bunch of lowly trash. How dare you attack my undead army? What audacity! Humans!"

The crimson light in the girl's eyes was hundreds of times brighter than that of the undead creatures, and the way her long, silvery-white hair billowed in the storm was equally terrifying. Although she looked so young, the feeling she gave off was so frightening. An evil aura enveloped her, sweeping forward with the force of the gale, capable of ravaging anywhere. The atmosphere that the mysterious man had painstakingly created had weakened considerably under the girl's violent aura, but he showed no signs of panic or surprise.

"No matter how much you try to impress people with your words, it won't work, little girl."

The man spoke.

"Just accept your death! Evil like you shouldn't even exist in this world!"

As the man spoke, Gabriel slowly advanced. She raised her hands high, and the already holy and beautiful light shone twice as brightly, barely dispelling the evil aura emanating from the girl and protecting the soldiers around her from its threat and influence. This filled the soldiers with even greater confidence; their previously wavering expressions returned to unwavering resolve. They gripped their longbows and swords, vigilantly watching the undead tide, darker than night, silently resting not far outside the city walls. The priests began to pray softly, casting divine spells to grant the soldiers both defensive and offensive power. The paladins reined in their steeds, drew their longswords, their blades gleaming with holy light, awaiting to display their might against evil.

"This is none of your business, male. Justice? I need no justice. All I need is the death of you reptiles. Only when your corpses submit to me will it all end. Soon, you will know how insignificant humanity is before my power."

The girl glared coldly at the man, then shifted her gaze to the army behind him. A mad, tyrannical, and evil smile appeared on her face.

"Today, I will make you all die here, turning this place into your eternal burial ground! Repent, humans, repent for your foolish act of daring to provoke me!"

As the girl spoke, the undead army began to move.

The torrent of death breached the dam, surging forward recklessly before crashing heavily against the sturdy city walls. The entire earth trembled slightly with this fierce onslaught, as if the world itself were about to be utterly destroyed in this raging storm.

The undead army's counterattack has begun.