Vol 5 Chapter 31.3 (1/2)
Chapter 31 – Gold Behemoth (III)
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Oliveira nodded and said, “Apart from a few specific races, the vast majority of beastmen are naturally afraid of fire. In past wars, the attacks of our Fire Mages were the most effective. How big do you estimate their losses to be?”
Sura shook his head and replied, “It was too chaotic; I was unable to determine the extent of the damage they suffered. I believe, however, that they will want to a.s.semble their entire army, so they will wait for the fire and chaos to completely die out. Furthermore, since the trees on the mountain are very tall, the fire should not die out anytime soon. As long as it doesn’t rain or snow, the fire wouldn’t be extinguished for two days at the very least.”
Oliveira spoke, worried, “The only thing I fear now is that they might not wait to rea.s.semble their army and will attack immediately instead. Konya City doesn’t have a strong defense. The city walls are only fifteen meters high, which is about the same height as an average Behemoth. We only have three genuine Gigantic Dragons altogether, none of which are fully matured. A tamed dragon cannot successfully confront a Behemoth; it’s not strong enough. At most, it can only delay them.”
Ye Yin Zhu interjected, “Elder Brother Oliveira, how long until we get reinforcements?”
Hearing Ye Yin Zhu’s question, Oliveira’s expression immediately became uglier. Glancing at the others some distance away, he lowered his voice and said, “I used a magic summon to report to my grandfather about the beastmen ambush on Konya City. Grandfather said, however, that there is immense pressure on Sacred Heart City right now. Mjolnir Stronghold’s beastmen are just as strong as the main army. Furthermore, there are many incredibly fast Wolf Cavalry attacks on Sacred Heart City’s perimeter. Defense is extremely strained. He has already requested reinforcements from the Empire. For the time being, he can only send my second elder brother and five hundred Dragon Cavalry as backup. He doesn’t know when the other reinforcements can arrive.”
“What?” Ye Yin Zhu whispered, “If it’s like that, then our location…”
Oliveira’s eyes displayed a determined light. An unshakeable aura exuded from his body, an aura created through a baptism of bloodshed and death, of iron and steel, and that only presented itself in soldiers during precarious situations as it arose involuntarily. “Regardless of the response, as a Milan Empire soldier and as a future Dragon Cavalrymen, I will absolutely not cower. Even if we must fight to the very last man, the Dragon Cavalrymen and I will hold this line. We must delay the beastmen for as long as possible and give the Empire enough time to prepare. Yin Zhu, I’ve thought it out. You need to lead the students and evacuate; return as quickly as possible to the Inst.i.tution. At present, the war has gotten out of hand. Everyone here is the best of the best at the Inst.i.tution. They are the future of the Milan Empire; none must not die!”
Hearing his speech, Ye Yin Zhu and Sura couldn’t help but be moved. This fifth-year uppercla.s.smen had gained both of their respects. Sura nodded and said, “This is perhaps the best solution.”
“I won’t leave.” Ye Yin Zhu shook his head. Although his voice was serene, his tone was exceptionally firm.
Oliveira frowned. “Yin Zhu, now is not the time to show off your bravery. You should know that all of you are elite students with bright futures. You absolutely cannot forfeit this here.”
Ye Yin Zhu smiled. His smile was very pure and very gentle. “I understand. But, I won’t leave.”
“You…” Oliveira’s eyes dilated. He suddenly realized that this mage, who had previously received his sword blow, had a one-of-a-kind personality. This personality of his was what both his elder brother and grandfather had already seen.
Sura anxiously spoke up. “Yin Zhu, if we don’t leave now, it’ll be too late.”
Ye Yin Zhu glanced at Sura. “You leave. Although I am not a member of the Milan Empire, I am a Milan Inst.i.tution for Magic and Martial Arts student. I have a duty to protect this place. Besides, I am also a mage within the Milan Imperial Army.”
Sura sighed, exclaiming, “Since you insist on risking your life, then I will follow you.”
Ye Yin Zhu smiled. “I knew that you hate to part with me. Actually, we might be able to defend Konya City.”
Oliveira stared blankly. “Could it be that you have a plan?”
Ye Yin Zhu said, “Elder Brother Oliveira, did you forget the military stratagems you had told me earlier? You said that when confronting a well-matched adversary, you need to aim at their weaknesses. When confronting an adversary of greater strength, however, you need to reveal as much power as you can in front of them. Our fire attack may not have diminished the beastmen army’s strength, but at least it has left them panic-stricken. This false a.s.sumption they’ll be under will give us some time to prepare.”
Oliveira smacked his forehead. “Right! Look at me; normally I’m calm, but under duress, I am inferior to your incisiveness. Yin Zhu, it seems that you could very well become an outstanding general.”
Sura said doubtfully, “What nonsense are you two going on about?”
Oliveira laughed and said, “It’s not nonsense. Yin Zhu’s idea is to scare the beastmen first and make them unwilling to rush into an attack, possibly even making them retreat. Unfortunately, beastmen are naturally headstrong, unlike humanity’s cautiousness. If not, we might really have a chance. Scaring them, however, will at least delay them for some time. Now I finally understand the hidden meaning of life.”
Ye Yin Zhu’s eyes displayed a pondering light before he suddenly said, “Elder Brother Oliveira, if you can delay the beastmen for a while, we might really be able to withstand their attack. The condition, however, is to let all of the mages from the Inst.i.tution stay here and have them listen to me as their leader.”
Oliveira exclaimed, dumbstruck, “Are you saying that you have some way to block a beastmen army of nearly a hundred Behemoths? Mages? We only have forty mages, and the strongest amongst them is merely a Primary Level Cyan Rank. This is impossible. Not a single one of you can even injure a Behemoth!”
Ye Yin Zhu countered firmly, “Magic is a profound art. If someone had told you that the Divine Music division could become the Freshman Compet.i.tion Champion this year, would you have believed them? Elder Brother Oliveira, please give me this chance. I have to try.”
Oliveira hesitated for a moment before resolutely saying, “No. Yin Zhu, it’s not that I don’t trust you. If Konya City’s mages were a part of the army, I would absolutely allow you to try. You should know, however, that these students are not only exceedingly outstanding, but practically all of them have a very powerful background. Even our Violet Clan cannot afford to bear such a loss. Furthermore, my youngest sister is among the student mages. I’m not afraid of death, but I cannot trouble my family. Even my grandfather cannot take such a burdensome responsibility.”
“I will take on this responsibility for you.” At this pivotal moment, an entrancing and tranquil voice rang out. Xiang Luan and Hai Yang, hand in hand, had actually walked forward. The one who had spoken was the most beautiful woman of Milan Inst.i.tution for Magic and Martial Arts—Xiang Luan.
Oliveira stared at her in amazement. “You?”
The mischievous smile that normally graced Xiang Luan’s face was gone. She nodded calmly and said, “Correct. I will. My name is Berlusconi Xiang Luan. My father’s name is Berlusconi Silvio. Does Senior Oliveira not believe that I have the qualifications to take this responsibility?” As she said this, she revealed an emblem in her hand. It glittered with rays of red and black light. The emblem was in the shape of a pentagon, its tip pointed downward. The emblem was inlaid with three strips of red and black metal. The red was a kind of extremely precious, pure gold while the black was crow gold. At the exact center of the emblem was a brilliant diamond crafted into the form of a s.h.i.+eld, with a cross-sculpted ruby embedded within it. This emblem was made of shockingly rare materials, not to mention the excessive magical aura it leaked.
Ye Yin Zhu clearly didn’t understand the implications of Xiang Luan’s name, but beside him, Sura and Oliveira had become completely lifeless. They both cried out in unison, “Milan Ruby Cross s.h.i.+eld Emblem?!”
Beside Xiang Luan, Hai Yang delicately called out, “Oliveira, are you not going to greet the Imperial Princess?”
Oliveira immediately reacted. Putong! Sinking to one knee, he spoke with reverence, “Respects to Princess Xiang Luan.”