156 Fortification (2/2)
”Oh by the way, add some spice for the guys hanging on the flagpole, let the demonic marksman use them as targets, don't let them be idle. Don't worry, target practising has never killed anyone. Don't think I do not know, these guys are experienced now that they have been hanging for so long, ”What is the most energy saving pose to sleep when you are hanged upside down?”. Ha! I'd like to see how you sleep while you are being shot at.”
After settling all these nuisances, it was now time to put my attention on serious matters.
My Undead patrols and Aurora Air Cavalry were reputed as the highest-rank spies amongst the battlefield. With their efforts, I had a certain amount of confidence about the battlefield.
I had no idea what the allied armies were doing on their side, but there had been several military meetings where I was not even invited, most likely they were up to some schemes. Of course, I had made my own calculations on this, the information that I shared was chosen very carefully.
Putting aside their years of prejudice, Beastmen and Elves were working together closely, whereas humans were playing political games among themselves, no matter how I looked at it, the situation on our side was unfavourable.
However, since the Elves made their entry, I was no longer worried about the problem in Antuen. This was not a military problem, but a political one.
If my predictions were not wrong, the elves were raising the flag of vengeance, the war was on the horizon, and will eventually involve the mega powerful countries of Humans as well as the cathedrals. And then, since they had declared war against Sleuweir, if Antuen falls, and Sleuweir razed to the ground, should they not consider returning back home?
I was afraid this was the reason of Beastmen being inconsistent with their invasion of the city. The Antuen of Sleuweir was but a large bait in the plan. If the bait was dead before the plan could be executed, then how the plan plays out had to be reconsidered.
Considering the current situation, if the final battle was lost, killing half of the seven kingdoms in the Northlands should be enough. However, if any of the mega kingdoms interfere, for example, San Antonio with personal connections, those little elven kingdoms in the Northland would not stand a chance.
”Elisa, do you know the inside story? Have you any news?”
”None, this is not part of our responsibility, but I can smell the stench of devils in this. Their hands had played a part in this chaos, it is their favourite game to come up with all these pointless evil schemes. If the demons were leading, they would have definitely begun with the blood sacrifice to summon the demon generals. When the army arrives, they will steamroll through the whole way, these useless little tactics are so laughable.”
Indeed, this also matched my understanding of the two races of Chaos faction. Demons had been known to be lurking among other races, to create disputes or to hatch evil plans, with many devilish strategies.
”No, I must go and have a look.”
Sitting at home, blindly giving instructions is not my style when the situation is unclear to me, hence, I did not hesitate when I jumped onto my steed, the Frigid Nightmare, and rode to the front lines to investigate.
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The flying Frigid Nightmare suddenly transformed into its ethereal form, dodging the lightning casted by the Lightning Eagles. I transformed into War Angel forms while I was in the mist, and silently flew away from the clouds.
”Dismissed!”
At the next moment, just as the Lightning Eagle Knights had their attention shifted towards Irene, whose body just recondensed again, in that split second, the giant sword coming from up above struck them down straight away.
With the strength of Irene's legs, Antuen shouldn't be far, but these air cavalries, who kept intercepting along the way were indeed troublesome. I had already met four of these little groups on my way. Although Lightning Eagles who had Hammerburst as their only superpower, were not difficult to be dealt with, their extreme speed and outstanding eyesight certainly made them worthy opponents, one might run but might not escape, and would be at last forced to swallow all their attacks.
At this stage, even my transfiguration and Irene's invisibility which could be performed only thrice per day, had all been forcefully spent, it seemed that we had reached our limit.
Not far from here, Antuen was surrounded, but I would not take a step further as the alarm in the Beastmen's camp had rang out abruptly. Uncountable air cavalries started flying up into the air, two-legged flying dragons, Lightning Eagles, bird-bodied witches, and as if all these traditional soldiers were not enough, I even saw a young green dragon knight.
”This has completely sealed off the air route towards Antuen. Let's go home, Irene.”
Just as I sent orders to back home, the black cat which was hiding from the wind in the snuck out by itself.
”Don't be hasty, circle around more, do you see what is below those stone pillars? Look closer, God forbid there will be new problems.”
Very well, a word from the expert, and the officer broke his leg running. After I flew around the stone pillar twice and began playing hide-and-seek with the little green dragon for a full ten minutes, Harloys finally nodded and began speaking.
”It has been confirmed. Go back, since they have decided to act this way, I'm afraid that the final battle is before us.”
”Why is that?”
I skillfully dodged the dragon's breath attack from behind, while I leisurely flicked my middle finger towards the dragon rider. This dragon did not even have a fully formed beard, I reckoned he was not yet a hundred, he might even be a livestock from a Beastman's farm. Perhaps his abilities were quite strong, but totally inferior in terms of experience on the battlefield.
After Irene transformed into a bird form and flew at full throttle, the green dragon was nowhere to be seen after mere minutes. After we managed to shake off the Beastmen air cavalries, I could finally ask Harloys on her discovery.
”All of you meat on a stick, how could you possibly understand the secrets of sorcerers… don't shake, don't shake, I'll fall! Fine, I'll tell you, the Earth elemental beings are building a city. You must have heard of the Fort of Elements, perhaps in a few days there will be another gigantic city around here. At that time, you will be invading a big city whereas they will be attacking a small city. Oh, that would be amusing.”
I shook my head in disbelief.
”Don't play with me, Fort of Elements can only be summoned on the elemental plane. This is but the main plane.
”Yes, this is then the second problem, the main gate to the Earth elemental plane is opening as we speak, very soon you will be swarmed with uncountable stone men.”