In the grand square of Sanssouci Palace, the Emperor of Fast held a grand farewell ceremony for the Aurelian Dragon. Even the temple sent bishops to attend the event. It's hard to tell whether it was due to the importance of the mission or the allure of this man who became famous overnight. In any case, such treatment hadn't been seen for a long time.
On this day, Andre III first held a banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, personally offering wine to Aurelian Dragon. Then, he led his ministers and Aurelian Dragon's entourage to worship the founding god of Fast under the guidance of a bishop sent by the temple. The grandeur of the treatment astonished many people, while Prince Elnario was furious. How could such a man be so favored by his father? How could this continue?
Gilmans became even more determined to win over the Aurelian Dragon. Although he didn't understand the reasons behind it, he, who only cared about the consequences, naturally knew that with the Aurelian Dragon's help, he would have a good chance of winning in the struggle against the Third Prince.
After a long and chaotic day, we finally set off around noon.
Aurelian Dragon had never been so splendid since birth. All the important people in the Kingdom of Fast were present, including princes, nobles, and ministers, who all toasted him. Needless to say, he was extremely proud.
He felt immense gratitude towards the elderly man, a deep sense of being recognized and appreciated welling up in his heart. For a moment, he was willing to go through fire and water without batting an eye.
Aurelian Dragon looked confidently at the women in full military attire around him. He had immense confidence in completing his mission; simply welcoming a wedding delegation within his own country was a piece of cake.
Unexpectedly, in just a few days in the capital, he not only became famous but also gained a powerful subordinate—a master among the best. Thinking of this, his gaze fell upon Garrick Stonewall, who was standing at the foot of the flag.
A colossal body was clad in dark armor, and the six-foot-long sword on its back exuded a terrifying aura. Aurelian Dragon knew the sword's power, and even he was startled when he first saw it. According to Lynette Quill, who recognized the sword, this was the legendary Giant Sword, one of the six divine weapons forged by the Celestial Master of the Celestial Race, a feat achieved through the culmination of his life's work. It was truly baffling why this sword had fallen into the hands of the obscure Garrick Stonewall.
Upon leaving Esnia, the Aurelian Dragon spurred its army forward along the official road towards Yuzhou, their first stop. There, they would receive the wedding delegation from Wu'an and then escort them back to the capital.
His deputy was a shrewd middle-aged general named Suo Chong. Throughout the journey, he meticulously arranged military affairs, saving Aurelian Dragon much trouble. He and Garrick Stonewall also hit it off immediately, finding great synergy in many areas. Later, Aurelian Dragon, as the commander-in-chief, became idle, spending his days with Lynette Quill and Obsidia Shade, leading his soldiers to believe that his command was inadequate.
However, the person involved seemed to lack a sense of shame and did not feel that there was anything wrong with it, and continued to live a carefree life.
After a few days, Lynette Quill finally couldn't help but ask him why he, as the commander-in-chief, was so leisurely. Didn't he hear the soldiers below gossiping that he was just an idle man?
Aurelian Dragon replied without batting an eye, "They did a better job than me. Rather than causing trouble for others, it's always been my approach to let those with the ability do their best. I don't think there's anything wrong with that."
Lynette Quill was initially displeased upon hearing this, but after careful consideration, she felt relieved. Rather than making a mess of it herself, it was better to hand it over to someone with the talent. It was just that Aurelian Dragon's approach was different from that of people in this era. No one would be willing to admit that their skills were inferior to others, because that would lead to being looked down upon.
When their conversation reached the ears of the two busy individuals, they both simultaneously put down what they were doing. "What a strange man" was the first thought that came to their minds. They stood silently for a while before gathering their chaotic emotions.
From then on, they became more meticulous in their work, and Suo Chong seemed to have a new understanding of Aurelian Dragon, no longer harboring the somewhat disdainful attitude he had previously held. Many in the Fast army shared this view: Aurelian Dragon was merely a lucky nouveau riche, his abilities not befitting his position. This was especially true of seasoned veterans, who looked down upon these suddenly rising stars.
On this day, they reached the territory of Bingzhou. Due to the mountain roads being washed away by floods, their journey slowed down, and they only traveled a little over forty li (approximately 20 kilometers) in a day. At dusk, the main force set up camp to rest.
Under Suo Chong's command, the soldiers erected over two hundred tents on the grassland beside a small river. Although it was a routine mission, Suo Chong did not slacken his efforts. He divided the tents into three groups, setting up a well-organized camp according to the principles of the Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, and Man). Along the way, his ability in marching and setting up camp had left a very deep impression on Aurelian Dragon and his men. Aurelian Dragon was somewhat puzzled as to why such a battle-hardened and talented general had not been given a higher position by the military command and was still only a thousand cavalrymen.
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In Aurelian Dragon's command tent, Aurelian Dragon, Garrick Stonewall, and Suo Chong, who had finished setting up the camp, sat around a table and enjoyed a sumptuous dinner.
Three butchers together will talk about slaughtering pigs; three tailors together will talk about making clothes; and three warriors together will naturally talk about war and military strategy.
Of the three people present, Aurelian Dragon was a novice, Garrick Stonewall was a newcomer, and only Suo Chong was a seasoned veteran who had been through many battles. Naturally, he spoke at length as an expert about the wars he had experienced and his understanding of war.
Suo Chong took a sip of wine and said leisurely, "Although the outcome of a war is determined by many factors, the importance of military equipment is undeniable, as is the command ability of generals. In the past, our country was able to stand out among the continental countries because our country had a large number of famous generals and our army's equipment was far superior to that of other countries."
Aurelian Dragon recalled the magic cannon he had encountered during the Battle of Skywind. If that equipment had been in the hands of the orcs of Asur, the outcome of the war might have been different. He nodded in deep agreement.
Suo Chong continued, "In the past, our army consisted of armored cavalry, heavy and light infantry, archers, mages, siege forces, and supply trains. When necessary, it even included artisans. This was something that countries that only knew about cavalry and infantry could never hope to match. Later, other countries also organized armies similar to ours, which led to a certain balance. The outcome of wars depended more on the combined strength of the forces. Although many people are still researching new equipment and hoping that more powerful weapons will emerge to decide a war, how to operate them to maximize their combined strength is always a question that all generals need to study carefully."
Garrick Stonewall put down his glass and nodded, saying, "Indeed, I have also studied military tactics extensively. Making full use of the strengths of various units is a very complex matter. In this respect, General Phoenix Vane is one of the best."
Suo Chong shook his head and said, "No, as far as I know, there are at least two other people who are no less capable than General Yu in this respect."
Aurelian Dragon was taken aback, but Garrick Stonewall continued, "Oh, I forgot, we should include General Aeron Skyrend as well."
Suo Chong nodded and said, "That's right, General Aeron Skyrend is one, and another is Cassian Invictus of the British Empire."
Garrick Stonewall slapped his thigh and said, "How could I forget him! I traveled to England when I was young, and he was very famous there for defeating the Tibetan barbarian cavalry. But for this reason, he has always stayed in the far west of the continent, and few people know his name."
Aeron Skyrend was someone Aurelian Dragon had heard of, and now that both of them were praising him so highly, he truly lived up to his reputation. As for Cassian Invictus of England and the West, although he himself did not know him, since Garrick Stonewall and Sue Chong said so, given their personalities, it was by no means an exaggeration.
As the conversation deepened, Aurelian Dragon learned that Suo Chong was a true soldier, a veteran of many battles, who had risen through the ranks to become a thousand-man commander. However, because he was a commoner knight, he was quite ostracized in the military and was transferred to the city guard, where he was neglected and unable to advance any further.
This is a man worth befriending. With this understanding, Aurelian Dragon and Suo Chong became even more open and honest with each other.
Perhaps because they were having such a good time, by the time they dispersed, it was already dusk. The camp was dotted with lights, and the campfires, lit in a certain pattern, created distinct layers of illumination, which looked beautiful amidst the solemnity.
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Taking advantage of his intoxication, Aurelian Dragon strolled to the riverbank, sat on the cloud-like grass, enjoying the gentle evening breeze, watching the slowly flowing river, and hearing the babbling water in his ears. He felt as if he were in a dream.
Suddenly, a bird was startled from the woods not far from the opposite bank, circling overhead and breaking the tranquility of the night sky.
"What's going on?" Aurelian Dragon looked at the bird that refused to come down with a hint of curiosity. "Perhaps there's some ferocious beast over there that's going to attack it."
Just as she was lost in thought, a voice as melodious as a nightingale's song came from behind her, "You really are here! Sister Qin has been looking everywhere for you!"
Turning around, I saw Obsidia Shade, smiling brightly, walking gracefully towards me. Dressed in a martial arts outfit, her figure was beautiful, and her movements exuded vitality. In the bright moonlight, she was so charming and lively, full of youthful energy.
Aurelian Dragon patted the grass beside him vigorously. "Come, sit here with me for a while!"
Obsidia Shade gracefully sat down next to the Aurelian Dragon and whispered, "It's so comfortable sitting here!"
Aurelian Dragon held Obsidia Shade's soft, delicate body in his arms, inhaling her faint fragrance. In such a tranquil setting, there was a truly mesmerizing feeling.
Unfortunately, this enjoyment was too short for him. Another bird flew up from the woods on the opposite bank, squawked a few times in the air, and flew over here.
Out of curiosity, Aurelian Dragon pulled Obsidia Shade up and said, "Let's go over there and see what's going on?"
If Lynette Quill were here, she might say, "What's there to see? Let's go back," but Obsidia Shade, who never objected to him, just smiled and followed along to satisfy his sudden curiosity.
Entering the dimly lit forest, they soon spotted a person dressed in black leaning against a tree.
This person was entirely black, even the hood was black, covering their entire face except for their eyes. Unfortunately, those eyes were now tightly closed, and only the faint breathing sounds coming from under the hood indicated that this person was still alive.
Aurelian Dragon and Obsidia Shade exchanged a surprised glance, for they both smelled a faint scent of blood. No wonder the night birds had been alerted; this person was already injured.
Seemingly hearing the footsteps of the approaching figures, the man forced his eyes open, his gaze dim as he looked at the Aurelian Dragon and Obsidia Shade approaching him.
Aurelian Dragon quickened her pace and asked, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Suddenly, the man's eyes lit up, he uttered a low shout, and gripped the curved blade that appeared out of nowhere with both hands.
A flash of cold light, and the curved blade swung to the right.
Even though there was no one to his right, his strike was full of power, and the sound of wind being cut through the air could be clearly heard. It was clear that he had mustered his remaining strength and was not joking.
Aurelian Dragon stopped in his tracks as he felt Obsidia Shade suddenly pass by him with a sharp cry.
"You audacious scoundrel! Show yourself now!"
With a flick of her small hand, her jade-like fingers swiftly released three streaks of dark light, their range imperceptible, flashing through the dappled moonlight in the forest, heading towards the person's left and right sides.
"bite!"
First came the sound of weapons clashing, as if a scimitar collided with an unseen weapon in mid-air.
The scimitar in the black-clad man's hand flew out, tumbling several times in the air before landing at Aurelian Dragon's feet. Only then did he realize that this scimitar was not the common style found on the continent; it was double-edged, making it more of a curved sword. Its hilt was a long handle, easy to grip with both hands, and the cloud-shaped handle was also unique, opening like a crescent moon to protect the hands.
The sounds that followed surprised Aurelian Dragon even more.
The sounds of metal objects cracking were mixed with screams.
"Ah! Ah!"
Two sharp screams shattered the stillness of the night sky, startling many night birds in the forest.
Two swaying figures suddenly appeared beside the man in black. They were still holding incomplete weapons, and judging from the remaining parts, they were of the same type as the curved sword of the previous man.
Aurelian Dragon looked closely and saw that the man was also dressed in black for nighttime activities, with his head and face covered by a hood. He was no different from the man standing against the tree. If they had appeared at the same time, he would have definitely thought they were a group.
Speaking of the man leaning against the tree, Aurelian Dragon looked again and saw that he had slowly slid down the tree trunk, and it seemed that he wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer.
"Hey! You have to hang in there!"
Aurelian Dragon patted Obsidia Shade on the shoulder and took a step forward. The moonlight filtering through the treetops cast a shifting shadow behind him.
"Young master, be careful!" Obsidia Shade suddenly cried out.
Aurelian Dragon, who was already fully focused, suddenly turned around, swiftly drew the Crimson Blaze from his waist, and swung it powerfully in front of him, blood spurting out.
His movements were swift, concise, and to the point, yet the results were remarkable.
An arm fell in front of him, its ownerless hand still clutching a short katana.
"Thump! Thump!"
The two swaying men then fell face down to the ground, their limbs twitching a couple of times before falling silent.
Returning from the tree, Obsidia Shade shook her head slightly at Aurelian Dragon, who understood that the person was beyond saving.
At that moment, a black-clad man holding a severed arm appeared before Aurelian Dragon. His mask was painted with azure flames, which seemed to dance in the moonlight. Surprisingly, there was no liquid that should have been present at the site of his severed arm.
"You dare to interfere in the affairs of the Demon Ninja Clan?"
The man in black said through gritted teeth, but unfortunately, holding his severed arm, he lacked the imposing presence he was expected to project. Moreover, his Fast language seemed to be somewhat broken, and the gritted teeth made his speech even more indistinct, adding to the comical effect.
"Is Gui Renzhong something delicious?" The man carrying the blood-red sword looked amused, then turned to the beautiful woman beside him and asked seriously, "Have you ever heard of such a thing?"
"Never heard of them!" Her eyes sparkled as she tilted her head, thinking seriously for a moment. "Looks like just a bunch of rats that can't stand the light. Oh dear, three more are coming!"
The one-armed man in black already knew that this beautiful woman possessed terrifying strength. Just seeing her casually wave her hand kill two of his best men inexplicably was something he had never encountered before. However, out of pride, he still roared.
"You ignorant little dogs, you'll regret your frivolous words!"
"Very well, call them all out!" Aurelian Dragon raised the Crimson Blaze in her hand. The blood-red blade seemed to lose its shape under the moonlight, like flickering flames, casting a red glow all around.
"So this is a divine sword!" Two flames rose in the eyes of the one-armed demon ninja, flickering with greed and envy. "You're so arrogant because of this sword, you have no shame!"
Under the blazing crimson divine light, the three shadowy figures beside Aurelian Dragon revealed their true forms. Standing according to some pattern, they all exuded a strong killing intent, their three pairs of eyes, like those of venomous snakes, fixed intently on the two people in the arena.
Most people would be terrified and lose their composure in such a situation, but unfortunately, the two people in their encirclement were their nightmare. They soon realized how unwise it was to provoke these two people, especially this exquisitely beautiful little woman.
Aurelian Dragon brandished her Crimson Flame Sword and retorted sarcastically, "You rely on your superior numbers to bully the weak, and you still have the nerve to talk to me about shame!"
The one-armed demon ninja let out a faint laugh, like a cobra that had trapped its prey.
"This is our Demon Ninja Clan's battle plan: darkness is our best friend!"
Upon hearing him talk about darkness, Aurelian Dragon couldn't help but burst into laughter. He had a true master of dark magic by his side; weren't they just showing off their limited skills in front of an expert?
"How many of you are left? Come out now!" Aurelian Dragon said, taking half a step forward. "To save trouble!"
"Hehehe!" The one-armed demon ninja laughed triumphantly. "Are you scared? Your suffering has only just begun!"
"What an annoying rat!" The man, having lost his patience, stopped wasting words; some people just had to be dealt with by violence.
With this understanding, he said to the seemingly docile woman beside him, "Can we force them all out?"
"Of course!" the beautiful woman, who had been eager to try, answered without hesitation.
"Let's begin!"
Before the surrounding demon ninjas could make any move, Aurelian Dragon had already raised his sword and attacked the demon ninja to his right.
Standing beside him, Obsidia Shade raised her hands and quickly made a strange gesture in the air. If someone knowledgeable were present, they would naturally recognize it as a nearly lost hand seal, a hand seal of the highest level of dark magic.
"From the endless darkness, according to the ancient covenant, open your omnipresent mind and eyes, fulfill the pact between light and darkness, destroy all illusions, and reveal their true nature—the annihilation of darkness!"
As she uttered her last word, darkness enveloped the entire forest, then suddenly the surrounding area brightened, as if a large layer of black light had enveloped the light, preventing it from escaping. All the invisible demon ninjas within the light revealed themselves; there were twelve demon ninjas in total in the forest.
What's going on?
"I can't see!"
The demon ninja were thrown into chaos, screaming in alarm. Unable to adapt, they stood there helplessly. Although they had practiced countless scenarios, this situation was beyond their comprehension, which explains their reaction.
Amidst the cacophony of voices, a man's displeased voice went unnoticed by anyone except the person he was speaking to.
"What are you doing? I can't see anything either!"
Along with the words, there was also a sound of patting the succulent.
"Smack!"
"Ah!" the woman who was being hit cried out softly, her pretty face flushing red.
"Yes, I'm sorry!" Obsidia Shade suppressed a laugh and quickly apologized. "This is also my first time using this magic, and I didn't know the result was like this. But judging from their condition, it'll be easier to deal with them!"
"I'll settle the score with you when we get back!" Aurelian Dragon muttered, knowing that now was the best time to attack the Oni Ninja Clan, since his eyes had already adjusted, while the Oni Ninja Clan seemed not to have.
This is the effect of "Dark Annihilation". Within this magical range, anyone who uses invisibility spells will be revealed and their eyesight will be damaged by the intense dark light. Those who do not use invisibility spells will only experience temporary discomfort.
Aurelian Dragon and Obsidia Shade split up, striking the standing, blindly waving weapons at the Oni Ninja like tigers among sheep.
Screams rang out, blood splattered, and the demon ninjas fell one by one.
Several clever individuals tried to escape, but Obsidia Shade intercepted them one by one, knocking them down before they even had a chance to exchange a single blow.
The two sides were never on the same level to begin with, and under such circumstances, the fight turned into a one-sided massacre.
Soon only the one-armed demon ninja remained in the arena. He looked around at his groaning companions, all of whom had lost their fighting ability.