The Papacy's army was unstoppable, advancing towards the capital of the Gabella Empire like a flood bursting its banks, sweeping all before it.
However, this seemingly invincible army has recently encountered a problem that is causing its commander, Selvan Hammond, a great deal of trouble.
Their strongest fighting force, the War Elephant Legion, has lost more than half of its elephants. The elephants' deaths were not all caused by the battle; another major killer was disease caused by acclimatization issues.
As the Papacy's army penetrated deeper into Gabella's territory, all the remaining elephants of the War Elephant Legion inevitably fell ill.
The once majestic elephants now appear listless and dispirited. Their massive bodies are no longer upright, their legs tremble slightly, as if even supporting their own weight has become difficult. Cold sweat seeps from their rough skin, and their once bright eyes are now dull and sunken, revealing pain and exhaustion. Their ears droop limply, and their trunks, no longer able to curl flexibly, hang down to the ground, occasionally emitting low groans, as if expressing their suffering.
During the march, the elephants' steps became slow and heavy, each step seeming like a struggle against an unseen force. Their appetites drastically decreased; even when presented with the freshest hay and fruit, they would only manage a few bites. Some developed red, swollen patches on their skin, and some even began to lose hair; their wounds were slow to heal and emitted a foul odor. Their keepers were extremely anxious about their condition, trying every possible method to cure them or alleviate their suffering, but with little success.
At the war council, Vice Commander Webster was heartbroken. "The Neos Forest is a divine beast bestowed upon us by the Lord of Light to protect the Holy City, yet we have ravaged it so badly. The Lord of Light will surely punish us!"
But Cardinal Anthony Edwards insisted on continuing to send the war elephants into battle. At the military council, he clenched his fists and passionately persuaded Commander Selvan Hammond: "My lord, these war elephants are, of course, sacred weapons bestowed upon us by the Lord of Light! Every drop of their blood, every bit of their pain, is for the purpose of fulfilling the Lord's will! Should we abandon the Lord's protection and this sacred campaign because of their exhaustion and illness?"
Anthony's words were filled with fervor and unwavering conviction, as if the war elephants' illness were merely a test from God the Father for the believers. His gaze fixed intently on Hammond, he continued, "These war elephants are the symbol of the Papacy, our invincible force on the battlefield! Their sacrifice will pave the way to victory for the Lord's glory! If we retreat now, we will not only fail the Lord's expectations, but also allow the heretics of Gabella to mock our weakness!"
Selvan Hammond's brow furrowed, his gaze deep. He knew the war elephants were no longer fit for battle, but Edwardz's words struck him like a hammer blow. The air in the tent seemed to freeze, only Edwardz's voice echoing, carrying an almost obsessive resolve: " Lord Hammond, for the glory of the Lord of Light, we must continue! Even if the war elephants fall, their souls will ascend to heaven, becoming a testament to our victory!"
Seeing that Hammond remained silent, Anthony Edwards delivered the final blow: "My lord, the capital of Gabella has never welcomed any conquerors from abroad. Don't you want to place that crown on your own head?"
Selvan Hammond suddenly looked up, his eyes fixed intently on Edward.
Not only that, Anthony Edwards looked around at everyone in the tent, "Don't you all want to join Lord Hammond in becoming conquerors of the Gabella Imperial Capital? Without the help of war elephants, we cannot achieve this!"
The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly became heated, and every general's heart was stirred with excitement.
Only Webster remained calm, letting out a barely audible sigh. Perhaps the defeat at Horn Bay was too devastating, causing him to unconsciously think of the worst possible outcome.
...
Gabella Imperial Capital, the Imperial Palace.
Antonio received David Aldrich and Doughty Matte in his study; their official roles were now those of advisors to the emperor.
"My two respected teachers." The emperor smiled somewhat helplessly, an expression rarely seen on his face.
He said to the two of them, "You know what? Even sitting here, I can hear every word of the angry questions from the refugees on the street. If this drags on any longer, I might become the first emperor in Gabella's history to be overthrown by a mob. If that happens, all talk of saving humanity will just be empty words."
Aldrich, however, remained remarkably calm. "Your Majesty, without destruction there is no new life. If those old nobles are not made to lose face, they will not willingly step down to the second line. Only by vacating their positions can the future power structure of the empire be reshaped."
Doughty Matte, standing nearby, was somewhat moved. In their plan, the future power structure of the Empire would undoubtedly be dominated by them, the Spellcasters. And Aldrich, a mortal who knew no magic, was so enthusiastic about making this happen.
It can only be said that the Old Scholar firmly believed in the prophecy and was convinced that only under the leadership of the more powerful Spellcasters could the human race be protected from disaster.
He was once again filled with boundless admiration for Aldrich, but also with a great sense of regret.
Aldrich was a close friend of Doughty Matte, the former leader of the Arcane Society and Antonio's grandfather. After the Council of Ten became vacant due to the events involving Barnett and Audennell, Doughty Matte repeatedly suggested that Aldrich fill the position, but these suggestions were always rejected. The opponents' reasons were valid: Aldrich had not demonstrated any magical abilities, not even being a Spellcaster, let alone participating in the Council of Ten.
Doughty Matte often lamented the shortsightedness of his companions. He firmly believed that if the Spellcasters, as a minority group among humans, wanted to maintain their leadership position in the future, it was essential to include mortal members in their core leadership. This was partly to demonstrate unity, and partly because Dorti believed that magic was not equivalent to intelligence. Furthermore, the Spellcasters ' perspectives on things often differed greatly from those of mortals, as the mindset and wisdom of outstanding mortals were also something the Spellcasters needed.
"Our informant has sent back some good news." Doughty Matte shook off his disappointment and said with a smile, "The Papacy's war elephants will continue to participate in the offensive."