Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
This was also one of the rare moments when two heroes fell.
Compared to the loss of dozens of demon hero units, this casualty ratio could be considered a remarkable achievement.
With that in mind, Ji Chen asked, “How much longer until the Elven Empire provides support?”
The elven commander, leading the five elven thousand-man squads sent to aid, replied solemnly, “The Empire is currently fully engaged in wartime mobilization, suppressing and eliminating the evil orcs and the polar orcs launching large-scale attacks. The latest reports indicate it will take at least a month, and if things don’t go well, it could stretch to two months.”
Silence fell among the group. With at least a month, up to two months maximum, the fluctuation was too significant.
A month’s time felt too long, especially when the demon army led by Dreadlord Balzarna was expected to reach the stormy sea in just three days.
Ji Chen remained composed, simply saying, “Please urge them again for faster support.”
The elven commander seemed to understand not to rely on their empire for support, sighed inwardly, and responded, “I understand.” I_Love_Black_Stockings asked, “What about the Maple Principality and Lienhardt?”
Ji Chen shook his head. “They’ve sent word that the Deep Sea Church and the Deceiver are launching attacks on coastal cities, destroying ships, leaving them unable to send reinforcements for now.”
Now, the entire main world was in chaos, with warfare erupting everywhere. The forces of evil seemed to be going mad, determined to aid the demon invasion.
Currently, the Crown of the Ocean was like an island in the sea, with no support available in the short term.
Ji Chen pondered, stroking his chin. Being constantly on the defensive and getting hit was not a good situation; he needed to find an opportunity to break through…
Demon Army.
Inside a tent made of skeletons and human skin on the back of a gigantic halfbeast demon.
Yasen half-knelt on the ground, feeling the immense pressure of that gaze, sweat dripping down his forehead.
He felt as though his thoughts were being laid bare by that gaze, almost tempted to spill everything, but thinking of the severe consequences, he gritted his teeth and said, “Father, the intelligence was wrong! The Lord of Glory not only has his own power but also has received clandestine support from the elves, Dragon Island, and the sea tribes!”
After a long silence, Balzarna spoke slowly in an emotionless tone, “So, you mean this failure isn’t entirely your fault, but rather a fault of the intelligence?”
Yasen swallowed hard, his mouth dry.
“I dare not say so, but it did disrupt my plans, resulting in me being caught off guard.”
Balzarna looked at him deeply, ultimately unwilling to kill this rare adept tactician. “Regardless, losing two hundred thousand troops and dozens of hero units without even touching the enemy’s walls is a great disgrace!
You may escape the death penalty, but evading the consequences of your actions while alive is difficult. Step down from your position as commander of the vanguard army and serve as the leader of a thousand-man squad under Theophilus.”
Yasen felt a glimmer of relief. This meant putting this matter behind him. Although he was only leading a thousand-man squad, with his abilities and noble lineage, as long as he made some contributions, it wouldn’t be long before he was entrusted with a significant role again.
Theophilus was also a demon leader close to him, so he didn’t have to worry about being treated unfairly.
He didn’t show this joy on his face, merely obediently responding, “Yes!” Balzarna gestured with his eyes for him to leave, then pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Harald, from now on, you will command the army. Except for the Shadow Demons, all other troops and units can be deployed. Break through that territory as quickly as possible.”
A demonic figure wrapped in bone, with a face resembling a dried corpse, rose from his seat. With a hoarse and sinister voice, he declared, “As you command, I will not disappoint your expectations. I will breach the enemy’s territory and present that traitor and the Lord of Glory to you.”
Balzarna nodded slightly. Yasen had been so confident when he volunteered earlier, but the outcome had left him greatly disappointed.
Now, all the demon kings had begun their invasions. The Void Lord extended his claws towards the Eastern Continent, the Greed Lord was seizing the Southern Continent, the Decay Lord was spreading decay across the Western Continent, and the Undead Lord had yet to move, waiting to sweep through the Central Ocean before crossing the ocean to attack the Northern Continent.
If he couldn’t successfully conquer the Central Ocean before the orderly forces of the elves and other powers in the Northern Continent reacted, then the difficulty of smoothly invading the Northern Continent would increase significantly.
He had to break through the Crown of the Ocean within half a month… no, within a week, and then march north with his troops, or the other demon lords would surely mock him.
With this in mind, Balzarna’s expression changed.
“Regardless of any assistance at that territory, we must conquer it within a week, at all costs. Do you understand?”
Sensing the solemn tone in his words, both the demon leaders and commanders responded respectfully in unison.
“Yes!”
In the midst of urgent preparations for battle, an unexpected visitor arrived at the Crown of the Ocean.
Upon receiving the news, Ji Chen returned to the Lord’s castle and met with the young native he hadn’t seen for some time.
The visitor was none other than Ari, the prince whom Ji Chen had rescued from the Elven Empire and who had returned to the Kingdom of Ugisai over two months ago.
“Lord Ji Chen!”
“Ari, didn’t you return to the Kingdom of Ugisai? Why are you here?
“It’s a long story…” Ari’s expression was extremely excited, his tone urgent. “The Southern Continent is under threat from demons. Please, save the Kingdom of Ugisai!”
Ji Chen didn’t answer that question directly, instead asking, “Have you already learned about the demon invasion?”
Ari nodded hastily. When he left the Kingdom of Ugisai by boat, the demons had not yet manifested themselves.
But after he arrived at the New Moon Islands by taking a detour along a route, he discovered that on his way there, the demons had already launched a full- scale invasion, with one demon lord invading the Southern Continent.
From the sporadic news he had received during these days, hundreds of settlements had already been destroyed, and a desert kingdom had become a playground for demons.
His heart was naturally filled with extreme anxiety.
Seeing Ari’s anxious expression, Ji Chen paused and said, “You are well aware that the Crown of the Ocean cannot spare any forces to support the Kingdom of Ugisai or even the Southern Continent.” Ari froze, the light in his eyes quickly dimming as he clutched his head in pain. Upon arriving here and seeing the demons littering the sea, he already knew this.
But hearing the clear answer now, he still couldn’t accept this reality.
He understood very well that relying solely on the power of the desert kingdoms in the Southern Continent would make it difficult to withstand the demons, who were well-prepared. He could only watch helplessly as the desert and oasis were gradually tainted by the demons until the kingdom was destroyed.
Seeing Ari’s painful expression, Ji Chen could only remain silent.
Previously, sending Ari back to the Southern Continent to inform the desert kingdoms to prepare was the best he could do. Whether it was destruction or survival, until the orderly forces defeated the various demon armies and freed up their hands, they could only rely on their own strength.
Ari was eventually escorted back to the inn, his face pale, leaving behind a period of silence.
This land of the Southern Continent had long been tacitly regarded as “abandoned land” by many orderly forces, a “strategic buffer zone for delaying demons,” and “abandoned children.” None of the orderly forces would dispatch reinforcements.
However, many orderly forces were also embroiled in various troubles, and they had no obligation to send troops for support.
One day after Ari’s arrival.
Solidus, Anina, and their tribe arrived in groups from various directions at the Crown of the Ocean.
Under the still dim sunlight, on the sea surface of the Crown of the Ocean port, hundreds of giant whales swam, their roars echoing throughout the bay.
Ji Chen welcomed these incoming reinforcements personally, accompanied by Anina, at the port.
These giant whales transformed into human forms, each with shining eyes, exuding a formidable aura no less than that of the dragons from Dragon Island.