Chapter 330: The Northern Reclamation War (2)

About thirty thousand players stood in formation on the plains. Though their equipment varied, each had the mark of a black dragon on their chest.

Leading them, Kun Feng, the third commander of Black Dragon, held a communication crystal.

A drowsy voice came from the crystal.

—What’s the enemy’s movement?

It was the voice of Xao Lin, the master of the Black Dragon guild. He didn’t participate in today's operation himself as a measure to leave himself an escape route, in case something went wrong.

Kun Feng stood atop a fortress built along the Aldebaran border and looked toward the distant fortress. It was the stronghold at the border of the Kingdom of Rashion.

“They’re still here. Count Hind and the other lords are regularly ascending the stronghold to observe us. It seems they’re unaware of what’s happening in their own territories.”

—Things are unfolding more easily than I thought.

“Yes, as long as we hold their attention, we should be able to blow our noses without lifting a finger.”

—Assuming the Muldine bastards finish their job properly.

Xao Lin muttered as he looked over his army through the crystal.

—I’m just concerned about those idiots, Goliath and Sting, who are in the middle of everything.

“Do not worry too much, Dragon Lord. What troubles you will not happen. We’ve already heard that over a dozen territories in northern Rashion have fallen into our hands.”

—Still.

Dragon Lord was the honorific name used to refer to Xao Lin as the guild master.

—If this operation succeeds, the greatest beneficiary won’t be Goliath, Sting, or even Muldine. It will be us, Black Dragon.

“

Hehe

... Of course.” Kun Feng revealed his teeth in a grin.

If the Muldine army made Rashion’s northern territories irrecoverable through this opportunity, the biggest winner would be none other than the Aldebaran Kingdom.

—If things go that far, I’ll personally persuade the Aldebaran king.

The reason theft was difficult was because homes were locked tight, but if the doors were wide open and no dogs were guarding them...

—Even the timid king of Aldebaran won’t be able to stop the march. I’ll never let him. That’s why I’ve been bribing NPC nobles in advance.

Xao Lin was already lost in joyful imagination.

—If Rashion’s north collapses, Libertia, taking that land will be a breeze.

“Of course. Even if that Kai bastard is strong, he’s just one man. No, even if he commands an undead army, he can’t defeat us.”

—That’s the difference between an individual and an organization. Sure, he’s strong, and perhaps hundreds or even thousands of guild members will die to him.

But it didn’t matter.

Xao Lin smiled with overwhelming confidence.

—But he can’t stop tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands alone.

“Indeed. Even if he were Lü Bu reincarnated, it’d be impossible.”

Xao Lin tilted a teacup and closed his eyes, imagining Libertia.

—Libertia is a highly strategic location. Of course, right now, it’s like a pearl necklace around a pig’s neck.

Xao Lin scoffed at Kai’s incompetence.

Foolish bastard, he doesn’t know how to use a treasure even when he has it.

Ever since learning that elves and merfolk lived in Libertia, Xao Lin had made up his mind.

MID Online is a world where NPCs possess great power. To grow strong, we need to have them in our grasp.

And greedy people in authority loved beautiful men and women.

Just selling them to high-ranking nobles would earn astronomical profits. I could get contact info for countless nobles and also hold leverage over their secrets.

Just the thought was thrilling. But what Kai did with those treasures was mere theater, music, and dance.

Idiot.

Xao Lin snorted and commanded Kun Feng,

—Then continue your regular reports—

oh

, Goliath just sent another message.

“What did he say?”

—The main Muldine force is heading directly for the border. The second division has entered the Siris Gorge.

“Siris Gorge... If that falls, it’ll really sting for Rashion.”

The two laughed as they met eyes.

***

Among the fifty thousand fully armed Dark Knights and wizards, one object stood out. It was a luxurious carriage. Drawn by well-bred fine horses, the carriage was luxurious in every aspect, from its wheels to the cushions inside.

Seated inside was none other than Count Mediff.

"Everything’s going smoothly."

He was a professional traitor who had sided with the Church of Muldine and recruited members from the secret society The Pure.

Seated across from him was his son who wore a slightly anxious expression. “But, Father... Are you sure this is okay? If something goes wrong, we’ll all be charged with treason...”

“

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

” Count Mediff clicked his tongue and looked at his son with disappointment. “With judgment this poor, I’ve failed as a parent.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

With a deep sigh, Count Mediff began explaining the current situation in simpler terms. Once the explanation was finished, his son's expression noticeably brightened.

“

Oh...!

So all we need to do is wipe out the North! Then the Aldebaran Kingdom will handle the rest!”

“Well, it won’t be that simple. The Church of Muldine is the continent’s public enemy, and we’re acting as their spies, so Aldebaran won’t exactly welcome us.”

“Th-then what do we do?”

“

Hehe.

This is exactly why I’ve steadily built connections and friendships with nobles and royals from other nations. Remember this. By the weight of every gold coin you give in peace, the less blood you will shed.”

“

Wow

... What a remarkable saying,” his son said in awe.

“A noble of pure blood must always possess such connections.” Wearing a satisfied expression, Count Mediff rolled down the carriage window and looked ahead. “We’ve entered the Siris Gorge. It truly is a natural fortress. Our orders are to seize it and rest. Once the main force finishes dealing with the border, the plan will likely be for that place to be the central location when going up against Rashion.”

The Siris Gorge was a massive canyon roughly fifty meters wide with steep cliffs over thirty meters tall on both sides. If a defending side fully committed to holding the line, it was a place where even an army ten times their size could be held off.

However, Count Mediff wasn’t worried because the combat power displayed by the Dark Knights and wizards was beyond comparison. Watching them take over a fortress in less than fifteen minutes sent chills down his spine.

“We can go and rest properly now.”

Closing the window, Count Mediff sank into the plush seat and closed his eyes. Even riding in the finest carriage, traveling long hours with the army had left him mentally and physically exhausted.

If it were a normal day, I’d be in my home, enjoying a bath with servants tending to me by now.

While Count Mediff was fantasizing about conquering the fortress and bathing in hot water, he sensed a commotion outside. Then, someone knocked on the carriage window.

“What’s the matter?”

“My lord! It’s a trap!”

“What?”

A trap out of nowhere?

“Up at the gorge...

kugh!

”

The knight, mid-sentence, reached for the arrow stuck in his neck before collapsing to the ground.

“W-What is...!”

Taken aback, Count Mediff looked outside through the window. A significant number of troops had been lying in ambush at the top of the canyon.

Where did those forces come from?

Even at a glance, their number exceeded five thousand, and they weren’t low-ranking soldiers. They were elite soldiers composed of wizards and archers.

Count Mediff shouted at the top of his lungs, “Damn it... Everyone, retreat!”

If there’s any silver lining, it’s the width of the gorge.

In fact, the Siris Gorge wasn’t the ideal place for an ambush as the entrance was so wide that fifty thousand troops could flee in the blink of an eye. The Church of Muldine had accounted for a possible ambush from the start and had assigned exactly fifty thousand troops to Mediff.

No matter what magic they’ve prepared from above, we can still retreat safely.

Though frustration surged at failing to seize the fortress, saving the army was far more important.

If all of them die, I’ll be killed by the Church of Muldine too.

Knowing better than anyone how terrifying they were, Count Mediff trembled. Just then, an ear-splitting explosion rang out, and the soldiers screamed simultaneously.

“W-What was that? What’s going on?!”

“F-Father... It seems something has happened outside!”

Count Mediff ignored his foolish son, who was panicking, and instead reached through the window to grab a knight by the collar.

“What is happening?!”

“A-A monster has appeared at the entrance! But it’s too big! The escape route is blocked, so we can’t retreat!”

“What?”

Because the inside of the carriage wasn’t built in a way where he could see the back, Count Mediff hurriedly opened the door. As soon as he stepped out, his field of vision was filled with the giant monster that blocked the entrance of the canyon.

“W-what in the world is that thing...”

The massive creature covered in pure white scales had a form similar to that of a snake, but it exuded an aura far too powerful to be called a mere snake.

“

Hm...!

”

Count Mediff contemplated for a moment.

There are two options. Break through the fortress, or kill the monster.

He quickly reached a conclusion. Ignoring the ambushers on the hill and trying to force open the gate was next to impossible, but taking down the monster in front of them seemed relatively easier.

“Dark Wizards, raise barriers and block the attacks coming from above! Dark Knights, attack that monster and clear the path!”

Having received higher education, Count Mediff issued appropriate commands and took control of the army.

—

Kraaaahh!

“That’s it, it’s working! Kill it, quickly!”

The monster writhed in pain as it was struck by the attacks. Seeing that, the soldiers of the Church of Muldine regained their morale and began to fight back with renewed effort.

Just a bit more and we can bring it down.

Count Mediff gritted his teeth as he stared up the hill.

I’ll make sure to repay this humiliation once I rejoin the main force and finish off Count Hind’s side.

Just when he was thinking so, his eyes locked with someone’s.

“No... H-how is that bastard here...?”

It was the adventurer who had humiliated him just a day ago.

“Kaaaaai!”

Ignoring Count Mediff’s scream, Kai looked over at Harley, who was blocking the entrance.

I’m continuously healing him with Sunlight’s Warmth, but the recovery can’t keep up with the accumulated damage.

That was only natural, as tens of thousands of enemies were attacking Harley at once.

Kai carefully observed Harley, and the moment the creature's health dropped to exactly ten percent he snapped his fingers.

“Activate skill, Petrification.”

Ding!

[The designated target will be petrified for one minute.]

[Sea Dragon Harley has been selected as the target.]

[Harley is now petrified for one minute and becomes immune to all forms of attack.]

Harley’s massive body began to harden rapidly, and the Dark Knights, who had been attacking relentlessly, were taken aback.

Clang! Clang!

“The attacks aren’t working...?”

“Its defense is so high our swords are breaking!”

“Wizards! Wizards!”

“M-Magic doesn’t work either! It’s in complete immunity!”

“What kind of nonsense...?”

“Count Mediff! The retreat route is completely blocked!”

Turned to stone, Harley became the hardest and largest barrier in existence.

“Nice angle.”

Kai formed a camera shape with his hands, framing the fifty-thousand grand army within it. It was at that moment that the Muldine forces, scurrying like drowned rats, sensed an overwhelming heat and looked up.

“Hellfire.”

Four Hellfires appeared above Kai’s head.