113: Chapter 113 All the fear stems from insufficient firepower!

As the final light of the transaction flashed, a large amount of moon birch spirit wood, fragrant holy lotus fruit, and crates of healing potions fell into the temporary transaction storage space.

Glancing at his balance of spirit crystals, the Low-grade Spirit Crystals had plummeted from one hundred thousand to forty-six thousand.

"That's about enough." Lin Tian closed all interfaces and turned to look at Lin Yin, who had been quietly waiting in the shadows of the study door.

She seemed to always know that he disliked being disturbed when busy, yet she would always appear in his line of sight the moment he needed her.

At this moment, she was tilting her head slightly, seemingly listening to the commotion on the distant city walls. Her moonlight longbow leaned against her shoulder, and her profile was graceful and serene under the glow of the magic crystal lamp.

Sensing Lin Tian's gaze, Lin Yin turned her head, her clear eyes looking at him with a questioning look.

"The supplies are ready." Lin Tian smiled at her, his smile carrying the excitement and a hint of relief before a big battle. "I don't plan on spending the remaining forty-odd thousand spirit crystals for now; I'll save them to recruit new soldiers in a bit."

Lin Yin nodded slightly, indicating her understanding.

She didn't ask about the specific transactions or the upcoming plan; she simply took half a step forward and said in a steady voice, "Brother Tian, all soldiers have finished their meals. Except for the logistics Royal Chef, everyone else has finished gathering."

"Mhm." Lin Tian called Lin Yin and headed to the front of the Lords Mansion.

In front of the Lords Mansion, the massive plaza was illuminated as bright as day by torches and large lighting magic crystals.

Lin Tian stood on the high platform, the night wind howling and whipping his black robes.

His gaze swept over the vast army of sixty thousand in bright armor below the stage. The cold glint of steel, the cool radiance of moonlight, the heavy presence of the Mysterious Yellow, and the soft glow of Holy Light intertwined into a breathtaking and majestic sight.

However, the faint worry in his heart caused by the "unknown" and "silence" had not completely dissipated.

"All fear stems from insufficient firepower," he whispered to himself, the corners of his mouth curling into an arc of ruthlessness and determination, his eyes shimmering with a nearly paranoid light.

"Since I don't know how fierce the beast tide will be, we'll just stack up until it can't be broken no matter what! Insufficient firepower? Then fill it with numbers! Not enough quality? Then smash it with Fusion!"

No longer hesitating, he turned and pointed toward the recruitment altar in the territory that emitted a misty glow day and night.

"Everyone, target: the open space in front of the altar. Form up!"

As the command was given, the army of over sixty thousand moved silently and swiftly, reforming into several even larger phalanxes on the vast open ground in front of the altar, leaving the area directly in front of the altar clear.

Under the firelight, the soldiers' faces were solemn and their gazes firm, waiting for the Lord's next instruction.

Lin Tian strode to the front of the altar, his hand pressing onto the cold runic base as his consciousness sank in.

"Invest thirty-six thousand spirit crystals!"

"Designated recruitment: 20,000 males!"

"Designated recruitment: 16,000 females!"

Buzz!!!

The altar seemed to be injected with infinite vitality, erupting into a brilliant pillar of light that almost pierced the night sky!

The pillar of light lasted for over a minute, its majestic energy fluctuations making the surrounding air tremble.

When the light finally receded like a tide, the open space in front of the altar was completely submerged by the dense, endless figures of new recruits!

A full thirty-six thousand people! Appearing as if by magic, they instantly packed the open space until not a drop of water could trickle through.

Like the recruits from the previous Fusion, most were dressed in rags and looked sallow and emaciated.

Suddenly appearing beside this extremely solemn and disciplined army, and being enveloped by the cold, scrutinizing, and blood-scented gazes of countless veterans, they immediately appeared incredibly terrified, small, and helpless.

Uneasy commotion spread through the group of recruits like ripples; low cries of surprise, suppressed sobbing, and bewildered glances intertwined.

It formed a contrast like heaven and hell with the veteran phalanxes standing silently like steel sculptures nearby.

"Lin Yin, Lin Feng, Lin Yan, and Commander Lin Yu!" Lin Tian called out, his voice cutting through the noise of the recruits.

"Present!" the four replied in unison.

"Each of you send a team of veteran backbones into the recruit ranks. At the fastest speed, correct their formation and maintain order! Tell them that those who move recklessly or make noise will be dealt with by military law!"

"As you command!"

The four commanders immediately selected a group of veterans from their respective units. They were few in number, but each had a sharp aura and eyes like knives.

They walked silently into the chaotic sea of recruits, like red-hot iron rods plunging into ice.

There were no extra scoldings, only commands so concise they were cold, precise shoves for adjustment, and a silent pressure as heavy as a mountain.

Under the cold gazes and iron-clamp-like hands of these veterans, the recruits trembled and were quickly gathered into a formation where ranks could barely be seen. Although it was still loose, it was at least no longer chaotic.

The period of oppression wasn't long, but to the recruits, it felt like a century had passed.

When the formation had basically taken shape and the veterans retreated to the edges of their respective phalanxes, that suffocating pressure finally dissipated slightly, but countless gazes were still pinned on them like physical objects.

Lin Tian walked to the edge of the high platform again, his gaze slowly sweeping over the massive sea of people below, a mix of old and new totaling nearly a hundred thousand.

He cleared his throat, and though his voice wasn't loud, it strangely drowned out the wind and the noise from the distant city walls, reaching everyone's ears clearly:

"Tonight, we will face our first true test—the midnight beast tide."

As soon as he finished speaking, the reactions below were starkly different.

There was no fear on the veterans' faces; their eyes only grew sharper, and their bodies tensed slightly. Like beasts hearing a hunting horn, a battle intent ready to erupt peeked through their solemnity.

Having long since grown accustomed to life-and-death struggles, the beast tide was just another battle that needed to be won.

Meanwhile, the recruits instantly exploded into a commotion!

Terrified gasps, disbelieving intakes of breath, and sighs of despair rose one after another!

"Beast tide," "midnight," "test"... these words were like heavy hammers smashing against their already fragile hearts.

Many people turned pale, their legs went weak, and they instinctively wanted to shrink back, their gazes toward the surrounding veterans filled with pleas and fear.

"Silence!" Lin Tian suddenly shouted, his voice like a clap of thunder, carrying an unquestionable majesty that instantly suppressed all the commotion.

His gaze was like lightning, sweeping over those panicked new faces.

"Look at those beside you! Look at them!"

He then swung his arm forcefully, pointing at the veterans who were silent as mountains, their armor stained with dust, and their auras awe-inspiring.

"Just a few days ago, they were just like you—having nothing, walking out from this altar, and filled with fear for the future! But now, they stand here, about to use the sabers, spears, and bows in their hands to face the beast tide and protect the home behind them! And you..."

He paused, and his voice suddenly rose, filled with stirring incitement and an unquestionable promise: "Tonight, you will be just like them! Clad in the sturdiest armor, holding the sharpest weapons, and obtaining the power to establish yourselves on this continent and even create a future!"

"Is the beast tide terrifying? It is! But what's even more terrifying is cowardice and giving up! Only by fighting, only by being baptized in the blood of your enemies, can you become as strong as they are! Only then can you earn the right to survive on this Eternal Continent!"

"Do not fear battle! Because battle is the only shortcut for you to become stronger! And I shall bestow upon you the power to fight! Enough talk. Fusion Evolution, begin!"