371: Chapter 360 A desperate gamble, but utterly futile.

The allied forces recalled their Professional squads from the outside, and then the army retreated from the mountains like a receding tide.

Although the command level did not inform the Soldiers of their defeat and the preparation to withdraw to the kingdom, the Soldiers were no fools.

If the war were going smoothly, or if there were any possibility of victory, why would they give up the plains that they had occupied at such a heavy cost?

One must know that the allied forces had invested a massive amount of resources to build outposts in the plains; could it be a gift for Lake?

With unease in their hearts, the Soldiers followed the ranks toward Keton City.

Compared to when the army had set out months ago, the morale of the allied forces was now low, and a bleak atmosphere permeated among the Soldiers.

These images were transmitted back to the Lake Command Post via drones.

Domit was in no hurry to pursue immediately; instead, he waited until the allied forces had completely withdrawn from the mountains and reached the open fields before ordering the First Armored Corps to lead the way, followed by the rest of the infantry regiments, with the First Army setting out last.

Zhang Mu walked out of the cave alone and flew into the sky, searching for Blova and the other two hidden in the clouds.

"Is there still no news of the allied forces' Saint-ranks?" he asked after meeting up with the three.

Pestoya shook her head. "In the last few days, we even took the initiative to search for them, but we still found nothing at all.

It's as if they..."

Blova took over the sentence, "It's as if they have completely vanished."

"Damn it, if they aren't going to contribute, why did they go on the campaign with the army? Were they bored staying at home?" Zhang Mu scratched the tip of his nose and pondered for a while, suddenly remembering his prisoner. "Let's ask Ak?"

No sooner said than done, he opened The World's light gate and, with a slight thought, prepared to teleport Ak out.

Pestoya sized up the light gate. "A world of top-tier quality is indeed convenient. If a gate were opened in every city..."

Blova interrupted with a smile, "Even the strongest world has its limits, not to mention Zhang Mu's level..."

"I can only set up a maximum of eight gates right now," Zhang Mu replied while sending Ak out.

Having become a prisoner and being confined in The World, Ak did not seem anxious; he looked to be in a very good mood.

In his hand, he held a peeled banana he hadn't had time to eat yet. He looked around blankly, and only after seeing the four people surrounding him did he snap out of it. "Is it over?"

"Almost," Zhang Mu replied, then asked, "Last time you told me that including yourself, there were a total of six Saint-ranks in the allied forces, right?"

"There were six before I was captured by you guys," Ak emphasized.

"Why aren't they fighting?"

Ak was stunned for a moment. Seeing this, Zhang Mu recounted the recent events.

After listening, he burst out laughing. "Those guys! They mocked me all day for being a coward, but it turns out they're just like me!"

The four looked at each other, and Blova asked, "What do you mean?"

"Mr. Zhang Mu said that the allied forces are about to be defeated, and you three are hidden in the shadows without showing yourselves, is that right?"

"Yes."

"They don't dare to expose themselves first, fearing they'll be ambushed by you and forced into a life-for-life trade."

Blova's face was full of confusion. "They have more than five Saint-ranks. If they sent all the Saint-ranks from their countries, even if the three of us traded our lives, we could only take out three at most. They would still be the victors."

"That's exactly the problem; none of them are willing to be one of the three people who get traded off."

Zhang Mu was somewhat dumbfounded. "Lake's intention to counterattack is very obvious. Even if they avoid it now, how can they avoid it when Lake invades their own national territories?"

Ak showed a puzzled expression, but after a moment, he seemed to understand. With a look of sudden realization, he explained with a smile, "If the kingdom perishes, they just need to find another kingdom to join.

Except for their status possibly being a bit lower than before, there won't be any other changes. They will still be respected, and cultivation resources will be obediently delivered to them.

Why would they risk their lives?"

Zhang Mu's breath hitched.

He thought to himself that on Blue Star, there was a meme about not risking your life for a small salary, but that was mostly a joke; he didn't expect it to be practiced so thoroughly on the Saul Continent.

However, the salary of a Saint-rank was definitely more than just a pittance.

Zhang Mu looked at Blova, his eyes searching.

Are all Saint-ranks like this?

Blova's mouth twitched. "I don't know, don't look at me."

Pestoya clearly found it hard to understand as well, the confusion in her eyes almost overflowing. Even the old man who was the king's guard and had been silent all this time had a look of bewilderment on his face.

Seeing their reactions, Zhang Mu knew he wouldn't be able to figure this out for now. He shoved Ak back into The World and said to the three, "The allied forces might make one last desperate move.

Ak's words... might be true, but they can't be fully trusted. I'll have to trouble you three to remain hidden above the battlefield as before.

Unless the allied forces' Saint-ranks appear, do not expose yourselves even if our entire army is wiped out."

After saying that, Zhang Mu took the lead and flew toward the direction where the allied forces were retreating, but the three did not set off immediately.

Blova watched Zhang Mu's back gradually shrink until it disappeared on the horizon, then suddenly laughed. "I thought Lake would perish in this war, but looking at it now, not only will it not perish, maybe it really can rebuild the Ice and Snow Empire."

Pestoya also smiled. "I'm quite curious about what kind of place his hometown is. Those strange weapons have never been heard of before; it's almost as if they were conjured out of thin air."

"Didn't Her Highness Avril tell you?" Blova remembered the two often whispering together during the preparation period.

"No."

Blova wanted to press further, but the old guard stopped him. "It's time to go."

"True."

The three no longer delayed and pursued Zhang Mu through the clouds.

...

The entire First Armored Corps was in pursuit of the enemy, the loud roar of engines breaking the silence of the open fields.

Hundreds of tanks moved forward with a rumble, each accompanied by several infantrymen running alongside.

The gunner, Baal, poked his head out of the tank's observation port. Seeing that the infantrymen were exhausted, he retracted his head and ordered the entire unit to stop, giving the infantry some time to rest and reorganize.

The tank commander turned off the engine, turned his head, and rested his arm on the back of the seat. "Hey, I thought of the answer to the question we discussed last time."

"What?"

"It's about where Marshal Zhang Mu actually comes from."

"Oh, and what's the answer?"

The commander pointed mysteriously toward the top of his head. Baal instinctively looked up, stared at the top of the tank for a while before realizing he was pointing at the sky.

"Uh, I don't quite get what you mean."

"God." The commander patted the tank's control panel and lowered his voice. "Marshal Zhang Mu has created so many miracles; I can't think of any other answer besides a god.

Also, I think only a god is worthy of being wanted by a god."

Baal curled his lip, not agreeing in his heart, although he also didn't know where Zhang Mu came from.

The chat attracted the attention of the other crew members, who all joined in.

"I agree. After all, I've never seen a god name someone specifically for their life, even going as far as lifting a ban that has lasted for tens of thousands of years for it."

"Exactly!"

While everyone was chatting heatedly, Baal was uninterested, only wanting to quickly catch up with the allied forces and fire the cannon to his heart's content.

"Baal, what are you thinking about?" The loader caught a glimpse of him in deep thought out of the corner of his eye.

"Huh?

Oh, I'm thinking about a person."

"Who?"

"You don't know them."

"Tell us the name, maybe I know them?"

"I don't know the name."

"?"

The crew members were a bit puzzled, but they didn't ask more because the infantry had finished resting and it was time to get on the road.

Starting the engines, the tanks continued forward with the infantry following on both sides.

After driving for a while, they still hadn't spotted any allied Soldiers within their field of vision. The commander cursed, "Those guys are running really fast."

"We have to accommodate the speed of the infantry, otherwise we would have caught up long ago." The loader added, then scratched his head and muttered, "I know tanks can help the infantry block attacks, but... why does the infantry have to follow during a pursuit?

Can't we catch up to the enemy first and then..."

"If we abandon the infantry, we'll definitely be finished once Professionals get close to us." Baal turned his head from the observation mirror. "And we're still quite unskilled at tank-infantry coordination.

A few days ago... you all heard about the accident where an infantryman was accidentally crushed by a tank, right?"

Speaking of this matter, everyone felt a pang of fear.

After news of the accident reached the Command Post, Domit was furious and personally went to the front line to dismiss the entire crew of the tank involved and the leader of the infantry squad.

They certainly didn't want to end up with the same fate.

Everyone fell into a fearful silence, and the atmosphere in the cabin became a bit oppressive. The commander quickly changed the subject. "Do you know about the First Army that joined the battle not long ago?"

"How could we not know?" The mechanic was like he'd been injected with adrenaline, instantly waking from his apprehension. "I heard about the First Army a long time ago. Legend has it that it was personally established by Marshal Zhang Mu!"

"That's not important; what's important are the weapons they use."

The loader seemed to remember something and took over. "The appearance is very similar to what we use, but... they're stronger.

I saw with my own eyes a First Army Soldier's rifle release a barrier that blocked a Professional's magic!"

While looking through the observation mirror, Baal recalled a chat he once had with Damu. "That is a Ma..."

He stopped halfway, leaving everyone feeling itchy with curiosity. The commander urged, "It's what?"

"It's a weapon that can resist magic."

The group waited for a long time only to hear a useless sentence, and they all rolled their eyes together.

The commander was very dissatisfied. "You're saying..."

"Alert!" Baal suddenly shouted. "Enemy forces have appeared ahead!"

Everyone was startled and immediately returned to their workstations.

In the distance on the open field, more than twenty thousand Mutated Rhino-Ox cavalry were lined up, facing the First Armored Corps, with infantry legions led by Professionals on the left and right flanks.

The enemy's ambition had not died; they intended to fight for their lives.

Baal rotated the observation mirror, scanning the enemy formation.

When the face of a Rhinoceros Cavalry Soldier entered his field of vision, he suddenly became excited. Trembling all over, he called the mechanic to take over the observation work while he himself rushed back to the control console.

To think... to think... I've met you again!

He was so excited he could hardly speak, all because of that cavalryman.

He didn't know the cavalryman's name, but he would never forget that face until he died; it was deeply engraved in the depths of his mind.

Maneuvering the main gun to aim at that cavalryman, Baal's mouth slowly split into a grin, and he whispered to himself, "You really liked being arrogant on the border while riding a Pack Rhino, didn't you?

I hope that after today, you'll still have a life to ride a Pack Rhino with."

With the Lake side pursuing and the allied forces wanting to make one last stand, neither side had a reason to retreat, and the great battle broke out instantly.

It wasn't the tanks of the First Armored Corps that moved first; the enemy had not yet entered their range.

The Rhinoceros Cavalry began to charge.

More than twenty thousand Pack Rhinos galloped together, making the earth shake, and the infantry following beside the tanks even stumbled in their steps.

All the tank commanders simultaneously instructed the infantry beside their tanks to slow down and prepare to separate from the tank group, while they themselves opened up the throttle and charged toward the Rhinoceros Cavalry.

Seeing the hundreds of rumbling tanks charging toward them, the Rhinoceros Cavalry were not alarmed but delighted.

They had fought tanks before; the explosive attack power similar to magic crystal cannons was indeed terrifying, but once they got close, the Pack Rhinos could easily knock over the 'clumsy' tanks.

The Legion Commander of the cavalry let out a strange cry, leading the cavalrymen to cry out together as they raised their long whips to lash the Pack Rhinos, pushing their speed to the limit.

The two sides gradually approached, and the cavalrymen all lowered their bodies to withstand the impending violent impact, their right hands gripping the long spears hanging by the sides of the Pack Rhinos.

Inside the cabin, Baal couldn't help but mock, "Idiots."

The commander heard him and laughed as he ordered, "Did you think the tanks were clumsy?

Hahaha, turn!"

To the astonishment of the cavalry, the hundreds of tanks split from the middle, heading left and right respectively.

The galloping Rhinoceros Cavalry didn't have time to slow down and charged straight through the middle.

"Turn around, reorganize the formation!"

The cavalry Legion Commander channeled his magic and shouted, but slowing down a herd of Pack Rhinos was no easy task. One must know that even cars with sensitive braking systems are prone to rear-end collisions if they don't maintain a safe following distance when the one in front brakes suddenly.

The Pack Rhinos could only reduce their speed slowly, and the tanks certainly wouldn't allow that; their main guns rotated three hundred and sixty degrees to aim at the cavalry group and fired.

Intense shellfire exploded within the Pack Rhino herd, and the Pack Rhinos that were blown over tripped up even more Pack Rhinos, causing the cavalry to fall into immediate chaos.

The loader longed to admire the enemy's miserable state, but unfortunately, he had to stay at his post and couldn't leave, so he transformed his unseen indignation into strength, desperately moving shells.

With him working so hard, Baal had a great time firing.

One shell after another exploded among the Rhinoceros Cavalry, and the chaos spread outward from the points of impact. The Pack Rhinos were blocked by their fallen companions, making it extremely difficult even to turn around.

In just over ten minutes of engagement, the elite Rhinoceros Cavalry had already lost their combat effectiveness.

The tanks seized the opportunity, roaming the periphery and pouring down shellfire.

The allied infantry regiments, whether stunned by the unexpected result or because the commander had some plan, stayed in place and did not attack, watching their own cavalry being slaughtered.

The tank group noticed the situation and couldn't figure it out, so they just focused on annihilating the cavalry first.

To trap the cavalry as much as possible, the gunners kept shelling the periphery; the Pack Rhinos that were blown over became obstacles, blocking the way out for the Pack Rhinos in the middle.

However, their numbers were far fewer than the enemy's after all, and a portion of the cavalry finally struggled out of the Pack Rhino herd, charging toward the tanks with bloodshot eyes.

The size of the Mutated Rhino-Ox was too large after all, and their momentum when running was terrifying; their impact force wouldn't be weak. If they got close, the tanks would inevitably suffer damage, so the drivers all began maneuvering to avoid them.

"Trying to run!" Seeing the tanks repeat their old trick, the cavalry cursed as they steered the Pack Rhinos to correct their direction.

Regrettably, they were both helped and hindered by their weight.

Relying on the bonus of their tonnage, the Pack Rhinos could knock down city walls when running, but heavy tonnage meant being inflexible, especially when sprinting, making turning extremely difficult.

The cavalry watched the tanks leave the path directly in front of their charge, their hearts filled with celestial rage but not daring to change direction quickly.

If they did, the Pack Rhinos would roll over on their own without the enemy even needing to do anything.

In this way, the tank group kited the cavalry, and the number of Pack Rhinos still standing on the battlefield gradually decreased over time until they were completely consumed.