197: Reversal

Holy Radiance Capital, the Throne Hall.

After nearly a month of absorption and reorganization, the former Aulai Royal Palace had become the hub for Linn's overall coordination. Within the hall, there were no longer any anxious surrendered officials, only the Star Sea Territory's civil and military officials listening solemnly to orders.

Linn sat upright on the throne, his fingers lightly brushing over the cold armrest, his gaze sweeping over the gathered generals and officials below.

“Shirei.” Linn spoke.

“This general is here!” Shirei took a step forward and knelt on one knee, his voice clanging with strength. He was a general Linn had cultivated early on, loyal and reliable, having performed excellently in a series of previous battles. Being stationed in the capital was both a heavy responsibility and a sign of trust.

“I order you to lead the Star-Moon Legion, stationed in Holy Radiance City, to govern the capital,” Linn commanded. “The Star-Moon Legion will be supplemented to a hundred thousand men. You must maintain local peace, clear out remnant enemies, ensure the implementation of the new policies, and stabilize our army's rear.”

“This general accepts the command! I swear to keep the capital worry-free!” Shirei promised in a deep voice, his eyes filled with gratitude and determination. A hundred thousand men, mostly newly supplemented elites—this was an immense amount of trust from the Duke.

Linn nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Yilman and other major generals: “The remaining eight hundred thousand troops will complete their final assembly and resupply within seven days and follow me south.”

His voice was not loud, but it carried a steel-like resolution, echoing through the hall: “The Red River Plain in Macedonia Province is the final struggle of the Aolai Royal Family and the last graveyard of the old era. In this battle, we will end a century of internal strife and unify the mountains and rivers of Aulai!”

“We are willing to follow the Duke to wipe out the rebels and unify the land!” Everyone in the hall echoed in unison, their voices rolling like waves, their Battle Intent piercing the Sky.

Linn raised his hand, suppressing the sound, and continued to issue orders: “Order Clay and Ocean Jack, the two naval legions, Usachi's unit, and the Orc Legion, totaling two hundred and fifty thousand troops, to stand by in Bandel Province. If the allied forces attempt to besiege them before our main force arrives, they may maneuver flexibly based on their maritime advantage, and if necessary, abandon Bandel to preserve their strength. Wait for my main force to head south before launching a joint attack.”

“Understood!”

Finally, Linn's gaze shifted to the shadows behind and to the side of the throne, where a knight attendant wearing Star Armor had been standing quietly waiting.

“You, return to Tianhai Province immediately via the teleportation array.” Linn's voice was sent directly into the attendant's ear through sound transmission. “Take my secret order to meet Great Master Gordon and convey the final instruction: the time has come. When my army reaches Macedonia Province and is about to make contact with the enemy at the Red River Plain, have him act according to the plan—behead the snake, control the Southern Army, and work from the inside with Clay and Usachi's units to paralyze the Second Prince's forces in one fell swoop.”

The attendant's eyes sharpened, and he nodded silently and solemnly. Then, his figure seemed to melt into the shadows, quietly exiting the hall and heading straight for the top-secret teleportation room deep within the palace.

---

Seven days later, outside Holy Radiance City, banners covered the Sky, and the military appearance was magnificent.

Eight hundred thousand troops were lined up in countless neat and solemn square formations, stretching from the city walls to the distant horizon. The sunlight shone on the new Star Sea Territory standard armor and weapons, reflecting a cold and uniform light. After reorganization and Fusion, although this army's composition was complex, it had formed a whole filled with the desire to fight under strict military discipline, generous treatment, clear common goals, and Linn's supreme prestige.

Linn did not give a long pre-battle speech. He simply rode that majestic black warhorse, surrounded by Yilman, Nocturne, and other Advanced generals, slowly reviewing several major legion arrays.

When he raised his right arm, the longsword 'Starfall' in his hand pointing directly south, eight hundred thousand people simultaneously erupted in a world-shaking roar:

“Star Sea! Victory!”

“Ten thousand victories to the Duke!”

The sound waves were like a tsunami, sweeping across the plains, even the floating clouds in the Sky seemed to be scattered.

“Depart.”

Two simple words began this southern expedition that would decide the final fate of the kingdom.

The army was like a vast dragon composed of steel and flesh, rolling southward along the ancient highway. The sound of horse hooves, footsteps, and wheels merged into a dull and powerful thunder, and the earth trembled. The airships did not travel with the main force by land; they would arrive at the designated airspace ahead of time at a faster speed to conduct strategic reconnaissance and deterrence.

Linn sat in the center of the army, his expression calm. All layouts were in place; now he just had to wait for the chess pieces to move to their designated positions and then drop the winning move.

Almost at the same time, at the Red River Plain Allied Camp.

The atmosphere had changed from the anxious anticipation of half a month ago to a near-desperate suspicion and panic.

There was no news of the reinforcements from Nocturne and Duke Bauhinia, and none of the messengers sent out had returned. Better yet, news of Linn's army heading south from the north spread through the camp like a plague.

“Eight hundred thousand! A full eight hundred thousand troops! And those airships!”

“The surrendered troops from Holy Radiance City have all been incorporated into his army!”

“We've been abandoned! Nocturne and Bauhinia surrendered to Linn long ago!”

Rumors and panic, under the double torment of food shortages and internal mutual distrust, fermented rapidly. Although Atos and the Second Prince tried their best to suppress it, even publicly executing several soldiers who spread "morale-shaking" remarks, the effect was minimal. Between the camps of the two armies, the invisible gap grew deeper, and small-scale friction and conflicts occurred from time to time.

They did not know that the fatal blade was not only coming from the north.

The Second Prince's core camp, the central command tent.

Gordon, the former head of the Kingdom's Magic Corps and the Second Prince's teacher. He was also Linn's greatest hidden piece.

The tent curtain moved slightly, and a figure quietly entered like a ghost, without attracting the attention of any guards.

Gordon seemed to have noticed long ago. Without turning his head, his voice was low: “He... is finally coming.”

“Yes, Great Master.” The person who came was Linn's knight attendant. He respectfully presented a special magic crystal. “The Duke's secret order: the time has come. The army's vanguard will arrive at the border of Macedonia Province in three days.”

Gordon took the crystal, his Mental Energy seeped in, and Linn's calm and clear voice rang directly in his mind, issuing the final instruction.

He closed his eyes, and after a moment, he opened them. There was no more hesitation in his eyes, only a cold killing intent and resolution. For a greater goal, for a broader world of the path of magic.

“Tell the Duke that Gordon knows what to do.”

The attendant bowed and withdrew silently once more.

Gordon walked to a crystal mirror inside the tent and tidied his luxurious mage robes. Reflected in the mirror was a face that was slightly sinister yet full of wisdom and power. He whispered to himself, as if persuading himself, or as if swearing to a certain goal:

“Aulai? A decaying kingdom, narrow power struggles... it's time for the curtain to fall. A new era needs a stronger power to lead. Duke Linn... perhaps you are the one who can break the shackles.”

“As for you, my dear 'student,' Your Highness the Second Prince...” A cold arc curled at the corner of Gordon's mouth. “Your value ends here.”

He turned and walked out of the tent, his figure disappearing into the hot and humid night of the southern lands. In the distance, the dust raised by Linn's army could be faintly seen on the northern horizon, like a slowly approaching cloud of fate.

Meanwhile, on the Red River Plain, the allied army, which claimed to be a million strong but was already riddled with holes internally, remained oblivious to the impending pincer attack and the fatal backstab. A storm was quietly brewing at their very core.