199: decisive battle

The dark night was completely torn apart by the flames of war.

Atos's Royal Army camp, under a sudden onslaught from all sides, instantly exploded like ice thrown into boiling oil. Soldiers jolted awake from their dreams and scrambled to fight, their units in chaos and command paralyzed. Many didn't even have time to don their armor before falling under the first wave of arrow rain and magical bombardment.

Although the Star Sea Territory army led by Clay, Batu, and Ocean was relatively small in number, they triumphed through surprise, thorough preparation, and the deployment of their absolute elite.

“For the Duke! Kill!” Clay led the charge, his greatsword sweeping out to slash a fan-shaped arc of blazing battle qi, sending the chevaux-de-frise and several Royal Army soldiers flying. Behind him, the Star Sea Guard Army, clad in enchanted heavy armor, formed a tight wedge formation. Like a red-hot iron, they pierced ruthlessly into the chaotic Royal Army ranks. Their combat power was incredibly formidable; even enemies several times their number found it difficult to halt their advance.

In the Sky, sharp screeches rang out. Dozens of massive, light-armored griffins with sharp eyes carried knights on their backs, diving down like death gods. They were the Griffin Knights of the Star Sea Territory, the absolute overlords of the Sky. With sharp claws and teeth, armor-piercing short spears thrown by the knights, and precise crossbow fire, they dealt lethal blows to the Royal Army from above, specifically targeting officers, banners, and mage nodes, further exacerbating the chaos.

Even more terrifying was the Orc Legion, composed of individuals over two and a half meters tall with knotted muscles and hideous faces, wielding giant battle-axes or maces. They roared, almost ignoring the slashes of ordinary swords as they rampaged through the enemy ranks like humanoid war machines. Wherever they passed, flesh and blood flew, and severed limbs were scattered through the air. Their brute strength and ferocity greatly decimated the already low morale of the Royal Army soldiers.

Despite the initial chaos, the Royal Army began to organize sporadic resistance under the leadership of some middle and lower-level officers (especially Atos's die-hard loyalists), attempting to stabilize their position. However, facing the onslaught of these three ace units—who coordinated perfectly and possessed peerless combat power—they continued to retreat steadily, suffering heavy casualties.

Half an hour flew by in the bloody slaughter.

Just as the Royal Army's defensive line was teetering on the brink of collapse, even worse news arrived.

“Kill! Avenge His Highness!” A world-shaking roar came from the east. Illumined by firelight, the dark mass of the Southern Army resembled a flood of vengeance. Led by Usachi and Gordon, they crashed thunderously into the Royal Army's already fragile flank!

The arrival of this fresh force instantly shattered the battlefield's fragile equilibrium. The flames of hatred incited within the Southern Army's soldiers were burning bright, and seeing “Marshal Usachi” and “Great Master Gordon” leading the charge personally, their morale soared. Carrying the conviction of “avenging” the Second Prince and anger over Atos's “treachery,” they fought with exceptional ferocity.

As for the Royal Army, the feelings of many soldiers were incredibly complex. Not long ago, they were “allies” fighting side-by-side; in the blink of an eye, they had become mortal enemies facing each other with blades. This shock and psychological turmoil further weakened the Royal Army's resistance.

“Bastards! Usachi, Gordon! You two traitors!” Atos watched from the central army's high platform, his eyes nearly splitting with rage. He finally understood what had happened, a bone-chilling coldness mixed with Sky-high fury rushing to his head. It wasn't Atos who was treacherous; rather, the magical power and Southern Army commander he relied on most had long since been infiltrated by Linn, dealing him a fatal blow at this critical moment!

Seeing his own lines rapidly collapsing under the pincer attack from within and without, his Legendary Experts pinned down or besieged, and the morale of the ordinary troops on the verge of disintegration, Atos knew that if he didn't play his trump card now, all would be lost.

He spun around and bowed deeply to an old man sitting in the shadows behind him. The elder sat as still as withered wood, his aura so weak it was almost non-existent. Atos's voice carried unprecedented pleading and urgency: “Old Ancestor! The nation is in peril, and the rebels are rampant! Please, Old Ancestor, take action to slay the Legendaries among the Southern Army rebels and stabilize the army's heart! The survival of Aulai rests entirely upon your shoulders!”

The Epic-tier Old Ancestor, who had been closing his eyes as if asleep, slowly opened them. They were a pair of cloudy eyes that seemed to contain endless years and vicissitudes, and at this moment, a trace of helplessness and resolve flashed through them. His vitality was indeed failing and his Lifespan was nearly spent; he had intended to save his final strength for Linn or as the royal family's ultimate deterrent. But now, if he didn't act, Atos's last Royal Army would collapse.

“Sigh...” A barely audible sigh escaped him. In the next instant, the old man's figure had already vanished from the high platform.

Above the battlefield, Great Master Gordon, who was using powerful magic to suppress the Royal Army's resistance across a wide area while providing Spell support to the Southern Army, suddenly felt a warning alarm in his heart!

A terrifying pressure that made his very Soul tremble descended out of thin air! A thin, withered figure appeared not far in front of him as if teleporting, and a shriveled palm lightly patted forward.

There was no grand display, but the mana shield around Gordon shattered inch by inch like paper! An invisible yet irresistible force slammed into his body!

“Pfft—!” Gordon sprayed a mouthful of blood, his body flying backward hundreds of meters like a kite with a broken string, his face instantly turning pale as paper. The gap between a high-rank Legendary and an Epic—even an Epic in their decline—was still like a heavenly chasm! With just one strike, he was already heavily injured!

“Old thief! Don't you dare hurt my friend!” A roar exploded like thunder.

Clay, Usachi, Batu, and Ocean almost simultaneously abandoned the ground battle and soared into the Sky! Four streaks of differently colored Legendary battle qi and mana light, like four meteors, crashed brazenly toward that Aulai Epic Old Ancestor!

“Mere Legendaries, you dare to try and shake a tree like ants?” The Old Ancestor snorted coldly, his gaunt body erupting with suffocating pressure. His withered hands struck out repeatedly; though appearing slow, they arrived first, precisely meeting the attacks of the four.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Sky seemed to explode with four brilliant and deadly orbs of light. The violent energy shockwaves tore the low-altitude clouds to shreds. Clay and the other three groaned as they were pushed back, their blood and qi churning. They had clearly come off worse in the head-on clash, but by joining forces, they managed to narrowly withstand the Old Ancestor's several wrathful strikes.

Gordon took the opportunity to stabilize himself and swallowed a precious healing potion, a look of ruthlessness appearing on his pale face. He knew the gap between himself and an Epic was too large, but he absolutely could not retreat now! Forcing down his injuries, he gathered his mana once more, forming a siege with Clay and the other three.

For a time, the aerial battlefield became a five-on-one situation. Five Legendary Experts surrounded the Aulai Epic Old Ancestor, pouring out various powerful combat techniques and Spells like a violent storm. Although the Old Ancestor was strong, he was old and frail after all, no longer at his Peak. Facing the siege of five experienced Legendaries whose coordination was growing smoother, he was actually held firmly in check for a moment, unable to exert a decisive influence on the ground battle again.

On the ground, without the deterrent and direct support of the Epic Old Ancestor, the Royal Army's collapse accelerated.

Augus, Vaughan, Karl, and the other Star Sea Territory legion commanders were all veterans of many battles, commanding with calm resolve. They utilized their numerical advantage and high morale to continuously split, surround, and crush the units of the Royal Army that were attempting to rally.