157: Chapter 157 The Incompetent 'Dowry Heroic Spirit'?

The seeking worthy order placement phase finally concluded, and the Heroic Spirits obtained by each country were as follows:

France formed a friendship with the Famous Scholar [Clan Head], and the Heroic Spirit type recommended by the [Clan Head] was [Descendant of a Noble Family].

Therefore, the Heroic Spirit ultimately summoned by the France [Strategist] was the star general of the illustrious Montmorency family—[Duke of Luxembourg]!

The country that formed a friendship with the Famous Scholar [Officer] was Ottoman, and the Heroic Spirit type recommended by the [Officer] was [Career Advancement].

The Heroic Spirit ultimately summoned by the [Strategist] Adar for Ottoman was—[Ibrahim Pasha]!

The Famous Scholar ultimately chosen by the USA was [Dean], and the Heroic Spirit type recommended by the [Dean] was [Success in Youth].

Therefore, the Heroic Spirit ultimately summoned by the USA [Strategist] was the famous general who graduated from West Point and later became world-renowned—[Jackson]!

Next was the Russia [Strategist], who squeezed out the Romans and obtained friendship from the Famous Scholar [Abbot]; the Heroic Spirit type recommended by the [Abbot] was [Clergy].

The Heroic Spirit ultimately summoned by the Russia [Strategist] was the commander known as the 'Saint'—[Nevsky]!

Continuing on, there was Prussia. Relying on the two seeking worthy order in their hands, Prussia obtained the friendship of two Famous Scholars: [Maritime Merchant] and [Benevolent Elder].

However, the Heroic Spirit types recommended by these two Famous Scholars were [Naval Warfare Genius] and [Orphan], respectively. These types were not suitable for the Prussian civilization itself. Coupled with the lack of New Era culture and historical gaps, although Prussia ultimately summoned two Heroic Spirits, the summoned Heroic Spirits were not powerful. They were—[Raeder] and [Haußer].

Finally, there was Britain. Britain formed a friendship with [Ranger], and the Heroic Spirit type recommended by [Ranger] was [Outlaw].

Therefore, the Heroic Spirit ultimately summoned by the Britain [Strategist] was the figure known as the bandit hero—[Robin Hood]!

In addition, the British also obtained a 'Gift from a Famous Scholar' from Chen Aoyun. The gift came from the Famous Scholar [Craftsman], and the type was 'Masterpiece (Blade)'. The British, who do not separate swords from blades, used this gift to manifest the legendary [Sword in the Stone]!

The Heroic Spirit [Robin Hood] and the manifested artifact [Sword in the Stone] were both characters and items from fictional novels. Although both have prototypes in real history, this scene required the summoned existences to be of 'True Martial Origin'—they must be characters and weapons that existed in real history.

The British summoned in such a way, clearly violating this premise without knowing it.

It was also after the countries finished summoning their Heroic Spirits that the Star Chess will reminded them: [Divine Judgment] restrictions have been lifted, and countries can activate it if needed.

Chen Aoyun, who had summoned the Heroic Spirit [General Huo Qubing] by placing the piece [Bride-to-be], did not take this opportunity to judge the British.

"A [Robin Hood] from Britain is not a threat. Furthermore, activating [Divine Judgment] requires consuming national destiny even if successful. We will soon face the [National War] with the Sakura Country people, so wasting national destiny here is not worth it..."

The British did not know that Chen Aoyun had invisibly let them off the hook. If Chen Aoyun had activated Judgment against [Robin Hood] and [Sword in the Stone] at this moment, all the previous efforts of the British would have turned into bubbles.

At this point, except for the Sakura Country, which voluntarily gave up the Famous Scholar quota, and Rome, which was squeezed out of its quota, the Heroic Spirits of the remaining seven countries were all in place.

Without exception, the Heroic Spirits chosen by each country were those capable of directly leading troops in battle.

The [Heroic Spirit] returned to the 'Backstage' battlefield that was once presented as a map, where the Calamity Demon and the 'Space Gate' that needed to be destroyed were located.

The final battle of the first act had begun!

On the battlefield, Britain's [Robin Hood] turned into a green grim reaper. Where the rain of arrows covered, the Calamity Demon fell in droves, the medium-sized portal collapsed with a bang, and their score was far ahead.

Relying on the numerical advantage of two Heroic Spirits, Prussia fought steadily and followed closely behind.

The USA's [Jackson] displayed iron-like discipline, firing muskets in unison, clearing the battlefield with overwhelming force, and firmly sitting in third place.

As for the other countries...

Russia, France, and Ottoman were struggling near the small portals, their scores climbing slowly.

As for the Dragon Country?

Their camp was terrifyingly quiet. [General Huo Qubing] not only did not advance, but instead used all his energy to "toss" his army around—

Converting all troop types to Cavalry, and also making the soldiers learn various "odd jobs".

Seeing this scene, the live broadcast room was filled with a joyful atmosphere:

"Look, the Dragon Country people are playing house!"

"A Bride-to-be Heroic Spirit, truly not fit for the stage!"

Not in the strategy phase, each country's [Heroic Spirit] appeared in the form of a summoned descent. No [Roleplayer] was needed, and there was no Heroic Spirit Manifestation. The [Heroic Spirit] fought autonomously based on their own abilities.

Each country's [Strategist] was only responsible for formulating strategies, planning paths on a strategic map laid out like a 'sandbox' after the Famous Scholar compass disappeared, and the specific combat was left to the [Heroic Spirit] to solve on their own.

Each country's [Strategist] still had two opportunities to construct exclusive skills for these [Heroic Spirits].

It did not require consuming Construction Power, but the two exclusive skills had special restrictions:

'Ability' and 'Achievement'!

Using the [Heroic Spirit]'s own 'Ability' as an allusion, one could construct an exclusive skill for the Heroic Spirit.

Based on the [Heroic Spirit]'s 'Achievement' in history, one could construct another exclusive skill.

One must know that when summoning the Heroic Spirit, the recommended type of the Famous Scholar had already restricted each country's [Strategist] once.

Because of the type restrictions, many countries brought out [Heroic Spirits] that were not the strongest Heroic Spirits in their minds, and now there was this additional 'Ability' and 'Achievement' restriction on the Heroic Spirit's exclusive skills...

It was difficult; one could only say that the [Strategists] of all countries felt a bit of a headache.

Otherwise, the 'Final Battle' would not have been going on for so long, and only Britain's [Robin Hood] and Prussia's [Raeder] and [Haußer] had broken through some Calamity Demons and each destroyed a medium-sized 'Space Gate'.

York, the commentator who had been explaining the battlefield situation in real-time, said,

"Britain's Heroic Spirit [Robin Hood] is a bit outrageously strong. Is this really a Heroic Spirit of 'True Martial Origin'?"

"The British constructed two exclusive skills for him, and used only one of them to kill through a large area of Calamity Demons in one breath, destroyed a medium-sized portal, and has now arrived at the second medium-sized portal. The second medium-sized portal is also about to be destroyed."

"The activated Heroic Spirit exclusive skill looks like it can last for a while longer. If it goes on like this, the British will firmly occupy the first place on the kill list without even needing to use the second exclusive skill!"

"Terrifyingly powerful!"

"Don't forget, the British still have a manifested artifact [Sword in the Stone] that hasn't been used!"

"Constructing a skill with the allusion of [Sword in the Stone], the exclusive skill constructed by [Artifact · Sword in the Stone] is no less powerful than the exclusive skill of [Heroic Spirit] / [wonder]."

"In other words, Britain, which already has the highest score, not only has a very powerful [Heroic Spirit] that can maximize the support for the army it leads, but also has two skills that haven't been used!"

"Too terrifying..."

[First Act Rule 9: For the army led by the Heroic Spirit, every Calamity Demon killed earns 1 point, destroying a small Space Gate earns 100 points, destroying a medium-sized Space Gate earns 500 points, and destroying the largest Space Gate at the center earns 5000 points. The top three countries in points will have their results counted in this act.]

The British had already destroyed two medium-sized portals and were marching towards the next medium-sized portal.

Although Prussia was a bit behind, they had also destroyed one medium-sized portal and fought their way to the next one.

After all, it was a country with two Heroic Spirits. Although [Raeder] and [Haußer] were not the strongest in the minds of the Prussian [Strategists], the numerical advantage still ensured that Prussia did not fall too far behind Britain.

Next was the USA. The USA's Heroic Spirit was [Jackson], also a powerful Heroic Spirit.

Now the USA's kill score ranked third, and they were also marching towards a medium-sized portal, just at a slower pace compared to Prussia, which had two Heroic Spirits.

However, considering that Prussia's two Heroic Spirits were both relatively weak, it was unlikely that they could construct the Heroic Spirit's exclusive skills according to the 'Ability' and 'Achievement' requirements.

The USA, which had constructed an exclusive skill for [Jackson] but had not activated it yet, still had a great chance to catch up with Prussia in the future.

Britain, Prussia, USA.

These were the only three countries that had broken through medium-sized portals or were in the process of doing so.

Other countries, either because their Heroic Spirits were not strong enough or because they did not know the allusions of their Heroic Spirits and could not construct exclusive skills, had become mere spectators at this moment.

Russia was like this, France was like this, Ottoman was like this, and the Dragon Country seemed to be even more so!

Russia, France, and Ottoman had at least broken through one or two small portals and killed quite a few Calamity Demons.

Only the Dragon Country.

No one knew what the Dragon Country's Heroic Spirit was doing. The army led by [General Huo Qubing] was unmoved, and the Heroic Spirit was being used to reorganize the military.

"Are you kidding, Dragon Country? Wasn't the [Heroic Spirit] you summoned not a combat-type Heroic Spirit?"

"How come it's like a civil official-type Heroic Spirit, starting to reorganize military affairs?"

"There are specialties in every trade, not to mention that the rules stipulate that such things as reorganizing military affairs can only be done well by 'civil official-type' Heroic Spirits."

"You use a military general Heroic Spirit to reorganize military affairs under these rules, what are you thinking?"

The sound of mockery was endless in the live broadcast room.

Ever since Chen Aoyun appeared and became the [Strategist] of the Dragon Country, no matter how bad the Dragon Country's situation was on the chessboard, or how far behind they were in the plot strategy, Chen Aoyun could always use the [Heroic Spirit] of Huaxia to make a comeback. It seemed that no Huaxia Heroic Spirit was weak.

Fortunately, today they finally encountered a weak one!

'Bride-to-be Heroic Spirit'...

The Heroic Spirit [General Huo Qubing], who appeared as a dowry item, was considered complete garbage by the whole world. It was Chen Aoyun's most, most, most helpless forced choice during the Famous Scholar strategy phase.

Such a Heroic Spirit dared not advance, dared not have ideas about the medium-sized portals heavily guarded by Calamity Demons, and didn't even dare to have ideas about the small portals where there weren't that many Calamity Demons.

They could only use the excuse of reorganizing military affairs to remain unmoved. Wasn't that just the Dragon Country people looking for a pathetic way to save face for themselves?

"Fancy, calculating, but in the end, the summoned Heroic Spirit [General Huo Qubing] doesn't even have the strength to advance and conquer a small portal."

"Ridiculous, too ridiculous..."

The audience outside the arena evaluated the Heroic Spirit [General Huo Qubing] summoned by Chen Aoyun this way. The [Strategists] of other countries in the arena, after seeing that the Dragon Country remained unmoved, almost all labeled [General Huo Qubing] as weak.

But is that really the case?

[General Huo Qubing], who remained unmoved, looked busy. Was he really pretending to be busy to cover up the incompetence of the Heroic Spirit?

Look closely at the actions of the Heroic Spirit [General Huo Qubing] under Chen Aoyun's instructions:

The Dragon Country Heroic Spirit [General Huo Qubing] was converting all his subordinate troops into Cavalry.

Are Cavalry necessarily stronger than other troop types?

Not necessarily. The rules did not explicitly state the priority of troop types, so there was no difference in combat power between different troop types.

Even [General Huo Qubing] forcibly converting troop types into Cavalry, one person and one horse counting as two people, actually weakened the total military strength quite a bit after this chaotic operation.

What was even more strange and ridiculous was that Chen Aoyun was letting [General Huo Qubing] use special methods to buff these Cavalry:

After being buffed, the Cavalry were Cavalry when mounted, and veterinarians, doctors, and guides when dismounted...

It seemed to make these Cavalry all possess unique skills, but the problem was... The buffs that [Heroic Spirit] could provide were limited. Instead of using [General Huo Qubing]'s buffs to improve the soldiers' combat power, Chen Aoyun used them to buff these seemingly useless abilities.

May I ask what is the use of these abilities?

Chen Aoyun did not speak, but whispered to Fan Ling and others beside him,

"Nothing else, the more the situation of the troop type matches the [Heroic Spirit]'s abilities and allusions, the stronger the exclusive skill will be when activated!"

"I'm just preparing in advance for [General Huo Qubing] to activate his exclusive skill!"

A 'Bride-to-be Heroic Spirit' and still activating an exclusive skill?

Even if the conversation between Chen Aoyun and Fan Ling and others was accidentally heard by the audience, those who heard it just laughed it off and focused more on the countries with higher kill rankings...