262: Chapter 262 The Battle Falls Apart! A Desperate Gamble! The Calm Nyss!

Cangyuan City, Wizard Tower.

Duke Witton's figure landed on the terrace.

His black cloak fluttered lightly, then fell still.

Wizard Hurley greeted him, puzzled:

"Why is Your Grace here personally? It's not time yet."

Duke Witton was expressionless, saying in a low voice:

"Ice Peak Fortress has been breached by the Snowfield Kingdom! We are out of time!"

Wizard Hurley's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this:

"How could it be so fast?!"

"According to our initial estimates, Ice Peak Fortress should have been able to hold out for at least another month. When did those guys from the Snowfield Kingdom become so capable?"

Duke Witton waved his hand, his tone filled with irrepressible irritation:

"There is no point in considering that now."

"The army of the Snowfield Kingdom has broken through Ice Peak Fortress and is advancing towards Aksai City."

"If we cannot complete the plan before their main force arrives,"

"Then, all our efforts will be in vain."

He looked directly into Wizard Hurley's eyes and asked, word for word:

"Tell me, is there any way to directly draw out the main vein of the blood source now? We don't need to wait for the scheduled time; let it be born early."

Wizard Hurley fell silent.

He looked down at the crystal ball in his hand, his gaze lingering for a moment on the dim light spots within, then he slowly looked up:

"There is a way, but it requires paying a price."

He looked at Duke Witton and asked:

"Your Grace, how many troops can you mobilize now?"

Duke Witton thought for a moment and replied:

"The standing army of Aksai City, plus the conscripts from several nearby territories, is less than 50,000. Adding the border troops that can be commanded, we can scrape together about 100,000."

Wizard Hurley's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "That's enough!"

He paused and continued:

"Your Grace, currently, within the area covered by the Seal of Andalas Strife, most places have fallen into chaos. Although the progress of blood energy collection is slightly lower than expected, it is still growing steadily."

"Only one city, because of the protection of a shielding wizard array, has not been too affected so far, and therefore still has a large population gathered there."

He looked at Duke Witton, his tone indifferent:

"I was wondering how to deal with this troublesome city."

"But now it seems, it is just right."

"Your Grace only needs to send troops to besiege Gino City, drive the army to quickly slaughter the city, sacrifice the large population gathered inside and outside, and then I will pre-plant methods in the soldiers' bodies to eliminate this army as well!"

"In this way, the accumulated blood energy will be enough for the Seal of Andalas Strife to exert its final effect."

"At that time, the main vein of the blood source will inevitably be triggered and appear directly at the location of Gino City, being born ahead of schedule!"

He paused again and added:

"And that king in the Mess Mountains, if he wants to share this power, it is time to let him move."

Duke Witton listened and fell silent.

He stood on the spot, looking at the sky covered by dark clouds in the distance, and did not speak for a long time.

After a while, he muttered to himself:

"Gino City, and those soldiers of mine..."

At this moment, a voice sounded from the entrance of the terrace: "I agree with this plan."

The two turned their heads and saw the Dawn Knight Mason walking over with large strides.

He had obviously just received the news, his expression grave, but his eyes held a sense of determination.

He walked up to Duke Witton and said sincerely:

"We are out of time..."

"If we wait for the Snowfield Kingdom's army to break through the defensive lines along the way and reach Will Province, then all our efforts will be wasted."

"Some sacrifices are worth it; we can no longer afford the consequences of failure."

Duke Witton looked at this Imperial Second Prince, the Dawn Knight, his daughter's fiancé.

Then, a flash of ruthlessness appeared in his eyes:

"Then... let it be done."

He turned around, said no more, and flew straight up into the sky, heading towards Aksai City to deliver the final order.

Two days later, Aksai City.

The city gates were wide open, and teams of fully armed soldiers filed out, marching eastward along the official road.

Spears were like a forest, armor reflected the pale autumn sunlight, and their footsteps were uniform.

Meanwhile, deep in the Mess Mountains, there came bursts of low rumbling sounds.

Tens of thousands of various magical beasts were gathering.

Countless pairs of eyes glowing with red light lit up in the mountains and forests, accompanied by low growls and roars, spreading towards the plains of Will Province.

The border troops originally stationed on the border line also received orders to mobilize, starting to shrink inland and advance towards Gino City.

Three forces, in different places, began to move at the same time...

Aksai City, on the city wall.

The morning mist had not yet dispersed.

Beside the battlements of the city wall, two ladies stood side by side, looking at the army that was gradually moving away.

A breeze blew by, outlining two slender silhouettes in the morning light.

Delia leaned against the city wall, arms crossed over her chest, watching the departing army, a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth.

She turned her head and looked at Niss beside her, chuckling: "It seems our Duke has decided to make a desperate gamble."

"Is it reaching the final moment?"

"However, Niss, why do you look so unhappy?"

Niss Witton did not answer her question.

She just looked in the direction the army had gone, her expression complex.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke, asking again with some stubbornness:

"Did the Saintess really say that it is not yet the time for the Red Moon Proxy to be born?"

Delia raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and laughed:

"Could that be false?"

"How many times have you asked?"

"I personally confirmed it with the attendant by the Saintess's side."

"The Saintess herself said that it is not yet time for the Red Moon Proxy to be born!"

"What, you still haven't given up?"

Niss fell silent again.

Her gaze became increasingly melancholy.

Although she didn't have much confidence in her father's plan before, deep down, she still held a glimmer of hope—

"What if?"

"What if her father really succeeded!"

"What if the Witton family could really gain a foothold in this land that was about to be reshuffled."

"Then, as the Duke's daughter, she would still be able to maintain her proper status and dignity."

But now—

That only hope had also been completely erased.

The Saintess of the Dark Night, as a legendary powerhouse of the Dark Elf race, was herself a master of prophecy of the Silver Moon system; her prophecies could not be wrong.

Then, the one who was wrong must be her father.

She sighed softly, as if relieved of some obsession.

She didn't say anything more, just turned around and walked down the stairs of the city wall.

Delia watched her back and asked:

"Where are you going?"

Niss did not look back, her voice calm:

"Back to the Duke's mansion to tidy up the remnants retreating from the north."

"No matter how the situation develops, having some bargaining chips in hand will always make one feel more at ease."

Her figure gradually moved further away, disappearing into the shadows under the city wall.