174: Summit Meeting

“I plan to build a small high-tower fortress at this pass,” High Lord Ryan Black said. “This way, even if we leave, the Gnolls won't be able to come up from here again.”

“Are we still building human structures? Can we use vines instead?” Forest Nymph Adania asked.

“The plant-wall outpost we built north of Cloud Mist Peak consumes too much magical energy,” the Young Duke said. “And its defensive capabilities are indeed much weaker. Because of that, I personally expended more magical energy. So, I suggest it would be better to build structures of wood and stone here.”

Hearing the Grand Duke say this, the group of Sirens had nothing more to say.

However, High Lord Ryan Black's final plan was to build two slender high towers on either side of the pass, with a wide stone wall and wooden gate connecting the two towers in the middle.

Then, a small outpost would be enclosed with a wooden fence northeast of the main gate.

The wood and stone would be sourced on-site by Kou Duo Ironanvil, the Minister of Craftsmen, and his team.

The Sirens couldn't bear to see the trees and mountains destroyed, so they kept their distance.

As a hunter, High Lord Ryan Black fully understood their feelings.

Being able to achieve this much was already quite difficult.

The construction was estimated to take around three days.

During this period, High Lord Ryan Black not only had his subordinates train on-site and continue their studies, but he also dispatched the Dragon King's first-level avatar to invisibly scout the enemy's situation in Saint Cavell Valley and Quagmire Fortress.

According to the Dragon King's mental report, there were tens of thousands of Gnolls in the valley.

To the north, hundreds of Ogres were engaged in battle with them.

Especially the Ogre mages, most of whom were very powerful.

Both sides suffered casualties, with more Gnolls dying.

However, as Quagmire Fortress continued to send out Gnolls, the Ogre side gradually weakened.

How should this battle be fought next?

One thousand people against tens of thousands or even more?

Having a dragon was correct.

Previously, around the outpost, small-scale dragon breath attacks primarily killed Gnolls.

But in the forest below, if they were to do the same, even more of the myriad creatures in the forest would die.

High Lord Ryan Black, being a hunter himself, would not allow himself to do this.

If he were to do so, all the forest allies would turn against him, possibly even becoming hostile.

Fight head-on?

These tens of thousands of Gnolls would exhaust their thousand-plus people to death.

During the Allied Forces' high-level meeting, High Lord Ryan Black brought this issue to the table.

“High Lord Ryan Black, can we, as we did before at the foot of Cloud Mist Peak, let the Gnolls come up to the peak, and then you use a force field wall to eliminate the ascending Gnolls?” Deputy Commander Kovenreid suggested.

“But Quagmire Fortress is still continuously adding Gnolls,” the Young Duke replied. “Just waiting here for the Gnolls to walk into the trap won't reduce the total number of Gnolls in the valley, and at the same time, we won't be able to approach that fortress.”

“Can we only use dragon breath?” Forest Nymph Adania asked.

“I don't recommend using dragon breath on a large scale,” the boy said. “This time, there's no need to summon an adult dragon soul either. Just use the Dragon King's small-scale dragon breath; it's both sustainable and not too wide-ranging.”

“Is there any difference?” Forest Nymph Fiona interjected, “Many forest creatures will still die.”

“A small area allows the forest to exchange for a path to Quagmire Fortress with the smallest cost, a path we can reach as quickly as possible,” the Young Duke said firmly. “And only by quickly sealing the planar rift in the fortress can we stop the increase in Gnoll numbers. Only then will the forest not have to endure more harm.”

Everyone fell silent.

“I agree with High Lord Ryan Black's plan,” the Kedas City Lord said.

Other humans also followed him in expressing their agreement.

Even one-third of the Druids expressed their agreement.

Looking at the silent Sirens and the remaining Druids, High Lord Ryan Black spoke again: “Those who disagree can propose a better plan.”

There was still silence.

“For every minute we delay, there might be several more Gnolls appearing in this world, polluting the forest and slaughtering living beings,” the Young Duke said, crossing his hands and looking at Fiona and the others.

“I… I have no other way,” Fiona said, a little sadly. “I can only agree to your plan.”

“Very good.” The boy gestured with his chin to the other silent ones. “What about the others?”

“I also agree,” Siren leader Celinsella replied.

“I also agree,” the other silent ones also spoke up one after another.

“The dragon breath pioneering plan is unanimously approved,” the Young Duke nodded. “Next, let's discuss the defensive battle plan.”

“Defensive battle? Plan?” Forest Nymph Fiona asked curiously, “Defend where?”

High Lord Ryan Black felt an urge to rub his forehead and complain, but he still slowly articulated his thoughts—

“Small-scale dragon breath will clear the path ahead.

The Allied Forces cannot follow too closely.

Once we are too far, the surrounding Gnolls will again close in.

I will use mist to trap the encroaching Gnolls.

But there won't be time for soldiers to kill them.

Our priority will be marching speed.

I will use mist to capture and release them as we go.

As long as they don't block our way, we'll just leave them aside for now.

The only thing to worry about is Gnoll spellcasters.

Along this journey, without outpost protection, we might suffer more casualties.”

Siren leader Celinsella interjected: “We Sirens, along with the Water Sprites, will summon Water Elementals at the outermost perimeter of the team to protect the army. Additionally, all of us can use charm spells to charm approaching Gnolls, making them stand at the very front. We can now also recognize their spellcasters and will prioritize dealing with them.”

Forest Nymph Sally continued: “We Forest Nymphs will also summon Forest Wolf spirits and magic vines on the outer perimeter to protect everyone.”

Druid Vivofenson said: “We Druids will try to prepare as many summoning spells as possible. The animals and elemental spirits we summon will enter the fray when we and our animal companions need rest.”

Tyrantier spoke: “We mages will likewise prepare more summoning spells.”

“We priests don't have many summoning divine spells,” the Kedas City Lord said. “But we will prepare some to the best of our abilities. Next are healing divine spells and protective divine spells.”

Shaman Prima stroked the totem pole in her hand and said: “Grand Duke, if the situation is critical tomorrow, I will use the totem pole to summon ancestral heroes.” Her gaze seemed to hold reluctance.

High Lord Ryan Black's gaze fell on Prima's totem pole.

Suddenly, he recalled the scene from his dream that night.

One of the things the Fairy Queen said to him in the dream suddenly became clear at this moment—

“…I can also help repair your subordinate's totem pole, and the repair materials needed will be found during your journey to complete my task…”

This was the first time High Lord Ryan Black knew the content of what the Siren in his dream had said.

Looking at the system, there was no prompt at this time.

“What exactly did this Fairy Queen leave in my mind?” The boy felt nervous, then suddenly thought that the system usually provided him with more information.

Could the system also be an existence similar to the Fairy Queen?

Or an even stronger existence?

Why did one after another want to get into his head?

Did the Fairy Queen leave this message in the boy's dream just to entice him to agree to her super-difficult series of tasks?

“Prima, will summoning ancestral heroes accelerate the loss of spirit?” The Young Duke almost blurted out this question.

“That, it will indeed accelerate the loss of spirit,” Prima respectfully stood up and bowed. “Grand Duke, please rest assured, I will not use it lightly unless absolutely necessary.”

The Young Duke nodded, acknowledging it implicitly.

This meeting lasted an entire day.

Everyone discussed in detail the cooperation between various units;

The spell coordination between various squads;

The mutual cooperation between individuals.

And they integrated all relevant tactical content into the training exercises of the past few days.

Minister of Craftsmen Kou Duo Ironanvil and his team had been working day and night for the past few days.

Finally, it was completed on the third night.

On the morning of the fourth day, after the system completed the assimilation of the new stronghold,

The Allied Forces, facing the morning sun, prepared to enter the Saint Cavell Valley, which was filled with Gnolls.