235: The upcoming decisive battle

Inside a wooden camp, the smell of blood permeated the air.

Silent wind blades flew through the air, shredding the bodies of dozens of Fel Orcs before they could react.

The swift Wind Wolf Knights swarmed into the camp in an instant, slaughtering every Evil Beastman.

"Bah!"

"These filthy bastards all deserve to die. Check carefully; don't let a single one escape."

"This is already the fifth Evil Beastman camp. Why are there so many in the canyon? Is no one at the fortress looking into this?"

Eric shook the blood off the blade of his crimson slasher and asked the comrades following him.

Not long ago, he received orders from Renn to lead the Gale Claw Legion to clear out the Alien Tribes and Evil Beastman camps near the fortress, accompanied by a squad of Black Blade Knights from the Iron Wall Fortress.

"Commander Eric, you might not be aware, but for the past three years, the frequency and intensity of the Fel Orcs's southward incursions against the fortress have been steadily increasing, becoming more ferocious each time."

The accompanying Black Blade Knight commander explained the situation to Eric.

"After three consecutive years of high-intensity combat, all the observation posts and outposts Lord Sena had previously established north of the fortress have been destroyed or occupied by the Fel Orcs. Our Border Defense Army has suffered significant losses and hasn't had the strength to reclaim them."

"Furthermore, due to the increased frequency of Evil Beastman invasions, even if we briefly reclaimed them, these outposts would soon be destroyed again. Thus, last year, Lord Sena ordered the abandonment of these peripheral outposts."

"The southward shift of the peripheral defensive line allowed these Evil Beastman camps to expand toward the fortress, leading to a rapid increase in their numbers."

"However, there is one benefit to the increase in these camps: the nearby Alien Tribes have also been cleared out by the Fel Orcs, leaving them as our only remaining enemy."

Eric did not agree with the Black Blade Knight commander's words at all.

"I'd much rather face those Alien Tribes than the Fel Orcs; they're far easier to deal with."

"Let's go, keep leading the way. Our mission is to clear out all threats within dozens of miles."

"Yes, I understand, Commander Eric!"

The Gale Claw Legion moved like lightning, quickly clearing the nearby Evil Beastman camps before the beastmen could even react or respond.

Inside the Iron Wall Fortress, Renn was lecturing the Mage Corps stationed there on the profound mysteries of magic within the Mage Tower. With his current strength, teaching these mages below the Gold Rank was effortless.

"That's all for today. Go back and contemplate on your own. If you can gain something from this, then my efforts here won't have been in vain."

Renn stood up and concluded today's lesson. This was his third time lecturing at the Mage Tower, and the mages had already been completely won over by his profound knowledge.

Once the other mages had respectfully withdrawn, only Alman and Renn remained in the room.

"My Lord!"

"What is it, Alman?"

Renn looked at Alman, who seemed to be hesitating to speak.

"My Lord, is your strength truly only at the Gold Rank? Are you... Legendary?"

After agonizing over it for several days, Alman finally couldn't help but ask the question burning in his mind.

As a Middle Gold rank mage, Alman's perception was much stronger than that of warriors of the same rank. The aura he sensed from Renn was different from any Gold-rank Professional he had ever met, including Grand Duke of the Raging Bear, Karl Angry Bear, who once stood at the very peak of the Gold Rank.

When Alman was young and traveling to study, he had met the Legendary Grand Elder of the Cold Wind Territory. Only that Legendary Grand Elder's aura was remarkably similar to Renn's current one.

That aura wasn't necessarily powerful or terrifying, but rather a distinct feeling—a unique presence that only a Legendary Expert could possess.

Alman was shocked when he sensed this Legendary aura on Renn. Over the past few days, he had been constantly comparing his memories to confirm his judgment.

Every time, the result was the same: Renn was very likely a Legendary.

This conclusion left Alman shocked and bewildered. He knew Renn's age; a Legendary under thirty—who would believe such a thing?

Alman himself hardly believed it, let alone anyone else.

After several days of interaction and repeated confirmation, an obsession had grown in Alman's heart: he wanted to know exactly how strong Renn was.

"What can you see?"

Renn looked at Alman with curiosity. He hadn't revealed his Legendary aura in front of these people. Logically, Alman and the others shouldn't have been able to probe his specific strength; they should have only felt that he was powerful.

Although he didn't receive a direct answer, Renn's tone and the content of his reply confirmed Alman's suspicions. He immediately prostrated himself on the ground.

"Your Highness!"

Renn waved his hand and said, "Rise."

"I am no 'Highness' right now. Just do your job well, understood?"

"Yes, Your Highness, I understand!"

Renn stood up to leave, but at the door, he turned back to look at Alman.

"Your talent is decent, you have great perseverance, and most importantly, your luck is quite good. In the future, you might even catch a glimpse of the gates to the Legendary Realm. Work hard."

After saying this, Renn left the room, leaving Alman alone.

"A glimpse of the Legendary?"

Alman muttered to himself as a thought quietly took root in his mind... "Your Highness, Count Sena has sent word of a victory. Just the day before yesterday, Count Sena led his knights to annihilate an invading Stag Territory legion at Sancha Estuary. They beheaded two thousand men on the spot and captured a viscount, achieving a brilliant victory."

"Good!"

Belmont slapped the table and stood up. This was one of the few pieces of good news he had heard in months.

The war with the Stag Territory had lasted for over three months, and the conflict had turned into a game of cat and mouse, with both sides chasing and hiding, scurrying back and forth.

This state of war was extremely unfavorable for the Rage Bear Territory, as the main battlefield was on their soil. Months of fighting had ravaged the eastern regions of the territory, and the grizzly bear fief nobles there were already extremely dissatisfied.

As the commander, Belmont's pressure was mounting, and he found himself in a difficult position to retreat.

Fortunately, at this critical moment, Count Sena provided him with a way out. With Sena's victory, Belmont could temporarily stabilize the army's morale.

"Your Highness, besides reporting the victory, Count Sena also mentioned that winter has arrived. In a few days, the temperature will drop rapidly. Heavy snowfall is unfavorable for combat, and for the Stag Territory forces fighting on foreign soil, winter will severely restrict them."

"Therefore, Count Sena predicts that the Stag Territory might consolidate their forces for a decisive battle soon. After resting, Count Sena will rejoin the main army as quickly as possible. He asks Your Highness to prepare in advance."

"A decisive battle?"

"A decisive battle is exactly what I've been waiting for!"

"Sena is right. The arrival of winter snow is extremely disadvantageous for the Stag people, who lack a rear base. They must fight a decisive battle with us before the temperature drops completely."

"Otherwise, I will occupy the Magic Stone Vein throughout the winter, and those greedy Stag people will never allow that."

"Order all units to assemble. From now on, prepare for the decisive battle. The months-long game of cat and mouse is finally coming to an end."

Belmont's military orders were quickly dispatched, and the army of over a hundred thousand immediately began to move.

At this moment, Horn, who was within the borders of the Stag Territory, was in a completely opposite state.