Chapter 797

【 BATTLE IN THE ABYSS 】

—

Upon hearing Ji Gang’s question, Féng slowly withdrew her gaze.

She smiled faintly and nodded to him.

Receiving her approval seemed to make Ji Gang quite pleased.

In truth, throughout this month-long campaign, if not for the guidance of this low-profile female druid beside him, Ji Gang might not have been able to lead the often disorganized players and successfully track the demon army all the way here.

The Wasteland of Desolation was simply too vast and much of it consisted of endless barren land with few landmarks, making it easy to lose one’s bearings.

Even with the assistance of the minimap, players could easily lose sight of the demons’ main force amid the boundless wasteland.

Not to mention the challenge of ensuring that most players did not fall behind during the lengthy pursuit, or keeping everyone motivated and engaged through the battlefield chat channel during the monotonous march.

Sneaking a glance at Féng beside him, Ji Gang could not help but sigh inwardly.

Honestly, if she were the one commanding instead, Sister Féng would probably do an even better job than I am…

Over the course of the month-long campaign, he had become increasingly familiar with this veteran second beta player from the Moe Moe Committee.

In fact, if the playerbase were ever to hold a vote for the most formidable player in the game, Ji Gang knew without hesitation that he would choose Féng.

Although Boxlunch firmly occupied the top spot on the combat leaderboard, Ji Gang had paid close attention to how Féng conduct her battles during their pursuit of the demons. In his view, this druid player, who consistently ranked within the top ten, might actually possess combat abilities even greater than Boxlunch’s.

By now, everyone here have fought countless battles across the Wasteland of Desolation, and in every single engagement, Féng had handled her opponents with remarkable ease.

Whether her enemies were lower silver-rank or an intermediate one, she would invariably always end the battle within a minute.

Even more astonishingly, while fighting, she could still find time to remind Ji Gang about what’s happening across the battlefield, as though the entire situation remained firmly under her control.

As a field commander, Ji Gang understood better than anyone how difficult such a feat truly was.

Even when he remained out of combat and merely stood atop a vantage point issuing orders based on the positions of friendly units displayed on the system map, he often felt nervous, afraid that a single mistaken command might reverse the entire situation.

But Sister Féng…

—She was practically a monster.

Despite personally participating in combat, she could still spare attention to analyze the broader battlefield.

Although she was the commander of the expeditionary force sent by the Moe Moe Committee and therefore had access to the full battlefield vision available to commanders, her ability to multitask was simply extraordinary.

Sometimes, Ji Gang could not help but wonder:

If Sister Féng were to command an army against Brother Mu, and the two of them battled it out, who would emerge victorious in the end?

Yet he knew very well that this senior sister before him would never seek the spotlight.

Even though she clearly understood countless things and perhaps possessed a deeper understanding of Elven Kingdom than even Li Mu himself, it seemed she preferred to remain quietly in the background, observing from the sidelines and occasionally offering guidance to newcomers instead.

Her nickname the “Mentor” had not been earned without reason.

“Sister Féng, what do you think we should do next? Should we continue pursuing the demons into the canyon, or take a detour toward the Gate of Hell?”

Ji Gang asked seriously.

Féng’s gaze swept across the crisscrossing rivers of lava flowing through the canyon below before she smiled slightly.

“I suppose, going around the canyon might be more efficient.”

Ji Gang laughed heartily.

“Haha, that’s exactly what I was thinking too. We could also trap those fleeing demons outside the Gate of Hell!”

After laughing, his expression quickly turned serious as he activated the battlefield voice chat channel.

“Attention, all units! Rest in place for three hours. Contact anyone who have fallen behind and have them regroup with the main force as quickly as possible!”

“We’ve already reached Fallen God Canyon. The Gate of Hell is right up ahead. All units are to stay close to their battle standards. Once the rest period is over, we’ll take a detour to the Gate of Hell and block these demons inside the Wasteland of Desolation!”

“The decisive battle… is about to begin!”

༺⟐༻

Following Ji Gang’s instructions, the main player force halted its advance and began resting on the spot.

Although some overexcited players chose to continue the pursuit and even charged directly into the canyon, the majority still elected to follow the orders.

This was especially true for newer players, who tended to be more impulsive than veterans.

Elven Kingdom was a game that placed tremendous emphasis on teamwork, particularly during large-scale battles.

At times, obtaining greater rewards required strict obedience to command.

Under a coordinated command structure, players might not see immediate gains. Sometimes they would have to lie in ambush, wait patiently, or carry out seemingly unrewarding tasks.

At such moments, many people would inevitably feel envious of those players who ignored orders and ran around slaughtering enemies on their own.

However, once a true large-scale battle erupted, those who disregarded commands would almost always be the first to be crushed beneath the enemy army’s advance.

Before the power of a collective force, individual strength was insignificant.

Especially in warfare.

A major battle often required a long and tedious period of preparation beforehand.

But once the fighting truly began, particularly after gaining the upper hand and breaking the enemy’s formation, the rewards would surge dramatically.

The experience points and contribution points missed during the waiting period could easily be recovered while pursuing the routed enemy. In fact, players often earned even more than they had missed.

By contrast, those who ignored orders frequently ended up sacrificing far greater rewards for short-term gains.

Three hours passed both quickly and slowly.

Within the Wasteland of Desolation, where time flowed at twenty times the normal rate, less than ten minutes had passed on Earth.

For most players, it was barely enough time to log off, stretch their legs, step onto the balcony, and gaze into the distance before the break was already over.

When the regrouping period finally ended, the number of assembled players had reached 110,000.

The figure was still somewhat disappointing considering that 200,000 players had originally participated in the campaign.

However, taking into account that the war had already raged across the Wasteland of Desolation for over a month, that the front lines had stretched across enormous distances, and that the wasteland lacked the convenient teleportation arrays available throughout the world of Seigües, the result was actually quite impressive.

Perhaps there were still some players who had yet to arrive, but they were undoubtedly few in number. As for the rest, even if they were given another full day, it would likely be difficult for them to regroup with the main force.

“That’s about enough. We won’t wait any longer. Every minute we delay means who knows how many more demons successfully escape back to Hell.”

As he gazed at the endless sea of players stretching across the vicinity beneath the flashes of lightning, Ji Gang felt a surge of pride and ambition.

Perhaps this army was far smaller than the hundreds of thousands of troops he had commanded during the defensive battles in the Maple Moon Territory.

Yet at this moment, he felt that his understanding of battlefield command and his control over the flow of battle had never been sharper.

An army’s strength lay not in its numbers, but in its quality.

Leading this battle-hardened player force that had been tempered through countless trials, Ji Gang firmly believed that he could successfully block the demons outside the Gate of Hell and achieve a decisive and glorious victory.

With that thought in mind, Ji Gang turned toward Féng.

She happened to look back at him and offered a faint smile.

Feeling encouraged by her silent support, Ji Gang’s confidence grew even stronger.

Taking a deep breath, he activated the battlefield voice channel.

“Attention, all units!”

“Pack up your belongings and stay close to the command banners. We’re moving out!”

A passionate war anthem slowly began to play in everyone’s ears.

The long columns of players stirred with excitement before gradually reforming into orderly ranks.

Then, under the guidance of the command banners, the entire army surged forward like a mighty flood, advancing along the cliffs outside the canyon toward the towering volcano in the distance.

From the canyon entrance where the players currently stood to the volcanic crater at its far end, the distance was approximately forty kilometers.

Taking a detour would make the journey somewhat longer.

However, without the rivers of molten lava that flowed through the canyon, the terrain was much easier to traverse.

Moreover, by avoiding the main forces of the demons, the players were able to increase their marching speed considerably.

Here on the Wasteland of Desolation, the distinction between day and night was vague at best. The only reliable method players had for tracking time was the timer provided by the game system.

This timer had only been added after the return of the Frost Elves, when the map of the Wasteland of Desolation was officially opened.

More than ninety thousand players marched onward, advancing and resting intermittently along the way. Finally, after an entire day of travel, they arrived near the towering volcano.

At the foot of the volcano stood a massive demon fortress.

Its towering walls encircled the entire mountain, protecting the Gate of Hell located upon the lower slopes.

The fortress was predominantly black in color. Against the darkness of the Wasteland of Desolation, it appeared even more sinister and terrifying.

From a distance, enormous numbers of demons could be seen gathered both inside and outside the fortress.

Their total number likely reached several hundred thousand.

They vastly outnumbered the player army.

However, the player forces of today were no longer what they had once been.

Those who had made it this far were the elite among the elites.

Even the relatively newer players participating in the campaign had already reached maximum level cap at either lower silver-rank or higher, in which essentially amounts to ninety thousand silver-rank experts.

No matter which world such a force was placed in, it would be considered a terrifying military power.

Meanwhile, a considerable portion of the several hundred thousand demons stationed around the Gate of Hell remained at the iron-rank.

If there was one weakness on the players’ side, it was likely their lack of Gold-rank powerhouses and siege equipment.

However, Ji Gang was not worried about either issue.

While they had no gold-rank experts of their own, they were accompanied by several Mythical-rank Dragons.

More importantly, among them was an actual Dragon God.

Furthermore, before every major battle, the Goddess would bestow them her divine favor, thereby temporarily elevating the strength of selected players to gold-rank.

And at present, the Goddess had yet to bestow her blessings.

As for siege equipment…

The players responsible for logistics had already transported all necessary assembly materials within their storage equipment.

Ji Gang was highly confident in this battle.

“Attention, everyone! Rest in place for two hours! All guilds are to begin assembling their respective siege equipment. Two hours from now, we officially commence the siege!”

Ji Gang ordered.

༺⟐༻

Within the Abyssal Tower beside the Gate of Hell, deep inside the demon fortress:

A towering demon wreathed in flames sat upon the central seat, his profound gaze sweeping across the five figures gathered below.

The five demons all radiated formidable auras.

Even the weakest among them had reached the rank of a Demigod.

There were, astonishingly, six Abyssal Myths present.

Seated around the long demonic table, they maintained a tense and oppressive silence.

“The Elven army has already caught up. Their numbers likely exceed one hundred thousand. Every single one of them is silver-rank. Accompanying them are also three Demigod-rank dragons, as well as one Black Dragon King.”

One of the Abyssal Myths spoke in a grave tone.

After hearing him, another Abyssal Myth seated at the table let out a mocking laugh.

“Oz, have they frightened you that badly during the pursuit? Did a few elves and several Mythical Dragons are enough to make you afraid?”

“Hmph! Sachi, you bastard who’s been hiding here the entire time, what do you know about how terrifying they are? Those are Ancient Mythical Dragons, not inexperienced Mythical beings from the Prime Material Realm! And those elves are no less troublesome. They fight like complete lunatics!”

The Abyssal Myth who had spoken first snorted angrily.

“And what exactly do you propose we should do? Abandon the Dimensional Gate here completely and retreat back to Hell? We’ve recovered less than a third of our armies so far. Are you suggesting we simply abandon our own forces?”

Another Abyssal Myth asked with a gloomy expression.

“Idiot! Armies can always be recruited again! But if we fall, then everything is lost!”

The demon named Oz cursed furiously.

“That sounds noble enough, but you’re really just afraid that once we’ve regrouped our armies, we’ll turn around and attack your territory! Everyone knows that your army was completely wiped during the failed invasion of Seigües. So you’re nothing more than a commander without an army right now!”

Sachi sneered.

“You shortsighted abyssal worm! Have you already forgotten what happened two months ago, when the Goddess of Life hunted numerous Abyssal Myths like us across this land?! It’s obvious that she has already set her sights on this world! If we don’t withdraw immediately, then we may end up drawing her here as well!”

As if a sore spot had been struck, Oz’s face turned livid as he shot back angrily.

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall froze.

The expressions of these Abyssal Myths seated around the table changed visibly.

The Goddess of Life…

Ever since the war that had shaken the entire universe two months earlier, that name had become a mountain weighing heavily upon the hearts of every Abyssal Myth.

Sealing the Second Demon Lord, Samael.

Single-handedly defeating the Abyssal Myths that had invaded the world of Seigües.

Each of those achievements was terrifying beyond measure.

To make matters worse, recent rumors claimed that even the Demon Lord Leviathan, whose strength was said to rival Samael’s, had suffered a setback at her hands and had apparently been seriously wounded.

This true deity, who had quietly ascended to the rank of a Higher Divine Power without attracting much attention, filled these Abyssal Myths with both awe and fear.

After a moment of silence, one of them finally spoke in a deep voice:

“I’ve heard… that she was also severely injured after the war. Perhaps she won’t be able to descend into the Abyss as she did before…”

“Heh. ‘I’ve heard’… ‘Perhaps’…”

Oz replied in a mocking tone dripping with sarcasm.

“What exactly are you implying?”

The Abyssal Myth frowned.

“Nothing. I just find it amusing that some people have lived for over ten thousand years and are still this naive.”

Oz let out a cold laugh.

“You—!”

The Abyssal Myth flew into a rage.

For a moment, the entire hall descended into heated argument.

Seated at the head of the table, the flaming demon watched the chaotic scene with a dark expression.

“Enough!”

A terrifying pressure erupted from him.

The expressions of the Abyssal Myths shifted immediately.

The arguments immediately ceased, and as they turned toward the flame-wreathed demon, traces of caution and apprehension appeared in their eyes.

Demon King Los.

Among all the Abyssal Myths who had pledged allegiance to Samael, he was the most powerful demon.

He had already advanced to the rank of Intermediate Divine Power several thousand years ago.

At the same time, he had personally been appointed by Samael as the guardian of the Dimensional Gate to Hell in this world.

After Samael was sealed, he had become the strongest existence throughout the Sixth Layer of Hell and all of its auxiliary realms.

His gaze slowly swept across the room as he spoke in a deep, commanding voice:

“Alas, Lord Samael has been sealed. Thus, the Sixth Layer of Hell is now at its weakest point. Us having internal conflict will only create opportunities for others to exploit.”

Upon hearing his words, the Abyssal Myths reacted in different ways.

Some sneered.

Some snorted dismissively.

Some fell into thought.

Others’ eyes flickered with hidden calculations.

Yet when Los’s gaze passed over them, every single one lowered their head.

Not one dared meet his eyes.

Taking in the reactions of the assembled Abyssal Myths, a trace of disdain flashed deep within Los’s eyes.

He let out a cold snort before continuing:

“Send the order. Accelerate the evacuation of all our armies in this world. Withdraw as many troops as possible.”

“Furthermore… begin preparations to destroy the Dimensional Gate in this fortress.”

“Until the destruction of the Gate has been completed, no one is permitted to leave.”