Chapter 739 - 511: New Intelligence on the Jade Swamp and the Mage City’s "Three Sages

Chapter 739: Chapter 511: New Intelligence on the Jade Swamp and the Mage City’s "Three Sages

The awakening of these two Catastrophe Level avatars was now a foregone conclusion.

Although the threat from the Jade Swamp had grown significantly, Black Stone Territory was also a far cry from what it once was.

Mage Delin.

Master Wendel.

With these two Legends holding down the fort, unless the Nine-headed Demon Serpent’s main body came in person...

...it would be no easy feat for just one or two Catastrophe Level avatars to shake the current Black Stone Territory.

Raylo let out a long breath.

He would face whatever came his way.

He was no longer the cautious Pioneer Lord who had to tread carefully at the slightest hint of trouble.

He now had the confidence to face any crisis head-on.

...

「A few more days passed.」

Frosty Winter was approaching, and the chill in the air grew ever more intense.

The fire in the castle’s hearth burned day and night, dispelling the pervasive, bone-chilling cold.

This morning, a letter from Thunder Dragon City was delivered to Raylo’s desk.

Raylo broke the seal and pulled out the letter inside.

The letter was personally written by Aiden Duke, the handwriting firm and powerful, just like the man himself.

As he read its contents, Raylo’s expression gradually grew solemn.

The Yellow Mud River.

That great river, which flowed through the western part of the Continent, had now completely transformed into a massive, bloody meat grinder.

The Light Holy See’s expeditionary force and the Dragon Realm’s Allied Army had poured an astonishing number of troops into this region.

The total forces committed by both sides had already exceeded three hundred thousand!

Three hundred thousand...

And these weren’t ordinary soldiers or conscripted serfs, but elite forces of genuine Knights and Mages.

It was a number that would leave any Lord breathless.

What shocked Raylo even more was that...

...as the war escalated, the number of Catastrophe Level combatants deployed by both sides was also constantly increasing.

From the initial one or two, the number had surged to the current... six on each side!

A total of twelve Catastrophe Level beings!

They waged world-shattering battles in the skies above the Yellow Mud River almost daily.

Every clash made the earth tremble and the river’s waters surge backward.

Aiden Duke wrote in his letter...

...that the cruelty of the war had surpassed everyone’s expectations.

It was a stage for heroes and a Hell for mortals.

At the end of the letter, the Duke’s handwriting became exceptionally heavy.

He told Raylo to protect the Duchy well and secure this pure land in the north.

"Protect the Duchy well..."

Raylo set the letter down, murmuring to himself.

He could feel the heavy weight of trust Aiden Duke had placed in him when writing those words.

In this war that swept across the entire Continent, no one could remain uninvolved.

Through these words, he could almost hear the heaven-shaking battle cries and the sorrowful wails of countless souls before their passing, all from the distant banks of the Yellow Mud River.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

The sound of knocking broke Raylo out of his thoughts.

"Come in."

The study door opened, and Gaius walked in.

"Your Highness."

Gaius gave Raylo a standard Knight’s salute.

"What is it, Uncle Gaius?"

Raylo asked.

"The scale of the fighting on the Amber Territory border is constantly expanding."

"Count of Fury and Count Alan are on the verge of collapse. They’ve sent us an urgent request for reinforcements."

’The Crimson Bloodline... With the strength of the Count of Fury and Count Alan, dealing with ordinary conflicts is no problem. But it’s to be expected that they can’t withstand a large-scale offensive from the Crimson Bloodline. Raylo had never expected to rely on two Counts to resolve the border crisis caused by the Crimson Bloodline anyway. It was just a convenient opportunity to use their power against a common foe.’

"Your Highness."

Gaius took a step forward and said in a low voice.

"The situation on the front line is urgent."

"I request permission to personally lead one thousand Thunder Dragon Knights to rendezvous with the three thousand stationed in Amber Territory. That will be enough to repel the Werewolf Legion."

Gaius’s voice was decisive and full of confidence.

"I guarantee that I will drive those filthy Werewolves completely from our borders in the shortest possible time and end this war!"

Raylo looked up.

He never doubted Gaius’s ability. ℯℯ𝘭.

With him taking charge personally, the crisis in Amber Territory would naturally be resolved with ease.

But...

Raylo’s gaze drifted to the window. A storm was already gathering on the horizon to the northeast, over the Jade Swamp.

Slowly, he shook his head.

"No."

Gaius looked at Raylo, puzzled.

"Your Highness?"

Raylo stood up from his seat and walked over to the map.

"Gaius, your mission is to hold the fort here in Black Stone Territory."

Gaius opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say more.

But Raylo didn’t give him the chance.

He turned around, his eyes blazing like torches.

"As for Amber Territory..."

"I will go myself."

Gaius was confused.

"Your Highness?"

"You’ll go yourself?"

He, Gaius, Commander-in-Chief of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order, was completely confident he could chop off the heads of all those Werewolf mongrels within half a month.

"Your Highness, with all due respect, that isn’t necessary."

Gaius advised in a solemn tone.

"Your safety is the highest priority for Black Stone Territory."

Raylo certainly understood Gaius’s loyalty and concern.

He waved his hand, signaling for him to be patient.

"Uncle Gaius, of course I believe in your abilities."

"If I let you lead the Thunder Dragon Knight Order, it wouldn’t be difficult to not only repel the Werewolf Legion but also to uproot the Crimson Bloodline’s power on our border."

"But..."

Raylo’s tone shifted.

"How long would that take?"

"Half a month? A whole month?"

Gaius pondered for a moment before giving a relatively conservative estimate.

"If all goes smoothly, I can handle the invading Werewolf Legion within half a month. To completely eradicate their strongholds, it might take over a month."

"That’s too long."

Raylo slowly shook his head.

"The situation on the Continent is changing in an instant. Whether it’s the war happening at the Yellow Mud River or the threat from the Jade Swamp."

"At a time like this, we can’t afford to get bogged down by a minor border conflict, draining our precious elite forces."

Gaius followed Raylo’s gaze, and his expression also grew grave.

He had also read Aiden Duke’s letter.

The ferocity of the war described in it made even a seasoned veteran like him feel a tremor of fear.

"The Crimson Bloodline’s goal isn’t to occupy Amber Territory at all,"

Raylo said.

"It’s more like they’re probing us, testing our resolve against their invasion."

A chill ran down Gaius’s spine.

He understood Raylo’s concerns.

The Duchy was surrounded by enemies. The real threats were far more numerous than just the Crimson Bloodline.

"I’m going myself not to fight a conventional war with them."

Raylo turned from the map to look at Gaius.

"I’m going to *end* this war."

He stated.

"Those Werewolves, those Vampires... they may not fear the blades of the Thunder Dragon Knights, but they absolutely fear death itself."

"I will make them understand what a foolish mistake it is to provoke Black Stone Territory."

He didn’t want to get bogged down in a war of attrition.

The best way to deal with such a persistent enemy was to deliver the most devastating blow in the shortest amount of time, with the most overwhelming force!

One single strike, so painful it would sear their very souls, ensuring they wouldn’t dare extend their claws this way again for years to come.

And the only one who could do that was him.

Only by taking action himself and using powers that fell outside the scope of conventional warfare.

For example... the Ice Wind Demon Serpent.

"Besides..."

Raylo’s thoughts shifted to another level.

"The ruler behind the Crimson Bloodline, that Vampire Prince, was injured in his conflict with the Witch Demon King. Although the extent of his injuries is unknown, it’s certain that he currently lacks the strength, and the courage, to launch an all-out Catastrophe Level war against us."

"Therefore, this is the perfect time for us to land a decisive blow!"

Listening to Raylo’s clear and logical analysis, the worry and confusion in Gaius’s heart were gradually replaced by a profound sense of awe.

He saw military confrontations and outcomes.

But his Highness saw the entire situation on the Continent, the strategic game between Catastrophe Level powerhouses, and the true intentions hidden beneath the fog of war.

"I understand, Your Highness."

Gaius took a deep breath and gave Raylo a solemn Knight’s bow.

"Leave Black Stone Territory to me."

"I swear to you, unless I fall in battle, no one will set a single foot inside our territory!"

Raylo nodded and patted his sturdy shoulder.

"I trust you, Uncle Gaius."