Chapter 834: Imperial Elites

Over the next few days, the various sides sign a host of agreements and settle numerous cooperative projects, with the Western Regions taking the lead.

Across the continent, the machinery of state is about to grind into motion for war.

One evening, Henwell visits the delegation from the Western Regions.

"When will my elder brother return? Our agreement says he should have reached the Western Federation by now."

Prince Kevin asks in confusion, "Henwell, his survival brings you no advantage. Why do you want him back?"

"You already control the Phoenix family. Why create this complication now?"

Henwell chuckles. "Because I promised."

Prince Kevin shakes his head. "Henwell, it seems you still have a great deal to learn and a great deal of growing to do."

Henwell counters, "How old are you, Your Highness?"

Kevin pauses. "No one has asked me that in a long time. Let me think... Tsk. Almost three hundred, I suppose."

Henwell says, "But I am only forty-two. I have time to learn and grow. There is no hurry."

Prince Kevin bursts into laughter. "Hahaha... Henwell, you truly are an interesting man. You are right."

"Your strength and achievements made us forget your age. You truly have no need to rush, much less make excessive compromises."

Henwell asks, "Then what about my elder brother?"

Prince Kevin replies, "That decision is not mine. You should ask Prelate Juventus. As far as I know, your brother has been training in the Paladin Order."

When Henwell looks over, Juventus says, "He is a Paladin. There are certain matters..."

Henwell raises a hand and cuts him off. "First, he is the heir to the Phoenix family. Then he is a son and a father. More importantly, he is my elder brother. Only after all that is he a Paladin."

Juventus says, "He will return soon. We are heading to Kriye City next, and you will meet him there."

"Whether he stays or leaves will be his decision. If he chooses to stay, you cannot take him by force."

"Henwell, you are indeed powerful, but not powerful enough to make the Church bow its head."

Henwell shakes his head. "I have never wanted the Church to bow its head. I only want fairness."

Cardinal Stansen speaks. "Henwell, during the Calamity War, you will receive fair treatment."

He then adds for emphasis, "Only for the duration of the Calamity War."

Henwell pays no heed to the threat.

The meetings continue for another three days. Afterward, everyone travels west together toward Kriye City.

The Western Federation forced this arrangement on the others, leaving them no choice but to comply.

Henwell himself could refuse, but he needs to bring Orak home.

Supernatural arts speed the group throughout the journey, allowing them to cover well over a thousand miles each day.

A few days later, they reach Kriye City, the intelligence hub of the continent's southwest.

After two days' rest, the group continues northwest.

Henwell already knows their destination: the Scorching Sand Sea.

Sure enough, two days later, they arrive at the edge of the Scorching Sand Sea.

Beneath the blazing sun, the desert's usual golden sands are nowhere to be seen. A dark, oppressive haze hangs over the Scorching Sand Sea.

Then two armies move rapidly toward the desert's edge from the left and right.

They are two reinforcement legions from the Abundant Continent, each numbering only around ten thousand soldiers.

The twenty thousand soldiers are well trained and swiftly form battle formations. They are nearly the equal of Peace Haven's elites.

Henwell can see that each legion has only about five thousand main combat troops. The rest are all support units.

The armies' arrival immediately stirs the Scorching Sand Sea into motion.

Gales rise without warning across the dim desert. Within minutes, dark clouds gather, lightning flashes, thunder roars, and a sandstorm swallows the world.

The sandstorm races forward with the wind as Lightchaser Fleets appear one after another within it.

Faces turn grave. Fighting against such terrifying momentum will be exceptionally difficult.

Then a thousand-strong unit marches out of the Church legion. Each member carries a holy scripture and wears clerical robes.

All thousand kneel, open their scriptures, and begin reciting prayers in unison.

Waves of light spread rapidly outward from them.

Courage, Judgment, Smite, Protection, Banish Evil, Spellbreaking...

A succession of Church blessings rains down upon the troops.

At the same time, another thousand-strong unit marches out of the Empire's army. Every member wears a mage's robe and carries a staff.

Sharpness, Fortitude, Featherlight, Vigor, Agility, Strength...

In a matter of minutes, the two sides cast nearly twenty enhancement spells.

Nor are these single-target spells. They affect every member of the main warbands.

Henwell realizes that this is legion-scale enhancement magic.

With so many enhancements, even a pig could become a supernatural battle boar.

Both legions' main warbands consist entirely of Knight-Rank professionals.

With the spells reinforcing them, their overall strength has already reached the level of Battle Knights.

They are not finished. Each legion next sends out a thousand heavy bowmen.

They loose a volley at the approaching Lightchaser Fleets.

Enhanced by magic beyond the limits of mechanical force, the arrows cross a thousand meters and fall among the Lightchaser Fleets.

The volleys are powerful, but killing the enemy is not their purpose.

Another thousand spellcasters step forward from each legion. This time, they are not casting enhancements.

The supernatural fluctuations alone are enough to make everyone's hair stand on end. They are preparing legion-scale offensive magic.

As if sensing the threat, the Lightchaser Fleets immediately accelerate toward them.

Only now do the two main warbands begin to move. Elite troops of this caliber are naturally armored cavalry to the last soldier.

The two cavalry formations advance in perfect order, closing on the enemy like a pair of pincers.

Runes flare across the Lightchaser Fleets, and large numbers of mummies appear at the front.

Yet the cavalry does not attack. The riders merely adjust their speed and direction as if nothing has happened.

Just as the observers begin to wonder why, two volleys of arrows rain down upon the massed mummies.

The mummies struck by the arrows erupt in flames and turn to ash in an instant.

Volley after dense volley falls, destroying row after row of mummies before the cavalry like an invisible reaping machine.

The two thousand-person archer units now unleash a full volley every five seconds on average.

Henwell stares dumbfounded at the mummies falling in swathes. Their rate of fire is already comparable to bolt-action rifles!

What happens next leaves everyone staring.

The moment the two warbands charge into the sandstorm, a blazing sun appears in the path of the imperial warband on the left.

Like a nuclear blast, raging flames erupt everywhere touched by its light.

Mummies, Lightchasers, and even their warships are reduced to ash.

The Church's display is even more astonishing. A colossal pillar of light appears before its warband and advances slowly with the formation.

Like sunlight focused through a magnifying glass onto ants, it erases everything in its path.

Most astonishing of all, the two cavalry forces are no longer riding across the sand. They race over a plane of light and plunge into the shattered Lightchaser Fleets.