223: Chapter 221 The Last Stand, an Unexpected Turn of Events, and the Dust Settles Down

Gur Army Command Post.

Inside the tent, Zhang Mu, who had just rushed back, sat in a corner on a wooden chair, silent.

From last night until dawn today, he and Mihe hadn't seen a single trace of the escaped Lagu Professionals.

It was quite strange.

The enemy Professionals had suffered heavy casualties, that much was true, but they weren't without the strength to fight. There was no reason for them to hide from him.

If they were going to retreat, their main force was still properly stationed in the forest; they even kept campfires lit all night, clearly intending to fight Gur to the death.

Last night, shortly after Zhang Mu entered the Silent Forest, he discovered the Lagu main camp established on the hilltop.

Originally, he wanted to down a potion and directly smash a Fallen Spirit over there.

But on second thought, those two Professionals must have regrouped with the army, so his presence was already known.

The two of them might very well be lying in wait for him around the camp.

Zhang Mu wasn't afraid of being ambushed; he could rely on resurrection to trade one life for the enemy's army.

The problem was, Brando wasn't stupid either.

He knew Zhang Mu could use Stras Falling Spirit, and hitting the army would inevitably cause heavy casualties.

Based on this, how could he possibly defend passively? He was likely wandering around the vicinity of the Gur army.

Once he learned his side was attacked and confirmed Zhang Mu wasn't with the army, he would probably drop a Magister-level spell right on the Gur army's head.

The First Army only had this much to its name; if it was wiped out, it would be gone forever. Naturally, he was unwilling to let that happen.

Moreover, this battle wasn't just about defeating the enemy; it also held the intention of training Domit.

After thinking it over, Zhang Mu brought Mihe back to the command post and watched Domit formulate tactics without saying a word.

Domit seemed to understand his intent; from beginning to end, he didn't ask Zhang Mu for a single opinion or say anything like "is this okay?"

The most nervous one was likely Mihe.

Watching Domit's orders being sent out one by one, he wanted to speak up several times to remind him to be steady and more thorough.

But seeing that Zhang Mu didn't say anything, he had no choice but to hold it back.

Until the second day.

After a fierce battle between the two sides, and knowing full well that enemy reinforcements were rushing over, Domit actually ordered all Soldiers to rest in place without much defense.

Mihe finally couldn't take it anymore and stood up from his wooden chair.

"Do... Commander, we have already sacrificed over 2,000 men. Your order will incre—"

Domit turned his head, expressionless, his gaze quiet: "Mr. Mi He, I am the Commander of the First Army, the supreme commander during wartime."

He could name every single Soldier in the First Army.

The reported sacrifice numbers didn't just cause Mihe pain; they also washed over Domit's soul time and again.

The current Domit and the Domit from a few hours ago were two different people.

Mihe: "...I understand, Commander."

Sitting back on the wooden chair, Zhang Mu chuckled and patted his shoulder: "Children always have to grow up.

He will be curious about the outside world, have his own experiences, and form his own concepts. It's time to let go."

That was easy to say, and Mihe understood the logic.

But when the Gur army retreated and Domit ordered the entire army to hold their ground to the death on the neighboring hilltop, he became agitated again.

This time Zhang Mu didn't just watch; he raised his hand and pressed Mihe's shoulder, pushing him back into the chair: "He is the Commander. Right now, even I must obey his orders.

Without rules, there is no order."

As reports of their own casualty numbers continued to come back, Mihe's expression grew increasingly somber.

Even hearing that the Gur army's mortars had successfully dealt heavy damage to the Lagu army didn't improve his mood.

Domit didn't explain anything to him. After finishing a battle report, he turned and ordered Zhang Mu: "Marshal, it is time for you to set out."

Smiling, Zhang Mu stood up and walked out of the tent.

About half an hour later, he returned. Along with him came the news that the final 30,000 Soldiers of the Lagu army had been completely annihilated.

Domit's eyelids twitched.

Last night, Zhang Mu had told him that when formulating tactics, he could add a premise for their side—our army possesses a weapon capable of delivering a lethal strike to all human units within a certain range, except for High-tier Professionals.

At that time, he was a bit dazed, thinking to himself: among the weapons the Marshal equipped the First Army with, is there one with such great power?

Despite his doubts, since the Marshal said it, he didn't question it. When discussing the plan with his adjutant, he took this weapon into consideration.

Or rather, he simply treated it as a trump card.

Therefore, Domit decided from the start to use it to give the Lagu army the final, fatal blow.

In the first round of engagement between the two armies, the Lagu vanguard was wiped out.

From the information gathered by scouts, the enemy's second wave still didn't send out their main force, but instead continued to use the lives of 20,000 Soldiers to trade for intelligence on their own weapons.

Domit immediately activated the backup strategy, retreating the entire army to the adjacent hilltop and using the pre-dug trenches to inflict maximum casualties on the enemy.

It went smoothly. The 50,000 Lagu Soldiers, unable to bear the losses, launched a dense charge, attempting to decide the outcome.

But Domit knew this was still a probe by the enemy commander, as could be seen from the fact that Lagu still had 30,000 Soldiers stationed in two areas on standby.

By this time, the Gur army had also lost most of its Soldiers, with only over 3,000 remaining.

Ordinary Soldiers weren't a big threat and found it hard to break through the defense, but Lagu's Knights relied on their agile movements to constantly dodge bullets and advance.

The fire net was dense, and Knights weaving and jumping through the trees were constantly hit by bullets.

However, most of Lagu's low-tier Professionals were placed in the third wave of reinforcements, and their numbers were simply too great. Finally, a few Knights broke through the fire line and rushed into the trenches to slaughter.

The First Army Soldiers' point-blank shots were nimbly dodged by the Knights; they simply couldn't deal with the enemy.

In the end, out of desperation, they chose to rush close to the opponent and pull the pins on their grenades to trade lives.

He couldn't wait any longer. Domit ordered the artillery company hidden at the foot of the mountain over ten kilometers away to pour shells onto the hilltop.

As for their own Soldiers, they hid in bunkers to avoid being accidentally injured.

At this point, Gideon believed he had seen through the killing principle of the Gur army's new weapons and had the Soldiers spread out as much as possible during the attack.

To be honest, his ability to find the weaknesses of firearms and artillery in such a short engagement and immediately make targeted adjustments showed that his military intuition was indeed extraordinary.

If the powerful individual Knight Professionals were to split up and conduct special operations in the forest, the Gur army would basically have no resistance.

They couldn't catch them, and they couldn't escape. Intermediate Knights could dodge bullets with their superhuman physiques, and Gur would surely lose in small-scale skirmishes.

They were spread very wide, and artillery shells were hard to use effectively for killing.

Unfortunately, Gideon ultimately had his own limitations.

What he faced was not a tender sapling, but a towering tree capable of weathering a storm.

thermobaric bombs. The traps Zhang Mu had set in the Silent Forest six months ago to ambush the City Lord were now being used.

That Lagu Soldier who luckily survived was knocked unconscious by the first one, so he didn't see the dozen or so thermobaric bombs that followed in quick succession.

The 30,000 Lagu Soldiers, who had just assembled and were busy receiving orders from their officers, were thus sent to the other side by high temperatures and suffocation.

After marveling that the Marshal actually had such terrifying weapons, Domit said to Zhang Mu: "Lagu's final force should be coming soon."

"Yes." Zhang Mu sat on the wooden chair with his arms crossed over his chest. "I don't know where that detachment on the back of the Sky Magical Beast is, but I don't think Lagu would leave them unused."

"Marshal, do we have any understanding of their strength?"

"I wasn't there when they landed; I didn't even see how many people there were."

"I see..."

Domit's brow furrowed slightly; an unknown enemy was the most troublesome.

"Report!" The Soldier sitting at the table wearing headphones shouted, "Our main force is being attacked by a Sky Magical Beast!"

"Enemy numbers!" Domit said in a heavy voice.

"Approximately three hundred."

It wasn't many, but he didn't feel relieved; instead, his heart felt as if it were being pressed by a giant rock, making it hard to breathe.

The Soldier continued reading the report: "All three hundred are Professionals. Specific levels cannot be confirmed, but looking at..."

He seemed shocked, his breath hitching for several seconds before he took a deep breath: "Only half the Knights are seen grabbing the other half of the Magicians and jumping to the ground from the back of the beast at an altitude of a hundred meters.

The Magicians... all the Magicians have raised Magic Shields!"

Having a Magic Shield meant they were High-level Magicians, possibly mixed with a few Magisters.

Being able to land safely from a hundred meters high... High-level Knights.

Three hundred High-tier Professionals!

The officers around the sand table were almost stunned, their mouths hanging open. The comrades of the Soldier reading the report also looked over in shock.

Zhang Mu's eyelids lifted slightly, but he didn't say anything.

A few seconds later, Domit finally regained his senses: "Retreat! Retreat toward the outskirts of the Silent Forest!"

After shouting that, he said to Zhang Mu: "Marshal, you and Mr. Mi He must go and provide cover immediately!"

"Understood, Commander." Zhang Mu stood up, stepped out of the tent with Mihe, and sprinted toward the battlefield.

Mihe's Swift Travel Technique was very fast; the trees on both sides flew backward.

Suddenly, the blurred and distorted space around them returned to normal. Zhang Mu was about to ask why they stopped.

Just as he looked up, a voice came from ahead.

"Mr. Fake City Lord, we meet again."

Ahead, that Magister named Brando walked out from behind a tree, holding a wand in his right hand.

Narrowing his eyes, Zhang Mu whispered to Mihe: "We don't have time to waste with them. Use the Swift..."

"Sir." In the dim forest, Brando's blonde hair was still dazzling. "There is more than one Space Magician on the Saul Continent."

A Magician whose face was hidden in the shadow of a hood walked out from the darkness behind him.

This was the dual-element Magister who had rescued Brando that day.

Zhang Mu stared at him silently, knowing they couldn't leave.

And the fact that the opponent dared to block them halfway, knowing he had Stras Falling Spirit, meant they clearly had something to rely on.

Even if they couldn't defeat him, they were certainly confident in holding him back.

The First Army...

Pushing aside the thoughts flying through his mind, Zhang Mu realized worry was useless: "Mihe, can you handle that Magister?"

"Leave it to me."

He had already drunk several potions when they set out, which saved quite a bit of trouble now.

Zhang Mu pulled a wooden staff from his Storage Pouch and held it high: "Stras Falling Spirit!"

...

"Quick! Retreat outside!"

Damu held his magic rifle and ran through the forest, his legs moving frantically.

Bastards! Bastards!

This life was given to me by my comrades who stayed behind with grenades. I have no right to lose it here!

Wiping away the thick blood blurring his eyes, he gritted his teeth and poured all his strength into his thighs.

"How many people escaped down the mountain?!" Not far away, a regiment commander shouted to his surroundings as he ran.

The Brigade Commander should have been the one shouting this, but since the Brigade Commander was leading the team to block the pursuers, it could only be the First Regiment Commander.

The one who answered him was not a First Army Soldier.

"Chase them!" a cold voice rang out from the woods behind.

Three hundred Professionals were chasing them; clearly, the Brigade Commander and the others had sacrificed themselves.

"Second Company, find cover on the spot to intercept the enemy! Everyone else, don't stop!"

Damu wasn't in the Second Company, so he kept running.

He had run a long way; he estimated that in a few more kilometers, he would be out of the Silent Forest.

By then, the Marshal and Mr. Mi He would kill all the enemies.

In fact, Damu knew that being able to run this far was because those Professionals who had suddenly fallen from the sky were toying with them.

They were letting them run and run, only to have their heads cut off.

After running for a few more minutes, the mocking voice came from behind again: "Hurry up, I'm about to catch up."

Gritting his teeth, he cursed his numb thighs in his heart, telling them to hold on a little longer.

Finally, brightness shone ahead.

He strode out of the forest, the excitement on his face suddenly freezing.

In the boundless wilderness, he didn't see the Marshal or Mr. Mi He.

Boom— Damu faintly heard the sound of heavy objects hitting the ground in the Silent Forest.

What happened over there?

Before he could think further, the Knights and Magicians who were hot on their heels had already surrounded them.

"There are still over a thousand left." The leading Knight scanned the First Army Soldiers huddled back-to-back. "I'll give you a chance to survive.

Pick anyone from our side for a duel. If you win, we'll let you go. How about it?"

"Kill!"

The First Army Soldiers in the front row raised their rifles with bayonets and charged at the Knight who had spoken.

The corner of his mouth curled into a contemptuous arc as he drew his sword and slashed horizontally.

A crescent-shaped sword qi passed through their necks. The Soldiers felt no pain, but their vision suddenly flipped, and they saw many headless people running.

Whether or not they realized they had been beheaded, their consciousness slowly sank into darkness.

"No, no, no, this won't do."

The Knight smiled and shook his head. "Fairness. Don't you understand what fairness is?

One-on-one. It has to be one-on-one."

"You!" From the huddle of Soldiers, one man took a large step forward and pointed at him. "I will duel you!"

"Oh! A very brave Soldier. What is your name?"

"Damu!"

"No surname?"

"I'm just called Damu!"

"Tsk." Smacking his lips, the Knight seemed somewhat dissatisfied. "A peasant without even a surname is worthy of dueling me?"

"Hahaha..." The Professionals surrounding them laughed mockingly at the right moment.

Damu's face was grim: "You, duel!"

"Alright, alright, for the sake of your pitiful state."

Pointing the tip of his sword at Damu, the Knight smiled and said, "How many pieces do you want to be divided into?"

"Kill!"

Without further nonsense, Damu stepped forward, the sharp point of his bayonet stabbing straight ahead.

Eh?

Very strangely, the Knight didn't dismember him with a single stroke but instead showed a puzzled expression.

He... is an ordinary person, right?

There was no mistake; his body didn't emit the slightest ripple of magic, nor could any Mental Energy be sensed.

In that case... as he runs, why is there a vibration underfoot?

An ordinary person wouldn't have such great strength, right?

Indeed, a non-Professional's footsteps couldn't possibly shake the ground, even if the two were face-to-face.

That meant... it was caused by someone else?

Who?

The Knight kicked away Damu, who had rushed close, and instinctively turned his body to look toward the end of the meadow.

In the distance, where the earth and sky merged into a straight line, there was a group of small black dots rapidly growing larger.

Feeling the vibration under his feet grow stronger, he knew the black dots were the source.

What were they?

They were extremely fast and were nearby in the blink of an eye.

He could see clearly now; it was a cavalry unit.

Not many, only about five hundred riders.

In the few seconds it took for him to regain his senses, they had drawn even closer.

The sound of hooves was clear in his ears. The Knight saw the cavalry's shoulder insignias, which were carved with a griffon.

His calm gaze shook violently, and his heaving chest froze.

"Retreat!" he shouted, his voice cracking, as he turned and sprinted for his life toward the forest dozens of meters away.

However, those few dozen meters now seemed like an insurmountable chasm.

The cavalry arrived, sweeping past the dazed Damu like a gale. Damu's gaze instinctively followed the riders on their mounts.

They were clad in full armor, with only their cold, emotionless eyes exposed to the air.

"Fearless—Fearless—Fearless—"

Amidst the low, synchronized shouts, they raised their lances and stabbed at the retreating backs fleeing toward the forest.