Standing atop the city wall, Jem.Woz gazed into the distance at the rapidly approaching army of Yar Principality.
With a slight wave of his hand, Jem signaled the troops behind him to prepare for battle.
Amidst a cloud of dust, the first to arrive at the gates of Mogus Fort were tens of thousands of Knights mounted on Warhorses, followed closely by a large number of Metal war chariots and infantry advancing in tight military formations.
Unlike the Earth during the era of cold weapon warfare, where there was the concept of conscripted peasant cannon fodder, the armies in this world, due to the presence of extraordinary powers, were more professional and elite!
Even though the energy reactions in this world seemed pitifully weak in the eyes of Olthagia, for ordinary people, it was enough to steer their civilization onto a different path. From the very beginning, the perspectives and needs of both sides were not on the same level.
In this world, various enlistment compensations were abundant. As long as one successfully enlisted, they automatically received various preferential treatments.
In contrast, every soldier was diligent in their training within the Knight system, spending the majority of their time enhancing themselves. This resulted in both strength and endurance far surpassing that of ordinary people. Each soldier could easily handle more than ten ordinary adults bare-handed, and even wearing dozens of pounds of armor, they could move freely.
Compared to these professional fighting machines, armies composed of ordinary people were utterly meaningless. The vast gap in physical capabilities determined that even if the number of ordinary people was dozens of times greater, they couldn't withstand a single charge from these soldiers.
It was a difference akin to that between a cat and a mouse!
On Earth, one might describe them as the Rambo of their world.
Under these circumstances, a rule naturally formed:
[Ordinary people do not go to the battlefield unless it's a last resort.]
'Ordinary people are responsible for farming, commerce, and procreation, providing sustenance for the specialized combat groups. Going to the battlefield is purely suicidal!'
This notion, after thousands of years of sedimentation, had long been deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people!
After forming their battle array, a handsome middle-aged man from the army of Yar Principality rode a robust Warhorse forward a few steps, standing alone at the front of the formation.
Looking up at Jem.Woz on the city wall, he laughed heartily, "Surrender, dear Prince Jem. It wouldn't be good if you got hurt!"
The soldiers behind him also burst into laughter at the right moment, clearly intending to humiliate Jem.Woz.
Watching the soldiers who were laughing at him without restraint, Jem's facial muscles twitched involuntarily. He gritted his teeth and said, "Harry, I hope you can still laugh so happily later."
Harry retorted without hesitation, "Of course, I will laugh as happily as I am now. Do you really think you can win with such a small number of people? There are indeed those who can win against the odds, but if you had that ability, would I have made it this far?"
After saying this, he shook his head and added with a tone of earnestness, "Jem, I must admit, you do have some skills, but your father was too foolish. In just over a decade, he squandered most of Maddon Duchy's resources. If it weren't for this, our Yar Principality wouldn't have considered invading."
"Surrender. As long as you sign the agreement, we will withdraw our troops immediately. Your situation is hopeless, and further sacrifices are meaningless. Surrendering now will at least preserve some dignity."
If possible, he really didn't want to fight. After all, starting a battle would inevitably result in casualties. Although they held an absolute advantage, the enemy was not to be underestimated. Even if they won, the cost would be immense. Therefore, resolving the issue through negotiation was the best option.
Both victories would lead to their return, but returning with heavy losses was far worse than returning unscathed.
These troops were all elites, and he had no intention of sacrificing them unnecessarily.
Upon hearing the other party's words, Jem Woz sneered and asked disdainfully, "Surrender? So you can hang me on the pillory and boost your reputation?"
As a Knight and as a prince.
As the face of a nation!
If he were to surrender voluntarily, how would his subordinates and his people view him?
Just the thought of it was unbearable for Jem Woz.
The honor of the royal family, accumulated over a thousand years, would be tarnished by his actions!
Thinking of this, Jem Woz also exposed, "And don't think I don't know that two of the people who deceived my father were sent by the Yar Principality."
"So what? Don't you also send people to our country to do shady things?"
Harry didn't deny the accusation but merely chuckled disdainfully before casually waving his hand and saying, "The only difference is that you failed, and we succeeded. You can only blame your father for being too arrogant and foolish!"
Jem Woz didn't refute this, neither the fact that they also sent agents to other countries to cause trouble nor the claim that his father was too arrogant and foolish.
If it weren't for his own position, he would have liked to slap his father a few times. A once-promising situation had been ruined by his father's actions, leading to the family's decline.
Jem Woz straightened the national emblem on his chest and solemnly said, "Harry, there's no point in continuing this conversation. Both of us know that today is the decisive moment for the Maddon Duchy and the Yar Principality. Neither of us will just sit back and wait for defeat. So let's settle this once and for all!"
After finishing his words, he added in his heart, 'Although I will cheat...'
Unaware of the hidden meaning in the other party's words, Harry laughed heartily and responded boldly:
"Very well, I will crush your army head-on and make you admit defeat wholeheartedly!"
He drew the long sword from his waist and issued the command: "Siege vehicles advance first, infantry follow closely, and cavalry prepare to breach the gates!"
Immediately, the army behind him began to move, all converging towards Mogus Castle!
Seeing this, Jem Woz, standing on the castle wall, calmly raised his hand and instructed the general behind him, "Tell the archers and the artillery squad to follow orders and wait until they are within 100 paces of the fortress before attacking."
"Understood."
After the general left to carry out the order, Jem Woz took out a pigeon egg-sized ruby from his pocket, rubbed its smooth surface, and asked the only remaining Duke behind him, "How much effect do you think this thing will have?"
As the only person here besides Jem.Woz who knows of Olthagia's existence, Duke is well aware that the magnificent gem is the trump card Jem.Woz obtained through his transaction with Olthagia. Although he doesn't understand why Jem is asking him this, after some thought, he answers truthfully: "Your servant cannot estimate its value. In my eyes, it is merely a ruby..."
Jem smiles:
"Yes, a ruby. To the naked eye, it is just a ruby.
But when I obtained it and held it in my palm, I instinctively understood its function.
It was a peculiar feeling, as if something had been added to my mind, yet I couldn't quite articulate it. I could perceive, in an indescribable way, the effects this gem would produce when activated..."
Slightly tilting his head to dodge an incoming arrow, Jem.Woz continues: "Through this gem, I can vaguely sense the power of that Demon. It is indeed something beyond the capability of mortals.
You know, although he appears very peaceful now, hardly ever leaving his residence, seemingly different from the Demons recorded in history, not posing a threat to the kingdom, I still cannot ignore the threat he embodies.
Because his gaze has never changed from the very first day—still so cold and cruel. In his eyes, our status has always been nothing more than dust. He has never cared about our thoughts nor imposed any specific constraints on us. Apart from occasionally issuing some trivial commands and leaving a few punitive Spells on us, he has taken no other measures, completely indifferent to us, as if he doesn't care if we betray him at any moment.
I don't understand what he is plotting, but I know he is becoming increasingly dangerous as time passes. He craves slaughter and souls, yet he has not made any significant moves. This is as unreasonable as a hungry wolf entering a sheepfold but not eating. He must be wary of something; otherwise, there is no reason for a wolf to coexist peacefully with sheep..."
Duke lowers his head and says in a deep voice: "Your Highness, I believe that only the Church can provide us with answers in this world."
Gently shaking his head, Jem.Woz slowly sighs.
"Indeed, they, who know the most about Demons, are the most likely to give us answers. But compared to the man-eating Demon, the Church is also a monstrous beast that devours people without spitting out bones. They have been trying to elevate divine authority above royal power once again. If they find an opportunity, the situation in Maddon Duchy will immediately become precarious..."
The height from which one stands determines what one thinks about. What seems like a relatively simple relationship in Duke's eyes is, for him, a complex web where every step must be carefully considered.
Walking to the edge of the city wall, looking down at the enemy troops who are relentlessly trying to scale the wall, he can even clearly see the excitement and fervor in their eyes—the joy of believing they are about to achieve victory.
Perhaps they have already planned how they will plunder and how they will return home in glory.
Jem.Woz shakes his head and whispers: "I hope more of you survive, otherwise, it will be difficult to make up for the shortage of sacrificial offerings..."
He immediately crushed the gemstone in his hand.
A crimson glow illuminated the sky above Mogus Castle.
The soldiers on both sides, locked in fierce combat, glanced up at the sky with a hint of confusion, puzzled by the sudden phenomenon.
Before they could even process what was happening, as Jem.Woz mentally marked the target area, all the Arle soldiers whose strength had not reached the level of a [Grand Knight] found their eyes involuntarily revealing an uncontrollable wildness.
The slaughter began once more.
However, this time, their target was no longer just the army of Maddon Duchy—it was everyone around them!
No longer distinguishing between friend or foe, anyone still alive became their enemy. The battle descended into utter madness at this moment...