While the Boi hussars under the fortress of Broken Mountain were fighting with the Azorean elves, the defenders of the Valley of Bloodbones were also actively preparing for battle, doing their best to build a complete defense before the monster invasion arrived.

Although Byrne's knights said that "the Empire's fortifications are not a big deal, and we can completely defeat the invading monster army with our cavalry", when Loren gave the order, they obediently obeyed the command and built corresponding defenses on the high ground of the Valley of Blood.

The Valley of the Blood, where Loren and his party were stationed, was in fact a general term for a large mountainous area, flanked by fractured ice cliffs, with flat hills and slopes in the center;

It is difficult for us to move our armies between the east and the west—not that we can't spread out, but we can't go up, and Loren, who was buried alive by an avalanche under the cliff to the west, knows this all too well.

In other words, no matter what the enemy wants, they can only attack from north to south, from low to high, and the defenders of Bloodbones Valley are condescending, and they can take advantage of both active and passive defense, which is absolutely advantageous.

This is the advantage of the defenders of Bloodbones Valley, and the disadvantage is obvious - the strength of the troops.

Compared to the army of monsters that often numbered in the tens of thousands, the defenders of the Valley of Bones were pitifully few, and not only that, but even the imperial armies that had fought in the Valley of Bones for generations had never been like them, with only a mere 10,000 men.

A mere 10,000 (barely counted, Loren comforts himself) troops, trying to fight against at least 100,000, probably more than (probably more than) 100,000 monster army, although the Byrne knights generally think that they fight 10 at a time, but such a huge disparity in strength is still worrying.

Normally, the side with superior terrain and small forces should defend to the death, but this battle is a bit special.

The enemy is not an ordinary human being who will be deterred by huge casualties, not even living creatures - in a sense, they really can only be called "toys"... A toy in the hands of the evil gods.

The most powerful army of the defenders of Blooddale Valley is the knights from Byrne, and it would be a waste of great strength to not allow these elite heavy cavalry to exert their true strength.

Based on this change, Loren and the generals reformulated the tactics of how to "hold the Valley of Blood", or "annihilate as many monster armies as possible before reinforcements arrive".

First of all, the battlefield should not be confined to the gentlest slopes of the Valley of Bloodbones - it is indeed the most suitable battlefield for the Byrne Knights to exert their strength, but it is also destined to make the enemy swarm in.

"So, it's not the ideal place for the Duke to engage the army of monsters—at least, it's not the only place. ”

Smiling at the ignorant Ranmaros and the gloomy Rigrel, Grenwell, Earl of Stormcastle, said.

"If you don't fight on the slopes, where is it?" Ranmaros scratched his head, he had attended a military meeting, but he really didn't understand what the black-haired wizard's plan was other than what he had to do.

"Don't fight on the slopes... Because there was no decisive battle at all. The Earl of White Horse Peak said coldly, and sighed tiredly: "The duke's plan is to use the Valley of Blood Remains to seem to have an unobstructed view, but in fact, the shattered and ever-changing terrain will only divide and disintegrate the army of monsters that will rush up, and annihilate layer by layer!"

"Our fortress is set up at the highest point in the Bloodborne Valley, but that's just in case - if a battle starts, the Horn Fortress Floating City will be able to reach the top of the Bloodborne Valley, and the various projectile weapons set up on it can sweep across the battlefield. ”

"That's one of them. Grenwell raised the index finger of his right hand: "Second, there are the Imperial soldiers who are now setting up defensive positions on both sides of the Valley of Blood. ”

"With the condensate stone to build a wall, dig a trench, and match the fort at the top of the valley, we only need to set up two more strongholds to control the entire Valley of the Bloodbones, and the initiative to attack, retreat, and advance is ours, and the cavalry can be supported wherever they appear in the valley. ”

"Of course, the foundation of the battlefield is still on the Byrne Knights - rather, all the designs are designed to make the cavalry more powerful, and to annihilate as many enemies with the least amount of force. ”

The Earl of White Horse Peak bowed his head and said, "Hussars and Ranger Knights can scatter arrays and sweep away the remnants of the divided enemy, while the Byrne Knights will be the most powerful spearhead and tear the enemy to pieces." ”

"All in all, it's not just about holding the Valley of the Blood, it's not just about holding the heights. ”

Lord Stormcastle smiled, "The entire Valley of Blood Remains is under his control, and it is his 'fortress' and the battlefield for annihilating the army of monsters. ”

"The so-called defense, in addition to making it impossible for the enemy to pass, is also unable to "pass through alive" ... Our Duke, a game-changer for the game of war. ”

Rammaleos was stunned for a second, then burst out laughing.

"Oh, dignified Count of Stormcastle, branch of the Turin family... When will you learn to pat yourself on the back?" the grinning Earl of Lake City looked at him very provocatively:

"At the first round table, you have a chance to replace him!"

Grenwell was stunned for a moment, looking at Lan Mallos, who looked natural, as if he didn't realize what he was talking about.

Regrell on the side couldn't help but glance sideways, stealing a glimpse of the Stormcastle Count's every move.

"Superseding?"

The smiling Ayton Grenwell, with a very playful expression:

"Only those who don't know Loren Turin at all think that he can be easily replaced by someone else - our Duke is a unique being who has never been before or since... in every sense of the word. ”

Ignoring the two staring at each other, the Count of Stormcastle looked up at the ceiling, as if his gaze could see through the layers of masonry and beams to the figure standing at the top of the Tower of the Floating City.

The big war is coming, and that man... What would he be thinking?

Grenwell thought with some curiosity.

..............................

"What are you thinking?"

The white and golden hair and the hem of the small dress fluttered in the cold wind, making the young man's petite figure seem to be blown away at any time:

"The Great War is coming, dear Loren... You're remarkably quiet. ”

"Nothing... It's just that everything that can be prepared has already been prepared, and no matter how much you worry, it's just a blind worry. ”

The black-haired wizard with an indifferent expression didn't look back, and chuckled as if laughing at himself: "What's more, what am I thinking... Don't you know?"

As he spoke, Loren raised his right hand like a stroke and shook the "serpentine rune" under his wrist behind him.

The corners of Asriel's mouth curled into a guiltless smile.

Mark of the Evil God...... That was the symbol that Asriel left on Loren's body when the two first met in Wild Dog Village - after the vampire of Wimpal was eradicated (or 'robbed' to be exact), Asriel also bound himself to Loren's spiritual temple.

In other words, two people are now in a true "live and die" relationship.

If Asriel is destroyed, Loren's spiritual temple will simply collapse into a vegetative state, or even go insane, and if Loren is killed, Asreal will ......

Yes... Back to when he was in Dingo Village?

When you think about it, it seems fair.

"It's because I know that poor Asrael is worried. With a childish voice, the young man's delicate but bloodless face showed a look of "worry":

"It's a last resort, but it's too dangerous to be besieged so soon by those four nasty guys, even for dear Loren. ”

"Lemantes, Gowait, Ruton, Diabo... Although their power has been severely weakened over time, and it is difficult to maintain their own existence, it does not mean that they are no longer a threat. ”

"On the contrary, it's because they're about to disappear that they're so dangerous—even if it's to keep themselves alive, they're going to fight for it, if ......"

"You've talked a lot today. ”

The black-haired wizard whispered, "I don't usually talk so much. ”

Blowing lightly on the ends of his hair, Asriel smiled absently with his little hands behind his back.

"Why... Dear Loren, you're so quiet. ”

"Is there one?"

"Of course, if it had been before, you would have tried to extract the information you wanted from poor Asrael - even if you pretended not to, it would probably be just a strategy to get away with it, but this time ......"

With a slight step, the blonde boy dissipated into the cold wind, and in an instant sat down on the battlement in front of Loren, leaning out, his scarlet eyes and the black-haired wizard staring at each other:

"As if you had expected everything, Asrael... Don't understand. ”

Don't understand?

If it had been before, Loren would probably regard this as a victory - it can make this guy who is always thinking about how to use himself, always using various means to make himself his "tool", and likes to play with people's hearts, and no matter how much he loses, it will be like he has earned.

But now, he is still unusually calm.

Looking at Asriel, who almost had "curiosity" written on his face, Loren's heart felt a pang... Calm.

He once thought about why he crossed over, why he became the target of the evil god, why he was used and betrayed, and the guy who became a thorn in the side of others would be himself......

There must be a reason, right?

He also thought about gaining power, wealth, power, status...... Even if he didn't say it, he felt that it was impossible, and Loren knew that he had thought so.

Become a wizard, become a nobleman, have power, have wealth, gather a group of "loyal ministers" or "followers" who are willing to die for themselves, become a veritable "successful person", control everything, let whoever dies die, let whoever live, live......

Become a "god"... He used to have such thoughts.

Once.

After a moment of silence, Loren and Asriel looked at each other and chuckled in relief.

"What, what's wrong?" the blonde boy looked stunned, and a not-so-good premonition made his expression stiffen a little.

"Nothing, you don't have to worry about how much I know about your secrets - it's just that I figured something out before I came. ”

The black-haired wizard said lightly, his dark gaze somehow making Asrael a little hairy.

"Figuring out... What's wrong?"

"I've figured ......it out," the dark-haired wizard, who deliberately dragged out the tail note and wanted to have fun, looked at the blonde boy's little appearance of desperately hiding his panic and forcing him to sit down:

"Why do you always say... Sorry can't tell you more. ”

Asriel shuddered.

"How so... I don't think you can predict the future, at least not now, and I even think you might be taking a gamble. Loren exhaled softly: "So every move you make is not so much a guide as it is a matter of going with the flow." ”

The black-haired wizard recalls the first time the two met in the past.

Wild Dog Village, Wimpal College, Vampires;

Deep Grove Castle, Ancient Wood Forest, Ogre;

Ebolden, Elixir of Holy Blood, Shell of an Evil God;

Dragon King City, Four Evil Gods, Second Valve;

Valkyries, dwarves, phanescists......

If you think about it, apart from the few times when Asrael actively exposed his thoughts, for the most part, he didn't really interfere with his choices... Regardless of whether these choices are voluntary or voluntary.

He's just "helping" himself – in his own way.

"So I'm thinking... Why, because you must have your purpose in it, and it can't be without reason. Looking at Asriel, Loren narrowed his expression slightly:

"So the reason that came to my mind was – no. ”

"There's no need to interfere too much at all, as long as I go on all the way safely, I... Sooner or later, you're going to have to meet and confront your enemies;"

"Why? Probably because I'm a stranger, and you... It's different, isn't it?"

"Generally speaking, the 'natives' will always show some vigilance and hostility towards strangers, but you, for example, want to be friends with me, the 'stranger'. ”

The blonde boy bit his lower lip, lowered his head, and remained silent.

"So I decided to believe you. ”

Stunned for a moment, Asriel jerked up at Loren.

"You ......"

"Dear Asrael, I have decided to trust you. Loren hooked the corners of his mouth, but said word by word very seriously:

"If I could do it for all my friends – Ain, Isaac, Brandon, Charlotte... If I can fight for them, then why can't I fight for you?"

"So I will win this war that will determine the fate of the future... For you, for our friendship, and I am confident that you will keep your promise and give me what I have always wanted but never been able to get!"

Loren......

Looking at the black-haired wizard with a determined expression, Asrael was truly stunned for the first time.

The scarlet pupils dilated, then contracted, like the instinctive reaction of any astonished "natural life" body - but it wasn't supposed to be in the blonde boy... The body of an evil god.

Not far behind him, a huge void force approached like a tidal wave, and a loud and breathless horn sounded from the peaks of the Valley of the Blood, causing panic among the defenders on the hillside who were still preparing for battle.

"Luo ......"

Asrael, who woke up in shock, was about to speak, but the black-haired wizard grabbed him by the neck and dragged his thin body into his arms:

"Trust me... Truly trust me for once, Asrael. ”

"After all, among friends... It's about mutual benefit!"

.。 m.