February 20, 1218 in the continental calendar.

More than a month after the orcs declared war on the Klan City Alliance, they finally launched a war against the Klan Territory, and nearly 100,000 orc warriors were pushed to the forefront in a single day.

The war came suddenly, but it also made sense.

The choice of the commander of the High Command of the Coalition forces in Crane City, which had been fighting for more than a month, was confirmed in just one day, and the coalition forces selected the elf general Anglos as the supreme commander of the coalition forces among the three candidates of Trofil Cliff, Andy Barrett, and Unglos.

After General Onglos took office, Andy Barrett and Trofil Cliff left the city of Crane one after another, leaving behind the troops they had brought with them.

Unrestrained, General Angros immediately rearranged the defensive line, and most of the light cavalry defending the Balu Kingdom in the north of Crane City was dispatched to Bivest Town as quickly as possible, and the superior hoplite corps took the initiative to launch a surprise attack on the Balu army assembled on the outskirts of the Benson War.

On the third day of the war, the coalition forces of Klan City, under the command of General Anglos, stabilized the outer defense line of Klan City, which was about to collapse, and even the army of the Kingdom of Balu in Banson Town was forced into the town and could not take a step.

It seems that the war has just begun, and it immediately enters the stage of confrontation.

...

In the rear camp of the orc army on the north bank of the Kemir River, the headquarters of the Shikan-Silver Axe is located here.

The fighting everywhere kept the huge military camp built along the riverbank line at high speed, and the heralds and battlefield scouts with command flags on their backs were constantly running along the main roads in the camp.

On the flanks of the barracks, in the huge boot camp, orc and goblin instructors were shouting and cursing, and the roars of more than 50,000 recruits during training shook the surrounding snow slightly.

Shikan-Silver Axe stood on the edge of the balcony of the wooden attic next to the recruit training ground, carefully observing the training of the recruits.

"Orc warriors don't need to be trained at all, they're born soldiers. The old orc Khan next to Shikan-Silver Axe looked very unimpressed, he wore a silver mask on the burned left side of his face, and the whole person looked very majestic and terrifying.

"Prince Khalikhan. Goblin Commander Latrell stared at the training grounds, "Why do you want to divide your army into A, B, and C to distinguish between forces?"

After the establishment of the Kamok Khanate, Shikan-Silveraxe abolished the system of the Overseer's headquarters and canonized the four Overseers of Khalikhan, Kesai, Fang, and Ribalo as princes of the Khanate to show their honor.

"The level of the flag regiment does not represent the combat power, but there is no corresponding military merit. "Khalikhan was not satisfied with Ratlier's words.

"Come on, you have to learn to face the facts. Ratlel shrugged and stood on the wooden steps specially prepared for him to meet Khalihan, "Believe me, if you can learn to face yourself, you will become very powerful. ”

"You..."

Ratreel hurriedly said: "If you want to face yourself, you must first learn to be humble and cautious. ”

"Phew!" Harry Khan spat out a mouthful of phlegm, "modesty is hypocrisy, and prudence seems to me to be a reason for cowards." ”

"It seems that we will never be friends. "Latrell is a very sorry stall hand.

"That's the best!"

The conversation between the two apparently ended in a bad way, and then there was a long silence in the attic.

When the recruits on the training ground below were preparing for confrontation training, Shikan-Silveraxe turned his head to look at Ratrier, "If the training continues at the current pace, when will these recruits be able to fight like our first-class troops." ”

"Never think about it. Latlel shook his head, "It's never possible to train truly elite troops on the training grounds, unless... You give me three years. ”

"I'll just say it's a waste of time. Halihan immediately said: "The orc warriors only need to train in formation, fighting is their instinct, and now the battle on the frontline battlefield is not very fierce, it is the best training ground to hone them." ”

Shikan-Silveraxe ignored Khalikhan's words, he withdrew his gaze from the soldiers looking at the training ground, turned around and walked to a map placed on the log table in the middle of the attic, looked at the battle situation on the map front, and said: "This war is more difficult than we imagined, and it will be very disadvantageous for us to continue to confront each other like this." ”

"Great Khan, you don't have to worry too much. "The fangs seemed to be pressed by something in their throats, and their voices were uncomfortable to listen to, "The Crane City coalition is actually not strong, only the heavy armored infantry led by Cullen and the light cavalry led by the Dwak are difficult to deal with, and it is impossible for the most powerful paladin legion and mage army of mankind to be formed." ”

The old Overseer pointed at Benson, "The two legionnaires of the Balu Kingdom in Benson Town are enough to contain the heavy infantry led by Karen, and the light cavalry led by Twak is enough to suppress our two shield banner regiments... So, what we really need to worry about is the Elven Ranger and their magician. ”

"It seems that you don't know much about your opponents. Ratlell's two retinues carried the wooden steps under their feet to the side of the map, "The Werewolf Legion and the Dark Elf Magister Force have defeated the army of an entire principality of the Old Empire!" he stared at the stone ridge-silver axe, "The magic guide equipment I demonstrated to you some time ago, the Dark Elf troops almost all have one. ”

"Didn't you say that that thing wouldn't be mass-produced for at least twenty years?" said Harry Khan, who couldn't help but frown.

"But if you reduce the power a little bit, you can still do it. Latlel shrugged.

"You should have said it sooner. ”

"It's very clear in my report that you didn't read it. "Latreel was incomprehensible to the orcs' habit of never paying attention to written records.

"Our berserkers and your mechanical heavy crossbow brigade are more than enough to deal with them. Shikan-Silver Axe said calmly and calmly.

Ribalo whispered helplessly: "In other words, none of us can achieve a decisive advantage in this war. ”

"Judging by the current situation, it is like this. Latreel nodded, and then said: "The Klan City Alliance is on the defending, and although they are inferior in strength, they have natural barriers and sufficient logistical supplies. ”

Shikan-Silveraxe stared at the map and said, "That's why I said that a long standoff would not be good for us. ”

"As I said earlier, it is not good for us to wage war against Crane City at this time. Ribalo's voice seemed to be as dull as thunder, "The Klan City Alliance has just been established, and the relationship between its members is relatively stable, and the army in his hands is a veteran of the recent Klan City War... These are their strengths. ”

"If we wait, we won't have a chance. Khalikhan disagreed, "The current Klan City Alliance is so difficult to deal with, wait any longer... Once they have stabilized the situation in the Clan, our army will not want to storm the city of Crane in a short time. ”

"The question is, what should we do now?"

"We have allies too. Ratreel let out a shrill chuckle, "The dwarves of the Lordan Mountains, and the kingdom of Cruria to the east. ”

"Dwarves, those cowards, they don't even dare to come to our celebration in Lacnivi. The exposed half of Khalikhan's face showed a look of disdain, "The Kingdom of Kruria is still okay, but Pedi Reagan will definitely not agree to such a huge expedition." ”

"The Dwarven Kingdom is busy building their new home, and I'm sure they'd like someone to help them at this time, and the Kingdom of Kruria is capable of that. Latreel looked around at everyone around the map and said, "If the Kingdom of Kruria is willing to help with this, the dwarves will definitely be willing to help us raid the rear of the Cullen Territory." ”

"A war on the northern edge of the Naryn Forest, aren't you afraid to involve the elven base camp?" Fang immediately objected, "We can't expand the scale of the war, it's even more detrimental to us." ”

"Yes, the chaotic war situation is too uncontrollable, and the previous war was lost because we stretched the front too long. Khali Khan immediately agreed, "I prefer their equipment and craftsmen to the dwarven army!"

"But the dwarves are not aligned with us, but with the kingdom of Kruria. ”

"Then speed up the negotiations!"

...

Kawar Fort, King's Office.

While Stone-Silveraxe was struggling with the war in Crane City, Pedi met with a man of great importance to him and the kingdom as a whole in his private office.

Bishop Jeffreyd, one of the three bishops of the Church of the Holy Radiance in the Imperial Capital, mentor and leader of the Paladin Legion, and teacher of the Paladin training of Pedi Paladins.

Since the fall of the Empire, the status of the Holy Radiance Church has become a little awkward, as the most powerful Paladin Legion in the Empire, it has to be forced to disband, and the subordinate churches in various cities have announced that they will no longer accept the leadership of the Holy Radiance Church.

Now, even within the Church of the Holy Light, there are serious divisions.

Bishop Andrew, one of the three bishops, decided that the paladins of the church should be gathered immediately after the reorganization of the government of Suke City, and the Holy Knights should be reorganized to protect Suke City from foreign invasions.

However, Geoffred disagreed, believing that the city of Suke, which had been led by the elves, was no longer worthy of the protection of the Holy Knights.

Archbishop Samhill, who was the Church of the Holy Light, was extremely depressed by the fall of the Empire, and eventually caused the Holy Force to leave him. So, Samhill left the church alone and began his spiritual journey along the path of his ancestors.

After the departure of Archbishop Samhill, Bishop Andrew declared allegiance to the Provisional Government of Sukh City without Bishop Geoffrey's consent and stripped him of the leadership of the church. Eventually, Bishop Geoffred had to leave with his entourage gloomily from the place he had fought for.

Since then, the Glorious Church, founded by the Archduke Patved, has been brought together for the belief in divine power at the beginning of the empire, and has officially split!

This incident happened two months ago, and after the incident, it caused quite a stir among the upper classes of human society.

At that time, Pedi had asked Danmen Green to send a special group of agents to find the trace of his mentor Jeffred, but it was impossible to find out as if he had disappeared from the whole world.

What Peidi didn't expect was that two months later, his mentor appeared in front of him silently. The master and apprentice sat face to face on the reception sofa by the window in the office and talked happily for nearly two hours.

"It's been a long time since we've had such a pleasant conversation. Jeffred looked at Pedi and moved his gaze to the training ground of the knights outside the window, "Watching these young people train, I can't help but think back to when I was young, that time..."

He shook his head and didn't say any more, and as Pedi followed his gaze to the training ground, he continued, "The Holy Power of the Suk Plains has dimmed, many paladins and priests can't even gather Holy Power, and the Holy Knights Regiments formed by Andrew are no longer favored by the Holy Power. ”

Pedi didn't feel much sadness, and he couldn't understand how the mentor was feeling right now.

But there is one thing he knows,

That is, the teachings of the Church of Divine Radiance were wrong from the beginning, and the paladins believed in the Empire above the Holy Power from the very beginning of their establishment under the rule of the Imperial Power.

Of course, this has to do with the background history of the church establishment,

After all, the original leaders of the church were the paladins who followed the Grand Duke of Patwede in his conquests to the north and south, and the most fundamental reason they founded the church was to defend the empire.

And the fall of the empire naturally led to the collapse of the paladins' faith, and the holy power naturally left them.

"I have said early on that the power of the Holy Force is with us all the time. Pedy's eyes turned golden, "It's just that the church's beliefs are too narrow to feel her strength!"

"The holy power that surrounds you is a testament to your words. Jeffred nodded a little gloomily, "It's more that the facts have also proved that the holy power of other dioceses except for the Cathedral of Divine Radiance has become stronger after the fall of the Empire. His breathing became a little rapid, and he stared at the steaming coffee on the coffee table and said, "We've been making a fool of ourselves for so many years!"

"Since the death of Archduke Patved, the Holy Power has been weakened... Successive leaders of the church have tried to understand what their ancestors said, 'Have faith in the Holy Force, the Holy Power is omnipotent!'... Ha ha. Jeffred chuckled under his breath, "Yes, we've been understanding, but what we understand is the latter sentence... It wasn't until the establishment of the 'Radiant Power' two hundred years ago that we understood that the most important thing was the previous sentence. ”

"We understood, but we didn't comply..."

He spoke again, then fell silent again.

Pedi watched the mentor think and didn't bother him.

After a long time, Jeffred suddenly raised his head and looked at Pedi, "The power of the paladin comes from the holy power, but in what form does the holy power exist?"

"Elemental power similar to a magic web?" Pei Di replied subconsciously.

"Magicians communicate with the magic web through spiritual power, and can sense the existence of their power, and can even travel the starry sky of the universe. Jeffreyd's expression was serious, "But the paladin can't feel a similar power in any way, as if there is no holy power in the starry sky of the universe, but... We can mobilize. ”

The concept of 'cosmic starry sky' has appeared in this world, because when the spiritual power of mages is attached to the magic net, their brains can be pinned on the starry sky. However, this kind of communication of consciousness cannot be looked at very closely. Therefore, except for a small number of people, similar ideas are not accepted by the general public.