Chapter 578: Act 325 – The Battle of Saintly White IX
The guest was naturally a familiar face to Brendel—a Greyfin Naga. The pearl in his hand had been given to him by Queen Han Lu through Saneer; it was a magical item for communication among the Naga, but regrettably, its production was limited. Otherwise, he could have given one to each important person beside him.
As soon as the black pearl emitted a glow, Brendel immediately realized that Saneer had arrived. However, the first to react were the sentries stationed by the White Lion Guards, as the young men from Toniger naturally recognized the Naga and directly led them over.
The first thing Brendel saw was Saneer, who was notably tall and more robust than the average person, accompanied by a female Naga. The female Naga was alluring, yet her appearance was unmistakably different from that of a human, with pointed, webbed ears, smooth skin, and three slender gill slits above her collarbone. Like the male Naga, her body below the navel was serpentine.
Brendel initially found it curious that Saneer had not joined Antinna to take the sea route to Toniger. However, upon seeing the female Naga, he understood—she was Bridget, the sea witch and one of Queen Han Lu’s main female priests.
Among the Naga, it was always the females who presided over rituals and wars; Saneer, although a warrior, was merely a soldier on the front lines. While he eventually ended up leading the Greyfin Naga tribe, it was an exception; in general, the Naga were a matriarchal society.
Females of noble birth, like Bridget, typically appeared in the military in the capacity of accompanying priests, acting similarly to military overseers.
Brendel quickly realized that they were here to form an alliance with him. This also explained the earlier whereabouts of the guard forces in Ampere Seale — it seemed that the Naga had been determined to participate in this war from the very beginning.
When she spoke, it confirmed his speculation:
“Lord, we come on the queen’s decree, in accordance with the sacred pact of ancient times, to fight alongside our human allies.” Bridget spoke fluent Cruz, with hardly a trace of her Naga accent, devoid of the low, raspy tones typical of Saneer.
When she mentioned the queen, she slightly lowered her head and bowed to Brendel. This gesture was more for her queen’s respect than for Brendel himself.
Brendel’s eyes shimmered with insight; as a player, he was perceptive and understood Naga customs very well. It seemed Queen Han Lu intended to engage with him as an equal, or else she would not have taken this route. However, he didn’t believe in the nonsense about sacred pacts. If such pacts were effective, there would be no holy wars among the four major temples.
What a powerful maneuver; beneath the grand pretense lay a blatant political investment. But what could the queen possibly see in him? On the surface, he was merely a small lord of Toniger.
After delivering her formal lines, Bridget lapsed into silence, clearly not intending to satisfy his curiosity. Saneer likely wasn’t aware, either; within the Greyfin Naga, his status was insignificant.
However, Brendel was never one to dig for the bottom line. Having reinforcements was better, and he readily accepted it. He would just consider it a favor owed to the queen; perhaps that was the very aim of the Naga, and his abilities left him unconcerned about repaying it.
The arrival of the Greyfin Naga stirred quite a commotion among others. Once they learned they were allies, excitement quickly spread among the young men. Overwell couldn’t help but tease Brendel, calling him a robbers’ lord with a following of pirate cutthroats. This was obviously a joke, as the Knight of Wolves looked at him with only admiration.
While it was common for nobles to maintain their own private soldiers and socialize with powerful factions, there was a remarkable difference. Most nobles, including the feckless Grudin, had their own private armies; this was an instinct ingrained in them, seemingly learned without deliberate effort. But to mingle with various powerful factions required strength and a certain degree of personal charisma.
The problem was that the forces Brendel had made friends with were extraordinarily diverse; Druids and Naga were realms of influence that ordinary people seldom touched. In the presence of such beings, human identity held no power; to Druids, there was no distinction between nobility and commoners, while Naga considered the nobility akin to prey.
Yet Brendel was able to gain their recognition, which could only be described as a freak occurrence.
Others seemed fine with it, but the princess’s gaze upon him was somewhat complex. Brendel even discerned a mix of recognition and a touch of wariness in the Half-Elf Maiden’s eyes—he knew exactly where that wariness stemmed from.
With the addition of the Greyfin Naga, the army gathering around the princess had expanded to about six thousand men, barely strong enough to form a guard squad. Everyone seemed to see a glimmer of hope, especially the private soldiers of Earl Ouding, who no longer looked so panicked—Brendel had genuinely feared those guys might flee at the first sign of danger.
Brendel asked how Saneer and the others had managed to catch up, learning that Saneer and his Greyfin Naga sentinels had traced the route through Ampere Seale Bay by sea to reach him. According to Saneer, they had defeated the harbor guards but found Brendel had already evacuated Ampere Seale. At that time, the Black Blade Legion had completed their assembly to the south of Ampere Seale, and Saneer decisively ordered all Naga to retreat along the riverways within the city, enter the outer sea bay of Ampere Seale, and then land at Deng Gang Bay to intercept Brendel’s group.
The terrain of Ampere Seale was quite unique, with the north and south lands converging to form a crescent-shaped bay. The central area was the Ampere Seale Strait, with flat land to the north and sheer cliffs to the south. A boat going out to sea would reveal this unique landscape; south of Ampere Seale Harbor, nearly all was like a cut cliff, with hidden reefs underneath, making it difficult for vessels to approach.
There were two landing points to the south, with Deng Gang Bay being a shallow area only accessible to the Naga. Not to mention the turbulent reefs outside, and Brendel was well aware of this; thus, he had abandoned the idea of sailing from there. Further south was the Saintly White Bay, which was farther from Ampere Seale and the only anchorage in this vicinity.
Estimating the time, Brendel found it unlikely that they could reach Saintly White Bay before being caught by the Black Blade Legion. However, the arrival of the Greyfin Naga ignited a new plan in him.
He quickly unrolled the sheepskin map, and the officers from the Royal Knight Academy gathered around, realizing their ‘commander’ was about to devise a strategy. Overwell and Earl Ouding positioned themselves on either side of Brendel.
“I’ve thought of a plan,” the Knight of Wolves inquired.
“Yeah,” Brendel nodded. “I have a concept, but it still needs verification.”
“Could it be that you have a clever stratagem to shake off those annoying foes in the sky?” Enroch asked with a grin.
“Brendel, can we hold out until nightfall to shake off those flying Dragoons?” Freya also inquired.
“Not possible,” Earl Ouding replied, having served in both the Black Blade Legion and the Southern Army; he was the most familiar with the Dragoons among everyone: “The dragons ridden by the Dragoons are called Erluin Dragons, primarily residing in the northern plateaus. They are nocturnal creatures, and trained Dragoons have no problem tracking at night.”
“How frustrating; they truly are an all-weather force,” Brendel cursed inwardly, though he was well aware of this; he had been a Dragoon in the game and knew the Erluin Dragons well, which is why he had dismissed the notion from the beginning. “Well, unless it rains daggers from the sky, we shouldn’t think about shaking them off, after all, they fly, while we walk.”
His playful tone evoked smiles among the crowd.
“If it rains daggers, we’re dead as well, Brendel,” Freya shot him an annoyed glare.
“That means we must face the Black Blade Legion; at this rate, we’ll be caught by tomorrow afternoon at the earliest,” replied Loka, leader of the Three Heroes, swiftly and calmly. “No, even that might be too late. Their light cavalry will be on us sooner.”
“The light cavalry isn’t good at fighting in the forest; perhaps we could bite back at them,” Brensen pondered before responding.
“If we do that, we lose time,” Nemeses said quietly, giving Brendel a glance. She had always been the commander of this army, but her calm expression seemed to show no dissatisfaction with Brendel.
Brendel noted that this Lady Knight possessed a quality he deeply admired—a soldier’s obedience. She was calm, composed, and absolutely compliant with orders, a trait he himself struggled to achieve. That was the mark of a truly excellent soldier.
Yet, the fact that she was a woman, strikingly resembling his senior, made it difficult for him to fully accept.
Overwell remained silent, seemingly waiting for the young people to speak up. Brendel felt the same, using this opportunity to gauge the true capabilities of the Erluin Three Heroes.
After a moment of consideration, Loka finally answered: “The advantage of time will eventually fade. At least before that occurs, we can decide where and how to engage the Black Blade Legion.”
Indeed.
Turning the timing into a geographical advantage. Brendel mentally praised this leader of the Erluin Three Heroes; his thoughts aligned perfectly with his own. However, while he had planned this in advance, Loka’s judgment had come in an instant, revealing a significant difference between them.
Fortunately, he never really viewed himself as a genius commander. His presence here was merely because he possessed knowledge far exceeding that of everyone in this historical context. That was all that mattered.
“What is the objective of the engagement?”
“Obvious—hold fast and wait for reinforcements,” Enroch answered.
“Then where should we choose the battlefield?” Everyone’s gaze turned to the spread map, Brendel included. Previously, they had been heading east into the Machinko Mountains, departing from Ampere Seale, and were now slightly south of the Liangting Estate.
The Liangting Estate was a well-known landmark near Ampere Seale. Though referred to as an estate, it was, in fact, a mountain tavern constructed like a fortress. This estate was located about ten miles east of Ampere Seale, nestled among mountains that surrounded the forest, along the main mountainous path leading from Ampere Seale to the province of Anlek.
Because it was the only major road in the vicinity, they had deviated from this route; they were now southeast of Ampere Seale, in uncharted wilderness. To the south of Ampere Seale, there was another major road leading to Vlada-Pace, and they found themselves situated between these two roads.
This area was well-known to Brendel as a level 25-30 adventuring region. Further south stood a citadel of Ampere Seale, near which there was a lumber mill—Ampere Seale’s primary charcoal supply source, where Brendel had completed numerous tasks in the past.
Nearby was a small iron mine. Due to the presence of charcoal, many estates specializing in blacksmithing emerged around that bountiful year (1st year, 360). Centered around the citadel, heading into the high mountains to the east and west lay more fertile coastal areas abundant with people.
Brendel’s gaze traced a planned line across this region.
The young warriors were embroiled in debate.
Carglis thought they should leverage their smaller numbers but superior elite status to ambush the Black Blade Legion in the Fama Valley, which led deep into the northern branches of Anlek, a terrain that was ideal for laying an ambush.
However, Enroch argued that they should already be entering the Fama Mountain Range, utilizing their advantages of fewer but more capable forces to engage in hit-and-run tactics within the deep mountains, evading the northern coalition. It was an interesting idea; Brendel was momentarily stunned, considering this to be the groundwork for guerrilla warfare, and it could serve as an alternative plan.
But, just as he was taken aback, the dispute escalated further. Enroch mocked Carglis as inflexible, adhering to military dogmas; Carglis retorted, labeling him a brigand with mendacious mountain banditry thoughts.
The two sides couldn’t reach a conclusion, while Brensen supported Carglis’s perspective, and Myko believed Enroch had the better argument. It was only Freya, Loka, and Nemeses whose gazes fell upon Brendel.
Brendel smiled slightly and pointed to the map: “Let’s lay a grand feast for the Black Blade Legion here.”
Everyone followed the direction he indicated; in fact, the place Brendel pointed to was not far from here, drawing a line that ultimately led to a place called Malhighland.
What location was that?
Everyone observed the spot on the map, which was evidently not the best for an ambush. Malhighland was a plateau; though it was a confluence of three mountains, the open area was a flat alluvial plain, quite favorable for army deployment. Engaging here could pose some issues; had Brendel not led them out through bloodshed, including Carglis, everyone present might have begun to suspect he was a spy for the northern coalition…
“Mr. Brendel…?”
“Trust me, this is the best choice,” Brendel smiled. “I would never joke about my own life, right?”
“But why?” Freya couldn’t help but inquire.
The reason was simple; Brendel smirked internally. The place called Malhighland had once been a nightmare for countless players. There was a dungeon known as the ‘Temple Ruins of Afeiga’; Afeiga was a famous demonic god in Vaunte, rumored to have been a demon—though in truth, this temple had little to do with him, as it was occupied by a group of air elemental beings from the Peaks of the Storm’s Calm, and the temple lay buried underground; prior to this era, it likely had yet to be discovered by anyone.
This temple would be announced in subsequent versions, along with a small opening task. Brendel could easily imagine the trouble the Black Blade Legion would encounter if he brought this out. Players had been defeated severely, with cries of despair ringing out, and it wouldn’t be until nearly five years later that anyone managed to clear this dungeon.
Not to mention Malhighland’s foreground was also inhabited by the monstrous Redback Wild Boars; without knowledge of the correct marching route, these level 20 creatures would be more than enough to give them a run for their money.
Just thinking about it brought a smile to his face. Furthermore, he wasn’t merely selecting a battlefield on the plain to catch the enemy off guard; there were deeper considerations as well. Yet some things could not be disclosed now; the officer students of the Royal Knight Academy were indeed trustworthy, but the noble private soldiers under Earl Ouding were less certain.
He waved his hand for others to cease discussions. Brendel had initially established some authority; although the young people still held some doubt, they opted to trust the commander who had led them out this far.
“This area indeed forms an inverted triangle; if we hold two mountain peaks, it could be defensible. I suspect the lord might have other considerations, but isn’t this place a bit too close to Ampere Seale’s citadel?” Loka furrowed his brow and asked.
“On the contrary, we need to charge through this line,” Brendel pointed toward the estate area.
“Wait, what? No way!” Enroch exclaimed almost jumping up. “Lord, it seems unnecessary to do this. If you aim to showcase military might and intimidate those northern folk… fine, I admit we’re quite impressive already.”
“No, it is necessary.” Brendel flashed him a slight smile. Turning back to Saneer, he asked, “Saneer, can you and your entourage sense your sea monster whale?”
Saneer blinked in surprise but then nodded.
“Then I need you to take them immediately to ensure Miss Antinna appears before me tonight.”
“Understood.”
Brendel rolled up the sheepskin, addressing the others: “You should prepare as well and draft the battle plan. And do not forget to hit the vanguard cavalry of the Black Blade Legion to let them know we are here.”
Everyone exchanged looks, but they could only rise and bow.
…
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Glossary Explanation:
(1) Fama Valley, located at the convergence of the southern section of the Machinko Mountains and Fama Mountain, with a stream running through this valley connecting to the Vlada forest area, ultimately flowing into the Saintly White Bay.
(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please consider voting for it at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)
