CHAPTER 676

【 THE BATTLE PLAN 】

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Whilst riding on a beautiful unicorn gifted by the elves, Sophia halted atop a protruding hill.

Above, a massive airship hovered in the sky surrounded by countless magical beasts flying around it. Below the hill, an overwhelming land army comprised of elven forces filled the entire landscape. It was a scene so surreal that no observer could avoid feeling shaken upon seeing such a sight.

The half elven girl was no exception and her emotions grew even stronger when she realized that all these elves had gathered here entirely because of her request.

Excitement welled up within her, accompanied by a natural sense of pressure.

—No.

Perhaps “responsibility” was a more fitting description to explain what she had been feeling rather than “pressure” since the fate of these one hundred thousand soldiers now rested upon her shoulders.

An army of such size and with such elite equipment would be a force to be reckoned with even by Imperial standards, and while it might not be enough to sweep away all enemy forces, it was certainly more than enough to attract the full attention of the empire’s military high command.

After all, even during the Borderlord’s rebellion, the Empire had only dispatched its Third Imperial Knight Corps along with several mercenaries that had answered their recruitment. To the Imperial Court, this ongoing conflict had been little more than a regional disturbance that did not warrant the mobilization of its full military strength.

Moreover, the one hundred thousand troops that were sent to suppress the rebellion had not even required extensive levies from the imperial nobility. The Imperial Court viewed the matter as marginal, so most noble houses were not summoned to contribute. Only the nobles of the northern frontier under the Lawson Household supplied a significant number of their own retainers, who served as auxiliary and reserve forces to support the Third Imperial Corps.

Although the God of Dusk and Twilight reduced most of the Third Corps to ashes, such loss was far from a crippling blow when measured against the vast resources and capabilities of the Holy Maniya Empire. At most, it merely caused some regional upheaval, but nothing substantial.

At the end of the day, the greatest faction among the various human nations was still the mighty Holy Maniya Empire, which had once nearly unified the entire realm of Seigües under its flag.

Even now, despite being weaker than it was during its golden age, a dying camel was still larger than a horse, so to speak.

This was also because Seigües was a mana enriched world, unlike Earth. Therefore, the presence of supernatural powers enhanced every aspect of life, turning even the most ordinary processes into something far beyond what a non magical civilization could ever achieve. Whether it be wartime mobilization, production of goods, and even population expansion, all far surpassed anything Earth could ever sustain.

Once the Empire operated its wartime apparatus at full capacity, Sophia believed that mustering an army of one million soldiers in a short span of time was entirely achievable.

Moreover, a considerable number of these troops would be mid-to-high ranking experts as well.

Nonetheless, a supernatural world still operates on certain fundamental limitations.

Despite the prevalent use of supernatural powers and magic, which exponentially enhanced every aspect of life to a terrifying degree, ultimately the overall quality of forces still mattered far more than their mere quantity.

Take Maple Leaf Territory as an example. Although it was one of the wealthier regions among the empire’s many provinces, its war potential was still far inferior to that of the Holy Maniya Empire as a whole. It was only because of the mythical being supporting him that Borderlord Otto von Cappadocia had the confidence to establish an independent nation.

Likewise, the gathering of these one hundred thousand elven troops at Sophia’s side was not merely due to her request alone. She understood very clearly that this was also the will of the Goddess of Life.

As the citizens of Greyhaven had stated before their departure, their mobilization was no longer simply because of them heeding the request of a young girl like Sophia, but was actually them following the divine will of the Goddess, acting in accordance with her plans of launching a Holy war.

Of course, not everything was free of trouble.

After the march began, Sophia discovered, much to her frustration, that these elven Chosen Ones loved to loiter around her for some unknown reason. They followed her wherever she went, making it nearly impossible for her to move freely by herself.

It was only after she complained to several legion commanders, as well as to Commander-in-Chief Li Mu, that the other Chosen Ones began to disperse, leaving her with some personal space.

Unbeknownst to the girl, the players only behaved this way because it was standard practice in most games.

In any online game, when players take part in important group quests, they naturally gather around the quest-related NPC of highest importance, partly to protect them and partly to gain extra favorability points.

Furthermore, the players stopped crowding her not only because of orders from their guild leaders, but also because they eventually discovered that doing so did not increase favorability at all and, in fact, seemed to lower it.

While Sophia remained on the hillside, gazing at the grand elven army and contemplating the uncertain future, another Chosen One suddenly approached her. He too rode a unicorn and a small elemental fairy hovering at his side. 𝑅ÃꞐőＢĘ𝙨

“Miss Sophia, all our troops have safely managed to cross the river. The Goddess’s holy statue and the teleportation array have also been properly positioned. So, what are your next plans?”

It was Commander Li Mu.

The statue he was referring to was, of course, the Goddess’s holy statue, specifically used to anchor and maintain the teleportation array.

Now that the forces of the God of Twilight and Dusk occupied most of Maple Leaf Territory, the Eternal Church had effectively lost its control over the region. As such, the spatial blockade that had once prevented any forms of teleportation had naturally dissipated.

Although recent intelligence reports indicated that the majority of cities and villages in Maple Leaf Territory had already replaced their holy statues in local churches with those of the Evil God—thus forming a new network of faith and signaling that a new spatial blockade would eventually reform—the Vymur River lay close to the Elven Forest. As long as the Goddess’s holy statue remained within its boundaries, it could still resist the evil god’s blockade.

As for why the statue and teleportation array were set up only after crossing the river, the reason was simple. The vine bridge used by the elven army was only temporary, since Sophia had only borrowed the power of the Goddess to make it.

Therefore, the bridge would collapse immediately once its duration expired, making a more stable method for transporting troops across the river necessary.

Once the first teleportation array was positioned and the location where the holy statue would be placed was secured, it would serve as a foothold for the Goddess’s influence to expand in Maple Leaf Territory, thereby allowing it to spread steadily, little by little.

This was a common strategy employed by various factions during holy wars.

“Commander, you surely must already have a detailed battle plan. Since you chose to cross the river, your goal is clearly to advance into the heartland of Maple Leaf Territory and cut off the route between the western provinces of the empire and Maple Leaf Territory.”

“Specifically, I trust in the strategy you have in mind. Henceforth, just proceed according to your plan,” Sophia said, her voice calm but firm, betraying a quiet determination beneath her youthful demeanor.

“Although I am the one who requested the elves’ aid, I myself know that I am not well versed in military strategy. Teacher Dōngdōng once told me that you Chosen Ones have a common saying that goes like: ‘leave professional matters to the professionals,’ and I wholeheartedly agree with it.”

“By all means, please carry on with your strategy as needed. Just inform me of the specific plan and how I should assist,” she concluded, bowing her head slightly in earnest respect.

Li Mu paused for a moment and coughed lightly.

“Ah, yes, you are indeed correct. After discussing the matter with the other Legion Commanders, we have decided on a plan consistent with the route you described.”

“The Borderlord is still at war with the Holy Maniya Empire. So if we attack Maple Leaf Territory directly from the west bank of the Vymur River, we would first have to seize Maple Leaf’s capital city in the western region, then proceed to capture the port hub of Zelouan, and finally push eastward to take the rest of the territory, most of which lies on the opposite bank.”

“But if we follow this route, the empire might take advantage of the situation. While we are occupied with attacking the Borderlord, the empire could seize the opportunity to take control of the eastern side of Maple Leaf Territory along the Vymur River before we could react.”

“So, after repeated discussions, we decided to bypass the western region altogether and instead launch a direct strike toward the northeast, capturing Augsburg City in the northern part of Maple Leaf Territory.”

“Augsburg City is the only route connecting the western provinces to Maple Leaf Territory. So if we seize it, we can effectively block the empire’s southern advance and secure the entire region without further concern.”

Maple Leaf Territory lay on the southwestern border of the Holy Maniya Empire, shaped much like a protruding corner, making Li Mu’s proposal not only bold but also strategically sound.

Even so, Sophia’s brows drew together slightly.

“The plan does indeed sound feasible. But Commander, Augsburg City is not part of Maple Leaf Territory. It is under the administration of the western provinces. Our target is only Maple Leaf Territory, so would attacking Augsburg City provoke backlash from the empire?”

Li Mu chuckled softly at her concern.

“Don’t worry. We received information that Augsburg City has already been seized by the Borderlord’s army. At this point, the Borderlord’s forces, or rather, the Red Maple Kingdom’s forces, are advancing toward the central region of the western provinces.”

“So if we take Augsburg City now, it will still fall within the scope of our holy war. Since officially, we are acting against the Evil God’s influence, so the justification remains valid.”

Sophia nodded, though her expression remained thoughtful.

“This approach may draw some issues after the war, but as long as it succeeds, it is indeed viable.”

However, after a moment she frowned once more.

“The issue is that Augsburg City is a heavily fortified city. Its central district is a towering castle built along a hillside. If we cannot take it quickly, Lord Otto’s forces will have time to return.”

“Besides, he sought the aid of that evil god once, and I believe he could do it again. If that happens, our army outside the city walls would be exposed to serious danger.”

Li Mu’s smile did not falter as he listened to the half elven girl’s concerns.

“Seek the help of that evil god? Heh, that would actually be better for us.”

Sophia blinked in surprise before the meaning dawned on her.

While other factions might tremble at the intervention of an evil god, the elves would certainly not.

If that evil god actually dared intervene, then surely the Goddess of Life, whose true body was said to reside in this world, would not remain silent.

“In that case, there is no issue. But we still need to take Augsburg City as quickly as possible, and then reposition our forces to prevent any unexpected developments.”

After a brief moment of thought, Sophia spoke decisively.

“Of course. Since we have chosen to strike Augsburg City, we must take it by surprise,” Li Mu said, lifting two fingers deliberately.

“Two days. With only two days, we will be able to spread the Goddess’s influence throughout that city.”

He spoke with complete confidence, his tone calm yet resolute, as if the entire operation were already a foregone conclusion.

“…Two days?”

Sophia tilted her head.

Large armies typically moved slowly. Even though the elven army traveled much faster than its human counterparts, marching from Vymur River to Augsburg City would still take at least most of the day.

Allocating only two days meant the elves would have only a single day to capture the city itself.

Yet even when that evil god appeared and the city defenders’ morale had collapsed, and as the ruling nobles fled, the remaining soldiers and townsfolk of Augsburg City had leveraged the terrain to resist the Borderlord’s army for nearly half a month.

Although the elves had one hundred thousand soldiers, Augsburg City’s defenders at this moment were certainly the elite of the Red Maple Kingdom.

How could the elves possibly seize such a city in just a single day?

Sophia stared at Li Mu in confusion, but he did not answer directly. Instead, he merely gave a mysterious smile as he glanced toward the airship in the sky.

“Miss Sophia, are you familiar with the tactic, two-pronged attack?” ¹

༺⟐༻

Northern Maple Leaf Territory, Augsburg City

Augsburg City lay at the border between Maple Leaf and the empire’s western provinces. Once a thriving metropolis with a population exceeding two hundred thousand, it served as the vital gateway which connects the western provinces to Maple Leaf Territory.

The city had been constructed amidst rolling hills, with a grand castle towering above, with its walls overlooking the crescent-shaped urban landscape below. This was Fort Forzel, the seat of the Forzel Household, the noble family that governed the city under the leadership of Viscount Forzel.

To the west of the castle lay a serene lake known as Lake Augsburg, a name said to be derived from Elvish, meaning “beautiful.” From the lake flowed a winding river that stretched into the distance, eventually merging with the Vymur River in the western provinces.

In the eyes of the empire’s citizens, Augsburg City had long been a picture of idyllic beauty. Its streets were clean and orderly, the lake’s surface shimmered under the sunlight, the surrounding forests were lush, and the distant fields of green wheat seemed to stretch endlessly. If not for the war, this city would have been one of the most renowned tourist destinations in the western provinces, with nearly every prominent noble in the region owning a lakeside villa or estate.

Alas, that prosperity had vanished.

After the Borderlord rebelled, declared independence, founded the Red Maple Kingdom, and personally led his army north to wage war against the empire, the Forzel family, terrified for their lives, abandoned the city, leaving their populace behind.

The remaining elderly soldiers and civilians attempted to organize a militia to resist, but they were no match for the Borderlord’s seasoned army. After less than half a month, Augsburg City fell.

Once conquered, the Red Maple Kingdom’s forces gathered the city’s residents to convert them to the Evil God’s faith by carrying out brutal raids, repression, and massacres against those who resisted. Anyone who refused conversion was either executed or forcibly indoctrinated into the new faith.

The city’s population had now been reduced by nearly half. Its former vitality and prosperity were gone, replaced by an oppressive stillness. Nowadays, only few citizens walked the streets, with most homes either tightly shuttered, abandoned, or barricaded by residents hiding from the unruly soldiers from Red Maple Kingdom.

Even though the siege had ended many days ago, the air still carried the acrid stench of blood mixed with the charred remnants of burned buildings while blackened bloodstains could still be seen along the roadside from time to time…

Fort Forzel, Inside a Watchtower.

This was the highest point in Augsburg City, which offered an unobstructed view of the entire landscape. It served not only as a lookout post but also as a strategic observation point, thereby allowing anyone stationed there to monitor movement across the city and its surrounding areas.

Inside the tower, magical instruments crafted by elves had been installed. These devices amplified the watchmen’s vision, enabling them to see nearly twenty kilometers in any direction with startling clarity.

At that moment, a soldier of the Red Maple Kingdom stood on duty, leaning casually against the parapet.

The Red Maple Kingdom’s main army had already advanced into the heart of the western provinces, engaging the imperial forces that had regrouped to resist. Technically, Augsburg City was no longer on the front lines, therefore, despite being on guard duty, the soldier was pretty relaxed.

Even so, he would still occasionally pick up the magical viewing device from time to time, scanning the horizon, or lifting his head to watch for beasts flying above the sky.

Then, just as he lazily raised his eyes to the sky again, he suddenly noticed an oval shaped object speeding toward the city.

“…What is that?”

The lookout frowned slightly.

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¹ Okay, this part left me confused. My chinese acquaintance has no idea either. The raw used the term ‘降维打击‘ which refers to the attack, Dual‑Vector Foil, in the novel Three-Body Problem. But the thing is, there is no dimensional collapse happening in this arc, and considering what happens in the next chapter, I’m just going to translate it as “two‑pronged attack.”

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