Chapter 356 – Imminent War

With Punk’s provided script as the template, the Zordas Family’s efficient obedience as execution, and the biological instinct for survival as foundation—under the combined effect of these three elements, the war mobilization achieved unexpectedly excellent results.

Half a month later, when the day of the “Glorious Battle” arrived, the number of impoverished civilians who had rushed from all corners of the Maple Leaf Kingdom to the front lines to “voluntarily enlist and defend their homeland” shockingly exceeded seven million. Had it not been for the fact that many malnourished commoners succumbed to the Graybone Virus and collapsed along the way, this number could have multiplied eight or ninefold!

In fact, because the Zordas Family had thoroughly propagated the notion that “staying in the country meant certain death,” almost every living soul in the Maple Leaf Kingdom with any strength left would desperately crawl toward the battlefield, even if they had to do so on their hands and knees.

Vast numbers of starving refugees moved stiffly, their joints increasingly inflexible due to the Graybone disease. They clutched “spears” fashioned from sharpened branches, chewed on the corpses of those who had fallen by the roadside to stave off hunger, their turbid eyes filled with a desperate yearning for life.

The clerics of the God of Justice had sealed their temples, turning a blind eye to this tragic scene. Divine revelation explicitly forbade them from participating in any war or politics, especially since the majority of the suffering refugees were devout followers of the God of Justice. Under no circumstances were the clerics permitted to offer any form of assistance… Of course, those unaware would hardly imagine that the very reason the deity allowed such disasters to unfold while “adhering to principles” was precisely because the refugees’ faith was too abundant, too fervent…

When the sunlight of the thirty-first day of the Cold Winter season fell upon the Hoth Mountains, this “volunteer army,” largely composed of the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled, finally assembled into a vast “grand force” on the plains bordering the Maple Leaf Kingdom and the Dragon Roar Kingdom. From above, the seven million refugees resembled a swarm of ants covering the plains—a dark, chaotic, and disorderly mass. The air was filled with pained moans, faces were ashen, and eyes gleamed with wolf-like hunger… An unknowing observer might easily mistake this for some Legendary Mage unleashing a Scourge of the Undead.

Of course, the destructive potential of these starving refugees was not to be underestimated. Where they stood, not a single blade of wormwood remained; every edible part of the plants had been gnawed off by the refugees for sustenance! Moreover, the proliferation of the Graybone Virus had spread to the refugees’ skin—their ashen bodies teemed with rampant magical plague. Now, these seemingly sluggish commoners could spread vast quantities of the terrifying virus merely through their breath!

Facing this “biochemical horde” stood the battle-ready “Mad Dragon Legion” stationed at the Dragon Roar Kingdom’s border. This elite force of half-dragon warriors had maintained vigilance throughout the night, fully aware of their duty: absolutely, under no circumstances, could they allow even a single Graybone Virus carrier to enter their nation.Compared to the “volunteer army” from the Maple Leaf Kingdom that seemed to have teleported straight out of a zombie apocalypse, the Dragon Roar Kingdom’s forces were clearly battle-hardened elite troops (with Jiaoni having sent them through “hundreds of battles”). At the forefront stood genuine half-dragons—their three-meter-tall bodies clad in exquisite iron armor alloyed with Frost Iron. Gleaming plates clung tightly to the emerald scales of the half-dragons, each wielding a Great Hammer taller than a man. No one could doubt those solid iron hammers could shatter the hardest rock in a single blow.

Behind the half-dragons stood multiple echelons of dragon-touched spearmen and archers. These soldiers, encased in light armor, wore resolute expressions. Even after prolonged garrison duty, their grips on weapons remained unwavering—a testament to rigorous training that forged such discipline and endurance.

Finally, positioned at the flanks of the Mad Dragon Legion lay the Dragon Roar Kingdom’s trump card: the professional army.

These half-dragon and dragon-touched professionals mirrored the Zordas Family’s Holy Warrior formations, organized with one Formal-Level expert leading over a hundred Apprentice-Level combatants. The sole difference: the Dragon Roar Kingdom’s professionals outnumbered the Zordas Family’s by threefold!

Of course, the Maple Leaf Kingdom held its own overwhelming advantage—their “biochemical horde” outnumbered the Mad Dragon Legion seventy to one! For the infected horde, breaching the defense line constituted victory. In other words, each ordinary Mad Dragon soldier theoretically needed to hold back at least seventy Graybone Virus carriers—an obvious impossibility.

“Jiaoni, we hold crushing superiority in conventional troops, but can your Holy Warriors truly stop their professionals? If those experts reinforce the regular forces, no amount of ‘volunteers’ will suffice!”

Standing on a elevated hillock, Punk coldly questioned Jiaoni.

“Do not doubt warriors of honor. They will not retreat an inch before any number of foes. Unless every last Holy Warrior falls on the battlefield… none shall pass!”

Jiaoni didn’t glance at Punk, merely tightening his grip on the Greatsword while watching the dawn sun break over the horizon.

Seeing Jiaoni’s unwavering conviction, Punk said no more. Whether the Graybone Virus carriers successfully invaded the Dragon Roar Kingdom mattered little to him—from start to finish, his goal remained forcing the black dragon Ovakain out of his “turtle shell.” Of course, if the commoners’ war could distract Ovakain, so much the better.

The hour for attack had not yet come. Both Jiaoni and Punk awaited the black dragon’s descent, for only then would launching the assault maximize their gains.

Before Ovakain’s appearance, Ben Lajie finally arrived—though characteristically late.

“Sorry, sorry! Just a tiny delay, but there’s a reason for it, haha!”The plump old man, now clad in fiery red robes, still resembled a giant meatball. After extinguishing his flames mid-air, this frequently absent figure finally descended upon the hill where Punk stood.

Seeing Ben Lajie arrive “fashionably late” just as battle was about to erupt, Punk couldn’t help but frown slightly:

“Nokani, what’s going on? This isn’t the first time. You’ve been frequently late for recent tactical discussions too. What have you been occupied with?”

“Oh, those discussion sessions are pointless anyway. Jiaoni only fought that black dragon once centuries ago and has no useful intelligence… Actually, I just learned something. Jiaoni, haven’t you been paying attention?”

Ben Lajie deftly sidestepped Punk’s question and redirected the conversation toward Jiaoni, making it clear he had no intention of addressing Punk’s concerns.

Considering the imminent battle, Punk had no mental energy to ponder what this unreliable old man had been up to. After Ben Lajie changed the subject, he stopped pressing the matter. As long as Ben Lajie showed up to contribute, that was enough!

Meanwhile, Jiaoni, who had remained silent until now, responded to Ben Lajie’s words with measured calm:

“What matter? This is no time for trivialities.”

“Your King lying critically ill on his deathbed – would you consider that trivial?”

Normally, matters concerning the King’s life could never be trivial. Yet upon hearing Ben Lajie’s news, Jiaoni only showed a flicker of emotion before quickly resuming his stoic expression.

“…We’ll address that after the war. Now… is the moment for glory!”

Feeling the phantom pain subtly returning to his severed arm, Jiaoni had no attention to spare for anything beyond killing Ovakain Acidmaw. Observing the stark contrast between his own refugee-formed army and the enemy’s meticulously organized “Mad Dragon Legion,” the humiliation of lost honor, homeland, and limb surged through him once more. As the twin suns of morning gradually rose, the flames of vengeance burned ever fiercer in Jiaoni’s heart!

“Ovakain Acidmaw… it’s time to settle this!”

(End of Chapter)