MMORPG: Divine Mech Hunter
Chapter 1621: Blocking the Way

Chapter 1621: Chapter 1621: Blocking the Way

The undead here aren’t too challenging for the players at this stage. Thanks to Madman’s insights, leveling up has become much less of an issue.

Moreover, after this much time, with missions and training in various regions, who hasn’t encountered a bit of their own serendipity? Acquiring decent troops isn’t exactly difficult.

Of course, this applies to the players involved in war-mode gameplay.

The intelligence of the undead in *King’s Mark* is very low, driven purely by instinct, with most serving as the lowest tier of cannon fodder.

After probing their strength, the players assessed the undead’s capabilities and began taking on tasks that matched their own abilities.

That said, missions aren’t entirely straightforward. When you accept a task, completion isn’t just about clearing the objective, as there’s also a time limit; exceeding the limit results in a loss of military merit points.

It’s not that Withered Sun Legion is heartless, but their primary mission involves heading to Daisom, which is far away. They can’t afford to linger here endlessly.

Therefore, while you can accept difficult missions, failure to complete them within the stipulated time means the main force will send a cleanup crew to handle the situation without delaying the march. As for the teams that failed the assignment, not only will they lose merit points, but they’ll also lose priority for future high-value missions.

Understanding these rules, the players acted within their means, making steady progress along the way.

Starfire’s main force was following a steady, unhurried march. The Withered Sun Legion’s logistical advantage was evident: all their mounts were uniform Corrosive War Bears.

In truth, the high elves are known for their penchant for extravagance—this extends to their clothing, food, housing, and even their war equipment.

Their aerial mounts consist of regal Fire Eagles and Dragon Eagles, while their land mounts are colorful Chocobos.

By comparison, the Corrosive War Bears and Corrosive Lynxes of the Withered Sun Legion appear rather lackluster.

But in Li Yao’s eyes, the Corrosive War Bear is the most practical mount, far superior to Chocobos.

The Corrosive War Bear might not be aesthetically pleasing, but its combat prowess and stamina are exceptional, making it ideal for prolonged marches.

The only drawback is its lower maximum burst speed, but to Li Yao, this wasn’t a significant issue.

The Withered Sun Legion doesn’t have traditional cavalry. Mounts are simply tools to conserve energy during marches while providing protection. The War Bear’s large frame also allows it to carry plenty of additional supplies.

That said, it’s worth noting that were it not for their status as ostracized Witherbarks, they likely wouldn’t have accepted War Bears as mounts. They would have preferred Corrosive Lynxes.

But Li Yao didn’t like Lynxes. Though superior to War Bears over short distances and slightly better in combat, their lack of strength and endurance rendered them unsuitable in his eyes.

Even though the high elves eventually accepted War Bears, they adorned the creatures with ornate Bloody Armor. Li Yao tacitly approved, reasoning that the Legion had ample funds. After all, high elves intrinsically favored opulence, and even becoming Witherbarks didn’t fully change their essence.

Additionally, with the high elves protected by the ungainly yet profoundly reassuring steel cockroach constructs, aerial defenses, and Vanguard Scout Legions patrolling the perimeter, they traveled in considerable comfort, hardly feeling any fatigue while mounted.

After five days of marching, covering two and a half maps, they finally arrived at the Ghost Land. It was here that the Witherbarks began to understand the depth of Li Yao’s strategy, fully appreciating the difference between traveling on War Bears versus Chocobos.

Chocobos weren’t inherently bad, but with their two legs, the constant bouncing turned every stride into a jolt. Marching for five days like this—even for beings with robust physiques—would inevitably lead to irritation and discomfort. The War Bear, by contrast, was exceptionally steady. With specially designed saddles, they could even grab some light sleep while riding—practically a luxury.

Over the course of these few days, as they journeyed through the *King’s Mark*, surprisingly, they hadn’t encountered a single battle. The new recruits forged ahead, while the main force leisurely trailed behind, making it feel more like a scenic outing than a military campaign.

"My Lord, the soldiers have come to appreciate your thoughtful intentions," Morning Breeze remarked while perched atop his Battle Scorpion, full of admiration.

"A new legion brings new attitudes. Some habits of the high elves are indeed problematic; we’ll address them gradually," Li Yao replied. Transforming the legion required a relentless and methodical approach.

Morning Breeze nodded. The decay and stagnation of the previous generation of high elves were the primary reasons for their downfall. Excuses like traitors and shattered barriers were nonsensical; in the glory of their past millennia, even under identical circumstances, the undead army would have been incapable of breaching the high elves’ capital.

However, despite this, the elders of the Silvermoon Council—though decadent—still exhibited remarkable dignity. Choosing to die in battle rather than retreat proved that the high elves weren’t entirely beyond salvation.

"My Lord, your soldiers from Starfire have proven exceptionally brave. Within just a few days, they’ve eliminated over a hundred Lords, standing out as the most formidable force," Morning Breeze said, summarizing the new recruits’ battle reports.

"But aren’t they being given better missions on account of me?" Li Yao said nonchalantly, though his mood was buoyed.

It was clear to him that Morning Breeze’s intent wasn’t merely to praise Starfire but to highlight that missions were being deliberately channeled to his people—not as favoritism, but as a subtle show of respect for him as the Legion’s commander.

Li Yao acknowledged this in his own understated manner, signaling his awareness without overreacting.

Morning Breeze, sensing the moment, let the topic drop and shifted to other intelligence reports.

Suddenly, the entire army came to a halt, and Li Yao opened his eyes.

A scout raced toward them at full speed. "My Lord, the front lines are being blocked. The new recruits have suffered heavy losses."

"What’s going on? Where’s the Vanguard Army?" Li Yao inquired. The situation seemed unusual—so formidable a Vanguard force being obstructed was unexpected. Clearly, the real battle was imminent.

"The Vanguard passed through this area half a day ago without encountering resistance. They’re now engaged with a formidable Ghoul Legion. However, a mixed undead army with around 200,000 troops emerged an hour and a half ago to block the main force. The primary force consists of ghouls, supported by 20,000 abominations from the Hate Legion and 10,000 gargoyles from the Gargoyle Legion. The new recruits can barely hold their own against this army, but their commander is a terrifying slaughter-machine, accompanied by a fearsome mutated beast. They’ve been killing officers and seizing banners uncontested," the scout promptly added. "The commander is an enormous abomination with extraordinary regeneration—a faction-tier leader. As for the mutated beast, while only a high-tier racial leader, its combat prowess rivals that of the abomination."

Li Yao waved the scout off before issuing commands, "Viscount Morning Breeze, you and the Magician remain with the main force and continue leading the march. I’ll take the Guard army to smash through this obstacle."

"Understood," Morning Breeze saluted, then asked, "Shall we permit the Magician to cast the Water Mirror Spell, so the soldiers may witness your heroic deeds?"

"Permission granted."

Li Yao concluded the conversation, unfurling his wings and leaping into the air. Summoning his recently acquired Black Horn Dragon Mount, he spearheaded the charge.

Such is the hallmark of a commander in the Old Gods: leading the charge, the vanguard of the entire army.

"Divine Guard Army, follow the Lord!"

Fifteen thousand of Li Yao’s personal guard surged forward behind him, tightly following as they advanced toward the front line.

At full speed, they arrived within fifteen minutes. Countless figures parted to make way for them, allowing the Divine Guard Army to storm through.

Their first sight was of two vast armies clashing—endless chaos on the battlefield. Numerous player armies surrounded a powerful undead force, battling fiercely. Yet this particular undead army swept through all opposition. With two fearsome leaders at its helm, no one could withstand them. The players had already descended into a blood frenzy—after all, these highly coveted missions had unexpectedly unleashed such formidable opponents...