MMORPG: War God, You are Invincible Again
Chapter 598 - 86: Perilous Situation

Chapter 598: Chapter 86: Perilous Situation

Under Nuoshan’s strategic maneuvers, the Northern Realm’s plans were thoroughly disrupted. Coupled with the covert assistance from the Bai family, the new leader of the Northern Frontier finally decided to abandon the response to Dongsheng and chose to continue lying low.

As for Dongsheng... words fail.

The arrangement of the Underworld in Dongsheng was meticulous; the occupied planes formed a solid blockade line, sealing off all possible methods of entering the Dongsheng plane, with their murderous intent toward Liu Donglin evident.

Konstantin mobilized a large army and launched a fierce attack on the planes occupied by the Underworld from three directions, yet the well-prepared Underworld army easily blocked the Empire’s forces. Compared to the ferocity of the Beastman Empire, the methods of the Underworld were truly cunning.

The Underworld army, having set up defenses in advance, unleashed an endless array of tactics, and their sinister and strange beings caught the opponent off guard, leaving them powerless to retaliate.

Sending troops to their deaths was not a good solution to the Dongsheng issue. Upon receiving the reports of casualties from the front lines, Konstantin decisively chose to temporarily halt the attack, waiting for the right opportunity.

He then ordered people to tirelessly search the empire’s archives for historical records about the Underworld, hoping to find a way to counter the Underworld’s tactics, but unfortunately, there were almost no records of the war against the Underworld, leaving the situation in Dongsheng at a stalemate.

Two days later, reinforcements from the Holy Court arrived in Dongsheng, and in coordination with the three-way alliance army, launched another attack on the Underworld. This time, after paying a heavy price, they finally broke through to the Dongsheng plane.

However, the alliance commander, Su Mo, ordered the army to halt and guard the breach, not advancing further.

This move was criticized by everyone in the empire, accusing the commander from the Snowy Region of abandoning them and even orchestrating a plot against them.

Numerous courtiers requested Konstantin to dismiss this commander from the Snowy Region and replace the overall commander to send troops to Dongsheng as swiftly as possible to rescue Liu Donglin.

In response, Konstantin did not approve any requests but stayed up all night in his study, trying to ascertain whether the breach in the defensive line was intentionally made by the Underworld or if it had indeed been breached by the alliance forces.

Two days later, after carefully comparing the subsequent deployments and defenses of the Underworld army, it seemed not to be a deliberate strategy by the Underworld.

At this point, Konstantin connected with Bu Sheng.

"Your Majesty Konstantin, what do you need?"

Konstantin pointed to the densely drawn map of the Dongsheng plane behind him and said, "Great Emperor Bu Sheng, this breach was not a plot by the Underworld. We must dispatch troops to Dongsheng quickly while the breach has not been reclaimed by the Underworld, to rescue Liu Donglin."

From the moment the magic visual communication was connected, Bu Sheng understood Konstantin’s purpose and showed no surprise after hearing Konstantin’s conclusion. He calmly replied, "Your Majesty Konstantin, I agree with your analysis thoroughly, but I also trust the alliance commander I recommended; Su Mo is a military genius. There must be a reason for his reluctance to send reinforcements to Dongsheng. As the saying goes, ’Use the capable without doubt, doubt not the used.’ I trust him, and I ask that Your Majesty trust him as well!"

"But now, everybody in the empire is criticizing Su Mo for plotting against us and weakening the strength of our human race. What do you think of this, Great Emperor Bu Sheng?" Konstantin understood the other’s intention, which was clearly a refusal to replace the commander or pressure Su Mo to deploy troops to Dongsheng.

Bu Sheng reiterated, "As I said, the Snowy Region and the Holy Divine Empire are allied. I, Bu Sheng, will never disrupt our alliance or conspire against the empire before the alliance is dissolved."

Konstantin gazed deeply at Bu Sheng, then looked down and said, "I trust you."

He then ended the communication.

After a long while, Konstantin dismissed all the petitions from the courtiers and refused to replace the alliance commander.

At this moment, far in the second town of the Northern Frontier, Lu Hong was earnestly learning from Nuoshan, carefully listening to Nuoshan’s analysis of the current situation in Dongsheng.

"From the Underworld’s troop deployment, it seems they truly did not expect the alliance to break through the blockade and open up a gap, which is why they keep reinforcing the breach, trying to drive the alliance out."

"Why then is the commander Su Mo so hesitant to deploy troops?"

Nuoshan looked at the regional map and said, "He’s gambling!"

"Gambling?"

"Yes, Su Mo is gambling on whether the enemy is harboring the mentality of luring the alliance close to Dongsheng, only to block the gap again and completely annihilate the alliance."

"But according to your analysis, the Underworld didn’t expect the breach to be opened either, right?"

"That’s why it’s a gamble!" Nuoshan said irritably as he hit Lu Hong’s head with his cane.

The beaten Lu Hong retorted discontentedly, "You’re over a hundred years young and still using a cane!"

"It’s to conceal your identity. If others see my rejuvenated appearance, they’ll investigate its cause. If they trace it back to you, you’re not going to have an easy time. This kind of defiance of nature’s method is something many hidden powers want to gain; once the news spreads, you’ll have no peace."

Understanding Nuoshan’s protective attitude towards him, Lu Hong calmed down and quickly changed the subject, "So, do you think Su Mo will eventually send troops to Dongsheng?"

"He will," Nuoshan affirmed. "This time, the troops added to Dongsheng from the Snowy Region are less than a third. Most of the alliance forces are from the Sacred Empire, and they must feel discontent with this inaction. Su Mo can use his position as Marshal to suppress them temporarily, but not forever. If Su Mo continuously refuses to send troops, those soldiers under the Sacred Empire might revolt and act independently to reinforce Dongsheng."

"Alright, can I go to Dongsheng to help?"

Lu Hong tentatively asked.

As soon as he spoke, Nuoshan hit him again with the cane, "Go to hell. There’s no imminent risk of chaos in the Northern Frontier, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be forever. Tomorrow, you’ll lead troops to harass those Underworld forces. You can’t add to the chaos at this critical juncture."

"Alright." Lu Hong was quite regretful, but Nuoshan’s words were logical, and he couldn’t fault them.

Nuoshan’s prophecy had always been accurate, and indeed, Su Mo could no longer withstand the pressure of the rebellion; two days later, he sent reinforcements from Dongsheng.

With that move, the Netherworld Legion launched an even crazier assault on the allied forces, and suddenly, two major dimensions supporting the allies defected, surrounding the allied forces completely. The two million troops supporting Dongsheng were intercepted by the Netherworld halfway and trapped in the Somu Dimension, while Su Mo himself was besieged in the Lanzang Dimension.

At this point, the Imperial forces in the Dongsheng, Somu, and Lanzang Dimensions, the last that the Empire could muster, were trapped. Once they were eliminated, Dongsheng would have no chance of turning the tide.

Upon receiving the news, Konstantin fainted on the spot, and the courtiers wept bitterly, lamenting why they had not foreseen the Netherworld’s plot, as chaos ensued in the court.

When Lu Hong received the news, he rushed back to the Second Town and pleaded with Nuoshan, hoping he could assist Dongsheng.

"Why would you go? With just over eighty thousand men left from those who were beaten, are you trying to fill gaps between their teeth? Let me tell you, you and your eighty thousand men are not even enough to fill the Netherworld’s gaps. Stay put in the northern territories! Once you leave here, this place will descend into chaos, and the Empire stands to lose much more than just Dongsheng!"

"But, but, we can’t just watch, can we?"

"Wait!" Nuoshan’s eyes closed slightly, his voice grave, "I have already sent messages back to the alliance. The other two Dukes will reconvene the alliance council to discuss support for the Empire. Now, the last chance is to wait for additional troops from the Eagle Alliance, but..."

"But what?" Lu Hong asked anxiously.

"But the alliance itself is also struggling. The day before yesterday, I received a message from Xin Lei that Lei Shan’s old factions began to cause trouble within their borders, capturing a significant number of dimensions. It’s still unclear whether we can draw troops from the alliance to support the Empire."

Lu Hong spread his hands with a bitter smile, "So it’s GG?"

"What does GG mean?"

"Don’t worry about it, isn’t there any way at all?"

"There is!"

"Then speak up, hurry and tell Konstantin!"

"He knows too," Nuoshan said, "It’s simple. The only troops the Empire can still mobilize are the two million stationed defending the Ji Mo Abyss. Additionally, near the border of Snowy Region and the Beastman Territory, there are nearly four million soldiers. If these troops are reassigned to the Dongsheng battlefield, solving this predicament isn’t difficult."

Lu Hong immediately saw the key issue, "But if we pull these forces, Tai’e would definitely not miss the chance to take back the Ji Mo Abyss."

"Yes, Dongsheng must not be lost, and Ji Mo Abyss must not be lost either. The Netherworld must have chosen this time to wage war in Dongsheng precisely because of this."

"It would be great if we could still call up troops." Lu Hong’s mind spun rapidly, then he asked, "Are there any other dimensions where we can call up troops?"

"Not many, and mustering scattered miscellaneous troops would hardly coordinate well. On the battlefield, they would essentially be cannon fodder, hardly effective unless..."

"Unless what?"

Under Lu Hong’s pressing, Duke Nuoshan pointed towards a corner of the territory map—a slender group of dimensions called Calan Lane!

"Calan Lane?!" Lu Hong was taken aback, then realized. Calan Lane’s thirteen paths, each Hall Master was near or above demigod status, and numerous free warriors trained within their temples. If he could unite them, there wouldn’t even be a need for tactical formations, simply an all-out charge by the fully Third Transition members— who could withstand such an assault?

"I’ve heard legends about Calan Lane, if it really is as the legends describe, and we could persuade them to act, the Netherworld problem could be easily solved."

"I know Calan Lane well, I’ll find a way!" Lu Hong quickly showed Nuoshan the Divine Son command he had received, "Look, I’m still a Divine Son of the Force Temple, I’m definitely confident to persuade them!"

"Really?"

"Really!" Lu Hong nodded.

"Really?"

"Really?" Lu Hong hesitated.

"Really?"

"Rea—really, I guess?"

After Nuoshan’s three consecutive inquiries, Lu Hong became less confident.

"You don’t really have a plan, do you?" Nuoshan bluntly said to Lu Hong, "Rumors say that only those who have passed the ultimate trial of the temple can break the old temple’s ordinance and restore it in Star Sea. You’re just a Divine Son of the Force Temple, you don’t qualify to enter the ultimate trials of other temples, how can you persuade them?"

"I have to try, right?" Lu Hong said unwillingly, "It’s better than sitting around waiting to die."

"Whether you’re waiting to die or not isn’t your decision, Konstantin and Bu Sheng will make that decision. What you need to do is just wait!"

"No, let me try, truly, if it doesn’t work, maybe I can ask for help from Endless Forest. Perhaps if I can persuade the Di Ti Demon Beast, if she leads the demon beast army to reinforce Dongsheng, wouldn’t that work too?"

"Demon Beast?" Nuoshan looked at Lu Hong oddly, "That golden bird that has been killing beasts across all the dimensions?"

"Ah?" Lu Hong was stumped by Nuoshan’s words, wasn’t it agreed to relocate the demon beasts? How did it turn into slaughter?