The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 450: Volume 9: Phantom of the Ancient Castle - 8: Intervention_2

Chapter 450: Volume 9: Phantom of the Ancient Castle Chapter 8: Intervention_2

Komer pondered silently, the situation had deteriorated so rapidly that he felt almost caught off guard. Within no more than a week, Homer’s army would arrive in Mandu.

The rebel forces entrenched in Mandu still numbered over thirty thousand, exceeding the invading Homer’s army by tenfold. However, these rebels had been terrified by the fierce and brutal display of Homer’s army in Banassia, and their morale was low. Had they any other choice, they might well have resumed their flight.

To defeat this invading foe, they first needed to boost the morale of these rebel forces, and then use their overwhelming numerical advantage to break through Homer’s army. Of course, this would also require disrupting the enemy’s formation and shattering their morale, for which the assistance of the mages and Dark Knights standing beside him was necessary.

"Maha Gummi, contact their chiefs immediately and demand they hand over all command to us. We’ll take charge of this battle." Although aware of the risk this posed to exposing their own position, Komer could not afford to worry about such things now.

If they did not intervene, this rabble would undoubtedly collapse without a doubt. Not only might Homer’s army use the stabilized situation in Leon as a springboard to advance toward Caucasus, but the swarm of fleeing slaves would also provide Homer’s army with the perfect pretext to march on Caucasus.

"No problem, they’ve lost direction and hope we take over. My subordinate and I will contact them immediately." Maha Gummi’s face shone with excitement, clearly hoping that Caucasus would take over. To witness those detested aristocratic mine owners strut proudly on this land again was something Maha Gummi was unwilling to see.

When Komer and his entourage appeared before a group of rebel leaders, the so-called rebel chiefs immediately felt the pressure they brought with them.

This oppression was so intense that for a moment, they almost felt unable to breathe, staring in dismay at the newcomers. The rebels then courteously stepped forward to pay their respects to the guests with the most honorable etiquette, any previous doubts having long since vanished.

The number of rebels entrenched in the Mandu region amounted to more than thirty-six thousand, making it the largest rebel force in the Leon region. Most of them were Half-beastmen or those of mixed heritage with Half-beastmen blood, and, of course, there was also a significant portion of Mortals.

Komer’s gaze slowly swept over the faces of those standing before him, chilling several Half-beastmen and Mortals to the bone.

The man who covered his face with a scarf, showing only his eyes, exuded an aura that clearly indicated a birthright of nobility. This instinctively made these rebel leaders, accustomed to being deemed inferior by Mortal nobility, fight the urge to kneel. Behind him, the guests whose faces were also tightly wrapped in scarves showed no regard for the people before them; their disdainful gazes were even more unbearable than that of the unmistakably Noble guest.

"Mr. Woodhardt, Mr. Bovary, Mr. Sora, Mr. Mizari, these are the distinguished guests from Caucasus you’ve been long awaiting," said Maha Gummi cleverly, without revealing the identities of the people present. In the current uncertain situation, Komer also preferred to maintain the necessary secrecy to avoid any potential future troubles that might arise.

"Honored guests, thank you for your arrival. We need your help. Your presence will bring us good fortune. Please, take a seat over here." Seeing the Half-Beastmen who seemed somewhat uncomfortable and out of their element in the face of the other’s imposing presence, the only Mortal among the four stepped forward to express their side’s goodwill in the most respectful tone possible.

This was probably the Manor of a Noble Mine Owner in the Mandu Suburb. The Reception Hall was spacious, the Peach Wood Furniture looked brand new but lacked substance, and the Antique shelf was empty, suggesting that due to the urgency of the war, no one had the mind to consider anything else. The makeshift militia had no choice but to use this place to entertain their guests.

"Gentlemen, I believe our objectives are aligned. How to defeat Homer’s Army is a common wish we all share, but I’m afraid everyone is aware of the situation in Banassia. It’s not about diminishing our own prestige or boosting the enemy’s morale. Our armed forces lack training, and although we have an army of over thirty thousand, vastly outnumbering the enemy, the sad truth is that the majority of these people don’t even have proper Weapons and Armor, none have undergone formal Military Training. Pitting such an ill-prepared force against Homer’s Army, who have had years of formal training, we stand no chance. In fact, we may suffer an even more disastrous defeat than the one in Banassia."

Komer had no interest in further pleasantries. With Homer’s Army bearing down, it was crucial to immediately reorganize this civilian armed force. Getting ten thousand men out of the thirty thousand-plus would already be pushing the limits, and these ten thousand would be the decisive factor in the defense of Mandu.

"Sir, aren’t you being a bit alarmist? We’ve heard that Homer’s Army, which is advancing south to invade Mandu, only consists of three thousand troops. Are you telling me we can’t defeat them with a force ten times their size?" The Half-Beast Chief called Mizari clearly took offense at Komer’s belittling of their fighting strength and asked indignantly.

"Mr. Mizari, it is not my intention to alarm unduly. In the battle at Banassia, an armed force of twenty thousand collapsed in less than an hour—a situation you’re probably well aware of. You should also understand your Soldiers; they lack Weapons and Armor, have had no regular Training, and have never experienced a Magic Attack. A few simple Magic Attacks can throw them into utter disarray, and when you add on the charge of the enemy’s Regular Army, just how long do you think your thirty thousand can hold out?"

A trace of scornful sneer curled at Komer’s lips as he struck directly at their weakness.

The word ’Mage’ brought silence over the assembled militia leaders, including Bovary, as it hit on their greatest vulnerability, which even they had to acknowledge. Half-Beastmen instinctively feared those natural forces, considering them to be divine Punishments. Mages, who could wield natural forces at will, were seen as messengers of the gods.

The psychological impact of such Magic Attacks often far exceeded the physical harm they caused, especially in large-scale military engagements like this. They were well aware of their own weaknesses.

Clearly, in the Battle of Banassia, Homer’s Army had employed Magic Attacks. The retreating survivors had recounted that before they could even mount a formal attack, lightning had rained down from the sky, and mud-formed giants had swallowed up the Half-beast soldiers. This visual shock alone was enough to rout their own army, and their hasty retreat had been chased by Homer’s Army, which merely played the role of a battlefield cleaner.

Seeing the Half-Beast Chiefs hanging their heads, Komer knew he had hit them where it hurt and decided to press the point. "Gentlemen, it’s not that I don’t believe in you, but this battle is of utmost importance and we cannot afford even the slightest oversight. If we fail, perhaps we might slap our backsides and flee back to the Caucasus, but what of you and the tens of thousands of slaves who have just been freed? We can only afford victory in this battle! The gentlemen behind me will help you and your Soldiers understand in these coming days what real war is, what real warriors are, and they will also give your Soldiers a taste of Magic so they won’t lose their footing in the imminent war."