The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 774: Volume 23: Rising Winds and Swirling Clouds, - 11: Balancing Power

Chapter 774: Volume 23: Rising Winds and Swirling Clouds, Chapter 11: Balancing Power

Two thousand mountain warriors assembled as promised under Fran’s command, displaying a strength that greatly satisfied Fran. However, for Komer, there were still some issues. The discipline and individual combat abilities of these mountain people were beyond doubt, yet Komer was aware that these mountain people still needed to undergo a change of mindset regarding loyalty. They were no longer merely mountain people, but first and foremost Caucasians, and then mountain people. If they could not understand this truth, the army would never become a force Komer could truly rely on.

Just as Komer had anticipated, although the Sanjia Tribe adopted a strong stance, they were also aware that they did not have much sway over Komer. Consequently, when Komer expressed the possibility of continuing to absorb other mountain tribes into the Caucasus and granting them citizen rights, they seemed helpless. Komer even observed a look of barely perceptible envy in the eyes of the tribe’s chiefs, who strenuously attempted to conceal this sentiment under a facade of anger and dissatisfaction. Without a doubt, this feeling existed, particularly in the eyes of the Gapeng chief, where it was more evident.

It was apparent that the generous and magnanimous conditions Komer offered for the integration of these minor mountain tribes into the Caucasus caused the Sanjia chiefs to feel a sense of loss. Facing the overwhelming strength of the Caucasus, the mountain people had little leverage in negotiations. The formidable and wild force of the Half-beastmen had already submitted to the Caucasus, thus reducing the supposed military might and allure of the mountain people. Now, with these smaller tribes accepting vassalage under the Caucasus’s wing, Komer’s side had gained a significant force, tipping the balance of power even further in favor of the Caucasus.

The chieftains of the Sanjia Tribe were not fools, becoming increasingly aware that once this state of affairs set in, the chances of reversing it were slim to none. Cooperation required a balance of power—only when each side had something to gain from the other would the partnership last. One-sided dependence only risked becoming a dispensable vassal.

In dealing with several smaller tribes requesting fealty, Komer exhibited extraordinary decorum. It seemed as if the previous integration of several small tribes had already adequately met the labor requirements of the Caucasus. The external pressures also appeared to make Komer slightly hesitant, leaving the smaller tribes eager for the same citizen rights as their compatriot tribes increasingly anxious. After assurance through various formal gestures, Komer eventually signed the treaties allowing these tribes to join, at a great cost to them, as they too were required to surrender their fiercest warriors to become part of the Caucasus army.

The count of mountain warriors had reached the expected number of thirty-five hundred for Komer and Fran. A significant portion of these fighters had been conscripted in previous campaigns against southern nations dominated by Mortals and had considerable combat experience, which was crucial for a newly established army. Yet, more urgently, Komer believed it necessary to resolve their loyalty issues and make clear to these mountain people who their true master was.

Seven infantry squares densely arrayed in the wilderness, a hastily erected inspection platform, although crude, exuded a rough and rugged style. The bear head emblem of the Lord’s flag fluttered in the wind at the front of the platform. The selected Half-beastman guard soldiers stood with chests puffed and bellies out; their dark iron armor looked exceptionally imposing. At such times, each Half-beastman warrior wanted to demonstrate their bravery to the new mountain soldier recruits, their fierce and resolute demeanor distinguishing them from their mountain counterparts ahead.

Behind the Half-beastman Guards was a corps of evenly proportioned, handsome Half-Elf Archers—among the elite of the Lord’s Guard. These Half-Elves of immigrant origin were natural-born archers. Having undergone prolonged training and refinement, they excelled not only in archery but, more importantly, in discipline and conduct, having fully matured into a formidable military force. Komer’s appreciation for this group ran even deeper than for the Half-beastman Guards. While training a competent Half-beastman warrior was hard enough, crafting a skilled crossbowman was even more challenging. To cultivate a disciplined and uniform archer corps was an even greater feat, and undoubtedly, this guard troop in front of him possessed that level of combat proficiency.

Komer had a particular fondness for establishing a Half-Elf Archer troop. Mortals’ inherent talent for combat paled in comparison to the distinctive traits of other races such as the Half-beastmen, Barbarians, or Dwarves—especially in regions like the Caucasus, where Mortals were not a majority. This was even more evident. Half-Elves, who were closest in customs and physical appearance to Mortals, were undoubtedly the best substitutes, particularly since they also shared the advantages of the Elf Clan, with their dexterity and gift for the more skill-reliant craft of bow and arrow marksmanship. However, forming such an army required considerable resources. Initially, Komer only set up this unit within his own Lord’s Guard, but as circumstances improved, he began to establish them within the Caucasus Self-Defense Forces as well. The archer contingent he brought was the elite of the elite, and their presence spoke volumes.

The impact of the Lord’s Guard tactical drill performance was astonishing. The Half-beast Army’s excellent display during infantry formation changes, single combat drills, and small unit assault charges greatly shook the old Barbarian veterans, who had a considerable bias against the Half-beasts. In their eyes, the Half-beasts, who were once considered a disorganized rabble, had transformed into an army that could be called elite. For the Barbarian Warriors, this undoubtedly sounded an alarm bell, and they had to ask themselves if they were truly on the same level as their counterparts now. If they didn’t give their all in future training, they feared they might be marginalized to the point of becoming dispensable supporting characters.

If the Half-beastman Guard posed a psychological pressure, then the Half-elf Crossbowman unit brought a psychological impact. The Barbarian Warriors had never imagined that this seemingly frail group of Half-elf Crossbowmen could, when united, unleash such formidable lethality. Every time the command flag pointed in a certain direction and shouted a distance, the Crossbowmen could cover that area with dense volleys of arrows in a matter of seconds. Seeing the arrows in the sky, reminiscent of swarming locusts, swiftly changing direction with the flag bearer, even the fearlessly proud Barbarian Warriors felt a different kind of unease. They weighed the potential cost of attempting to break through the distance and charge into the enemy’s formation - a question that lingered in the minds of the old Barbarian veterans.

Naturally, the last to appear was Komer’s trump card—the Mage Corps. The power of the Mage Corps can be said to be Komer’s strongest support in balancing the Half-beastman Armaments. In fact, from the beginning, when Komer realized the special racial composition ratio in his territory, he contemplated a question: Forming an armed force that would inevitably be predominantly Half-beastman was an unavoidable reality. Controlling this power could indeed be achieved by strengthening the loyalty of the Half-beastmen and developing a cadre of middle to senior officers dominated by Mortals. However, without a force entirely his own to balance power, he never felt entirely reassured. This was the enlightenment behind Komer’s determination to establish his own Mage Corps right from the start.

However, recruiting magicians was quite difficult because of Caucasus’ unique geographical location and lack of funds, making it unattractive to any magician. This problem was only slightly mitigated after the arrivals of Rebry, Mihailovich, and Newman, though it was still far from forming a truly formidable Mage Corps. The real formation of the Mage Corps did not take shape until after the ambush in the Great Greenland Forest had ended.

The main forces of the Homer Mage Corps had collapsed in that battle, and although the remaining magicians tried to maintain their self-respect and professional ethics, they couldn’t hold out for long in front of Komer, who wasn’t particular about means. After Komer promised not to send them to the front lines against Homer and demonstrated the generous experimental conditions that Caucasus provided for the magicians, they eventually agreed to serve Caucasus. Of course, they needed to hide for a period of time to avoid the eyes of the Homer side, and Komer generously gave them a half-year break as a vacation.

Had it not been for the sudden attack of the Religious Court, Komer’s Mage Corps would have been formed according to the original plan much earlier. But when Komer decided no longer to hide, establishing his own Mage Corps became the first order of business. Magicians respect their promises more than their own dignity; in their hearts, a magic practitioner who disregards his word can never truly succeed in the art of magic. A person who can’t even keep a promise to themselves doesn’t deserve to be a magician.

Clarence, Deravade, Sheferley, and Delbanuo, who returned as promised, did not disappoint Komer. These four magicians, formerly part of the main force of the Homer Mage Corps with varying strengths, now became the leading figures of the Caucasian Mage Corps. Adding the semi-resident Mihailovich and Newman, as well as Komer himself, the Caucasian Mage Corps was fully established.

(To be continued. To find out what happens next, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM. More Chapters available, support the author, support authorized reading!)