Devouring World Dragon

Chapter 160 A Turning Point in Fate (Happy New Year)
(I think I'm crazy to be writing during the Lunar New Year... I'll just update once a week during the holiday, since everyone's celebrating and nobody's reading novels.)
However, reality ultimately slapped this noble general in the face; a few days later…

Baron Bertrand!

The noble general, who was resting in his tent, heard panicked noises outside. Then, a servant rushed into his tent and shook him violently, which jolted him awake.

"Has the British attacked?"

Looking at the servant in front of him, an ominous thought suddenly flashed through his mind: Could it be that the British had discovered them and launched a surprise attack?
"No, no..."

"What are those rangers doing?" he thought angrily. He abruptly stood up, no longer listening to his attendants, and didn't even have time to put on his armor. He only had time to grab his weapon before rushing out of the tent.

Then... looking at the scene before him, he was stunned.

Because the country girl he secretly called a "pretty face" was in the center of the camp, surrounded by many soldiers, receiving a kneeling salute from another unknown knight.

“Holy Maiden of Lorraine, in the name of De Oron, I am willing to join the King’s army that you lead.”

The knight spoke earnestly to the country girl.

"what's going on?"

The baron was lost in thought until his attendant caught up with him, at which point he learned what had happened.

The knight had heard about the deeds of the Saint of Lorraine and then tried to lead his hundred-plus cavalry and infantry to join the king's army to save Orleans from the siege of the English.

Upon hearing this news, even Bertrand was surprised. A hundred or so infantrymen were nothing, but the considerable number of cavalry mixed in among them was a force not to be underestimated. This typical noble lord usually had difficulty even mobilizing the crown prince, but this country girl was actually able to mobilize him.
Even in the face of such a pleasant surprise, the country girl did not show any particular joy, but simply said happily.

"God will help us to victory."

As she spoke, she clenched her hands and began to pray devoutly. Looking at the country girl, Bertrand couldn't help but reconsider her worth.

"Although she's just a country girl, maybe she really can rally some troops and play a role?"

Bertrand seemed to be deep in thought...

But the reality was far beyond his imagination. In the following days, gentry, nobles, and even peasants from all over France spontaneously joined the king's army. Some joined by hundreds of people, others by a dozen. People could be seen joining the army four or five times a day.

After marching for more than twenty days, this force of seven or eight hundred men not only did not suffer any losses, but instead continued to expand, with its number growing to more than two thousand. This does not include some troops that were politely declined due to inadequate equipment. Only now does this force truly resemble an army.

The doubts and worries that existed in the generals' hearts about Jeanne also faded away. At least, this army was formed under the call of this Saintess of Lorraine. Without this Saintess of Lorraine, probably no one would be confident that they could win with only seven or eight hundred people. More than two thousand people, on the other hand, had some weight to them.

As for Jeanne, she didn't sense anything was wrong.

For her, following God's will, going to Orleans, and then achieving victory was that simple.

……

On the afternoon of April 25, under a clear blue sky, the army finally reached Orleans... the frontline city that was desperately resisting the English army.

It was a vast city far beyond Jeanne's imagination, straddling the Loire River and dominating the largest river in France with its overwhelming grandeur. Its sturdy walls and numerous ships firmly guarded the front line of the Anglo-French war.

It was like a steel nail stuck there, preventing the British from sleeping soundly until it was removed, and thus preventing them from marching south and annexing the whole of France.

This was a war that would determine the fate of all of France; the survival of France, and even the fate of the entire world, would be decided in this war.

With the fall of Orléans, the King of England would take over France, his power shaking the entire continent. From then on, even the Holy Roman Emperor would have to heed the voice of this strongest nation in Europe. After that, the Renaissance, maritime supremacy... the fate of countless nations, and even the entire world, would be changed.

Without a doubt, this was a turning point in the fate of humanity.

In the heavens, the gods watched the battle from above, remaining silent.

Meanwhile, on the seabed, a dark figure on a cold throne rested his hand on his forehead, gazing leisurely at everything on the ground.

At that moment, the mortals were completely unaware of this. To them, it was merely a power struggle between two kingdoms on earth, and they were oblivious to the far-reaching consequences of this war. Many years later, they were able to truly realize what this war had determined.

On the ground, the generals began to decide to temporarily set up camp outside the city. The British army had been besieging Orleans for a long time, but still had an estimated force of more than 10,000 men. With just over 2,000 men, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock.

"Let's rest first, and then join forces with the city's garrison at dawn the next day." This was the consensus among all the generals. As for the Saintess of Lorraine who was holding the flag?
Letting her be an inspirational figure is fine, but participating in military conferences? Let's not be ridiculous. This was actually Charlie's opinion as well. After all, he wasn't crazy. Although making a country girl the commander-in-chief was already insane, he didn't give Jeanne command authority. Instead, he let the generals command the army.

However, the girl who came solely to rescue Orleans naturally refused to accept this. With Orleans right before her eyes, she couldn't understand why the generals had stopped. For the first time, she had a big argument with the generals and eventually left the military command post in a huff.

"You just need to stay there and do nothing, and the honor will naturally be yours."

The generals looked at the girl with wide eyes and a somewhat childish face and said mockingly.

"Without me, you cannot command this army!"

However, faced with the generals' ridicule, the blushing girl unusually retorted loudly before turning and leaving.

The generals looked at each other, shook their heads, and ignored her.

But not long after, they suddenly heard a deep bugle call outside the tent, along with a cacophony of footsteps and shouts.

"what happened?"

They were greatly surprised and immediately rushed out of the tent to check the situation.

But in the camp, among the many soldiers, a young girl dressed in armor rode a white horse, holding aloft a banner embroidered with irises, and shouted loudly to the soldiers beside her.

"Soldiers! In the name of France, in the name of God, we have arrived in Orléans! Now, follow me! Liberate Orléans!"

That still somewhat immature, high-pitched female voice stood out in the all-male military camp.

But the figure standing on the white horse was exceptionally solemn and sacred, as if an angel had descended to earth.

Without any unnecessary words, Jeanne looked at the soldiers in front of her, waved her flag, and spurred her horse forward, rushing out of the camp. The soldiers who had followed her exchanged glances and then followed suit.

"Ah ah ah ah ah!!!"

The air was filled with the sounds of battle cries. The generals stared in disbelief at the scene, and one of them couldn't help but say something.

"They've gone mad! They've all gone mad!"

But now they were in a bind. The generals gritted their teeth and could only do their best to restrain their soldiers, then follow the mad woman to the city of Orleans.

……

Deep in the ocean, within an ancient temple.

"Hehe, hahahahaha... Interesting, what an interesting mortal."

Gazing at everything on the earth, watching the English and French armies locked in battle, the dark figure on the cold throne couldn't help but laugh.

"Father, should we help those British troops?"

Beside him, the beautiful waitress who had always been silent immediately asked.

The shadowy figure remained noncommittal upon hearing the words of the waiter beside him.

"Help those British troops? Ha, Mona, there's no need for that."

As it spoke, it raised its head and gazed at the distant sky.

"You think that because God helped the French this time, I should help the British to fight against God? You're wrong. This time, I will also help the French and help France achieve victory..."

He spoke in a deep voice, but towards the end, the inexplicable mockery in his voice grew stronger.

"But whose France is this? How interesting, how very interesting... Hahahahahaha..."

(End of this chapter)