Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 437, Section 46. I have the stubborn bronze-level Anvina, capable of slaying swarms of arrogant queens - Bonus Chapter [25]

(Bonus chapter for "konstanzzz" [2/5])
In the royal palace located within the largest sacred tree, "Hikvis," on the Mantis Plateau, the Mantis Queen "Shakhir," who had secretly arrived a few days prior, was examining a military map.

On a magical sand table made of luxurious golden transparent amber, the Mantis's advance direction is clearly indicated by lifelike little soldiers, while the eloquent royal prime minister Zorlock acts as an interpreter, guiding the Great Queen.

"Your Majesty, your army has already entered Kun-Lai Summit!"
As your grand strategy has indicated, the Pandaren monks of the Temple of the White Tiger have just fought a fierce battle against the Mogu undead. Our warriors observed that the scale of their engagement was terrifying, the largest confrontation to take place in the Kun-Lai Summit in thousands of years.

Although the Mogu undead were repelled, the Pandaren and their troll allies also suffered heavy casualties.

They were exhausted.

Just as you wisely predicted, faced with the surprise attack of your incredibly valiant mantis army, they were utterly unable to offer any effective resistance!

Royal Chancellor Zorlock reported in a fawning voice:
"Your valiant 'Windlord Melgalak' has led the Windrider Warriors to sweep across the Pandaren's territory, our vanguard is besieging the gates of the Temple of the White Tiger, and the unparalleled swordsmanship of 'Blade Lord' Tayak has personally led your Royal Guards into the poorly defended Shado-Pan Monastery."

That arrogant royal swordsman's only goal was the head of Zhu Talan, the Pandaren military commander!

Once we capture these two places, Kun Lai Mountain will be ours forever.

Your reputation for victory has reached unprecedented heights; even the most stubborn elders must show you respect in the face of this magnificent triumph!

This Grand Chancellor was of noble birth, possessing the most elite bloodline among the Mantis.

It was the biological extension of a powerful swarm of insects that survived countless great cycles of survival of the fittest every hundred years, which gave this "civil official" prime minister a physique far superior to that of an ordinary mantis warrior.

It has a pair of large, bright blue eyes, which are quite rare among mantises.

Of course, that's due to their special compound eye structure, which gives mantises exceptional dynamic vision and lightning-fast reflexes.

The vizier's body was gray and looked mysterious. He wore a set of luxurious armor made of Kepa amber and metal, which was a unique armor designed by the mantids to fit their insect limbs perfectly.

As a symbol of his status as Grand Chancellor, Zorlock also had a special device on his back that resembled a "solar corona".

It is fixed with a sonic crystal, which allows the Grand Chancellor to use mysterious sonic energy to shatter the internal organs of his opponents.

This is also a unique ability that has been passed down through generations of its lineage.

Despite his immense power, and even being considered by the Klaxxi Elders at birth to have the potential to become a "hero," he was irresistibly drawn to the Great Queen's royal pheromones and became her loyal subject.

Well, here I'll briefly explain the political system of the Mantis.

After their race split from the fall of the Aqir Empire and gained independence, the Mantid High Queen and their Klaxxi Elder Order became the two poles of power within the Swarm.

The queen's royal pheromones make them indispensable leaders in shaping unity and passing on the mantid horde.

Without them, mantids cannot reproduce at the right time and on the right scale, and the newly born, fragile "aggregate insects" will wander aimlessly without guidance, unable to properly integrate into the unique social operation of the mantids.

If this continues, the race will decline or perish.

The Klaxxi Elders are responsible for spreading the doctrine of "Domination" within the Mantid, maintaining the ruthless tradition of the Great Cycle, eliminating the weak through war, and making the Mantid civilization stronger with each generation.

The Elders' advantage lies in the fact that they select and appoint the most destructive "heroes," and only they can master the secret technique of sealing heroes in Kepa amber to resist the erosion of time.

The power struggle between the two has always been a hidden thread in the Mantis civilization. Historically, there have been instances where a Great Queen successfully subdued stubborn elders to serve the monarchy, but most of the time, the elder cult was able to limit the Great Queen's power.

If it were just a restriction, that would be fine.

Royal power needs checks and balances, but the problem is that the Presbyterian Church also has the power to "depose and install empresses".

They stubbornly believe that when the queen grows old and weak, she should abdicate and allow a stronger female to ascend the throne so that the mantid can prosper forever. The current Great Queen Shakhir received the crown from her power-hungry mother with the support of the elders.

Shakshir feared that she would become such a victim in the future. Like all the great empresses, she had personally "eaten" her mother under the watchful eyes of the elders in order to give birth to the organ that could manipulate the king's pheromones.

The succession of the Mantid royal power is so brutal, and only one queen in each generation of Mantid can possess the "King Pheromones".

This is the law of the swarm.

Therefore, like other great empresses in history, Shakhir began plotting against the Elders the moment she ascended the throne.

This was originally hopeless, after all, the loyal subjects left by her mother's generation had just been purged by the elders, but the sudden change in Pandaria has given Shakhir an opportunity that no other great queen has ever had.

If she can command her army to seize the strategic location of Kun-Lai Summit and completely extend the Mantid's sphere of influence beyond the Dragon Ridge to occupy the core area of ​​the continent, her formidable martial prowess will surpass that of all previous empresses, allowing her to seize military power in her prime.

That way, when those immortal elders prepare to make a move against me, I won't end up like my mother, suffering a miserable fate.

“Very good. I am very confident in entrusting the battlefield to my skilled generals.”

The Great Queen Shakshir's delicate, butterfly-like tentacles fluttered behind her head.

As a noble queen, the price of possessing the king's pheromones is that her wings have degenerated, preventing her from flying freely like other mantids. However, as a biological compensation, the Great Queen possesses "four legs," which other mantids do not have.

This is unique among mantids.

It is said to be a "symbol" of the ancient insectoid swarm of the Aqir Empire, and also the most ancient and purest bloodline among the Mantid, indeed bearing some resemblance to the Qiraji of Silithus.

The Great Queen wore a rather unique gold ornament over her large eyes; it was her crown.

She doesn't actually know much about military affairs, but she knows how to take advice.

The current tactic was devised by the most elite tactical masters of the Mantis Empire, so there's no reason for her to add any personal "wild ideas".

Then, she spoke in the unique vibrato of a queen:

"But the Mantis Plateau's army is almost entirely mobilized, leaving our rear vulnerable. I think we should strengthen our defenses here and gradually relocate our ruling core from the Dread Wastes to the Mantis Plateau."

The ancient royal palace filled me with a sense of oppression; it seemed as if the ghosts of countless empresses were wandering there.

"Ah, don't worry, my dear Queen. I have brought the giant insect Galaron that guards the palace to the Hecvice Palace as you commanded. You are very safe here. The powerful General Parvalak is also leading his elite troops to guard your residence."

If anything changes here, I will personally escort you back to the safer wasteland of fear.

Unfortunately, we should have had more elite forces committed to this battle that would decide the fate of the Mantis!
However, those old fogies were unwilling to let their heroes participate in the war. They stubbornly clung to the tradition of the "Great Cycle," believing that only a once-in-a-century invasion could make our race strong.

But as it turns out, it's only through occasional surprise that the pandas are caught off guard.

The royal prime minister brought up the topic, causing the Queen to fall silent. After a moment, she sighed insincerely and said:
"The elders are also thinking about the prosperity of our people, but they are too old. The long period of amber slumber has affected their wisdom. I am not emphasizing objectivity, but if the Great Queen has to take turns in power at fixed times, then why has the Klaxxi Elders been able to hold power from ancient times to the present?"

Especially after 'Supreme' Kolfan invented the secret technique of amber rebirth, why can our bravest warriors enjoy such privileges, while the Great Queen, as the symbol of the race, has to face the erosion of time?

This is so unfair.

"Yes, this is so unfair!"

The royal prime minister said with a sneer:
"You need not be saddened by this, my beloved Queen. When you have won the hearts of the people with an irrefutable victory, and when all the Mantid warriors stand on our side, you too will have your own 'Royal Heroes'!"
We no longer need to be beholden to the Elders.

They have been secretly collecting fragments of the Overlord's power. I heard that they recently reclaimed the power of the Bewildering Fiend, so we now have five fragments.

Once you obtain the last two pieces, the Overlord will be resurrected under your personal guidance, and at that time, the mighty Y'Shaarj will bestow the entire world upon the Mantid.

And you!

Great and immortal Shakshir, you will become the mistress of the whole world.

The elders' corrupt rule must end. They sensed a threat, and I heard they were attempting a vile 'palace assassination.'

"Ha, let those ungrateful heroes come!"

The Great Queen, with her four overly delicate and no longer capable of fighting claws, crossed them in an elegant and graceful gesture, and uttered a buzzing sound like an insect, saying:

"I'm not the first empress they assassinated. So what if I have royal pheromones? I'm just a puppet in the eyes of the elders."

If I disobey, they will kill me, hand my corpse over to my sisters to devour, and then promote them to the throne.

My loyal Zorlock, this invasion is my last stand.

Win or lose!
They either die by the assassination blades of the elders.

"If I fail, you will follow the next Great Empress."

"You must have confidence, Your Majesty."

The royal prime minister was truly loyal; he encouraged his mistress, saying:

"The young but talented Amber Shaper, Lord Angshuk, is close to unlocking the secrets of 'Amber Regeneration,' a secret project left by your mother. Once we master this core technology, countless Mantis warriors will be willing to fight for you."

I promised your mother that I would fulfill her last wish!

The Mantid grow ever more elite and deadly in the cruel cycle of reincarnation, while our politics become ever more corrupt. The Swarm must be reformed, and you are the courageous pioneer. Do not be ashamed of your ambition; it is the Queen's prerogative.

------

How many games have you won recently?

On Sunrise Peak of Kun-Lai Summit, Diakum, who was preparing to begin the Shadow Chase ritual with Saloras, casually asked a question. The "Sunwell Ghost" and "Blade Runner Intern" Anveena, floating in the light beside him, scratched their heads somewhat awkwardly.

Having Kael'thas's wise face, yet making such foolish moves made her look quite conflicted, but in the end she sighed and whispered:
"As per your request, I conducted simulated battles with some of the most skilled commanders on the Eastern Continent. We won 7 against the humans, 9 against the dwarves, and 12 against the high elves."

"Ok?"

Diakum looked at Anvina with surprise and said:
"It's been so many days. Even if you only play ten simulation matches a day, you should have accumulated hundreds of matches by now. How come your win rate is less than 10%? Have you been slacking off?"

"No, I do post-match reviews every day, okay?"

Anvina panicked and shouted:
You may doubt my abilities, but you cannot doubt my attitude!

I know how heavy the responsibility on my shoulders is; I'm not joking when it comes to protecting Mother Earth.

but.
Sigh, I still have to start by learning the most basic troop deployment. I have to set aside some time every day to study officer courses at Windrunner's Tower, and occasionally I have to audit some classes at the military district in Ironforge.

Fortunately, Marshal Losa is a good man.

He would help me review the lessons and teach me step by step how to understand those complex tactics and strategic concepts.

I feel like I'm settling down!

Maybe my win rate will improve after a while!

"But the problem is that there isn't much time for you to practice slowly now. Right now, there's a real battle for you. The Mantid army has stormed into Kun-Lai Summit with lightning speed. The enemy has a master strategist who timed their attack perfectly, leaving the exhausted Pandaren and the Celestials somewhat overwhelmed."

We need to send a swarm of Zerg to support their defenses.

Diakum summoned Twilight's Hammer and, with Saloras's assistance, slashed the hammer down, opening a cold, ethereal rift that connected with the rifts previously shared by the Twinworld Walkers, forming a temporary "Stargate."

General Staghelm, carrying his Entropy Scythe and Qiraji Slayer Greatsword, was the first to approach, followed closely by the other Shadow Hunters.

The number of people who came this time was not large, but judging from their demeanor, these Shadow Hunters were all elites.

"You can't keep working in isolation forever. Simulated combat only lets you become familiar with the intricacies of troop deployment and gives you a general view of the battlefield. However, real war is different from simulation."

Diakum said to Anvina, who looked guilty and clearly lacked confidence due to her poor win rate in qualifying:

"Don't look so sad. Considering your novice level, the Shadow Chasing Insect Swarm has prepared a high-level army for you that you don't need to manage or develop. We've also specially eliminated the ethereal aura of these insects so that their long-term presence in the material world won't affect the ecology here."

All you need to do is command them to break through the mantis's offensive.

But you should be aware that this is a long battle.

The vigilant explained:

"My strategic goal is to completely take over the Mantid's legacy after this battle by swarming them, so you may need to fight several battles to achieve victory."

"Um, can I ask for 'outside help'?"

Anvina whispered:

“I’ve noticed that when Lothar and his men go to the battlefield, they always have a lot of marching advisors. Kael’thas also told me that there are many unexpected situations on the battlefield, and no matter how wise the commander is, he can’t possibly handle all of them.”

correct!

I even spoke with Garrod Shadowsong, the commander of the anti-magic alliance, who told me that he wasn't actually very good at commanding battles; his skills lay more in diplomacy.

He suggested that if I really couldn't grasp the art of command in a short time, I should start with diplomacy.

A commander-in-chief doesn't need to understand military affairs, as long as he has talent in that area under his command.

Haven't you been saying that all along?
If my battlefield is the entire world, then all the outstanding leaders under Mother World can be used by me!

"You believe what Garrod says?"

Dick sighed and said:
"Just take his claim of being 'not good at commanding' with a grain of salt. It's obvious he's being modest. In the Battle of Mount Hyjal, over 100,000 anti-magic alliance soldiers and a mixed army of more than a dozen factions were all commanded flawlessly by Jarod."

His conducting skills even put Losa to shame.

but.
He's right.

Garrod is the kind of commander whose 'diplomatic skills' are maxed out, and his operational capabilities are terrifying.

"Alright, you can call in outside help, but only one, and that person can't participate in swarm command. Not everyone's mind can perfectly align with the swarm's will without being affected."

"Ok!"

Anvina suddenly gained confidence and said:

“Then I’ll choose Garrod. That guy resigned after the war and spends his days in Ashenvale taking care of his kids. I think he’s living too comfortably. It’s perfect to bring him over as my advisor and let him contribute his remaining energy.”

"You handle it yourself."

Dick waved his hand, turned back to discuss a few words with General Staghelm, and then watched them disappear into the snow-covered ridge of Sunrise Peak. The Shadow Hunters were to infiltrate the Mantid stronghold, "Dread Wasteland," in advance to conduct reconnaissance work for the subsequent handling of the insect swarm.

Diakum also gave them a rather "unique" mission.

After receiving permission, Anvina excitedly contacted her good teammate, with whom she often played duo queue and smurfed, through the "Saviors Network".

She didn't actually dare to tell Diakum the truth.

During this period, her win rate was indeed very poor when she played solo, but when she duo queued with Garold, her win rate soared to over 95%.

The reason she lost those matches was because she was too humiliated, so even Garold, the "god-like" one, couldn't "save the day".

Yes.

The "Low Intensity War Simulation," which can accommodate up to four commanders, allows for "duo queues."

When Anvina and Garrod team up as the "black car," even if the opposing team consists of veterans like Lothar and Fandral Stormpike, they will be ruthlessly destroyed by the two of them.

Unfortunately, this kind of duo queueing is limited to small-scale battles in "Warcraft III". On large battlefields, Anveena has no way to cheat.

"Gallord, didn't you say you've always wanted to see the true warfare mode of the Shadowswarm?"

Anvina called out in her mind:

"Come quickly! My mentor, the Vigilant, has given me control of a Shadow Chaser, allowing me to conquer a swarm of evil insects called the Mantid alone, and the battlefield is in Pandaria. You've heard of this place, haven't you?"

"The land of the Pandaren?"

Garold Shadowsong immediately became interested, and he said enthusiastically:
"Yes, my sister took me to see the beautiful treasure chest that the Pandaren Empire sent to Queen Azshara when they presented her with gifts. I still remember it vividly."

Wait a moment, I'll make lunch for the two kids first, and then I'll take them to my sister's place for the weekend.

Send me the battlefield information, and I'll do a quick assessment of the war situation on the way to see if we can come up with a strategy. Also, send me the military data on the Shadow Chaser bugs that you've been commanding this time.

I need to see the troop deployment we can use.

"okay."

Anvina had absolute faith in her powerful "Tongtiandai" friend's abilities, and she quickly transmitted the information Saloras had prepared for her to him using her consciousness.

A moment later, Garrod Shadowsong's voice rang out again, and he said in a puzzled tone:
"What kind of strategy are they playing? Why do they like to play the 'base-trading' strategy just like you?"
Empress Shakhir has staked all her elite troops on Kun-Lai Summit, and she herself has left her heavily guarded base camp and come to the palace in the middle of the battlefield, where there is no proper defense.

Your swarm, however, can freely choose the location to establish its 'main base'.

"Tsk, such a good opportunity is a godsend. It seems there's no need for complicated strategic planning; it's time to use your best tactics, Anvina."

"Huh? You mean change locations?"

"Yes, move to a different place!"
However, this time it's a base swap that helps you secure the victory in an advantageous situation. The Pandaren Alliance should still have enough strength to hold off the Mantid army. The enemy's creep wave is too far forward and somewhat reckless. With the super defensive system of 'Dragon Spine', their army is destined to be unable to return to defend in time.

So today, let's talk about some advanced tactics.

You should also learn what "encircling the enemy's stronghold and attacking their reinforcements" means.

(End of this chapter)